Author Archive

Family Guide: Exploring Downtown Charleston, SC

If you’re looking specifically for things to do in downtown Charleston, we’ve got some ideas for you in this story based on our personal experience. Rife with history, beauty, and charm, Charleston, SC is a must-visit city in the United States. It is easily one of our very favorite places to visit.

Parking in Downtown Charleston

For things to do in the greater Charleston area, see our Guide to Charleston.

For parking, we parked on the street near the Charleston City Market and paid via the meter but if you plan to spend all day, it would be worth it to park in the garage near the South Carolina Aquarium or in a lot in downtown Charleston.

Where to Stay in Charleston

Use the map below to find stellar accommodations in Downtown Charleston that are just right for your family. When you book through the links in the map, Kidding Around earns a small percentage through an affiliate relationship with Stay22.

And now, the adventure! Fun, family things to do in Charleston, SC ahead.

Charleston City Market

The Charleston City Market is a piece of American History. It’s been in existence since 1807 and hosts a variety of beautiful makers and artists that sell everything from jewelry to clothing to the iconic sweetgrass baskets. There are also some delicious food items at the market, including Callie’s Biscuits.

They are open daily, except Christmas, 9:30 am – 5 pm. Be sure to check out their Night Markets also, Friday and Saturday from 6:30-10:30 pm March – December.

188 Meeting Street, Charleston

Byrd’s Famous Cookies

We stumbled upon Byrd’s Famous Cookies because it’s right outside of the Charleston City Market and they offered free samples. That did it. These cookies are absolutely delicious. They are small and full of flavor (get the Key Lime cookies) and you can try them all! Byrd’s has been around for 100 years so it’s also part of the historical aspect of the city, which is the best excuse ever to eat some cookies.

43 S Market Street, Charleston

Charleston Waterfront Park

The Charleston Waterfront Park is stunning and full of beautiful views. There is a splash pad, the famous pineapple fountain, gorgeous walkways overhung with oak trees and Spanish moss, and views of the Ravenel Bridge. The first time I went here there was a big storm over the bridge and we saw some incredible lightning strikes! There are plenty of places to sit and swinging benches here to enjoy the views.

Vendue Range, Concord St, Charleston

Charleston Carriage Tour

This is the one thing on the list that we didn’t personally do but that we really wanted to. I love history and taking a carriage ride while learning about the history of Charleston from a tour guide seems perfect. Tours are an hour long and cost $50/adult and $40/kids. You can find them at the City Market.

The Battery and Rainbow Row

The Battery is actually a huge seawall that protects quite possibly the prettiest homes I’ve ever seen in my life. These houses belong on every cover of Southern Living imaginable. They are stately and gorgeous and the Battery is a great spot to walk along the water to spot dolphins. Just down the street from there is Rainbow Row, a famous row of painted townhomes in pastel colors. It feels like taking a step back in time and a great photo stop.

83-107 East Bay Street, Charleston

South Carolina Aquarium

The South Carolina Aquarium is a must-see when you visit Charleston for its incredible dive tank, sea turtle rescue hospital, stingray touch tank, and stunning views of the Ravenel Bridge – we even saw some dolphins while relaxing on the deck.

Read our full South Carolina Aquarium review for all the info.

100 Aquarium Wharf, Charleston

Fort Sumter

You can catch the ferry to Fort Sumter either from Patriots Point or right next to the South Carolina Aquarium at Liberty Square. The museum is located next to the Aquarium and it’s really neat if you’re interested in more information about the fort. Be sure to do the Junior Ranger book at the fort since it’s a great way for kids (and adults, let’s be honest) to learn about the history of where the first shots of the Civil War were fired.

Liberty Square (340 Concord St, Charleston)
Patriots Point (40 Patriots Point Rd., Mt. Pleasant)

You can find lots more historical sites to visit in this article about African American sites in Charleston history.

If you’re a history-lover you’ll also want to check out the 200 year-old Edmondston-Alston House near the battery.

Charleston Water Taxi

The Water Taxi is a great way to see the waterfront from a different perspective and to get across the Charleston Harbor without having to drive. The pontoon-style boat picks passengers up at several different locations. Have your camera ready, the taxi ride will provide you with some great photo opportunities of the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge and The USS Yorktown plus maybe some dolphins. You buy an all-day pass and you can ride as many times as you want.

Charleston Farmers Market

The Charleston Farmers Market has such a cool group of vendors with everything from local produce and vegetables and meat to jewelry and apparel to coffee and crepes. They open in April for the season and happen every Saturday from 8 am – 2 pm.

