If you’re looking for a unique family activity with safe social distancing to finish out your summer, look no further than the drive-through version of Jurassic Quest in Concord, North Carolina. Purchase tickets soon as they sell out quickly.
Last year, Kidding Around’s Melanie checked out the tour when it stopped at The Atlanta Motor Speedway. For more information in the Concord, North Carolina area, check out Bethany’s Guide to Concord.
(more…)If you have kids and love Charleston, SC, then the suspension bridge playground at Mt. Pleasant Waterfront Park is worth a visit! This park features a unique suspension bridge-themed playground under the Arthur Ravenel Bridge. Not only is it a free activity in a city that can be quite expensive, but you can also walk along the pier and search for dolphins with your kids!
Tucked under the gorgeous Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge in Charleston sits a fun playground themed just like the iconic bridge itself. The fenced-in playground has a nautical design, complete with cable stays just like the bridge which towers high above. It also boasts a toddler area designed like the flight deck of the USS Yorktown at Patriots Point! There are jogging and bicycling paths that weave through a manicured park right along the Cooper River, making this a favorite stop!
Jutting out from the park is the 1,250 ft Mt. Pleasant Pier which was built on the old pilings from the Pearman Bridge. It is the longest pedestrian pier in the southeast and offers panoramic views of Charleston Harbor. Bring along some quarters for the kids to place in the binocular machines located along the pier. This area is considered the crown jewel of Mt. Pleasant, especially since the view is spectacular!
We were able to gaze upon the Charleston skyline, spy the aircraft aboard the carrier at Patriots Point, and watch a school of dolphins play in the river. There are several benches along the pier to relax. There is also a huge covered pavilion at the end which made a great spot for a picnic.
Located at the pier entry is a shop where you can get fishing and tackle supplies, souvenirs, ice cream, or a tasty sandwich.
Mt. Pleasant Waterfront Park
843.762.9946
99 Harry M. Hallman Jr Blvd
Mt Pleasant, SC
Open Daily from 6 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Would your family enjoy a visit to Mt. Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park & Pier?
Check out our complete Guide to Charleston, with things to do, places to eat, and the best places to stay!
Mermaids exist in Hilton Head Island, SC and you can see one on The Mermaid of Hilton Head cruise! Kristina took her family on this unique adventure and told us about it. Thanks to Mermaid of Hilton Head for the opportunity to write about the tour.
2025 UPDATE: MERMAID OF HILTON HEAD IS NO LONGER DOING THIS MERMAID ENCOUNTER TOUR
Hilton Head Island is home to many wonderful family activities and opportunities to learn about the area’s history and environment – including lots of fun sea creatures like dolphins and turtles. But there’s only one place to find a mermaid: the Mermaid of Hilton Head encounter boat tour. This is no ordinary boat tour as you may guess. And contrary to my initial thoughts, it’s not just about finding an awesome mermaid in the salt marshes surrounding the island.
(more…)Have you ever wanted to paddle through a bioluminescent sea of sparkling stars, and glow-in-the-dark waters? Then you have to check out BK Adventure! Florida bioluminescence tour companies take you on a magical journey that is a total bucket list item, and we found the perfect company for the experience. BK Adventure in Titusville, Florida uses clear kayaks, and it’s the best way to experience the glowing Bioluminescent waters of the Space Coast.
Planning a trip to Cape Canaveral, Florida? There are so many things to do that are out of this world! The Space Coast of Florida, famous for being the home base of NASA, has so much more to offer families who travel there. Kayaking thru a galaxy sounds insane, but we have the details of how your family can experience that and other unique things during a visit to the Space Coast of Florida.
This article includes:
Visiting the Space Coast
Things to Do in Cocoa Beach
More Things to Do: Space Coast of FL
Places to Eat: Space Coast of FL
Love history? If you are taking an educational family road trip and are in need of fun things to do at Mount Vernon, then we have you covered! Recently we were fortunate enough to send KAG contributor Lacey Keigley to visit George Washington’s Mount Vernon. Her family loved their visit to the plantation home of the first United States President. This estate offers history, nature, and more. Plus it’s only a short trip from Greenville.
Complimentary tickets were provided for this review.
It was a bright Monday morning and we headed to northern Virginia. We actually arrived at Mount Vernon before the sun had risen to its highest midday point. (And for a trip with five kids, I’d say that was a good start!)
Traffic to the historic site wasn’t at all bad and the brown road signs marked the turns clearly. Parking was simple but we struggled a little to find the entrance once we got out of the car. The signs are sufficient but they are small and we wandered a few minutes before we found the path leading to the main entrance to pick up our tickets.
