Inside: A wide variety of places to see animals in Charleston, SC, including in the wild, on farms, in zoos, and more.
Whether your crew loves furry friends, scaly critters, or creatures that swim, Charleston is full of spots where kids can get nose-to-snout (or fin!) with amazing animals. You can pet goats, watch dolphins leap, meet an albino alligator, and even feed stingrays — all without leaving the Lowcountry.
From downtown aquariums to farmyard fun and scenic eco tours, we’ve rounded up our favorite family-friendly places to see animals near Charleston.
South Carolina Aquarium
Address: 100 Aquarium Wharf, Charleston, SC
Check out our Kidding Around Review of the SC Aquarium
This downtown favorite brings Lowcountry wildlife up close — think otters, sea turtles, and even an albino alligator! The Touch Tank is a kid favorite that just got an upgrade! It’s where little hands can gently meet rays, sea urchins, starfish, and whelks.
Don’t miss the two-story Great Ocean Tank, home to more than 700 animals. Also, as soon as you walk in secure your tickets to feeding the sting rays. Tickets sell out fast, and it is my kids’ favorite activity at the aquarium!
Center for Birds of Prey
Address: 4719 Highway 17N Awendaw, SC
Check out our Kidding Around Review of the Center for Birds of Prey
The Aviation Conservation Center and Center for Birds of Prey near Charleston, SC is a really cool experience and an exceptional place to visit if you love falcons, raptors, hawks, and owls.
Bee City Zoo & Honeybee Farm
Address: 1066 Holly Ridge Lane, Cottageville, SC
Check out our Kidding Around Review of the Bee City Zoo
Part petting zoo, part exotic animal park, part working honeybee farm — Bee City is pure family fun. Feed the goats, meet lemurs, ride the barrel train, and sample fresh honey. There’s a playground for the kids and plenty of shaded picnic spots.
Bee city is one of our favorite family outings. My crew loves feeding the monkeys, ponies and llamas! The safari ride is a fun way to see the big-horned animals up close and personal too!
Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site
Address: 1500 Old Towne Road, Charleston, SC
Check out our Kidding Around Review of Charles Towne Landing for lots more information.
Step back in time to the birthplace of South Carolina. The Animal Forest here is a natural habitat zoo featuring native species like bison, otters, and black bears. You can stroll the boardwalks, explore history exhibits, and take in marsh views all in one trip. My kids love to bring their scooters as there are a lot of walking trails to see all the animals and historical monuments.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens – Petting Zoo & Nature Center
Address: 3550 Ashley River Road, Charleston, SC
Magnolia Plantation
Along with gorgeous gardens, Magnolia offers a family-friendly petting zoo with deer, goats, and peacocks roaming freely. The Nature Center introduces kids to reptiles, amphibians, and other Lowcountry critters. Bonus: there’s a train tour through the property that’s perfect for little legs.
Middleton Place – Stableyards
Address: 4300 Ashley River Road, Charleston, SC
Middleton Place
History buffs and animal lovers unite here. The working Stableyards showcase heritage breeds of livestock as well as chickens, donkeys, miniature horses, goats, and other native species. Costumed interpreters share how these animals were cared for in the 18th century. We rode bikes and biked right beside an alligator, so be on the lookout for all types of wildlife!
Barrier Island Eco Tours
Address: 50 41st Avenue, Isle of Palms, SC
Barrier Island Eco Tours
Hop aboard a boat to explore salt marshes, spot dolphins, and see seabirds nesting. Many tours stop at Capers Island, a pristine barrier island where you might find sand dollars, see loggerhead turtle tracks, or catch blue crabs.
Over the years, our family has enjoyed many learning adventures with Barrier Island Eco Tours.
Charleston Area Farms & Petting Zoos
Legare Farms – Johns Island – Known for seasonal events and a year-round farm experience with cows, goats, and rabbits.
Flowertown Charm – Summerville – We visited this special farm and it is fabulous! You’ll find our full revie here: Kidding Around Visits Flowertown Charm. Open for special events and farm tours with fun activities like goat yoga, pumpkin carving with animals, bottle babies, feeding little animals, and more.
What’s your family’s favorite place to meet animals near Charleston? 🐢🐐🐬
We’d love to hear about your wild encounters — share your stories in the comments! Looking for more family fun? Check out our guide to things to do in Charleston with kids and start planning your next adventure.
More Places to See Animals in South Carolina & Beyond
Check out some of these great day trip options from our sister sites.
Here’s a list of zoos and aquariums on our sister site out of Greenville, SC. It’s full of zoos and aquariums across the Carolinas and beyond.
Check out Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia, SC, for a full day of fun with the animals and the beautiful botanical gardens and splashpads.
Read our Kidding Around Review of the NC Zoo in Asheboro, NC.