Surf City, North Carolina is the Perfect Beach Town for Any Family

Posted on by Jennifer Curry | 1 Comment

Searching for your perfect beach to visit this summer? Surf City, NC is a quiet coastal town that offers tons of family fun, great places to eat, peaceful beaches, and more! They even have a turtle rehabilitation center that your family can visit. Local mom Jennifer spent some time in Surf City with her family and had a wonderful time. You can check out her review below.

local beach Surf City, North Carolina

We are beach people, but we are quiet beach people. My family prefers to rent a beach house for a week rather than stay in a hotel. We like beaches where there is some space between your beach chairs and umbrellas. This is how we ended up in Surf City, NC for the first time this summer. And, we fell in love!

If you haven’t heard of Surf City, I’m not surprised. This is a small township located on Topsail Island. Maybe you’ve heard of Topsail Island, which is a 26-mile-long barrier island off the coast located close to Wilmington, NC. Whereas Topsail Island is 26-miles-long, Surf City is a small, walkable section of the island. And, it is where all the action happens.

Folly Beach beach access

Looking for other beaches to explore in the Southeast? Check out our list of 20+ Amazing Beaches in the Southeast that are family-friendly and waiting to be explored! 

What to Expect at Surf City, NC

Surf City is full of vacation rentals instead of large hotels. There are a few hotels on the island, but far more townhouses or beach houses for rent. Since this is a small township, almost everything was within walking distance of our rental. It was fantastic! We could walk to get food from restaurants, pick up groceries, or shop.

Another fun part of staying in Surf City was the number of surfers! While we didn’t see many large waves, we did see a large number of surfboards in the water each morning. And, the local Surf City Surf School offers daily surfing lessons to tourists.

Surf City is quiet during the week, which was perfect for my introverted family members. But, it is much more crowded on weekends. This is because the locals head to Surf City on Topsail Island because it has several public beaches, as well as a beautiful pier. On the weekend we visited, there were lots of people around; however, there were still far fewer people than you find at other beaches that are tourist destinations.

Stay in Surf City, NC

Find the perfect place to stay in Surf City using the map below.
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Things to Do at Surf City

Surf City is a quaint beach town, so do not expect to find a ton of tourist attractions. Instead, plan to spend your days enjoying the beautiful beach. Take time to explore the town on foot. Visit the pier, shop the various boutiques and beach stores, and try out the restaurants. My favorite thing to do was walk across the street from the beach to the local bookstore.

Additionally, there is a mini-golf course in Surf City, as well as a turtle rescue and rehabilitation center. Both are family-friendly tourist attractions.

Topsail Island is close to Wilmington, NC, and Carolina Beach, NC. My family took a day trip to Carolina Beach and visited the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher and the Carolina Beach Boardwalk amusement park.

local shops in Surf City beach in North Carolina

Where to Eat when visiting Surf City

Since we were on vacation and could walk to multiple restaurants, we ate out a lot. And, I do not regret it one bit! The food was excellent. In particular, I grew incredibly fond of Shaka Taco, a fun taco restaurant connected to the Surf City Surf School. I ate there three times in a week. I know that sounds ridiculous, but I am still dreaming about their Shaka Nachos. Plus, there were several other local restaurants that my family enjoyed while on vacation, such as Daddy Mac’s Beach Grille and Shuckin’ Shack Oyster Bar.

Why We Plan to Go Back to Surf City

I love going to beach towns that feel like authentic beach towns, and this is the case with Surf City. It is not commercialized. It is quiet and quaint. My family felt safe enough there to walk everywhere. Plus, it was beautiful. Honestly, I would drive the five hours so that I could walk from the beach to eat at Shaka Taco again.

Surf City beach in North Carolina

What’s your family’s favorite nearby beach to visit?

10 Bakeries That Are Creating Instagram Worthy Cakes In Greenville, SC

Posted on by Kidding Around Team | 3 Comments

Looking for amazing cakes in Greenville, SC? The art of cake decorating and baking is often harder than it looks. Great bakers, make the process seem effortless, and that misconception has led to many a reality show. Just like on the show “Nailed It”, oftentimes even bakers can misjudge the difficulty of a cake’s design. That’s when reliable recommendations and photos of past work become so important. We have a list of bakeries in Greenville our readers have recommended.

Oftentimes, the decorating of a cake can be just as difficult as saying no to orders, you aren’t sure you can pull off. If I sound like I know, it’s because I spent several years working in a bakery, and know-how important cakes can be to a milestone event. Check out these awesome local bakeries that will make your guest’s mouths water, and your photos the envy of everyone on Instagram!

Birthday Party Guide, Upstate, SC

For even more birthday party ideas, be sure to look at our Ultimate Guide to Birthday Parties in Greenville!

Doux Anni number cutout cake
Image Credit | Doux Anni
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Grab a Coffee While Exploring Local Artists at GVL Art Gallery & Shop

Posted on by Kidding Around Team |

Have you explored the wonderful local artists at GVL Art Gallery & Shop? Located in the heart of Downtown Greenville, this gallery is where you will find some of Greenville’s best art, all in one place. Plus, you can grab a cup of coffee from Flying Fox Coffee Co. while you are there!

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Here’s How You Can Get Behind the Scenes at The Greenville Zoo

Posted on by Anna Arzt |

Note: The Greenville Zoo is not currently offering behind-the-scenes tours. We will update this article if they begin offering the tours again.

