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.
Ready to relax at one of these awesome Florida vacation home rentals with a private pool? Many of these rentals include fabulous family extras like game rooms, beach carts and supplies, toys, fire pits, bikes, kayaks, and more!
Are you looking for the perfect vacation home to rent for your next family vacation?
No matter where you’re headed, whether it’s the mountains, the beach or somewhere in between, we’ve found some truly unique and stellar vacation homes you’ll want to check out. We have lists of homes that feature amenities we know families want. So get planning, and enjoy your next vacation!
Whether you’re looking for a unique themed vacation rental or the perfect jumping-off spot for an epic adventure-filled vacation, these lists of family vacation rentals will have something awesome for you. We have rentals in beautiful scenery, rentals near theme parks and attractions, rentals with great hiking, amazing kid-friendly rentals, and lots more. So, make sure to grab a rental with plenty of bunk beds, and load up the kids, you’re going on an adventure!
Check out our vacation rental content below.
Stunning Lake Greenwood property perfect for families and large groups. (It sleeps up to 14!) Truly a special spot.
Quittin’ Time Cottage on Lake Hartwell is one family vacation home that is fully loaded with ridiculously fun amenities. We loved our stay here and so did our teens!
For a gorgeous getaway with your significant other, check out Old Soul Treehouse in Waterloo, SC on Lake Greenwood.
Sleep in a caboose!
Buffalo Creek Vacation in Clyde, NC is amazing!
Want to stay minutes from The Riverbanks Zoo?
The Orange Pit vacation rental in Columbia, SC is the place!
Would you like your information to be included in Kidding Around’s Guides? We have guides for all the things families are searching for, from summer camps to indoor places to play, classes, schools, and lots more.
To be considered for inclusion in our guides, complete the form below.
Our guides are some of our most popular content, reaching hundreds of thousands of readers each year. We offer sponsorship opportunities for each one. Our sponsors receive a prominent listing at the top of our guides with a featured photo. If you are interested in purchasing one of these featured listings, you can indicate this on the form, and we will contact you to get started.
Find out more about advertising on Kidding Around®
If you’re looking for a spacious brewery that’s as friendly, welcoming, and beautiful as its brews are delicious, you’ll want to check out Trailside Brewing Co. in Hendersonville, NC. Whether you’re popping in after a day of apple picking with the family, or planning a fun couples night out, we think you’ll enjoy this special brewery. This is one we found on a recent date night, and now we’re sharing everything we loved about Trailside Brewing.
Located in an old factory space beside what was once the Transylvania Railroad Line and now the soon-to-be-completed, Ecusta Trail, Trailside offers a gorgeous outdoor beer garden space complete with beautiful dahlias and vining greenery, strands of overhead lights, and two fire pits.
The indoor tasting room space is equally as inviting with long tables, high ceilings, and great big doors that open to the outside.
The brewing company has a wide range of brews to choose from as well as wine and even a few non-alcoholic options. They’re both pet and family-friendly and have a great line-up of live music most weekends, plus awesome food trucks parked right up front.
You can find their lineup of food trucks, live music, and other events on the Trailside Brewing Co. Event page.
Trailside Brewing Co. is the perfect place for a casual date night or a night out with friends, but it’s also family-friendly and pet-friendly. Bring a board game for a family game night, or bring the kids to enjoy some music and a fire.
Parents should note that while the space is fabulous and welcoming, there isn’t any playground-type equipment, so kids shouldn’t come expecting to run and climb.
When we visited for our date night there were also lots of families and pets, but it wasn’t chaotic, crowded, or in any way rambunctious at all. Everyone seemed to be having a great time enjoying Trailside. together.
We deviate slightly from this review of Trailside Brewing Co to tell you that on the night we visited Trailside, the Groovy Grease Wagon food truck was parked out front. If you are ever fortunate enough to come upon the Groovy Grease Wagon, jump up and down, do a little dance, and then order the fried chicken sandwich. It’s the best ever, hands down, crunchy and juicy, the perfect chicken sandwich.
It goes really well with the Oktoberfest beer.
Trailside’s beer is locally made and seasonal. They are made in-house or at one of Trailside’s sister breweries. We tried the Community Brew Stout, Oktoberfest, Front Porch Pilsner, and the Hammock Haven, which is a blonde ale. They were all fabulous.
After you’ve tried some and found a favorite, you can even purchase a growler can to bring some home. They fill it right there at the bar and seal it up. The beer stays fresh for about a week. We know this because my husband really enjoyed the Hammock Haven blonde ale so much so that he asked when we closed our tab about cans.
So, while they don’t sell pre-canned beer, they do have a neat can growlers you can purchase if you plan to drink your purchase within about a week.
