Looking for boys dance classes near Greenville, SC? It can be hard to be the only boy in a dance class, and as a result, many boys don’t want to try a dance class. Kidding Around found a few studios in Spartanburg and Greenville that offer dance classes just for boys. Below you’ll find a list of places where boys will find dance classes just for them.
Are you interested in volunteering at the Ronald McDonald? Greenville, SC is home to the Ronald McDonald House of the Carolinas, and they are always looking for wonderful volunteers! Learn what types of volunteer opportunities are available to help support this important organization which helps families with children receiving care at local hospitals.
There are many ways that you can help support the Ronald McDonald House through acts of kindness and volunteering. If you’re looking for a place your whole family can volunteer, consider helping out at our local Ronald McDonald House. RMHC has several opportunities for volunteers of any age!
RMHC provides a low-cost place for families to stay who have a critically ill or injured child in a nearby hospital. The houses offer private bedrooms, playrooms and home-cooked meals–all of which allow families to stay close to their hospitalized loved ones. There are over 350 Ronald McDonald Houses, in 63 countries and they serve more than 12,000 families each night.
Locally, Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Carolinas is across the street from Greenville Memorial Hospital on Grove Road. It features 12 private rooms, laundry services, a double kitchen, a playroom and an outdoor playground.
Volunteers are vital to the Ronald McDonald House in Greenville. Volunteers can help with simple chores, baking cookies, cooking meals, helping clean, and spending time with the families and siblings of children who are ill. These children are often saddled with an unbearable amount of stress. Spending time in a colorful playroom away from the hospital is the perfect place for them to set aside their grief and act their age.
RMHCC is always looking for volunteers, and there are several volunteer programs families can do together. There are lots of simple ways you and your children can become a small part of this amazing organization.
One of the most popular volunteering programs at RMHCC is Cookies from the Heart. This program bakes fresh cookies for the families in residence. Fresh-baked cookies help make staying at RMHCC feel more like home. Plus, it’s a fast treat they can grab on their way to the hospital.
Groups of up to 6 people can sign up for weekday morning hours to volunteer cooking and baking. You must bring all ingredients, while RMHCC will provide cookie sheets, bowls, spatulas, cooling racks, and individual baggies for packaging up the cookies. They have three ovens available for use. You can make any type of cookies, brownies, or blondies. They only ask that no nuts be used.
Children 8 and older can participate, and the rule is 2 children to one parent.
RMHCC provides the families staying there with home-cooked meals every evening through the Guest Chef Program. Volunteers for this program are asked to make enough food for at least 20 people.
Food can be catered or prepared onsite using the kitchens and equipment at the House, which includes a gas grill, three ovens, and two stoves. Time slots for this program are every day from 4 to 6 p.m., with the mealtime around 6 p.m. Groups of 6 or less can help prepare the meals onsite.
Similar to the Guest Chef Program, families who’d like to help out on the weekends can sign up to make prepared meals for residents of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Carolinas.
Volunteers can prepare casseroles, soups, pasta bakes, and other meals that hold up well for the residents to cook and eat later in the week.
Families can volunteer from 11 am to 12:30 pm, both Saturday and Sunday. Meals should be cooked at RMHCC or be catered. Children 10 and older can help their parents during meal prep.
House Monitor volunteers can help out both during the week and on weekends to maintain the home and keep the Ronald McDonald House clean. Volunteers help families with laundry, removing trash and recycling from the home, sanitizing the common areas, and more.
They can also help with office tasks, yard work, housekeeping, and various household tasks. Volunteers must be 16 or older to participate as a House Monitor. Shifts are 2 hours long and are available from 9 am to 8 pm Monday through Friday. Saturday and Sunday volunteer hours are from 10 am to 8 pm.
Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Carolinas
706 Grove Road, Greenville, SC
864.235.0506
Would volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House be the perfect way to give back for your family?
Have you noticed that murals are gracing the walls of buildings all over the Upstate? We’ve listed out where you can find Greenville, SC murals (and more mural locations in the Upstate). Make an afternoon out of it and go on an Upstate Mural Driving Tour!
We’ve put together six driving tours of murals in Greenville, Travelers Rest, and Spartanburg. You can combine routes as well if you’re in the same area (Google won’t let us add more than ten destinations to each route).
Special thanks to reader Amanda for letting us use one of the photos she took during her driving tour with her family (where they got milkshakes for extra fun during this current coronavirus crisis).
Ready to get out and hike the trails near Greenville, SC? Today, contributor Kristina Hernandez shares some of the best places to hike near Greenville, SC.
For even more hikes, see our complete guide to hikes near Greenville, SC, which has hikes for every age, ability and every type of trail including trails with waterfalls, historic hikes, and more.
Some of my earliest memories as a kid were hiking with my family. It became a fun activity as my brothers and I got older and we got to pick out where we would go and which trails we would explore. I was banned from being the guide when I led us around in circles in the woods and eventually ended up on some unknown road (before GPS). Thankfully it’s pretty hard to get lost nowadays and hiking is still a favorite activity of mine. Because Greenville is so awesome, there are tons of great parks in the area to enjoy the outdoors, burn off some energy, pack a picnic and make a day of it.
