Would you like to win an amazing local Christmas gift or gift card for some holiday shopping? Thanks to the support of five great local businesses we are hosting our first annual Christmas Blitz giveaway event the first week of December. During the event, we will be giving away five amazing prizes to five lucky readers plus sharing special discount codes to everyone that enters. Here’s how you join in:
Make sure that you follow Kidding Around Greenville on Facebook or Instagram to watch for the announcement each day. Remember that Facebook and Instagram won’t automatically show you all of our posts so be sure to check either “See first” under following on our page or set a reminder to check our page each day.
Follow the directions in the Facebook or Instagram post to enter the giveaway.
Cross your fingers that you will be one of our lucky winners.
No matter what, shop local because it’s such a great way to support our community while also finding amazing gifts.
All giveaways end at midnight on December 14, 2018.
Please remind your teenage drivers to do so as well. Being late to school or work is such a small thing compared to putting a child’s life in danger by careless driving.
My kids are fortunate enough to live close to their school. We walk our children to school and back every day that the weather permits. The benefits of walking are not only reducing traffic and pollution but also allowing our children much needed exercise and outdoor time before and after school.
Each day we cross two roads that are part of a major intersection. The roads are clearly marked with pedestrian crosswalks and pedestrian signal boxes. We always stop at the intersection, press the button, and wait for the walker symbol to appear. We also watch for drivers, wave at them, and show our intent to walk when the pedestrian signal appears.
Despite the fact that we have two small children walking, despite the fact that we use the crosswalk and wait our turn, and despite the fact that we are careful and watch out for the daily drivers who are on phones and paying no attention to their surroundings–we still are regularly cut-off or almost hit in the middle of the road by drivers turning on red or green who refuse to yield to us. Some of these drivers even see us crossing and still refuse to yield.
Cars are so much faster than pedestrians, especially small children pedestrians. We can’t possibly predict every car that will fly up to the intersection and turn without stopping or looking. Today, a large truck turned right as it was our turn to cross and of course we had no choice but to wait patiently. Then the car behind the truck which was stopped and clearly saw us signal that we were trying to cross with our children in the crosswalk turned right in front of us putting our children’s lives in danger.
After this incident, my 5-year old child fell in the crosswalk and hurt her knee because we were rushing to cross 5 lanes of traffic before the light turned green.
I wish I could say that this was a rare occurrence but it’s not. In fact, it’s almost weekly that cars refuse to yield the right of way to my family. Many drivers are on cell phones and not watching for pedestrians even though they are near an elementary school during pick-up or drop-off hours.
Please take time to watch the sidewalks and intersections when you drive. It is SC law to yield to pedestrians that are lawfully crossing within the crosswalks. You must yield even if you are turning and this might be when your light is green or when there is no traffic signal to stop you. Please put down your cell phones, especially near the school zones. Please make eye contact and clearly signal that you are yielding when you are waiting to turn. Turning cars are a real danger to pedestrians as they are often stopped in traffic and it can be difficult to assess the driver’s intention to yield or not.
As pedestrians, we will cross lawfully, we will watch for you, and we will use the cross walk boxes when provided, but we need your help. Our children’s safety is important.
Careless driving near school zones endangers not only pedestrians’Â safety but the safety of every child being transported to or from school whether by car, bus, or walking.
From the SC DMV: “At the crosswalk you should yield by slowing or stopping for a pedestrian who is on your side of the roadway, or who is close enough to your side to be in danger. Unless they are at an intersection or within a marked crosswalk, pedestrians must yield to vehicles. Pedestrians must walk facing traffic. In entering an intersection on a green signal, a driver making a right or left turn is required by law to yield to pedestrians on the cross street lawfully within the intersection. Do not stop in a crosswalk.”
Dollywood is such a perfect destination from Greenville! At just about three hours from the Upstate, it’s a favorite with Kidding Around Readers! See what advice Kidding Around’s Bethany had to offer after her trip to the Pigeon Forge, Tennessee theme park.
