Looking for an oceanfront escape with space for your kids, heated indoor pools and fun outdoor ones, and a calmer vibe than the busy boardwalk hotels? Ellie Beach Resort Myrtle Beach, a Tapestry by Hilton hotel, is a great option for families. Our family enjoyed how clean and cozy the hotel felt, and we think that it would be great for families that need a beach trip because of its affordability. Whether you’re heading there for summer fun or a peaceful off-season getaway during the holidays, it makes a great home base for exploration.
Special thanks to the Ellie Beach Resort Myrtle Beach, Tapestry by Hilton for providing lodging in exchange for this review.
An Oceanfront Location That’s Still Close to the Action
We appreciated that the Ellie Beach Resort sits just south of the busiest part of Myrtle Beach, because we love to stay at places that are close to fun stuff to do, but not so close (if you know what I mean).
You’ll be right on the beach and only a short drive from The Market Common, Myrtle Beach State Park, and several grocery stores to fill up your fridge for a weekend stay. Plus, Springmaid Pier is literally within view, which is one of the perks if you’re looking for fun activities like fishing clinics and to see the longest pier in SC. And, if you’re looking to check out Brookgreen Gardens or Huntington Beach State Park, they are only a half hour away.
Rooms That Really Work for Families
The rooms at Ellie Beach Resort were nicely designed, and my husband and I loved that our younger kids had their own space, and the kids were super excited. They spent all of their time in the room hiding out on the top bunk, watching movies, and playing.
Some of the resort units include a front sleeping area with bunk beds, plus a separate bedroom with a king bed that faces the ocean. They have a couple of other room designs to choose from as well. All of the decor is modern and simplistic, and everything feels clean and cared for, not fancy, but definitely comfy.
There’s space for your crew to spread out and watch TV, and our room includes a small kitchenette with a full-size fridge/freezer, microwave, and sink, so you can toss together breakfast or lunch without leaving the room. We visited during the off-season, but we were still able to hang out on the balcony and watch the waves roll in, and the birds fill up the beach shore. I am sure it is an even better view during the warmer months, because you can watch the pool crowd, kids going down the water slides, and visitors of the pier right from the balcony.
Just know that this hotel is an open-air layout, meaning that the hallways to the rooms are all out in the open rather than enclosed. It can get a little chilly going from the elevators to the rooms, so make sure you are prepared if you’re visiting during the off-season.
Pools for Every Season (Even Warm Ones!)
No matter when you visit, there are some excellent pools to play in. In the off-season, families can enjoy a heated indoor pool right on the Ellie Beach Resort property. The indoor pool was comfortably warm, and we spent a lot of our time hanging out there swimming. It does get chilly going from the pool back to the room, so bring extra towels and robes (pro tip!).
If that’s not enough, guests also get access to another indoor pool at the DoubleTree Hilton on the premises. That pool is also warm, and goes from an indoor to outdoor style in a mini lazy river layout with floats.
The warm pools were a big selling point for our visit during December, and they did not disappoint!
When the weather warms up, the outdoor pool area comes to life. There are several outdoor pools, including a kiddie pool and splash zone for little ones, plus triple water slides would be a big hit with older kids. Lounge chairs are available throughout the deck, and many rooms look right out over the pools and the ocean.
Dining Made Simple
While we stayed at the Ellie Beach Resort, we decided to have dinner on our first night at the Ocean Blue, which is located near the check-in lobby. There are several other dining options and a lobby bar as well. My husband ordered steak and potatoes, which were delicious, while I decided to grab a burger. The burger was perfectly cooked, and we were super happy with our meals and the service. Our kids are a little picky, but they liked the cheese pizza here, and of course, were pleased with the fries.
In the surrounding area, families can find pizza, burgers, tacos, coffee shops, and even a grocery store close by. You could easily choose to stock the fridge with snacks and takeout, and there is a Walmart Marketplace right down the street.
Off-Season Perks: Holiday Magic + Lower Prices
Visiting Ellie Beach Resort during the off-season is not just about saving money (though you will save by alot). It’s also about enjoying a different kind of beach trip, slower, quieter, and a little less stressful. We prioritized family time, shelling on the beach, spending time at the indoor pool, and checking out some of the Christmas lights throughout town (including the beautiful tree at Broadway).
At Ellie Beach Resort during the holidays, they host Yuletide by the Sea, a fun seasonal celebration that includes crafts, kid-friendly activities, and appearances from Santa. Many local attractions stay open, and you can explore without long lines or heat exhaustion. You’ll be close by (only a 20-minute drive) to major events like Night of a Thousand Candles at Brookgreen Gardens and the MarshWalk Wonderland of Lights in Murrell’s Inlet, making the hotel the perfect home base for exploring.
The event coordinator at Ellie Beach Resort even led us on to some fun holiday events nearby, including the lights in Conway, an epic holiday wrapped Bojangles in Conway, and let us know where we could find some cute holiday ornaments for our kids’ keepsakes (The Christmas Mouse is less than a mile away)
What to Know Before Booking
The Ellie Beach Resort is close to the Myrtle Beach International Airport, so you’ll hear and see commercial planes flying over as they land. This might bother some people, but our kids absolutely LOVED it, it was actually really cool watching the planes come in over the ocean. We didn’t have any issues at night or in our room, but if you’re sensitive to sound, it’s a good idea to bring a sound machine.
The open-air layout of the resort also means you may want to pack a bit more intentionally. Bring robes and extra towels from home, and if possible, toss in an extra swimsuit to switch into. It can get pretty chilly in the colder months when you’re walking from the pool back to your room.
And definitely make time for a visit to the pier, the longest in South Carolina! They offer fishing clinics year-round, and it’s an easy, fun stop for families.
How to Book
If your family wants oceanfront fun, multiple pools, and a more peaceful vibe, Ellie Beach Resort is a solid choice. It may not have the flashy extras of a mega-resort, but what it does offer, clean rooms, family-friendly layouts, and flexible pricing, makes it a great value, especially for larger families.
And if you’re traveling during the holidays or off-season? Even better. You’ll get lower rates, less stress, and a whole lot of festive fun on the coast. Rates start around $123 per night in the off-season, making for a sweet deal.
If you’re looking for a holiday event near Greenville, SC that feels unique and magical and will keep your kids busy for a few hours, then the Yuletide Unicorn Festival at Hidden Pasture Unicorn Farm in Fountain Inn should be at the top of your list.
This family-run farm is a place where kids can feed goats, meet unicorns, ride ponies, snuggle bunnies, and explore a working farm that stays authentic, rustic, and down-to-earth. We visited for their Christmas festivities, and our young kids had so much fun meeting Santa, riding ponies, roasting s’mores, and cruising around the farm in barrels pulled by a lawn mower driving elf!
We visited the farm the weekend of Thanksgiving, and the milder weather made the experience even more enjoyable. Owner Kate warmly welcomed us and gave us a quick, helpful overview of the farm’s history and what we’d see once we stepped through the entrance barn doors. Before we even opened the gate to head out to the farm space, the goats were waiting for us, and our daughters were off to explore.
One of our absolute favorite parts of visiting Hidden Pasture Farm is the free-range animals that roam the property. Everywhere you turn, a friendly goat or donkey, ducks waddle by, curious chicken, or adorable horse is ready to greet you, usually hoping you have a snack bag for them to nibble right out of your hand. The whole place feels alive in the sweetest way. My husband was really surprised by everything (it was his first time on the Unicorn Farm) and loved it so much.
Meeting with Santa
Families can meet Santa inside the farm’s brand-new barn. He’s warm, kind, and genuinely fantastic with kids, even those who are typically nervous. During our visit, Santa made our youngest feel comfortable enough to share her whole Christmas list. Around the farm, holiday lights shine from fences and barns, the unicorns wear festive accessories, and goats and ducks roam the property, adding to the magic.
Holiday Unicorn Encounters
During the holiday season, the unicorns steal the show. You’ll meet George and other sparkly favorites, each with their own personality and whimsical backstory that Owner Kate loves sharing. Kids can brush their manes, pet them, ask questions, and even read fun fact signs posted around the farm. It’s the perfect mix of fantasy, hands-on animal care, and magical holiday wonder, plus absolutely adorable photo ops.
Pony Rides in the Round Pen
After meeting the unicorns, little riders can hop on a full-size horse for a ride in the round pen. Even the big horses are incredibly calm and used to being around children, which makes first-time riders feel safe and confident. I spent a good bit of time hanging out near one of the resting horses while my daughters took their rides, and it was fun to get to stroke their snots and see their beautiful eyes up close. Pony rides are $7 per ride, and on super busy days, it is a popular attraction, so plan accordingly.
Goats, Donkeys, and Treat-Loving “Unicorn” Ponies
The goats might just be the stars of the farm. They roam freely, follow anyone holding a snack bag, and happily soak up attention. The donkeys and ponies are just as sweet, many earning “unicorn” status simply because of their gentle personalities and love for people. Feed bags are available for purchase during the holiday festival so kids can treat the animals and enjoy those slow, magical interactions that make this place unforgettable. Just be warned, the goats will go straight for the bags, so you’ll need to help smaller kids keep their hands flat so that they do not get bombarded.
Snuggle Time With the Bunnies
Before the unicorn fun begins, kids can often climb into some little gated pens and cuddle a baby bunny. It’s a quiet, cozy moment that helps younger children warm up before the more active parts of the farm, and sometimes they can even help brush the bunnies or assist with small tasks. My oldest daughter couldn’t stay away; this was her absolute favorite thing to do.
On top of all the animal fun, the holiday season adds an extra layer of magic. Christmas decorations, holiday lights, Santa visits, hot chocolate, select-day live music, and s’mores by the fire.
A Real Working Farm (Wear Boots!)
One of the farm’s biggest draws, especially for parents seeking authentic outdoor experiences, is that Hidden Pasture Farm is a true working farm. You will likely see staff walking around doing chores, scooping, refilling water, and moving between barns. Tools, hay bales, shovels, and natural “farm mess” are part of the environment.
Yes, you will probably step in poop. It’s okay, wear boots or shoes you don’t mind getting dirty. The farm provides sinks for handwashing, and restrooms are available. Bring wipes if you’d like extra peace of mind.
