Have you thought about taking your kids fishing? It can be a little overwhelming, especially if you don’t have much fishing experience yourself. These local events provide great opportunities to learn to fish with your kids. Some of these events even provide the rods, bait, and more free!
Don’t forget to register in advance!
(more…)How wonderful is it to spend a sunny day at the park with your children! Are you looking for a new spot to enjoy a warm day? Kidding Around contributor, Deborah, recently visited University Park, a new playground in an established neighborhood. What do you need to know before you go?
Brookside Circle takes you away from the stop-and-go traffic of Wade Hampton, and into the quiet oasis of an established neighborhood. As you wind your way down into the neighborhood, you will come to a long green space which used to be a bird sanctuary. With mature trees and a little creek, this is a happy place for your children to run and interact with nature. Welcome to University Park.
The new playground has been pulled out of the woods and into a big clearing at the entrance to the park. But, the city of Greenville left the mature trees around it, so it has partial shade! This means the playground is great in the winter when you want full sun and even bearable in the dog-days of August.
The creative monkey bars and balance beams will lead you to the slide. Near the base of the slide, don’t miss the shapes scavenger hunt. The merry-go-round is fun for just one child or two or three.
Want to swing? Walk into the woods to find the swings left-over from the old playground. Want to use wheels? The city has put in a new sidewalk along the park and Brookside Circle.
Bring a picnic blanket to relax under the cover of the trees and listen to the creek. There are no restrooms, benches or water fountains at this point. Plan accordingly. You can park along Brookside Circle or on Beverly Lane.
University Park
101 Brookside Circle
Greenville, SC 29601
What would your children like the most at this revitalized park?
Exploring Greenville with your toddler on a budget? Local mom Lauren has put together a list of fun things to do in Greenville for $5 or less. This list includes indoor and outdoor activities your little one will love!
(Prices are based on one adult and one toddler age 3 or under.)
While we strive to include up to date information, sometimes information changes. Please check with the original source to ensure correct dates and times and of course let us know if you notice something that needs to be fixed.
If your toddler has lots of energy, Acrosmith is the perfect way to spend an hour of your time! Miss Jackie developed Tot Time when she saw the need for her own toddler and his friends to get their energy out on those days when they’d rather be inside. Your toddler will love running, jumping, climbing, and swinging all around the gym! There is no commitment to join the gym, just pick a class to try for only $5 on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 10 am or 11:15 am, or Fridays only at 10 am.
Located at 2401 State Park Road, you and your toddler can spend the entire day here and find nature at it’s finest! Choose to spend your time in the shade or in the sunshine, eating lunch at picnic tables or under picnic shelters, on trails or at the playground, bird watching or geo caching. Spend the day? You may want to spend a week!
$5 adults; $3.25 SC seniors (age 65 & older); $3/ child age 6-15; Free for children 5 and younger.
Ms. Traysie is a joy to watch as she brings to life various characters from children’s picture books. Although this is advertised to a “Pre-K” audience, my active toddler always loves going! I think it’s a great opportunity for my toddler to be in comfortable and forgiving environment where she can observe older children sitting, listening, and participating. Every time we’ve been, the crowd of children have been so excited, and many younger siblings are in tow. Stories are told at 9:30 am and 11:00 am on scheduled Tuesdays. At $1 per person, it is hard to beat this price!
If you try out one of these places, don’t forget to tell them that you saw them on Kidding Around Greenville! And, come back and let us know what you think.
Note: This post features several KAG partners and advertisers but they were chosen by independently by Lauren with no influence by KAG. Proof again that our advertisers come reader-recommended!
Fall is here and it’s time to head to a local farm for a corn maze, hayride and more! Local mom Kristina visited Greyrock Farms in Moore and is giving us all the details here. This local farm includes multiple corn mazes, fresh produce and pumpkins, and a working dairy farm!
Corn maze scary fun at night, kid family fun at the farm during the day is exactly what Greyrock Farms and Green Acres Produce is all about. With one of the last remaining dairy farms in the Upstate, they have a farm stand with fresh produce and fruit from April through October, and the Fall is all about pumpkins, dairy tours, and old-fashioned fun on the farm.
One of the great things I really loved about Greyrock Farms is that it is the perfect size to let your kids run around where you keep an eye on them. For no cost, the farm has playgrounds, swings, and different play structures made out of typical things you’d find a farm.
