Author Archive

A 2-3 Day Downtown Charleston Itinerary for Grown Ups

Over the past weekend, my husband and I traveled to nearby Charleston for a short weekend vacation (without the kids). Despite being a little bit nippy in January, we had a great time exploring the “Holy City”. With Charleston being one of the top vacation spots for weekend vacation or even day trip distance from Greenville, SC, I’ve put together a two-three day itinerary focusing on downtown historic sites.

Disclosures: I was provided with a complimentary pass into Charleston attractions by the Charleston CVB. This post may contain affiliate links at no cost to you. All opinions and comments are my own. (more…)

It’s Scary Having a Child with Nut Allergies

It is not unusual for children to have allergies; in fact most kids have them, but most are not life threatening. We discovered that our beautiful daughter has a severe peanut and tree nut allergy two weeks before her 2^nd birthday. ~Sherrica Sims, KAG Contributor

When we discovered that our child had a serious nut allergy, we were at a loss and guilt ridden. How did this happen? How do we keep her safe? What if something would have happened before we knew? Could she ever be out of our sight? It was quite scary and daunting. Let’s face it Nuts are EVERYWHERE.

Instantly, we became a nut free home and made adjustments to our lifestyle. My husband and I read every article we could find online. I took to social media and asked my friends for advice. We reworked our grocery budget. We started to shop at Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods exclusively, simply because main stream grocery stores did not have nut alternatives (or the prices were CRAZY).

I am now an avid label reader and often stay away from foods without them. This can be difficult because 3 year olds hate to be told they cannot have something that looks tasty.

Eating Out with Nut Allergies

Eating out can present a whole other set of problems. We once visited a restaurant for breakfast and as always informed the server of our daughter’s allergy. The food arrived and the kids were ready to dig in, but we stopped them so we could inspect the food. Well there was a mix up and instead of 2 kid’s menu pancakes, they were pecan pancakes.

I was outraged and could only think about what could have happened if my husband had not grabbed her plate. I contacted the regional manager of the chain and he assured me that new allergy training would be implemented. Thank God!

Nut Allergies Affect More than Just Food

A unique challenge was discovering that this particular allergy extends far beyond food. Almost all bath and beauty products contain some type of tree nut oil; almond, macadamia nut, and argan are the most widely used.

Honestly, this was hard for me, because as I looked at the labels of my favorite products, I soon realized all contained tree nuts. I just could not take the chance, so I gave them all away. I started to make my own products in order to ensure she did not come into contact with ingredients that could harm her or irritate her skin.

Overall my husband and I found that the lifestyle adjustments were not terribly difficult; although, he still refuses to eat sunbutter (Sunflower seed butter). We found that we are much more health conscience and have benefited from the dietary changes as a family. We have a wonderful family network and they are so willing to adjust menus at family gatherings.

How to Support Families with Nut Allergies

In an effort to spread awareness to those who do not have children with food allergies, I would suggest a few tips:

Make it a rule to NEVER send candy with nuts to school with your children. The likelihood of a reaction drastically increases when young children with allergies are presented with nuts in a candy. (Who asks questions when chocolate is involved?)
When having a party for your child simply ask if those invited have a food allergy, and be willing to adjust the menu.
Finally, I ask that if you know of a family that has a child with any type of special considerations, take time to offer support and understanding. Sometimes it only takes one kind word of encouragement to ease the stress that naturally comes along with parenting.

I hope that sharing our experiences will help other parents who face the same challenges.

Do you have a child with a nut allergy? What advice would you give others?

Sherrica Sims is an Upstate native who is a stay at home mom of 2 precocious kids. She loves creative outlets and spending time with family. You can follow her family on SimplySimsFamily.com.

This Event Is the Perfect Way to Celebrate Dad

Today, my family had the opportunity to review Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical performed by our sponsor the South Carolina Children’s Theatre. We routinely completely empty the library shelf of author Mo Willems’ books, so we couldn’t wait to see one of our favorite stories come to life. We weren’t disappointed. It was the perfect outing as a family to celebrate dad on Father’s Day weekend.~Bethany Winston, owner of Kidding Around Greenville

Review tickets were provided by our sponsor the South Carolina Children’s Theatre.

