If you love Little Debbie’s (think Cosmic Brownies, Christmas Tree Cakes, Oatmeal Cream Pies, and Nutty Buddy’s) then you’ll love this park in Collegedale, Tennessee! You can see the larger-than-life-sized Little Debbie Cakes around the park and play on an awesome playground! Kidding Around’s Jordan got to visit with her kids and had such a fun time exploring this unique park that’s totally FREE to visit!
Little Debbie Park is located in Collegedale, Tennessee, about 30 minutes outside of Chattanooga, Tennessee. Collegedale, Tennessee is a really neat town to explore and home to McKee Foods, the manufacturer of Little Debbie cakes. You can even go inside their McKee Foods Bakery Store in Collegedale, which sells discounted snacks and goodies to enjoy.
Watch! Check out our visit to Little Debbie Park
The History of Little Debbie Park
Founders of McKee Foods, O.D. and Ruth McKee, met in Collegedale, TN at Southern Adventist University. That is where they fell in love and then would go on to start McKee Foods in Chattanooga together. The college is still thriving in town and is also where several of their children and grandchildren went to college.
Little Debbie Park opened in 2023 and is just down the road from McKee Foods. You can see the life-sized Little Debbie cakes, read about the history of McKee foods, and play on the brand-new playground they just built in 2023. The park is really large so you will get your steps in for the day! You can read more about their company on the McKee Foods website.
They look SO realistic!
What To Do At Little Debbie Park
Once you park in front of Little Debbie Park (the parking spaces are back-in only unless you want to park further down the road which offers several parking lots that are easy to navigate and a short walk), you can start at the welcome sign and then walk the sidewalk to learn about the history of McKee foods. There is also a bronze statue of Little Debbie herself that you can see. She is holding a plate of Swiss Rolls so I thought that was such a sweet touch (no pun intended).
Once you read all about McKee Foods and Little Debbie, you can walk over to the park where you will find several life-sized Little Debbie Cake sculptures. Note: Do NOT climb, sit, attempt to take a bite out of, or stand on any of the snack cake sculptures. They really do look JUST like the snack foods, I was so amazed at the attention to detail!
Once you enjoy the sculptures, you can walk over to the park where your kids can play! Right in the center of the playground is a giant Cosmic Brownie-one of my favorite childhood snacks as a proud Millenniall! They have a great playground area with swings, climbing structures, a zip line, and more!
All around the playground, you’ll find ample seating including park benches, swings, and a large covered picnic area to enjoy a packed lunch. The restrooms are very clean and are right beside the park so no need to walk far to find a restroom. There are restaurants around town, but is the perfect place to have a picnic lunch with your family.
It is FREE to visit Little Debbie Park in Collegedale, TN!
Little Debbie Park McKee Foods Website 4698 Swinyar Dr, Collegedale, TN 37363 Park is open until sunset every day
SkyFly Pigeon Forge is a newer attraction in Pigeon Forge, TN that has already won awards for its unique and amazing experience. We’ve got all the details on how to see it.
I really had no idea what SkyFly: Soar America was going to be like when we walked into the building, which is right near the big Great Smoky Mountain Sky Wheel on the Island at Pigeon Forge.
The decor looked like what I’d expect the workshop of some old scientist who was studying time travel may look like with gadgets and goggles. I was intrigued for sure and definitely wanted to try out whatever the ride entailed.
About SkyFly: Soar America
SkyFly: Soar America won the “Best New Attraction” award in 2021 by USA Today Readers’ Choice. They only opened in July 2021 so the award was quite the accomplishment. SkyFly was manufactured and designed by Dynamic Attractions, which also designed and made the super popular Disney Soarin’ attractions all over the world.
Once you purchase your tickets, you enter into a room where you’ll learn about explorer Peter Wilder and his daughter Hannah as they try to get ready their steampunk airship for takeoff. We were the only ones in line for about ten minutes and watched the video of the two characters for a bit to try to imagine what in the world was about to happen. A few other guests joined the line and soon we were taken into the Tram room.
Our guide instructed us where to stand and off we went. Actually, we didn’t go anywhere but the screens on the top of the tram certainly looked like we were moving as we virtually sped through the countryside and came to a stop where the airship supposedly resides.
We exited and got in line to enter the next room, which held the massive, 50-foot spherical screen. I didn’t know that yet though. While waiting, we got some safety instructions from Mr. Wilder and his daughter, which were quite the characters. They seemed a little unprepared for this journey, which was all part of the fun.
Then we were off and entered the ride. And that’s where it got exciting.
Soaring Over America
Once we got situated into our seats, buckles buckled and checked, and bags underneath our seats, it was time to get flying.
As soon as the show started, our seats moved straight up and our feet were dangling in the air, ready to fly. The screen looks like we are going through some big tube and then we’re off high in the sky above Chimney Rock (I was so excited to see such a familiar spot) soaring like the peregrine falcons. It was such a cool sensation.
Next, we took flight along the Blue Ridge Parkway, over the geyser in Yellowstone, glaciers in Alaska, and above the massive Grand Canyon.
SkyFly: Soar America
We flew over Niagara Falls and even got sprayed with real water and felt the wind. Then it was on to the Grand Tetons, over the beauty of Hawaii, through the Sequoia National Forest, and of course, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. We flew low over the flat waters of the Everglades and up high to get a glimpse of the presidents carved into Mt. Rushmore.
It was so cool and you really do feel like you’re flying. The seats move around as you fly so the experience is totally immersive.
The movie is six minutes long but I could have done it at least a couple more times, which you can actually do for a greatly reduced price once you’re done with the first ride.
How in the world did this movie get made? That’s what I kept thinking. SkyFly says that they used drones and helicopters to film it and that there is nothing else like it in the world.
Experiencing SkyFly for Yourself
SkyFly: Soar America is located on the Island at Pigeon Forge and is open Sunday – Thursday from 10 am – 9 pm and Friday and Saturday from 10 am – 10 pm.