They have parking on-site, just follow the signs. The largest sign you will see when you pull up is for “Green Acres Produce” – that’s the place you are looking for. Also, be sure to wear sneakers or closed toe shoes. It’s a farm where there are ants and other crawly things so just be prepared.
If you really want to get lost in the six-acre corn maze (which is fairly easy to do), it’s $8/person and kids under two are free. You can also tour the dairy farm for $6/person and see a cow getting milked and check out all the baby cows. The tour is conducted on a hayride and ends at the pumpkin patch, where you can pick your own pumpkin right off the vine. Tours are Saturdays at 10 am and 2 pm and Sundays at 2 pm.
If you want to do both the tour and the corn maze, it’s $12/person and kids two and under are free. There are actually two corn mazes – a smaller one and a big one – which is great for kids of all ages to choose from.
Nighttime corn maze entertainment happens every Friday and Saturday night in October until 9 pm. But you have to bring your own flashlight!
If your child has a fall birthday, Greyrock Farms is a perfect venue to host a party. They have a huge picnic shelter right in the middle of the big play area so kids can enjoy the farm and celebrate the birthday child.
The Standard Dairy Farm Birthday Package includes an hour shelter reservation, wagon ride and dairy tour and costs $150 for 12 children ($8/each additional child). The Ultimate Dairy Farm Package includes everything on the standard package plus goody bags, cow train, and paper products and decorations. That package is $200 for 12 kids ($10/each additional child).
If you want to go all out, choose the Cooowww-riffic Dairy Farm Package which includes everything in the aforementioned parties plus a cow cake, 12 cupcakes and ice cream cups, and a baby calf at the party that can be bottle fed by guests (awwww!). This package is $250 for 12 kids ($12/each additional child). All packages include a party hostess, set up and breakdown, and access to the play areas. Parents are free to bring food, ice cream and cake.
The farm also hosts lots of church groups and field trips over the fall as well. The corn maze especially sees lots of activity for group outings (and it makes a great date activity, especially at night!). They will even do a big bonfire if your group wants to really get in the fall spirit.
Greyrock Farms is ideal for family fun during the fall but don’t forget they also have strawberry picking come April. That’s actually how I first heard of them – my oldest daughter had a field trip there one spring to pick strawberries. They were absolutely delicious and I was delighted to learn about all the activities the farm has for families in the fall season. They are open through the end of October so be sure to put this great farm on your fall bucket list.
Greyrock Farms & Green Acres Produce
5750 Anderson Mill Road, Moore
864.576.2784
Looking for a fall event that your whole family is sure to enjoy? Check out Greyrock Farms Second Annual Fall Farm Day! Enjoy a family fun day on the farm! During fall farm day there will be hayrides, pumpkin picking, playground fun, inflatables, kids crafts, games and more!
October 6th
10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Visit the Greyrock Farms & Green Acres Produce Facebook page.
Seasonal farm hours:
Monday – Saturday 10 am – 6 pm
Sunday 1 pm – 6 pm
Fridays and Saturdays in October – open until 9 pm
Has your family visited a local farm yet this fall?
In this busy world in it is important for couples to spend quality time together, without the kids. And when a date night just won’t cut it, a day trip may be exactly what the doctor ordered. Local mom Anna put together this list of places perfect for any couple to escape to when they need to reconnect. Whether you want to head north to the mountains or south to the water this list has something for you!
Want to venture a little further from home? Visit our travel page – it is loaded with inspiration!
Now that school’s in session, how about some parent time for mom and dad? In this list, we attempted to put together some destinations outside of Greenville but only about a 2 hour drive or so. Consider this a start of a new tradition in your household and a chance to spend some quality time with your significant other. Although this requires some advanced planning such as booking a babysitter ahead or coordinating afterschool pick-ups, once you have it all lined up, it will truly be worth it. We believe parents deserve some kind of pampering and fun on their own. We’re pretty sure once you get started, you can come up with your own. Do share with us, if you find some good ones!
A mountain city, Asheville is teeming with activities for day-trippers filled with glorious views of the Blue Ridge Mountain. Our favorite of course is the Biltmore Estate which has restaurants and cafes on site as you take a break from viewing the vast property. We recommend dining at the stables, moderately priced and everything they serve is sourced from the farms within the property. Try to arrive by 10 am so you have enough time for lunch and start heading back by 4 pm in time for dinner with the kiddies.