Our Review

We arrived at the Gunter Theatre (located at the Peace Center in downtown Greenville) just 15 minutes before performance time. Be aware if you are driving from a distance (like us) that I-85 South had several lanes closed near exit 60 due to construction. Despite dealing with traffic and being behind schedule, we still were able to easily find a parking space in the nearby parking garage of the Marriott Hotel. The Box Office line moved quickly and was efficient and we were left with plenty of time for the kids to use the restroom (before the performance), play a little in the lobby, and find our seats.

For those unfamiliar with the Gunter Theatre, it’s a small theatre where there is really not a bad seat. The elevation between rows is significant so even small children won’t have trouble seeing. Finding your seat is simple, so if you have small children that might struggle to sit still, 5 minutes is more than enough time to get seated. There were some toys in the lobby to entertain children as well.

Many families let their kids bring their special stuffed animals with them. I wish I would have thought to have done that myself. Of course, if you bring a special stuffed animal, don’t leave it there. That would be a little too much like the story of Knuffle Bunny!

It’s a story that will be all too familiar for parents. Dad (Todd A. Janssen) decides to take Trixie (Ayden Woo) with him to do the laundry at the local Laundromat. Mom (Hannah Smith) is a little worried, because after all she knows that taking care of Trixie is not always easy but Dad assures Mom that everything will be okay. Trixie and Dad head off the Laundromat with only a couple slight hiccups along the way but things go seriously wrong when Knuffle Bunny accidentally gets left behind. On the way home, Dad is perplexed by Trixie’s babble and later tantrum. Everything comes to a sweet ending when Dad saves the day, as Mom knew (or hoped) he would.

The musical was a fast-paced 45 minutes with no intermission. It was mostly music and had plenty of action. My children are 5 and 8, and both children sat at the edge of their seats laughing through the entire show. As Mo Willems fans might predict though, the kids weren’t the only ones laughing. The show was very relatable to any parent as well with it’s themes about the extreme frustration and love all mixed up that parents feel as they try to understand and parent very little ones who can’t talk.

Fathers especially will relate to Trixie’s Dad who is an engaged father who helps and loves his child but also finds dealing with a toddler to often be much more difficult than he ever imagined. Trixie’s Dad experiences the range of emotions that fathers feel from being “Super Dad” to being convinced that he is a failure while trying to move “boneless” Trixie across town, to once again being the hero by finally locating Knuffle Bunny.

Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical is really the perfect way to celebrate that Dad who loves his kids and tries his best to be a great dad (even when things go wrong). Buy dad a couple tickets and let him take the kids. It is the perfect dad/kid date and tickets are even a special discounted price for the 5:30 pm performance on Father’s Day!

How Young of Children Will Enjoy Knuffle Bunny?

The theatre was filled with kids even as young as 2 or 3. I did not notice any children leaving due to not being able to make it through the show. If your child can watch around 45 minutes to an hour of a movie, I personally think that they will have no trouble making it through the show. The show is fast-paced and full of music.

One of my friends was there with her 3-year-old boy, and she said that he enjoyed the show and didn’t have any trouble sitting through it.

Anything Else?

After the performance, the cast will sign autographs in the lobby. It’s fun to stay a couple minutes and snag a photo and autograph if you have time.

The South Carolina Children’s Theatre does sell souvenirs in the lobby before and after the show. For this performance you could even buy the book Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale as well as a stuffed Knuffle Bunny of your own!

We wouldn’t want to end this review without saying what a tremendous job Ayden Woo did in her performance of Trixie. It’s always amazing to see the very young local talent that comes out of the South Carolina Children’s Theatre.

About Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical

“Who knew a trip to the laundromat could provide so much entertainment? Join toddler Trixie, her Dad and Knuffle Bunny as they take a musical journey that is chock full of song, comedy and gigantic dancing laundry. Based on the book by six-time Emmy award winner, Mo Willems, this show will please audiences of all ages.”

Based on the book KNUFFLE BUNNY: A CAUTIONARY TALE by Mo Willems
Published by Hyperion Books for Children
Script and Lyrics by Mo Willems
Music by Michael Silversher
Presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI)

This performance is one hour with no intermission.