What matters most is how magical the farm feels from a child’s perspective. Roosters crow, goats bleat, ponies munch hay, and ducks wander in and out of view. Nothing is staged. Nothing is overly polished. It’s real, rustic, and full of life, and that authenticity is exactly what makes the experience unforgettable.
Hidden Pasture Unicorn Farm Yuletide Unicorn Festival with Santa Details
Unicorn Farm Location: 245 Little Virginia Road Fountain Inn, SC
Do you want to go for a Christmas light drive around the Upstate and see all the best (and free!) home displays? Have you seen long lists ofChristmas light displays? Are you overwhelmed by the holidays this year? We’ve got seven driving routes for 2025 to help you enjoy the season without a lot of stress since we already did the work for you!
Load the family in the car and follow these routes for a super simple yet super special night (or nights) of enjoying Christmas lights together.
313 Chenoweth Drive | Photo courtesy of the homeowner
Disclaimer:Kidding Around is not responsible for property damage, neighborhood safety, or any possible injuries of any kind that may happen while driving, stopping, and viewing holiday lights and decorations. Drivers and property owners maintain all responsibility for general safety, operating a vehicle safely, light-viewing enjoyment, and holiday cheer. Drive slowly, be respectful, share holiday magic, and don’t be a Scrooge.
Submissions are closed for 2025 but if you want to be included in the 2026 list, you can come back and fill out our Holiday Light Display form and be sure to include a photo of your display.
The Kidding Around Upstate, SC Christmas Lights Driving Routes
While we do our best to offer accurate information, please check with these venues and organizations before visiting. Please help keep Kidding Around free by not copying and reproducing this content without written permission. Please note that things like inclement weather can impact a display status. If you see more while you are driving around the Upstate, be sure to share the info in the comments of our Holiday Lights List for folks to check out!
Tips For Enjoying The Holiday Light Displays
While there are plenty of paid attractions you can visit with your family, if you are looking for some budget-friendly fun, and admiring the work of homeowners, you have come to the right spot.
We have separated light displays in the Upstate into several easy-to-follow routes. Do them all in one night, or turn them into several nights of fun. Throw your fuzzy jammies on, grab the tumbler of hot chocolate, popcorn, and hit the road.
We have gathered the best of the best in the Upstate to curate this fantastic list. Homes with light shows that include music (and sometimes even hot chocolate and Santa) are included and worth the drive. Here are a few tips to make the most of the routes provided:
Expect to wait in traffic to see them. The more popular ones will most likely have traffic in front of them, especially on the weekends. Patience and grace are the spirit of the holidays.
When visiting the walk through displays, park on the sides of the street, being sure to leave room for traffic and not block neighbors’ driveways.
If available, we have included the social media pages for light displays. Check the Facebook page of the light display before heading out. Things like weather and lighting issues can determine if a display is lit or not, and we won’t be able to post updates on individual displays.
Keep in mind that most synchronized displays WILL NOT RUN in wet conditions. This is due to electrical issues, and is to protect the large investment homeowners have put into these displays. If it has been raining during the day, or is raining after sundown – please take this into consideration before you drive a significant distance to view the lights, as they may be off.
Disclaimer:Kidding Around is not responsible for property damage, neighborhood safety, or any possible injuries of any kind that may happen while driving, stopping, and viewing holiday lights and decorations. Drivers and property owners maintain all responsibility for general safety, operating a vehicle safely, light-viewing enjoyment, and holiday cheer. Drive slowly, be respectful, share holiday magic, and don’t be a Scrooge.
2025 Kidding Around Christmas Light Driving Tour Map
2025 Christmas Light Driving Tours
Santas on Earle St
The 2025 Greenville Holiday Light Driving Route
Addresses on the Greenville route:
3800 Edwards Road, Taylors
907 Edwards Road, Taylors
4 Andrea Lane, Greenville (neighborhood lights, enter via Valerie Drive)
Bob Jones University Nativity Scene (opens December 5, 2025)
This is a “Hallmark” themed Victorian style Christmas decorated house that will bring Greenville back into Dickens era.
Earle Street Santas
Think Christmas with the Kranks but blow-up Santas! This neighborhood is so much fun to walk or drive through when they get all their Santas up.
Mini North Pole Extravaganza
123 Bennett Street, Greenville
They have Santas, snowmen, elves, polar bears, snow flakes, plus a Christmas movie is playing in the living room window.
Neighborhood Festivities
4 Andrea Lane, Greenville | This is a holly themed house adorned with red, green lights and a nativity with some Biblical era based stars. Bonus points for several other houses in the neighborhood that are decorated. Enter through Valerie Drive.
6 Kwikaway Court, Simpsonville | Nightly from 6-10 pm Thanksgiving-New Years weather permitting
Lights on Shagbark
114 & 118 Shagbark Court, Simpsonville | Other homes are decorated on this street
Colorful Display with Animated Christmas Village
101 Foxworth Lane, Simpsonville | Be sure to park on the side of the road (carefully) and walk up to the garage to see the miniature animated Christmas village. The owner changes the display out every four years and this year’s is the Dickens Village.
313 Chenoweth Drive | All your favorite Christmas movie clips and songs play on the facade their house | be sure to turn off headlights and tune to 90.3 FM
119 Crosshill Rd, Moore | Thanksgiving-New Years 5:30-11 pm
Sparkling Christmas
104 Fox Farm Way, Greer | Fantastic sparkling light display
104 Fox Farm
2025 North Greer Holiday Light Driving Route
Addresses on the Greer route in order of driving route:
59 Enoree Farm Way, Taylors
200 Hidden Springs Lane
224 Milky Way, Greer
107 Big Dipper Road, Greer
256 Sheffield Road, Greer
257 Sheffield Road, Greer
104 Crestview Circle, Greer
Blue Blue Christmas
59 Enoree Farm Way, Taylors
Christmas Light Extravaganza
104 Crestview Circle, Greer | Lights everywhere in this beautiful and entertaining display, be sure to look up on the roof
256 Sheffield Rd
2025 South Greer Holiday Light Driving Route
Addresses on the South Greer route in order:
Super Duper Publications, Greenville
300 Halifax Drive, Greenville
5000 Bridle Path Lane, Greenville
109 Middle Brook Road, Greer
408 Barrington Park Drive, Greer
111 Silver Pine Court, Greer
2 Woodharbor Drive, Taylors
204 Firethorne Drive, Greer
350 Riverside Chase Circle, Greer
Christmas Inflatables Fun
111 Silver Pine Court, Greer | November 27, 2025 – New Years Eve, 7-10 pm
Cul de Sac Christmas Lights
300 Halifax Drive, Greenville has several homes in a cul de sac all decked out with lights and Christmas inflatables
Sugar Creek Christmas Lights
109 and 102 Middle Brook Road, Greer | At least three homes on this road are decorated.
Note about Sugar Creek: There are several homes throughout the neighborhood, so great for a one-stop drive through. Try to find the giant Elf on the Shelf and a giant Reindeer inflatable.
Super Duper Publications
Located on Pelham Road, this huge building is totally decked out for Christmas with Santa and his reindeer near the road and lots of palm trees strung with bright green lights. It’s on a major road but you can pull in to the road next to it to see it safely.
Holiday Sparkles
5000 Bridle Path Lane | You may need to make a couple swing past this one as it’s the first house in the neighborhood right off Pelham Road and you’ll probably want to gawk at the tons of sparkle lights on the house.
111 Silver Pine Ct (Photo courtesy of the homeowner)
2025 Conestee Holiday Light Driving Route
All of these are very close together but lots of fun! Be sure to follow the one-way street signs. Big thanks to Nikki L. who helped us to compile this one.
Addresses on the 2025 Conestee Route:
7 Nicklaus Drive, Greenville
615 Standing Springs Road, Greenville
609 Standing Springs Road, Greenville
37 Old Standing Springs Road, Greenville
38 Old Standing Springs Road, Greenville
605 Standing Springs Road, Greenville
529 Standing Springs Road, Greenville
191 3rd Avenue, Greenville
830 2nd Avenue, Greenville
Standing Springs Road
BONUS: No Route Christmas Light Displays
There are several holiday light displays in the Upstate that are too far from any of the routes to be added to them but that we still think you’ll like. They are noted in purple on the map and their addresses and info is below.
37 Old Standing Springs Road and 609 Standing Springs Road
There are several homes on this street lit up. It’s right near Conestee Nature Preserve.
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2025 Editor’s Picks For Top Holiday Home Light Displays
Here are some of our favorite synchronized displays:
The Christmas House | 360 Foster Road, Inman On the 2025 Spartanburg Route
Poole’s Christmas Light Show | 6264 Highway 92, Enoree Open nightly in 2025 Thanksgiving-December 26th from 6-10 pm
Whitemarsh Christmas| 902 Whitemarsh Avenue, Simpsonville Nightly 6-9 pm Thanksgiving – New Years, Toys for Tots event first weekend in December from 6-9 pm
Nodine Family Lights | Inman This is such a great light show with beautiful music; follow the signs
Chenoweth Drive | Simpsonville We really like the nostalgic holiday shows and clips from movies that play on the house; on the Five Forks route
There is no shortage of holiday light displays to be found in the Upstate! For more holiday light displays, check out our list of 50+ Holiday Light Displays across the Upstate and beyond.
How To Get Your Home Submitted For Consideration On Kidding Around’s Coveted Christmas Light List
Please be sure to completely fill out the form, including any online links to information available like dedicated social media pages or posts. The more information we have, the more likely your home will be included in our content.
If you see more while you are driving around the Upstate, be sure to share the info in the comments of our Holiday Lights List for folks to check out.
Are you searching for locally-owned bookstores in Greenville, SC? Locally-owned bookstores are a great place to head when you’d like to add to your home library or shop for great gifts. These stores often offer a personal touch with staff recommendations, shelves full of specially chosen titles, and an opportunity to discover something brand new to you.
Don’t miss the unique magic and quality customer service of these independent bookstores of the upstate.