When hiking, be sure to be considerate of other hikers, don’t leave trash on the trail, always keep animals leashed, don’t climb around waterfalls or allow kids to play near them as the rocks are and can be slippery and hazardous, and wear proper shoes (like not flip-flops or heels – I’ve seen people wear these when “hiking”), and be aware of your surroundings and wildlife like snakes and birds. For important tips on recreating responsibly, please see this story on the seven Leave No Trace principles.
One thing to note is that since the pandemic hit in March 2020, getting outdoors has now become a thing. National Parks, forests, and state parks are all reporting record-high numbers, which means many of our favorite trails are packed, which is pretty much the opposite of what we have been urged to do by medical professionals (although most agree that being outdoors is a good choice in these trying times). Because we live in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and with literally hundreds of miles of hiking trails nearby, it’s truly not that hard to find less traveled trails. We made this Instagram short story on the All Trails app to show you how to search for less-trafficked trails. You can also join local hiking pages or just do your own research online or ask friends who are avid hikers. Happy Trails!
Kidding Around Greenville readers give some of their favorite hiking spots in the area below. One reader is on a mission to see all the beautiful waterfalls within an hour of Greenville. She uses the AllTrails Hiking & Mountain Trails app to find them, and other trails in the Upstate. We also have a list of waterfalls near Greenville to assist our readers.
Looking for family restaurants in Spartanburg, SC? We have a list of restaurants in Spartanburg where kids and parents can enjoy a sit-down meal together. Spartanburg has no shortage of restaurants, but the trick is finding that perfect balance of grown-ish and kid-friendly.
We think we have a few options that fit the bill with great kids’ menus or a perfect family atmosphere. So, pack up the family and prepare to enjoy a nice meal out!
Check out our Spartanburg restaurant guide to discover more amazing restaurants in Spartanburg, SC.
120 Dorman Commerce Drive, Spartanburg | 864.576.8600
This is not only one of the most delicious Italian spots in Spartanburg, it’s also the perfect blend of grown-up and family-friendly atmosphere! The menu includes pizza, delicious desserts, and anything your family could ask for in a sit-down meal. Don’t wait for a special occasion to enjoy a meal here, it’s too good to miss.
Also, try to save room for dessert!
129 West Main Street, Spartanburg | 864.582.0618
Monsoon Noodle House has delicious soups, noodle bowls, and more, plus they offer a kid’s menu. The kid-friendly dishes are familiar dishes that kids will recognize from your favorite Chinese take-out option. However, there are other kid-friendly options on the Monsoon Noodle House menu! My kids like to get the Satay Chicken Sticks (we call them chicken lollipops) and the lettuce wraps. This food is fun and healthy, and I can enjoy a spicy noodle dish, or in the winter, the soup here will cure you of whatever ails you!
1800 Drayton Road, Spartanburg | 864.310.4177
It doesn’t get more family-friendly than patio-side at Dray: Bar + Grill. We’ve had numerous readers tell us that the patio is great, because your kids can run around the large Drayton Mills courtyard while the grownups relax, and no one gets upset! Kid’s meals are also pretty affordable here!
726 South Howard Avenue, Landrum | 864.457.4581
Being greeted by a 6-foot tall hay-bale pig, lets you know right away that a place is family-friendly! Chef Sarah McClure creates delicious meals for her guests, of all ages. Kid’s meals are just $7 each, and that just leaves more money to splurge on dessert!
Do you have any family-friendly restaurants in Spartanburg that your family loves?
Looking for more restaurants near Greenville, SC? Kidding Around has a massive guide to restaurants in the Upstate.
Want to know some restaurants to take your kids for cheap? Here are a bunch of restaurants where kids eat free in Greenville, SC!
Trying to plan a date night that will allow you to bring the baby along without any fuss? Date nights might seem like a thing of the past once you have a baby, so we are coming to the rescue with this list by Lindy Wilson. We have some great date ideas with a baby for parents in Greenville, SC that are perfect for when you need your tiny human to tag along.
Are you new to Spartanburg, SC? Maybe you’ve lived here a while, but have run out of ideas to keep your family busy? We’ve got a list of must-try fun in Spartanburg for your family to enjoy! This list is also great when you have out-of-town guests and are looking for things to do that showcase your hometown.
Head over to the Kidding Around Spartanburg Facebook and the Kidding Around Upstate Instagram to see more of the fun we are having daily in Spartanburg and beyond!
Whether you’re a Spartanburg local or new to the area, we’ve found some great things for your family to enjoy at some point in your Spartanburg experience! We’ve sorted them seasonally, so you can easily decide what bucket list items you want to check off next!
Let your kids flex their extreme sporting interest at two local spots where access is free and available year-round. The Hot Spot Skate Park and Subaru of Spartanburg Bike Park can provide your child (and yourself!) with hours of x-treme fun!
