EdVenture

EdVenture in Columbia, SC is South Carolina's largest children's museum — a sprawling, professionally operated facility with hundreds of interactive exhibits covering science, technology, engineering, arts, health, and world cultures. For families visiting Hilton Head Island who want a change of pace from beach activities, EdVenture is worth the 2. 5-hour drive as a dedicated day trip, especially when combined with Riverbanks Zoo nearby.

The museum's most famous exhibit is Eddie — a 40-foot-tall interactive model of a child that visitors can explore from the inside. Crawl through his organs, discover how human systems work, and emerge having learned more anatomy than you expected. It's the kind of signature exhibit that makes a children's museum worth a significant drive.

Beyond Eddie, the museum's exhibit floors cover every age range from infants to early tweens. Toddler-specific areas keep the youngest family members engaged while older kids tackle the science experiments, building challenges, and technology exhibits. The scale of the facility means different age groups can spread out rather than compete for the same equipment.

For Hilton Head families, the most practical approach is a combined Columbia day trip: EdVenture in the morning (arrive at opening), lunch in Columbia's Main Street restaurant district, and Riverbanks Zoo in the afternoon. It's a genuinely full day that introduces kids to South Carolina's capital city while delivering exceptional museum and zoo experiences.