The Sandbox: Hilton Head Island’s Hidden Children’s Museum

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Have you been to The Sandbox? Hilton Head has an interactive children’s museum that sits in the heart of the island and is the perfect destination for a rainy day or if you’re looking for something indoors to let that sunburn heal up. Here’s why you should visit The Sandbox if you’re in Hilton Head!

Tickets were provided for this review but the opinions are solely those of the author.

After asking our readers for recommendations on the best things to do on Hilton Head Island, The Sandbox came up as a favorite activity so we just had to check them out. To say we had fun here would be a vast understatement. The building is unassuming and hidden away from the main roads but once inside, there is no shortage of things to do, most of which are beach-themed and are designed to encourage imagination and creativity.

Hands-On Exhibits at The Sandbox

The Sandbox consists of over 15 hands-on exhibits, including a kinetic sand table, STEM island, The Sandcastle, Island Grocery, Beaches Vet Clinic, Bubbles & Lights, Island Tire Garage, and so many more!

The museum opened in 2005 as a place for learning and where kids can play freely in the Lowcountry and has become a favorite family activity ever since. The facility is designed for children ages 12 and under but I saw plenty of older kids who were having just as much fun as the younger ones.

There is a separate area set aside for children ages two and under that has a small climbing structure and age-appropriate toys. Bepaws and Mimi’s Dolphin Cove was created specifically for infants and toddlers to safely explore and crawl around.

Every exhibit invites kids to explore, learn, and let their imaginations run wild.  My kids loved the grocery checkout line and the indoor sandcastle play structure. It was so cute and thoughtful. The kinetic sand was a hit as well. I’m convinced my youngest is going to be some kind of doctor after examining stuffed animals at the vet stations and looking at X-rays.

Free Fun Family Nights

From September through May, the first (or second depending on the month) Friday of every month are Family Fun Nights, where admission is free from 5:30-7:30 pm. Families are invited to come together to enjoy the museum. The event offers engaging and fun activities for the entire family to enjoy!

Summer Camps & Kids Night Out

Kids Night Out

If families come to Hilton Head for vacation and don’t know anyone on the island or have no family members to watch their kids for a date night (sunset cruise, anyone?), then it’s not really possible to get away for a few hours. During select months, The Sandbox offers Kids Night Out on Saturdays from 5:30 to 8:00 pm for kids ages 5-12 and includes pizza, supervised arts and crafts activity, and playtime. Cost is $40 per child, or $30 for siblings and members of the museum.

Summer Camp

The Sandbox also offers Summer Camp, including half-day and full-day options for ages 4 – 12 years old. Camps are Monday through Friday from June to July. These camps really cater to families who come to enjoy Hilton Head but want to give their kids something unique to do while they can have some time to relax outside of kid responsibilities. Cost for non-members range from $225-$390 weekly.

LEGO table at The Sandbox in Hilton Head, South Carolina.

Sensory Inclusive Days

One excellent thing that The Sandbox offers is Sensory Inclusive Days. These inclusive events happen monthly for two hours of play for neurodivergent children to explore the museum. The event is held at the Hilton Head location of The Sandbox from 10 am to 12 pm on the third Saturday of each month.

Admission, Membership, & Location

Like the children’s museum in Greenville, The Sandbox offers yearly memberships, perfect for families to come to Hilton Head more often or just bigger families who may be able to save money versus individual tickets for everyone. This is also a great experience gift!

Tickets to The Sandbox are $12 for adults and kids. Ages 0-12 months are free. They do offer EBT discounts for $3 per person.

Hours during the summer are:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 12 pm – 3 pm and 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm
Wednesday from 10:00 am-1:00 pm and 1:30 pm-4:30 pm
Saturday from 9 am-12 pm and 12:30 pm-3:30 pm
Sunday from 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm.

Contact the museum directly for hours in Fall, Winter, and Spring.

Yearly family memberships are $150 and a Grandparent’s membership is $175.

No food or drinks are allowed inside The Sandbox and strollers must be left on the porch. There really isn’t room inside the museum. If the museum has a waiting crowd, there is a waitlist for entrance. We went mid-week in the later afternoon in July and it wasn’t too overwhelming. The Sandbox encourages people to call ahead during the busier summer months to see if there is a waitlist. Plan to spend at least a couple of hours there since there are a lot of things to do and explore.

The Sandbox
80 Nassau Street, Hilton Head Island
843.842.7645

Have you visited The Sandbox?

Family friendly things to do in Hilton Head with kids.

Looking for more things to do while visiting Hilton Head Island? Check out our KA Guide to 20+ Family-Friendly Things to Do at Hilton Head!

About the Author
Kristina Hernandez is a mom of two girls, freelance writer and photographer. Originally from New Jersey, she is in love with the Upstate and could not imagine raising her kids anywhere else. She enjoys hiking to waterfalls, kayaking, camping, cooking, and exploring all that Greenville has to offer. And she really loves baby goats. Follow her on Instagram at @scadventurer.

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