Riverbanks Zoo and Garden is located at I-126 and Greystone Boulevard near downtown Columbia. The Botanical Garden entrance is located in West Columbia off Hwy. 378 at Botanical Parkway. Hours are 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. and the zoo is open daily except for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Admission is $30.95 for adults, $27.95 for children ages 2-12 and free for children under two Military $28.95, Senior Citizens $28.95, Parking $5. Save $3 per ticket, free parking, and NO waiting at the ticket window when you buy online! Group rates and other discounts may apply with zoo membership plans. Riverbanks offers Homeschool Programs throughout the school year for homeschooled children ages 3–12, with hands-on learning and a variety of nature-focused topics. Current homeschool options listed include Homeschool Classes (ages 5–13) and Homeschool Little Learners (ages 3–5 with an accompanying adult). Please note that if you are not a Riverbanks member, a general admission ticket is also required. For more information, call Riverbanks at (803) 779-8717 or visit their website at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden; Columbia, South Carolina.
SC Aquarium (Charleston, SC) is located at 100 Aquarium Wharf, Charleston, SC 29401. The SC Aquarium is open daily 9 a.m.–5 p.m., with the last entry time is 3:30 p.m. They are closed Thanksgiving Day and December 25 and open 9 a.m.–1 p.m. December 24. Group rates and other discounts may apply with membership plans. The South Carolina Aquarium does offer homeschool-friendly opportunities, but they don’t currently advertise a dedicated “Homeschool Day.” Instead, homeschoolers can participate through field trips, onsite educational activities, virtual programs, and special homeschool-organized group events hosted by local homeschool networks. Homeschool families can book school field trips just like traditional schools, programs are STEM-based, hands-on, and aligned with South Carolina science standards. You can also add Exhibit Activities, Discovery Bins, or Scavenger Hunts to enrich your visit. For more information, visit: Visit the South Carolina Aquarium in Downtown Charleston SC
State Museum (Columbia, SC) is the largest and most comprehensive museum in the state, featuring four floors of exhibits covering South Carolina history, art, natural history, science, and technology. It also includes a 55-foot digital dome planetarium, a 4D interactive theater, and a Boeing observatory. It is located at 301 Gervais Street, Columbia, SC. It is open 6 days a week with varying hours; closed on Mondays, Tuesdays – Saturdays from 10am – 5pm, and Sundays from 12pm – 5pm. General admission tickets are $13.00 for adults, $11.00 for Seniors (62+), and $10.00 for children (3 – 12). Group rates and discounts may be available. Families can also purchase add-on tickets for the planetarium and the 4D theater. While the SC State Museum does not offer specific homeschool days, it is very homeschool-friendly, offering educational field trips for homeschooling families and co-ops, standards-aligned programming, the planetarium and 4D shows that are ideal for science units, and special exhibits that rotate throughout the year. For more information, please visit their website at Home | South Carolina State Museum or via phone at 803-898-4921.
EdVenture is located at 211 Gervais Street, Columbia, SC 29201. It is one of the largest children’s museums in the Southeast, known for its hands‑on, immersive exhibits designed to spark curiosity in kids from toddlers through early teens. It’s located right next to the South Carolina State Museum, making it perfect for a combined day trip. Edventure is open 6 days a week; Mondays, Wednesdays – Saturdays, they are open from 9am – 5pm, Sundays from 12pm – 5pm, and closed on Tuesdays. Admission is $13.00 for children and adults; children under 2 get in free! Membership plans and group rates are also available. While Edventure doesn’t advertise a dedicated homeschool day, they do offer field trip pricing for homeschool families and co-ops, standards-aligned educational programs, STEM labs, health science exhibits, and role-play areas for thematic units, and seasonal camps and classes. For more information, visit their website at EdVenture Children’s Museum, or via phone at (803) 779-3100.
Spartanburg Science Center (Spartanburg, SC) is a small, hands‑on science museum located inside the Chapman Cultural Center in downtown Spartanburg, SC. It features interactive STEM exhibits, live animals, fossils, minerals, and simple machines, designed to excite and educate learners of all ages. It is located at 200 E. St. John St., Spartanburg, SC 29306. It is open on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 10am – 2pm. General admission tickets are $5.00 per person, adults and children (ages 5+). Group admissions can be accommodated by appointment only. The Spartanburg Science Center is great for homeschoolers because it has a strong STEM focus, the atmosphere is very family friend, it’s perfect for hands on learning, especially for PreK – 5th grade students, and it is great for tie-in science units, like animals, geology, and simple machines. For more information, visit: Spartanburg Science Center | Excite. Engage. Educate | Home.