Find a place to stay in Mount Vernon, VA. This article contains Stay22 affiliate links.
After picking up our tickets – a few complimentary media passes plus a few paid passes – we headed through the museum entrance in order to head to the historic home itself. Our tickets had a time stamp on them for when our tour was scheduled to begin. We examined the giant model of George Washington’s home but we did not linger in the museum because we didn’t want to miss our tour time.
The kids (as well as myself and my sister-in-law who was visiting with us) loved the giant model – all of the perfect interior features were fun to examine. There were even little rolled towels on the shelves and perfect cutlery on the dining room table.
The walk up to the home is flat and easy to traverse and the grounds were not at all crowded on our visit. You see the lawn of the back of Mount Vernon as you walk and I realized after the visit was complete that I always assumed that was the front of the home, but actually, the side facing the Potomac River with the long porch type setting looks more like the front to me.
We had to wait only a short time for our tour to begin and the line moved quickly and the waiting was spent almost entirely in the shade – for which we were all grateful as the day was getting considerably warmer with each passing minute. Very professional and polite, the staff and tour guides worked seamlessly together and presented their information in easy conversational tones.
The home is simple and elegant and lovely and extravagant, all at the same time. Unlike some mansions and historical sites our family has visited over the years, Mount Vernon feels accessible and welcoming. Livable – I think. Which seems like the very feeling George and Martha Washington wished the home to have actually.
The grounds are in perfect condition and made for a lovely morning of strolling. My kids were especially enthralled by the gigantic Tulip Poplar that was planted in 1766 by George Washington himself. (This tree also was the background for my favorite picture from our trip.) It feels a little magical to touch a tree the first president planted.
Had the day been less on the warm side I think we all could have strolled for another hour. As it was, however, the kids welcomed the opportunity to ride the shuttle from the house to the wharf. We were not allowed to walk onto the wharf, but it looked so lovely and peaceful there on the Potomac that I really wanted to spend some quiet minutes closer to the water’s edge.
The sixteen-sided barn near the wharf is a clever creation by Washington to allow draft horses to do the burdensome work of separating the wheat berries from the stalks. A costumed interpreter was at the barn and the kids all were able to take wheat stalks, pull off the wheat berries, blow away the chaff in their hands, and crunch on George Washington’s wheat.
We walked back through the woods on the trail to see Washington’s tomb – as well as his wife’s. A short walk brought us back to the house where we had already visited the blacksmith shop and the gardens and the animal pens. My seven-year-old thought the piglets were especially cute.
Just as the day’s heat was reaching uncomfortable levels, we stepped inside the museum at Mount Vernon. At first the kids, hungry and hot, moaned at my suggestion of walking through and seeing the exhibits. They all quickly changed their tune though as we entered the building.
If you have a history buff in the family that is interested in George Washington, Mount Vernon is a must. Immediately you learn about a group of historians creating life-like wax figures of George Washington at various ages. Then you get to see those figures up close and personal.
The museum is also filled with family-friendly exhibits that engage both grown-ups and kids. There is a hands-on history room where kids can reconstruct artifacts and read books and play with a model home of Mount Vernon, dress up in costumes, and even take coloring pages and activities home with them for the drive back south. You kids can learn about the Revolutionary War and the country’s history, all while having fun.
Our family spent about two and half hours at Mount Vernon. We could have probably spent another hour had we watched the museum’s film or lingered longer at some of the outbuildings around the house. It’s a beautiful location – certainly picturesque, but also a starting point of American history that is absolutely worth your family’s time to take in on your next trip to the Washington DC area.
3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Mount Vernon, VA
703.780.2000
Open 365 days per year
www.mountvernon.org
Ticket prices:
Kids 6 – 12 years old, $15
Ages 12+ and adults, $28
Kids 5 and under are free
Save a buck or two by purchasing tickets online.
What would your kids love the most about a visit to George Washington’s Mount Vernon?
Looking for more travel ideas? Check out our travel page.
If you’re planning a trip to Charleston, SC and need something a little out of the ordinary to do and satiate your adventurous family, we’ve got just the place at the Charleston Aqua Park! Kristina tried it out and has all the details for our readers.
Media tickets were provided for this review but the opinion is completely that of the author.