329 Meeting Street, Charleston

Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist

This church, which opened in 1907, is just stunning. The cathedral recently underwent a renovation and the results are gorgeous. If you’re Catholic, attending Mass here is a beautiful experience and if you’re not, even stopping to see the beauty of the Gothic architecture is worth it. They offer tours after Sunday masses.

120 Broad St, Charleston, SC

Travel Guide to Charleston, South Carolina

For more things to do in Charleston, see our Charleston Guide.

If you’re in the area, don’t miss these free things to do in Mount Pleasant.

What is your favorite thing to do in Downtown Charleston, South Carolina?

Simpsonville, SC: The Vaughn’s Food Hall Literally Has Everything You Need for a Fantastic Family Night Out

Vaughn’s Food Hall in Simpsonville, SC, is a fantastic food hall and entertainment venue that literally has everything you need for a really fun, family night out (or date night!). We checked it out and have all the details on how to make Vaughn’s your family’s new go-to spot.

Located in downtown Simpsonville, SC, Vaughn’s Food Hall (previously the Warehouse at Vaughn’s) could not be more perfect. Honestly. There are multiple, delicious restaurants, a huge outdoor space with tables, a sand pit, and a big area to play ball, nightly entertainment, and an easy, laid-back vibe that is ideal for relaxing with your family.

I’m going to go old school here and dare you to go and not want to go back the next week, and the week after that, and the week after that. It’s that good.

The Video Tour: Vaughn’s

About Vaughn’s Food Hall

Vaughn’s Food Hall is pretty much like the name suggests, except cooler. The food hall is inside a big warehouse and consists of multiple restaurants and bars that have nearly any type of food you’re in the mood for.

The current restaurants at Vaughn’s Food Hall are Railside Tap Room, Dulce Heaven, The Jee-ro House, Bourbon & Barrels, Margaritas on Main, and Latin Quarter.

After dinner, head over to the Upstate Pinball Museum & Arcade and play all the games you want for just $10/person. No coins are required. You could easily spend a few hours here.

The Outdoor Space & Entertainment at Vaughn’s

I love a good place where you can sit outside and where there is space for kids to get their energy out before and after dinner. That’s exactly what you find at Vaughn’s. The backyard has lots of tables with umbrellas that overlook a small stage and big, grassy area. That part literally looks like a backyard. It’s awesome.

There’s a small sand pit, soccer balls, a plastic baseball bat, and some other soft toys. My girls decided to make up a new game that combined baseball with a big, soft die that they used instead of a baseball. It was awesome, and we saw other kids pick it up after we started eating. They are obviously trendsetters.

Kids playing at Vaughn's — Kids playing at Vaughn’s

Vaughn’s has nighttime entertainment like Music Bingo on Tuesdays, Team Trivia on Wednesdays, and live music on the weekends. For a current schedule, check the Vaughn’s Food Hall Facebook page — they usually post specials and a weekly schedule.

Ordering is the Easiest Thing Ever

Vaughn’s was recently acquired by new owners, hence the new name. One of the changes they made was the ordering system. You use your phone to scan the QR codes throughout the Food Hall and on the outdoor tables, which pull up the menus on your phone. You start a tab and then just order everything – beer, wine, appetizers, entrees – right from your phone. You can even share your tab with other people (think responsible teens or for a party) to make payment easier.

Once you submit your order, you’ll get a text message confirming your order, and then you’ll get text messages when the different parts of your order are done.

It’s super easy and way, way better than waiting in line at each place, especially if everyone in your family wants to eat and drink at different restaurants. Waiting in line would take forever. But you don’t have to with this new system!

The ordering system currently works for all the restaurants within the Food Hall itself (a couple are outside but still part of the Food Hall), which include Railside Tap Room, Dulce Heaven, The Jee-ro House, Bourbon & Barrels, Margaritas on Main, and Latin Quarter.

There’s a water station if you only want water and not any special drinks.

Kids Eat Free on Thursdays

While I already mentioned this earlier, in case you missed it, Kids Eat Free on Thursdays with a paid adult meal. If everything you’ve already read isn’t reason enough to go to the Warehouse at Vaughn’s, let this be it.

Mac and cheese and a quesadilla kids meal — Mac and cheese and a quesadilla kids’ meal

Discover more Kids Eat Free options in Greenville, SC.

Visiting Vaughn’s Food Hall

Be sure to check the website and Facebook page for current hours and events at the Fodd Hall. hat’s the best way to stay up-to-date on everything.

