• SCCT March 2024
  • International Ballet Feb 2024
  • Prisma Health Jan 2024
  • FOA March 2024
  • CCES Feb 2024
  • YMCA March 2024

Restaurant Week Is A Great Opportunity To Try A New Spot In Greenville, SC

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Are you ready for the first Restaurant Week in Greenville, SC of 2024? There will never be a better time to support your Greenville restaurants than right now! The whole state of South Carolina will holds its annual Restaurant Week in January, and Greenville also holds a mini-Restaurant Week in August. The South Carolina Restaurant Week provides diners with the perfect opportunity to support locals and try something new.

The 2024 restaurant week lineup includes over two dozen restaurants in Greenville for you to try between January 11-21, 2024.

That’s a lot to choose from, so we will pick a few Upstate favorites and explain how to best take advantage of this special week for lovers of local restaurants.

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Mom Review: Greenville Gemstone Mine

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Looking for something fun to do inside in downtown Greenville? KAG Contributor Andrea Beam is sharing a family favorite with us today, the Greenville Gemstone Mine, located right along Downtown Greenville’s Main Street across from the Hyatt. This shop offers unique gifts and a place where kids can do a little gem mining for themselves. 

Gem mining greenville sc

We have an amazing time every time we hang out in downtown Greenville. However, if you ask my son to name his favorite activity, he would tell you it is “finding treasure” at Greenville Gemstone Mine on Main Street.

While I can’t say I share his love for “treasure,” I do appreciate the tables full of unique jewelry and cases of sparkly stones. The prices are just as appealing as the merchandise. It is definitely worth a visit (or two), even without little ones in tow!

I’ve never been in the store when it wasn’t packed. If there is one thing I am not completely crazy about, it’s the size of the place. It’s rather small. Having said that, we always manage to make our way through the crowd to the back (where the fun begins) with ease.

downtown Greenville gemstone mine

Now to our mining adventure! The first thing you’ll do is choose your bucket of rocks. They have many sizes, but the $9 kiddie bucket suits my budget just fine. If you happen to have extra cash burning a hole through your wallet, you can pay as much as $55 for a family bucket. Once you’ve made your choice, the (extra friendly) associates will give you a ziplock bag, a Gemstone identification chart and turn you loose! My son likes to take his time in the magical waters and smiles as each stone turns into something shiny and new. This is the part where you, as the parent, can stand back and check your Facebook page – I mean, take pictures.

When you’re done, you’ll leave with a slightly damp bag of treasure and one happy customer!

Want to visit Greenville Gemstone Mine?

Greenville Gemstone Mine is open 7 days a week:
Monday-Wednesday 10 am – 6 pm
Thursday 10 am – 7 pm
Friday-Saturday 10 am – 8 pm
Sunday 11 am – 6 pm

Go ahead and plan your visit. Show up around 10 and you’ll be out in time for an early lunch!

Greenville gem mine downtown Greenville, SC

Just a side note: walk out the door, turn left and walk a short distance to the Subway on the same side of the street. If the weather is nice, we like to take our sandwiches across the street and eat at the neon green tables in the Hyatt courtyard.

A second Greenville location is open in Haywood Mall near Macy’s. Hours for the mall location are
Monday-Thursday 10 am – 8 pm
Friday-Saturday 10 am – 9 pm
Sunday 12 pm – 7 pm

Have you ever taken your kids to Greenville’s Gemstone Mine?

Guide to things to do indoors near Greenville, South Carolina

Looking for more fun ideas? Try our The Ultimate Guide to Things to Do Inside in Greenville.

Action-Packed Jurassic World Live Tour Review: 5 Things You Need to Know

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The action-packed Jurassic World Live Tour is back in 2024! Are you wondering if you should get Jurassic World tickets for your family? We have a full review of what to expect when you see this live dinosaur show! We were given media tickets so we could review the show – all opinions are our own. The show is coming to Columbia, SC, and Charlotte, NC in January 2024, and will be in cities across the United States through March 2024, including Charleston, Birmingham, Baltimore, and Fairfax.

Jurassic World Live TRex
Jurassic World Live T-Rex

Get tickets to Jurassic World Live Tour.

