Are you new to hiking in the Upstate, SC and looking for some tips on hiking for beginners? We’ve got you covered with the best hikes for newbies plus what to take with you to make sure you’re well prepared to enjoy our beautiful trails in the Upstate and Western North Carolina.
The mountains are calling and everyone wants to go. And that’s what happened during the pandemic and really, people haven’t stopped answering the call ever since. Campgrounds are booked months in advance. Popular trailheads are packed. And hiker etiquette has been thrown out the window. But there’s a lot of hope because if you have been wanting to join the thousands of hikers on our beautiful trails and aren’t sure where to go, what to bring, and how to act, we’ve got you covered.
I’ve been hiking since I was a kid but there were many years that I was off the trail. It was only when I moved here to the Upstate that I picked it up again and now, it’s a weekly occurrence at least. I’ve taken my kids on hikes all over this part of South Carolina throughout Greenville, Oconee and Pickens Counties. I’ve hiked probably hundreds of miles through the Western NC mountains and into the Great Smoky Mountains. It’s my happy place and my kids really enjoy the experiences we’ve had together on the trails. I’m including the best trail etiquette tips to get you started and make sure you have a great time outdoors plus some of my favorite trail recommendations.
Looking for something to do in Spartanburg that involves coming into contact with no other people? How about an Upstate, SC bear hunt? Since almost everything is closed because of the novel coronavirus pandemic, it makes it tough for parents to not only keep their kids entertained but save their own sanity. We love driving tours over here at Kidding Around (**ahem** Christmas lights…) so we asked our readers if they knew of neighborhoods participating in the viral Bear Hunt window challenge, where people put teddy bears in their windows for kids to find and point out.
Looking for something to do in Greenville? How about an Upstate, SC bear hunt? Since almost everything is closed because of the novel coronavirus pandemic, it makes it tough for parents to not only keep their kids entertained but save their own sanity. We love driving tours over here at Kidding Around (**ahem** Christmas lights…) so we asked our readers if they knew of neighborhoods participating in the viral Bear Hunt window challenge, where people put teddy bears in their windows for kids to find and point out.
The lazy days of summer are right around the corner. That means lots of time at the neighborhood pool, heading to the beach, or checking out local swimming holes. But as a parent, the fun times around water are a little more stressful because accidents in the water are more common than need to be.
This post is sponsored by YMCA of Greenville.
Every year during warmer months, we hear tragic stories about accidental drownings involving children. Drowning is the second leading cause of death for children 1-14, but formal swimming lessons can reduce that risk by 88%. The YMCA of Greenville is committed to reducing the rates of drowning by providing water safety and swimming lessons to as many members of our community as possible.
With that commitment in mind, the YMCA of Greenville has partnered with Upstate Pool Management and Clarity Pool Management to offer a week of free water safety classes over spring break to help kids learn to swim and be more comfortable in the water. Water Safety Week, which runs April 13-17, 2020, also teaches parents what to do to prevent drowning accidents and how to keep a careful eye on the little ones around water.
Trained and certified instructors teach participants basic comfort and survival swimming skills while working toward building confidence around water. While lessons focus on safety, they are also a great time for children to have fun and be active.
Classes will be held at:
Caine Halter Family YMCA in downtown Greenville
Eastside Family YMCA in Taylors
YPC Program Center in Simpsonville
Morning and afternoon sessions are available, but spaces are limited for the free classes so be sure to register online. You don’t even have to be a member of the YMCA.
Have you heard of Pelvic Floor Therapy? This form of physical therapy address pelvic floor disorders, including those that occur from pregnancy and child birth. Kidding Around’s Kristina went to pelvic floor therapy at Zoan Physical Therapy and learned all about how this kind of therapy is helping women. Read on to find out what to expect at a pelvic floor therapy session.
How did Presidents’ Day sneak up on us parents? Seems like the kids just had a Monday off of school! To help you out on things to do, camps, or other entertainment, we’ve compiled this list.
Kayla Blood, a 29-year-old mom who lives in Louisiana, is fierce. She was in the Louisiana National Guard for six years and now drives a huge Monster Truck called Soldier Fortune on weekends. Oh, and she competes against her husband, Blake Granger, who drives Maximum Destruction in Monster Jam Triple Threat Series®.
Kayla is nothing but ordinary yet deals with the same challenges that most of us moms face just trying to do our best for our kids and family. She’s had to overcome vast obstacles to get where she is now, choosing to never let an opportunity pass her by where she didn’t make the most of it. Now she’s the first female National Guard veteran driver for Monster Jam, crashing through the glass ceiling with Solider Fortune.
Photo courtesy of Monster Jam
You can cheer for Kayla at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena at the Monster Jam Triple Threat Series® shows on Friday, February 7th at 7 pm and Saturday, February 8th at 1 pm and 7 pm. We got a chance to chat with her about her son, how she got started as a Monster Truck driver, and what it feels like to leave all the boys in the dust.
Kidding Around Greenville:How did you start your career as a Monster Truck driver?
Kayla Blood: Before Monster Jam, I raced ATVs competitively. My husband and I were asked to do Quad Wars during a local Monster Jam show, which we just did for the fun of it. After doing New Orleans Monster Jam, I got a phone call from one of the guys that got the Quad Wars together and asked for the redhead who drove the ATV. They were looking for people who were athletically fit and capable who could compete. I fit that bracket! I trained at Monster Jam University in Illinois for about six months, learning every aspect of the Monster Jam Triple Threat show from driving to media training to gym training.