Find a place to stay near Dollywood. This article contains Stay22 affiliate links.
Dollywood
I’ll be honest; we truly had such a great family experience visiting Dollywood that I’m not even quite sure where to start. During our visit, I was immediately struck by the carefulness and attentiveness of the Dollywood staff. The park was well-maintained, clean, and attractive. We found a wide variety of attractions for all ages. And, our family, despite visiting for one and a half days, never stopped enjoying our time at the park.
Dollywood Rides & Play Areas
As a family with young children, we were impressed by how many rides Dollywood provides for children. Our then five-year-old was tall enough to ride several small roller-coasters and most other rides when accompanied by an adult. Even our then two-year-old was big enough to ride most of the rides in the “Country Fair” section of Dollywood.
I noticed that the attendants in “Country Fair” were especially alert to helping families with small children. I saw rides stopped on several occasions because a small child was scared or crying. The child was politely allowed to get off, and then the ride was started again for the rest of the group.
The rides also spanned different thrill levels allowing all children have fun choices to ride comfortably. Most of the rides could also seat adults who wanted to ride with their children.
Dollywood Tip: If you visit the Centralized Measuring Station inside the park, your child will receive a colored armband coded by which rides your child is tall enough to ride. This armband will help you not accidentally wait in line for a ride that your child is too small to ride.
We also found a couple of Dollywood rides that our entire family could ride. One of which was the Dollywood Express, an authentic coal-fired steam engine. Unfortunately, we made the mistake of riding the Dollywood Express during our daughter’s nap time (I thought she might fall asleep). Instead, though, she had a complete melt-down and struggled to get free during the entire ride. The train does not stop for anything, so you may want to be sure your kids are happy before boarding.
Dollywood also has a couple of great family rollercoasters, FireChasher Express. Children as small as 39 inches can ride this roller coaster, making it ideal for families wanting a ride that everyone can enjoy. The coaster is a fast-paced ride through a curling track with a mid-stop inside a “fireworks truck.” The car experiences a back-blowing explosion (complete with small flames as a special effect) that shoots the roller coaster back to the station. The fire is a bit thematically scary for some children, but the ride is not too intense.
Another great rollercoaster for younger riders is Blazing Fury, which starts as a sightseeing ride through a mine but ends with a minecart off the rails twist. This rollercoaster only has a couple of small hills and quick twists but is completely dark in the last seconds of the ride.
Not only did we find plenty of rides suitable for our young kids, but my husband and I enjoyed the larger roller coasters as well. My personal favorite roller coaster was the Wild Eagle roller coaster. It’s a massive rollercoaster that runs at 60 mph, but the ride is smooth, and the harnesses fit very snug, making it a more pleasant ride.
Dollywood Tip: If you are visiting with small children, be sure to check out the “Parent Swap” feature that allows you to wait in line once and take turns riding the roller coaster while the other parent watches the children.
In addition to the Dollywood rides, my kids enjoyed playing in the playgrounds and water spray areas of the park.
Dollywood Shows
While we missed out on most of the shows due to my kids’ ages, I enjoyed watching two shows in The Little Engine Playhouse. I love children’s books, so I was delighted to find out that the shows were based on books. I was equally impressed that the shows kept not only me entertained but my two-year-old mesmerized. Outside The Little Engine Playhouse, we also had fun watching a small magic show.
Dollywood Tip: Schedule a show for the hot part of the day to give your kids a break from the heat!
Each summer features a different main show, including everything from bubble shows to dog stunts. Be sure to arrive early as the theater was packed the day we went. The shows do not play every day, so you will want to consult the show guide as you plan your time in the park.
This year we also visited in the peak season and were able to see the nightly firework show. The show was great and definitely worth staying until closing time to see. You can see the fireworks most clearly from near Firechaser at the top of the park. Most of the rides continue to run until closing time, but some of the rides up near the fireworks do close at dusk.
