Love alpacas and mini-animals? Take a trip to Winchester Creek Farm in Waynesville, NC for a fun day trip with your family!
Media tickets were provided for this review, which was updated in January 2024.
The drive up to Winchester Creek Farm in Waynesville, NC is probably worth the trip alone. The beautiful scenery of mountain peaks and valleys, eventually wind their way to the feet of the Smoky Mountains, where the farm is situated. Winchester Creek Farm, about a 90-minute trip from the South Carolina Upstate, has alpacas and many miniature animals like cows, horses, and donkeys, as well as super fluffy sheep and an adorable little Juliana pig.
Looking for things to do for a romantic date night in Greenville, SC? Here’s our list of the 14 most romantic dates in Greenville! We’ve included date ideas that all couples will love. We also asked our readers for their thoughts and included reader-recommended ideas for great dates in Greenville.
Are you looking for hotels in Greenville, SC with indoor pools? Whether you’re visiting Greenville, SC or want to do a staycation, having an indoor pool can be a lifesaver for families because it’s instant entertainment any time of year. We did the legwork and have the list right here for you on where to stay in Greenville with an indoor pool.
As a kid, I always thought there was something magical about an indoor pool and would never want to leave at hotels that had one. It’s a pool, indoors, and warm! As an adult, I can still appreciate a good indoor pool, especially as a parent who sometimes just wants to rest while their kids swim.
In Greenville, there are several hotels with indoor pools where you can live out your childhood dreams and let your kids create new ones. These are fantastic options for families visiting or those who want to do a staycation in the greatest little town in the country. We’re not biased, of course.
Drury Inn and Suites indoor pool | Photo Credit: Drury Inn and Suites
This article contains affiliate links through STAY22. Kidding Around earns when you book through these links.
10 Carolina Point Highway, Greenville 864.288.4401 Bonus: They offer a free hot breakfast and free 5:30pm kickback, which includes hot food and drinks.
670 Verdae Boulevard, Greenville 864.676.9090 Bonus: Free made-to-order breakfast and complimentary evening reception. This location also has an outdoor, seasonal pool.
Want to sleep in a covered wagon or authentic tipi at a brand-new resort near Gatlinburg, TN? Smoky Hollow Outdoor Resort is not even a three-hour drive from Greenville, SC. Your family won’t stop talking about what a cool place this is once you’ve visited! If you are looking for cozy camping in Sevierville, this is the place!
Media accommodations were provided for this review.
My kids, ages 10 and 7, are obsessed with Laura Ingalls Wilder and we have listened to every book in the series. They have asked to learn how to sew, to see where she lived, and what in the world her covered wagon looked like. So imagine their surprise when they got to sleep in an authentic Conestoga wagon, which was used in the late eighteenth century. It was a lot of fun to witness their enthusiasm. But really, I was just as excited because it is genuinely cool to sleep in such unique accommodations at the new Smoky Hollow Outdoor Resort.
Looking for a special Valentine’s Day meal in Greenville, SC? If you just love celebrating love and that stuff with your significant other, we’ve got a list of Valentine’s Day restaurants in the Greenville, SC area that are offering special love-day menus. Plus, we’ve included a few other events that you may like to try with your partner, best friend, or family to celebrate the holiday.
Poppington’s Gourmet Popcorn, a staple on Main Street in Greenville, SC for more than a decade, is under new ownership and we’ve got the story on this Willy Wonka-ish amazing small business.
If you’ve walked on Main Street in downtown Greenville, you’ve probably stopped into Poppington’s Gourmet Popcorn, even if just to window shop. It’s been there since 2012 and only recently came under new ownership. Boy did they hit the ground running.
We stopped by to get the story and try the popcorn and really, didn’t want to leave. It was that good. And read to the bottom for a little gift for Kidding Around readers!
So many flavors
How One Acquires a Popcorn Shop
Skyler Burkett and his wife, Brittanie, were visiting Greenville with some friends a few years ago. They were looking to move from a tiny town in Illinois and stopped into Poppington’s on Main Street. They asked the owners if they were looking to sell at all. Turns out, the owners were open to it.