Our total time at SkyFly was around 30 minutes but if you have to wait in line, it could be longer. SkyFly says to allow 30-60 minutes once you enter the queue.
Guests must be 40″ to ride and guests between 40” and 55” must be accompanied by an adult. Guests taller than 76″ are not permitted on the ride. If you have a child shorter than 40”, you can watch the movie in an alternative viewing room while your partner rides the ride and then you can switch out. They do tell you that if you have a fear of heights, you may not like the ride and you can watch the movie in an alternative viewing room. I’m not a big fan of heights or flying but had no issues with the ride. I thought it was awesome.
Also, if you’re a pregnant mom, SkyFly does not allow you to ride. SkyFly is fully ADA-accessible and can accommodate. If you have other questions, there is a great SkyFly FAQ section on their website.
Tickets to SkyFLy can be purchased online or in person. During peak hours and seasons, which is pretty much all year except January and early February, they advise you to purchase tickets ahead of time. Adult tickets are $22.99 and kids ages 11 and under are $17.99.
Does cave exploring sound like a fun adventure? Linville Caverns in North Carolina is one of only a small number of deep caves where the public can explore within a few hours’ drive of Greenville. Kidding Around contributor Kristina explored it with her kids and tells us all about the unique experience.
“So you’re standing half a mile straight down from the top of the mountain and about 700 feet inside,” said our tour guide at Linville Caverns. Is it bad my first thoughts were of Lord of the Rings when Frodo and Gandalf and their comrades venture inside the mountain where dwarfs used to live? While nowhere near as cavernous as that particular movie portrayed the inside of a mountain, Linville Caverns is fascinating, interesting, and a tad creepy. So definitely take your family.
About Linville Caverns
The caverns were discovered in the early 1900s when a fisherman noted fish were coming from inside a mountain. He followed the water and found a huge, three-story limestone cavern. The caverns were opened to public in 1937 and have remained a favored destination in Western North Carolina ever since.
Are you looking for fun inexpensive Spring Break trips that are perfect for your family? Travel is fun but it often isn’t cheap. So how do you go about planning an inexpensive trip when you really want to get away but you have a limited budget? And, where can you go for cheap spring break trips? That’s what you’ll hopefully learn here!
We love to travel with our kids and experience new places, different food, and just cool things to see that don’t exist where we live (even though Greenville, SC is awesome). But traveling, especially with a family, gets expensive fast. Spring break is the perfect time for a family-friendly adventure. So, we asked our readers for their best tips on planning a Spring Break trip on the cheap, plus added in some of our own tips based on experience.
No matter where you live, you can use these tips for an awesome spring break on a budget and keep costs down on your next travel adventure with your family. We hope they save you a lot of money and bring some fun adventures to your family!
Are you looking for a quick list of new day trip ideas from Greenville, SC? While we have a huge day trip guide we also asked our readers to vote on their favorite day trips near Greenville, SC in our annual KABOOM Awards contest. Here’s what they voted the best day trips: Greenville, SC.
Did you know you can walk across the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in the country at Gatlinburg SkyPark? Gatlinburg SkyPark is just a few hours away from Greenville. We sent Kristina to do it because she won the coin toss. Here’s what you need to know if you want to go on your Gatlinburg vacation.
Media tickets were given so we could review this incredible experience.
I think my mouth may have hung open the first time I saw a video of the SkyPark (formerly called the Sky Bridge) in Gatlinburg when it was completed in May of 2019. It was gorgeous. And so, so high up in the air. I knew I had to go, no matter how scary getting up there may be. Sometimes you need to take those risks, right?
The bridge is part of Gatlinburg SkyPark, which was founded in 1954, way before the town became the destination it is today. The park is the longest-running attraction in Gatlinburg, which borders the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The national park is the most visited in the entire country. Last year, more than 12 million people stepped foot in the Smokies.
But the views are still the same as they were in the late 1950s – sweeping and majestic and unforgettable. You have to take a gondola up to the SkyPark, five hundred vertical feet to be exact. Just don’t look backwards and you’ll be fine.
The Sky Bridge
The bridge was completed in May of 2019 and holds the record of being the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in North America. It’s 680 feet in length and sways 150 feet off the ground. There are glass panels in the middle of the bridge, which honestly I didn’t even think about until I had to walk across 30 feet of it. You look straight down. It’s terrifying but also awesome with an amazing view.
The people who run the SkyPark social media pages are geniuses. You may have seen the videos of the bridge all lit up in Christmas lights around December or when snow was falling in the mountains or when the leaves were bright reds and oranges in the fall. They do such an amazing job of bringing viewers onto the bridge who have never been and entice them to go. At least that was my opinion and one of the reasons why I really, really wanted to walk the bridge.
If you’re wondering if you can feel the bridge sway, the answer is yes. If you’re wondering if it’s worth the five-hundred-foot vertical ride in the yellow gondola with nothing but a bar separating you from a long drop, then yes, it’s worth it.
The views going up and down the mountain are incredible. You can see all of Downtown Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains. We got lucky and the clouds were moving between the peaks of the mountains, creating a surreal view. I could never get tired of that view.
This is such a unique attraction that is just amazing and I certainly recommend it when you visit Gatlinburg. And don’t you want bragging rights for walking the longest pedestrian bridge in North America? I did.
Walk the SkyTrail and Hiking Trails
The SkyPark has been adding new attractions pretty much every year for the past several years. They added the SkyTrail, a trail that lines the ridge around the mountain, and in late 2024, they opened up 1.5 miles of hiking trails.
Part of the SkyTrail is a boardwalk and the other part is natural dirt. The hiking trails are natural dirty and probably one of the coolest things is running into the enormous Mountain Man. The Mountain Man is supposedly protects the area now after the fires.