I love anything adventurous as do my kids so when we had the opportunity to try out the floating obstacle course and first-ever ropes course over water in the country at the Charleston Aqua Park, I was one hundred percent on board. My kids and I love to watch “American Ninja Warrior” and old re-runs of the hilarious show “Wipeout” so we wanted to see how good we’d be at anything remotely like either of those shows.
Spoiler alert: we have a whole new respect for people who do obstacles over water and slide around on water obstacles!
So if you’re in the Charleston area or anywhere nearby and want something fun and unique to do over the summer months, the Charleston Aqua Park is your place.
(more…)As of July 2023, the new Buc-ee’s in Sevierville, TN, just three hours from Greenville, SC, is the largest in the world and it’s incredible. Kristina took the plunge and visited this massive beaver wonderland and has all the details. Thanks to Visit Sevierville for inviting us to experience their beautiful town!
I’ve been a Buc-ee’s fan for several years having been introduced to the amazing wonder that is the massive gas station/shopping haven/jerky and fudge operation when I’ve traveled to Texas where the original Buc-ee’s started. The largest one in the world opened just three hours from Greenville, SC in Sevierville, TN and I could not wait to go. I was counting down the days till my next Buc-ee’s experience and it did not disappoint.
The original Buc-ee’s popped up in 1982 in Clute, Texas and the cute little beaver with buck teeth became the mascot for the gas station convenience store. But everything is bigger in Texas, and Buc-ee’s is no exception. In 2003, the brand started to expand and hasn’t stopped. It’s long since been a destination for travelers.
They are probably the most famous for their endless flavors of beef jerky, made in-house, and their Beaver Nugget snacks. I have no idea what they are but people love them. I happen to really enjoy their brisket sandwiches, fudge, and jerky. Everything is pretty awesome there though and you can’t go wrong stopping in.
One thing that Buc-ee’s always gets high praise for is their spacious, clean restrooms. It felt like there were dozens of stalls in the bathroom. Everything was perfectly clean and there was no waiting in line for the women’s restroom, a big win in my book. Plus, clean bathrooms are always a win.
The new location in Sevierville, Tennessee of Buc-ee’s defies all imagination. Whatever you think it will look like, think bigger. Much bigger.
The Buc-ee’s in Sevier County opened Monday, June 26, 2023, off Interstate 40 as the largest travel center and Buc-ee’s location.
There are 120 gas pumps and the gas there was cheaper by far, like 15 cents a gallon at least, than anywhere else on our drive from Greenville to Tennessee.
The car wash is 250 feet long. That’s a little less than 100 feet short of a football field.
The retail space is a whopping 74,000 square feet and it’s truly a sight to behold. Don’t be ashamed if you don’t know where to go first when you walk into Buc-ee’s in Sevierville. It’s ok, a friendly Buc-ee’s employee will greet you and help you out if needed. Everyone at Buc-ee’s is ridiculously nice and kind and they look like they are having a blast working there. They literally do cheers at registers. I don’t know what for but it’s fun.
From the lady who was making the fudge to the guy cutting up the brisket to the woman who helped us get into a fitting room to try on Buc-ee’s shorts and bathing suits, everyone was so awesome and nice.
Buc-ee’s is known for paying their employees well and posts all around the store and outside that they are looking for help and what their pay scale is. They start pay at $17/hour at the Sevierville location.
One of the neat things about Buc-ee’s in Sevierville is that it is part of a larger project called the 407: Gateway to the Smokies, a plan put in place by the Eastern Band of Cherokees to convert 200 acres into a tourist destination and entertainment facility. Ground was broken in 2020 and Buc-ee’s is the first major retailer to set up shop.
Really, the question is what can’t you buy at Buc-ee’s? Need some snorkeling gear? They have it. Need glassware or a cutting board? They have it. Need a cozy set of pajamas? They have it.
Need a lunch box or cooler? They have it. Need hunting gear? They have it. Need toys for Christmas? They have them. Need shoes or bathing suits or flannel shirts or hats? They have all of that. Need tea towels and jewelry and lavender-scented pillow spray? They’ve got those.
Plan to spend some significant time here to look through all the cool stuff they have. It’s truly a lot of fun.
The food at the store is also really, really tasty. You’re gonna want to risk it for the brisket here. Fun fact: Eight-time world BBQ champion Randy Pauly is the director of barbecue at Buc-ee’s. He extensively trains staff on how to make the brisket just right.
They also have an assortment of chicken and club sandwiches, pulled pork sandwiches, and subs. You can get banana pudding, cookie dough balls, or key lime pie cups for dessert.