It took a couple of years to actually make the move to buy Poppington’s and get to Greenville but it all fell into place in April 2023 and Skyler was now a modern-day Willy Wonka, creating all kinds of wonderful and creative flavors that make you second guess exactly what you’re eating.
Skyler and Brittanie Burkett, co-owners at Poppington’s Gourmet Popcorn
Fun fact: Skyler grew up on a farm in Illinois that was basically all corn fields. And now he’s a popcorn shop owner. Full circle!
The Flavors Are Incredible
Sweet or savory, you name it, they have it. And it’s going to be good.
I personally love pickles so I jumped at the chance to try the Dill Pickle flavor of popcorn at Poppington’s (don’t judge). I was 99% sure I was eating an actual pickle and not popcorn, that’s how close the flavor was. Literally the only thing different was the texture. The Bacon Cheddar popcorn was also a favorite. It tastes like you are eating a piece of bacon along with the best piece of cheddar cheese you’ve ever had in your life. I just kept wondering how in the world they pack that much flavor into a kernel of popped corn.
Skyler Burkett at Poppington’s Gourmet Popcorn
Oh, and the Havarti Dill flavor was amazing with lots of bold cheese and dill pickle flavors.
Don’t worry, if pickles aren’t your thing, there are plenty of other flavors I promise you’ll love like Cotton Candy, Birthday Cake, Salted Caramel, and Toffee. Every single flavor we tried was just so good.
Popcorn at Poppington’s is the Real Deal
All the flavor combinations and ingredients at Poppington’s are real foods. No powders or fake foods. And they even have a chef who comes up with ideas and makes them happen. He is one of the business partners and went to culinary school. He hadn’t really found his spot in the culinary community until he became a Popcorn Chef. It’s a thing and now you have new goals in life if you love popcorn and cooking.
So the Popcorn Chef uses all real food to make the 50 flavors available at Poppington’s and this is why they taste so good. This is why the cotton candy flavor tastes like cotton candy – because it is cotton candy – and why the dill pickle flavor tastes like dill pickles, because they are.
Looking Ahead for More Poppington’s Goodness
What’s the future look like for Poppington’s? Skyler tells me they are expanding fast and are always trying new flavors and taking the suggestions of their customers. I gave him a few ideas but am keeping them secret so you’ll have to just wait.
Poppington’s Gourmet Popcorn
If you love Poppington’s so much and want to send all the popcorn goodness to your friends around the country, Poppington’s ships their popcorn. Also, you can order little bags of popcorn for corporate events, weddings, parties, Christmas gifts, literally anything.
Special Poppington’s Gourmet Popcorn Gift for Kidding Around Readers
Skyler is one of the nicest guys you’ll meet. If you go to the shop, be sure to ask for him and he’ll be excited to talk to you and see you. He’s one of the most peoplest people persons I’ve ever met.
And because he’s so nice, he has given our Kidding Around readers a special code to use for 15% off their orders at Poppington through January 31, 2024. Use the code KAG15 for orders online and in-store.
Hours of Operation
Poppington’s is open during these hours but call ahead during snow or big storms to double-check before heading out:
Monday – Thursday: 11 am – 7 pm Friday and Saturday: 11 am – 8 pm Sunday: 12 pm – 5 pm
A new food truck park, the first of its kind in the Upstate, is open in Simpsonville, SC. There are six food trucks and a special addition for little kids. Read on to learn all about it.
When Justin and his wife, Allie, moved to the Upstate, they couldn’t find something they had become familiar with in their home out West: a dedicated spot for food trucks where families could hang out with each other and their kids could play. So they decided to start one.
The Scuffletown Food Truck Park opened in December 2023 and has been busy ever since. We’ve got all you need know to visit and have a blast with your family.
Scuffletown Food Truck Park food truck
About the Scuffletown Food Truck Park
Justin and Allie knew they wanted a place in Simpsonville with a variety of dedicated food trucks and a space to have a fun time together for families, couples, and everyone in between.
Justin is a former firefighter but now runs the food truck park full-time. It has gotten a fantastic reception in the community and after visiting, it’s easy to see why. Imagine a smaller version of the outdoor space at Swamp Rabbit Cafe but with food trucks.
They have a picnic area enclosed on three sides, a taproom where guests can pour their own beers, a platform for bands, and a fully enclosed play area with a sand pit.
