With more than four million lights, the Speedway Christmas display in Concord, NC, under two hours from Greenville, SC, is one of the biggest in the country and we’re here for it! Thanks to Explore Cabarrus for media tickets and an overnight at the Embassy Suites in Concord so we could review the experience for our readers. All opinions are our own.
Does a FREE indoor farm maze and play space sound like fun for the kids? Bring the little ones to Linda’s Plants & Shrubs in Hendersonville for some totally FREE fun in their super cool hay bale, indoor, Christmas maze. They also have free hot chocolate and coffee. And, while you’re there you can pick up some super gorgeous holiday plants and a Christmas Tree!
Greenhouses are not just for growing plants. Linda’s Plants and Shrubs has converted one of its large greenhouse spaces into a Christmas maze and play area for kids. No matter the weather, it’s dry and toasty at this maze made of haybales and decorated with tons of holiday decorations and inflatables. Kids must wind through the maze and crawl through a tunnel and a tire on their way to a climber and slide that goes right into a pit of dried corn.
For the construction-minded and truck-loving kiddos, there is also a place to play in the corn with large provided dump trucks. Parents can play along in the maze or relax on the benches while the kids play.
The maze and play area are totally free to visit. Younger kids, toddlers, preschoolers, and younger elementary will especially enjoy this area.
Santa will be visiting Linda’s on December 4th, 2022 from 12 pm to 3 pm. Don’t forget your free hot chocolate at the checkout area near the maze.
When you walk into Linda’s the first thing you’ll experience is the fresh, piney smell of Christmas trees and wreaths. Smells are free, too, and totally worth a pause even if you don’t need a tree. But if you do, these trees were beautiful!
Next on the list, Christmas cacti. Linda’s has so many blooming Christmas cacti and other holiday plants, like Poinsettias. I love Christmas cacti and I have five or six in my house. I’m lucky to get even one to bloom. So, today I added another, a big beautiful, already fully in bloom Christmas cactus to enjoy right now. Yay!
The poinsettia table screamed Christmas in the best possible way, and my husband picked out some other blooming holiday plant that I have absolutely no idea what it is or what to do with it. But, you know, it’s pretty. And, you can never have enough pretty plants, really. Then, my kids found a few succulents to add to their collections, of course.
Linda’s also has some adorable little pots for your new plants, and also some farm goodies like jams and honey.
308 Stepp Acres Lane
Hendersonville, NC 28792
Phone: 828.685.0738
Linda’s Plants & Shrubs
Linda’s on Facebook
Hours: Monday through Saturday 9 am to 5 pm, Sunday 11 am to 4 pm
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 article includes:
What to Buy for a Teenager
Gifts Teens Want in 2022
This piece contains Amazon Affiliate links.
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.
What gifts do teens want in 2022?
Experience-gifts
Music streaming subscriptions and equipment
Gift cards
Gaming systems
Subscription Boxes
Water bottles
Decal stickers
Sports and teams items
Room decor
Board Games for Teens
More gift ideas
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.
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.
A selfie museum, like The Pixel Experience in Greenville, is a unique spot to take selfie photos in a variety of themed rooms and walls. It will have your resident TikTok’r thinking you’re the best gift-giver ever! With 20+ backgrounds to take advantage of, the aspiring Instagram influencer in your family will have months of content to post!
We know what you are thinking. Handing an angst-ridden teen a hatchet or an ax and asking them to throw it at something 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!
Try Blue Ox Hatchet House in Greenville, SC.
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.
Try The Gorge Zipline. If you feel even more adventurous, you can hop over to their sister site for some water-related adventures. Green River Adventures offers white water rafting, kayak, SUP, waterfall hikes, and rappelling.
This section includes affiliate links.
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!
Some of the more popular gift cards mentioned were for the following :
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Let teens make their own bubble tea right at home!
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?
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..
ThinkFun Escape the Room titles include:
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.
EXIT Games: The Abandoned Cabin
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.