Definitely don’t miss their bakery and homemade fudge section, which is enormous, as is everything at Buc-ee’s. They make their fudge right in front of you and it’s very tempting not to buy as much as you can carry.
You’ll start seeing billboards for Buc-ee’s about 90 miles away when you drive from the Upstate. It’s a great motivator to skip bathroom breaks and make a beeline for the beaver. Buc-ee’s is right off of I-40 West at exit 407.
It’s an excellent first stop on your way to Sevierville and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. You’re only 20 minutes or less from downtown Sevierville, Wilderness at the Smokies, and Soaky Mountain Waterpark. Plus, you’ll most definitely find something you didn’t think you needed there, which is quite the fun experience.
There is so much to see and do at Buc-ee’s that you’ll probably want to make a return trip before you head home. We encourage all the trips to Buc-ee’s that you feel you need to make.
Buc-ee’s
Buc-ee’s Blvd, Sevierville, TN
Want More Fun?
Don’t miss things to do in Sevierville, TN!
UPDATE: Lake Lure reopened to the public in May 2026! The surrounding area, including local businesses and shops in Lake Lure and Chimney Rock, are also open for business.
Have you visited the Lake Lure beach and water park? The combination of a mountain lake with a sandy beach along with waterslides that run right into the cool mountain water is spectacular! Plus, you only have to pay one admission fee at this famous lake in North Carolina.
A local mom visited Lake Lure with her family. They had a blast! Read about their trip and catch all the tips so you’ll know just what to expect when you visit.
Find a place to stay in Lake Lure, NC. This article contains Stay22 affiliate links.
After reading all about Lake Lure and its nostalgic filming of the movie “Dirty Dancing”, I was intrigued to make a day visit. From Greenville, Lake Lure is a little over an hour but well worth the beautiful scenic drive up into Chimney Rock State Park. From Greenville, you will use 25 North to I26 West to 2724 Memorial Hwy, Lake Lure, NC 28746 (I also recommend using Google Maps for directions).
Also, don’t forget to bring a packed lunch as well as buckets and shovels for the kids, as the sand beach is ideal for sandcastle building. Once you get close to the Chimney Rock area, you will drive through a quaint little town and see an array of restaurants, shops, and gem mine stores for the kids. It has an old Western-type feel with the picturesque backdrop of Chimney Rock in the background.
Having arrived at the lake around noon, we noticed that parking was filling up quickly but luckily there seemed to be several spots across the street in front of the historic Lake Lure Inn. Once we parked and gathered our beach gear, we headed through the main entrance where we were banded after paying the daily fee.
The admission for adults is $12, and admission for kids 4 to 12 is $8. Kids under four are free. You can find pricing and information on the Lake Lure beach website. The price of admission includes the water park and beach access.
Hurricane Helene destroyed the water slides. But don’t worry, the beach now has a floating Adventure Course. Tickets are not included in beach admission. The rates are $7/person (ages seven and above) and $5/kids (ages four to six). There are also restroom facilities and showers.
The water is roped for designated swimming, and there are many people with rafts and water toys. You can easily spend all day at the beach with plenty to do for kids and adults. And of course, no trip to Lake Lure is complete without doing “the lift” from the movie Dirty Dancing, which was filmed here.
If you’d like to cruise around the lake in a kayak, paddleboard, or hydro bike, you can rent one on site. Stand-up paddleboards, canoes, and two-person kayaks are $20/hour or $85/all day, while single kayaks are $18/hour or $70/all day. Hydro bikes are $12/hour. Rentals are available at the beach from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
If you want to bring your own non-motorized watercraft, you will have to pay a daily fee of $25, a weekly fee of $50, or a yearly fee of $100.
Have you ever been to Lake Lure?
Love a great mountain beach? Check out our list of Upstate mountain beaches for an excellent time with your family!
There’s more to love in WNC.
Find it all in our Kidding Around Guide to Western North Carolina.
Ready for a perfect day trip or summer vacation? Dollywood is a popular place to visit for Greenville families as it’s tons of fun and only three hours away. While you’re there, you can beat the heat by spending some time at Dollywood’s Splash Country. Kidding Around’s Kristina visited this water park with her kids and gathered up all the insider information plus tips and tricks so our readers will know exactly what to expect when they plan their own trip!
Media tickets were provided for this review.
Find a place to stay near Dollywood. This article contains Stay22 affiliate links.