This article contains affiliate links.

I’ll tell you all about the live show, what to expect, what ages this may be good for, and some mildly scary parts to think about before you go. So let’s go on with this Jurassic World Live Tour review!

I’m a big fan of the Jurassic Park movies and my kids have seen most of them – and we just really think dinosaurs are cool – so when the Jurassic World Live Tour came to town and we had the opportunity to go, I jumped on that like a T-Rex on the bad guys. After all, this is Jurassic World comes to life. 

Sneak Peek: Here’s What You’ll See at the Show

About the Jurassic World Live Tour: The Pre-Show

The Jurassic World Live Tour starts with a pre-show that anyone who has a ticket can go to. But you have to get there when the doors open an hour before the show. You’ll get to go right on the floor of the arena and see two dinosaurs – a Stegosaurus and a Triceratops – plus the baby dinosaur, baby Bumpy from Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous. The Jurassic World Jeep is on display as well as the glass globe that you’ll recognize from the movie. 

Jurassic World Live dinosaurs
Jurassic World Live Pre-Show

You’ll have the opportunity to take as many photos as you like and get pretty close to the dinosaurs as they move and blink. The show did a really great job with these creatures, making them life-size and super cool to see. 

The floor will close to guests 20 minutes before the show starts so you’ll have time to go to the restroom and get to your seats. 

Jurassic World Live Tour Reviews: The Main Show

The story line of the Jurassic World Live Tour centers on Jeanie, a Troodon dinosaur, and Dr. Kate Walker, her trainer and a scientist herself. Dr. Walker creates a device that goes atop Jeanie’s head and transmits what she is feeling, which the evil guys from Ingen want and try to get throughout the live show.

The show starts at Isla Nubar and gets right into action immediately with dirt bikes and fighting and Jeanie being captured by Ingen. But Dr. Kate Walker and her crew of scientists and hilarious interns track Jeanie down in Chile and then have to fight the bad guys even more, especially when the raptors (my favorite!) show up. 

Jurassic World Live Tour
Jeanie and Dr. Kate Walker

There are a lot of surprises that may make guests jump, like pyrotechnics, but overall, the show is fast-moving and pretty fun to watch. The 20-minute intermission comes about 35 minutes into the show when Dr. Kate and her team have to travel back to Isla Nubar to help Jeanie find her eggs and save the day. 

The second half starts off with a possible Triceratops fight after one of the interns mistakes her eggs for Jeanie’s. The Stegosaurus and her baby make an appearance here, as do more Raptors and the flying dinosaurs. The mighty Tyrannosaurus Rex rounds out the show with a bang and a lot of fire on the stage. 

Appropriate Ages for the Jurassic World Tour

What age is Jurassic Live suitable for?

I took kids ages 8-12 and all of them loved it. They got the gist of the storyline, which I don’t think younger kids will understand. But younger kids also won’t care because the show has big, lifesize, and live dinosaurs so really, what’s better than that?

The arena was filled with families who had babies through tweens. I’d say most of the kids were preschool through elementary-aged. I saw some kids cuddle up next to their parents if they were scared but I didn’t think there were a ton of scary parts. It really depends on each child. 

jurassic world live
Jurassic World Live Dinosaurs

There was a lot of (fake) fight scenes between Dr. Kate and her team and the Ingen guys. Dr. Kate gets into a one-on-one fight with a burly guy during the second half of the show and he really looks like he hits her but she gives it right back to him. One of the scientists on her team has a crush on her and saves her from this dude and they share a short kiss before heading off to rescue the rest of their team, who Ingen had captured. 

There is one part where a flying dinosaur takes off with one of the bad guys, which is typical Jurassic Park style. There is no inappropriate language and overall, the show is very family-friendly. Some older kids may think it’s cheesy but thankfully my 12-year-old thought it was great. 

As for the noise level of the Jurassic World Live Tour show, it wasn’t that loud at all. The biggest noise makers were the surprise pyrotechnics and maybe some of the music and the roars from the T-Rex. If you’ve been to a Monster Jam show, this was less than half that noise level and I don’t think ear plugs are needed. 