They have limited hours on Monday so check their website for details. Weekly standard hours are:

Tuesday – Thursday from 11 am – 10 pm
Friday and Saturday from 11 am – 11 pm
Sunday from Noon – 8 pm

Parking is behind the Food Hall, in front of it, and further in the back on the other side of Trade Street.

Vaughn’s Food Hall
109 W. Trade Street, Simpsonville
Vaughn’s Food Hall Website | Facebook

Check out more places you can eat & play in Greenville, and our huge guide to restaurants in Greenville SC.

Adventure Brews Play Haven: New Upstate Indoor/Outdoor Play Space for Kids

Adventure Brews Play Haven, a new indoor/outdoor play space for kids and their families is coming to the Greenville, SC area in 2025. We’ve got all the details for you!

Inspired by nature and the need for families of different dynamics to be able to connect with others, Adventure Brews Play Haven was born. The new play space will open in the Greer/Taylors area of Greenville County with both indoor and outdoor facilities and will be a welcome addition for families to bring their kids and feel welcomed and happy!

Adventure Brews Play Haven

Inspiration Behind Adventure Brews Play Haven

Katie Winn Sarbacker and her husband had a very long and difficult journey to parenthood. After their son was born, they loved getting out in nature and found that the outdoors really helped bond them as a family and aid in their son’s development.

“The journey to becoming a family for us was long and difficult. Years of infertility, including a miscarriage and ultimately a very long NICU stay, showed us the lack of support for different family dynamics,” said Katie. “As aunts and uncles with children in our lives we care deeply for, we found it difficult to find a space to bring my nieces and nephews where I felt ‘part of the club.’”

Kate found that many communities are more “mom-centric” and she and her husband felt left out before having their son since they spent a significant amount of time with nieces and nephews. Finding a community that focused on nature was also a challenge.

“After the birth of our son three months early we found nature to be very healing and supportive of his growth and development post NICU stay,” she said. “Finding a local community of other parents who were also focused on a connection with nature took significant effort with a lot of difficulty.”

She wants Adventure Brews Play Haven to be welcoming of all kinds of families and caregivers and use nature to further connection with each other and others.

About Adventure Brews Play Haven: The Indoor Space & Outdoor Spaces

Adventure Brews Play Haven will focus on a space that is inspired by nature and intimate enough where caregivers won’t lose track of their kids but where they can connect with each other as well.

The indoor space will have a playground and cafe and be geared towards children ages 0-5. There will be a nature-themed play area designed by Tiger Play for these children to wander and explore. The space will also incorporate imagination stations but Katie and her husband want them to be entertaining without tons of small toys strewn everywhere so they are considering options on how to best make that dream a reality.

Babies will get their own state-of-the-art soft play space. The plan for this area is to give babies a nature-inspired space where they can explore and exercise their little bodies and minds.

The outdoor space will be used for classes, events, and special play times. There will be immersive nature classes, gardening, and special “messy play” sensory events. Katie said she wants to focus on homeschool classes as well where older kids can enjoy the time during an outdoor class and the smaller kids can have somewhere to play indoors.

“Our mission is to provide a stimulating and safe environment where kids can explore, learn, and grow through outdoor-themed play and educational activities while caregivers can relax and enjoy themselves,” Katie said.

Adventure Brews Play Haven will host birthday parties and special events.

In line with their philosophy about taking care of both caregivers and kids, the play haven will have on hand spare hygiene items, nursing items, diapers, wipes, clothing, and breastfeeding supplies.

Additionally, they plan on having a full-body changing table in the bathrooms for special needs families.

About Adventure Brews Play Haven: The Cafe

Why a cafe inside a play area for kids? The better question is why not a cafe inside a play area, right?

“I like food and drinks,” said Katie. “It’s just really nice to enjoy some kind of beverage and food that I didn’t have to make myself while my son is doing something he enjoys. I want caregivers to feel like they are taken care of as well and that their needs are met.”

Coffee, snacks, and other food will be locally sourced as much as possible.

Adventure Brews Play Haven Memberships & Play Passes

The new play space will offer day passes, recurring memberships, multi-passes, class pass upgrades, and premium events like character events with a membership upgrade.

While prices have not been determined yet, Katie says that passes will be comparable to other local kid-focused play cafes.

About Adventure Brews Play Haven: Pop-Up Events

Adventure Brews Play Haven will focus heavily on relationships within the local community. They already have partnerships with yoga instructors and local farmers’ markets and are looking for others to work with for classes and events.

For their pop-up events, think kids yoga classes, STEM-based classes, arts and crafts, and messy play. Sign up for their email list so you don’t miss anything.