Our second choice for Asheville is the The Omni Grove Park Inn. A historic resort built in 1913, the hotel was designed in the Arts and Crafts tradition by Edwin Wiley Grove, a pharmaceutical manufacturer and his son-in-law Fred Seely. The hotel was resold in 1955, but most of the original design has been retained. It boasts one of the grandest lobbies we’ve seen next to the Biltmore mansion flanked by the biggest 12-foot fireplaces. Scattered all around the lobby is a sampling of authentic and inspired mission furniture. Stunning views can be soaked in at the in the beautiful views without having to pay the steep room prices. For a fancy lunch, book a date at the Sunset Terrace or admire the same views from the more casual, dine at the Great Hall Bar. For something to do, in addition to exploring the resort property, we highly recommend either an afternoon at their luxurious top-rated spa or visiting the Grovewood Village. Here you will find probably the one of the best Antique Car Museums in our part of the country, see the Biltmore Homespun Museum, walk thru the sculpture garden and shop for special souvenirs at the Gallery of the Mountains.
Biltmore Estate
One Lodge Street, Asheville, NC
Click on this link for hours and directions.
800.411.3812
The Omni Grove Park Inn
290 Macon Ave, Asheville, NC
800.438.5000
If you love being close to the water but can’t do the long drive to the coast, Lake Murray, a water reservoir with about 500 miles of shoreline, is a great easy escape. Walk across Lake Murray Dam, rent a motorboat to explore the waterways, go fishing or hit the beach on the Lexington side. Feeling romantic, visit the Love Lock Bridge, clip a padlock to the fence and proclaim your undying love by throwing away the key. Paris may have lost their love lock bridge in Pont des Arts due to tough love by local police, but for now, Lake Murray remains a haven for romantics. Suggested places for lake side dining: Rusty Anchor Restaurant for some great seafood and surf and turf combinations, Frayed Knot Bar & Grill for more dining options and finally Liberty Tap Room on the lake for some pizzas and light brews. Before you go, or for more information on Lake Murray Public Park, please call 888.383.5032.
Lake Murray, Lexington side
1797 North Lake Drive Lexington
Monday – Friday, 11 am – 7 pm
Saturday, Sunday & Holidays, 10 am – 8 pm
Click here for more info.
A trip to Raffaldini Vineyards will transport you to the Italian countryside and a great early foray into the Yadkin Valley wine trail. One could easily design a weekend escape around this destination with the numerous vineyards around the valley. Tour their estate grounds and learn about how they use Appasimento, an Italian method for incorporating dehydrated grapes into wine. As for dining, we highly recommend packing a lunch that pairs well with wine or grab some light sandwiches and nibbles from their commissary. Guided walking tours of the vineyard are held Wednesdays through Sundays at 1pm and 4pm. Price for tours is $5 a person so plan accordingly. Wine tastings are $12 per person (plus tax) and include a taste of each of their wines along with a commemorative Riedel wine glass. Note that they are closed on Tuesdays. For more information on the Yadkin Valley Wine Trail, click here.
Raffaldini Vineyards
450 Groce Road, Ronda, NC
Monday, Wednesday – Saturday, 11 am – 5 pm
Sunday 12 pm – 5 pm
Closed Tuesdays
336.835.9463
The perfect day trip for more adventure driven couples, Congaree National Forest, is a perfect Fall hike since it will be less buggy and the weather will be cooler. South Carolina’s very own National Park, the Congaree National Park is filled with such unique natural wonders that we are so glad it received its official designation in 2003. The park preserves the largest tract of old growth bottomland hardwood forest left in the United States! Allot a half-day or full day to explore the forest. Make sure to bring your camera, lots of water, bug spray and wander through dramatic marshland with a self-guided boardwalk tour. Be on the lookout for the unique Bald Cypress trees and their knobby “knees” scattered throughout the forest. If you are an avid kayaker, this would be the place, just make sure call ahead to check water conditions and mosquito meter! Bring your own or rent canoes and kayaks in the Columbia area. Picnics are the order of the day for this trip, but there are also lots of local BBQ places around the park if you get hungry.
Congaree National Park
100 National Park Road, Hopkins
Congaree National Park is open 24 hours a day year round. The Harry Hampton Visitor Center is open 7 days a week, 9 am – 5 pm.