Dollywood Food
We ate inside the park our first year, but the food was expensive and the plates small. In later years we instead opted to pack our cooler with sandwiches and tailgated outside of the park. Consider bringing a couple of lawn chairs if you choose to do so. Re-entry is easy with a stamp upon exit, and the parking lot shuttle runs during the entire day.
Dollywood Tip: You can get free ice water at any of Dollywood’s food vendors! This helps fight the heat of the summer!
Dollywood Extras
I felt like one of the biggest perks of visiting Dollywood was the unique variety of attractions for our family. Here are just a couple of the enjoyable spots we noticed through the park:
Local craftsmen and shops full of handmade items.
A wild bird preserve
A roller-coaster museum
Places to feed ducks
Lots of scenic spots & plenty of shade and benches
Baby-Care Stations
If you are breast-feeding or bottle-feeding an infant, you will be happy to find out that Dollywood does have a nursing station with gliders and a changing station. I also noticed several family bathrooms throughout the park. The bathrooms were well-maintained and clean during our visit.
First-Aid Stations We managed to scrape a knee within moments of getting in the park and had the opportunity to visit the first-aid station. The nurse was able to save the day by applying an Angry Bird bandage to my kid’s knee.
More Dollywood Tips for Families
Don’t miss the tram back to your parking spot just because you have a stroller! The tram has stroller parking in the front of the tram.
While you aren’t allowed to bring food in the park, you can get your hand stamped, leave the park, and reenter during the same day.
The roller-coasters have sample restraint systems outside where you can check to be sure that you fit in and are comfortable with the restraint system.
The restaurants inside the park can help warm bottles for bottle-feeding parents.
You can turn in your tickets after your visit for a credit on a season pass. The season pass is an excellent deal and costs less than three visits to Dollywood.
You can also purchase a 3-day pass to visit both Dollywood and Dollywood Splash Country on the same trip.
I received media tickets in order to write about Dollywood but this post contains my honest opinion about our trip. We had such a great time that we have made two additional family trips to Dollywood since the original publication of this review.
More To See At Dollywood
The team at Kidding Around are huge fans of the country music legend and her amusement parks! Because of that, there is no shortage of information from our trips to share with readers! If you are planning a trip to the Dollywood Resort, we encourage you to make the most out of your trip with the information offered on Kidding Around!
Wildwood Grove Dollywood, the premier theme park attraction located in Eastern Tennessee, added a new attraction to the park in 2019 called Wildwood Grove.
Homeschool Days If you are looking to have an adventure, Dollywood will be offering Homeschool Days for families that are utilizing the homeschool option. These days focus on mostly science and math – and really, what’s cooler than learning about the laws of physics by riding a roller coaster?
Christmas At Dollywood – Smoky Mountain Christmas The famous theme park becomes a mecca with over five million lights draped across every single building. Shows like It’s A Wonderful Life play throughout the month-long festival. And a Christmas parade is held nightly at 8:15 pm, an engaging entertainment show full of lights and colors.
Splash Country Water Park Dollywood is a popular place to visit for Greenville families as it’s tons of fun and only three hours away. While you’re there, you can beat the heat by spending some time at Dollywood’s Splash Country.
After I saw photos from the Western North Carolina Nature Center in Asheville, NC, I knew that my family would have to go. We love outdoor adventures and seeing animals, so I knew that my kids enjoy a visit. When we decided to finally visit, the WNC Nature Center was even better than I anticipated. If you haven’t been, you need to schedule a visit. And guess what? If you already have a Greenville Zoo membership, you can get half off admission to the WNC Nature Center.
Find a place to stay near Asheville, NC. This article contains Stay22 affiliate links.
Why the WNC Nature Center is so cool
The WNC Nature Center focuses on animals and plants in the southern Appalachian mountains so you’ll get to see animals that roamed this area eons ago up to the present day. The uniqueness of this aspect helps guests to understand more about their own environment and animals they may see in the area.