Once Adventure Brews Play Haven opens, they are planning to continue pop-up events as well as host other special play times, including:

STEM-based classes
Kid yoga classes
Arts and craft classes
Storytimes
Sensory-friendly hours
Toddler hours
Messy play hours
Character events
Homeschool class series

Visiting Adventure Brews Play Haven

Adventure Brews Play Haven is not open yet. They are planning to open hopefully in early 2025. But until then, the best way to stay updated is to join their email subscriber list and follow them on Facebook.

They are going to start having pop up events over the summer so you can meet the owners and get a feel for what the new place will be like. We are going to try to make sure we have them on our calendar but in case we miss something, the emails from Adventure Brews Play Haven will be your best bet on current news.

Of course, we will update this story as the space evolves and construction begins and make an announcement when it opens.

Adventure Brews Play Haven
Adventure Brews Play Haven Website | Adventure Brews Play Haven Facebook

Guide to things to do indoors near Greenville, South Carolina

Can’t wait to play indoors? Here’s our HUGE Indoor Guide to Greenville for some additional ideas!

SCCT in Greenville, SC Offers Pay-What-You-Can Tickets

The South Carolina Children’s Theatre offers a Pay-What-You-Can pricing system for select shows to be more inclusive for all members of the community. The next performance is coming up on April 27th, 2024. Get your PWYC tickets now!

Pay What You Can Performances

“We believe everyone should have access to great theatre,” said the SCCT in their announcement on social media. “Ticket prices can prevent us from engaging with the widest possible audience, so we have been listening to our community, gathering feedback, and working hard to eliminate that barrier.”

PWYC tickets will be offered for the April 27th performance of The Spongebob Musical. Visit the Pay-What-You-Can site to purchase tickets for the April 27th

Reserving Your PWYC Ticket

The software that SCCT uses cannot accept anything lower than $1 a ticket for a PWYC performance so that’s the lowest you can pay. Normal tickets are around $20-$25.

“We are excited to provide this new program to create opportunities for ALL patrons to experience the positive impact of our productions,” continued the SCCT announcement.

The SCCT has been a longtime sponsor of us at Kidding Around Greenville and we are just thrilled with this program they are offering and hope that many families take advantage of it since the productions at SCCT are always just so stellar.

Find out why we love the South Carolina Children’s Theatre!

See the Best of Greenville, SC with Greenville Bike Taxi Pedicab Tour

Ready to do something a little out-of-the-box with your family to see the best of Greenville, SC? Let us introduce you to Greenville Bike Taxi, where you’ll get treated like a VIP while exploring some of the coolest places near downtown Greenville.

Imagine being in the back of a pedicab – a bike with a comfortable cart that can carry four people – cruising around downtown Greenville, taking in the sights with your kids, enjoying a couple cool shops and playgrounds, and taking photos in front of iconic places like Unity Park and the Medusa Tree, then have we got just the thing for you to do.

You may have already heard of Greenville Bike Taxi if you did the Earle Street Santas bike tour during Christmastime (wasn’t that fun?!), but if you haven’t, we will tell you all about them and their new Tikes on Trikes tour to some pretty neat places!

About Greenville Bike Taxi

The Tikes on Trikes Tour for Families

Book Your Tour

Greenville Bike Taxi tour — Stops along the way

Watch: The Tikes on Trikes Tour

Book Tikes on Trikes Tour

About Greenville Bike Taxi

Phil Gonzalez grew up in Greenville and moved to the coast to go to school. In Charleston, he ended up working for a bike taxi company and loved it. He peddled all over King Street and through the historic district, taking people to restaurants, markets, bars, and on shopping trips. Literally anywhere they wanted to go.

When he decided to move back home to the Upstate, he wanted to bring that same experience to Greenville. So he did. After obtaining the necessary permits and navigating all the business paperwork, Phil opened up Greenville Bike Taxi in the spring and people have loved it.

It’s easy to see why. It’s such a unique way to get around town and since Greenville is so beautiful and since there is lots to see, it’s far from a boring way to be stuck in traffic on Main Street.

If you’re in town and want a bike taxi, you can book it right from the website. A standard ride is $7/person for 10 minutes. We’ll give you pricing info on the new kids tour below.

The Tikes on Trikes Bike Tour

We got to collaborate with Phil on putting this tour together and we can confidently say it’s awesome because you’ll get a taste of some of the most iconic places in town that kids will absolutely love.

