Are you looking for hotels in Greenville, SC with indoor pools? Whether you’re visiting Greenville, SC or want to do a staycation, having an indoor pool can be a lifesaver for families because it’s instant entertainment any time of year. We did the legwork and have the list right here for you on where to stay in Greenville with an indoor pool.
As a kid, I always thought there was something magical about an indoor pool and would never want to leave at hotels that had one. It’s a pool, indoors, and warm! As an adult, I can still appreciate a good indoor pool, especially as a parent who sometimes just wants to rest while their kids swim.
In Greenville, there are several hotels with indoor pools where you can live out your childhood dreams and let your kids create new ones. These are fantastic options for families visiting or those who want to do a staycation in the greatest little town in the country. We’re not biased, of course.
Drury Inn and Suites indoor pool | Photo Credit: Drury Inn and Suites
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10 Carolina Point Highway, Greenville 864.288.4401 Bonus: They offer a free hot breakfast and free 5:30pm kickback, which includes hot food and drinks.
670 Verdae Boulevard, Greenville 864.676.9090 Bonus: Free made-to-order breakfast and complimentary evening reception. This location also has an outdoor, seasonal pool.
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If you need date night ideas, Greenville, SC has some of the most fun and romantic options! Whether you’re planning a date night for a special day or just want to go out for an evening away from the kids, Kidding Around can help with some great date ideas & reader recommendations.
Looking for a playground to visit? You may want to check out West Greenville Community Center’s playground in Greenville!
It’s winter and, yes, it can be cold. Really cold. However, we also get the occasional 60 degree day, in January. You know the kind. When you absolutely must spend as much time outside as possible, before it turns cold again. That’s the perfect day for one of the many awesome parks in Greenville!
Recently, I took the kids to a playground at the West Greenville Community Center. In case you haven’t noticed, Greenville’s West End is bursting with new life. The small, quaint streets are lined with art galleries, vintage shops and to-die-for restaurants. Tucked off the main road, away from all the activity, we found Greenville Rec’s newest addition to the community. It’s not very big, but the boys and I were impressed.
A little about West Greenville Community Center’s playground
There’s ample space to throw down your picnic blanket. The next time we go, I plan to park myself under the huge Oak Tree. If the ground doesn’t appeal to you, there are two really nice, new tables and benches. The park has two regular slides, one double slide, several climbing apparatus and monkey bars. In spite of the cold, we had a really nice time.
There’s good news and bad news for parents of younger children. The good news is, there’s mulch. The bad news is, there’s mulch. You’ll want to use the set of eyes in the back of your head for the little ones who put anything and everything in their mouths.
Honestly, there’s only so much a girl can write about a playground. So, here’s a short list of comments thrown at me from the back seat on our way home:
“Do we have to leave?”
“Even though there aren’t any swings, it was still fun.”
“Can we come back tomorrow?”
“I’m glad we didn’t have to drive far.”
“I really want to ride that spin around-thingy again!”
Visit West Greenville Community Center for yourself
Looking for a fun homeschool day event near Greenville, SC to attend this school year? We have a list of local and regional places that offer Homeschool Daysincluding farms, zoos, and amusement parks.
Part of the fun of homeschooling is all the field trips my kids and I take. We try to go out as often as possible to any number of places that give a hands-on, visual, and educational experience and always have a lot of fun.
There are so many fantastic places in our area Upstate SC area that offer Homeschool Days specifically for homeschooling families. I put them together here to help all of us homeschoolers have some options for extending learning beyond the home environment.
If you’re out hiking with kids anywhere in the Upstate, SC – or anywhere actually – we’ve got a list of 10 things you may want to consider carrying with you.
Our area boasts hundreds of miles of trails, from an easy stroll to strenuous trails up mountaintops. Lots of these trails are perfect for kids! I’ve come to enjoy hiking with my family, rarely hitting the same trails twice because there are just so many to choose from.
I’ve been hiking with my youngest from the time she was just three months old and strapped to me in a baby carrier (she’s eight now) and time in nature is something that has become almost a weekly ritual for us. There has been a lot I’ve had to learn, including what to carry with me when we hike.
Nature Equals Adventure
I wasn’t always so interested in hiking with my kids though. Hiking with kids is an adventure in itself. I started hiking just a handful of times a year with my two kids. I then added more and more hikes every year, learning something new every time.
Now it’s an adventure I take with my two kids that we all enjoy and love. Remember to start with easy trails. Be careful not to overestimate your – and your kids’ – abilities and get in a situation that you aren’t prepared for. Older kids can typically handle more challenging hikes, plus they can help carry more items!
But what do you bring with you? That’s what I’m going to cover here. Most seasoned hikers will tell you to bring the “Ten Essentials” – wise advice, whether its a local trail or national park. These essentials vary a bit and I’ll add some to this list but will also incorporate what I’ve learned in my years of hiking experience as well.
