Archive for the ‘Things to Do Outside’ Category

Eden Farms Offers Amazing Trail Rides Overlooking the Mountains near Greenville, SC

Posted on by Kristina Hernandez |

Interested in SC trail rides? Eden Farms in SC is a sprawling 160-acre farm overlooking the mountains. Kristina took her kids and has all the details.

Thanks to Eden Farms for letting us do a trail ride so we could write the review!

I’ll take any chance to get close to the beautiful mountains surrounding Greenville and if it involves horseback riding, even better. This is exactly what Eden Farms in Marietta, SC offers to anyone who wants to enjoy their gentle horses, the sprawling farm, and the shaded trails.

Eden Farms SC

About Eden Farms: SC Equestrian Center

Eden Farms, founded in 2001, is family-owned and operated. They have several pastures, three arenas (one of them is covered), and 160 acres of land with views of Table Rock, Caesars Head, and Paris Mountain. You can even catch a view of downtown Greenville on one of the trails. 

They are perhaps most well-known for their horse therapy program, Happy Hooves, a nonprofit Therapeutic Equestrian Center that serves people with special needs of all ages and abilities. Since the nonprofit began in 2003, Eden Farms has served thousands of individuals. Happy Hooves Therapeutic Equestrian Center is the only one of its kind in the Upstate and one of five in the state that is a PATH International (formerly NARHA) Premier Accredited Centers. This basically means they have high standards of training and safety. 

Eden Farms also offers birthday parties, camps, trail rides, riding lessons, horse boarding, and field trips. Our editor, Bethany, checked out one of their homeschool days in this great video, which includes a tour of the farm, horses, barn, and awesome playground.

Explore on Horseback in Upstate, SC: Trail Rides

I’ve ridden horses before but all in all, I’m still pretty clueless about horses. My kids have only ridden them at events around in a circle. We are all beginners to say the least, which didn’t matter at all when it came time for our trail ride at Eden Farms. 

As soon as we got there, Becky, the owner, and her team made us all feel welcome and encouraged. Once I signed all the release forms (which you can do online beforehand to save time), we were off to meet our horses in the spacious barn. By the way, the barn is gorgeous. It is just so pretty and clean! And all the horses we met were very calm and gentle. You could tell they were happy.

Petting a horse at Eden Farms

When we booked the trail ride, Becky asked our weight and height so she could prepare the correct horses for us. My seven-year-old had a beautiful small horse named Twiggy. My daughter fit on her perfectly. And my oldest daughter at 11-years-old rode Hannah Eve, a gorgeous quarter horse. My horse, Rebekah, was a Belgian. She was huge but very gentle. I immediately could relate to this horse as she loved to eat while we were riding. 

Once we got our helmets on and were introduced to our horses, we were taken out to one of the arenas to mount our horses from a wooden stand, which made it really easy. And then we rode around the arena for a few minutes while Becky and our guide instructed us on how to turn, stop, and go on our horses. It was really easy. And then we were off to the trail. 

Meandering Through the Forest

My two kids each had their own guide walking alongside them as is the standard at Eden Farms. Kids ages 7-12 can ride but do have a guide with them for safety. I had never seen this before on previous trail rides when I was much younger but it made me feel very safe and secure to have them with my kids even though they were right in front of me. I was pulling up the rear with Rebekah and got to see the joy my kids felt while riding the horses. It was awesome. 

The trail we were on was about a mile long and runs through the back of the farm on a dirt path and then up into the nicely shaded woods. But on our way up there, we were treated to beautiful views of Table Rock, Caesars Head, and Paris Mountain. It was just so peaceful. Like I mentioned in the beginning, mountains make me so happy. Seeing them is very calming for me and being able to ride such a sweet and gentle horse while watching my kids enjoy something so thoroughly was very special. 

Trail Ride at Eden Farms

To give the best experience to their guests, Eden Farms only takes out four people at a time on trail rides. Based on my previous trail riding experiences, I had expectations of what it would be like at Eden Farms but it was so much better than what I had imagined. Becky and her team were so attentive and patient and answered all our questions while encouraging us in our handling of the horses. The horses were so well-behaved and gentle. I never felt unsafe or unsteady and really loved the experience. My youngest wanted to know how to trot by the time we were done and now she’s begging me to send her to summer camp there while my other daughter is already planning her birthday party at Eden Farms. It’s definitely a fun and welcoming place. 