803.776.4396
Click on this link for more details on how to visit the park.
Athens is a college town steeped in history with a vibrant contemporary music and restaurant scene. Our favorite restaurants to try are the high-end National, hearty brunch at Mama’s Boy or a eat by the tracks and have some good ol’ BBQ at Pulaski Heights BBQ. Athens has a great vegetarian restaurant called The Grit. For things to do, Athens is the gateway to Georgia’s Antebellum Trail and you will have lots of options to view house museums, heritage sites and historical districts. Your first stop should be to get a map at the Athens Georgia Welcome Center located in the Church-Waddel-Brumby House Museum. If you can get away for a weekend, enjoy some live music at Georgia Theater, 40 Watt or at the Furnace. Athens is also known as the place that launched the careers of R.E.M. and the B-52’s, but we’re pretty sure you already knew that!
Athens Georgia Welcome Center
280 E Dougherty Street, Athens, GA
Monday – Saturday, 10 am – 5 pm
706.353.1820
Do you have a day trip idea to add to our list?
Looking for a day away from it all out in the woods? On a fall day there is nothing like heading north to the streams, fresh air, dazzling waterfalls and fall colors of the Blue Ridge Mountains. With its 900 miles of hiking trails, six major waterfalls and over 10,000 acres of forest, DuPont State Forest is a showcase of some of the most fabulous scenery in western NC, just an hour from Greenville! KAG Contributor Liene is telling us all bout the best places to visit in Dupont State Forest.
Find even more great hikes on our Hiking Guide. Plus find tons of waterfalls in our area to visit here!
This article was originally published on Femme au Foyer as “DuPont State Forest and its waterfalls”.
To maximize a visit to DuPont, park in the Hooker Falls area on Staton Road and combine the Triple Falls Trail, the High Falls Trail and Hooker Falls Road for an unforgettable, three mile hike to visit three of the most popular and beautiful falls in the area. Two of them (Triple and Hooker Falls) you might recognize from the movie The Hunger Games, a portion of which was filmed in DuPont in 2011, and Triple Falls featured prominently in the movie Last of the Mohicans.
Just a short ½ mile from the Hooker Falls parking area you’ll reach Triple Falls, with three distinct cascades that drop 120 feet in total. The first overlook is just a short distance from the parking lot, and a few hundred feet further is the spur trail that leads down to the large rocky area between the falls. Bring a picnic to enjoy the spectacle – natural and human – before jumping back on the main trail.
Triple Falls trail and High Falls trail form a loop, but you can choose to stick close to Little River on High Falls trail and cut out a bit of the mileage by doing a there-and-back. (Triple Falls trail heads west, hitting Buck Forest Road and intersecting with High Falls trail and the Covered Bridge Trail about 1/3 mile from High Falls). To reach the base of the 150-foot cascade, take a detour on the short River Bend spur trail for a memorable view of the falls and the covered bridge at the top.
High Falls is the largest waterfall in the area, and together with the beautiful covered bridge was part of a planned real estate development in 2000. After a lengthy legal battle the state was able to purchase the land from the developer, ensuring the view of the falls would be preserved. The trail leading to High Falls is somewhat steep, so make sure to bring water and to set a comfortable pace in the summer heat.
Once you’ve retraced your steps to the parking area and crossed back under Staton Road, you’ll turn west on Hooker Falls trail. Make sure to pause at the observation area above the falls before circling down to the base of the 12 foot waterfall. From the popular swimming hole at the base of the falls, Little River flows on into Cascade Lake, outside of the state forest’s boundaries. The hike to the falls is relatively easy, a mildly sloping 0.4 miles down a gravel road.
These three DuPont waterfalls make for a perfect year-round destination. The weekends during the summer will find a crowd at Hooker Falls, cooling down in the natural swimming hole, meanwhile autumn brings unparalleled fall foliage to the views around High Falls. Winter will decorate the waterfalls in ice, and finally spring means wildflowers and the return of the Blue Ghost Firefly. Whichever season you visit, you’ll find the scenic and tranquil beauty of DuPont State Forest and its waterfalls a memorable experience you’ll want to repeat again and again.
Has your family checked out DuPont State Forest yet?