KAG: Tell us about your son. What does he think of your career? Does he come with you to shows?
Kayla: Austin is 7-years-old and I have a 9-year-old stepdaughter, Riley. They love coming to the show and it’s a definite plus when they come. Sometimes shows don’t go the way you want but it’s so nice to have their hugs and kisses. Learning the balance being away from them is hard. When I’m home, my kids are my focus. Austin is really humble so it’s almost like he’s just shy about what I do. I’m the same way and like to fly under the radar.
KAG: What’s it like being a mom while working for Monster Jam?
Kayla: It’s hard to balance – from being in a show trying to whoop these boys to transitioning to mom mode. My husband is on tour with me all year [Blake Granger who drives Maximum Destruction] and his mom is our saving grace at home. Between her and his sister, they help us so much while we are on tour.
Photo courtesy of Monster Jam
KAG: Wow, your husband is a driver, too! What’s the dynamic like of competing against him?
Kayla: I’m the only female on the floor and I want the guys to treat me equally. I want to win fair and square. There are times when Blake and I have gone head-to-head and I’ve beat him. I love it. It doesn’t happen often but when it does, it feels great. When it comes to ATVs, he’s ridden them all his life and usually leaves all of us in the dust. It makes me so mad!
Going into the Washington, DC competition we were tied in points and it was so much pressure. It was a tough weekend and now I’m in third place but not far behind. I plan on giving everything I have in Greenville. He’s standing in the way of a champion. He better get out of the way.
KAG: Were you ever deployed when you were in the Louisiana National Guard?
Kayla: I was in the Louisiana National Guard for six years and worked full-time in Force Protection, which is like military police. Then I did administrative work for my colonel. My unit had orders to deploy to Afghanistan – which is when I found out I was pregnant with my son so I couldn’t go. I wanted to do a tour but I’m so blessed with my son and everything I learned from that experience literally led me to the next one.
KAG: How do you drive normally? Are you aggressive and think you’re driving your truck and wonder why people don’t get out of the way?
Kayla: After driving my Monster Truck all weekend and coming home and getting into my car, I have to tell myself to be gentle. I can’t go all over and hit things! It’s definitely a transition. My husband says he gets so sick driving with me.
KAG: What do you hope some little girl watching you at the show takes home from the experience?
Kayla: I had to grow up at a young age and if I wanted to make anything of myself, I had to do it myself. Anything worth having in life isn’t going to be given to you – you’ll have to work for it. When you do that, you have to put yourself out there and you’ll fail. But everything that goes bad, it’s teaching you a lesson.
I was a track star in high school and went to college on a track scholarship out of state and it just didn’t work out for me. I got depressed and down on myself. I thought I was going to be this Olympic track star and it didn’t happen. When I was down, I got up and decided to join the military and do something with my life. So that’s what I did; I went to the recruiting office and before I knew it, I was in boot camp and going through crazy and amazing things that made me into the person I am now. I didn’t want to skip a beat in life, I wanted to take advantage of everything that came my way.
Never give up. When you’re a mom and working and taking care of your family, you’re doing enough. Don’t ever feel like you’re stuck – you can do something about it. Anything is possible.
Want to go to the show?
Want to see Kayla drive Soldier Fortune in Greenville? Grab tickets to the Monster Jam shows in Greenville here or at the Bon Secours Wellness Center Box Office.
Shows are at 7 pm on Friday, February 7th and at 1 pm and 7 pm on Saturday, February 8th. Tickets start at $15. The Pit Party is on Saturday from 10:30 am – Noon and costs $15.
Some parents may have noticed the indoor play area at Haywood Mall absent recently. Well, there’s a reason for that: a brand new play area is being installed and opening up on Saturday, November 23rd.
New play area at Haywood Mall
“As a community destination for families across the region, it’s important that Haywood Mall continues to evolve by developing a new, progressive area for children to create special memories,” said Jamie Wright, general manager for Haywood Mall. “Whether guests need a break from a busy day of shopping or visit specifically to explore the Play Area, our hope is that children will enjoy a fun, interactive experience while discovering new ideas and exercising their creativity.”
The new play area isn’t just for little kids. It’s designed to appeal to both toddlers with a zone just for them but also a more interactive area for the older ones. Interactive technology, educational elements, and multi-sensory experiences are the foundations of the new indoor play area.
Kids will be encouraged to create their own adventures with an LED lit crawl path, interactive stomping games, and a playcube slide. Lots of vibrant colors will make the play area easy to locate in the Dillard’s Wing of the mall.
And for parents, charging stations and soft seating will encourage them to hang around for a bit while their kids work off excess energy.
The ribbon cutting ceremony happens at 1 pm on Saturday, November 23rd. There will also be a balloon drop, games, holiday treats, balloon twisting, a photo booth, and music. The new play area is in the Dillard’s Wing of the Haywood Mall.
Do you have a child at home who loves trains? If you haven’t been to the huge train show at the Mauldin Cultural Center, put it on your calendar for mid-September. This FREE event is a must-see and must-do train spectacular you’re going to love!
NOTE: Because of COVID-19, this train show at the Mauldin Cultural Center has been postponed.They may do it in the Spring of 2022 to check back here!
The Biltmore Estate in nearby Asheville never disappoints. While the enormous home is a big draw, the estate has exhibits, events, and lots of other entertainment for the whole family. One such exhibit is the Biltmore Gardens Railway, a huge model train exhibit that runs at the Biltmore through September 29th. We sent contributor Kristina up to the Biltmore to check it out.