M Judson’s is a cultural hub of Downtown Greenville. It has an entire room dedicated to children’s books. The Camilla Kitchen is an in-house cafe that makes pastries and homemade apple butter. The book store hosts events like author book signings, book clubs, and Teacher Happy Hour. Plus, they have a Wednesday and Saturday Storytime on the Steps (that even moves indoors to the children’s section on cold or rainy days!).
130 South Main Street, Greenville, SC 29601 864.603.2412
Owned by two passionate book collectors, Angel’s Bookshoppe caters to homeschool curriculum and book lovers of all ages. Book collectors will be sure to find rare and unique books to add to their collections.
2327-1 North Pleasantburg Drive, Greenville, SC 29609 864.551.1533
Check out our visit to the Learning Cycle! Known as Greenville’s Homeschool Store, Learning Cycle will take your requests and order what you need. They do consignment and offer curriculum, books, games, manipulatives, and more!
Located in the middle of the charming downtown of Travelers Rest, As The Page Turns offers used children’s books, fiction, and nonfiction. Amy, the owner, takes pride in customer-oriented service. They will get to know you by name, and what you like to read.
3 Plaza Drive, Travelers Rest, SC 29690 864.834.8100
Combining books and candy, you’ll find Candy & Chronicles on Main Street in Fountain Inn. They are the newest locally-owned bookshop to the Upstate, with a wide variety of books and toys, local gifts, and candy, including themed candy to go along with your books!
Located in Easley, Poor Richard’s has been serving the area since 1987. In a historic building that houses the county’s first library. They carry Southern Fiction, fiction, nonfiction, children’s books, and puzzles.
107 West Main Street, Easley, SC 29640 864.859.0687
As the last independent bookstore in Anderson, SC, McDowell’s Emporium takes pride in the well-organized clean store. The entire inventory is recorded in a database for easy access.
I am a huge believer in the idea that comic books and graphic novels are wonderful reads, especially for kids who need an extra push. Not Just Gamin’ in downtown Greer has a large selection of both right when you walk in the store!
211 Trade Street, Greer, SC 29651 864.775.9459
Have you visited any of the bookstores above? Comment below and tell us about your experience.
BONUS: Used Bookstores in Greenville, SC
Ok, the two used bookstores we listed below don’t really fit with the “locally-owned” category, and they definitely have more of a big box feel. But, they are a great spot in Greenville to go for books on a budget or to sell some of the books you are ready to part with.
Buy and sell used books, movies, music, and lots more at Mr. K’s. You’ll find graphic novels, video games, and collectibles in addition to lots and lots of books.
Rows and rows of books for all ages is what you’ll find at 2nd & Charles. With a huge children’s section, and low prices, this is a popular book store for families. You’ll also find a wide selection of fiction and non-fiction for adults, music, movies, comic books, and even vinyl. Don’t forget to check the “free” bin outside the front door where you can pick up books people no longer want for free.
Though technically a part of the Spartanburg Public Library System, Pages on Pine has super cheap books that you can purchase for a steal. This is my dad’s all-time favorite bookshop in Spartanburg because of the deals.
2355 S Pine St, Spartanburg, SC 29302 864.585.0111
Find more locally owned shops and gifts in Greenville, SC
Looking for places to shop local in Spartanburg, SC? Support local small business owners when you go shopping in Spartanburg with unique gift ideas like locally made art, locally grown plants, foodie gifts, experience gifts, and more! Whether you’re looking to shop on Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, or any other day of the year, we’ve compiled a list of 40+ local Spartanburg businesses to get you started!
SpartanBucks A brand new initiative of OneSpartanburg, this e-gift card works at 60+ participating local businesses. Check online for the full list of participating businesses in the downtown Spartanburg area and beyond.
Market on Main This gift card can be used with any of the 30+ local vendors inside Market on Main in the heart of downtown Spartanburg, where you can find jewelry, boutique clothing, vintage furniture, unique artwork, and everything in-between.
Toys & Games
Game Garage This locally owned store in Spartanburg is a one-stop shop for video games, buying and selling games and consoles from every generation in video game history. They also have a few in-store arcade games, which can be enjoyed for a quarter or sometimes even free!
Imagination Station This toy store is less than 5 minutes from the heart of downtown Spartanburg, and even has a cozy soft play corner where kids can play with trains, enjoy storytime, and more.
Once Upon a Child This popular consignment store can be found on Spartanburg’s westside near WestGate Mall, and they offer an ever-changing selection of gently used toys and children’s books at unbeatable prices.
Squiggles Toys and More This toy store is located in Duncan on Spartanburg county’s westside, and it offers an open slime bar plus frequent workshops on kid favorites like shrinky dinks.
Showoffs Kids Boutique This children’s shop is inside Reinvintage Warehouse near downtown Spartanburg, offering a seasonal selection of boutique children’s clothing and the occasional toys.
Spartan Games Newly opened in 2026, Spartan Games offers a large selection of board games and tabletop gaming supplies such as dice, mini-figures, and paint kits. They also offer community gaming events.
Tangled Web Right across from WestGate Mall, this local shop sells comics, tabletop games, card games, and video games.
Toy Federation This unique store is located in Greer on the border of Greenville and Spartanburg counties, and they buy, sell, and trade new and vintage toys from decades past to present day.
Clothing & Personalized Gifts
BURG Apparel Located inside Art Lounge in downtown Spartanburg, this shop sells Spartanburg-themed t-shirts, stickers, and more, including political and cultural graphics.
Home and Garden Classics This southern lifestyle store sells gifts, apparel, decor, kitchen accessories, personalized invitations, and baked goods. It is most notably the brick-and-mortar space for beloved businesses like Write at Home (fine stationery), Sugah Cakes (bakery), and The Brides Club of Spartanburg (bridal registry service).
Inside Irwin’s Located in City of Spartanburg, this specialized gift shop sells beautiful home decor, name brand fashions, along with toys and kids clothing. Plus, they offer FREE gift-wrapping onsite!
Kindred Spirits In Spartanburg’s downtown, at the intersection of West Saint John Street and Spring Street, this incredible marketplace brings together handmade gifts and clothing from 80+ local artisans.
Local Hiker Located in downtown Spartanburg, this store offers outdoor apparel and gear for camping, hiking, camping, and backpacking. Their knowledgeable staff is available to answer questions and help pick out the perfect equipment for your next adventure.
Market on Main In the middle of downtown, this marketplace brings together 30+ local artisans, selling jewelry, boutique clothing, vintage furniture, unique artwork, and everything in-between. They also sell gift cards that can be used with any of their vendors, and have been known to offer the occasional DIY workshop.
OOPS! Co. This South Carolina company has a store in Spartanburg off East Main Street, in the same shopping center as Willy Taco. They sell fashion finds for men, women, and children.
Palmetto Twist In the growing Boiling Springs area, you can find this store offering personalized clothing services such as monograms, glitter appliques, and leather patch beanies and hats. If shopping for Christmas, check early for any deadlines to guarantee orders in time for the holiday.
Pink on Main Across from Denny’s Plaza in downtown Spartanburg, this women’s clothing and accessory store sells popular brands like Lily Pulitzer and adorable mommy-and-me style outfits.
Reinvintage Warehouse Formerly off Union Street but now in the popular Drayton Mills, this marketplace offers a curated collection of vintage and handmade finds from 30+ local artisans, including boutique clothing, jewelry, furniture, decor, creative art supplies, and children’s items.
Showoffs Kids Boutique This cute children’s shop is inside Reinvintage Warehouse near downtown Spartanburg, offering a seasonal selection of boutique children’s clothing and the occasional toys.
Southern Charm Gifts and Boutique Located off Highway 9 in Inman, this popular local boutique offers women’s clothing and gifts for fans of all things southern and faith-based.
Spartanburg Threads Formerly Southerndipity Gifts, this small business does not have a brick-and-mortar location but offers monogramming and embroidery by picking up and delivering items right back to your front door.
Two Doors Down Located inside the Montgomery Building in downtown Spartanburg, this women’s boutique sells big brands Steve Madden, Liverpool Jeans, and Molly Bracken.
Coffee & Foodie Gifts
Blue Moon Bodega & Speciality Foods Formerly two separate locations, Blue Moon Bodega and Blue Moon Specialty Foods are now combined in one shop on Daniel Morgan Avenue in downtown Spartanburg. They offer gift baskets, locally made frozen meals, and an in-person dining experience.
Botanical Brew This coffee shop now has two locations — one in Lyman, and one on Spartanburg’s westside off Reidville Road — and they sell both delicious coffee and a delightful selection of house plants. They also a sell a selection of cool t-shirts and merch at both locations.
Little River Roasting This locally owned coffee chain offers 3 locations: Little River Coffee Bar and Pharmacy Coffee in downtown Spartanburg, and Little River Drive Thru on Spartanburg’s eastside near Hillcrest. In addition to coffee and baked goods, they sell gift cards, coffee subscriptions, and equipment.
Palmetto Olive Oil Co. Located inside Market on Main in downtown Spartanburg, this store offers premium olive oils and balsamic vinegar, with tastings available in-person at the storefront.
Art & Handmade Gifts
Art Lounge This local art gallery near downtown Spartanburg showcases dozens of local artists while selling custom frames and shadow boxes to the general public. Also home to BURG Apparel.
Artists Collective This co-op of 60+ local artists offers many pop-up events, especially around the holidays, a gift shop for smaller works at their brick-and-mortar location in downtown Spartanburg, and an online swag shop.
Hearts of Clay This family-friendly treasure is located right behind WestGate Mall, offering walk-in pottery painting, canvas painting, and stuffy-stuffing. They also offer monthly walk-in days for hand-building with clay and frequent classes on a variety of arts, including glass-blowing.
Kindred Spirits In Spartanburg’s downtown, at the intersection of West Saint John Street and Spring Street, this incredible marketplace brings together handmade gifts and clothing from 80+ local artisans.
Market on Main In the middle of downtown, this marketplace brings together 30+ local artisans, selling jewelry, boutique clothing, vintage furniture, unique artwork, and everything in-between. They also sell gift cards that can be used with any of their vendors, and have been known to offer the occasional DIY workshop.
Paint It Up Based out of Chesnee in northern Spartanburg County, this artist offers a 24/7 online shop where you can buy and commission paintings, craft kits, door hangers, decor, and a whole lot more. They also offer subscriptions for virtual paint classes and monthly craft kits.