I had never been to a giant water park before packing up the kids and heading to Dollywood’s Splash Country, a mere three hours from Greenville. I had no idea what to expect. Water slides? Pools? Some splash pads? Upon entering Splash Country though, I was more than surprised that the waterpark had all of those plus tons more. I shouldn’t have been surprised though – the water park and Dollywood is ranked by USA Today as one of the very best in the country.
So if you haven’t been to Splash Country, I’ve got all you need to know here. And if you have been but need a little more incentive to go back, I’ll tell you all about what we did and tell you about some of their new rides. The 2025 season opens May 10th, 2025. See their calendar for operating hours when you want to go.
The waterpark opened in 2001 on 25 acres next to the Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge. It’s under the same brand as Dollywood, of course, which means it’s held to high standards of hospitality, cleanliness, and family fun. It didn’t disappoint on any of these factors.
When it opened, it had a 25,000-square-foot wave pool, a lazy river, a children’s interactive area, tube rides, and two extreme body slide rides, plus a restaurant. Since 2001, the park has added a whitewater rafting tube ride, the Bear Mountain Fire Tower™ attraction with smaller water slides and a huge climbing structure, a 70-foot high water slide, a huge area with a grotto, waterfalls, slides, a leisure pool, and splash pad for kids, a multi-lane mat slide ride, a water coaster (the first one in Tennessee), and lastly, the TailSpin Racer was added in 2017. The park has added food stands, water retreat cabanas, and shaded areas as well.
Two things immediately stood out to me about the waterpark: the cleanliness of the entire park and the staff’s attentiveness. No trash was lying around, the pools were all clean, and the rides were spotless.
And the staff were incredibly attentive and kind and helpful. The lifeguards had their eyes glued to the pools at all times, and the larger attractions like the wave pool were well-staffed, where I counted at least 10 lifeguards stationed around the huge pool. The staff and lifeguards at all the rides were well-trained on safety protocol and gave riders precise instructions on safely enjoying the water activities.
Life jackets are available for free all over the park, from little kids to adults. Just pick one up. The park discourages guests from bringing their own life jackets or puddle jumpers, but I saw plenty of them while there. And don’t bring pool toys as they are not allowed.
Splash Country has several food options inside the park, nachos, tacos, hamburgers, hot dogs, and plenty of desserts like Dippin’ Dots and ice cream. Expect to pay at least $10-15/person for whatever you choose to eat.
Dollywood thankfully understands that families may want to save money on dining and bring their own food. Even though they don’t allow food or drink inside the park, you can leave the park and come back in to get your hand stamped. We packed a cooler for lunch, left the park, ate our cheap lunch, and headed back inside for more fun. There are picnic benches with umbrellas for shade at the park entrance if you’d like to eat your lunch there.
Passes to reserve your spot in line and cut down on wait time are available, which could come in useful on busy days. The TimeSaver H2O costs between $55-$70 per person and allows guests to enjoy other attractions while virtually waiting in line for popular rides.
We went during the beginning of the week of July 4th and it was crowded. While we didn’t have to wait too long for any ride, maybe 25 minutes tops, I was certainly a little envious of the people who had the TimeSaver pass since they zipped past us in their own lane. Even shorter wait times can be trying on a tired kid so getting the TimeSaver H2O pass may be worth it.
My favorite areas of the park were the giant wave pool Mountain Waves, the roller coaster raft ride, the Big Bear tube ride, and the Bear Mountain Fire Tower™ with all its water slides. Oh, and the multi-lane mat slides – my oldest daughter and I raced down a couple of times. It was a blast. We spent all day there and my kids were not happy to leave.
Other popular attractions at Dollywood Splash Country are:
You can see a list of all the rides and height requirements for Splash Country Online.
Little Creek Falls is an attraction that has no standing water. It’s the perfect place for babies, toddlers and little ones to play and stay cool.
Here’s a list of things you’ll want to bring to Dollywood’s Splash Country:
If you plan on going to Dollywood more than twice a year, a season pass is a good investment for both the theme park and Splash Country. If you stay at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort, which you can literally see from the park, there is a free shuttle also that will take you to the park from the resort.
For the occasional promotion of tickets and sales, follow Dollywood on Facebook or sign up for their email newsletter. If making fun memories with your family is on your list this summer, make a trip over the mountains to Dollywood’s Splash Country!
Have you been to Dollywood’s Splash Country before?
Plan the best trip with our Family Guide to Pigeon Forge & Gatlinburg
While you’re here, don’t miss the Great Smoky Mountains.
Smoky Mountain National Park
Visit one of the best waterparks in the country, Dollywood Splash Country!