Discovery Place in Charlotte, NC is one of the top science destinations in the Carolinas, offering hands‑on STEM exhibits, an indoor rainforest, an aquarium, and a massive IMAX Dome theater. It is located at 168 W 6th St, Charlotte, NC 28202. Discovery Place hours are Monday – Friday from 9:00AM – 4:00PM, and Saturday – Sunday from 10:30AM – 4:30PM. General admission tickets are $28.95 for adults 14-59 and $23.96 for children 2 – 13. Discounts are available for senior citizens and groups; membership plans are also available. Discovery Place is an excellent field trip option for homeschoolers because of its unique activities, including an indoor rainforest, an aquarium with diverse underwater species, 400+ hands-on STEM activities for all ages, daily science demonstrations that can be tied into chemistry, physics, and biology units, and also interactive labs where kids can build, design, and experiment. Lastly, it is also home to an IMAX Dome Theater with a 79-foot screen and 12,000-watt sound system. For more information, visit: Discovery Place Science Museum – Charlotte’s #1 for Family Fun and Things to do.
South Carolina Botanical Garden in Clemson is a free, 295‑acre outdoor learning environment featuring specialty gardens, nature trails, a geology museum, historic buildings, and year‑round educational programs. It’s one of the most diverse and family‑friendly science/nature destinations in the state, open 365 days a year from sunrise to sunset. It is located at 150 Discovery Lane, Clemson, SC. The grounds are open from sunrise – sunset; the visitor center is open from 10AM – 5PM daily (except University Holidays). Admission is free for all visitors. The SC Botanical Gardens is hope to 22+ themed gardens and nature areas, including a butterfly garden, wildflower meadow, desert garden, and many more! There are streams, ponds, boardwalks, and woodlands trails for easy family hikes. You can also find the Bob Campbell Geology Museum on site, with over 10,000 rocks, minerals, and fossils, and exhibits on geology and paleontology. There are also 2 historical structures, the Hanover House and the Hunt Log South Carolina Botanical Garden.
The South Carolina State House blends history, government, and architecture in a way that’s accessible for all grade levels. It is located at 1100 Gervais Street, Columbia, SC, and it offers free guided tours for students, homeschool groups, and families. Tour availability changes depending on whether the legislature is in session; to find the most up-to-date availability, please check out their website. Groups larger than 10 should call ahead for scheduling; groups over 40 will need to reserve multiple tour times. These tours are free and recommended visit length is about 1 hour. At the SC State House, students will have the opportunity to learn about state government, South Carolina History, including the building’s construction, Civil War, and Civil Rights era, and architecture and art, including portraits, monuments, and symbolic design elements to help students connect visual details to historical meaning. For groups unable to travel, the State House offers live virtual tours via Zoom or Google Meet. These include a guide, Q&A time, and a walkthrough of key areas. For more information, please visit their website: South Carolina Legislature Online – Visiting The State House
The Cayce Historical Museum offers a deep and unique look at South Carolina’s history, from Native American life to the Revolutionary War and the development of the Cayce community. It is located at 1800 12th Street, Cayce, SC, 29033 inside the city’s municipal complex, and its exhibits span an impressive range of eras and cultures. Admission is $3.00/adults and $1.00/children (ages 3 – 12). Children under the age of 2 enter free; there are also senior and military discounts available. There is free admission every Thursday from 12pm – 4pm. The museum is open from 9am – 4pm on Tuesday – Friday, and from 10am – 2pm on Saturdays. It is not open on Mondays or Sundays, or major holidays. The Cayce Historical Museum offers over 7,000 Native American artifacts, displays of Revolutionary War history, exhibits of colonial and early settlement life, Civil War and 20th Century artifacts, and even historic outbuildings, including a 1749 detached kitchen, an 1820 smokehouse, a railroad caboose, and a 1938 rail speeder. This museum’s blend of archaeology, colonial history, Revolutionary War stories, and local heritage makes it ideal for homeschooling families looking for social studies units, South Carolina history studies, and hands-on learning through artifacts and historic structures. For more information, visit their website at: Museum | Cayce, SC – Time for Life
Drayton Hall offers one of the most historically rich field‑trip experiences in the Lowcountry. As the oldest preserved plantation house in America still open to the public, it provides powerful learning opportunities in history, architecture, archaeology, and African American studies. Drayton Hall is located at 3380 Ashley River Road, Charleston, SC 29414. Drayton Hall is open Wednesday–Monday, 9:00 AM–4:30 PM (gate closes at 3:00 PM); it is closed Tuesdays. Tickets are $32/adults and $15 for children, ages 7 – 15). Children under 7 are free. Tickets purchased online are discounted. Drayton Hall was founded in 1738 and stands as the nation’s earliest example of fully executed Palladian architecture. Unlike many plantations, it has never been restored or furnished—everything you see is original, making it a rare preservation site. At this site, students can encounter authentic 18th‑century architecture, archaeological collections, an African American cemetery, and galleries with artifacts, documents, and decorative arts. Drayton Hall does offer 2 curricula based, standards-aligned programs for specifically for grades 3 – 8, led by professional education staff. These programs integrate social studies, science, geography, art, and literacy. Program 1 is A Day in the Life at Drayton Hall, which focuses on daily life of the Drayton family and enslaved laborers. Program 2 is The American Revolution at Drayton Hall, with a focus on Drayton Hall’s role during the Revolutionary War. For more information on Drayton Hall and their educational programs, please visit their website: Drayton Hall Charleston South Carolina Lowcountry Plantation.