Trailside Brewing is about a half mile from downtown Hendersonville, located in the Lennox Park Historic District. Trailside Brewing is the anchor of the renovated Lennox Station. Soon it will be accompanied by a market and cafe. And, as its’ name would imply, the multi-use Ecusta Trail is set to be opened soon. When complete it will link Hendersonville to Brevard, NC following along the old railroad line.
Open Monday through Friday 4 pm to 10 pm, Saturday 12 pm to 10 pm, and Sunday 12 pm to 8 pm
Trailside Brewing Co. Website
873 Lennox Park Drive, Hendersonville
The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is bringing back The Greatest Show on Earth! Promising show-stopping spectacles and never-before-seen acts from some of the world’s best performers, the circus is coming to town across the United States and you won’t want to miss it! Not only do we have the circus schedule, the details, and how you can get tickets, but we also were invited to one of the first shows in Milwaukee so that we could provide you with a full review.
Jump in with us and see everything waiting for you under the big top.
YES! The Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus is presenting a reimagined “Greatest Show on Earth” complete with new acts, world-class performers, new technology getting the audience closer to the action, and a whole heap of amazing sites and performances from flying trapezes, acrobats, and tight ropes, all the way to dirt bikes.
The circus shows will last about 2 hours with a roughly 15-minute intermission.
The new Ringling Bros circus does not have any live animal acts but does have a very cute animal surprise. We were delighted to meet Bailey the robotic dog who learns based on human interactions and can even perform a dance-off.
Another modernization of the circus is the reimagined clowns that have left the full-face clown paint behind but kept their sense of humor.
One of our favorite changes was the addition of live performance music to the show. The band was visible during the show and the singing was live. The drummers even performed a live drumming battle. This addition of live music brought quite a bit of energy to the performance.
Yes, there will be clowns and lots of “stunning feats of human achievement.” Some of our favorite acts were
The Triangular Highwire: In this act, the Lopez family performs tricks on a triangular high wire far above the audience.
Double Wheel of Destiny: This was personally one of our favorite acts. It was honestly a bit terrifying to watch because the acrobats were jumping and somersaulting while riding giant wheels that were spinning high above the ground.
Nick Nack and the Equivokee trio (the clowns)
The Ultimate Playground: The BMX riders and riders of all sorts of other wheeled contraptions such as a very tall unicycle tackle a 360 bike course complete even with trampolines. This is definitely the sort of act, you better tell your kids not to try at home.
One Wheeled Wonder: Speaking of unicycles, Wesley Williams is setting a new world record in this show where he rides a unicycle that’s over 34 feet.
Criss-Cross Trapeze: These trapeze artists get higher and higher as they flip from swing to swing in a never-before-seen double rotation from bar to bar.
Ringling Rocket: The show wouldn’t be complete without watching the human rocket propel Skyler Miser out at 65 mph.
This show is action-packed with multiple acts happening at the same time. We definitely thought it was a show that we would enjoy seeing more than once.
The new Ringling Bros and Barnum and Bailey circus is full of action and fun. We recommend it for any child who is old enough to sit through a 2-hour movie.
The music is loud and there are special effects. We recommend protection ear muffs or ear plugs for children that are sensitive to noise. Check to see if your arena offers any special kits or spaces for children with sensory needs.
The Bon Secours Arena in Greenville, SC offers both a sensory suite and a sensory kit for families that need support during a show.
The show sells a wide variety of circus foods including cotton candy and snow cones. These food options are not cheap, so be sure to plan ahead. One idea to save costs on souvenirs is to purchase fun light-up necklaces and toys ahead of time on Amazon for the show.
Here are a couple of our favorite videos that we found on the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Facebook page. We can’t wait to see these acts in person!
Is the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus near me?
Here’s the 2023-2024 Schedule for The Greatest Show on Earth.
November 17-19, 2023: Detroit, MI
November 24-26, 2023: Baltimore, MD
December 1-3, 2023: Indianapolis, IN
December 9-10, 2023: St. Louis, MO
December 15-17, 2023: Oklahoma City, OK
January 5-7th, 2024: Tampa, FL
January 12-15th, 2024: Orlando, FL
January 19-21, 2024: Jacksonville, FL
February 2 -4, 2024: Greensboro, NC
February 9 -11, 2024: Greenville, SC
February 16-19, 2024: Philidelphia, PA
February 22-25, 2024: Brooklyn, NY
February 29 – March 3, 2024: Newark, NJ
March 8 -10, 2024: Belmont Park, NY
March 15-17, 2024: Bridgeport, CT
March 28-April 7, 2024: Boston, MA
April 12-14, 2024: Worcester, MA
April 19-21, 2024: Wilkes Barre, PA
April 26-28, 2024: Providence, RI
May 3-5, 2024: Hartford, CT
May 10-12, 2024: Columbus, OH
Tickets are on sale now!
