re: Headed up to Charleston SC

Lots of good suggestions already mentioned. I will add:

Take a boat out to Fort Sumter. It is interesting if you are into history. There is a boat dock for the tour boats at Patriots Point, so you can do both right there together.

The Aquarium is pretty nice too.

If you go see the angel oak, take the time to go a little further down the road to the tea plantation. It is amazing to see the bushes and how they make tea.

Go up Ashley River Road and visit some of the plantations. Our favorite is Magnolia. If you have younger kids, there is a petting zoo at the plantation, and you can take a tram ride or boat ride and will probably see a few alligators in the ponds.

Foodwise, RB's has really good seafood. If you leave Patriots Point and head toward Sullivan's Island, it will be on the right just after crossing Shem Creek. Get there late in the afternoon/early evening and try to get a table down by the water. You will typically see two or three pods of dolphins going up the creek and coming back down.

For a little higher class seafood place, check out The Boathouse at Breech Inlet, driving from Sullivan's to Isle of Palms, it will be on the left as soon as you cross the bridge.

Also, our favorite bbq place is Melvins in Mt. Pleasant. Not too far past the end of the big Ravenell Bridge, it is s at the intersection of US 17 and Houston Northcutt Blvd.

Also, if you are in that area, stop at the Mt. Pleasant Welcome Center under the bridge. It is a cute little park area with a pier out into the river, and easy access to Wonder's Way, which is the pedestrian portion of the Ravenell Bridge.