Recommended for mature 2 year-old children and older. A good rule of thumb to determine if a child is old enough for a stage performance is to consider whether or not they can sit through a similar length feature film quietly.

Performance Dates & Times

Saturday, June 18, 2016 at 10:30 am, 1:30 pm and 5:30 pm
Sunday, June 19, 2016 at 1:30 pm and 5:30 pm**

Saturday, June 25, 2016 at 10:30 am, 1:30 pm and 5:30 pm
Sunday, June 26 at 1:30 pm

**Special price of $18/person for this performance only
All other performances are $27/adult and $18/children 18 & under.

The performance will be at the Gunter Theatre at the Peace Center in downtown Greenville. Parking is available at several nearby parking garages. The Marriott Hotel parking garage is the most conveniently located to the Gunter Theatre. Event parking is typically $5 a vehicle.
Have your children ever read Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems?

{For Dads} How You Can Make a Difference Each Morning!

We are excited to introduce our first Dad contributor on Kidding Around Greenville, Robert Neely. As a dad of twins, we are sure that he will have plenty of great tips for all of us. His first post is written specifically for those dads out there with Robert’s tips for how dads can set up their families for success in the morning before the work day starts.

Life can get a little crazy at our house, thanks to our 14-month-old boy/girl twins. My wife takes on the huge responsibility of caring for the twins all day while I’m at work. That’s a big job, and I want to do everything I can to help even though I have to be at work most of the day.

So before I head off to work in the morning, my goal is to set my family up for success for the day.

How can a Dad set up his family for success when he walks out the door in the morning - find out with these tips!

Photo Credit: J. Wingreen Photography

The morning routine

My first goal every morning is to get the twins up, changed, dressed and fed. This gives me a little bit of awesome quality time with the kids, while giving my wife a few minutes to get dressed and ready. It means getting up a few minutes earlier on my part, but it’s totally worth it.

Being a part of the kids’ morning routine is something just about every dad can do.

Tasks to be done

What else should you do? Sorry guys—there’s not one set answer. You need to pay attention to what your wife and kids need, and how it’s changing as your kids mature.

When our twins were newborns, about the most important thing I could do in the mornings was put their dirty clothes in the wash. They went through so many onesies, burp cloths, and blankets that we had to wash them every day. If I could get them started in the morning, it was much easier for my wife to get them into the dryer when one or both baby napped.

During these crazy times, when we hadn’t yet gotten our twins onto the same schedule, I also made my wife a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. That way, if she only could get one hand free to eat while caring for one twin or the other, she had some protein at hand.

Once our twins reached bottle stage, loading the dishwasher became my morning priority. We had to run the dishwasher every day to keep up with the bottles our twins ate, and the best rhythm for us was to wash the dishes when we went to bed so they were all clean to start a new day.

Now we’re past the bottle stage, and our twins typically nap at the same time. This means that what needs to be done can change from day to day. Sometimes it’s making sure the stroller is in the right car. At other times it’s helping to cut up some food for the twins’ lunch.

And it’s always worth stopping to change a dirty diaper before you leave. Sometimes it seems like our twins have a sixth sense for when I’m leaving and time things for 10 minutes before, but that’s OK. I try to look at it as one or two less dirty diapers for my wife to deal with for the day.

What your family needs will be different. You might have one child, or five. Older kids will undoubtedly require different kinds of help—school lunches, homework checks, and other things our family hasn’t yet experienced.

Photo Credit: J. Wingreen Photography

The secret of your success

So the key is watching and listening. Ask your wife what she needs, rather than guessing. Believe me, she’ll know. And she’ll appreciate you proactively looking for ways to help, instead of waiting until you’re asked.

Watch your kids, and ask them too if they can talk. They’ll tell and show you what they need.

Approaching the day with the goal of setting your family up for success—based on what you’ve seen and heard—points the whole family in the right direction every morning.

And that will help everyone (including dad) have a better day.

What tips do you have for dads setting their families up for success in the morning?

Photos by J. Wingreen Photography.

Meet Robert

Robert Neely and his wife are parents to 1-year-old boy/girl twins. He’s been a writer, editor and journalist for 20+ years.

