It's natural for kids to engage in creative play, becoming architects, veterinarians, swashbuckling pirates, or tenured professors inside their own imaginations. The Children's Museum of South Carolina just helps them learn while they do it. Perhaps that's why the museum?like the scores of children who visit it?has continued to grow since first opening in 1994. In two decades, the museum as expanded from a small shopping-mall space to a 7,500-square-foot facility packed with 21 interactive exhibits.
In the Sea Turtles Dig the Dark exhibit, kids crawl through a sandy tunnel to see a nest of loggerhead turtle eggs and learn about endangered-species conservation. Meanwhile, the Hurricane Simulator recreates a massive storm's 78-mile-per-hour winds, and the USS Kids-A-Float exhibit explores the parts of a boat and how South Carolina's pirates might have weighed their treasure. The museum also hosts events that range from storytelling to weekly hands-on workshops. Though most of this learning happens on-site, CMSC representatives travel to local schools to lead five-week science camps.
Oceanic experts at North Carolina Maritime Museum share exhibits, artifacts, and artwork documenting the history and ecology of the sea near Beaufort. Your Groupon helps support the Museum Friends Group, a 501(c)3 nonprofit working to recover and display the infamous pirate Blackbeard's flagship, Queen Anne’s Revenge. The group aims to bring the remaining half of the shipwreck into the sunlight, preserve all the historical booty they discover, and salute the accomplishment with proud hook hands. A membership treats fans of the briny to a one-year subscription to the museum's e-newsletter, as well as invitations to members-only previews, including the Blackbeard unveiling in June, a 10% discount at the museum store, advance notice of special events, and more. Other salty exhibits include The Coastal History and Heritage display, boasting artifacts on pirates, shipwrecks, boatbuilding, the seafood industry, marine science, and the tidal properties of large grilled-cheese sandwiches.
Fascinate-U Children's Museum touts pint-sized, play-based educational programs and exhibits that encourage imagination and hands-on learning for children of all ages. Kids can touch and explore the engaging exhibits and partake in imaginative scenarios, all within the museums' miniaturized town setting. Oversee children role-playing real-life situations, such as working at the local fire station, playing the lead role in a tiny version of Titus Andronicus at the theater, or selecting nutritious foodstuffs at the kid-size town grocer. Birthday parties allow unlimited access to the museum floor for up to 20 kids, allowing them to get something other than a cake stomachache out of a party ($70 for members). Peruse the gift shop to continue the cranium cultivating at home, and enjoy a members-only 10% discount.
Lisa's expert framers have been showcasing all manner of memorabilia in creative custom cages for nearly 30 years, and they have the experience to face any framing challenge with a variety of artistic outlines and long-lasting techniques. Immortalize important decisions by framing your humanities degree or showcase your sentimental mementos—such as actual hard copies of your sentiments—in a shadowbox frame. Because every matte-worthy Matisse or frameable Fig Newton is put under glass on-site, you can relax with the knowledge that your keepsakes are kept safe under the watchful gaze of the framers.
The tall grass parts and small fish scatter as Barrier Island Excursions, LLC's stand-up paddleboards glide gently through the marsh. The outdoor adventure company specializes in tours designed to give people an up-close look at the Barrier Islands' delicate marine ecosystem without leaving a foot or fin-print. During the day or after the sun sets, a 38-foot 1936-model cruiser ferries groups out to the pristine beaches of Southport, Oak Island, and Bald Head Island, where everyone disembarks and steps onto their boards. Experienced guides give advice on how to maintain balance on the water and can lend assistance throughout each trip. In addition to ferrying paddleboarders, the cruiser also gives themed scenic tours, such as bird-watching expeditions, historical tours, or wine-tastings with food-pairings.