And if you haven’t ever seen any of the Jurassic Park movies, don’t worry, you’ll still enjoy the show. You don’t need to have seen the movies to enjoy all that the show has to offer. 

Jurassic World Live Tour Reviews: The Dinosaurs

OK, the dinosaurs are awesome. The Raptors and Jeanie are obviously people and you can see their legs, which are covered in black leggings but honestly, I hardly noticed because the movements and sounds of the dinosaurs is so real. I thought the show did such a great job with this. 

If you sit in the premium floor seats, the dinosaurs will come right up to you. It looked super cool and I was mildly jealous. 

Jurassic World raptor
Jurassic World Live Tour Raptor

The bigger dinosaurs are on rolling floor things that make them move so that may take away the “real” look of the dinosaurs but their heads and tails move independently and their eyes even blink. The T-Rex was impressive. It also moves by a controlled floor machine but man, that thing can turn on a dime. It was awesome. The jaws on all the dinosaurs move like you would think a real dinosaur would move so I felt like I wasn’t even watching the animatronics or the people that moved the dinosaurs because just watching them as a whole was pretty captivating. 

The set was also fantastic. The show did a great job making it seem like the actors and dinosaurs were in the rainforest in Isla Nubar or the desert in Chile. It was a very thought-out show all the way through and truly, a lot of fun. 

Jurassic World Live Tour: Tickets

Get tickets to Jurassic World Live Tour in a city near you.

The schedule for the Charlotte, NC show at the Spectrum Center is:

  • Friday, January 5th, 2024: Pre-show starts at 6 pm and the show starts at 7 pm 
  • Saturday, January 6th, 2024: Pre-show times are 10 am, 2 pm, and 6 pm. Show times are 11 am, 3 pm, and 7 pm.
  • Sunday, January 7th, 2024: Pre-show times are 12 pm and 4 pm. Show times are 1 pm and 5 pm.

The schedule for the Columbia, SC show at the Colonial Life Arena is:

  • Friday, January 19th, 2024: Pre-show starts at 6 pm and the show starts at 7 pm 
  • Saturday, January 20th, 2024: Pre-show times are 10 am, 2 pm, and 6 pm. Show times are 11 am, 3 pm, and 7 pm.
  • Sunday, January 21st, 2024: Pre-show times are 12 pm show time is at 1 pm.

The schedule for the North Charleston, SC show at the North Charleston Collesium is:

  • Friday, March 8th, 2024: 7 pm
  • Saturday, March 9th, 2024: 11 am, 3 pm and 7 pm
  • Sunday, March 10th, 2024: 1 pm and 5 pm

The entire Jurassic World Live Tour show runs about 1 hour and 45 minutes, which includes the 20-minute intermission. Ticket prices start at $20. 

Have you seen the Jurassic World Live Tour?

More Family Fun

Another big arena family entertainment favorite is Monster Jam. Thinking about bringing your kids to Monster Jam when those giant Monster trucks come to town? Don’t miss our Monster Jam review, where we tell you everything you need to know!

Fly High at These Awesome Trampoline Parks in Greenville

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Are you looking for a fun activity for the whole family in or near Greenville? Check out one of the trampoline parks Greenville, SC has! Below you will learn all about the various trampoline parks in Greenville with prices and other information parents need to know.

Trampoline Parks near Greenville, South Carolina
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This Indoor Winter Farmers Market Is No Longer a Secret: Greenville, SC

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Miss the local farmer’s markets in the winter? We’ve got the scoop on Greenville’s best indoor farmers market and it’s really a lot more than a farmers market. The Toasty Farmer is no longer an Upstate secret; however, parents in the know have discovered that the family-friendly winter farmers market can be the perfect outing on a dreary winter’s day.

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Le Petit Croissant is Picnic Perfect

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There is something romantic and precious about artisan-made desserts, not only do they taste good, but they make the sudden surge of calories quite worthwhile. At Le Petit Croissant, pastry chef and owner Vincent Cardonna can be seen working hard in his kitchen on a daily basis. The croissants are churned out fresh each morning accompanied by beautiful and delectable handmade chocolates and fine petit fours that beg for tea time.