The center is built into nature with lots of shade, walkways, and natural playgrounds. It’s not huge so it’s very manageable for a day trip, especially with smaller children. The exhibits are interactive and fun for kids of all ages and the park is hardly commercialized.
The center is expanding though and has been building into their 2020 vision plan with new merchandise areas, a new (and beautiful) entrance, expanded parking and restrooms, and even a new name – which we don’t know yet.
What You Will See at the WNC Nature Center
You will start your visit in the Appalachian Station where kids can see a variety of small animals and reptiles. Children will also enjoy interacting with a textured wall and looking at rocks under microscopes.
Then, you will venture outside where you will follow paved and wooden sidewalks through animal exhibits. Most of the animals are behind glass or chain link fences but the exhibits themselves are large and full of animal play structures. These animal exhibits include: otters, raccoons, foxes, gray wolves, cougars, coyotes, bobcats, black bears, hawks, owls, and more. There is a brand new red panda exhibit with the cutest, fluffiest red panda ever. And the red wolf exhibit is an educational experience unto itself.
While exploring, you will also find the Trillium Nature Trail, a .6 mile nature trail to allow children to see the beauty along the Swannanoa River.
Kids will enjoy the Arachnid Adventure, a playground based on spider web jungle gyms. This playground also is surrounded by spiders hiding on the surrounding trees making a fun “eye-spy game”. There are also other playgrounds scattered throughout the park where kids use natural materials to build and play with.
Otter Falls also has a slide that kids can play on while they watch the active animals enjoy the water.
Your visit will end at the Western North Carolina Farm where kids will get to pet animals and even pretend to be farmers themselves in an interactive play zone with small wheelbarrows and tools inside the huge barn. Be sure to check out “water painting” nearby. A gem mine is also next to the barn and the buckets can be purchased in the little shop.
A new Songbird Garden is near the wolves and built like a big wall but cutouts to try to find the birds that are pictured on the wall.
Sensory Bags are available for free
For parents of children with autism or sensory processing disorders, free sensory bags can be signed out at the gift shop upon entering the center. They are sponsored by KultureCity, a national non-profit, and include headphones, a fidget toy, and a feelings chart.
Signs are posted throughout the park indicating areas to perhaps use the headphones. It’s great that the WNC Nature Center now has these available!
Should I bring a stroller?
If you’ve got small kids, bring a stroller or rent one ($10) there. There are lots of hills and little legs will probably get tired. There are plenty of places to rest and enjoy the animals and playgrounds but yes, strollers would be ideal.
Our Experience at the WNC Nature Center
We came later in the day, so we ended up missing the petting zoo (it closed at 4 pm) and didn’t have time to explore the trail. My kids had such a great time though that we hardly missed the extra activities. We easily spent two hours exploring and could have spent another 30 minutes if the nature center would have been open longer. We tend to be slow visitors to attractions, so your family may tour the center quicker especially if you don’t have small children who want to play in the play areas.
I really enjoyed that the layout and outdoor walkways seemed more like a nature walk than zoo. The animals were active in the cool fall air and most of them were easily visible. The paths were easy to follow, though it was confusing figuring out which way to turn to explore the center without missing any of the exhibits.
My kids favorite exhibits were the Otter Falls and the WNC Farm play area. I personally loved watching the cougars and was thrilled to get some wonderful photos even through glass. I was disappointed that glass and fences made it difficult and even impossible to get good photos of some of the animals, but at least the animals were easy to see in person.
Some concessions are available through vending machines and new concession areas will likely be opening in the next year. The center also has plenty of picnic space for families wanting to bring a lunch. The WNC Nature Center is also right beside a large park with a playground, picnic shelters, and public pool. The center has restrooms in the ticket access, barn near the petting zoo, at the arachnid climbing playground, and in the Appalachian Station which are wheelchair accessible.