The views are just spectacular and you can go across the mountain without actually walking the bridge. Just don’t run into a bear!
I had no idea that the wildfires of 2016 totally destroyed Crockett Mountain, where the SkyPark is located. There are plaques around the trail that talk about the devastating fires and what happened in the rebuilding process plus how the bridge was engineered. If you’re a homeschooling family, this totally counts as an awesome field trip.
They trails are really cool and a fun activity while you’re already up on the mountain. They aren’t really hilly except if you decide to go up or down the mountain on a trail instead of use the gondola ride. Most of the trails are only open during the daytime hours for now.
Climb the Tulip Tower
The steel Tulip Tower at the SkyPark rises 70 feet in the back of the ravine behind the Sky Bridge. It has four floors and is accessed by two rope bridges.
SkyBridge and Tulip Tower
The tower has educational plaques inside the middle of each floor that talk about the wildfires, local wildlife, and native plants and trees. The tower is so named because the Tulip Tree was one of the last remaining trees when the wildfire swept through the mountain and wiped out the park. So the tower is named for the resilience of the tree and all those people who rebuilt the park and those who lost their homes (five SkyPark employees lost their homes because of the fire).
Again, the views are unreal. I legitimately took 100 photos of the bridge from all along the SkyTrail, the hiking trails, and the Tulip Tower. The tower is open for daytime use.
Eating and Drinking at the SkyPark
What makes a great view even better? Food and drink! The gift shop at the park is awesome. It has all kinds of cool bridge-related items plus the warmest winter hats I think I’ve ever felt. They also have a basic menu of pizza, pretzels, and snacks plus coffee.
Head upstairs and grab a craft beer and an outside table and take a deep breath while you gaze at the scenery. It’s breathtaking. These views are incredibly unique. If you’re going to Smokies, why not see the sweeping views they offer right there at the park? Just do it.
There are rocking chairs and tables outside on the deck also. We saw plenty of people just rocking away their worries up there. I would have swiped one to do the same but they were all full.
Brand new in 2025 is Clayton’s Landing, a huge space with fire pits, rocking chairs, decks, and a restaurant atop the SkyPark. I absolutely loved this place for it’s views and cozy seating. We got burgers, fries, and chicken tenders and everything we had was delicious. This is a great expansion for the SkyPark and really adds to the overall time you can spend there enjoying the incredible views.
Part of Clayton’s Landing
Admission Costs
If you have heard and seen the Sky Bridge in Gatlinburg you may be wondering, “Is the Gatlinburg SkyPark free?” No. Find ticket information for SkyPark below.
Single Visit Tickets to the SkyPark, which include access to the Gatlinburg SkyBridge, SkyTrail, Tulip Tower, and Sky Deck are $34.95/ages 12-64, $20.95/ages 6-11, $27.95/seniors, and kids 5 and under are free. This ticket is only good for one visit. You can’t leave and come back with this ticket.
Unlimited SkyPass Ticket to the SkyPark: this ticket includes unlimited visits on the same day you purchase and you get to skip the line. This ticket gives access to the Gatlinburg SkyBridge, SkyTrail, Tulip Tower, and Sky Deck are $41.95/ages 12-64, $27.95/ages 6-11, $34.95/seniors, and kids 5 and under are free.
The SkyBridge opens at 9 am and closes at 10 pm during the summer and 9 pm other times of the year. We were planning to head back up there during sunset but my kids were tired from a long day of fun. But I Imagine those views would be spectacular during dusk and for the seasonal lights that adorn the bridge. They are open all year round, seven days a week except for Christmas Day and Maintenance Week (January 22-26 2025) and (May 1-2 2025). See full SkyBridge hours here.
I recommend parking at the garage next to Ripley’s Aquarium, which is about a five-minute walk to the SkyPark.
Follow the Gatlinburg SkyPark on Facebook and Instagram for beautiful photos and videos, which will probably entice you to go there on your next visit!
Are you looking for fun Spring Break Trips for Families? Planning your family’s Spring Break trips from Greenville, South Carolina? All places listed are within driving distance and those that we here at Kidding Around have been to personally. These weekend getaways from Greenville are perfect for making memories with your family this spring.
Just a note about Hurricane Helene:Many towns in Western NC are open and really need tourists. Small businesses in these areas are barely hanging on. Please consider heading to WNC (suggestions are below) for Spring Break and any other trips you may be planning this year.
If we missed your favorite place, add it in the comments!
Want to stay really close to home? With gas costs going up, a road trip might not be on the menu this spring break. If that sounds like you, you can still get away. Try this list of Spring Break trips within 90 minutes for Greenville, SC.
While the beach is a good option for family fun in the Lowcountry, there is so much more to do than play in the sand. I’ve taken my kids and whole family to this area for the last several years and we always have an awesome time.
What to do: Dolphin and kazoo factory tours, kayak or stand-up paddleboard trips, free aquarium, mini-golf, bike rides, pirate ship adventures, world class beaches. Here’s a list of HHI activities and here’s a list for things to do in the Port Royal/Beaufort. Where to stay: We’ve loved this VRBO: Hilton Head Drive time: 4 hours
This is truly a special place that invites relaxation and time to recharge. It’s quiet and private and peaceful.
What to do: Biking, kayaking, restful excursions to the beach, and nature walks. If your rental includes resort amenities, you will also have access to public pools, an activity center with children’s programs, golf, and tennis courts. Where to stay: VRBO has several condo options, like this Fripp Island Ocean Front Condo. Drive time: 4 hours
Right in the middle of the Georgia mountains is the state’s third most-visited town, Helen. With tubing in the summer, Oktoberfest in the fall, and hiking all year round, this cute town is the perfect place to unwind with your family.