Booking Your Own Trail Ride 

Eden Farms runs trail rides Monday – Saturday by appointment. Over the summer, trail rides go out at 8 am because of the heat. Make it a day trip and head to Table Rock State Park to jump in some waterfalls or hit up a nearby sandy mountain beach. During other seasons, rides are in the morning and early afternoon.

Give Eden Farms a call to schedule a trail ride at 864.898.0043. Kids are welcome and those ages 7-12 will have a guide walking with them on the trail but they will be the ones to control the reins. Kids need to be at least seven years old and riders must be under 225 pounds. 

Eden Farms trail ride

This would make an awesome date activity with your significant other or your kid(s). It’s a fun special occasion activity or just something enjoyable to do with your friends or family visiting as well. 

Trail rides are about an hour long and include a safety lesson and helmet. They are $80/person. 

Eden Farms
4700 Dacusville Highway, Marietta
864.898.0043

Brushing a horse at Eden Farms

Learn More About
Eden Farms & Happy Hooves!

Things to Do Outdoors Near Greenville, SC

biking outdoors guide

Textile Mills in South Carolina: Upstate Historical Mills That You Can Visit

Posted on by Maria Bassett |

Looking for a unique history lesson at textile mills in South Carolina? The Upstate of South Carolina has a rich history of textile production. Many cities and towns were heavily influenced by the presence of textile mills and the eventual closure of those mills. When the mills were at their prime, Mill Villages boasted homes, schools, baseball teams, and even vacation destinations. You can see evidence of this mill history and mill village life all around the Upstate if you know where to look.

Textile Mills in South Carolina: Upstate

Many previous textile mills in South Carolina are now home to parks where you can explore their history, as well as enjoy some time outdoors. Load up the kids and check out these historic textile mill sites for today’s history lesson and get some sun while you’re at it! It’s so much more fun than learning history in a textbook, right?

Here’s a map of where they are located:

(more…)

Mom Review: Lincoln Park in Taylors, SC

Posted on by Andrea Beam | 2 Comments

Are you looking for a park in Taylors, SC and thinking about visiting Lincoln Park? With spring weather here (finally) and summer on the horizon, it’s time to start planning activities to occupy little minds and bodies. And it doesn’t hurt for mom’s mind to be occupied too! Lincoln Park in Taylors offers a fun playground, paved path, basketbll courts, and more.

(more…)

18 Things to Know About Topgolf Greenville Before Your Fun Family Outing

Posted on by Kristina Hernandez |

Have you practiced your putt and drive at Topgolf? Greenville golfers love Topgolf for the combination of entertainment venue, sports bar, and practice area. Though we aren’t golfers by any stretch of the imagination, we had a blast and we know you will too! The facility is incredible and we learned a ton of cool stuff about it, which we are sharing here because seriously, we can’t keep all this to ourselves. Perfect for a date night, or a family outing, Topgolf Greenville is the place to go if you are a golf lover!

Topgolf Greenville

1- Topgolf is for the entire family

You can bring your whole family for a fun time at Topgolf to hit balls around, eat, and enjoy the facility. They even have clubs for kids and toddlers, which are as adorable as you are imagining. Parents are encouraged to hang out on the lower level when they bring their kids.

2- Line Dancing was part of the interview process

This made us wish we had interviewed just to have fun and line dance. We heard it was a three-hour interview process and prospective employees had to line dance.

3- There are five huge TV screens at the bar/restaurant

The screens actually span from floor to ceiling in a two-story bar and restaurant. That’s 28 feet of video wall along with over 200 HDTVs throughout the facility. It’s amazing and perfect for anyone who loves watching their favorite team. Probably better than seats right on the field.

4- The golf balls all have microchips

Topgolf spared no expense to make sure their guests have a cool experience and microchipped all the golf balls so you can see on a screen how far you hit the balls and other stats.