If you’re thinking of getting started hiking find more tips for hiking in our Newbie Guide to Hiking, which you may want to take a look at first.
10 Things to Take With You When Hiking with Kids for a Successful Hike
#1 Water
Don’t forget the water, especially in the summer. Getting dehydrated should not be on your to-do list. Make sure all the tops of the water bottles are closed tight and aren’t leaking into your backpack (I’ve learned the hard way on this one). There are also kid-friendly backpack style water bottles like this one. In cases of emergency, I also carry a LifeStraw, a straw with a personal water filter you can use and drink safely from streams or other water sources.
#2 Snacks
Snacks on hikes are vital. They almost made it to the top spot in this list. Kids are whining? Give them a snack. Kids complaining they are tired? Give them a snack. You want your kids to make it to the waterfall? Bribe them with a snack. Kids love a good snack after a long hike!
#3 First Aid Kit
I always have carried band-aids with me but have since added more to my little portable First Aid Kit – namely antibacterial wipes, hand sanitizer, Neosporin, and After Bite to deal with stings (this is the product I’ve used the most).
#4 Sunscreen
We do a lot of hiking and swimming in the summer and carrying extra sunscreen is important.
#5 Map
I always screenshot a map of the trail I’m planning to hike on my phone and then take a photo of the map, if available, at the trailhead, if I don’t have a hard copy. This is especially key in more remote places that are less traveled. I used the AllTrails app but love Gaia as it’s usually more accurate. Maybe even plan out a scavenger hunt along the trail for fun!
#6 Trash bag
I always carry a plastic grocery bag we use for trash, both ours and the trash we find on the trail. Pack out what you pack in – a big part of the Leave No Trace principles. If you have a kid in diapers, take those diapers out of the forest with you and dispose in a trash can. Same with dog waste – it’s not ok to leave waste on trails or in trash bags on trails.
#7 Flashlight or headlamp
I’ve never had to use this on a hike but always carry it just in case. In our area, it’s not uncommon to read local news stories about people getting lost in the woods, especially over the summer since more people are out on the trails then.
#8 Pepper spray or some kind of protection
I’ve never had to use this but after an alarming number of loose dog encounters, I now carry both pepper spray and a small, handheld zapper. A lot of people like to carry bear spray in the off chance of an encounter with aggressive wildlife.
#9 Rain poncho
Getting caught in the rain, especially if it’s cold or when a chance storm hits, isn’t fun. Keeping kids protected with lightweight rain gear is a good idea.
#10 Firestarter
Bring matches and something to use for tinder (dryer lint works great) in case you need it.
Some other suggestions that may be helpful are a knife, a plastic tarp you could use as a makeshift shelter, and extra socks. If you’ve got a baby with you, be sure to bring extra diapers and wipes.
Hamilton & Co. (partner) are experts on real estate in the Upstate. With over 900 5-star reviews on Google and nearly 1000 families served in the last five years, Dan Hamilton and his team are the top-ranked real estate team in Greenville. They work with clients to find the right home to buy or the right strategy for selling a home.
Real Estate Tips from Dan Hamilton
Dan’s Favorite Fall Activities for Greenville Newcomers: There’s plenty of family-friendly fun and adventure to be had during the Fall in Greenville and the Upstate. See Dan’s list of activities that will remind you of why Greenville is the place to be!
Dan Hamilton’s Guide to Spring Home Maintenance: For those ready to tackle spring cleaning on a whole new level, Dan Hamilton breaks down some of his team’s favorite home maintenance tasks. Whether you’re prepping for a move or just happy to crack open some windows, you’ll improve your home by taking a few steps needed to keep things in tip-top shape.
Dan Hamilton’s Guide to Home Renovations: You can improve the resale value of your home with four of the best and most affordable renovations that will help increase your buyer appeal.
Dan’s Guide to Upstate Neighborhoods: In this guest article, Dan offers an overview of some of Greenville’s gems–its quaint communities and neighborhoods. Whether you’re already settled into a community you love or you’re looking for a new one, learn a little more about the neighborhoods that make Greenville special!
Dan Hamilton’s Guide to Walkable Communities: Interested in a home within walking distance of activities, shopping, or dining? This guide is for you! In this article, Dan highlights some Upstate neighborhoods with amazing amenities like pools, walking trails, and sports facilities, along with others that are right next to some unique shopping and retail locations.
10 Amazing Activities from Dan Hamilton that You Need to Do This Fall: For those looking for a fun activity or two to help ease your family back into the school year, enjoy this list of some of Dan’s family’s favorites. This list includes the very newest and most popular Greenville attractions right along with some old classics.