Here’s where you’ll go on the Tikes on Trikes tour:

Poppington’s Gourmet Popcorn
Poinsett Statue on Main Street
Linky Stone Park: The Children’s Garden
Unity Park
Falls Park
O.P. Taylor’s
Mast General

You’ll start and end the tour with free gifts, too, which is fantastic. We absolutely love Poppington’s Gourmet Popcorn and you’ll see why when you go because you’ll get a free sample of their delicious popcorn. At the end of the tour, you’ll also get a free gift from O.P. Taylor’s and Mast General. If you haven’t stepped foot in O.P. Taylors, it is an amazing little toy shop with a wide variety of not only the latest toys but some of the very best toys and games from the past few decades. And we are big fans of Mast General for their great outdoor clothing and gear selection and candy barrels.

At the statue of Joel Poinsett on Main Street, you’ll learn some neat tidbits about him and why in the world there’s a statue of him downtown. At Linky Stone Park, you’ll be transported to the world of Peter Rabbit.

At Unity Park, you’ll get to ride past the wind chimes and get about 10-15 minutes of playtime. The splash pad opens May 1 so bring towels if you want to do that!

At Falls Park, you’ll get to take a photo with the backdrop of the Reedy River Falls and iconic Liberty Bridge plus see the Medusa Tree. If you don’t know what that is, here’s a photo.

Overall, we had such a great time on this bike tour. The novelty of the pedicab is a lot of fun and is a unique way to enjoy our beautiful city. I think this tour would be particularly fun for someone who wants to take their kid on a one-on-one date or families who want to do an outing together and something different.

The bikes can hold up to four smaller adults or two adults and up to four kids. If you have more people than that, you can reserve two (or however many) bikes to accommodate everyone.

Tips on Enjoying the Tikes on Trikes Bike Tour

While the name is geared towards smaller kids, kids of pretty much any age will enjoy this. I took my daughters, ages 13 and 9, on the tour, and they really had a lot of fun – who doesn’t love free popcorn and Unity Park?

Since you will see a lot of the iconic places in Greenville, the tour goes by quickly. You’ll get time to enjoy each spot but not spend a lot of time so just prepare your kids, letting them know they cannot spend the entire hour playing at Unity Park. You can bribe them with the free gift at O.P. Taylors at the end of the tour!

The weather changes in Greenville a lot so be prepared with layers of clothing, hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen. You can bring water with you also.

If you want to allow your kids to use the splash pad, bring towels.

Booking Your Tikes on Trikes Bike Tour

The cost for the tour is $40/adults and $30/kids. They are an hour long and run Sundays – Fridays 11 am – 3 pm.

When you’re ready to book, use the button below.

Book Tikes on Trikes Tour

Greenville Bike Taxi
864.293.3065

Huge New Indoor Play Area and Cafe Now Open in Greenville, SC

Judson Mill Play Cafe in Greenville, SC is about to make every parent of little kids’ dreams come true with their huge indoor play area and cafe.

Austin Motes and Daniel Kingsbury are both dads with little kids. They acutely understand the challenge of finding fun, safe, and affordable places for their kids to play indoors but not at the expense of the sanity of the parents. And with Greenville growing so fast and so many new families coming to put down roots here – many of whom work from home – they also saw the need for a massive indoor space that allows parents to work but where their kids can get out energy and play.

Inside of play cafe — Judson Mill Play Cafe

They started dreaming up something big. Like really, really big. Enter the new Judson Mill Play Cafe, a massive new indoor play space with structures up to three stories tall and a cafe and comfortable tables and chairs for parents to get some work done.

It took over a year to make their dream come true and now, as of mid-March 2024, they are making it happen.

Watch! See inside Judson Mill Play Cafe!

About the Judson Mill Play Cafe

Austin Motes works in construction and has extensive knowledge of what it takes to navigate building codes and permits. Daniel Kingsbury owns SC Party Rentals so his expertise lies in entertainment. These Greenville natives are the co-owners of the Play Cafe and it’s their experience as parents and their knowledge of their respective industries that will make this new business venture appealing to families in Greenville (and beyond).

The vision behind the Play Cafe, they both told me, was to have a fun and relaxing place for kids to play safely but also to make sure parents didn’t need a vacation after spending a couple of hours there with their kids.

smaller playground at Judson Mill — Smaller play area at Judson Mill

To that end, there is no arcade, no loud air blowing through inflatables, and no musical aspects. Of course, kids will be loud but none of the play structures will add to that noise.