What to do: Hiking, family activities at Unicoi State Park like archery, fishing, and zip lining, eating authentic German cuisine, Hardman Farm. Where to stay: A barrel cabin at Unicoi State Park. Drive time: 2 hours
Stay in a treehouse and ride the world’s longest zip line! The historic site is loaded with outdoor activities. You can also do smaller zip line courses, go hiking, or ride in a Spider ATV.
What to do: Lots of outdoor adventures like zip lining and spider ATVs Where to stay: Right at Historic Banning Mills. They have fantastic treehouses and other accommodations. Drive time: 3 hours
If you’re looking for an off-the-beaten-path destination with the perfect mix of Southern charm and amenities, this is it.
Things to do: Horseback riding, Trackrock Petroglyphs, Lasso the Moon Alpaca Farm, Meeks Park. Where to stay:Shady Rest, The Ridges Resort & Marina. Drive time: 3 hours
Spring Break Trips from Greenville: Tennessee Spring Break
The town of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee rests outside the Great Smoky Mountain National Park and is just beautiful. It’s filled with a seemingly endless amount of entertainment like a fun dinner or miles of hiking trails in the mountain areas.
You really can’t go wrong heading to Asheville in Western North Carolina for any reason at any time of the year. You can stay near the mountain town and enjoy restaurants or head over to Pisgah Forest where waterfalls and hiking trails abound.
What to do: Hiking, waterfall chasing, Biltmore House. Where to stay:Pilot Cove on the edge of Pisgah Forest Drive time: 1.5 hours
My family has vacationed here several times and just loved it. If you rent a VRBO at the Sapphire Valley Resort, you’ll have a kitchen, which can save a lot of money when it comes to cooking your own meals vs. eating out. And you can buy an amenities pass, which gets you into the indoor pool, sauna, and hot tub plus gym and mini-golf.
What to do: Use the cheap amenities pass at the resort for pool time, or head out to hiking nearby trails to beautiful waterfalls and drive the Blue Ridge Parkway (all free!). Where to stay: Check AirBnB or VRBO for the Sapphire Valley Resort or Lake Glenville Drive time: 1.5 hours
Stay in either a decommissioned caboose or luxury cabin with a hot tub and game room – all on a buffalo ranch.
What to do: Enjoy the beautiful property and watch the buffalo roam, check out the model train room, play in the game room, hike the trails around the ranch. Or go to nearby towns to explore, hike, drive the Blue Ridge Parkway and see the gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains while you chase some waterfalls. Drive time: 1 hour and 45 minutes
For a vacation where you rarely have to leave the hotel, Great Wolf Lodge in Concord, NC right outside of Charlotte is a great option. Inside the hotel, you will also find multiple dining options in a range of prices and styles.
What to do: Included with your hotel stay is admission to the giant indoor water park and free family activities. In addition to the included activities, you can purchase either bundled at a discount or a la carte passes to additional activities such as MagiQuest and ShadowQuest, mini-golf, ropes course, bowling, arcades, and more. Local activities include the NASCAR Hall of Fame and ZMAX Dragway. Drive time: 2.5 hours
Florida Spring Break: Getaway for Spring Break to Somewhere Warm
St. Augustine is a great central city for some super cool activities like checking out manatees at Blue Springs, exploring alligator farms and historic forts, or heading into Orlando.
The outlier on our list but still worth the trip is LEGOLAND near Orlando, FL. The amusement park has rides, interactive games, special events, and even a hotel on the property. They also have a virtual reality roller coaster and a water park that’s open from March through October.
Pigeon Forge officially has its first indoor waterpark at Country Cascades Waterpark Resort, only a three-hour drive from Greenville, SC. We’ve got all the details on this new spot for great family entertainment!
Thank you to Country Cascades Waterpark Resort for hosting us. All opinions here are our own.
Watch! Our Visit to Country Cascades
My daughters and I love waterparks in general but especially indoor ones during wintertime. What’s better than sliding down a waterslide when it’s chilly outside and still staying warm and having fun in the water? You can do all of that and tons more at Country Cascades Waterpark Resort in Pigeon Forge, TN. But read on to learn how they’ve recently renovated rooms to make sure a family of six – yes, six – can fit comfortably!
View of the waterpark from the waterslide tower
About Country Cascades Waterpark Resort
Country Cascades Waterpark Resort is right on the main strip in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, only about 20 minutes from the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and is walkable to the Island at Pigeon Forge.
The resort has two restaurants, a candy shop, coffee shop, indoor and outdoor waterpark, and tons of activities for the family right on-site. If you get there and don’t want to leave during your trip, you won’t have to since it has everything you need to have fun with your family.
They are also home to Pigeon Forge’s only indoor waterpark, which opened in November of 2024, called Braxton Beaver’s Indoor Waterpark (keep reading for a detailed review!). The resort is only a little over three hours driving distance from Greenville so it’s a great spot for a weekend adventure or just to get away for a few days but not travel too far.
The Rooms at Country Cascades
Country Cascades recently finished a large-scale, multi-million dollar addition of the River Tower, which features new cabin and treehouse suites that are just awesome with lots of thoughtful touches.
We stayed in one of their new cabin suites, which can sleep a total of six people. Yes, six. It includes a king bed and four bunk beds. The bunk beds are in their own little room that has a flat screen TV and a light and electrical outlets next to each bed. They are really cute and such a lifesaver for larger families who need more space for kids.
The treehouse suites sleep four people and have a king bed plus two twins.
Bunk beds inside the Cabin Suite
They do have other rooms that sleep six with pull out beds but the new suites are fantastic for their design. They also have really cute scavenger hunts within the room that the kids can do. Rooms do have a small fridge but no coffee maker or microwave.
One thing that I absolutely loved was that your room key is your wristband that you get when you check-in. Every member of your party has one, which honestly saved me so much stress. I’m one of those people who have to check their pockets a million times before leaving a hotel room to make sure I have the keys. This method is amazing and I loved that the kids could open the room door with their own wristbands as well.