February 9 -11th, 2024 folks in Greenville, SC can see The Greatest Show on Earth at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena.
Circus Tickets would make a great Christmas Gift!
February 9th, 2024, 7 pm
February 10th, 2024, 10:30 am, 2:30 pm, and 6:30 pm
February 11th, 2023, 10:30 am and 2:30 pm
Purchase tickets for the circus in Greenville, SC online at Ticketmaster. You can also head to the Bon Secours Wellness Arena and purchase at the box office.
We love covering shows at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena! We’ve covered some great ones!
The Church Street Choral Academy is an entirely free choral and music education program for kids, coming to Greenville, SC this fall! The program at Christ Church Episcopal happens after school and is accepting kids in 3rd through 5th grade. We have all the details on this amazing new opportunity and the people behind it. Plus, we’ll tell you how to register and set up an audition for your kids.
Few things in life are free, and extra educational opportunities rarely are one of them. But, that’s not the case at the Church Street Choral Academy.
“The Church Street Choral Academy (CSCA) was formed with a mission to inspire and positively influence
the lives of young people through arts enrichment and academic support.”
No student or family will pay any tuition or fees to participate in the Choral Street Academy. In fact, students will actually be able to earn money through attendance in rehearsals and performances.
Why? Donald Duncan, Director of Liturgy & Music at Christ Church and CSCA Choirmaster, explains:
“Often the students who would benefit the most from extra support or arts enrichment are the students whose families can’t afford the costly price tag associated with those activities. We don’t want money to get in the way for anybody. We’ve worked hard to eliminate this barrier to participation so that any interested student could join us, not just those who could afford it.”
The Church Street Choral Academy is housed at Christ Church Episcopal on Church Street, and is funded through community support.
What will rehearsal days look like at the Church Street Choral Academy?
Mondays:
Wednesdays:
Performances are the first Sunday of each month at a service of Evensong at Christ Church Episcopal, plus additional performances as announced.
Sundays:
Spaces in the first year’s program are limited to 30 choristers in 3rd through 5th grades. If your family is interested in participating, you should visit Choral Academy Website as soon as possible to schedule an audition. No musical training is necessary to audition. According to the Church Street Choral Academy, the only requirements are that students “should possess a love of music and a commitment to attendance.”
“We will teach children to sing, no doubt, but that may be the least important thing this organization does,” said Duncan. “This program is unlike anything in Greenville and will have a tremendous impact on kids and families in this city.”
The program is currently auditioning 3rd through 5th grade students. The first rehearsal date is on Monday, October 16th, 2023.
For more information or to schedule an audition, visit the Choral Academy Website.
Did you know you can “snow” tube in the fall at Black Bear Snow Tubing? You can! No snow is required thanks to Black Bear’s super-fast tubing mat, the only one like it in the United States! We got to visit Black Bear and try this “snow” tubing and let us tell you, fall snow tubing is where it’s at. Move over pumpkins, there’s a new fall favorite in town. Here’s everything you need to know to plan your visit to Black Bear Snow Tubing this fall.
Thanks to Black Bear Snow Tubing for providing tickets so we could bring this review to our readers.
Due to damage from Hurricane Helene there will be no fall snow tubing at Black Bear in 2024.
The special green and white mat in use at Black Bear comes all the way from Germany. Purchased for use at Black Bear because this mat outperforms all its competitors when it comes to speed. In the winter the mat is covered in snow, but in the fall, you can tube right on the mat.
This means even in warm winters with little snow, tubing is still an option for family fun. So, what we have learned is, snow is not required for super speedy “snow” tubing runs.
No crowds, fewer lines, fun music, and a pretty view of changing leaves across the valley make fall an awesome time to visit Black Bear Snow Tubing. You’ll get more rides down the hill in your tubing time than in the winter. It’s not cold. It’s not wet.
You can even get yourself some apple cider donuts, coffee, or cocoa and enjoy them on the covered rocking chair back porch, overlooking the tubing hill. We tried it and we are convinced, fall is perfect for snow tubing!
Purchase Black Bear tickets for one hour or two hours of tubing online. Walk-ups are also available in the less busy fall season.
First off, we love nearby Hendersonville, NC, and the drive up from downtown to Black Bear Tubing through the changing leaves was gorgeous. When you arrive at Black Bear, just follow the signs to park and then head towards the fun!
Visit the video shed first where you’ll watch a very short safety video. It’s just a couple of minutes long and it plays on a loop. While you’re there, sign the waiver for yourself and the kids.