The Indoor Playgrounds

Austin and Daniel have quite literally scoured the world to find the coolest indoor play structures to bring to Greenville. They have gone to the biggest convention of theme park operators and inventors to find unique aspects to bring to the Play Cafe. This is no small deal to say the least.

The entire Play Cafe occupies more than 14,500 square feet, which is enormous.

There are two huge play structures, one of them two stories high and the other three stories high. They are netted, and have several slides, climbing structures, balls to throw and play with, tunnels, ladders, and other surprises.

Bridge at the playground at Judson Mill — Bridge at the smaller playground

Smaller kids will have an enclosed area to play apart from the bigger kids as well as a sensory area to explore. One side of the enclosed space has a bartop counter where parents can sit with their coffee and laptops and watch their kids.

The Play Cafe is designed for toddlers through around middle or early high school and while kids can play on any structure they’d like, one structure will be geared more for younger kids and the other for older kids.

It’s obvious two dads and their wives planned this space, which I so appreciate!

Imagination Stations

For kids who may not want to play on the larger structures, the Play Cafe has several Imagination Stations. These are small areas that are themed where kids can use their imaginations to become whatever their little hearts desire.

Some of the themed Imagination Stations are a veterinarian’s office, a fire station, a taco truck, and a doctor’s office.

Safety at the Play Cafe

Safety is, of course, of utmost importance at the Play Cafe. All the play structures are sturdy, strong, and basically indestructible. These aren’t flimsy structures.

Additionally, when parents and their kids come to play, they will be given wristbands. To exit the facility, the kids must have the same wristband as their parents or they cannot leave. And there is only one entrance and exit so parents don’t need to worry about their little escape artists wandering off.

The Cafe

The Cafe has comfortable seating throughout the space and service coffee, smoothies, pizza, and sandwiches (this will come a bit later after their opening but they will initially have snacks, drinks, and coffee). The Play Cafe will also be working with Feed & Seed, also located at Judson Mill, to offer healthier options if parents want to choose those.

Working parents at Judson Mill playground — You can work at the Play Cafe

And working parents, this is your place to bring the kids so you can get some work done. There is plenty of space to bring your laptop, connect to the Wifi, and let your kids get some energy out while you meet your deadlines. In fact, parents will be able to rent out the party rooms during the week to have meetings and get work done while their kids play. I nearly jumped up and down when I heard this. Brilliant. Brilliant. Brilliant.

There are high top tables surrounding the toddler area and next to the huge play area for the smaller kids. There are also plenty of outlets for phone charging and laptops.

Birthday Parties & Special Events

The Judson Mill Play Cafe offers several different birthday party packages for guests, ranging from a more budget-friendly version to an all out turnkey event where the parents only need to reserve the room and everything else will be handled for them. Um, yes please. Party packages range from $249 up to $599.

There are seven birthday party rooms – yes, seven. So if the weather looks bad for your outdoor party, you have a pretty good chance of snagging one of the birthday party rooms here at the Play Cafe. The party rooms are separated by beautiful barn doors so if you wanted to rent out several, that’s an easy desire to make a reality.

Birthday party rooms at Play Cafe at Judson Mill — Birthday party rooms at Judson Mill Play Cafe

Additionally, all the party rooms will be the same with the option of projecting a theme throughout the room. Think a princess castle or jungle full of dinosaurs.

Play Passes & Memberships + Cool Employee Perk

An all day play pass is $12/child Monday-Friday and $15/child on Saturday & Sunday. For kids two years and younger, there is no cost if they come with paid sibling. A monthly membership is $29.95/child and kids can play for an unlimited amount of time during operating hours.

Sibling discounts will be 20% off for three or more kids and kids ages two and under are free with a paid child. All packages and discounts are available on their website.

Grip socks must be worn on the play areas. The Play Cafe will sell them but you can also bring your own.

Tot times and special needs hours will also be part of the new Play Cafe at Judson Mill.

For parents who work at the Play Cafe, the owners will allow them to bring one child per shift.

NEW: OPENING DAY IS MARCH 20, 2024

We’ve seen this place right from the beginning when it was just a big, empty warehouse and whoa, they have done a ton of work to make it a place that families can really enjoy!

Flooring

An inch-and-a-half padded flooring covers most of the floors. It’s super soft and fluffy.

Playground for smaller kids and tots area

The playground for the smaller kids is about 18 feet high with multiple slides and tunnels. There is also an adjacent, enclosed area for kids about age one and under. The high top tables surround this area so parents can work, chat, or just enjoy their coffee while their kids play.