Boone Hall Plantation is one of the most immersive historic field‑trip experiences in the Lowcountry. Its combination of preserved architecture, agricultural history, and African American cultural interpretation makes it especially meaningful for homeschool groups and school classes. Located at 1235 Long Point Road, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464, Boone Hall is one of America’s oldest working plantations, with over 320 years of continuous agricultural production. This plantation operates year-round with hours 9am – 5pm Mondays – Saturdays, and from 12pm – 5pm on Sundays. Admission is $30/adults and $12/children ages 6 – 12. Children 5 and under are free. Senior, military, and AAA discounts are also available. Some key features of Boone Hall include the iconic Avenue of Oaks, planted in 1743, a Colonial Revival main house, nine original brick slave cabins with the Black History in America exhibit, working farm areas, marsh views, and gardens, and live Gullah culture presentations. Other learning experiences available at Boone Hall include covered wagon tours, guided house tours, outdoor history talks, and a tour of the stables. For more information, please visit their website at: Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens – Mt. Pleasant, SC.
Historic Brattonsville preserves the stories of the Scots‑Irish Bratton family, the enslaved African Americans who built and sustained the plantation, and the broader Carolina Piedmont community from the 1760s through Reconstruction. More than 30 historic structures can be found on the property, from log houses to antebellum homes, which show how the region evolved socially, architecturally, and agriculturally. Historic Brattonsville is located at 1444 Brattonsville Road, McConnells, SC 29726. It is open from 10am- 5pm Tuesdays – Saturdays, and 1pm – 5pm on Mondays. They are closed on Mondays and major holidays. Admission is $8/adults and $5 for children ages 4 – 17. Children ages 3 and under are free. Visitors to Brattonsville will be able to experience historical farming techniques, including open-hearth cooking, craft demonstrations, and day-to-day plantation tasks, explore the Revolutionary Way battlefield, dive into exhibits of African American history, tour over 30 historic structures, and visit the Heritage farm. Historic Brattonsville is a great option for homeschooling families because you can tie in Revolutionary War and Reconstruction, and there are ample opportunities for hands-on demonstrations. There is also plenty of outdoor space and trails, perfect for movement and exploration. For more information, visit their website at: Brattonsville | Culture & Heritage Museums
The Museum of York County, located at 4621 Mt. Gallant Road, Rock Hill, SC 29732, is one of the strongest natural‑history museums in this region. It blends wildlife exhibits, astronomy, early‑learning spaces, and outdoor exploration into a single, easy‑to-navigate campus. The museum is open from 10am – 5pm Tuesday – Saturday, and 1pm – 5pm on Sunday. It is closed on Mondays. Admission is required for non-members; Sundays offer free general admission. To find out more about ticket pricing and membership plans, visit: Online Purchasing | Culture & Heritage Museums. Major exhibits of the York County Museum include the Ice Age Carolinas, where you can explore prehistoric animals, the Naturalist Center, which offers more than 2,000 specimens to explore, the African and Piedmont Wildlife Galleries, the Catawba River Gallery, the Settlemyre Planetarium, which uses digital projection to simulate the night sky, Tot Town, which provides a playful, early learning environment designed for toddlers and preschoolers, and lastly, you can also find huge outdoor areas that include nature trails, educational gardens, and picnic areas. For more information on the York County Museum, visit their website: Museum of York County | Culture & Heritage Museums.