The Food Trucks
The food trucks at the park are all stationary and have their spot for a year. They have all kinds of food options from sweets to ramen to BBQ to Columbian cuisine.
Here’s a list of the food trucks at the park:
Too Sauc’D Up – they serve all kinds of chicken wings.
Rad Dad’s BBQ – they have BBQ, nachos, and grilled cheese.
Duck Donuts – they have amazing donuts.
BirriaBoy – they serve ramen, tacos, and burritos.
Half Rooted – they are a Columbian eatery with burgers, empanadas, arepas, and yuca fries.
One Love Fusion Foods – nachos, tacos, and rice bowls are their specialties.
Scuffletown Food Truck Park food truck
Having all these options are just perfect for families because people can have what they want. We got kids dishes at One Love Fusion and Rad Dad’s BBQ and they were both delicious. The BBQ kid nachos at One Love Fusion were especially amazing and pretty big for a kid size. The fries and pork sandwich at Rad Dad’s didn’t disappoint either. They had lots of BBQ sauces to choose from, which I really enjoyed.
Most of the food trucks we checked out had at least one dish that even the pickiest eaters will love.
The Taproom
The Taproom at the food truck park is pretty cool. It’s an entire wall of beer that is self-serve. You control the amount of beer you have and you are charged by the ounce.
I tried the Keeping It Teal from Snafu Brewing Company in North Charleston and whoa. It’s a fruity sour with raspberries and a hint of cotton candy. I’d have that again in a heartbeat.
Scuffletown Food Truck Park Taproom
They have a large variety of beer and you can try as many as you like because you’re in charge of the pours. So fun.
If you need even more variety, there are canned beers available as well.
The Playground and Sand Pit
Here’s where the Scuffletown Food Truck Park really shines and where it’s incredibly obvious that Justin and Allie are parents.
The sand pit is huge and they have those small digging toys where you sit and pretend you’re a big dig operator. Please tell me I’m not the only one who does (*ahem, did*) this. There are sand toys and a small play apparatus.
Scuffletown Food Truck Park sandpit
And the entire area is totally fenced in. Fenced in. No kids are escaping. You can hang out with your delicious food and beer on a nearby picnic table under a heat lamp while your kids get their energy out in the playground. It’s absolutely perfect for parents and a much-needed addition to this area.
​Hours of Operation
The hours are a little confusing as the taproom and food trucks all kind of operate on different schedules. Before you go, be sure to check the Scuffletown Food Truck website to make sure the truck you want or taproom is open.
Scuffletown Food Truck Park outdoor area
Taproom hours
Sunday and Monday: 11 am – 8 pm Tuesday and Wednesday: Closed Thursday: 11 am – 9 pm Friday and Saturday: 11 am – 10 pm Sunday: 11 am – 8 pm
For the food truck hours, follow Scuffletown Food Truck Park on social media as they regularly post the updated hours.
Looking for a fun homeschool day event near Greenville, SC to attend this school year? We have a list of local and regional places that offer Homeschool Daysincluding farms, zoos, and amusement parks.
Part of the fun of homeschooling is all the field trips my kids and I take. We try to go out as often as possible to any number of places that give a hands-on, visual, and educational experience and always have a lot of fun.
There are so many fantastic places in our area Upstate SC area that offer Homeschool Days specifically for homeschooling families. I put them together here to help all of us homeschoolers have some options for extending learning beyond the home environment.
Concerned about the human trafficking stories you see in the news and on social media? We were too. KAG Contributor, Kristina Hernandez, visited with SWITCH, a nonprofit dedicated to helping victims of human trafficking and educating parents on how to protect their kids. She interviewed Jesslyn Griffith, the former Community Engagement Coordinator at SWITCH, and is bringing us tips for keeping our kids safe.
Maybe it’s because I’m a paranoid parent or because my work involves following the news – which is almost always bad – or maybe just because I watched Taken too many times, but sex trafficking is something that is consistently on my mind as I raise my two daughters. The fact that Greenville County leads the state in human trafficking cases has not escaped my notice either.