My Heart’s Desire Photography

We are excited to be featuring local photographers who specialize in family, children, maternity, and/or infant photography this fall. If you haven’t already done so already, be sure to check out our interactive Photography Guide where you can find this post’s sponsor My Heart’s Desire Photography gracing the cover. This is the perfect time of year to get photos taken, because you are going to want a great photo for that Christmas card coming out in December! ~Bethany

Thank you to My Heart’s Desire Photography for supporting Kidding Around Greenville by sponsoring this giveaway!

Giveaway: As part of our photography directory series, several of our photography sponsors have generously donated giveaway packages for our readers. Today, you can enter for a chance to win a photography session with My Heart’s Desire Photography! (terms and conditions apply, see below)

My Heart’s Desire Photography offers family, children, maternity, and newborn sessions!

About My Heart’s Desire Photography

My Heart’s Desire Photography offers a full spectrum of photography packages for families in the Upstate. Specializing in newborn, maternity, and family photos, my sessions creatively include both traditional and fully styled settings. ~Meribeth

Website: www.myheartsdesirephotography.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/myheartsdesirephotography
Email: myheartsdesirephotography@gmail.com
Phone: 864.832.7628

Her clients say:

Crystal: “She is such an amazing photographer, so patient with the children, and has great style for capturing the best pictures she took her time with our family and got great pictures we absolutely love them, I can’t wait to have her take our pictures again, we highly recommend her.”

Tiffany: “My Heart’s Desire was able to capture the joy, beauty and spunkiness of my family with ease and professionalism. Meribeth was easy to work with, flexible with times, and we were thrilled with the outcome of each of our sessions. Great pricing on images and packages, too. I would highly recommend using My Heart’s Desire for anything from family pictures to kids to couples.”

Go to My Heart’s Desire Photography’s Facebook page to see more adorable photos like this one!

Current Specials

September Newborn Special: $115 for 90 minute session. Includes 1, 11×14 and 2 5×7 portraits and 10% off any packages, prints or digital images.

Fall Family Mini Session: $85 for 30 minute session. Includes 30 minutes of shooting time, post-processing of images, 1-11×14 portrait and 2 digital images. In addition, there will be a 10% discount on any packages, prints, or digitals! Perfect for holiday cards!

Don’t miss your chance to book one of these specials with My Heart’s Desire Photography (Christmas will be here before you know it!). I personally, have been impressed by her creativity and wide-range of offerings. Remember that fall sessions are already starting book up for these photographers, so don’t wait. ~Bethany

Book your session now at myheartsdesirephotography@gmail.com or by calling 864.832.7628!

I personally think that My Heart’s Desire Photography’s fully-styled sessions are so creative and unique.

Giveaway

Thanks to My Heart’s Desire Photography, one of you will win a free session (see details below)!

Prize: Fall Family/Children mini-session with 4 digital images or a Newborn 30 minute session with 4 digital images. The winner will also receive a discount on any prints or products they wish to purchase in addition to the 4 digital images.

This giveaway opens at time of posting on September 17, 2014 and will close at midnight on September 23, 2014.

Our giveaway rules:

You must be 18 or older and live in the USA to enter this giveaway.
You must use a valid email address to enter this giveaway. By entering this giveaway, you agree to allow the sponsor of this giveaway to use your email address to contact you about promotions. You may unsubscribe at anytime.
We will contact the winner via the email address provided within three [3] days of the giveaway ending. The winner will have three [3] days (72 hours) to respond via email. If the winner does not respond within the three [3] days (72 hours), the prize will be forfeited and another winner chosen. Directions for claiming the prize will be given via email.
The prize must be claimed during the time period specified.
For a complete list of Kidding Around Greenville SC’s giveaway policies and terms and conditions, see the Kidding Around Greenville SC policy page. By entering this giveaway, you agree to comply with Kidding Around Greenville SC’s terms and conditions.

We use a special giveaway widget to ensure accuracy and fair results, if it’s slow to load or doesn’t appear you can access it via this link.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What type of photography offered by My Heart’s Desire Photography would you purchase if you could pick any package?