Braxton Beaver’s Indoor Waterpark
The brand new Braxton Beaver’s Indoor Waterpark is a $14 million addition to the resort that opened in late 2024. It includes a four-story waterslide, dueling mat waterslides, a huge soaking tub, large pool with basketball hoops, a zero-entry splash pad, several smaller waterslides, and cabanas you can rent.
Obviously we loved this part of our stay. My daughters are 10 and 14 and while there is probably more to do for younger kids, they weren’t bored at all. They loved all the waterslides, pool, and soaking spa. I thought the huge water slide was super cool because of the light patterns they have throughout it. And I did the dueling mat slides a few times to try to beat my kids (they won). That was a favorite of all of ours.
One of the best parts about the indoor waterpark was that it was open late at night, until 11 pm. I really try to stick to bedtimes at home but it’s a free-for-all when we travel and my daughters took advantage of the freedom. We stayed up late both nights hanging out and playing at the waterpark, which is a lot of fun and a great way to get out the last of any energy the kids may have left. My energy was gone long before then but per usual, my kids had some left.
Splash pad
While I didn’t take advantage of this option, the resort offers a cool feature where you can order food and drinks from the Snack Shack through a QR code right on your chair and it will be brought to you. I love that, especially if you’re a parent of a smaller child who needs to keep an eye on them but you’re also hungry.
Speaking of smaller kids, they will be endlessly entertained here at the waterpark. They have so many options to have fun that you could probably spend hours here with them and it wouldn’t be enough.
The indoor waterpark has life jackets available as well as towels for guests. And I have to give the lifeguards a lot of credit. They were very attentive to every guest the whole time I was there. My daughters said the lifeguards at the smaller water slides were really nice and I saw one lifeguard stop a little kid from errantly climbing up the stairs to the big water slide. The staff were constantly on watch for any trash and emptied garbage cans regularly. So a big high-five to all of them!
The indoor waterpark is only for guests and access to it is included in your stay. They do not sell day passes. And they do have an outdoor waterpark that is open over the summer but we went in February so I can’t give you an opinion on that one! I saw some slides though and it looked like a lot of fun.
The Endless Activities at Country Cascades
The first thing I noticed after we checked into the resort was the amazing number of things to do as a family. The front desk attendant gave me a list of all the activities they had going on that weekend and it was literally something every hour from 9 am – 9:30 pm. Some of the activities were paid things to do like build-a-character doll or cookie decorating but most of the activities were totally free. Their weekday schedule is a bit shorter but still has lots of things to do.
We got there late afternoon on a Friday and just made it in time for Family Trivia, which my daughters wanted to do. They host all their activities in the Friendship Forest Activity Center which looks like you’re in the woods. It’s cute.
Playing bingo
The trivia was a blast. There were a couple other families and you play a game of 20 questions with a bonus question. If there’s a tie, you go into the tie-breaker round. The first night’s trivia theme was Disney. We had a bit of a rough go of it but ended up in the tie-breaker round with one other family amazingly.
We both got the first question wrong so went on to the next one, which we got right! It was pretty exciting I must say. My daughters were thrilled and we won a free box of popcorn from the candy kitchen.
Next up was bingo. My daughters were already wishing this would last all night. They were having so much fun. Lots of people joined in for bingo and we played several rounds. The hosts made it interesting and we had to get bingo using different shapes on the board. One of my daughters won a round and got a $5 coupon to the candy kitchen. It was a good night.
But there’s even more things to do besides the games. They have a big arcade with lots of fun games and a virtual reality arena. There’s also duckpin bowling, gem mining, and a nightly dance party. It was never-ending fun.
Be sure to get the schedule of activities when you get there or you can check out their calendar online ahead of time to plan your adventures.
Dining at Country Cascades
For dining options at the resort, you can get breakfast at Granny Cluckets, delicious fudge and other delectable sweet treats at Candi’s Candy Kitchen, pizza at Nonnaroni’s, and coffee and pastries at Refuel. The Snack Shack at the waterpark also serves up food.
We had breakfast one of the mornings we were there at Granny Cluckets, which is an all-you-can-eat setup. I loved how they did this though: you just go in and the host seats you and then your server brings you a huge platter full of breakfast food. There was bacon, eggs, biscuits, gravy, potatoes, and breakfast sausage. The meal comes with coffee and orange juice.
Granny Cluckets breakfast
You can ask for refills of anything you want on the platters. I thought it was efficient and better than tons of people grabbing serving spoons off a buffet table. Plus, the food was great!
Kids 13 and under eat free with a paid adult. Breakfast for adults is $14.99 or you can grab a discounted breakfast ticket online for $10, which includes a pass for one adult and one child.
They also offer meal deals and some of their hotel packages include breakfast passes so be sure to check them out before booking or just call the resort.
Honest Mom Review
I think the best part about Country Cascades was the focus on making sure that everyone in the family had fun and that they enjoyed their stay with each other. My daughters absolutely loved the Family Trivia and Bingo games. We actually rearranged our schedule on Saturday to make sure to be there that evening for them since we did the games on Friday night and it was such a huge success.
The indoor waterpark was a blast and something really fun to do over the winter months especially. It extended our family time in the evenings and I loved seeing my daughters having so much fun. We have been to the other waterparks in the area and as a comparison, Country Cascades is smaller than the others in size and water activities but it’s just as fun.
And all the activities you can do right at the resort is a huge plus. It’s also one of the more affordable trips, especially if you add on the breakfast vouchers to your room.
The behavior of the staff at the hotel was something I noticed. Every single person we talked to was kind and happy to help or just did their job so well. All the people who did the activities with the families were upbeat and funny. The front desk people were patient and helpful. And everyone working at the waterpark obviously wanted to be there.
I know so many businesses have challenges with staffing but this business got it right. The resort also communicates with their guests via text message and is quick to reply to any questions, which I found to be a seamless way to work with guests.