Painted Palmetto Formerly known as A Cut Above Creations, this kid-focused craft studio in downtown Spartanburg offers open studio hours several days a week, plus frequent classes and guided craft opportunities. Kids and adults can make candles, slime, canvas paintings, door hangers, ornaments, stuffies, and so much more.
Reinvintage Warehouse Formerly off Union Street but now in the popular Drayton Mills, this marketplace offers a curated collection of vintage and handmade finds from 30+ local artisans, including boutique clothing, jewelry, furniture, decor, creative art supplies, and children’s items.
Sparkle City Snaps This local artist turns photographs into pop art, which you can buy in-store off Main Street in downtown Spartanburg or online as canvases, coasters, or post cards. The artist also accepts commissions to create one-of-a-kind art of individual homes or businesses in Spartanburg County.
Gifts for Book-Lovers
Bosley’s Books and Gifts This pop-up book shop, found inside Hearts of Clay near WestGate Mall, sells new and used books, including romance and chick fiction.
Hub City Bookshop This independent bookstore in downtown Spartanburg sells books on a variety topics, including politics and culture, as well as t-shirts and local swag.
Pages on Pine Also known as the Friends of the Library Bookstore, this used bookshop on South Pine Street offers the largest and most affordable book selection in all of Spartanburg County, especially during their twice-annual blowout sales. Friends of the Library get early access and special deals on books.
Tangled Web Right across from WestGate Mall, this local shop sells comics, tabletop games, card games, and video games.
Gifts for Nature Enthusiasts
Botanical Brew This coffee shop now has two locations — one in Lyman, and one on Spartanburg’s westside off Reidville Road — and they sell both delicious coffee and a delightful selection of house plants. They also a sell a selection of cool t-shirts and merch at both locations.
Coggins Flowers & Gifts This local florist in Spartanburg makes custom live and artificial arrangements for every occasion, also offering delivery services across Upstate South Carolina.
Russ Gaffney Florist This local florist in downtown Spartanburg makes custom live and artificial arrangements for every occasion, also offering delivery services around Spartanburg County.
Local Hiker Located in downtown Spartanburg, this store offers outdoor apparel and gear for camping, hiking, camping, and backpacking. Their knowledgeable staff is available to answer questions and help pick out the perfect equipment for your next adventure.
The Urban Planter This unique plant shop in downtown Spartanburg offers design, consultation, and plant maintenance services, so they can help you from planning your greenery to even plant-sitting while you’re away!
Experience Gifts
Spartanburg Science Center The Spartanburg Science Center offers a series of exhibits with live reptiles, interactive physics displays, fossils, and nature exchange. Typical admission is $5 per person, but with a membership, you can visit as often as you like, attending classes and programs geared towards all different ages.
Speed Factory Indoor Karting Gift recipients of all ages will appreciate a lap around the track at this indoor karting facility.
Summer Pool Memberships In the warmer months, you can delight your friends and family with a membership to one of Spartanburg’s many great community pools. We’ve put together this list with all the local favorites, including details on pricing and packages, to make it easy for you to choose!
The Children’s Museum of the Upstate Parents of children ages 6 and under will cherish a membership to our local children’s museum. With locations in Spartanburg and Greenville, kids can immerse themselves in play-based learning about art, science, and so much more.
Looking for some free things to do this Christmas? Greenville, SC is a wonderful place for free holiday fun! We’ve rounded up top picks that are both friendly to your wallet and fun for your family during your holiday break. Add a few to your calendar to get you out of the house and away from the shopping frenzy.
Festival of Trees | Hyatt Regency Greenville
For even more holiday fun, don’t miss the Ultimate Holiday Guide to Greenville, SC. It’s packed full of things to do, gift ideas, events, and more!
Free Things to Do: Christmas in Greenville, SC
The Festival Of Trees This FREE event hosted by The St. Francis Foundation is with us again. Your family can stroll through one of two downtown locations to admire the decorated Christmas trees. These trees are great photo opportunities with your kids among some truly creative and inspiring trees! November 21st – December 25th, 2025. For 2025, we have also created a scavenger hunt for the Hyatt Regency portion of the Festival of Trees, so you can have a little more fun!
Hyatt Regency Greenville, 220 N Main Street Greenville, SC 29601
Courtyard Marriot Downtown, 50 West Broad Street Greenville, SC 29601
Festival of Trees | Hyatt Regency Greenville
Santa At Cabela’s Winter Wonderland November 2nd, 2025 through December 24, 2025 Head over to Greenville to visit Santa at Cabela’s this holiday season! You can get your photo taken with Santa for free and kids can enjoy making a different craft every week leading up to Christmas. In Santa’s, Winter Wonderland kids can also write a letter to Santa for free!
Photo Credit Bass Pro ShopsPhoto Credit: Bass Pro ShopsPhoto Credit: Bass Pro Shops
Holiday Hop in Travelers Rest, SC (November 29th, 2025) Tree Lighting ceremony, Christmas make-and-take craft station for kids, Polar Express rides around the trail, photos with Santa, and even a snowball fight at the gazebo, all on Main Street in Travelers Rest, SC. Parents can enjoy the mini holiday market as well with local merchants at the event.
See a free/cheap(er) holiday movie (December, select dates): Regal Cinemas offers $7.99 holiday movies and NCG movie theaters usually has free holiday movies select dates in December. Check back for more details on the 2025 holiday season.
Greenville Gingerbread Exhibit at Springhill Suites in downtown Greenville (December 3-25, 2025): Check out all the incredible gingerbread houses on display at the hotel. They also have special events like a holiday jazz band concert and winner announcements, which you can see on their calendar.
Watch! See many of the 2025 gingerbread creations.
Sheep Trail by Messy Church Aldersgate UMC (2025 Dates TBD): Find sheep downtown using the trail card and write their unique names while exploring new shops & stores!
Ride the Trolley and Attend the FREE Holiday Happening Events in Downtown Greenville: Catch the holiday floats and marching bands at the Poinsettia Christmas parade, view the light displays at the annual tree lighting, and enjoy the free trolley rides, postcard displays, window displays, and the Festival of Trees. You can also visit the Grand Bohemian and wander through their annual Greenville Christmas Market. These holiday events are full of holiday cheer and are totally free!
The City of Greenville will be gifting FREE parking on Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday & Sunday, December 23-25 (Christmas Eve and Day), and New Year’s Day for 2025. Garages include:
North Laurens Street Garage
West Washington Garage
Broad Street Garage
Richardson Street Garage
West End Parking Lot
South Main Parking Lot
Over 900 free on-street spaces
More Holiday Fun With Kidding Around Greenville
Christmas Parades around the Upstate While many of these parades are happening before Christmas break begins, your time is still well-spent browsing the list and making at least one other holiday parade a key feature of your December. The parades are always epic holiday celebrations, many with live entertainment, gorgeous floats, marching bands, and a visit from Santa to end the parade!
The Holiday Light Tour – Check back for 2025 Routes! The family fun doesn’t have to leave the car because Kidding Around® always creates a map with suggested driving routes to make this tradition easy! Load the family in the car and follow these routes for a super simple, yet super special, night (or nights) of enjoying Holiday lights together.
Personal Home Light Shows and Drive-thru Professional Displays around the Upstate Kidding Around has put together a handy-dandy list of homes and businesses in the upstate that allow for drive-by holiday lights at a masterful level. While many of the professional displays cost money, there are lots of free opportunities as well. Nothing beats free and warm inside your car during December. You can check the list by scrolling down to “Home Synchronized Light Shows.”
Live Nativities around the Upstate We have also assembled all the MVPs hosting Live Nativities this year. The live animals and actors are always entertaining and slightly unpredictable—just a great tradition for your family to begin all around.
More Things to Do During the Holiday Near Greenville, SC
Looking for handmade and one-of-a-kind unique gifts from artists and makers in Greenville, SC? Earlier this year, our team at Kidding Around decided that we really wanted to highlight local artists and makers in our Upstate, SC community. There are so many talented individuals that we knew were out there and we wanted to shine a light on them and their talents. So we created a weekly Facebook post series that highlighted a new maker or artist every Wednesday.
And while we have an awesome Shop Local Guide, we wanted to put all of the makers and artists we’ve highlighted over previous years in one post so you can peruse them at your leisure and maybe snag a few Christmas gifts for loved ones from people right here in town, supporting local businesses while getting something totally unique.
The Tattered Traveler creates unique giclée art prints, original paintings, and accessories inspired by a passion for everyday comforts, simple joys, and an endless curiosity.
Time Capsule Jewelry makes custom gifts like t-shirts, decals, planters, ornaments, and more, as well as jewelry and hair accessories. They also do party planning for kids parties including decorations, shirts, and more.
Indigo Root Textiles sells botanically hand dyed and hand crafted products, using USA grown and process Indigo as well as foraged plant and food waste dyes.
This maker sells faux leather bows for children. All bows are attached to a soft nylon band (no clips) which allows for you to slide it over any hairstyle that your child may have.
Handforged jewelry (earrings, necklaces, bracelets, rings, etc) made from recycled industrial metals, natural elements, and vintage finds. Sustainable, durable, and hypoallergenic. (Custom sculptures and home decor are available upon request)
This metalsmith creates one of a kind jewelry from silver, copper, hand cut stones, and handmade beads. The jewelry is hand-fabricated and my own designs.
Turned and Burned creates turned wooden vases, bowls, plates, coasters and other items on a lathe. Channels are then burned into the items which are filled with glow in the dark epoxy.
Do you want to give educational Christmas gifts this year, giving something more than just amusement? Kids can learn loads when they are having fun, which makes educational gifts a double whammy, powerhouse, gift-giving option.
Give them the gift of fine motor skills, colors and shapes, hand-eye coordination, problem-solving skills, creativity, imagination, an inquisitive mind, and a break from screen time. Puzzles, science kits, games, learning toys, books, and building toys can do all that and more. We polled our readers and asked about their favorite gifts that encouraged learning something new. Then, we added a few of our own ideas.
This list contains Amazon affiliate links.