Are you planning to hiring a photographer this fall? Don’t forget to check our Fall Photography Guide!

Meet Bethany

Bethany is a local Greenville mom who enjoys sharing her enthusiasm about Greenville with other local families through her website Kidding Around Greenville. Her content is featured on Visit Greenville, iOnGreenville, and Greenville.fm. You can contact Bethany at Bethany.Winston@gmail.com.

Photography Spotlight: J. Wingreen Photography

We are excited to be featuring local photographers who specialize in family, children, maternity, and/or infant photography this fall. If you haven’t already done so already, be sure to check out our interactive Photography Directory where you can find our fall 2014 photography sponsors. This is the perfect time of year to get photos taken, because you are going to want a great photo for that Christmas card coming out in December! ~Bethany

Thank you to J. Wingreen Photography for sponsoring this giveaway for our readers!

Giveaway: As part of our photography directory series, several of our photography sponsors have generously donated giveaway packages for our readers. Today, you can enter for a chance to win a Fall Family Session with J. Wingreen Photography! (terms and conditions apply, see below)

Family Photography in Greenville SC: three photos of families in outdoor settings

About J. Wingreen Photography

As you may have already noticed, Julie of J. Wingreen Photography is our KAG photography partner and has done an amazing job. While most of her photos for Kidding Around Greenville are of places (not people), she also is a wonderful family photographer. At a recent event, I met many of you who had signed up for Julie’s Back-to-School mini sessions, so I know that you will be excited to see that she is offering a Fall Family Session.

Fall Family Session:

30 Minutes
20 Edited, Digital Images
All for $80 when booked for the months of September and October

J Wingreen fall session: three photos of a family in outdoor setting

Julie says about her sessions, “Don’t fuss over what to wear! Choose something that fits your personality, makes you happy, isn’t too “matchy,” and add some accessories! Layering works wonders on a camera, so don’t be afraid to throw in an extra necklace, sweater, vest, whatever! If you’re not sure, no problem. Bring a few options and we’ll decide together!

Sessions are fun and relaxed–believe me when I say that tilting heads and positioning hands are not my thing. I want to capture you…being you! We’ll take some gorgeous posed pictures, but we’ll also capture the fun candid moments. The best part? You’ll come away with high-quality images that will last a lifetime.”

Don’t miss your chance for a Fall Session with J. Wingreen Photography. Julie will fill up quickly. You can see more of Julie’s work and connect with her on:

To book your Fall Session, contact her at 815.904.2899 or by email at jwingreen@gmail.com

J. Wingreen Giveaway

J. Wingreen Photography is sponsoring a giveaway package for one reader to win a Fall Family Session (details of prize listed above). Session subject to terms and conditions as listed above.

Fall Family Session includes 30 minutes and 20 edited, digital images, session must be booked in September or October.

This giveaway opens at time of posting on September 10, 2014 and will close at midnight on September 16, 2014.

Our giveaway rules:

You must be 18 or older and live in the USA to enter this giveaway.
You must use a valid email address to enter this giveaway. By entering this giveaway, you agree to allow the sponsor of this giveaway to use your email address to contact you about promotions. You may unsubscribe at anytime.
We will contact the winner via the email address provided within three [3] days of the giveaway ending. The winner will have three [3] days (72 hours) to respond via email. If the winner does not respond within the three [3] days (72 hours), the prize will be forfeited and another winner chosen. Directions for claiming the prize will be given via email.
The prize must be claimed during the time period specified.
For a complete list of Kidding Around Greenville SC’s giveaway policies and terms and conditions, see the Kidding Around Greenville SC policy page. By entering this giveaway, you agree to comply with Kidding Around Greenville SC’s terms and conditions.

If the Rafflecopter Widget is slow to load, you can access the giveaway using this link.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Are you planning to hiring a photographer this fall? Don’t forget to check our Fall Photography Guide!