Le Petit Croissant Greenville SC
Complete Restaurant Guide to Greenville, SC

Looking for more good restaurants? Here are the best restaurants in Greenville, SC.

Our visit to Le Petit Crossaint

On our first visit, we went for a classic selection and filled our Eclipse picnic basket with croissants, éclairs, raspberry tarts and quiches. Needless to say the pastries didn’t last the 2:30 pm show time and were gobbled up by kids and adults alike. We promised ourselves we’d be back.

Le Petit Croissant describes itself as a bakery making European-style pastries with a twist. Recently, after a hearty lunch downtown, we walked over to the bakery to have our dessert. My petit four was called Butterfly Cake with its changing hues, and hubby had the Raspberry dome. Once again, our sweet craving ended on a high note.

Le Petit Croissant candies in Greenville SC

And finally, about the chocolates. Have I told you about the chocolates? Cardonna is a master chocolatier. His creations are always infused with a unique combinations of flavor. You can build your own box, pick from their seasonal choices or purchase a chocolate or raspberry syringe for that quick boost! Le Petit Croissant is also fast becoming known for its Chocolate and Macaron Workshops that are often sold out. You can sign up or form your own group of six at $65 per person. Also in the works are chocolate workshops for kids.

We are well aware that Greenville has no shortage of fabulous bakeries that make flakey croissants and unforgettable homemade pies. What makes Le Petit Croissant stand out is the purveyor’s willingness to offer something new, delightful fine desserts minus the stuffiness. It’s not a place to buy good ol’ birthday cakes in a flash. But it’s still a mom-and-pop shop, where the same baker who wakes up to churn fresh pastries is the same one who fashions whimsical chocolates for your little ones, and just might be the same person serving you. Whether it’s a craving for something sweet or savory, this little shop has given us something to look forward to on our strolls downtown at the Historic West End.

Le Petit Croissant Greenville chalkboard

Visit Le Petit Croissant for yourself

As in any bakery, expect items to run out. Best to go there for breakfast or lunch. They open at 8 am every day except Mondays; they are closed on Mondays.

Le Petit Croissant
640 South Main Street, Greenville, SC 29601
864.520.1555
Have you visited Le Petit Croissant yet?

Mom Review: The Runway Park at Greenville Downtown Airport

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If you have a kid who loves airplanes, then Runway Park near Downtown Greenville, SC is the best park ever! Please tell me you’ve been. There is a wonderful park, with swings, climbing structures, a paved trail for bike riding, and lots of different slides. But the best part is that you can watch small-engine planes take off while you play! There is also a mini golf course and family-friendly restaurant in the same parking lot. What a win!

Runway Park at the Greenville Downtown Airport in Greenville, South Carolina

If your kid is super duper into planes, check out Spartanburg’s Downtown Memorial Airport Park. The park has a playground and even a free splash pad!

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10 Kid-Friendly Restaurant Options That Aren’t Fast Food in Greenville, SC

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Have you been searching for restaurants that are a little fancier, but are kid-friendly? Greenville, SC has several that are both! If you’re looking for a nice restaurant to celebrate something special or just something a bit nicer than chicken nuggets, check out this list of the best restaurants for kids in Greenville, SC.

Kid friendly restaurants in Greenville, South Carolina that are not fast food.

Dining out with kids isn’t only for intrepid parents who’ve taken their kids to dinner since birth. Parents deserve some fun and creative dining experiences that don’t involve chicken tenders! To make it a more fun and memorable experience, in addition to providing you with a few dinner suggestions (not the usual suspects), we’ve also shared some of our tips below based on our dining experiences around town.

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Be Part Of A Thriller Flash Mob In Falls Park This Halloween!

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Have you ever watched a viral video of a flash mob and wished you had been a part of it? Would you jump at the chance to limp through downtown Greenville in full Zombie fashion? Are you a child of the ’80s and have been dying to learn the “Thriller” dance? 

If you said “YES!” to any of these questions, your opportunity is here! 

Whether you want to use this as a fun couples activity or include the kids, we have the info you’ll need to participate in this flash mob event that starts rehearsals on October 3rd, 2023.

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