Charleston, SC: A Family Friendly Place to Live

Posted by Lee and Katherine Keadle on Wednesday, March 13th, 2013 at 11:20am.

charleston best areas for families

Charleston, SC is one of the most family friendly places to live in the southeast. There are plenty of fun indoor and outdoor activities and recreation options for families year round. Parks, beaches, plantations, restaurants, shops, annual festivals, and water sports are just a few of the many exciting things Charleston has to offer. Charleston has something for everyone’s interests and lifestyle, which is why over 120,000 people call Charleston home. Whether you choose Mount Pleasant, James Island, or West Ashley, you will find a warm welcome in every community in our city.

Mount Pleasant is a suburb just across the Aurthur Ravenel Bridge from downtown Charleston. There are currently about 40,000 people who reside here. Mount Pleasant has many family friendly neighborhoods with amenities that most families look for such as pools, tennis courts, jogging trails, and play parks. The beach is only 5 to 15 minutes away depending on where you live in Mt. Pleasant, and downtown is 5 to 25 minutes away. Mount Pleasant is also known for its many retail and boutique shops, restaurants, and two movie theaters. It’s easy for families to get everything they need without driving to another part of the city. The schools rank among the highest in the Charleston area, which is a major driving force for many families considering Mount Pleasant real estate.

Families who choose James Island real estate enjoy the close proximity to downtown Charleston and to Folly Beach – both are only a 5 to 10 minute commute, which is less than any other suburb in Charleston. If you enjoy a small town feel, but also want to be within a quick drive of a city, James Island is a great option. There are many family friendly activities all year long at the James Island County Park. The most popular tends to be the Festival of Lights, which features several miles of holiday lights in addition to roasting marshmallows, riding the train or merry-go-round, wall climbing, and more. The park also has a huge children’s playground and a water park which is wonderful for kids of all ages. James Island is also very pet friendly. There are special small-dog and large-dog parks which offer lots of grassy space for dogs to play off the leash. Some of the James Island schools like Stiles Point Elementary, Harborview Elementary, Fort Johnson Middle, and James Island Charter High rank highly in Charleston County (and in South Carolina), which enters into the decision making for most families. There are a variety of excellent private schools all over Charleston to send your children to, as well.

West Ashley is another popular suburb with a good location in Charleston. The West Ashley Greenway runs all the way through West Ashley, providing a place for families to ride bikes or take a stroll. There are also many public parks where families can ride bikes, walk, or play soccer or Frisbee. Charles Towne Landing located off Sam Rittenburg Boulevard and West Ashley Park off Glenn McConnell Parkway are some of our favorite parks. There are shelters, picnic tables, wetlands, hiking trails, and sports fields at these facilities. The brand new Bees Landing Recreation Center features camps, fitness classes, educational classes, junior and adult sports, and more. The Citadel Mall is a popular stop in West Ashley for retail goods, and there are a variety of mom-n-pop restaurants along Highway 17 and Highway 61 for the local taste buds. West Ashley homes for sale offer a convenient location because most are 5 to 25 minutes to downtown Charleston and about 15 to 35 minutes to Folly Beach.

Whether you live in Mount Pleasant, James Island, or West Ashley, you will find that there is no lack of southern hospitality. Families have a multitude of activities to help integrate them into their community. Read more about your family’s options forCharleston real estate!

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