Meet Bethany

How Our RMSC Pass Saved Us $100+ Last Week

I personally recommend that local families consider purchasing memberships to the attractions in our area. It’s beneficial on a number of levels. Being a member has perks such as providing year-round educational experiences for your kids, investing in local non-profits and access to special parties and discounts. But, another less tapped into benefit is the access to reciprocal admission benefits at other attractions across the United States. We decided to test the benefits of an ASTC Passport Membership this past week during a family trip to see if it was a deal worth the money. (more…)

10+ Things to do on Campus at Clemson University

Have you visited the campus of Clemson University in South Carolina? There is much more going on than academics on this beautiful campus situated at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Whether you are visiting Death Valley, exploring the SC Botanical Garden and geology museum, or touring the Clemson University Equine Center, you will find something interesting to do for the entire family! There are so many things to do in Clemson, SC that are kid-friendly and worth a visit to explore.

(more…)

Kidding Around Atlanta: World of Coca-Cola

Curious about the World of Coke in Atlanta? Since Greenville is a short day trip from this popular Atlanta destination, Kidding Around contributors are telling you all about their visit.

What makes Coca-Cola’s secret formula so successful, and why is World of Coca-Cola such a popular destination for families visiting Atlanta, Georgia? Our team at Kidding Around Greenville decided to search for the answers to these two questions on our recent weekend trip to Atlanta. While I can’t promise to share the secret ingredients to Coke’s famous recipe, I think that we did figure out why families love visiting World of Coca-Cola.

Our trip to World of Coca-Cola was compliments of World of Coca-Cola. This post contains affiliate links.

Find a place to stay in Atlanta, GA. This article contains Stay22 affiliate links.

The Quick Scoop on World of Coca-Cola

Ticket Prices (prices are subject to change):

$17 – Adults (13 – 64)
$15 – Seniors (65+)
$13 – Youths (3 – 12)
Free – Babies (2 and under)

Annual passes and a bundle deal for Atlanta attractions are also available.

Location: Pemberton Place in Midtown, Atlanta, Georgia

Hours: Hours of operation range from 9 am to 8:30 pm, see the World of Coca-Cola website for each day’s specific hours of operation.

Time to Tour: 1 1/2 to 2 hours

Ages: While the World of Coca-Cola accommodates all ages, in my opinion the museum would be best enjoyed by children elementary age through adults.

Parking: Parking is available in the World of Coca-Cola parking garage for $15 a day, two Marta stations are also located within 10 minute walking distances.

Nearby Attractions: The Georgia Aquarium, CNN Tower, and Centennial Olympic Park are all located within easy walking distance of World of Coca-Cola. Susan and I easily filled a day with just the World of Coca-Cola and The Georgia Aquarium, though with an earlier start it would be possible to tour the CNN Tower as well. (I personally think that all three attractions would be overwhelming for children). Atlanta has also opened a tall Ferris Wheel with a 15 minute ride within walking distance of Pemberton Place.

Nearby Hotels: Susan and I stayed at Renaissance Atlanta Midtown Hotel.

What to Expect at World of Coca-Cola

World of Coca-Cola is essentially a fast-paced multimedia museum about the history and production of the drink Coca-Cola. Families can expect a quick live presentation of the history of Coca-Cola when entering the museum, followed by a short animated movie in the Happiness Factory Theatre, and then a self-guided tour of the museum’s exhibits.

I did appreciate that all of World of Coca-Cola’s exhibits including the 4-D Movie Theatre are included in the cost of admission.

World of Coca-Cola Travel Tip: All visitors to World of Coca-Cola must listen to the introductory live presentation and movie which takes around 30 minutes total. Be prepared to entertain small children as the live presentation in particular requires standing in one place for several minutes.

Exhibits at World of Coca-Cola

I’ve toured World of Coca-Cola several times, and in my opinion Coca-Cola has kept the museum fresh and interesting. While some of the popular exhibits have remained unchanged, every visit brings new experiences too. You can find a complete list of exhibits and shows on the World of Coca-Cola website, but I’ll list a couple of my favorites.

Vault of the Secret Formula

Kids will love the dramatic presentation of the exhibit Vault of the Secret Formula. The attendants keep even the line waiting lively, with a beach ball game. Upon entering the vault, visitors are crammed into a small room where a “security clearance” is performed.

Inside the vault, visitors learn about the history of Coca-Cola’s brand success against counterfeit brands while also being teased with a mixture of history and legend surrounding the secret formula.