Open: 7 days a week, 10 – 3:30 pm Admission: $13.95/ adults ($1 off for seniors), $13.95/ youth (13-15), $9.95/ kids (ages 3 – 12) 2 and younger free, half off with Greenville Zoo membership 75 Gashes Creek Road; Asheville, NC 28805 828.259.8080 WNC Nature Center
Have you ever visited the WNC Nature Center? What did you think?
Are you planning a fun family trip for spring break? Myrtle Beach makes an excellent choice for a family friendly spring break vacation! Though it may be a little chilly for swimming in the ocean and the waterparks won’t be open yet, don’t think for a minute that spring weather will limit your fun in the Myrtle Beach area. Instead, the cooler weather will make the parks and attractions more pleasant. There are also smaller crowds and plenty of kid friendly hotels with indoor pools to enjoy. Here is a list of things to do during spring break at Myrtle Beach, plus a schedule of how to fit it all in (complete with dining options).
Thank you to Visit Myrtle Beach and the many venues we visited for hosting Kidding Around.
Where to stay in Myrtle Beach?
This article contains Stay22 affiliate links.
We stayed at the Hampton Inn and Suites Myrtle Beach/Oceanfront. The hotel is situated right on the beach and has multiple indoor and outdoor pools. The outdoor pools even have sprinklers and there is a lazy river and hot tub. Since it was April, we spent most of our time swimming in the indoor pool but the outdoor pools were open even though it was only early April.
Our room faced the ocean with a porch with rocking chairs and a table. It was pleasant to be able to watch the sunset over the ocean from the comfort of our room in the evening and the kids loved being able to open our porch doors to let in the fresh ocean breeze in the morning. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the complimentary “continental” breakfast at our Hampton included a hot bar with eggs and sausage, fresh waffles, fruit, and plenty of other choices. Not only is breakfast great but the breakfast room overlooks the ocean and it’s quite pretty. It was a good start to the day.
Hotels in Myrtle Beach with Indoor Pools
If you want the summer beach vacation experience during your Spring Break vacation, finding a hotel with an indoor pool is a must. Captain’s Quarters Resort Myrtle Beach offers a wonderful indoor lazy river and indoor pool that is open all year, so your spring break vacation will feel more like summer. The resort is kid friendly and is only a few miles drive to Broadway at the Beach, the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, and tons of attractions.
First Evening of Spring Break in Myrtle Beach – Catch a Dinner Show!
Who says that you need a full day to start having fun. Start your spring break vacation off right and make your first night part of vacation by heading to Medieval Times for a dinner show. The show will transport you right back to the Dark Ages. Upon entering the castle, you are immediately lords and ladies (complete with a crown). The show includes a full knight competition with horses followed by serious threat to the kingdom that requires an all-out sword fight to determine the best knight to defend the kingdom’s honor. It’s full of cheering, booing, and fun.
Tip: Make sure you plan plenty of time. The traffic into the Myrtle Beach area can be a little slow and you will want to arrive at the dinner show at least a half hour or more in advance.
Day 1 of Spring Break – Visit the Murrells Inlet & the Murrells Inlet Marshwalk
We decided to hit the ground running our first day of spring break in Myrtle Beach with an action-packed day at Murrells Inlet. Murrells Inlet is about a 45-minute drive from Myrtle Beach, but it’s well worth the drive.
Brookgreen Gardens – We started our morning at Brookgreen Gardens. I had researched the gardens online before our visit but was still amazed by the size and the beauty. We started out our morning in the gardens with a Creek Excursion that took us in a pontoon boat along the creek where we saw rice fields and wildlife (including a couple gators). The excursion is super family friendly, and it is interesting to watch your kids awe over the boat ride. We also learned quite a bit about the history of the area and the Brookgreen Gardens. After our boat ride, we spent time exploring the Children’s Discovery Room, Storybook Forest, Lowcountry Zoo, and the Gardens.
For lunch, we packed a picnic to eat at Brookgreen Gardens where we found ample picnic spots. There were also a couple restaurants on the grounds to choose from.