5- The employees are ridiculously happy

They all seemed genuinely happy to be working at Topgolf and the smiles they all sported were contagious. We left happier than when we came. The Topgolf Greenville location is regularly hiring. Learn more about their careers at their site.

6- You don’t have to know how to play golf to enjoy Topgolf

They have instructors on-site if you want to learn how to play but the staff there can also give you a couple of pointers before you start whacking the balls. In fact, 51% of Topgolf guests aren’t golfers at all. Our editor, Bethany, can attest to this as her golf game is pretty terrible but she had fun!

7- Topgolf has other games you can play

They have an outside turf area where corn hole can be set up and they also have indoor foosball on every level of their bar/restaurant space.

8- Topgolf is an all-weather facility

It doesn’t matter if it’s sunny, raining, or snowing because you are sheltered when you play and they have heaters and fans to keep you comfortable.

9- There are 72 bays so a lot of people can play/eat

A bay is basically a separate place where up to eight people can hang out at a table and six people can golf. There is a turf launching pad and golf clubs at each bay and a hostess takes care of each bay so you can order drinks and food while playing.

10- The driving range is 215 yards long

Don’t worry, you’re not going to be hitting cars along I-85 with the huge driving range and enormous nets. And your car in the parking lot will be safe too.

11- There are more than 9 games at each bay

Scores are tallied through a touch screen at each bay and kept track of through membership cards (a one-time $5 cost for each golfer). Games can be played by anyone, novice to expert, and include 20 balls each.

12- You pay per hour for each bay, not per person

Pricing for Topgolf is done by the hour per bay, not per game or per person, and depends on the time of day. Before Noon daily, the cost is $30- $35/bay per hour, from Noon – 5 pm, it’s $40-$45/bay per hour, and after 5 pm, it is $50-$55/bay per hour. Friday – Sunday is always the higher of the price range, and Tuesdays offer half-price bay/hr deals all day!

13- Topgolf has summer camps for kids

Send your kid, ages 6-12, to summer camp at Topgolf for a week where they can learn how to play, or at least learn a respectable swing. It’s Monday-Friday from 9 am – Noon and costs $225/child.

14- Birthday parties are all the rage at Topgolf

You’ll probably be Parent of the Year if you have your kid’s birthday party at Top Golf. Birthday party packages come with a lot of perks and include 2 hours of playtime.

15- Topgolf is three stories so you can see for miles when you’re golfing

Being up on the third level is pretty cool. You can see for miles on a clear day and it’s just a fun experience.

16- It costs nothing to rent golf clubs

Most of us non-golfers don’t have a full set of clubs in our garage. Thankfully all Topgolf bays have clubs you can use for free. You can bring your own though if you have them!

17- You don’t need to dress like a golfer to come to Topgolf

As long as you’re not dressed like you’re going to the beach, you’ll be fine. Bethany and I were both wearing cute dresses and we did just fine.

18- There’s an app for that

Topgolf has its own app, where you can track your score, reserve a bay, and even control what you watch in your bay (each one has its own TV).

About Topgolf Greenville

Topgolf Greenville
201 Clifton Court, Greenville
864.315.3351


Looking for more golfing adventures with your family? 3’s Greenville offers a 12-hole golf course, perfect for younger kids to dip their toes into golfing! Thinking mini golf may be a better route? Check out Takeoff Mini Golf, located right beside the Greenville Downtown Airport!

3's golf
3’s Greenville
Takeoff Mini-golf
Takeoff Mini Golf

Things to Do in Greenville, SC

The Ultimate Guide to
Things to Do in Greenville, SC

The Park at Flat Rock: Amazing Obstacle Course Playground in Flat Rock, NC

Posted on by Kristina Hernandez |

Have you visited the Park at Flat Rock in Flat Rock, NC? We are always looking for fun and entertaining playgrounds for our kids and we hit the jackpot with The Park at Flat Rock.

The Park at Flat Rock is just an hour from Greenville, SC, and in our experience, it’s totally a worthy day trip spot near Hendersonville, NC.

I visit Flat Rock, NC often because my family loves to go to the Carl Sandburg Home for hiking and the opportunity to play with goats. It was on one of these adventures that we came across probably one of the coolest playgrounds I had been to with my kids at The Park at Flat Rock. 