Frequently Asked Questions Facebook Live: During a Facebook Live discussion with Kidding Around’s Bethany, Dan tackles some of the most frequently asked questions he and his team hear when helping families find the right home in the Greenville area.
Dan Hamilton is a founder and Team Leader of Hamilton & Co. of Keller Williams Realty, which consistently ranks as one of the top-producing real estate teams in South Carolina. Passionate about Greenville and the Upstate, Dan is also a former member of the SC House of Representatives and has also served as a Director for the Greater Greenville Association of REALTORS and the South Carolina Association of REALTORS. Dan and his wife Kelly are also parents to four children. On most weekends, Dan can be found on the sidelines of the soccer field either coaching or cheering on one of his kids.
Would you like your information to be included on Kidding Around’s Guides? We have guides for all the things families are searching for from summer camps to indoor places to play, classes, schools, and lots more.
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The incredible St. Augustine Pirate Museum has lots of amazing hands-on entertainment and treasures in St. Augustine, Florida.
Making a trip down the East Coast from the Upstate, SC? The St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum is the real deal and has such cool exhibits and treasures! We checked it out and have all the details.
Everyone has fun at the St Augustine Pirate and Treasure Museum
About the St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum
The museum is a brainchild of Pat Croce, a best-selling author, entrepreneur, and pirate scholar. Some of the artifacts in the museum were obtained from dives he did to sunken ships. So cool.
The museum initially opened in Key West in 2005 but was moved to St. Augustine in 2010, where it has resided ever since. St. Augustine, the nation’s oldest city, is no stranger to piracy after all. Famous pirates such as Robert Searles and Sir Frances Drake even visited St. Augustine. Castillo de San Marcos, the Spanish fort which I had visited on a previous trip (highly recommend, super neat), saw its fair share of pirates. It is right across the street from the pirate museum.
St Augustine Pirate and Treasure Museum
Today, the museum spans about 5,000 square feet and holds more than 800 authentic pirate artifacts ranging from the 1600s to the present day. The entire museum is arranged so that you feel like you’re actually on a pirate ship.
Exploring the Museum
Honestly, I thought the museum would be a little cheesy and touristy but I had seen good reviews and wanted to give it a shot. Also, one of my daughters had recently done a presentation on female pirates for school so we were already into the history of pirates and I thought this would make a fantastic addition to her knowledge of pirates.
I am happy to say I was blown away by this museum. It is not even close to being cheesy. I have always been fascinated by pirates and the museum just brings the history of piracy and the more famous pirates to life right in front of you.
There’s a scavenger hunt you can do during your time there where you look for drawers with the Jolly Roger sign (skull and crossbones) and write down what’s inside them on your treasure map. That was easy and fun for all of us and certainly interactive.
Captain Kidd’s Chest at the St Augustine Pirate and Treasure Museum
We found all kinds of incredible artifacts from sunken ships off the coasts of North Carolina and Florida that had been recovered even up to 2011. There were remnants of barrels, guns, pottery, glasses, and even books and Bibles.
Exhibits featured screens with drawings of famous pirates and their stories. We even found stories about Mary Read and Anne Bonny, two of the pirates my daughter had researched. We learned about knot tying, why certain sails were raised at certain times, how pirates were tortured, and even how the famous pirate, Blackbeard, met his end.
There is a really interesting room that holds the only known pirate treasure chest in the world from several hundred years ago plus gold and silver coins and other pirate treasure that has been recovered from shipwrecks.
My kids are 9 and 12 and they really enjoyed it. Even as an adult, I absolutely loved it. I wish I could have stayed longer and read through more of the exhibits but the kids wanted to see different parts of the museum so we kept on going on our pirate adventure.
Visiting the St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum
The pirate museum is open daily 10 am – 7 pm except for Christmas Day. We spent a little over an hour there and bought our tickets online. We went during Christmas Break so I just wanted to be sure that we could get in. I don’t think we would have had any problems buying tickets at the museum though. It wasn’t terribly crowded.
Treasure chest at the St Augustine Pirate and Treasure Museum
Tickets to the museum are $17.99/ages 13-59 and $9.99/ages 5-12. Military and ages 60+ tickets are $15.99. You can buy them at the museum or online.
If you’re visiting the nation’s oldest city, I definitely recommend checking out the St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum.
You can park across the street at Castillo de San Marcos where it is metered parking or in a nearby parking garage.
Looking for the best Upstate, SC neighborhoods? Greenville, South Carolina has a lot going for it: Great local and state parks, a budding food scene, lively arts and entertainment, plenty of family friendly fun, quality schools, a cost of living below the national average… the list goes on. In this guest article by partner realtor Dan Hamilton, he offers an overview of some of Greenville’s gems–its quaint communities and neighborhoods. Whether you’re already settled into a community you love or you’re looking for a new one, learn a little more about the neighborhoods that make Greenville special!