Needs 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!
Wondering what there is to do around downtown Spartanburg at Christmas time? Spartanburg mom Jennifer has a family-friendly Christmas itinerary for Downtown Spartanburg. Read on to discover places to shop, eat, and play in Downtown Spartanburg this holiday season.
The small-town charm of Spartanburg is best felt at Christmas. Downtown Spartanburg comes to life with twinkling lights and festive Christmas décor. If you are looking for ways to spend your time when the kids are out of school or to entertain out-of-town guests, look no further than a trip downtown.
(more…)Southernside Brewing Co. in Greenville, SC has completely changed their brewery this Christmas season into a winter wonderland and is inviting the public to enjoy special events all season.
From November 21 – December 31, 2022, Southernside Brewing Co. in Greenville has completely revamped the inside of the brewery to resemble a winter wonderland and Christmas-themed pop-up bar for their Miracle event all throughout the Christmas season.
There are moving reindeer, snow-covered trees, lollipops, Mr. & Mrs. Clause people, lights strung throughout the entire place, and huge ornaments in the floor-to-ceiling display. Really, you must see this to believe it.
Southernside Brewing Co. says in a press release about the event that “Miracle is sure to get even the grouchiest grinch in the holiday spirit!”
Miracle kicks off at Southernside Brewing Co. on Monday, November 21, 2022 at 11 am with exclusive holiday cocktails and specialty beers like the Christmas Spiced Imperial Stout and Pumpkin Cheesecake Porter. They also have amazing and delectable hot chocolate.
Defenders for Children Miracle Bash
Thursday, December 1, 2022 5:30-9 pm
This is a free charity event, although you can purchase a Santa VIP Pass with lots of perks, to benefit Defenders for Children.
Miracle at Southernside Holiday Family Fest
Saturday, December 3, 2022 from 11 am – 8 pm
This is a huge, free, family-friendly festival with face painting, elves, magic shows, balloon twisters, elves, and a visit from Santa. The event is free but reservations are recommended.
Santa’s Little Christmas Rave
Saturday, December 3, 2022 from 9 pm – 1 am
This is for all you adults (ages 21+) who want to enjoy a Christmas party without the kids. Lots of drink specials plus a Christmas Sweater Contest and a Best Dressed Santa Contest.
GVLtoday got the scoop on just how many lights and other cool things that are a part of Miracle Pop-Up:
Miracle at Southernside Brewing Co. is also doing daily specials if you can’t make it to one of the bigger events!
Movie Mondays: Pitcher + popcorn for $20. Settle in and enjoy your favorite holiday movies
Two-for-Tuesdays: Choose any app + handheld combo for $17
Wing Wednesdays: $1 wings
Thursday: $10 burger + pint night and holiday-themed trivia
Christmas Sweater Sundays: Wear your best/ugliest/tackiest/funniest Christmas sweater, take a selfie, and share it on Instagram.
Southernside Brewing Co.
25 Delano Drive Unit D, Greenville
Website
Planning a festive day trip that’s close to home? Asheville, North Carolina offers a variety of things to do for the holidays. From Asheville’s Christmas lights to gingerbread houses, parades, and more!
We’ve got a list of kid-friendly holiday events to do in Asheville, NC, and all the details you’ll need to plan your visit.
Make the most of your trip, with the Kidding Around Ultimate Guide to Things to Do in Asheville, NC
I never need much of a reason to visit Asheville. I love the view of the mountains in the background while walking around downtown. There are always musicians busking outside and all the shops welcome you with a smile. There are a variety of different restaurants and historical landmarks to visit within walking distance or just a small drive away.
Get in the holiday spirit by watching a Holiday Parade. Everyone gathers together to welcome the beginning of the Christmas season.