High top tables surrounding tot play area

Large Playground

The equipment for the bigger playground is up and it is enormous. It’s 22 feet high – almost three stories. There are slides, several entrances, a huge tower in the middle, and lots of nerf guns that will shoot balls. The nerf guns were a favorite for our kids. Good luck trying to get your kids to leave.

Bathrooms & Full Body Changing Table

The bathrooms are just off the main play area and get this: there are baby changing stations in both the men’s and women’s restrooms. Yay. There is also a larger changing table in the women’s restroom, normally used for children with special needs.

Women's restroom at Play Cafe at Judson Mill — Women’s restroom at Judson Mill Play Cafe

Frequently Asked Questions

Opening day is March 20, 2024 at 10 am. Drinks and snacks will be able to be purchased but the more substantial food and drinks won’t be available until later.

Follow Judson Mill Play Cafe on Facebook for the latest updates and special events.

Here are a few questions you may have with answers:

When will the Play Cafe open? March 20, 2024

When will the cafe part of the Play Cafe open? Hopefully a few weeks after the Play Cafe at Judson Mill opens. Drinks, coffee, and snacks will be available for purchase at opening.

What ages is the Play Cafe designed for? The Play Cafe is designed for crawlers and toddlers through around middle or early high school and while kids can play on any structure they’d like, one structure will be geared more for younger kids and the other for older kids.

Do special socks need to be worn? Yes. The Play Cafe sells them or you can bring your own.

How do I get there? The Play Cafe is in a big warehouse with other businesses. If you walk into the front of the building, Feed and Seed will be on your right and BlocHaven will be on your left. Walk straight and then when you get to the bathrooms, make a left. Play Cafe will be on your right.

Will the Play Cafe be booking birthday parties soon? You can use their booking feature on their website.

Will the Play Cafe have WiFi and areas for parents to work? Yes, indeed. This will be a great place for working parents.

What are their hours? Monday – Friday from 10 am – 7 pm, Saturdays from 9 am – 8 pm, and Sunday from 10 am – 6 pm.

Judson Mill Play Cafe
701 Easley Bridge Road, Greenville
864.203.0330
Judson Mill Play Cafe Facebook

More indoor fun!

Kidding Around Guide to Indoor Places to PLAY!

Cirque Du Soleil’s Corteo Coming to Greenville, SC

A Cirque Du Soleil show, Corteo, is coming to Greenville, SC at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena! We talked to the director of the show and have all the details on what it’s like + a review of our own.

Coreto, a Cirque Du Soleil show, is coming to Greenville, SC and we’re here for it. The last time a Cirque show came to Greenville was many years ago and wow, I still remember the awe I felt watching the artists. The costumes were fantastic and the entire show just transported the audience to another world.

You can expect more of that trademark, otherworldly experience when Corteo takes the floor of the Bon Secours Wellness Arena from March 21-24, 2024.

I got to talk to Michael Veilleux, the Cirque Du Soleil Corteo Tour Director, ahead of the show here in Greenville and he is thrilled to be in town and excited for audiences to experience the magic of the show.

Corteo. Photo provided by Cirque Du Soleil.

About Corteo

In Italian, Corteo translates to “a joyous procession.” In this show, the joyous procession is a funeral procession. If that doesn’t sound fun, trust the reputation of Cirque Du Soleil and know that it’s going to be amazing.

“The theme is very joyous and playful,” said Veilleux.” It’s not serious but it’s also mysterious and full of imagery.”

The main character is a clown – not a scary one – named Mauro, who dreams about his funeral but the story isn’t so much about death but about celebrating the life he lived.

“The setting is so rich visually,” said Veilleux. “It’s this joyous procession with Mauro’s friends and family and you have all these different characters. The audience will see some pretty unique things they have likely never seen before like a beautiful acrobatic number with chandeliers. Other acts involve dancing, suspended poles, and a teeterboard. The show is divided into earthly and heavenly acts.”

In total, there are 53 artists. The entire show is moved from city to city by 21 trucks. It’s massive. You’ll probably see them lined up near the arena.

Corteo is directed by Daniele Finzi Pasca and first premiered in Montreal in April 2005. Since its creation, the show has amazed over 10 million spectators, in 20 countries, and on four continents.

Family-Friendly Aspects of Corteo

Of course, I needed to know if Corteo was family-friendly, which Veilleux enthusiastically agreed it is.

“It will amaze the whole family – there are so many things happening at the same time,” said Veilleux. “Adolescents will enjoy all the acrobatics. Older people will appreciate the quality of the music.”

He suggested Corteo would be good for ages 4 and up, mostly just because of the louder music and lighting. He said it may be too jarring for smaller kids. Overall, if a family brings kids, he said that there is so much going on that they will enjoy it.

