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Great Coffee, Fantastic Space at Junto Coffee

Have you heard about Junto Coffee? The coffee shop and roaster recently opened in Taylors Mill. They offer a selection of coffee roasts and drinks in a gorgeous space at Taylors Mill. So get some friends together and meet up for a cup of coffee this week. You’ll be glad you did!

Need a caffeine boost? Here are the best coffee shops near Greenville, SC.

I’m frequently in the Taylors area running errands or bringing kids to and from activities. When the former local coffee shop in Taylors Mill, Due South, left for its’ new location in Hampton Station, there was a bit of a hole in my heart. It was nearby to many of my kids’ activities and was great for a short date with one of my kids for a little special time with mom.

So while Due South is still a good place to grab a cup of coffee in Greenville, they left a void for excellent coffee in Taylors. Which is why when my good friend suggested we grab a cup of coffee at Junto Coffee in Taylors Mill, my reaction was something like this: “There’s A NEW COFFEE SHOP AT TAYLORS MILL?!?” Now, several years later, we still enjoy popping in to grab a cup of coffee at Junto.

Junto Coffee Shop’s Atmosphere

Junto Coffee is located in an amazing space. Its huge windows let in an abundance of light reflecting off the lightly painted walls and ceiling. Some of the windows look to be original and really add to the charm of the space.

And let’s talk about the plants. I love green, growing things. Each window is decorated with a hanging plant and there are large, mature potted plants throughout the comfortable seating. There are a multitude of living room-type sets of furniture as well as benches and more traditional chairs and tables spread throughout the large space. There is also a grassy outdoor space with tables that would be a perfect spot for moms with a couple of little kids to meet up.

The Coffee at Junto Coffee

I’m a fan of coffee. But I prefer it without cream or sugar. What can I say, I like the way coffee tastes! So I ordered just a drip coffee. I don’t remember which coffee it was particularly, my friend had just handed me her adorable baby and I was distracted. But I can say this was a truly fantastic cup of coffee, full of flavor and not the slightest bit bitter.

They also offer pour-overs if you want to be a little more specific, along with lattes and a plethora of other coffee beverages both iced and hot. My friend ordered a latte and also enjoyed it. They had a wide variety of flavor options for their lattes. The menu also included a few baked goods in case you want something sweet to go with your coffee.

Mom Review: Kids at Junto Coffee

We chose one of the living room sets at the far side of the room to enjoy our coffee. While it might be possible that I enjoyed the coffee an extra dose because of the sweet, chubby-cheeked little baby I got to snuggle with while I was drinking it, I think it is equally likely it was just really great coffee in a relaxed and beautiful space. She did help me get some good pictures though.

While snuggling babies is not required for enjoying coffee, the coffee shop is definitely a space that can accommodate children. When we first arrived it was nearly empty, but filled in as we chatted. However because everything is so spread out, it never really got loud. And when the baby got a little fussy, it was clear no one was the least bit bothered.

Where is Junto Coffee?

Taylors Mill, which used to be a textile mill but has been undergoing all kinds of renovations, is home to restaurants, artists’ studios, Model Train Station, reclaimed lumber, and now Junto Coffee. When you drive toward the Mill you’ll see a sign for Junto Coffee at the first of the Mill’s parking lots. You’ll turn right into that first lot. Junto Coffee is in the building straight ahead once you have turned into the lot, but all the way to the left. “Junto Coffee” is clearly printed on the glass doors of the coffee shop.

Junto Coffee
232 Mill Street
Taylors, SC 29687
Junto Coffee Facebook

Check out what else the Taylors Mill has to offer families in Taylors, SC.

Stay and Play at Upstate Zipline: Epic Family Fun

Did you know you can stay in a cabin at Upstate Zipline? Set in a private and beautiful portion of Keowee-Toxaway State Park, Upstate Zipline operates cabins, tent sites, and even an event venue with options for families or groups. We got a chance to stay in a cabin and enjoy the site. WOW did our family have a blast. This is such a great place for families to enjoy some time exceptional quality time together. We’ll take you through our visit and tell you how you can plan your own stay at Upstate Zipline’s cabins.