Our Readers’ Top Educational Gift Ideas
When it comes to gift-giving, you’re going to see your kids receive a ton of toys. Some of the best gifts, though, are educational. These gifts and toys engage your child for longer periods of time, encourage imaginative play and critical thinking, and may even inspire a lifelong passion.
My favorite educational gifts for kids are ones that store easily, encourage independent play, and can be enjoyed for a long period of time (bonus points: they don’t require batteries, haha).
We polled our readers and asked for their favorite unique educational gifts for kids, and we rounded up their answers for you below.
I’ve seen these everywhere, and to be honest, the most I see them, the more interested I am in getting one for our daughter. These are essentially audio players for kids 3+ that play stories, music, and other educational things.
The biggest draw to them is that they are screen-free and easy for little ones to play with. You buy the starter kit, and then you can buy as many extra “Tonies” as you’d like. Each Tonie character plays different things. Kidding Around readers highly recommended this.
Much like the Tonie Box, the Yoto Player are perfect for kids who love the idea of carrying around their music, stories, and audiobooks. The Yoto works with cards that you insert into the player. The original one sits on a desktop or bedside cabinet, and can play sound much like a radio (but you can choose from a variety of material). The Yoto mini is like the kid version of an Ipod, but you an choose their material or make your own cards with the MYO cards. They have a ton of learning cards to choose from as well. We purchased two of these for Christmas this year for our 5 year old and 3 year old, and are super excited!
I had never heard of this before a couple of our readers recommended it. But after learning more about it, I’m now wanting to tell all my mama friends about it. You buy a starter kit that includes the Osmo Base that attaches to an iPad or Fire Tablet. There are various puzzle pieces, drawing pads, and games you can buy to accompany each kit. And everything is educational and fun for kids.
Hot Dots is another great interactive and educational toy for kids. Kids simply take the “pen” and tap the dots throughout the books to help learn to read and get ready for school. Hot Dots come with different subjects, themes, and ages.
Time to work those fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination! Magna Tiles are an ever-popular toy for kids. The translucent tiles are magnetic, allowing you to build 2D or 3D shapes. They come in a variety of shapes and spark hours of imaginative play for children. I’ve also known a dad or two to play with these to see how big a structure they can build.
If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option, the Picasso Tiles are also very popular.
One of our readers highly recommends a coding robot like one from Elenco Teach Tech. These toys help teach kids how to program, code, problem-solve, and use critical thinking skills. This particular robot is recommended for ages 3+.
When one of our readers recommended Learning Wrap-Ups, I was immediately swept back to my childhood. I would consider these a classic toy and definitely an educational one. You simply wrap the string from the problem on the left to the answer on the right and self-check yourself on the back. Learning Wrap-Ups come with different topics, including math, pre-algebra, science, and vocabulary.
A Kiwi Box Subscription is an educational gift that keeps giving. Each month, your child receives a box in the mail with a new project appropriate to their age and interest. When you fill out the subscription form online, you’ll answer a few questions so the perfect box is delivered each time. There are subscription boxes for ages 0-12+
Magazine Subscriptions: The gift that keeps on giving
Once a month or every other month, another installment of your educational gift arrives bringing fun and learning long after the holiday decor has been boxed up and put away.
Work out your strategy and think ahead to win these games. Really get that brain working, growing, and thinking hard, and of course, have fun, too! Our readers suggest these strategic board games:
Love board games? See our HUGE list of family favorite board games for all ages. Here are a couple of our favorite educational games from that list.
Zingo
Zingo is one of ThinkFun’s most popular and bestselling games, and is the winner of an Oppenheim Gold Award and Parents’ Choice Gold Award, among others. It’s a fun pre-reading game for ages 4 and up. There are versions for learning sight words, numbers, and using letters to make words. Like all of ThinkFun’s games, Zingo is built to develop critical thinking skills. Playing will improve language skills through fun and fast-paced play.
We played this with kids ages 8, 9, and 11 years old and they all loved it. I tried it also as an adult and it’s fantastic because it’s one of those games where you have to focus on the puzzle and nothing else. Gravity Maze is especially great for kids who like to play by themselves, for kids who love problem-solving, and for kids who are probably future engineers.
Puzzles are great for any age. Pick puzzles with bright colors and simple shapes for younger kids, and consider more intricate 3-dimensional kits and puzzles for older kids. Puzzles will encourage your child to problem-solve. They also make a great gift that develops fine motor skills.
If you have a science-loving kid, we have some tried and true classic ideas to share from personal experience! These teach things about real world, the natural world, physics, and lots more learning fun!
Marble runs: Try this simple wooden set called Blocks and Marbles for older elementary children. It’s a long-time favorite with wooden blocks that have holes and grooves for marbles to roll and pass through.
Building toys: these vary by developmental stage, from things like intricate modeling kits to building blocks, wood blocks, interlocking building toys, stacking towers, and more.
A membership to The Children’s Museum of the Upstate is a WONDERFUL gift idea! I’m a big supporter of gifting experiential gifts to loved ones, and an even bigger supporter if it’s providing educational value. And TCMU is one of the best local places that offers constant and steadfast education and fun to kids of all ages in the Upstate.
Roper Mountain Science Center Membership
One of the most educational experience gifts you can give is a membership to the Roper Mountain Science Center! You will be able to access their Afternoon Explorations throughout the school year, their Summer Adventures in the summer season, and special programs like Friday Starry Nights! Plus, members get first dibs on summer camps (which are notorious difficult to get if you do not have a membership).
If you’re looking for experiential gifts you can give to loved ones this year, be sure to read our list of experience gifts.
Don’t live in Upstate, SC? Educational experience gifts are everywhere and they make a perfect gift. Look for local options like these for educational experiences you can give as a gift near you.
Do you need gifts for teens this year? If you have a teen on your gift list this year, you know that teens are not the easiest to please. They aren’t quite adults, and they are no longer children. This makes gift-giving times extraordinarily difficult if you are trying to be creative. That’s why we set out to discover what teens wish for this holiday season. The result is this list full of teen-approved gift ideas so you’ll know exactly what to gift teens in your life this year!
This piece contains Amazon Affiliate links.
What To Buy For A Teenager?
When you think of gift ideas for teens, the first thing that probably pops into your mind is something like a gift card. Let them pick out what they want or need. And that’s all well and good. But, teens like opening presents, too. And what if you want to surprise them with a gift and not a card? What do you buy that a teen will love?
We went straight to the teens and asked for their Christmas wish lists. Then, we offered some suggestions for their approval to round out the list! The result is a teen-approved wish list for gift shopping, with items for a wide variety of budgets.
Sometimes an experience is a better gift than a “thing.” So, that leaves the question, “What do teens want to go do?” We asked and here’s what they said.
Take them to an Escape Room
I’m sure at one time or another, we’ve thought about locking our kids up in a room and grabbing some peace while they navigated an escape route. So, a visit to an escape room near you could be the ultimate teen experience gift. These interactive escape rooms will challenge guests with their creative puzzles and talented actors.
In Greenville, SC try Escape Artist Greenville. You can read all about several of our experiences with the different rooms at Escape Artist.
Whitewater Rafting
Surprise your adventurous teens with an awesome day on the water with heart-pounding whitewater rafting trip with the Nantahala Outdoor Center.
Chasing those rapids
Smash Room
We know what you are thinking. Handing an angst-ridden teen a bat and telling them to go break stuff might not be the first thing that comes to mind. It also probably doesn’t sound like the best idea. But trust me when I tell you, they will love it! Go to the Mad Smash Rage Room in Taylors, SC and let them get all their emotions out.
Splatter Painting
Take your teen to a splatter painting session at Color Me Greenville (they also have cake and sneaker decorating sessions). You can do a classic one or a glow-in-the-dark one. Both are super cool!
Color Me Greenville glow-in-the-dark splatter painting
Theme Parks
Let your teen go scream their head off dropping 325-feet on the Fury at Carowinds – if they love roller coasters. A day at a local theme park or waterpark is sure to be a hit for teens who love that kind of adrenaline rush.
Ziplining
Creating memories with your teenager while still being seen in public with you is a great gift to give them. But, sometimes, that needs to be disguised as an extreme activity, and you’ll need to step out of your comfort zone. Zip-lining is the perfect blend of that and safety. Plus, it won’t clutter up their bedroom.
Teenagers will always love music; this will never change. So giving them away to enjoy it quickly is a great gift that they can appreciate over and over! So here are some teen-approved ways to get those tunes to them.
Spotify Premium This popular music streaming service provides premium members with ad-free enjoyment of millions of songs. Plans range from $4.99 a month for college students to $14.99 for family plans that include six accounts.
Ad free music streaming, plus the ability to download your favorites to listen to when you’re offline. The first month is free and then $9.99 per month.
AirPods These slight wireless ear-bud-style headphones were super popular with the teens we polled. They work in companion with Apple brand products and can sense when they are in your ears! Prices range from $100-$200 depending on the model you select.
Bluetooth Beanie Hat I was shocked that the kids I spoke with had never heard of this! These knit beanie hats make a great gift not only for teens but for any age child (or adult). They look like your typical beanie hat, but tucked inside are wireless, Bluetooth headphones. They will work with any Bluetooth-enabled device and are great because there are no wires to damage younger kids! Prices range from $13 to $30.
iTunes Gift Cards I was surprised to find that my go-to teen gift idea was still trendy in this age range. Not only can they use the funds for music purchases but video games, movies, and more. Card values start at $25.
Jackson B. explained to me why he likes getting these as a gift – “iTunes gift cards because we use phones a lot and we can choose what we want to spend it on”
Apple Products If you have the budget for it, of the hundred or so teens I spoke to, nearly all of them mentioned some Apple brand devices – iPhones, iPods, Apple watches, Mac Books. It seems you can’t go wrong with a gift from the Apple store.
Concert Tickets A set of tickets to a concert for their favorite performer might be the perfect gift. Sporting event tickets also make a great gift, and there’s no shortage of sports teams locally to support.
