I’m finally catching up with editing some personal photos, and I had to share about the great party we had for my daughter’s sixth birthday! A Charleston July is way too steamy for a traditional backyard celebration, so we look for indoor fun or watery experiences. This year’s Charleston Museum birthday party was so much fun! “America’s first museum” offers a variety of themes for boys and girls, but I knew when I read about the history doll theme that it would be a great fit since my gal was counting on receiving Lanie, the American Girl doll who is all about nature in her backyard.

The museum staffers hadn’t met Lanie before, but they created the perfect morning for us. We started in the classroom checking out various Lowcountry animals and learning about some of their habits. Next, the girls painted beautiful butterflies and decorated binoculars for exploring at home. We went on a scavenger hunt in the museum, stopped in the children’s section to dress up, then carried on to the impressive Natural History Hall. After all that learning, it was time to hydrate, sing to Cidney and enjoy cupcakes. The museum even provided balloons and goody bags. Only a couple of Cid’s guests had attended a party here before, and we can’t recommend it enough! Also, it was surprisingly affordable for an off-site adventure. In fact, all of their children’s programs look interesting, so we’ll be joining the museum this year to take advantage of all the great exhibits and special programs.