Thanks to Upstate Zipline for inviting us to stay, zip and gem mine so we could bring this review to our readers!

Watch! Our Visit Was Epic, See For Yourself

Is it Glamping? Cabins at Upstate Zipline

I have to tell you a secret. I do not camp. Me in a tent, it’s happened like two nights in the last 20 years. It’s just not my thing. But I do love spending time by a nice campfire, listening to the birds, taking a break from the everyday hum drum, and watching my tweens and teenage kids remember that not all of life has to be complicated. It’s ok to kick back, be silly, and let the pressure of final exams and approaching SATs take the back seat for a while.

Cooking hot dogs at the cabin, Upstate Zipline

I’m not entirely sure about the definition of “glamping.” But if it involves peaceful, outdoor enjoyment, along with a comfy bed, hot shower, Keurig Machine, and a microwave in a spotless cabin, then we can definitely call our experience in our Upstate Zipline cabin a “glamping” trip.

The Cabins

In case you aren’t familiar, Upstate Zipline operates an amazing canopy zipline tour through a portion of Keowee-Toxaway State Park. The tour ends in a section of the park called Camp Cedar Creek, just a few minutes from their office location. Originally operated by the state park, Upstate Zipline has taken over managing this camp and they’ve done some awesome things for families!

Families can stay in one of two family cabins at Camp Cedar Creek that sleep 6 to 8 people. They are extremely clean and comfortable cabins, with air conditioning and a kitchenette. The cabin we stayed in had a king-size bed and two bunk beds with linens, a couch seating area, fluffy towels, a dining table that seats 6, and even a television.

And of course outside the cabin was a fireplace with a grill over the top that we could cook on, two picnic tables, and two rocking chairs on the porch. Honestly, we spent most of our time outside! We cooked over the fire both nights of our stay, hamburgers one night and hot dogs the other. And of course, there’s always room for s’mores.

If you’re not the cooking outdoors type, the cabin does have a microwave and a hot plate. There’s also a mini fridge with a freezer, a Keurig machine, plus basic utensils and dishes.

The bathrooms are located at a central bathhouse which is really only a few steps from the cabin. And what I love, love, love about this bathhouse is that each cabin is assigned a private, locking bathroom. It has a hot shower, mirror, toilet, sink, towel holders, bench, all the things you need in a bathroom. It’s clean and your family will be the only ones using it so you can leave your towels in there, toothbrush, shampoo, whatever!

You remember how I don’t camp? Normal bathhouses are part of that. This is NOT a normal bathhouse. So much better.

The two family cabins and the group cabin, more on that in a minute, are all located together on a little dead-end circle in the park. My kids brought their skateboards and loved riding them around this area. The circle would be a perfect place for small kids to enjoy scooters or bikes, so make sure to bring them along!

Group Cabin

The third cabin is meant for groups and is furnished with bunk beds, sleeping 12. It also has a kitchenette and table, plus an outdoor fireplace and picnic tables. This cabin would be good for a large family, small youth group, scouts, or any small group.

More to Love at Camp Cedar Creek

The property is located on a private cove of Lake Keowee. “Beautiful” is not a strong enough word, “stunning” and “magnificent” get a little closer. From the cabins, there is a short trail down to a driveway that ends in another dead-end circle. Here you’ll find the lake and Upstate Zipline’s The Venue.

The Venue

The Venue, as the name implies, is an event venue that can be rented for events like weddings, family reunions, baby showers, birthdays, and even work retreats. With a full kitchen inside, it has a gorgeous view of the water, an outdoor stone fireplace, a fishing pier, a lake shore for relaxing, and lots of outdoor space. The Venue can accommodate groups of up to 100.

The Lake

Sit on the shore and enjoy the view of a private Lake Keowee cove. The shoreline all around the cove is tree-lined and beautiful. We saw fish jumping, turtles, and even a goose family with goslings in the lake and wandering the shore.