So I have a lot of questions, as I’m sure most parents around here do, about trafficking and I want – no, I need – answers. What is considered by law sex trafficking? What can I possibly do to shield my kids from being victims? What do I need to know about trafficking in Greenville and what do I need to watch for? Are my kids at risk of being snatched by traffickers in WalMart or someplace public?
Thankfully there is a nonprofit, SWITCH,in Greenville that works with the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office to not only help victims of trafficking recover, but also acts as an organization that educates the public, works to decrease demand, and intervenes to help women get out of trafficking and counsel them in recovery. Since their inception of the restoration program in 2014, SWITCH has helped over 115 victims of trafficking,
Jesslyn Griffith, the former Community Engagement Coordinator at SWITCH, became my new friend when it came to learning everything I needed to know about sex trafficking here in Greenville. She answered all my questions patiently and thoroughly, which are below. You can watch our Facebook Live interview with Jesslyn below because you cannot have enough information when it comes to protecting your children.
If you have questions you want answered that we didn’t ask, send us an email or message us on Facebook!
FAQ: How to protect your children from human trafficking
What is sex trafficking and human trafficking?
Kidding Around Greenville (KAG): What is the actual definition of sex trafficking?
SWITCH: Sex trafficking takes place when force, fraud or coercion is used to induce someone into the commercial sex industry, or when a person 18 yrs or younger is involved in the commercial sex industry.
KAG: What are the biggest misconceptions about human trafficking? SWITCH: Trafficking looks different internationally than it does in the U.S. and it looks different within different parts of the U.S. Because we often think it happens like it does in the movie Taken and involves international kidnappings, chains, and dark basements, we miss it.
It’s such an unseen enemy because it involves psychological chains of force, fraud and coercion. A person can be living at home with their parents but being sold by peers on the weekend. So many victims don’t even self-identify because they aren’t in chains. Also, part of training for traffickers is to try to convince the victim it was their idea or choice. A young person who runs away and ends up being trafficked for a place to sleep may think it’s their fault this is happening because they chose to run away. Traffickers will exploit any vulnerability they can.
Social Media and How Kids Are Recruited for Human Trafficking
KAG: At what age are kids commonly trafficked? What do they have in common?
SWITCH: Nationally, the average age is 12-13 years old; in SC, the average age is 14-16 years old.. Traffickers are so good at what they do – finding someone’s vulnerabilities and unmet needs and then meeting those needs to build trust and establish a strong connection for the sole purpose of exploiting that person through the vulnerabilities and unmet needs they have. It’s the highest level of manipulation and deceit.
The number one way traffickers are reaching youth is through social media. A young person will complain about their parents and the trafficker will jump on that, relating to the youth, becoming a trusted friend, They then begin the process of grooming the young person and isolating them from people they are close to so they can break and turn them out into the commercial sex industry more easily. In our country, 300,000 youth are lured into the commercial sex industry every year.
KAG: How are kids usually recruited into the trafficking industry? Is it in person, online, through friends?
SWITCH: In SC, most cases involve recruitment by a family member.
KAG: Wait, what?! A family member?
SWITCH: This is a hard one for me to understand as well. SC is the #1 state in the country for reported cases of familial trafficking. Recruitment is the way people are brought into the commercial sex industry. The sad thing is, it often becomes a normalized way of life for people eventually and sometimes the only way they know to survive. There are many things traffickers will do to keep victims trapped in this lifestyle as well: criminal records, ruined credit, and drug addictions. It’s often hard for people to escape the commercial sex industry once they have been forced, frauded, or coerced into it.
KAG: OK – back to the original question – how are kids recruited?
SWITCH: The second most common method is someone pretending to be a boyfriend which is known as a Romeo Pimp. Peer trafficking came in as the third highest method of recruitment. This could be someone already in “the life” of the commercial sex industry who is now recruiting for their trafficker or a peer who is using threats and blackmail to coerce a classmate to have sex with others. There are numerous tricks, traps, and schemes used to force and trick kids into this.
Keeping Kids Safe From Human Trafficking
KAG: What steps can parents take to educate themselves on signs that their child may be trafficked and educate their kids on the dangers of sex trafficking?
SWITCH: As part of our prevention program, we have a presentation for parents to help educate them on what to look for and how to talk to their kids about this. It’s important to be a safe person for your child to talk to. Be mindful of your reactions when your kids open up and share things with you. Keep an open line of communication with them and know who the influences are in their lives. Be so careful with technology and social media.