The South Carolina Military Museum offers a focused, hands-on look at the state’s military history, with programs designed specifically for school groups and homeschoolers. The museum is known for being free and highly educational. Located at 1 National Guard Road Columbia, SC 29201, this museum is open from 10am – 4pm, Monday – Saturday, and it is closed Sundays. Exhibits that visitors can view are South Carolina’s military history from the Colonial Era to modern conflicts, observations of uniforms, weapons, vehicles, and artifacts, as well as listening to stories of service members and state military units. Additional experiences that families can add on to their experience are a camouflage and tie-dye lab, a South Carolina State Falg design activity, a Tea Party Engineering Challenge, a force and motion cannon launcher, and an opportunity to build your own forecasting instruments. If you would like to schedule a specific group field trip with the South Carolina Military Museum, scheduling must be booked at least 2 weeks in advance. You can reach the education coordinator at (803) 299 – 2730.
The South Carolina Railroad Museum blends hands‑on exploration, historic preservation, and scenic train rides along the Rockton, Rion & Western Railroad. It’s one of the most engaging STEM‑and‑history destination spots in the state. Located at 110 Industrial Park Road, Winnsboro, SC 29180, you can visit the museum from 10am – 4pm, Wednesday – Saturday. Admission is free to explore the museum grounds and exhibits; tickets are required for special events. You can see the schedule of events here: Calendar — South Carolina Railroad Museum. Some of the experiences you’ll be able to have at the Railroad Museum include viewing a historic train collection, some of which you can walk through, scenic train rides with seasonal themed rides and volunteers in period attire that share history and point out landmarks, and there is also a gift shop with railroad memorabilia. For more information about what the South Carolina Railroad Museum offers, visit: South Carolina Railroad Museum
Biltmore Estates is not just a perfect getaway from adults; America’s largest privately owned home and one of the most famous historic estates in the United States is an iconic visit that children and homeschooling groups can also enjoy. Biltmore Estates is located at One Lodge Street, Asheville, NC 28803; Biltmore Estates is open every day, but hours vary by season and attraction, as well as ticket prices. To find out more information about pricing, please visit: Biltmore Estate – Hours of operation. Biltmore is very kid-friendly, with a mix of outdoor play, animals, hands-on exploration, and even options for a special audio tour of the home just for children. Some of the experiences children can have include the Pisgah Playground, a nature-themed play area with climbing logs, rock formations, water pump and sand play, Antler Hill Village and Farmyard, where kids can meet farm animals and explore the barn and village shops, children can explore the Biltmore house, and even participate in an audio tour that includes a children’s audio guide narrated by Cedric, the Vanderbilt family’s dog, which makes the mansion feel like a storybook adventure. Lastly, there are so many outdoor spaces; families can enjoy biking, hiking, and nature trails. For more information about specific parts that children can view at Biltmore, please visit: Visit Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina.
The Columbia Museum of Art offers a variety of hands-on, story-rich, and creativity‑focused programs designed for toddlers through early teens. Located at 1515 Main Street, Columbia, SC 29201, the museum is open every day, except Mondays. Times vary depending on the day of the week; you can find more information at Visit | Columbia Museum of Art. Admission fees are $15/adults, $10 for children 7 – 18, and free for children 6 and under. Information on becoming a member can be found on their website. There are so many opportunities that the Columbia Museum offers, including world class art exhibitions featuring Italian Renaissance, Asian and American art, and highlights like Botticelli, Monet, and Chihuly, interactive and hands-on art experiences, workshops and classes, and a hands-on studio space where visitors of all ages can make art, and countless programs for children and families, including Glady’s Gang which is a toddler story time, stroller tours for caregivers with infants, youth and family art programs, and summer art camps designed for children ages 4 – 12. For more information about programs that the Columbia Museum of Art offers, please visit: Columbia Museum of Art.
The SC Philharmonic is a professional symphony orchestra based in Columbia, South Carolina. They perform live orchestral concerts, run extensive education programs, and serve as a major cultural organization for the Midlands. The SC Philharmonic is located at 1704 Main Street, Suite 100, in Columbia, SC. A calendar of events with ticket information can be found at: Season 61 – South Carolina Philharmonic. The SC Philharmonic is South Carolina’s flagship symphony orchestra, offering world‑class performances and robust educational outreach that enriches families, schools, and the broader community. They provide dynamic educational opportunities, including youth orchestra programs, school concerts, kids to concerts, and sensory-friendly events. For more information about programs that the SC Philharmonic offers, visit the website at: South Carolina Philharmonic.