My children did enjoy wading in the lake, however, we were told later that alligator snapping turtles had been seen in the cove. After that, we did not swim, and that’s definitely something you’ll want to watch out for. But, we did make use of the kayaks provided by Upstate Zipline.

If kayaking is something you’d like to enjoy, just ask about them when you book. They were left for us on the shore of the lake along with life jackets and paddles. It was so easy, and such a fun way to spend the sunny afternoon!

From the shore, you can see two ziplines crossing the lake. These are part of the zipline tour, which again, is awesome. But, my kids also really enjoyed paddling out in the kayaks to watch a group come through on the ziplines. If you’re lucky you might catch a group coming through from the shore or a kayak, too. Make sure to give them a wave.

Why You’ll Want to Go

So, let’s recap. Comfy cabin, air conditioning, time spent outdoors, happy kids (and even teens!). What did we leave out?

Zipping! The cabins are just about a 5-minute drive to Upstate Zipline’s office where your family can start your zipline adventure, zip through the trees AND mine for gems! We have all the details on that in our story on Upstate Zipline.

You can zip and mine for gems without staying in the cabins, too. So, if you’re looking for a totally cool day trip, this would be fabulous.

Zipline over Lake Keowee at Upstate Zipline

My kids and I had never ziplined and we had the best time zipping through the trees and over the lake. It was such a great adventure to share together. The folks at Upstate Zipline are just about the kindest and most welcoming family ever. It was an absolute blast.

And then we got to mine for gems at the sluice beside the office. My kids found amethyst, fossils, coral, and all kinds of treasures. They are still having fun identifying all their finds.

For a unique family adventure, we really can’t recommend Upstate Zipline enough. Book your cabin for a couple of nights, zip, mine for gems, enjoy the lake, kayak, and most of all enjoy your family sitting together beside that campfire making s’mores. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Book your stay or your event!

Head to Upstate Zipline’s website for The Venue. You’ll find all the cabin information and event information right there!

Upstate Zipline
138 Museum Circle, Sunset, SC (Main Office)

Idyllic Treehouse is the Romantic Getaway You Didn’t Know You Needed

Are you looking for a place to get away for a weekend as a couple? Life is busy! And you both need a little time to reconnect, no distractions. We totally get it and you are in luck because we have found the most idyllic and romantic treehouse for your escape! The Old Soul Treehouse on Lake Greenwood is nothing short of completely stunning in every way. It’s one of a kind, nothing like it, completely magnificent and we’re going to tell you all about the magic we found in our stay!

Thank you to Old Soul Treehouse owner, Kristen, for providing us with a two-night stay so we could bring this review to our readers.

Watch the Video Tour

About the Treehouse

A true work of art, this treehouse is stunning and very special. Built with beautiful, unique, reclaimed, and restored pieces that are flawlessly incorporated into animaginative design, we’ve never seen anything like this treehouse. And we have stayed in a lot of vacation rentals.

The home’s guest book of information shares the history of these reclaimed components, including the gorgeous French doors in the tree house that opens to the deck and the view of Lake Greenwood. They are restored, fully functional, and came all the way from Turkey. I loved these doors. I think I probably took nearly a thousand pictures of them. Which, I realize sounds so silly. “What did you do on vacation?” “I took pictures of doors!” But they are that pretty. And, they work beautifully. The craftsmanship in this home does not disappoint.

Is a treehouse complete without a bridge and spiral stairs?
Probably not.
The property’s cast iron spiral staircase came from Bob Jones University, according to the home’s guest book. They date to the early 1900s and were located in the study of Bob Jones himself.

If you take the spiral staircase down to the ground, you’ll arrive at a beautiful deck under the treehouse. Lit with a strand of lights and a pretty chandelier, there’s a swinging bed to relax with a view of the lake plus two cozy wicker chairs. My husband and I enjoyed snacks, wine, and quite a few rounds of our favorite board games here.

Back up the spiral stairs, you can return to the house or turn and cross the bridge to the other deck which is round with little trees growing right through it, in true treehouse fashion. There’s a table for dining and a hot tub that lights up at night.