The Spartanburg County Public Library offers 10 different branches around the county, as well as a used bookstore called Pages on Pine with unbelievable semi-annual sales! If you’ve never visited the Headquarters Library in downtown Spartanburg, it offers a ton to explore, including the Planetarium Learning Center, two different Maker Labs for children and adults, and an outdoor playground connected to their Children’s Department. It’s also worth getting to know the branch nearest to your home, as every location is unique. Visit each branch as you get the opportunity, and you’ll discover everything from hidden parks to seed libraries to storytimes!
There are so many opportunities for educational experiences around Spartanburg and beyond! For STEM learning with a “WOW!” factor, consider visiting the Spartanburg Science Center or the Planetarium Learning Center, both located in the heart of Spartanburg’s downtown. If you’re interested in local history, you can check out these two historic plantations in the area, Blackstock Battlefield in nearby Enoree, or Musgrove Mill in Clinton, SC. For the arts, don’t miss the Spartanburg Art Museum or any our awesome local art studios like The Painted Palmetto or Paint it up! Chesnee. We also have a list of educational travel day trips and vacations from the Upstate. There are so many opportunities to travel and learn, and you don’t always have to travel very far to experience something new!
Spartanburg is a fantastic community for small, family-owned businesses to launch and grow. Why not support one of these many great businesses with a little shopping trip? Take a few hours, or a whole day, and visit at least one shop that’s new to you! Just check our guide to local businesses in Spartanburg to see what catches your eye.
The South Carolina State Parks Department offers its own incentive program for families to visit all the parks, called the Ultimate Outsider Program! There is no deadline, so once you get started, you can take as much time as you need to visit as many parks as you want. To get started, just pick up a Guide Book on your first State Park visit or order one online (at last check, they were only $1 to order). Bring it with you to each park, find a Ranger to stamp your book, and enjoy prizes once you’ve visit all 47! Over half the parks also participate in the Junior Ranger Program, an educational adventure to help your kids learn about the great outdoors and earn stamps and prizes, too! We recommend starting with Croft State Park, located right here within Spartanburg County.
Spartanburg is a deeply artistic community with beautiful public art displays everywhere you turn. One of its most notable public art projects is Lighten Up Spartanburg, which launched in 2017 with unique oversized lightbulb sculptures all over the City of Spartanburg. We’ve also put together a sprawling Mural Tour of Upstate SC, with a dozen murals across City of Spartanburg alone!
The Pacolet River Heritage Trust Preserve is the home to two Native American soapstone quarries. The Native American residents are thought to have used this land between 3000 BC and 1100 BC to obtain materials for their daily necessities. The soapstone outcrops are fragile and should not be touched, in order to preserve them for another several thousand years.
Spartanburg is an excellent place to enjoy a family-friendly Spring festival, and one of these should absolutely be a part of your annual bucket list. Your family can enjoy several different festivals from April through June, engaging your family in the worlds of travel, food, music, culture, and of course the emerging Spring!
Strawberry Hill USA is a great place to grab local strawberries! Rows of fresh berries as far as the eye can see have been grown by this local family for generations. They also serve up a juicy burger in the diner on the farm! If it’s the Fall season, Strawberry Hill has a fall event with lots of pumpkins and activities that you don’t want to miss. If it’s outside of the normal strawberry season and you want some fresh local berries, head to Bush-N-Vine Farm in York County, SC where you can find freshly grown strawberries nearly 365 days a year. While you are there, grab a fresh fruit slushie, and let the kids run around the play area before you head back.
Creek Stomping in the Upstate is a great way to cool off in the warmer months! Croft State Park in Spartanburg has the perfect trail that leads to a spot where you can hang a hammock and splash the day away, and River Place Park in Lyman has a massive sandhill where kids can literally build sandcastles next to the water…right in the middle of town!
Renting a kayak at Lake Cooley is a must-do! This is a yearly tradition for a bunch of local families, and once you go, you will know why. The calm, glass-like water of Lake Cooley is the perfect place for first-time paddlers to learn, and who knows? You might just decide to buy your own equipment after you get hooked on this awesome hobby!
With the changing seasons comes an excellent break from the humid, summer heat. Explore various cultures, enjoy delicious food, and maybe even fly a kite. Nothing beats the fall festivals in Spartanburg, which offer some excellent family-friendly events to add to your bucket list!
The Kidding Around Holiday Light Driving Tour has become a part of the Upstate’s family holiday traditions and we are thrilled! This is a great way to enjoy some free fun, that can be spread throughout the month of December.
Do you crave a little something spooky around Halloween? Do you love a good ghost story? If you answered yes then you’re going to love this article about South Carolina Investigators of the Paranormal. Our chat with owner Melinda will fill your need for a scare and maybe even transform a skeptic or two into a believer with her tales so read on. If you dare.
Are you looking to conduct your own ghost hunt? Check this guide to some of the Upstate’s Haunting Hot Spots
(more…)Here are some summer fun things to do in Greenville, SC before you leave for college! Greenville has so much to offer young adults, and you want to be sure to experience all of them before you pack your bags. Gather some friends and go have fun this summer in Greenville, SC.
(more…)Are you looking for ways to look stylish and save money at women’s consignment shops near Greenville, SC? Here is our list of the best women’s consignment stores to visit. Get ready to find great deals!
For even more deals be sure to see our list of children’s consignment stores.
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