The location cannot be beat. We walked to the Island at Pigeon Forge and you can easily walk to restaurants, shops, or pretty much anything else you want to go if you want to explore elsewhere.
The other amazing thing I loved was the double bunk beds. I only have two kids but I know many, many families who really need that space – all in one room – to fit their families and the way that the resort constructed these rooms was very thoughtful. It was easy to see that making those memories as a family together is a focus of the entire resort, which I certainly appreciated since that’s our focus at Kidding Around as well.
Booking Your Reservation
You can easily book your trip at the Country Cascades Waterpark Resort’s website. You can get a discount when you sign up for the free Smoky Mountain Rewards program so be sure to do that when you’re there.
Ever want to jump into a huge ball filled with warm water and then roll down a giant hill? You can do it at the only place for zorbing in the United States, the Outdoor Gravity Park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee! Kidding Around’s Kristina got to try it out with her kids and she has all the details on the full experience.
Thanks to the Outdoor Gravity Park for hosting us in their big balls so we could write this review.
I honestly had no idea what I was getting myself into when I signed up to go “zorbing” with the Outdoor Gravity Park in Pigeon Forge, TN. I just saw big, inflatable balls and a giant hill and them rolling down said hill and somehow thought this was missing in my life. In the end, I was definitely missing out by not zorbing and I’m here to tell you all about this crazy adventure.
One of the balls going down the Red track
About Outdoor Gravity Park
The park opened in April 2015 and has been rolling down hills in giant inflatable balls ever since. They are located in Pigeon Forge, TN, only about a three-hour drive from Greenville, SC. This is the only place in the entire country where you can do this kind of crazy adventure – and what a crazy adventure it is.
Outdoor Gravity Park is a family-owned and operated business. They were inspired to bring this unique adventure to Tennessee after they went on a trip to New Zealand.
Outdoor Gravity Park balls
What is Zorbing?
Zorbing was invented in New Zealand and is the act of rolling down a huge, 1,000 foot long hill inside of an 11’ inflatable ball with water inside. The water is only about a foot deep but it’s to help you slide easily around while you have no idea which way is up as you roll down the hill. You’ll also get soaking wet.
There are three tracks at Outdoor Gravity Park – Purple, Red, and Orange. Purple is the beginner one, which I loved. Red is the intermediate one, which my kids loved, and no one was brave enough to do the Orange one.
Up to three people can fit into one of the big balls on the Purple and Red tracks but the orange track is single person only because it’s for the extra crazy people. They told us the balls often go airborne. Oh my gosh. If you’ve got a teenage boy who thinks he is invincible, this is where he needs to go.
Being Inside the Inflatable Ball
I legitimately had no idea what I was getting myself into. Truly, I did not. I’m all for adventure and this looked fun so I said, why not go down a hill in a bouncy ball? I had watched videos but nothing could have prepared me for what it was like speeding down a hill in an inflatable ball rolling around in water.
We really lucked out the day we went zorbing though. The park is open year-round and uses really warm water in the winter and cooler water in the summer. We went in February and amazingly, it was 75 degrees when we went. The water was nice and warm and when we got out after zorbing, we weren’t totally freezing.
Action shot while rolling down the hill in the ball
Once you sign your life away on the waiver, you can get changed into your bathing suit, or whatever you want to wear that will ultimately get wet. They have nice changing rooms and cubbies to leave your clothes. They’ll hold onto your keys as well for you.
Then you get into an adorable little bus and head up to the top of the hill to get into your ball. Once at the top, there are the three tracks with big balls and you choose which track to run. We chose the Purple route for our first run and the attendant started to fill the ball with warm water (it’s changed after every guest) and put some extra air inside to make sure it was totally safe and bouncy.
We had to jump into the ball and into the water. I managed to do it the first time with ease and slid into the ball and ahh, that water felt so nice. Next it was time for my kids to jump in and they thankfully managed without too much trouble. Then we were zipped in the ball and pushed, rolling downhill.
I’ve thought about how to describe this ride and I decided that whatever I write won’t be sufficient but here it goes: I had no clue where I was on this hill. All I could see was water flying everywhere and my kids’ feet and legs in the air. We were yelling, laughing, and wondering what the heck was happening the whole time. It was nuts. It felt like we were flying down this hill.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity (in reality, it was only around a minute maybe), we made it to the bottom after a surprisingly soft landing. I thought we would have bounced everywhere and then came to a stop but it didn’t feel like that.
Our attendant rolled the opening of the ball to the ground where we each slid out like a baby being born, water splashing everywhere, onto the turf. Then I tried to walk and probably looked like I had too much moonshine. It took the three of us a few seconds to get our bearings and my kids immediately asked to do the Red track next.
After hesitating for a moment to think through my life’s questionable decisions, I said yes and got back on the bus.
The Red Track
I thought the Purple track was crazy but it was child’s play next to the Red track. The Purple track is straight down. The Red track is more like a pinball machine where the track zig-zags down the hill.
After our zorbing adventure, I watched other people go down in their balls on the Red track and it seemed like they went slow but when you’re inside, it definitely doesn’t feel like that. After making, um, several attempts to jump into the ball at the top of the hill, I finally made it in, my kids easily following my hilarious attempts at jumping into the ball.
Lots of zorbing
Then we were zipped up and pushed down the hill. While I didn’t regret my life decision at this moment, I was certainly questioning it. We were bouncing against each other as the ball hit the turns and continued its trajectory towards the bottom. My kids were hysterically laughing. They were having a blast.
When we were finally reborn out of the ball back on land, we had one more roll to decide on. My daughters wanted to go on the Red track again and I decided to play it a little safe and have my own ball and head down the Purple track. It was a good decision but I still had to collect myself afterwards in order to walk straight. What an adventure.
Running of the Balls
Not only can you go in a ball and roll down the hill, you can actually run away from balls chasing you down said hill. This exceptionally fun event is called the Running of the Balls and it takes place at the Outdoor Gravity Park in May and September.