This article includes:
About the Park at Flat Rock
What is that super cool playground in Flat Rock, NC?
Things to near The Park at Flat Rock
Quick Review

Playground equipment at the Park at Flat Rock
(more…)

This Local Trail Has Beaver Dams, Water Bird Observation Areas, and More!

Posted on by Juliet Wright |

The Cottonwood Trail is the perfect space for your children to experience the seasons in the Upstate.  In the summer, lush and green in the summer, crackling with autumnal colors in the fall, sparse and atmospheric in the winter, and brimming with new life in the spring, your children can observe the seasonal changes while exploring the great outdoors.

Quick Summary: Cottonwood Trail

📍Located on Spartanburg’s Eastside, this 3.6-mile unpaved trail is great for walking, jogging, biking—and yes, all-terrain strollers and wagons can handle it!

🐶 Pet-friendly (just keep pups leashed!)
👀 Don’t miss the Wetlands Trail with its boardwalk, beaver dams, reptiles, and birds!

📍Trail access at Sydnor Road (across from Spartan High tennis courts) and Beechwood Drive. Open daily, dawn to dusk.

Pack a picnic and make a day of it!

The Cottonwood Trail in Spartanburg, SC

Cottonwood Trail fun

Named after the majestic Cottonwood trees dot the landscape, The Cottonwood Trail Preserve is maintained by the Spartanburg Area Conservancy. 

Located on the Eastside of Spartanburg, the 3.6-mile trail is perfect for walking, jogging, or biking with the family. The trails are unpaved, but all-terrain strollers and bikes, and even wagons can easily navigate most of the paths.

The Cottonwood Trail is the longest in the preserve and follows along Lawson’s Ford Creek, providing a scenic water view that is still a safe distance from the walking trail.

The trail is pet-friendly so that the family dog can get in his steps for the day, too!  (Dogs are expected to remain on a leash and under the control of their owners at all times.)

Cottonwood Trail Access

Parking and entrances to the trail are found off Sydnor Road (across from the Spartan High tennis courts) and Beechwood Drive (off of Fernwood Drive).  The trail is open every day from dawn to dusk.

hiking the Cottonwood Trail

Find Beaver Dams & See Reptiles & Water Birds on the Boardwalk and Wetlands Trail

An offshoot of the Cottonwood Trail, the Boardwalk, and Wetlands Trails offer a first-hand experience of South Carolina’s famed wetlands.  The Boardwalk Trail is marked by a sign pointing to the beaver dams and quickly turns from a dirt trail into a boardwalk.  Take a break on the benches and observation deck to check out the reptiles and water birds.  If you’re lucky, you might spot the heron that calls this particular wetland his home.

Don’t Forget Your Picnic

A picnic area lies across the main bridge, crossing Lawson’s Fork Creek, so pack a snack and pause to play in the woods!

You can access a map of the Cottonwood Trail online.

Things to Do Outside Near Greenville, SC

Looking for more outdoor fun? We’ve got you covered with our guide to things to do outside in the Upstate.

Or if you’re looking to explore Spartanburg a bit more, here’s your full guide of things to do in Hub City.

TCMU Spartanburg

This Park in Northern Taylors is Worth the Drive

Posted on by Maria Bassett |

Spending some time in northern Taylors and looking for a place to play? David Jackson Park just might fit the bill. This large park features a great playground, plus several baseball fields, a paved walking path, and a nice mountain view. It’s a playground I often take my children to this park when we are in the area with time to spare and it’s one they often request.

Quick Summary: David Jackson Park

Looking for a great park in northern Taylors? 🌳
David Jackson Park is a hidden gem you might easily miss—but you won’t want to!

Here’s why families love it:
• Two playgrounds—one for littles and one for big kids
• Rope bridges, monkey bars & swings
• Shaded picnic shelter + restrooms
• Flat, paved walking path (.65 miles!)
• Beautiful mountain views

📍25 Fowler Road, Taylors
Turn off Highway 101 onto Fowler Road, then look for the entrance on the left—you won’t see the park from the road!