Gift cards
Some of the more popular gift cards mentioned were for the following :
Coffee : Starbucks, Little River Coffee, Barista Alley, Bridge Coffee, and other local coffee shops
Makeup : Ulta, Sephora
Retailers : Target, American Eagle, Apple, Amazon
Shoes : Vans, Converse, Nike
Gaming Systems
Hefty price tag alert, but it probably comes as no surprise that gaming systems are popular among the teens also. Teens also said gaming chairs, curved gaming screens, gaming computers, desks, and headsets are also on their wishlists. With Proper research there is almost always a deal on consoles, computer components and accessories, or anything gaming related.
Subscription Box Gifts for Teens
Subscription services are a trend that offers everything from cooking to makeup, and teenagers want them! Some of the more popular mentioned were –
Fab Fit Fun these subscription boxes offer up to $300 worth of items for $54.99 quarterly. Items include room décor, health and beauty items, and more.
Sketch Box for $25-$35 a month, you will receive art supplies and a piece of art to inspire your creativity.
Escape The Crate If your teen likes escape room adventures, then this is the perfect gift! For $29.99 bi-monthly, they’ll receive a mystery along with challenges to decipher, tools to help, and exciting objects that serve as rewards as you advance through the puzzle.
Gifts For The Adventure Seeker
The most important item to a hydrated teen is a Hydroflask. They are a brand of insulated bottles, and they start at $30 for an 18oz bottle. Try Simple Modern brand bottles; they are less expensive, look the same, and have more color and accessory options. Plus, if a decal covers up that logo, no one will be the wiser—a 32oz Simple modern starts at $18.99.
Decal Stickers
Speaking of decals, they make a great gift! Check out locally owned shops for local decals, or look on for special interest decals on Etsy.
LadyBluByrd has decals with shoutouts to local places in Upstate, SC, famous characters, coffee, and more! These make an excellent stocking stuffer and are super easy to mail to a loved one.
Photo Credit: LadyBluByrd
Smells Like Teen Spirit
Depending on the teen you are shopping for, a sport-related gift might be perfect. Think about a gift for either a sport they play or a team they love! Think personalized collegiate flags, corn hole set with that same team décor, hoodies, even socks or slippers in their team’s colors.
Depending on the sport your child plays, new equipment is always a great idea. Skateboards and long-boards are still a popular thing, too. We love the discount outdoor shop Sierra, located on Woodruff Road in Greenville.
Room Decor
Let teens dress up their space. These are a few room decor items teens asked for:
We are loving these room decor ideas because they are things teens will use all year long, and many of them are very budget-friendly. LED strips, fuzzy pillows, and lava lamps can all be found for under $25.
Teens Like to Eat: Food and Beverage gifts for teens
Growing teens seem to be able to eat and drink non-stop. The food doesn’t stay in the house long, the grocery list is endless, and bugging mom and dad for those special extra items is not always an option, which makes them a pretty perfect gift.
Soda Stream
A Soda Steam lets you make sodas and sparkling waters at home. While it’s one of the more expensive gifts for teens on this list, it’s definitely unique. And, it’ll let them make any flavors of sparkling beverages they’d like.
Do you know their favorite chips, cookies, or ice cream? If not, how about a care package-type box loaded with a huge variety of snacks?
Board Games for Teens
Escape the Room: Murder in the Mafia
ThinkFun’s Escape the Room games are essentially escape rooms in a box. They come cleverly assembled in the box in such a way that you only have to follow a few simple instructions to pop the room up before you’re ready to start looking for clues and playing the game.
Throughout the game the story booklet guides you through each chapter as you solve the clues, and see if you can determine who is the murderer. And if you get stuck you can go online for additional clues and assistance..
Another fun version of an escape room board games are EXIT games. You can spread these materials out and a larger group can work to solve these games. Clues are on cards, in booklets, and hidden in the strangest places. The card and solution wheel systems help you get hints if you’re stuck and also guide you from clue to clue. These games can only be played once as solving them often requires cutting or marking up game pieces, but they are worth it for a fun afternoon with family and friends.
Download a free app and use it to scan the cards and listen to the audio hints. Put them together in the right sequence to unlock each chapter with additional story clues. Finally, use the clues to put the story into the right order. This one is a great family teamwork game. The sounds are a little creepy, and the clues require listening carefully. But don’t worry if you get lost, the app can give you clues if you’re stuck!
We hope this helps you navigate the gift-giving season a bit easier.
Need more gift ideas? Don’t miss our Holiday Gift Guide to Greenville. It includes ideas for experience Gifts, local gifts, ideas for teacher gifts, and much more!
Will you be looking for the best family games? We have gathered over 50 of the best family board games 2025 has to offer, so add these to your gift list! If you’ve exhausted your stash of family board or card games and need new ideas of things to do with your whole family, we’ve surveyed our readers for the best games for family game night. We discovered that our readers seem to be quite the board/card game experts! We took their advice and then added a few board game ideas of our own.
Staff Picks: Kidding Around’s Favorite Family Games for 2025
Looking for fresh, fun games to try in 2025? These are the board games and card games our Kidding Around team can’t stop playing with our own families. Whether it’s a quick-play card game, an intense duel, or a hilarious party-style showdown, these picks are kid-approved and full of fun.
🧩 Our 2025 Team Favorites
Acquire – A classic strategy game of mergers and acquisitions. Great for teens and adults who love competitive gameplay.
Sling Puck – A fast-paced dexterity game where players sling pucks through a small gate to clear their side first. It’s loud, quick, and full of laughs!
Sushi Go – A colorful card drafting game that’s quick to learn and fun for all ages. Pass the sushi and collect sets to score big.
Spin Some for Dim Sum – A delightful game with adorable food tokens and a fun spinning mechanic. Great for younger kids or mixed-age families.
Rival Restaurants – A hilarious cooking and strategy game where players build the best restaurant by collecting ingredients and managing mayhem. Ideal for older kids and teens.
Sundae Split – It’s all about ice cream, toppings, and tempting your opponents! A sweet and simple game that’s easy to enjoy after dinner.
Sheriff of Nottingham – A bluffing and negotiation game where players try to sneak contraband past the sheriff. Big laughs and lots of creativity involved!
Werewolf – A party favorite for larger groups, this social deduction game turns players into villagers and secret werewolves. Teens especially love it.
Kabuto Sumo – Use wooden discs to push bugs out of the sumo ring. A quirky strategy game that’s surprisingly strategic and super fun.
Abducktion – Ducks. Aliens. Mind control. Enough said. A silly card game that’s full of personality and perfect for family night.
🎲 Whether you’re playing with littles or teens, these games bring something new to the table!We looked specifically for games that everyone can play, including our little kids who can’t read yet. So here’s the massive list and short, product descriptions taken from the game itself. We also added our own thoughts on some games we really loved. Then, we added some tips on how to plan a family game night! Check off your gift list for the holiday, with many games having Black Friday board game deals!
In this family board game list you’ll find:
best family board games
favorite family card games
ideas for family game night
easy to learn games
strategy games for the family
games for families to play together, no matter the age range
board games for kids by age
If we missed your favorite board game to play with your family, let us know in the comments.
Some products from Think Fun and Ravensburger were provided for the Kidding Around Team to review. Opinions expressed are those of our team members. This list contains some Amazon Affiliate links.
Top Tips for Establishing a Family Game Night
Be consistent. Having a specific day and time that works for everyone will help make it a routine.
Designate a family member to plan a game night. This can be for every game night or switch off each time.
Turn off the tech! Put the phones on silent, turn off the TV, and tune in to your family game night!
Always have a backup game (or two) available. Especially when trying out a new game. This will help you see what everyone is interested in for future gameplay.
Bring out the snacks! Craft a kid-friendly charcuterie, break out the hot cocoa, whatever will keep your kid’s tummies full and happy while you play.
Most importantly, relax and have fun! When everyone is having a good time, then everyone is more likely to want to engage again next time.
Best Family Games For Families With Young Kids
Babies and Toddlers
While babies and toddlers aren’t really ready for traditional board games, they can still get in on the fun with some help from older siblings, parents, and friends!
My First Railway Light Up Rainbow Set
This simple train set uses sound and light-up colors to teach simple sequencing. To play just watch the blinking lights and drive the train on the path that lit up. Do this for each color of the rainbow and then you get a song and lights reward. While this game is marked for children 18 months and up, younger kids may still enjoy the blinking lights and sounds when they use the set with a caregiver.
Your forest friends are hungry and they need your help. Spin the spinner, squeeze the matching colored acorn with your squirrel squeezer, and place it into your log. Be the first to fill your log with delicious acorns and you win. You could also spin “pick an acorn, ” “steal an acorn, ” or “lose an acorn, ” so be strategic, little squirrel. The game is easy to understand, so my four year old enjoys playing it more than some other games. It is currently one of our favorite family board games.
Sneaky Snacky Squirrel
Sequence
It’s the classic game of Sequence made just for kids! Play an animal card from your hand, and place your chip on the corresponding animal on the board. Wild cards add excitement to the game – use a unicorn card to place your chip anywhere, or use a dragon card to remove an opponent’s chip. The first player with four chips in a row wins! This exciting strategy game helps develop logical thinking skills. Reading is not required to play
Crazy Eights
Classic card game. Easy to play for kids.
Candy Land
This adorable version of the classic Candy Land game features gingerbread men as movers, colored cards, and fun illustrations that kids love, with different destinations like Cookie Commons and the chunky Chocolate Mountain. Candy Land is one of the classic favorite board games for families, and a wonderful introductory game for kids.
Chutes & Ladders
Climb up and slide down in the exciting game of ups and downs, Chutes and Ladders! The Chutes and Ladders board game for girls and boys has been around for over 60 years and has been enjoyed by families for generations. Players can see the square marked 100, but how will they get there? If a player lands their pawn on a good deed, they can shimmy up a ladder, but land on the wrong spot and they’ll shoot down a chute!
No reading is required to play this simple and easy game for preschoolers.
Family Treasure Hunt Game
GoTrovo is an action-packed pirate scavenger hunt board game for the whole family.
Hi Ho Cherry O
Preschoolers can have so much fun picking fruit to fill their baskets, that they don’t even realize they’re practicing math skills, such as counting, addition, and subtraction. Players choose from two different play options and take turns picking pretend cherries, blueberries, apples and oranges from their tree. If the spinner lands on a bird or a dog players will have to return cherries to their tree.