Huntington Beach State Park– After the gardens, we headed over to Huntington Beach State Park which was just a short distance down the road. This state park offers hiking, a wide 3 miles of beach, and Atalaya. Huntington Beach State Park is also one of the best places to spot birds in the Southeast. Our kids were tired and itching to get on the beach but I was able to sneak off first and get a peek inside Atalaya. You can tour Atalaya, the original 30 room winter home of the Huntingtons for just $2/person.
We decided to splurge on fresh seafood that night at the iconic Drunken Jack’s at the Murrells Inlet marshwalk. Our table offered a view of the ocean and I tried Chef Casey’s Risotto (an award-winning dish that has Mahi-Mahi, scallops, risotto, and lobster & crab cream sauce). It was a more expensive meal, but the atmosphere, fresh seafood, and cool decor made it worth the cost. Our kids felt very welcome as their kids’ meals came with pirate hats and they were presented with a gold coin at the end of the meal as a reward for “eating good”. After eating dinner, you can take a walk down the docks to watch native birds perching, boats cruising through the marsh, or even catch an evening sunset. The Murrells Inlet marshwalk is quite magical at sunset, and my kids loved looking at all the herons and seabirds hanging around.
Spending our first day of spring break in Murrells Inlet was really packed and resulted in some tired kids, so we elected to head back to the hotel after dinner where the kids had a quick swim before bed.
Day 2 of Spring Break – Myrtle Beach SkyWheel and Broadway at the Beach
We started our second day, by heading to Ripley’s Aquarium at Broadway at the Beach. The aquarium was really clean and brightly decorated and the exhibits were very nice. There was a shark tunnel, sting ray exhibit, jelly area, and more. I was impressed to see two sting ray petting tanks (one with some massive stingrays) and even a moon jelly touching tank. If you are looking for additional options beyond the aquarium Broadway at the Beach offers shopping and several kid-friendly attractions including Ripley’s Odditorium, Ripley’s Movie Theatre 5D, Ripley’s Mirror Maze, Wonderworks, and a nice playground. Broadway at the Beach is one of our favorite attractions because it is super family friendly, offers live music and entertainment, has excellent dining options, and is a great way to spend a day during your spring break vacation.
After a couple hours at the aquarium, we ate lunch at Dagwood’s Deli. The burgers and sandwiches we ordered were absolutely delicious and we were glad that we arrived a little before noon as the restaurant quickly filled up soon after we arrived. It was an affordable meal too with most menu items priced under $10.
Dagwood’s Deli was located near several $5 parking lots where we were able to snag a parking space that was not only perfect for lunch but an easy walk to our next destination, the Myrtle Beach SkyWheel.
We had never ridden a ferris wheel as tall as the Skywheel before and we were all a little nervous (in fact, one of my kids almost backed out), but we decided to all give it a try. The line looked long but moved remarkably fast (I think that we were only in line for about 10 minutes). There was space for our entire family to be in one car and it felt safe and even had air conditioning. (If ferris wheels make you nervous, you will be glad to know that there is also an emergency button in the car too).
The Skywheel is in middle of the strip at Myrtle Beach where you can easily shop for souvenirs or walk along the Myrtle Beach boardwalk.
After the Skywheel, we headed to Savannah’s Playground, a massive all-inclusive playground for children. The playground offered a zipline, large playground, swings, and plenty of space to play. It’s also completely free.
Evening Entertainment & Dinner: We chose to experience the dinner show, Pirate’s Voyage, where we were delighted by acrobatics, singing, dancing, and animals. It was a fast-paced show with a lot of special effects and music and there were even mermaids.
Day 3 of Spring Break – Myrtle Beach Full Experience
On our third day, we decided to experience the heart of Myrtle Beach by heading out to nature followed by a relaxing game of mini golf (Did you know that Myrtle Beach is the mini golf capital of the world?).