The Koger Center for the Arts is truly one of Columbia’s major performing‑arts hubs, with a mix of Broadway, concerts, dance, visual art, and community programming. It is located at 1051 Greene Street, Columbia, SC 29201. The Koger Center offers a variety of different experiences, including major performances like Wicked and Beetlejuice, the USC Symphony Orchestra, and the USC Dance Department performances. You can also enjoy concerts, jazz, and special music series, as well as tour rotating visual art exhibits. For more information on upcoming shows with ticket prices, please visit their website at: Home – Koger Center for the Arts at The University of South Carolina
The USC School of Music offers a wide range of opportunities from baby music playgroups to full instrumental training and summer camps. The USC School of Music is located at 813 Assembly Street, Columbia, SC 29208. Music Play is an early childhood music program for newborns through age 3 that focuses on singing, chanting, movement, and informal music play. Piano programs are also offered for students in Kindergarten – 12th grade, including private lessons, repertoire classes, recitals, and festivals. The USC School of Music also sponsors Carolina Music Studies, a flexible community program for all ages offering private lessons in brass, guitar, percussion, strings, voice, and woodwinds. Another popular opportunity offered by the School of Music is the USC String Project for children, ages 8+. This is a nationally recognized program where children learn violin, viola, cello, or bass through group classes and youth orchestras. These programs are taught by USC faculty and graduate students. For a complete listing of events, programs, and pricing, please visit the USC School of Music’s website at: School of Music – School of Music | University of South Carolina.
The Newberry Opera House offers a family‑friendly performing arts center with options for toddlers through teens. It is located at1201 McKibben Street, Newberry, South Carolina. The Newberry Opera House offers a wide range of experiences, including children’s programs, family films and special screenings, youth-friendly theatre and musicals, and live music opportunities for all ages. For a complete listing of current programs and shows, along with admission information, please visit their website at: Newberry Opera House | Performing Arts Center.
The Columbia Marionette Theatre is a beloved, long‑running children’s puppet theater in downtown Columbia, South Carolina. It is located at 401 Laurel Street, Columbia, SC 29201. It’s one of the few remaining marionette theaters in the United States that still performs regular, fully staged puppet shows. The Columbia Marionette Theatre is housed in a castle-themed building, complete with a 30-foot stage and built specifically for puppetry. Shows feature hand-crafted marionettes, original sets and props, local voice talent, and multiple puppetry styles, not just marionettes. Performances every Saturday at 11am and 3pm, with an additional show every third Monday of the month at 10:00AM. All seats are general admission, and tickets are sold at the door. Shows are typically 40-45 minutes, which is perfect for young children’s attention spans. For a list of current showings and specific ticket prices, please visit their website at: Columbia Marionette Theatre.
Virtual Field Trips
Looking for a fun way to take a field trip without ever leaving home? You’re in the right place! We’ve put together a list of our favorite websites that let your child explore amazing destinations—virtually!
Butterfly Virtual Learning
This online education program brings live, interactive science learning straight to your home! It offers real-time sessions led by expert butterfly pavilion educators, up-close views of live invertebrates, and engaging visuals and hands-on demonstrations.
Virtual Field Trips | Discovery Education
Discovery Education offers high-quality, standards-aligned virtual experiences with educator guides. Topics include whales, wetlands, animal adaptations, solar telescopes, steel manufacturing, maritime careers, and more.
49 Best Virtual Field Trips for the Classroom
This is a massive collection of 49 virtual field trips, covering STEM, careers, dinosaurs, robotics, cloud computing, and so much more. Some of these even include teacher guides and worksheets.
Find On-Site & Virtual Field Trips | Field Trip Directory
This hub offers virtual zoo tours, aquarium cams, STEM programs, farm tours, botanical gardens, history experiences, SEL programs, and more. This is great for all grade levels.
16 of Our Favorite Free Virtual Field Trips of 2026
This website provides a fun list of 16 standout, virtual field trips, including an M&M factory tour, the Stellarium Online Planetarium, the Louvre Museum Tour, and the NASA Space Exploration.
60 Free Fun Virtual Field Trips For Your Classroom – KidPillar
This website offers a huge list of virtual field trip options, organized by age group. Some of the options include field trips to different zoos around the country, farm tours, aquarium cams, and even global landmarks like the Taj Mahal and the Great Barrier Reef.