Pete the Cat Groovy Buttons
Pete the Cat is the coolest cat ever. Based on the best-selling book series, our Pete the Cat games introduce kids to simple learning concepts wrapped up in fun games. Kids learn color recognition, counting, and decision-making skills. Kids keep on movin’ and groovin’ with Pete the Cat.
Family Games for Kids Ages 4+
Hoot Owl Hoot
Hurry little owls: In this color-coordinated matching game, players cooperate to help the owls fly back to their nest before the sun comes up. Help all the owls home before sunrise and everyone wins!
“A friend just got my 3 year old this game! Fun for the whole family to play together. Highly recommend this one!” ~Amanda
Zingo
Zingo is one of ThinkFun’s most popular and bestselling games, and is the winner of an Oppenheim Gold Award and Parents’ Choice Gold Award, among others. It’s a fun pre-reading game for ages 4 and up. Like all of ThinkFun’s games, Zingo is built to develop critical thinking skills. Playing will improve language skills through fun and fast-paced play.
Roll the die to see how many bananas you get to pick from the tree top. One of the bananas will make Banana Joe jump, but it’s a different banana every time. If the monkey jumps, all the players must try to catch him before he hits the ground. The player who catches Banana Joe gets a bonus!
Pop the Pig
Pop the Pig is an international preschool classic that is adored by millions of children. Kids roll the die, pop a hamburger into the pig’s mouth and pump his head. The more they pump, the more his belly grows (along with the suspense!) until – pop! The player who makes his belly burst wins the game.
Children can quickly reset the game with one pump of the pig’s head and experience consistent belly-busting gameplay each and every time.
Trouble
The excitement begins as soon as a player presses the Pop-O-Matic bubble to roll the die. In the Trouble board game, kids race to get all their game pieces around the board; but be careful! A player could get bumped and sent back to the beginning.
Hungry Hungry Hippos
You’ll have a chompin’ good time with Hungry Hippo and his pals! Be ready to join in the feeding frenzy when you release all the marbles onto the game base, because all the hippos will be chomping and your hippo will need to move fast! If he chomps the golden marble, you win!
Giggle Wiggle
Giggle Wiggle is a cute caterpillar with several hands to spare! Race to place your colored marbles from his bottom row of hands all the way to the top as he wiggles to the music. Watch out – this wiggly caterpillar will try to knock off your marbles. If he does, just pick them up and keep on racing. The first player to get all their marbles on in a row wins! This easy-to-learn, quick-to-play game is a fun, active challenge that will have kids laughing and dancing while they play.
Funny Bunny
Funny Bunny is an adorable game that is perfect for ages 4 and older. 2 to 4 players can race their bunnies up the hill to the giant carrot on top. Players are given four bunnies, and increasingly add them to the board as they draw cards to allow them a number of spaces to move. However, there are “click” cards that allow the player to turn the giant carrot clockwise, which opens pits, lifts bridges, or knocks your bunny off the board! As you move around the board, you can “hop” over other players. This game was highly enjoyed by my preschooler.
Welcome to the first Monopoly game for kids, where they can earn money the fun way! The Monopoly Junior game is just like the classic Monopoly game, but it’s accessible and exciting for younger players. It’s fast, simple, and full of surprises. Kids choose their favorite Junior token and learn how to pass Go, buy properties, and collect rent. Single banknotes keep transactions fast and easy.
Dragon’s Breath
Dragons and crystal collecting, who could ask for more? This collecting game is part of the wonderful line of board games by HABA. The game follows a family of dragons as they try to get the most gems out of the ice-filled rings by choosing a color gem. Then, Dad Dragon “melts” the ice by removing gems, allowing the gems to fall from the tower to be collected by the kids. The goal is to gather the most gems. The game is engaging and imaginative while lasting around 15 minutes per play, and is the perfect game for family night.
Pumbaa Pass
Any Lion King fan will love this new, exciting, and fun family game featuring a very hungry Pumbaa! Pumbaa’s ready for some tasty grub—icky bugs to you and me! Players take turns feeding him the colorful critters until, well, he tosses his cookies, loses his lunch—you know, pukes. Then it’s time to scramble to find the bugs you need to win! To win Be the first player to match all three bugs on three different leaf cards.
“Not a board game but got this for our 3yo for his birthday, great for colors, matching and early counting.” ~ Scott
Race to the Treasure
In this game, which has won multiple awards including the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award, players try to beat the Ogre to the treasure by creating a path from Start to End. Along the way they need to collect three keys to open the treasure. Players strategize, cooperate and build a path together. If they do it before the Ogre gets there, they all win!
Scrabble Jr.
What a great way for kids to play America’s favorite word game! Kid-sized words and colorful pictures make it fun to match letter tiles to words on the grid. Players move their funny tokens up the score track as they score points. When all of the tiles have been placed on the board, the player with the most points wins! Don’t worry, your little ones won’t outgrow this game; just turn the board over for the advanced level, where they come up with their own words. It’s going to be letter-matching fun for everyone with Scrabble Junior.
The Grape Escape
This Play-Doh-based game allows players to create their grape character with clay, and then try to make it through the board game and past the factory contraptions to the grape launcher without getting squished in the process. The key to the game is to get your grape to the launcher and fling it out of the factory first. This game is perfect for ages 5 and up and is quick-paced so it can be played multiple times during family game night.
Great Games for Kids Around Ages 6+
Connect 4
Challenge a friend to disc-dropping fun with the classic game of Connect 4! Drop your red or yellow discs in the grid and be the first to get 4 in a row to win. If your opponent is getting too close to 4 in a row, block them with your own disc! Whoever wins can pull out the slider bar to release all the discs and start the fun all over again!
Guess Who
Beloved 1980s version of the classic mystery face game is back! There’s a mystery person on your opponent’s card. Can you find the matching face in the crowd? Start with your game full of silly-looking characters. Then ask the right questions to eliminate the wrong faces! Does your person have blue eyes? Is your person wearing a hat? Once you’re down to a face or two – solve the mystery by guessing who! If you’re the first to identify your opponent’s mystery person, you win.
“It’s not a board game per say, but we play Guess Who a lot. We team up, since my 3 year old needs a little help, but she’s getting pretty good at it!” ~Jennifer
Sorry
Slide, collide and score to win the Sorry! Game. Kids draw cards to see how far they get to move one of the pawns on the board. If they land on a Slide they can zip to the end and bump their opponents’ pawns – or their own! Jump over pawns and hide in the Safety zone where opponents can’t go. Kids keep on moving and bumping until they get all three of their pawns from Start to Home.
Operation
In the Operation game, you get to be the doctor and make Cavity Sam better or get the buzzer! Cure him of all his wacky ailments like headphone headaches and gamer’s thumb by picking funny ailment pieces out of the game tray with a pair of tweezers. But watch out! If you touch the sides of the openings, you’ll get the buzzer and light up Cavity Sam’s nose! The player who removes the most ailments wins!
Spot It!
Test your observational skills and your reflexes with the award-winning gameplay of Spot It!, a game of lightning-fast choices for two to eight players. With dozens of awards and possible versions married to elegant gameplay, Spot It! has become a global phenomenon. Five distinct mini-games within a set of Spot It! ensure that the game will be different every time you play, and because it’s always your turn, there’s never any downtime.
Aggravation
Take a trip down memory lane with this retro 1989 edition of the fun family-favorite, the Aggravation Game! It’s The classic marble race game where 2 to 6 players compete. Opponents race around the board from base to home, disrupting each other’s marbles in the quest to be first.
Ticket to Ride: First Journey
Players of all ages can now venture across America by train in Alan R. Moon’s ticket to ride: first journey. With a brand new map and simplified rules, first journey is the perfect way to introduce new players to the game of cross-country travel while you claim train route. Just like in ticket to ride, players collect train cards, claim routes, and try to connect cities coast-to-coast. In first journey, though, routes are shorter, train cards are drawn straight from the deck, and the game ends when one player Completes six tickets, claiming the Golden ticket as their prize. Ticket to Ride: First Journey is a wonderful starter game when delving into the Spiel des Jahres board game world.
Munchkin Wonderland
One of the many versions of the Steven Jackson Games Munchkin, this version is simplified so that kids as young as 6 can play! This card game is based on Alice in Wonderland and is full of silly jokes, treasure hunting, monster bashing, and more. The game takes about an hour to play and is great for groups of 2 to 6 players. The game is a lot of fun, and is a great starter game if you are looking to get your kids into the Munchkin universe in the future (I know we are!).
Games for Families With Kids Ages 7+
Battleship
This Battleship board game is the classic game of naval combat that brings together competition, strategy, and excitement! In a head-to-head battle, 2 players search for the enemy’s fleet of ships and destroy them one by one. With convenient portable battle cases and realistic-looking naval crafts, the Battleship game puts players right in the middle of the action. Players command a powerful fleet that includes an aircraft carrier, a destroyer, a submarine, a patrol boat, and a battleship. Each player announces the coordinates of each strike and sees if it hits. Battleship still holds its own in comparison to some of the more modern board games, and is truly a classic.
Blink
Blink is a lightning-fast game where two players race head-to-head to be the first to play all of their cards! Using sharp eyes and fast hands, players quickly try to match the shape, count or color on the cards. For instance, a card with four yellow stars could be played on any card with yellow (color), or on a card with stars (shape), or on a card with four symbols (count). Don’t be fooled by the games’ simplicity—your hand and eye coordination will be put to the test! The first player who can rid themselves of all their cards wins.
Blokus
Stake your claim and protect your territory with the Blokus game! It takes less than a minute to learn, but offers endless strategy and fun challenges for the whole family. Each player gets a set of 21 pieces – in red, blue, green, or yellow – then takes turns placing them on the board. There’s just one rule: each piece you play must touch at least one other piece of the same color, but only at the corners! The goal is to fit the most pieces on the board. The game ends when no more pieces can be placed down, and the player with the lowest number remaining wins!
Labyrinth
Search for treasure deep within the twisting maze! The playing board constantly changes so no two games are ever the same! The cards will determine your quest. Looking for the Dragon? How many routes can you take and also foil your opponents? Try to gain the advantage by inserting the extra tile to move walls and open passages of the labyrinth. Block and advance is the strategy! The first play to reach all of their treasure wins!