The show is divided into two 50-minute acts with a 25-minute intermission.

Costumes and Makeup in Corteo

If you’ve ever been to a Cirque Du Soleil show before, you know how beautiful the costumes are. Corteo is no different except that there are just more costumes in this show, over 2,000 in fact.

“Corteo is an Italian creation so you can just imagine the details,” said Veilleux. “This is one of the shows that have the most detailed costumes. There will be some beautiful handmade costumes that are very rich in color.”

I also needed to know about the clowns and their makeup. While I don’t have any issues with clowns, some people are terrified of them. But in Corteo, Veilleux assured me that the clowns aren’t scary and their makeup is very light, reminiscent of the 1800s where only slight powder and a little lipstick were used to accentuate a person’s natural features.

Mom Review of Corteo

I got to see Corteo on opening night and Greenville and was awestruck the whole time. The music and costumes transport you to another time and the stage is small and intimate so you don’t feel like you’re at this huge production (even though you are).

Parts of the show were hilarious and right from the start, the action happens in the air with artists literally swinging from chandeliers. My 9-year-old asked me if those were real and I could see the wheels turning in her head as contemplated where she could find a chandelier to swing from. The next scene was with two trampolines disguised as beds so, of course, the same kid was already envisioning jumping on her bed.

My kids, ages 9 and 13, absolutely loved it. We saw a lot of other kids there as well. This was probably one of the very best shows I’ve seen at the Bon Secours Arena. I was so impressed with the movements of the artists and the emotional music and absolutely recommend to our readers.

Corteo Shows in Greenville, SC

There are five shows in Greenville at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena:

Thursday, March 21st at 7:30 pm
Friday, March 22nd at 7:30 pm
Saturday, March 23rd at 3 pm and 7 pm
Sunday March 24th at 1 pm

Tickets start at $65 and can be bought online or at the box office.

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Complete Your Perfect Weekend with Brunch at Cantina 76

Love a good brunch? KAG Contributor Kristina Hernandez does, and she’s sharing all the info about brunch at Cantina 76. Find out about the Mexican-inspired brunch fare and drinks on the new menu. Don’t blame us if you’re hungry when you finish reading. Just make plans for brunch!

Brunch is the best meal, hands down. It’s the ultimate combination of sweet and savory, preferably enjoyed with a mimosa. All of those expectations are met with the new brunch at Cantina 76, the locally-owned and operated Mexican-inspired establishment in the heart of downtown Greenville. I had the chance to try the brunch menu recently and it was glorious.

Brunch at Cantina 76

Cantina 76 prides itself on using fresh and local ingredients to create imaginative dishes and handcrafted margaritas (which I highly recommend). Brunch follows this same idea and the results are delicious.

The Chicken & Waffles is sweet and savory with fried chicken and an ancho honey glaze, served with fruit and syrup if you like. Everything was cooked to perfection and now my kids want waffles every morning.

The Avocado Toast is perfection. Lots of ripe avocado spread across toasted bread and topped with a fried egg, pico de gallo, and lime crema.

You can enjoy the Steak and Egg Migas with either one taco or two, which has wok-seared flank steak, cheddar cheese, scrambled eggs, picante verde, and caramelized onions topped with crispy tortilla strips.

Other options include a huge Breakfast Rollup with chorizo, cheese, eggs, tater tots, and crema with pico de gallo, the Huevos Rancheros with refried beans, salsa fritti, sunny side up eggs, and salsa verde, and the Breakfast Bowl with smashed tots, salsa, a fried egg, cheese, and crumbled bacon.

Brunch Beverages at Cantina 76

Mimosas are also on the brunch menu because it’s brunch. The classic mimosa is composed of orange juice and champagne and is refreshing and delightful. Just be prepared to explain to your kids that it’s not orange juice.

Cantina 76 also serves a Honeysuckle Mimosa, Pama Mimosa, Peach Mimosa, and a Bloody Mary. Sides of fruit and tater tots are also on the menu. Outdoor seating is available when the weather cooperates.

Cantina 76 is Family Friendly

The laid back atmosphere of Cantina 76 is perfect for families too. The staff are all very kind and accommodating and kids will recognize things they have eaten before on the menu, even though they are presented with a tasty twist. My two young kids really enjoyed everything and they aren’t exactly adventurous eaters. We’ll be back for sure.

Cantina 76
103 N Main St #101, Greenville

Brunch hours are every Sunday from 11 am – 2 pm.

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