Like to learn through play? We here at KAG like to have fun but that doesn’t mean we can’t also make things educational. While you can turn most anything into a teaching moment, there are certain activities that lend themselves more naturally to that than others. Local mom Lindy puts together this list of 5 great places to learn about science, many courtesy of some homeschooling friends!
Roper Mountain Science Center– located pretty central in the Greenville area and right near both the 385 and 85, this is something you must check out. There’s a planetarium, hiking trails, butterfly garden, various classes throughout the year, and much more. Read about the benefits of a membership here.
The Children’s Museum of the Upstate– with a big climbing structure, tons of hands on exhibits and various special events, there’s something for everyone. The first floor features a lot of physics- how cars, airplanes, and even space ships work (many in a video game format). There’s also an exhibit on the human body including a digestive system slide! The upper level features a farm/agricultural area for young toddlers. There’s an architectural exhibit where you can play engineer. Downstairs there’s a mini water systems and canal play area. There’s a music/sound room and much more! Read this list for an idea of what you could spend a day doing at TCMU.
The Greenville Zoo is of course also educational. With special events and classes happening depending on the season and general biology all around, you can learn quite a bit. Read all the signs, discuss why this animal happens to do this thing or that. Why are certain animals found in some places but no where else? Then play on both the playground inside the gates as well as Cleveland Park’s playground outside the entrance. Be sure to discuss the physics of movement and bodily anatomy that allows for all that running around.
Clemson University’s SC Botanical Gardens with Geology Museum– we’ve previously discussed all the stuff you can do around campus. So of course for a science article, we had to include the botanical garden and geology museum. The Botanical Gardens look very fun for kids and includes a children’s garden, while the geology museum is aimed at all ages. The two are also right together so double the learning for half the effort!
Paris Mountain State Park– this is a favorite hiking spot. Yet all those trails also offer a lot of hands on teaching opportunities. Each fourth Saturday there are also various classes and special events to hone your natural science skills even more. This includes lots of learning about animals, flora and fauna, as well as ecology. You can also camp, check out multiple trails and even swim! Paris Mountain also offers group hikes for reasonable fee with a ranger.
Try a science inspired group of activities at Runway Park.
Do you have a favorite place to learn about science in Greenville?
As summer sizzles to an end, you may be running out of ideas to keep your children active. We are excited to tell you about a new playground at the Juanita Butler Community Center. This park on the west side of Greenville is sure to be a big hit with your kids, after all, it includes a zip line, a rope climbing structure and more.
Zip! Zip! Zip! That is what your kids will want to do when they arrive. With time, they will learn how to go faster on the zip line and will hurl themselves from one side to the other. Don’t worry! They can’t go very fast, and it is totally safe.
Once your kids are ready to look at the rest of the playground, they will really love the rope climbing structure. It is such a challenge to get to the top and so much fun. There are lots of balancing beams and steps. The monkey bars are high which makes them perfect for your bigger kids.
The full-size basketball court is covered and lit. Invite your friends and bring a basketball to have an exciting game day or night. Behind the basketball court, twelve swings will ensure your child gets all the swing time he or she desires.
My boys were so happy when they saw a Little Free Library! Bring a book or two to exchange with a new book to enjoy once you get home. My boys sat down right there to read theirs.
There are no benches and the entire playground is in the sun. If you are looking for a place to go on a cool day, this is your park. But, it it’s hot, bring a chair or two to sit under the trees beside the playground.
Hope you can get out to this new playground very soon! There is so much to enjoy.
2 Burns Street, Greenville
864.467.4328
Have you visited the new playground at Juanita Butler Community Center yet?
Looking for something new and exciting to do this summer that kids of all ages will enjoy? We sent local mom Erika to check out Shipwreck Cove in Duncan and tell us all about this water park. Filled with water slides, a lazy river, and a toddler play area, everyone is sure to enjoy a visit to Shipwreck Cove!
We were given tickets to Shipwreck Cove in exchange for this review. However, all opinions were Erika’s own.
It’s the last month of summer vacation and I feel like I’m running out of ideas on how to keep the kids entertained. I take that back. I have plenty of ideas on how to keep them entertained. I’m just getting a little tired of trying to wear them out! Over the weekend, I thought of the perfect way to do just that. Shipwreck Cove, here we come!