“We love labyrinth. Our 5-year-old can play but needs help occasionally. My 10 and 8-year-olds really enjoy trying to beat Mom and Dad.” ~Kristen
Disney Villian Labyrinth
Labyrinth is my family’s absolute favorite board game. This version replaces the original Labyrinth characters and objects with all of your favorite Disney villains. You use the tile pieces to create a random maze on the game board. Each player has a set of cards with characters that they need to collect on their journey through the maze. The maze changes as each player takes their turn, keeping everyone on their toes.
Disney Villains Labyrinth is a 2-4 player game recommended for ages 7-99.
Taco vs. Burrito
TACO vs. BURRITO is a deliciously unpredictable card game where players compete to create the weirdest, wildest meal. Created by Alex Butler, age 7, this game is easy to learn – and not so easy to win. Fun for (and play-tested by) all ages, TACO vs. BURRITO is the ultimate Game Night Food Fight! The game is one of our favorite party games when we have younger family members over.
Sequence Dice
Roll the dice and place a chip on a corresponding number on the game board. Roll a 2 or 12 ….get another turn. Roll a 10…remove an opponent’s chip. Roll an 11…place your chip on any number. Get 5 chips in a row and YOU WIN!
Skip-Bo
Skip-Bo is the ultimate sequencing card game from the makers of UNO! Players use skill and strategy to create stacks of sequentially numbered, ascending cards (2,3,4…) until they have no more left to play. Once everyone is dealt their own personal stockpile of cards, play begins by drawing from a central pile and building up to four “build” piles. The Skip-Bo “wild” cards break up static situations and may be played as any number. Use these cards wisely, for they can really help you beat your opponents! The first player to deplete all of his or her Skip-Bo stockpile cards is the winner!.
UNO
UNO is the classic family card game that’s easy to pick up and impossible to put down! Players take turns matching a card in their hand with the current card shown on top of the deck either by color or number. Special action cards, like Skips, Reverses, Draw Twos, color-changing Wild and Draw Four Wild cards, deliver game-changing moments as they each perform a function to help you defeat your opponents. If you can’t make a match, you must draw from the center pile. And when you’re down to one card, don’t forget to shout “UNO!” The first player to get rid of all the cards in their hand wins.
UNO DOS We at UNO have long believed that two is better than one, and now we’re making it official! If you like UNO, you’ll love UNO DOS! In the beloved card game UNO, you (or your team) are trying to be the first to score 500 points. You score points by being the first to get rid of all the cards in your hand, and action cards let you make things more difficult for your opponents. In this twist on the family favorite game, now when you’re down to two cards, don’t forget to yell “Dos!” See why this color-coded card game has been a hit for so many years.
Best Family Games: Best for Ages 8+
Life
In The Game of Life game players choose a path and move their car tokens around the gameboard from Start to Retirement. Who is headed for wealth and fortune? Pick a path for a life of action, unexpected surprises, and dream vacations, but spend cash wisely because the wealthiest player at the end wins the game.
Rack-O
Rack-o was originally released in 1956, and since then families have enjoyed this Rack’Em & score fun-filled card game. This new addition, featuring fine-quality cards with bold numbers, will delight players young and old. Rack-o is timeless fun. Players randomly slot 10 cards on their rack. The race then begins to draw and discard until one player positions 10 cards in numerical sequence from low to high.
Quixx
This quick-playing dice game will have you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end! Qwixx is simple to play but each decision is crucial – the more numbers you cross off, the more points you score. With no downtime between turns you’ll have a chance to gain from each and every roll. Just one round of this thrilling game and you will be caught up in Qwixx-fever!
SKYJO
The goal is to collect as few points as possible over the course of several turns as after every round every player’s points are counted and added to his score. As soon as a player reaches 100 points or more the player with the fewest points wins. Collecting the fewest points means to look for low or even negative numbers.
Rummikub
With more than 55 million units sold, Rummikub is one of the world’s best-selling and most-played games! It’s really no surprise that Rummikub is so popular – it has all the elements that make a great game: it’s easy to learn and fast moving, it’s different every time it’s played, it combines luck and strategy, and it changes quickly so every player has a chance to win until the very end.
Think Fun Rush Hour
My family went on a lot of road trips when I was a kid, and my brothers and I loved playing this game to keep ourselves entertained. Rush Hour is a logic game that uses cars and trucks on a grid to create a puzzle. Challenge cards are included to show you how to set up the puzzle. The goal of the game is to free the red car from the traffic jam.
Rush Hour is a 1 person game recommended for ages 8+.
Geologic is a one-person world-changing puzzle game. With 60 challenges from beginner to expert, this game is fun for the whole family. The game is recommended for ages 8+ but my 7 year old was able to complete the beginner challenges.
Geologic includes a 30 sided Planet Core and 14 biome tiles. The challenge cards show a picture of how to set up the Planet Core to begin and has a list of which tiles are needed to complete the puzzle. The back of the cards show the answer to the puzzle.
If you’re a fan of logic puzzles, this game is for you!
This game is just for one person and has three levels: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. The player has to arrange towers of holes and slides to get the marble to the target square. It comes with a gray board and three marbles in case you lose some of your marbles. Don’t do that.
So how it works is that you choose what level you want to complete and take a card the game provides. On the front of the card is the gray board and it has the colors and placement of the red target block and one other color block that is used in the puzzle. On the bottom are the colors of the other blocks used in that particular puzzle – the trick is that you need to figure out where to place the other blocks in order that the marble slides to the target, red block successfully. If you Google how to play the game, ThinkFun has a YouTube video that explains it better than I am.
We played this with kids ages 8, 9, and 11 years old and they all loved it. I tried it also as an adult and it’s fantastic because it’s one of those games where you have to focus on the puzzle and nothing else. Gravity Maze is especially great for kids who like to play by themselves, for kids who love problem-solving, and for kids who are probably future engineers.
Do a Puzzle Together! Family Puzzles Kids Love
Puzzles are great for kids, teens, and adults because everyone can work on them together. So, these puzzles are getting their own category.
Ravensburger Star Wars The Madalorian Puzzle
This Ravensburger Mandalorian Star Wars Puzzle is great for any Star Wars fan, even the hard-to-buy for teens. The high-quality pieces fit together easily. The whole family can enjoy putting this one together!
Minecraft Ravensburger Puzzle
The puzzle has 300 XL puzzle pieces and will create a picture of a Minecraft scene. It says that the puzzle is for ages 9+ but younger kids who are good at puzzles will have no problems putting the puzzle together. The puzzle pieces are pretty large and fit together perfectly. They are also smooth and easy to handle – I don’t know why I like this but I do.
If you enjoy both puzzles and Minecraft, you’ll love this one.
Games for Teens: Family Games Teens Will Love
Escape the Room: Murder in the Mafia
If you are feeling bored with some of your usual games, then you should check out an escape room game! ThinkFun’s Escape the Room games are essentially escape rooms in a box. They come cleverly assembled in the box in such a way that you only have to follow a few simple instructions to pop the room up before you’re ready to start looking for clues and playing the game.
Murder in the Mafia is ThinkFun’s newest Escape the Room game, and it’s designed for ages 14 and up, and 1 to 3 players. Solve the office crime scene clues to find the murderer before they find you. This is a cooperative game and there really is no limit on the number of players. But more than 3 people may have some difficulty crowding around the room to find evidence and solve clues. My kids ages 9-14 all participated with my husband and I and we all enjoyed this one.
Throughout the game the story booklet guides you through each chapter as you solve the clues, and see if you can determine who is the murderer. And if you get stuck you can go online for additional clues and assistance.
While other escape room games require you to mark up or cut up game materials, ThinkFun Escape the Room games can be reset to be played again. While you might not want to play it again as you already will know the solution, the game can be passed on for someone else to enjoy.
Additional ThinkFun Escape the Room titles include:
Another fun version of an escape room board game are EXIT games. You can spread these materials out and a larger group can work to solve these games. Clues are on cards, in booklets, and hidden in the strangest places. The card and solution wheel systems help you get hints if you’re stuck and also guide you from clue to clue. These games can only be played once as solving them often requires cutting or marking up game pieces, but they are worth it for a fun afternoon with family and friends.
Download a free app for Echoes: Audio Mystery Game and use it to scan the cards and listen to the audio hints. Put them together in the right sequence to unlock each chapter with additional story clues. Finally, use the clues to put the story into the right order. This one is a great family teamwork game. The sounds are a little creepy, and the clues require listening carefully. But don’t worry if you get lost, the app can give you clues if you’re stuck!
Wingspan
Wingspan is such a fun game to play if you have a nature lover or even just a teenager who loves strategy as they build their flock of birds. We played the original game, which came with North American birds, each with a quick fact on the bottom of the card that had me geeking out a little. If you like the game, you can buy different expansion packs for birds around the world.
The game has you focus on your own flock of birds, so there is less of a direct competition between players, though, of course, you want to earn points and have the most by the end of the game. The ultimate goal of the game is to have the most points, and you can gain those points by laying eggs, drawing new birds, and gathering food. Plus, you get to roll the dice through an awesome cardboard-built birdhouse that is provided.
Munchkin
A classic deck card game in our home that has been played at least 100 times over the years is Munchkin. It’s an awesome game with silly classes, monsters you’re trying to defeat, and a lot of strategy against your opponents. With curses, combats against monsters, and the opportunity to take your opponent down, there is a lot going on as you try to reach your 10 points.
The cards are the absolute best because they are hilarious and weird. With item cards like “Boots of running really fast” and “pointy hat of power”, your kids will love the silliness. There are some pretty great pictures too. Plus, they get to defeat monsters (or be killed by one if they can not defeat it, but that’s where you can come in to help save their character).
The game is recommended for ages 10 and up and can accommodate 3-6 players, with an average playtime of 1.5 hours. Munchkin has tons of additions, expansion packs, and options to make it creative and more fun over time, so you will never get bored!
What’s your family’s favorite board or card game to play together?
Check out these 31+ Educational Gifts so you can put a new skill under the Christmas tree this year!