Bring your waiver across to the lodge where you’ll pay, get your stickers, and also where you can purchase treats and beverages like apple cider donuts, coffee drinks, cocoa, and more.
When you’re ready to tube, you’ll head down the stairs, grab your tube and jump in the line for the tube tugging line that will bring you to the top of Black Bear’s 600-foot-long tubing run. Staff will hook you onto the line.
At the top, you’ll be unhooked from the line and then walk your tube to the run. Staff will help you get your tube into position and push you off down the 80ft vertical drop.
Up to 4 people can go down the run at a time, and you can hang onto other tubes if you want to all go together. Want extra fun? Just ask the staff at the top to spin you going down.
Once you’re at the bottom, pull your tube back over to the tube tugging line and you’ll be off on another run before you know it.
Clean portapotties are available beside the video shed, as well as an outdoor handwashing station.
My kids, ages 11 and 14, had a blast. Initially, my 14-year-old was a little not sure he wanted to come, thinking it was not going to be very exciting and that he was too old for such things. He was so glad he came. And, in fact, we saw lots of adults taking runs down the slope, too. I had planned to go down once or twice, just to be thorough in my review, and ended up going down a lot more because it was really fun!
It’s one of those life things that are just plain fun for anyone. Escape from whatever is bugging you to the fresh air and whip down that hill on a tube. Laugh with the kids. Enjoy them, even as teens and preteens, asking you to go down the run with them. There are not enough moments like that in the world, if you ask me.
We really loved the family atmosphere at Black Bear. They do not allow alcohol or any open profanity. All the staff were super friendly and helpful. When I wasn’t tubing myself, I could clearly see where my kids were at all times from the covered porch. It was really brilliantly arranged for a couple of hours of low-stress family fun.
Tubing on the mat was really fun. No heavy coats, no wet gloves. It was all the fun of snow tubing without the cold, with the added benefit of short lines and no crowds. We had a great time and think you’ll enjoy it, too!
Black Bear Snow Tubing
373 Kerr Road, Hendersonville, NC
Black Bear Snow Tubing Facebook
Discover Hendersonville!
Check out all the things you don’t want to miss in our Hendersonville, NC Guide.
We spoke with owner, Beth Bradley, to get the scoop on how they’re bringing magic fun to dance class! One lucky reader will win ONE FREE MONTH of dance class! For details on how to enter, keep reading. Thanks to Dance Without Limits for sponsoring this giveaway.
(more…)Did you know that Greenville has a new family entertainment venue? Main Event Greenville, SC is where to go! You’ll find this fun venue right next to Top Golf, off of Garlington Road right near the I-85 Pelham Road exit.
Main Event offers bowling, laser tag, tons of arcade games, and virtual reality games, a restaurant, a bar with billiards tables, and lots more. They host birthday parties, events, and special deals like Kids Eat Free on Tuesdays. We visited Main Event and got the scoop on all the family fun.
Reserve your laser tag time and then get ready to seek out your opponents as you creep and dart around the laser tag room’s maze-like walls and openings. My whole family agreed this was their favorite thing to do at Main Event, even for a mom who hasn’t played laser tag in at least 2 decades.
Also, for the official record, I scored higher than all my kids and my husband. My teens were in disbelief that Mom beat them.
Anyway, the laser tag was lots of fun, the equipment was easy to use, and the room was mainly flat, so maneuvering was easy.
You could play a standard game of bowling, or you can mix things up with a huge variety of themed games and special challenges. Terrible bowlers? That’s ok. We played one challenge where the goal was actually to hit the lit-up bumper with the ball at specific places in order to double or triple the points earned for pins knocked down.
The bowling alley offers an open alley with lots of lanes, and then also a more private room with 4 lanes. These lanes were much quieter and our group enjoyed the break from the noise of the venue.
You won’t need tokens or coins for this arcade. Load your Main Event game card and swipe at each game you’d like to play.
The arcade offers virtual reality games, lots of claw-style prize games, traditional ball arcade games, games for prize points, and also favorites like Mario Kart, motorcycle racing, and dance games.
The Family Kitchen offers pizza, burgers, chicken sandwiches, nachos, salads, and even desserts. Main Event will be offering lots of specials, including a Kids Eat Free special for Tuesdays, all day. Kids 12 and under will eat free with an adult’s meal purchase.
The bar area, with billiards tables, offers a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
Yes, Main Event will host birthday parties. This would be a great spot for the sometimes hard-to-please pre-teen and teen birthday kid. Packages range from $12 to $30 per person and offer a variety of venue attractions and food options.
Main Event
225 Entertainment Boulevard
Greenville, SC