This is a charity event and you must register ahead of time on the Outdoor Gravity Park website.
Tips on Zorbing
There are some things you need to know before you choose your zorbing adventure:
It’s best to make reservations online on their website, especially during the busier months.
Bring a towel and change of clothes.
If you want video, they give you a camera and prices start at $15 to acquire your video of rolling down the big hill in the giant ball.
The minimum age to go zorbing is 5-years-old and they must ride with an adult. Ages 6+ can go by themselves.
Weight limit per rider is 275 pounds.
You have to be in good health and have full mobility to go zorbing. People who have high blood pressure, epilepsy, heart conditions, or back or neck injuries cannot go. Also, if you are impaired by drugs or alcohol, you won’t be getting in one of those big balls.
In total, we were there for about 45 minutes between check-in and zorbing.
Booking Your Tickets
A walk-in roll is $27/person and online is $25/person. You pay by person and not by roll so if you have three people in one roll, you pay per person. It’s a good idea to book ahead of time.
They also offer group and private event rates. You could literally have a zorbing birthday party if you wanted to or do a corporate event and roll your co-workers down the 1,000 ft hill – in a ball of course.
Deck at Outdoor Gravity Park
Overall Review: Outdoor Gravity Park
This was quite the experience and I’d totally do it again. It was so unique and fun and my kids absolutely had a great time. If you’re looking for a fun adventure with teens, this is it. Sometimes it’s tough to find things to do together with them but you won’t have that problem here.
It’s also so cool that this is the only place in the country where you can go zorbing. That alone is probably worth the trip since, otherwise, you’d have to go to New Zealand.
If you’re up for adventure while you’re in East TN, definitely consider the Outdoor Gravity Park. At least you’ll have a good story to tell afterwards!
Are you planning a fun family Myrtle Beach Spring Break trip? Myrtle Beach makes an excellent choice for a family-friendly spring break vacation! Though it may be a little chilly for swimming in the ocean and the waterparks won’t be open yet, don’t think for a minute that spring weather will limit your fun in the Myrtle Beach area. Instead, the cooler weather will make the parks and attractions more pleasant. There are also smaller crowds and plenty of kid-friendly hotels with indoor pools to enjoy. Here is a list of things to do during spring break at Myrtle Beach, plus a schedule of how to fit it all in (complete with dining options).
Thank you to Visit Myrtle Beach and the many venues we visited for hosting Kidding Around.
Where to stay in Myrtle Beach?
This article contains Stay22 affiliate links.
We stayed at the Hampton Inn and Suites Myrtle Beach/Oceanfront. The hotel is situated right on the beach and has multiple indoor and outdoor pools. The outdoor pools even have sprinklers and there is a lazy river and hot tub. Since it was April, we spent most of our time swimming in the indoor pool but the outdoor pools were open even though it was only early April.
Our room faced the ocean with a porch with rocking chairs and a table. It was pleasant to be able to watch the sunset over the ocean from the comfort of our room in the evening and the kids loved being able to open our porch doors to let in the fresh ocean breeze in the morning.
I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the complimentary “continental” breakfast at our Hampton included a hot bar with eggs and sausage, fresh waffles, fruit, and plenty of other choices. Not only is breakfast great but the breakfast room overlooks the ocean and it’s quite pretty. It was a good start to the day.
Hotels in Myrtle Beach with Indoor Pools
If you want the summer beach vacation experience during your Spring Break vacation, finding a hotel with an indoor pool is a must. Captain’s Quarters Resort Myrtle Beach offers a wonderful indoor lazy river and indoor pool that is open all year, so your spring break vacation will feel more like summer. The resort is kid-friendly and is only a few miles drive to Broadway at the Beach, the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, and tons of attractions.
First Evening of Spring Break in Myrtle Beach – Catch a Dinner Show!
Who says that you need a full day to start having fun. Start your spring break vacation off right and make your first night part of vacation by heading to Medieval Times for a dinner show. The show will transport you right back to the Dark Ages. Upon entering the castle, you are immediately lords and ladies (complete with a crown). The show includes a full knight competition with horses followed by serious threat to the kingdom that requires an all-out sword fight to determine the best knight to defend the kingdom’s honor. It’s full of cheering, booing, and fun.
Tip: Make sure you plan plenty of time. The traffic into the Myrtle Beach area can be a little slow and you will want to arrive at the dinner show at least a half hour or more in advance.
Day 1 of Spring Break – Visit the Murrells Inlet & the Murrells Inlet Marshwalk
We decided to hit the ground running on our first day of spring break in Myrtle Beach with an action-packed day at Murrells Inlet. Murrells Inlet is about a 45-minute drive from Myrtle Beach, but it’s well worth the drive.
Brookgreen Gardens – We started our morning at Brookgreen Gardens. I had researched the gardens online before our visit but was still amazed by the size and the beauty. We started out our morning in the gardens with a Creek Excursion that took us in a pontoon boat along the creek where we saw rice fields and wildlife (including a couple of gators).
The excursion is super family-friendly, and it is interesting to watch your kids awe over the boat ride. We also learned quite a bit about the history of the area and the Brookgreen Gardens. After our boat ride, we spent time exploring the Children’s Discovery Room, Storybook Forest, Lowcountry Zoo, and the Gardens.
For lunch, we packed a picnic to eat at Brookgreen Gardens where we found ample picnic spots. There were also a couple of restaurants on the grounds to choose from.
Huntington Beach State Park– After the gardens, we headed over to Huntington Beach State Park which was just a short distance down the road. This state park offers hiking, a wide 3 miles of beach, and Atalaya. Huntington Beach State Park is also one of the best places to spot birds in the Southeast. Our kids were tired and itching to get on the beach but I was able to sneak off first and get a peek inside Atalaya. You can tour Atalaya, the original 30 room winter home of the Huntingtons for just $2/person.