Heading back across the bridge is my other favorite part of this home. There’s a vintage window that opens out from the interior kitchen to an outdoor breakfast bar with two stools. We enjoyed lunch and breakfast at this little cozy outdoor nook.

Inside the treehouse

The interior of the treehouse is small but so airy and beautiful. We loved the kitchen with the vintage farmhouse feel, especially the soapstone sink! The smaller appliances are so cute, new but made to look vintage. We didn’t cook here and opted for a charcuterie one night and Doordash the next, but the home is fully equipped to cook a meal. You’ll find all the cooking things including pots and pans, cookie sheets, cutting boards, dishes, silverware, and the like. Everything you need!

There’s a pretty king-size bed that looks like it might have come from a Disney princess movie, and a full bathroom with a clawfoot tub. Don’t miss the totally gorgeous stained glass window above the tub, another beautifully incorporated treasure. The details in this treehouse are tremendous.

The treehouse book on the table has restaurant recommendations, information on where to get groceries, things to do, and everything you could possibly think of is there. You really don’t have to plan much at all before you arrive!

Spending Time at the Treehouse

You won’t find a television at the treehouse and that is intentional. Kristen, the treehouse owner, wants this place to be where couples come to connect. You’ll find board games and a record player with a wide selection of records. My husband and I loved having the record player. Listening to records is actually one of our favorite things to do at home and it was so neat to discover in a vacation rental. Very rare!

The home also has a cute lantern Bluetooth speaker so you can play any music you like from your device and even bring the speaker outside. There is wifi available. We brought it out to the hot tub on both nights of our stay and were so happy to have it.

The treehouse also has a private dock in Lake Greenwood that you can access with just a short path through the woods from the treehouse. There you’ll find two comfortable Adirondack chairs to enjoy the view. This is a good place to enjoy a beverage or a snack and good conversation.

You may notice a small building beside the dock in our photos and video. That is an old fishing cottage on the property. The owners hope to someday restore it but it is not currently in use by anyone. The dock is private just for you!

You can swim from the dock, fish with poles provided at the house (fishing license is required according to SCDNR and the owner warns that they do cruise around on a boat and check from time to time), or even rent a boat.

My husband and I brought our own inflatable paddle boards and we enjoyed several paddles on the lake. We went out to a railroad trestle crossing the lake and saw hawks nesting on the trestle top, several Herons, ducks, and other birds. Usually, when we head out to paddle we are keeping tabs on kids, so this was such a lovely change!

Speaking of kids, no one under 18 is allowed on the property. This is a kid-free space designed for adults to spend quality time with each other. After 4 kids and 18 years of marriage, we’ve learned that time for each other is a rare and precious thing, and we so appreciate it.

I love my kids, I really do, don’t get me wrong. But, to have a conversation without the possibility of being interrupted by our kids was so nice. It really took pounds off our mental load so we could just relax and communicate. And the kids were spending some quality time with their aunt, so it was really a win for us all.

Treehouse French door close up — Is this door not completely gorgeous?

Want to go?

We really can’t say enough wonderful things about this special property. We know you’ll want to visit for yourself.

Now for the best part! Ready to plan your little escape together? Just visit the Old Soul Treehouse on Airbnb and book it!

The Old Soul Treehouse
Waterloo, SC, on Lake Greenwood

Unique Southeastern rentals, including treehouses, cabins, and dome homes

Find more amazing rentals!

The Coolest Treehouses, Cabins, and Vacation Rentals in the Southeast

Visit Spartanburg Spring Fling!

***Spartanburg Spring Fling has been canceled and will not return. There will be no further Spring Fling Events in Spartanburg.***

The annual Spartanburg Spring Fling runs April 26-28, 2024 in the streets of downtown Spartanburg. If you are new in town or have not been to Spring Fling, plan to visit this special outdoor festival with your family. Most local families agree this is an event they look forward to all year.

Heading to Spartanburg’s Spring Fling? Here’s What You Need to Know

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Hatcher Garden & Woodland Preserve: Take A Garden Walk in Spartanburg, SC

Have you enjoyed Hatcher Garden in Spartanburg, SC? Just a couple miles off of I-26 in Spartanburg, among shopping and restaurants on the busy main thoroughfare of John D. White, Sr. Blvd, is a 10-acre botanical garden and woodland preserve.