The exhibit has a fun atmosphere with mirrored ceilings and mysterious voices. At the end the visitors experience a circular room with multi-media moving walls simulating the filling of a cup of Coke. At the end of the multi-media presentation “the vault” is revealed.

World of Coca-Cola Travel Tip: Families especially with small children will want to be aware that touring the exhibit does involve being crammed into small rooms much like riding an elevator. Upon entering the exhibit, you must follow the timetable of the tour before exiting, so be sure to schedule that bathroom trip first.

Bottle Works

Personally, I would count Bottle Works as my favorite exhibit, a miniature real-bottling line that gives families a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the making of Coca-Cola.

4-D Theatre

Moving seats, 3-D Glasses, and water mists make the 4-D Theatre a memorable experience. While the movie is a little corny in plot, it’s fast-paced search for the secret ingredient keeps visitors glued to their seats. For visitors wanting a less-active showing, non-moving seats are available and exits are clearly pointed out before the show.

World of Coca-Cola Funny Memory: While Susan and I enjoyed the 4-D movie, we were sitting by a couple women who really enjoyed the movie. From the first small jolt of our seat to the last mist of water, our neighbors screamed liberally throughout the entire show. I was even afraid at one point that the lady beside me was about to end up in my lap.

Taste It!

I think that I can safely say that the exhibit Taste It! is the favorite of children visiting World of Coca-Cola. With over 100 different flavors from around the world and unlimited visits to the soda fountain, Taste It! definitely is a sparkling end to the tour. Whether you discover a new flavor or stumble on the infamous Beverly, you won’t leave thirsty. (Though you may leave feeling a little sick.)

World of Coca-Cola Travel Tip: I was excited to see that World of Coca-Cola added several mix-your-own beverage machines. You may want to walk to the back of the exhibit to check them out before filling up on fruity beverages at the front.

Guest Services at World of Coca-Cola

You can find a complete list of World of Coca-Cola’s accessibility options for persons with disabilities on the World of Coca-Cola website under Guest Services. World of Coca-Cola is completely wheelchair and stroller accessible, though stroller usage may be restricted in some areas during peak times.

Free Wi-Fi is available both inside and outside World of Coca-Cola.

Family restrooms are available, and changing stations are located in all bathrooms. I didn’t notice any private spots that would be convenient for breast-feeding, though there was plenty of seating throughout the museum.

World of Coca-Cola does not have a restaurant, but Pemberton Cafe is located outside the museum.

Souvenirs: World of Coca-Cola provides a complimentary glass bottle of Coca-Cola to every guest. Guests can also get a photo taken with the Coca-Cola Polar Bear or on the vintage Coca-Cola couch by a professional photographer. While you can purchase a photo at the gift shop, the photographers also accommodated guests by taking photos with the visitors’ own cameras.

When planning your trip to Atlanta, be sure to also check out our Kidding Around review of:

The Georgia Aquarium

Find an affordable place to stay in Atlanta on Hotels.com

So, what makes the brand Coca-Cola so successful? I think that the World of Coca-Cola museum proves that Coca-Cola is more than just a beverage but a common experience associated with happiness and fun that we share with people across the globe. Similarly, World of Coca-Cola leaves you happy and full of great memories.

Author Archive

Eating Out with Nut Allergies

Nut Allergies Affect More than Just Food

How to Support Families with Nut Allergies

Our Review

How Young of Children Will Enjoy Knuffle Bunny?

Anything Else?

About Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical

Performance Dates & Times

The morning routine

Tasks to be done

The secret of your success

About My Heart’s Desire Photography

Her clients say:

Current Specials

Book your session now at myheartsdesirephotography@gmail.com or by calling 864.832.7628!

Giveaway

Our giveaway rules:

About J. Wingreen Photography

Fall Family Session:

J. Wingreen Giveaway

Our giveaway rules:

The Quick Scoop on World of Coca-Cola

What to Expect at World of Coca-Cola

Exhibits at World of Coca-Cola

Vault of the Secret Formula

Bottle Works

4-D Theatre

Taste It!

Guest Services at World of Coca-Cola

Greenville Guides

Family Fun in Greenville, SC