We decided to splurge on fresh seafood that night at the iconic Drunken Jack’s at the Murrells Inlet marshwalk. Our table offered a view of the ocean and I tried Chef Casey’s Risotto (an award-winning dish that has Mahi-Mahi, scallops, risotto, and lobster & crab cream sauce). It was a more expensive meal, but the atmosphere, fresh seafood, and cool decor made it worth the cost.
Our kids felt very welcome as their kids’ meals came with pirate hats and they were presented with a gold coin at the end of the meal as a reward for “eating good”. After eating dinner, you can take a walk down the docks to watch native birds perching, boats cruising through the marsh, or even catch an evening sunset. The Murrells Inlet marsh walk is quite magical at sunset, and my kids loved looking at all the herons and seabirds hanging around.
Spending our first day of spring break in Murrells Inlet was really packed and resulted in some tired kids, so we elected to head back to the hotel after dinner where the kids had a quick swim before bed.
Day 2 of Spring Break – Myrtle Beach SkyWheel and Broadway at the Beach
We started our second day, by heading to Ripley’s Aquarium at Broadway at the Beach. The aquarium was really clean and brightly decorated and the exhibits were very nice. There was a shark tunnel, sting ray exhibit, jelly area, and more. I was impressed to see two stingray petting tanks (one with some massive stingrays) and even a moon jelly touching tank. If you are looking for additional options beyond the aquarium Broadway at the Beach offers shopping and several kid-friendly attractions including Ripley’s Odditorium, Ripley’s Movie Theatre 5D, Ripley’s Mirror Maze, Wonderworks, and a nice playground. Broadway at the Beach is one of our favorite attractions because it is super family-friendly, offers live music and entertainment, has excellent dining options, and is a great way to spend a day during your spring break vacation.
After a couple of hours at the aquarium, we ate lunch at Dagwood’s Deli. The burgers and sandwiches we ordered were absolutely delicious and we were glad that we arrived a little before noon as the restaurant quickly filled up soon after we arrived. It was an affordable meal too with most menu items priced under $10.
Dagwood’s Deli was located near several $5 parking lots where we were able to snag a parking space that was not only perfect for lunch but an easy walk to our next destination, the Myrtle Beach SkyWheel.
We had never ridden a ferris wheel as tall as the Skywheel before and we were all a little nervous (in fact, one of my kids almost backed out), but we decided to all give it a try. The line looked long but moved remarkably fast (I think that we were only in line for about 10 minutes). There was space for our entire family to be in one car and it felt safe and even had air conditioning. (If ferris wheels make you nervous, you will be glad to know that there is also an emergency button in the car too).
The Skywheel is in the middle of the strip at Myrtle Beach where you can easily shop for souvenirs or walk along the Myrtle Beach boardwalk.
After the Skywheel, we headed to Savannah’s Playground, a massive all-inclusive playground for children. The playground offered a zipline, large playground, swings, and plenty of space to play. It’s also completely free.
Evening Entertainment & Dinner: We chose to experience the dinner show, Pirate’s Voyage, where we were delighted by acrobatics, singing, dancing, and animals. It was a fast-paced show with a lot of special effects and music and there were even mermaids.
Day 3 of Spring Break – Myrtle Beach Full Experience
On our third day, we decided to experience the heart of Myrtle Beach by heading out to nature followed by a relaxing game of mini golf (Did you know that Myrtle Beach is the mini golf capital of the world?).
We were struck immediately by the beauty of Myrtle Beach State Park. It’s a lovely drive into the park area where you will find a Nature Center and programming, a nature trail, a fishing pier, and a beach front. The hiking was very simple and easy for our two children and while we did not fish we did walk out onto the pier to get a better view of the ocean and shore. Our kids then played in the ocean despite it being a nippy 50 degrees outside. Fortunately, the park has rinsing stations and a bathhouse where you can change. We packed a couple of sandwiches figuring that our kids would be hungry before we left the park.
After the park, we decided to try our hand at mini golf. One thing, we noticed immediately when we drove into Myrtle Beach was how many mini-golf options there were to choose from and they all looked fun. We chose Captain Hook’s Adventure Golf, which ended up being just perfect. The easier course, The Lost Boys was fun but not too difficult and our greens took us past mermaids, into a skull cave, near a pirate ship, and past numerous waterfalls.
After a good game of mini golf, you need ice cream! So we returned our putters and went to get ice cream.
Dinner & Evening Entertainment – We were all in the mood for pizza that last night, so after a little bit of research we settled on Ducatis Trattoria and Pizzaria. We knew it was a good choice, the second we saw the ginormous garlic knots arrive at our table. The pizza was equally delicious.
After dinner, we decided to cap our trip off with a night at the Carolina Opry. The show was truly amazing and our kids really enjoyed the singing and the dancing. We also saw a couple of acts that gave a taste of Thunder and Light (a dance & laser light show) and Pure Magic the Wagsters (a magic show). Both performances were amazing and fun. The evening show did end up having a couple of jokes and a song that was too close to PG-13 for our family.
In addition, it was a little long for little kids (over two hours) but the music and dancing were incredible. Next time we are in town, we plan on snagging tickets for either the Thunder and Light show or the Pure Magic show as both of those are in the morning and our kids especially loved those acts.
Enjoying the Trip back home
On our way home, we decided to stop in route in Conway to see the LW Paul Living History Farm. This working farm is open to the public on Tuesdays-Saturdays from 9-4. You can either call ahead and schedule a tour or explore at your own pace. There are animals, restored original buildings, and it’s completely free. Check their schedule ahead of time as they also have events on the calendar. The farm is only about 45 minutes from Myrtle Beach. The Horry County Museum is also just a couple minutes away and is also free to the public.
Have you ever been to Myrtle Beach for Spring Break? What are your favorite things to do?