The beautiful space is full of ponds, waterfalls, wildlife, trees and gardens with a wide variety of leafy and flowering plants. Hatcher Garden is open free to the public and should definitely be on your list of places to visit in Spartanburg.

Here’s your guide to all the fun things to do in Spartanburg, SC!

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Easy Day Trips: Visit These Cities and Small Towns Near Greenville, SC

Think a day trip escape would be a welcome change for your family? These cities and small towns near Greenville, SC will do the trick! It’s time to take a fabulous relaxing stroll down a small-town sidewalk with a coffee in hand, browse shops, get some lunch, or check out an amazing park. We love visiting new places near Upstate, SC and we love making day trip adventures for our family and readers.

Easy Day Trips near Greenville, South Carolina

If you’re looking for a fabulous town where you can spend the day, check out this list of towns that are an easy day trip from the Upstate. We have ideas for things to do, places to eat, and even places to stay if you decide to make a weekend of it.

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The Ultimate Guide for Families With School-Age Kids

Are there school-aged children in your family? This guide contains all our content that’s especially for school-aged kids. We have tons of ideas about things to do, plus information on schooling options, childcare, dining out with kids and a lot more.

Guide to Downtown Greenville, SC: Things to Do

Are you looking for things to do in Downtown Greenville, SC? Here at Kidding Around Greenville, our goal is to make sure people in Greenville can always find something to do whether they are looking for a free activity, an experience of a lifetime, or a way to spend a fun weekend. Downtown Greenville has some of the best museums in the upstate, is home to the Greenville Zoo, offers supreme walkability, and features the postcard-worthy Falls Park on the Reedy and Liberty Bridge. There is nothing quite like being downtown. This guide has everything you need to enjoy time in Downtown Greenville, SC.

Falls Park & Liberty Bridge

Main Street, Greenville

Swamp Rabbit Trail

The Greenville Zoo

Downtown Museums

Downtown Greenville Tour

Ride the Trolley

Free Things to Do Downtown

Shows, Concerts, & Sporting Events in Downtown Greenville

Entertainment Venues Downtown

Restaurants in Downtown Greenville

Downtown Greenville Parks

Downtown During the Holidays

Parking in Downtown Greenville

Events in Downtown Greenville, SC

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Team ECCO: Don’t Miss This Pint-Sized Powerhouse Aquarium in Hendersonville, NC

Did you know Hendersonville, NC has an aquarium? Team ECCO Aquarium and Shark Lab is located right on Main Street in Downtown Hendersonville, NC. Squeezed in beside stores, restaurants, and coffee shops, Team ECCO ‘s footprint may be small, but the education squished between those walls is massive. The aquarium’s true charm is in interactive experiences led by its knowledgeable volunteers. Here’s a bit about our visit to Team ECCO, plus everything you need to know to plan your family’s visit.

Team Ecco Charlotte the sting ray, Hendersonville, NC

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5 Valentine’s Day Cards Free! Print or Make These EASY cards right now!

Valentine’s Day cards for kids do not have to be complicated or expensive. No, you don’t have to include candy, stickers, tattoos, or any other little trinket that’s got a pretty good chance of being dropped on the way home anyway. A simple card that says “Hey, thanks for being my friend,” is heartfelt and in keeping everything good about Valentine’s Day. Of course, you can include little gifts if you’d like to and they do make the Valentine’s Day festivities at school a little more sparkly. Either way, here are some ideas for FREE (or very cheap) Valentines.

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Author Archive

Great Coffee, Fantastic Space at Junto Coffee

Junto Coffee Shop’s Atmosphere

The Coffee at Junto Coffee

Mom Review: Kids at Junto Coffee

Where is Junto Coffee?

Stay and Play at Upstate Zipline: Epic Family Fun

Watch! Our Visit Was Epic, See For Yourself

Is it Glamping? Cabins at Upstate Zipline