My crew, including 5 kids and 1 (super brave) mom, arrived at Shipwreck Cove slightly before they opened that park at 10 am. First word of advice before heading out: apply the kiddo’s sunscreen either right before leaving the house or at the car before you enter the park. If you’re juggling at many as I did today, it might be hard to keep them all still once they walk through the gates and see the fun that awaits them.
Not only did I think of heading to this nearby water park for the sake of trying to tire everyone out; it was a place I thought everyone would enjoy, from age 2 to 13. From the moment we arrived, my theory was proven correct.
As you walk into Shipwreck Cove, the kiddie area for the younger children sits front and center. With a zero-entry pool that goes no higher than six inches deep, my two-year-old made a beeline right for the mini pirate ship in the middle of the kiddie pool. This pirate ship was her focal point while we were there- with two softly padded staircases, only about four to five small steps high, two pint-sized water slides, and a bridge, she felt like she could conquer it all.
The top of the pirate ship where she could walk around had a rougher texture (but was still easy on the bottom of her feet) so the surface wasn’t slippery. Bonus points go to whoever came up with that design idea. We all know wet surfaces can easily mean your child might fall, and this was just one less thing I had to worry about while we were there. All the slides in the kiddie area had a soft padding to land on. They really kept the little ones in mind here!
The older children weren’t so interested in the pirate ship, which was fine because they try to restrict it to just the younger children using it. The kiddie area also had a tall fixture with cone-shaped buckets that would fill up with water and eventually tip over (right on top of your head if you were standing under it). This was a big hit even for the older children. The suspense of “when is the water going to come down” really made them smile. A fountain and another small slide complete the kiddie pool area, and that was more than enough because, you know, younger kids and repetition sort of go together.
All the pools at Shipwreck Cove are connected to each other, which makes it easy for the kids to swim from one area to the other without them getting out and you having to yell “stop running!” The larger pool can be entered either through steps toward the back part of the kiddie pool, through stairs that go directly from the deck to the pool itself, or through two tall windy water slides that the 11 and 10-year-old boys referred to as “awesome!”
Once they went down the slides, that is where they stayed a majority of the day. There is a yellow slide, which is covered like a tunnel, and a red slide that is a bit wider and is open. At first the red slide seemed to be the favorite because the boys said it was the faster of the two; that is, until one of them discovered “if you lay back on the yellow slide, it goes way faster!”
I personally didn’t go down the water slides (I’m not a chicken, I promise), so you might have to go test which slide is faster for yourself. There is a 42 inch height requirement to go on the slide, so not all kids may be able to test it out.
Connected to the larger pool is a lazy river. Grab an inner tube provided by the park (which is required to hang out in the lazy river), lay back and let the “current” take you for a smooth, relaxing ride. Try to keep your eyes open though or you may get surprised by one of the water fountains that spray into the water. This was the primary hang out spot for the 13-year-old I brought along. She told me, “I like going down the water slides a few times then going over to the lazy river to take a break from climbing up the stairs to get to the slide.” Who could blame her?
There are plenty of chairs and loungers pool-side, some next to umbrellas if you want shade. I opted for the row of chairs that were closest to the kiddie pool area, but also gave me a good view of the larger pool. The bathrooms are situated right behind this area near the entrance. Lockers are located near the bathrooms and are available to rent if you want to lock up your personal items.
Time flies when you’re having fun, and before I knew it, it was lunch time. Outside food and beverages are not allowed in the park, so I didn’t pack anything. No worries though because food is available to purchase inside the park and the prices are fair. Fries, nachos, mozzarella sticks, chips, popcorn, burgers, chicken sandwiches and tenders, hot dogs, a variety of drinks, and some tasty desserts are available to purchase.
Chicken tenders and chicken sandwiches were our choices today, and we chose well because the kids ate it all (even my picky eater two-year-old)! After lunch, of course they all wanted to get back to running up the stairs to go down the water slide, but I put my foot down on that one. Time to take it easy for about 20 minutes so no one feels sick after inhaling their lunch. Hello, lazy river!
One worry I had when I arrived was “how am I going to keep an eye on five kids going in all different directions?” Two things gave me a very simple solution to that. One- since all the pools are connected, I was able to stand near the back part of the kiddie pool while I was with my youngest and keep an eye on everyone else at the same time. Solution number two- lifeguards! The lifeguards are situated around the lazy river and the larger pool.
