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South Carolina's
Seabrook Island
Magic Happens Near and in Charleston
By Pamela Allen
The Children's Museum of The Lowcountry is Lily's favorite place in Charleston. It's a completely hands-on learning environment with eight interactive exhibits. Activities such as science experiments and arts and crafts are well represented. There are also many opportunities for imaginary play including rooms devoted to a shrimp boat and a medieval castle. I've played many parts at the museum, ill-tempered cook, lady-in-waiting, first mate on the boat. Although the costumes don't fit me, we always have a wonderful time.
The South Carolina Aquarium is our favorite rainy day adventure. The Great Hall, with its map of the regions of South Carolina, is a great place to begin your exploration of the natural environment. There's a 15,000-gallon tank filled with colorful reef fish that never fails to draw Lily's attention. Further down the hall a touch tank filled with invertebrates allows you to fully experience the coastal world. So far my daughter has never touched anything, but she enjoys talking with the guides who are available to help us understand life in the Atlantic Ocean.
The aquarium takes you through the five major areas of the Southeast Appalachian Watershed as found in South Carolina. We wander through experiencing each environment, exclaiming at the range of colors. Our final stop is always the 380,000-gallon ocean tank filled with sharks and hundreds of other creatures from the deep. Exciting and a little scary, it's a great finale to our visit.
I'm already planning our next trip. Now that Lily's in elementary school I'm trying to incorporate more history. Perhaps she'll like Fort Sumpter, where the first shots of the Civil War were fired. Between the boat ride and the Junior Ranger Program it's sure to be a hit.
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