Where is David Jackson Park?

The park is located off of Fowler Road in northern Taylors. If you are heading north along Highway 101, you’ll find Fowler Road on your left, and shortly thereafter you’ll turn into the park entrance, also on the left. You cannot see the park from the road, only the entrance.

It is, in my opinion, quite easy to drive past the entrance. So, make sure you are looking for a double drive and park sign on the left. Once you turn into the driveway, the tree open into a large greenspace that you can’t see from the road.

The Playground

There are two playgrounds at this park. They are in the same mulched area with a swing set containing both regular wings and baby swings between them. According to my children the rope and bouncy bridges on the big kid playground are superior to other locations in Greenville, as are the circular monkey bars. The playground for younger kids is significantly smaller but still has some interesting features. These playgrounds are not in any kind of fence.

There is a shaded shelter right beside the playground, and benches in the sun for mom and dad to watch. The restrooms are at the back of that shelter. Picnic tables are located under the shelter.

Walking Trail and More

Around the playground are multiple baseball fields, and along those is a long paved path for walking. It’s .65 miles, quite flat and perfect for strollers. You can see Paris Mountain through the trees on one side of the park and you can see more mountains if you look back towards the entrance.

This is not a park where you can walk the trail and clearly see your kids at the playground. Walking this path takes you quite a distance from the playground. When my kids play I like to try to get a little brisk walking in for myself. At this park, I end up walking the straight part of the path near the playground and then circling up by the shelter and back down to the path. It’s a nice, if small, loop around the playground, but that loop is not all paved and wouldn’t work for a mom with a stroller who wanted to exercise a bit while watching the kids play.

Mom Review

David Jackson Park
25 Fowler Road, Taylors

Favorites:

  • Two playgrounds close to each other
  • Pretty views
  • Sunny
  • Walking Path

Drawbacks:

  • Much of the walking path is far from the playground

This large park is a great place for families to spend a few minutes or several hours. Pack a lunch, enjoy the sun, a walk, and some time to play. Little ones will love the small climbing structure and the swings, while older children play nearby on the larger structure. This park may be a little out of the way if you don’t live in the area, but if you haven’t visited this park, it’s worth the drive to check it out!

Have you visited David Jackson Park?

More to Explore Nearby

Campbells Covered Bridge

Enjoy the creek, trail, and covered bridge at Campbell’s Covered Bridge. It’s just a short drive from David Jackson Park.

taylors parks

Find more great parks in Taylors, SC, or check out our full guide to Exploring Taylors, SC.

The Biggest Little Playground in Lyman, SC!

Posted on by Sarah Burnett |

Inside: A local mom reviews all the fun things to do at Lyman Park in Lyman, SC. Is this the most toddler-friendly park in the Upstate? Let’s discuss!

Located just behind the Lyman Event Center at Pacific Place, you’ll find a variety of outdoor spaces for the whole family to enjoy: A gazebo perfect for picnics, playground with multiple playsets for toddlers, wide open greenspace, and an amphitheater!
Kidding Around’s Sarah Burnett paid this park a visit with her 3 kids and shares all the highlights below!

Lyman Park Playground
The playground at Lyman Park.

Our family recently visited the playground at Lyman Park after a friend recommended it, and we totally agree that it’s one of the best playgrounds for toddlers in Spartanburg County! But more than that, the playsets are surrounded by other outdoor options which easily make this a great place for full-family excursions.

Lyman Park: Quick Summary

🌟 Why We Love It:
✔️ Two playsets perfect for toddlers, including slides, ramps & a rocking boat
✔️ Swings for all ages, plus a merry-go-all and an accessible see-saw
✔️ Soft artificial turf (goodbye, woodchips!)
✔️ A paved path for tricycles & strollers, benches for parents
✔️ Restrooms available
✔️ A stone amphitheater (hello, little performers!)
✔️ Dog park & picnic gazebo—bring the whole family!