We were struck immediately by the beauty of Myrtle Beach State Park. It’s a lovely drive into the park area where you will find a Nature Center and programming, a nature trail, a fishing pier, and a beach front. The hiking was very simple and easy for our two children and while we did not fish we did walk out on to the pier to get a better view of the ocean and shore. Our kids then played in the ocean despite it being a nippy 50 degrees outside. Fortunately, the park has rinsing stations and bathhouse where you can change. We packed a couple sandwiches figuring that our kids would be hungry before we left the park.
After the park, we decided to try our hand at mini golf. One thing, we noticed immediately when we drove into Myrtle Beach was how many mini golf options there were to choose from and they all looked fun. We chose Captain Hook’s Adventure Golf, which ended up being just perfect. The easier course, The Lost Boys was fun but not too difficult and our greens took us past mermaids, into a skull cave, near a pirate ship, and past numerous waterfalls.
After a good game of mini golf, you need ice cream! So we returned our putters and drove over to Kirk’s 1890s Ice Cream Parlor. There we found not only an excellent selection of ice cream flavors but also cute retro decor.
Dinner & Evening Entertainment – We were all in the mood for pizza that last night, so after a little bit of research we settled on Ducatis Trattoria and Pizzaria. We knew it was a good choice, the second we saw the ginormous garlic knots arrive at our table. The pizza was equally delicious.
After dinner we decided to cap our trip off with a night at the Carolina Opry. The show was truly amazing and our kids really enjoyed the singing and the dancing. We also saw a couple acts that gave a taste of Thunder and Light (a dance & laser light show) and Pure Magic the Wagsters (a magic show). Both performances were amazing and fun. The evening show did end up having a couple jokes and a song that were too close to PG-13 for our family. In addition, it was a little long for little kids (over two hours) but the music and dancing were incredible. Next time we are in town, we plan on snagging tickets for either the Thunder and Light show or the Pure Magic show as both of those are in the morning and our kids especially loved those acts.
Enjoying the Trip back home
On our way home, we decided to stop in route in Conway to see the LW Paul Living History Farm. This working farm is open to the public on Tuesdays-Saturdays from 9-4. You can either call ahead and schedule a tour or explore at your own pace. There are animals, restored original buildings, and it’s completely free. Check their schedule ahead of time as they also have events on the calendar. The farm is only about 45 minutes from Myrtle Beach. The Horry County Museum is also just a couple minutes away and is also free to the public.
Have you ever been to Myrtle Beach for Spring Break? What are your favorite things to do?
I absolutely love living in the south, but it may come as a surprise that one of the reasons why I love living in the south is the snow. True, we don’t get much snow here in Greenville, SC, but I think that the snow we do get is absolutely perfect. Here are my reasons why I love southern snow:
1. Everything shuts down.
In Greenville, as long as there is at least a little bit of a dusting on the road and a little bit of ice somewhere (it doesn’t actually have to be a road anyone uses) the entire city practically shuts down. Don’t get me wrong, the grocery store will still be open but the types of things that you would rather get out of such as work and school are almost always cancelled for the day.
Well, actually, you might still be “required” to go to work. But, it’s typically okay to pull out the “my kids are out of school”, “I can’t get out of my driveway”, or “there is ice on my road” excuses if you would rather stay home and warm.
2. Everyone plays.
When it snows down south, the entire neighborhood (adults included) bundles up for play outside. You will always find everyone on the nearest hill. Our neighborhoods are typically dotted by small snowmen that last after the rest of the snow is melted.
3. No one expects you to shovel.
We don’t spend money on expensive snow plows and many people don’t own snow shovels. Since everything is closed, you aren’t expected to spend time shoveling your driveway or sidewalks unless they pose an immediate hazard.
4. The snow never stays long enough to get old.
Our snowfalls typically leave only an 1-3 inches of coverage on the ground, and usually our snow melts almost entirely within 24 hours. While we all wish the snow would stay longer, I suspect we only wish that because the snow doesn’t stay longer.
