Hello - Going to Charelston, SC for the first time in a couple of weeks. Family of four with two kids ages 11 &12. Would appreciate suggestions for activities that we can all do. Interested in history, good food and overall site seeing. Best tours for engaging tweens and any other suggestions greatly appreciated.

If staying downtown, take the water taxi over to the USS Yorktown - we actually found the destroyer and submarine more interesting than the carrier (all are included in entrance fee).

The aquarium is a good one, but pretty pricey for a family.

Take the boat over and tour Fort Sumter. Details at www.nps.gov/fosu

Middleton Place.
https://www.middletonplace.org/

There are several tours available, some self-guided; they are included in the price of admission.

We did "BEYOND THE FIELDS" WALKING TOUR and it was amazing. It was led by a descendant of the slaves.

If you have never been to Charleston, then you might consider a carriage ride. My nieces are a little bit younger than your two, but they still talk about the summer they got to take a carriage ride. Plus, it does provide a nice overview of some of the historic district.

You've already been given two good military history related suggestions, but if you want to add in another, assuming you have transportation, a drive out to Sullivans Island (20 minutes from downtown) to Fort Moultrie is fun, especially if it's a pretty day. You can explore the visitors center and then the fort at your leisure (self-guided), then have lunch at Poe's Tavern, and take a walk on the beach to burn off some energy.

You were given a really good plantation suggestion above. If you want a downtown home tour, I think the Aiken-Rhett house is one of the most interesting and it calls itself an "urban plantation", so your kids could compare what plantation life was like out on the Ashley River versus in downtown Charleston. (Sorry, my teacher brain was salivating on that idea!) The Aiken Rhett tour is also self-guided, with an audio guide.

Aquarium. (I don't know any aquariums that are "cheap" to see.) Go see the Hunley exhibit--a Confederate submarine. I also like Middleton Place.
For eating, and not particularly "good" but maybe fun for the kids is The Wreck over in MT. Pleasant. Seafood on a shipwreck.

Another vote for the Hunley - fascinating piece of history. When our kids were that age they enjoyed the Yorktown, Fort Multrie and Fort Sumpter. They also enjoyed crabbing from the low bridges leading to Isle of Palms.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions - I will dig into these.