Middleton Place

"Of the many beautiful plantations in the Charleston area, Middleton Place along the banks of the Ashley River might be the most kid-friendly. In addition to the usual tours of the gardens and home, there's a stable and barn filled with heritage breed animals like sheep, water buffalo (a throwback to the property's days as a rice plantation), goats, chickens, pigs, and cows. On self-guided tours, you'll encounter artisans practicing trades that were once commonplace here, such as weaving, carpentry, pottery, and blacksmithing. History buffs will also love it: Arthur Middleton, who owned the plantation during the American Revolution, was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and the home almost didn't survive the Civil War, when it was burned by Union Troops. Of course, there's also the requisite garden, which was restored in the early 1900s and still boasts three original camellias that were brought to the house as a gift from a French botanist back in the 1800s. For a quiet, out-of-the-way vacation, the property also hosts guests in a lovely inn."