🌳 Plus, the Lyman Rail Trail is just a short stroll away for an easy, family-friendly walk or bike ride.
📍 Visit Lyman Park: 81 Groce Road, Lyman, SC

Lyman Park

Playgrounds for Littles: Lyman Park

Our family has 3 kids, ages 5 and under, so we are always on the lookout for play spaces geared towards little ones. While signage onsite says the play equipment is designed for ages 5 to 12 years old, we’ve found that Lyman Park’s playground has multiple play sets perfect for littles— and zero play equipment within reach that is inappropriate for their size.

Lyman Park Playground
Lyman Park Playground

There is a little playset and a larger one, both with multiple slides and gentle ramps for easy access. The smaller playset has one baby slide and two toddler slides, with a large rocking boat with enough seats to easily fit at least 6 kids!

The bigger playset has a baby slide, two side-by-side toddler slides (perfect for races!), and one taller slide more geared towards preschoolers. If babies manage to make it up the stairs to the tallest slide, just keep a close eye for the gaps in the railing up there where ladders come up on either side! There are also both high and low monkey bars attached to the larger playset, perfect for kids eager to swing without the risk of falling too far for their height.

Lyman Park Playground

In the surrounding play area, there are even more options perfect for your youngest kiddos. My 5-year-old’s favorite was a low, short tunnel, with climbing handholds covering the outside and an underwater cave appearance on the inside. My 3-year-old loved the merry-go-all, featuring 4 seats so all our kids could easily spin together. Our youngest loved the accessible see-saw, also with 4 seats and easy for our oldest to bounce all by himself!

And, of course, all our kids love being pushed on the swing set, complete with several accessible swings perfect for our whole age range. Plus, the entire play area has a soft artificial base, so no need to worry about messy woodchips!

Lyman Park playground
Lyman Park Playground

Paved Path for Parents and Kids

One of the best parts of this play space is the sidewalk encircling the whole thing. It is absolutely perfect for little ones on tricycles and toddler bikes! And it’s a small enough loop that you can walk it without losing sight of your kids or racing to catch them if one starts to wander off. And of course, there are benches, too, if you’d rather get off your feet while your kids play!

Lyman Park

This walking path is also a great course to follow for exploring the rest of Lyman Park. At the playground, it will take you right past the picnic shelter, restrooms, and historic library which can be reserved for private events. It also takes you alongside the greenspace to see what else this area has to offer!

Greenspace and Amphitheater

If you are more interested in unstructured play, Lyman Park has two fantastic spaces for that, starting with the greenspace! This flat grassy field is adjacent to the playground, and on our visits, we have seen bigger kids playing frisbee, throwing footballs, and just having a blast chasing each other around. There is a chain-link fence on the far side of the field, creating a barrier between the grass and the road beyond.

Farther down the hill, the walking trail leads to a great stone amphitheater! Our 5-year-old is QUITE the performer, so naturally this is one of his absolute favorite spaces in the park. There are great acoustics in this space with several levels of grass seating surrounding a wide paved circle at the center.

Lyman Ampitheater
Lyman Ampitheater

Lyman Rail Trail

From the amphitheater, you can follow the path down the hill to cross over Spartanburg Road and hop on the Lyman Rail Trail. This paved trail runs just a little under half a mile one-way, and it is entirely level as it follows alongside an old railroad. Cyclists and strollers are welcome, and the trail concludes at Lawrence Street.

Bark Park and Gazebo

Got a furry family member? Bring them along! If you turn uphill from the amphitheater instead of downhill, the path takes you around the side of the Event Center, where you’ll find a small enclosed dog park with obstacles for pets and benches for their humans!

Bark Park at Lyman Park
Bark Park at Lyman Park

I also love the little white gazebo on this side of the Event Center, which has a concrete base and a small wrought-iron table with chairs, in case you are looking for a unique place for a picnic. I definitely plan to bring one the next time we visit Lyman Park!

Visit Lyman Park

81 Groce Road, Lyman, SC

Lyman Park Gazebo
River Place Park in Lyman, SC

Keep playing!
River Place Park is just a few minutes from Lyman Park.

Park Guide to Greenville, SC

Find more great places to play!

Kidding Around Greenville Guide to Parks & Playgrounds in the Upstate

Greenville Guides

Family Fun in Greenville, SC

Get our FREE monthly bucket list packed with family fun!

Subscribe to Our Newsletter