You’re trying to guard and protect your kids from as much of this as possible but they need to know what’s happening so they can help protect themselves as well. Love146 is a wonderful resource for parents as well and be sure to check out our website as we will be updating it to provide more information on all of this.
Kidnapping & Human Trafficking
KAG: Anyone on Facebook nowadays reads about moms who are followed at WalMart or someplace like that and are petrified that someone is trying to kidnap their child for trafficking. Are those legit concerns? Do pimps really prey on kids like that in public places?
SWITCH: Anything can happen and it’s always good to be aware and cautious. With that being said, our local law enforcement does not receive calls about this type of thing and they aren’t handling cases involving this type of situation. We’ve done a great job teaching our kids about stranger danger and that’s important. With sex trafficking, the exploiter is someone the young person knows and trusts which is one of the most difficult things about these situations. It’s really important youth understand their own vulnerabilities and also know what a healthy relationship looks like as well as red flags to indicate it might be turning into an unhealthy relationship.
Caring for Victims
KAG: Does SWITCH help victims escape or do you work with other organizations who do that and then you take over on the business and counseling side?
SWITCH: Escape is tricky and looks much different depending on the situation. Some are desperate for a fresh start and do the hard work necessary to heal and start a new life. Not all situations are like that though. For a girl being sold by the man she considers her boyfriend, the level of manipulation is so deep. Even though she is being mistreated and abused, she may be in love with him and willing to endure the situation. Sometimes, people are trapped by the circumstances created by their traffickers like ruined credit, criminal records and drug addictions which makes it harder to break free.
For all victims though, there is an incredible amount of trauma to work through. A person has to be ready to leave the life they know behind in order to pursue a healthier future. Healing is not easy though and there’s a great fear of the unknown. People know what to expect from their abusive situations and find ways to cope. It may feel safer to keep surviving what they are than to step into a situation where they don’t know what they can expect. Readiness for change is such a key to success though. We encourage them, love them, guide them, but it’s important they make their own choice.
Human Trafficking in Greenville, SC
KAG: Greenville County has one of the largest number of sex trafficking cases in the state. That’s concerning. Why is that and what is SWITCH doing to lower those stats?
SWITCH: We’re on the I-85 corridor connecting Atlanta, which is often the highest ranked city for trafficking cases reported and Charlotte, who is usually in the top ten. We’re a convenient location between the two. Also, we currently have two dedicated officers focused on sex trafficking. It’s possible the rest of the state has as much activity but not enough man power within law enforcement to expose what’s really happening.
KAG: What resources does SWITCH have for parents who are looking for help on learning about sex trafficking, especially locally?
SWITCH: In addition to the coming updates to our website, we’re glad to speak to groups in order to raise awareness and train in prevention practices.
About SWITCH
About SWITCH: SWITCH was founded in 2012. The idea behind our name is when you switch a light on, the darkness flees. We push back the darkness of sex trafficking through five programs: awareness, prevention, demand, intervention and restoration.
Through our awareness program, we speak to businesses, churches, and other organizations to help adults understand what sex trafficking is and what it looks like in the Upstate. Our prevention program takes Love146’s Not a Number curriculum into youth groups, schools, the department of juvenile justice and other organizations with children in the 7th grade or older. Demand is a group of male volunteers who work with men in the Upstate connecting dots between how online porn is fueling the commercial sex industry. They provide resources, accountability and mentors to help break the addiction of pornography so many individuals face. Intervention is a group of volunteers who go into the district and strip clubs to meet commercial sex workers where they are and offer friendship with no strings attached. When people are ready to leave the life, they know SWITCH is a safe place they can come for help.
Are you working to fill your 2024 bucket list with the very best things to do in and near Greenville, SC? Kidding Around is here with some fabulous ideas to get your started, including outdoor adventures, free things to do, and things everyone in Greenville should do at least once. Make 2024 a year full of fun and adventure.
I am always looking for the next adventure and best things to do in and near Greenville, SC and really, there aren’t any shortage of them. I’ve done several of these but I plan to do lots more in 2024 and make wonderful memories with my family this year!