The Asheville Holiday Parade
November 19th, 2022 | 11 AM to 12:30 PM, with streets closing and traffic beginning around 7 AM
Downtown will have a variety of streets closed for this event, but come early and you can snag a spot along the one-mile route. There will be over 100 entries to enjoy as they travel down the main part of town. The parade starts at Biltmore Avenue and travels up, ending at South French Broad Avenue. There will be photos with Santa at the Grove Arcade from 2 pm to 4 pm following the parade.
Enjoy the annual tree lighting ceremony at Grove Arcade, kicking off the start of Winter Wonderland.
(more…)Are you looking for a festive way to spend some time in Downtown Greenville, SC? Now that the holiday season has arrived, local mom Andrea has designed a holiday itinerary for downtown Greenville packed with holiday things to do. Here you will find suggestions for places to go in downtown Greenville using the free trolley, information on Greenville’s Holiday Happenings events, and lots more.
This article includes:
Plan Your Holiday Trip Downtown
Downtown Holiday Events and Happenings
Spanish Translation of Article
Love watching holiday classic movies on the big screen? Good news! You can watch classic holiday movies at Regal Cinemas this year for just $5. It’s all happening weekend starting November 27th, 2022 through Christmas Eve! Bring the family for a budget-friendly day out with some of your favorite Christmas movies. We have the schedule and all the details!
What Christmas movies will be playing in 2022 at Regal Cinemas?
Here’s the Regal Holiday Classics schedule:
November 27th, 2022: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
December 3rd and 4th, 2022: The Grinch
December 10th and 11th, 2022: Elf
December 17th and 18th, 2022: The Polar Express
December 24th, 2022: How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Tickets to holiday moves at Regal Cinemas are only $5.
What’s a trip to the movies without popcorn and other treats? Good news, you can get a free $10 gift card for concessions when you purchase a $50 Regal gift card. While you can’t use the concession gift card right away, because it’s only valid from January 1st through February 28th, 2023, you can buy your $50 gift card and use it for a gift or even your tickets and snacks now. Then come January you can grab tickets to a new release and enjoy your free popcorn.
Note that gift cards must be purchased in store for the promotion.
Is there a Regal Cinemas with $5 holiday movies near me? Here are all the Regal Cinemas locations.
Free holiday movies? Yep, you heard that right. NCG Cinemas has brought back their FREE Holiday Family Film Fest. Your family can load up on holiday cheer for free with three different holiday family movies throughout December 2022, and it won’t cost you a dime! We love free family fun and we know our readers do, too! Happy, happy (free) Christmas family fun!
15 December days with free Christmas movies at NCG movie theater? If that doesn’t put a little jingle in your step this season, we’re not sure what will. See the following movies free at NCG Cinemas in December 2022!
Is there an NCG Cinemas with free Christmas movies near me?
In the Upstate, we are lucky to have NCG Cinemas right in Spartanburg, SC. You’ll be able to see NCG’s free Christmas movies at the Spartanburg location on the designated days.
NCG Cinemas Spartanburg
1985 E Main Street, Spartanburg
Not in the South Carolina Upstate? To see if there is an NCG Cinemas near you, head to the NCG Cinemas locations website.
More details about the 2022 Holiday Family Film Fest will be coming soon. When NCG releases all the details we’ll be sure to update right here! For now, mark your calendars and plan to attend a free movie or two!
Have you visited Winter Lights at the NC Arboretum in Asheville, NC? While the Greenville area has its good share of fantastic Christmas light displays, a completely over-the-top experience at the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville for their Winter Lights exhibit is worth the drive.
If you visited during the height of the pandemic, you experience the drive-thru version of Winter Lights. In 2022, Winter Lights has returned to walk-through light displays, exhibits, treats, smores, activities, and more!
The Arboretum, which is adjacent to the Blue Ridge Parkway and part of the Pisgah National Forest, is set on over 434 acres of gorgeous gardens, biking trails, and streams, meticulously planned out and designed to deliver a top-notch experience for guests.
Make a day of the visit to North Carolina with The Kidding Around List of Ways To Celebrate Christmas In Asheville!
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