Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in Charleston, SC

Here's a half-day walking tour of downtown Charleston designed for kids that is low on cash investment but high on fun.  To keep the trip cheap, be sure to pack drinks and snacks from home.  There's a fair bit of walking, so keep in mind that even bigger kids may want the option to ride in a stroller off and on.

1.    Start at the Market (near the corner of North Market and East Bay Street).  The hustle and bustle of the Market is great, especially if you don't actually walk through. (Avoid it, or you'll have to say no to buying useless trinkets.)  Stop by the Charleston's Candy Kitchen for a sample of pralines or caramel corn. Watch the horse-drawn carriages as they pull out of their barns.

2.    Walk down East Bay and head to Waterfront Park. The fountains at the entrance will entertain your kids and keep them cool in the heat of the summer. You'll want to wait your turn for a ride on the giant porch swings along the boardwalk and watch the ships from the platform at the end.

3.    Heading through the park and down Concord Street, make your way to Hazel Parker Playground. There are two play areas in this park: a traditional slide set and swings in one, and a modern art piece/monkey bar set in the other. The latter looks cool, but the former is far more practical, especially for younger kids.

4.    Continue down East Bay (which becomes East Battery) and enjoy the view from the Battery.  With historic homes on one side and a fantastic view of the harbor on the other, there will be plenty for you and your kids to discuss on this jaunt.

5.    Return to the Market by pedicab. Now, you could save money by walking back the same way you came, but I don't recommend it.  The whine factor may be high by this point, and what you need is a break. Three pedicab companies serve Charleston, and they'll pick you up on the Battery and take you back to your car for around $3 per passenger.  Well worth it to avoid hearing Are we there yet more times than you care to acknowledge.