5. Southerns celebrate snow.
Southerns truly celebrate snow. At the first mention of a snow forecast, we drive to the store to pick up sleds and stock our pantries with food (just in case). If the flurries actually start (usually they don’t), we start posting on social media and calling each other. Our families gather by the windows and run outside to experience every flake.
And, then we write about it like right now, when we are nice and warm inside having had our fill of fun (and cold).
For Fall break this year, my family decided to head up to western North Carolina for a day of fun. While we were up there, we stopped in Rutherfordton, NC (one hour and a half from Greenville and under and hour from Spartanburg) to see the children’s museum KidSenses. I had heard other local parents tell me that it was a popular day trip destination from the Greenville/Spartanburg area and I wanted to see it for myself.
What Is KidSenses?
KidSenses is an interactive children’s museum with 16 exhibits. While at first glance the museum might look small from the outside, the space is packed with fun things to do for all ages of children.
Some of our favorite exhibits were:
Kid’s Pueblito – This Mexican diner was my daughter’s favorite exhibit. The space was bright and cleverly decorated with everything from small tables to food prep and beverage stations.
Zap Theatre! – My son said that the Zap Theatre! was his top choice and I agree that it was an unique experience hearing and watching a Musical Bi-Polar Tesla Coil play music. This particular exhibit has select showtimes so be sure to ask ahead of time for the schedule.
Alphabet Trail – My children were too old for this section of the museum reserved for ages 4 and under but I still peeked in to see what it looked like. The space had ample room to play, imaginary areas, and couch (perfect for feeding a baby or resting while the kids play). The area was completely closed off by a door and the museum staff assured me that they enforce the age limits. I would have happily retreated to this quiet corner back when my kids were smaller.
Bubble-Ology – This room was perhaps one of the most unusual exhibits at the museum. In it, kids could create all sorts of bubbles including a contraption that allowed you to stand inside a giant bubble.
HealthWise – This particular exhibit is not open at all times, but if you are lucky enough to catch it when it’s open you should definitely check it out. Inside, kids could don lab coats, goggles, and gloves to perform science experiments. If you have a child that is always wanting to mix everything in your kitchen cabinets to see what happens, this is the perfect place to let them experiment without the mess.
Lights! Camera! Action! – This exhibit included a full stage, complete with curtains, costumes, and a puppet theatre.
WFUN Studios – My kids enjoyed pretending to be newscasters in this mini studio that had everything from a working camera to a news desk and green screen. This exhibit is best enjoyed with two or more people as one person can pretend to report while the other person can control the background.
PetSenses – In this area, kids could grab a stuffed pet, groom it, weigh it, and even check the pet for ID chips.
In addition, there was also a mini grocery store, firetruck, art room, and more. With 16 exhibit areas, there was plenty for my children to explore.
Tips for Visiting KidSenses
We would recommend calling ahead of time to ensure that you aren’t visiting at the same time as a school trip.
There are only a couple options for dining in Rutherfordton, so pack a lunch or ask at the desk for a couple recommendations. There is however, a great ice cream and coffee shop right across the street.
We saw plenty of street parking on the day we visited.
My kids are old enough where I wasn’t worried about “losing” them, but some other parents told me that they did feel like they had to watch their children closely due to the fact that you could quickly scale a climber in the middle of the museum to get from one floor to another. The museum was pretty contained though with only one entrance. There is a back door but it has an alarm. Overall, I think that due to the smaller size, it would be easier to watch small kids than other similar museums.
KidSenses is in the process of adding a new division for youth ages 11 and up called The Factory. It will be located right behind KidSenses in a separate building. We still don’t have a date on when this new hands-on maker space will open, but it will certainly be a great addition for families with older kids.
Basic Information
KidSenses is located at:
172 N. Main St. Rutherfordton, NC 28139
You can call them at 828-286-2120.
They are closed Sundays and Mondays. Tuesdays-Saturdays they are open from 9-5.
Admission is $8/person (children & adults)
Have you been to KidSenses? We would love to hear what you think.
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 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 2nd 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.
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?
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