There is also a lifeguard at the top of the larger slides to regulate when people can go down and a couple lifeguards at the bottom of the slides in case someone needs a little help getting out of the water. Since I haven’t quite figured out how to grow eyes on the back or sides of my head yet, these lifeguards put my mind at ease to make sure everyone stayed safe. There is no lifeguard around the kiddie pool though, so I stuck around there pretty much the entire time.
Another way Shipwreck Cove looks out for the safety of their guests is by having life jackets available at no extra cost, and there are various sizes available to choose from. They do have traditional life jackets available for younger children, but they do not carry Puddle Jumpers. I’m personally a fan of Puddle Jumpers for my little one, so I brought it along with me. If you feel more comfortable using your child’s life jacket from home, they will allow you to bring it into the park.
While I was there, I was able to speak with the manager and asked him about the park expanding. I’d heard it through the grapevine and wanted to get more information from the source. During the next off season, they will be building an events center. The events center will be open year-round and available to rent out. There are currently no details on the capacity it will hold, so stay tuned!
The following off-season, they will be expanding the water park. There are also no specific details on what they will be adding, but just know that more fun will be in store.
Into the afternoon hours, I knew my youngest was ready for nap time. This was the time I dreaded: telling everyone it was time to go and hearing their objections. Boy was I shocked when no one objected to going home because, (((drum roll please))), they were tired! Yes! Mission accomplished!
I managed to not only wear out all five kids, but they all had a great time as well. The ride home consisted of two of them falling asleep and the others talking about the fun they had. Shipwreck Cove provided a fun day for the kids, and an easy day for the parent (me). We will definitely go back for more fun!
This summer seems to have flown by faster than any other, and with only a few weeks left before school, you might want to plan a vacation. Stumped on where to go? Look no further than your own city. We’ll give you lots of ideas on what to do and where to stay so you can create your very own perfect staycation!
Right here in Greenville are some exciting places to stay in town, and complete a day trip that will make this summer stand out from all the others. The hotels and suites around town and the surrounding areas with all of the lakes, parks, and amusement activities will make you feel like a tourist in your own town. So why travel when you can vacation in Greenville?
While there are tons of hotels to pick from in Greenville, we’re highlighting a few in different parts of town.
Embassy Suites on Verdae or Downtown on the Reedy both offer free hot buffet breakfast, happy hour, and indoor pools. Book Verdae or Downtown.
Off of Pelham Road, hotels on The Parkway and Beacon Drive are close to restaurants and the Interstate! Choose from The Marriott on the Parkway, Home2U Suites or Fairfield Inn and Suites.
In the middle of all the action, along Woodruff Road, options include Hilton Garden Inn and Hampton Inn.
And to book the Westin Poinsett in smack dab Downtown Greenville, click here.
Whether you stay in town or drive for about an hour, here are some ways to make your stay-cation the best.
In Charlotte, only about an hour and a half away, Carowinds is an amusement park with tons of roller coasters, attractions, and rides for all ages! Purchase tickets here. Find out why KAG Contributor Jennifer’s family loves Carowinds so much!
In Greenville, this awesome water park is barely a drive away! For all ages, tickets can be purchased at the gate, and season passes are available here. Also, be sure to read our review of Discovery Island.
If you don’t have your own bike, Reedy Rides bike rentals is affordable and reliable for renting bikes by the half day, day, weekend, or full week! Right off Main Street Downtown, Reedy Rides is close to the trail and hotels and restaurants! We have a handy Swamp Rabbit Trail itinerary and a Family Guide to the Trail that you’ll want to check out before you go.
On Tuesdays during the summer, Regal Theaters host dollar movies! You may even be able to find a free movie this summer. After all, doesn’t everyone love going to the movies?
It may be a bit of a drive as it’s in Charlotte, but for a day’s worth of fun and exercise, it is well worth it! No reservations need to be made, but you can check out prices here.
Check out the fish, reptiles, and elephants right downtown Greenville at the Greenville Zoo! Tickets can be purchased at the time of arrival, but here’s the calendar of events planned this summer.
Greenville stay-cations are the route to take when you’re in a bind for time but still want to get one last vacation in before school starts back up in August. In the blink of an eye, we’ll all be back into the full swing of things, so before gearing up and getting back in routines, look no further than your own wonderful city to squeeze in one last vacation. After all, Greenville is the best place to be, so why go anywhere else?
What’s your favorite thing to do on a staycation?