Have you heard of Greenville Zoo’s Behind-the-Scenes Tour? KAG Contributor Anna Artz and her family attended a behind the scenes tour of the zoo. She’s written all about the experience here, so you’ll know what to expect if your bring your crew.

The Greenville Zoo is a well-loved downtown attraction in our family. Our kids will never get tired of walking around the zoo, from saying hello to the ant-eater and trying to spot the lions and leopards, to waving goodbye to the pigs and goats at the Farm section near the exit.  Whenever the sun is out, a trip to the zoo is always on top of our list. ~Anna Artz, KAG Contributor

What is The Behind the Scenes Tour?

If your family loves animals as much as we do, there’s a special way to visit Greenville Zoo.  The Behind The Scenes Tour of Greenville Zoo offers a rare chance to walk behind the zoo’s exhibits and visit to the zoo’s commissary. Ever wonder what it’s like to be a zookeeper? Or what the different animals at the Greenville zoo eat? Or why a giraffe’s tongue is brown? All of these questions and more can be answered by signing up for this tour.

Our family recently attended a Behind The Scenes tour of the zoo, and we thoroughly enjoyed the experience. We learned a lot about the inner workings of a zoo and we also gained knowledge about the zoo’s wildlife conservation efforts. Below are some highlights of our visit.

The Commissary

The tour began with a warm welcome from our guide who was accompanied by a docent volunteer. We then proceeded to the zoo commissary. This part of the tour was learning about the contents and preparation of various animal’s diets. We learned that the zoo’s nutritionist feeds the animals organic vegetables and tries to get the best produce for them in the same way we shop for our own vegetables. We got a glimpse of the kitchen and the menus for each animal. We learned that some ate more frequently than others. While the alligators were known to go several months without eating, the orangutans ate four to five times a day. We were also shown the leaf-eater biscuits, a favorite giraffe snack, which was edible even to humans. We were offered a chance to taste a biscuit and my daughter gamely volunteered and ate the whole cookie! She said it tasted like grass.

The Animals

The next part of the tour was a visit to the giraffe barn. We entered from the back, where keepers would usually go. We had one of the zookeepers talk about the habits of the giraffe, and we met Autumn, a Masai giraffe, who came by to say hello. She was so close we could see her very thick eyelashes.

giraffe at Behind the Scenes Tour Greenville Zoo

As we walked behind the exhibits, we observed that many of the exhibits had an area where the animals can enter and be by themselves. Needless to say, we saw the multiple gates and locks for the lion cage. The zookeepers carry lots of keys!

We then moved on to the Asian animal section. One of the zoo keepers opened the gates for us, and led us  behind the leopard exhibit. As we stood next to Emerald, the leopard, we learned that these felines are very good climbers, and we were glad that their area had a steel net above. We were also reminded not to get too close to the cage since a paw could fit easily fit through the fence. We were surprised with how active the animals were. Usually, we find them sleeping in far corner of their exhibit. This time, we were in that far corner and eye to eye with a very awake Emerald.

Greenville Zoo Behind the Scenes Tour

Another set of gates were opened and we came to the last part of our tour, a visit to the two grand Sumatran orangutans, Kumar and Lana. Not only were we impressed by the size and beauty of the orangutans, we witnessed how the keepers trained the animals using sign language. The keeper showed us how they used sign language to ask the animals do things and in return, the animals received a treat.

Kumar, the male orangutan sensed a snack and approached the fence. The zoo keeper then made some signs with her hands and Kumar responded following her direction. This went on for a while, with Kumar, turning to his left, then his right, opening his mouth and so on and so forth. This gave his keeper a chance to  gave Kumar a full body check-up. Not satisfied, at the end of the check-up, Kumar wasn’t quite done.  He looked for more grapes, and expressed this by pushing his blanket through the fence. According to the keeper, he was trying to trade his blankie for more fruit!

Greenville Zoo Behind the Scenes Tour

The whole tour took an hour, but can be longer since the guides and the keepers are happy to answer all of your questions. It was quite a unique experience seeing the animals up-close and interacting with the keepers. Our kids left with much admiration for the zoo keepers and had lots of questions on how to become keepers themselves when they grow up. Our daughter has always talked of becoming a veterinarian. This experience showed her other interesting opportunities for kids who want to work with animals.

Tips for the Tour

  • Bring a bottle of water.
  • Bring a camera.
  • Wear a hat or cap since the tour is mostly outdoors except for the zoo commissary.
  • The tour will involve some walking and standing so wear comfortable shoes.
  • Be prepared to be licked by a giraffe!

Have you been on a Behind-the-Scenes Tour of the Greenville Zoo?

Bring on the Biscuits, Greenville’s Got a New Culinary Tour

Posted on by Kristina Hernandez |

I’ve got 4 words for you: Breakfast Tour in Greenville. If there’s anything better than breakfast, it’s having breakfast three times in one morning. John Nolan, owner of Greenville History Tours, feels the same. He’s created a culinary tour of three breakfast-focused restaurants in Greenville that will leave you not only content and full, but yearning to schedule time to go back and spend an entire morning at any of them.

Kidding Around Greenville got to try this breakfast adventure and we cannot wait to share it with you.

Culinary Tours

If you are unfamiliar with John Nolan and his culinary tours, they are easily one of the best events in Greenville. It doesn’t matter if you’re visiting town, have lived here for years, or just moved in. John has mastered the art of delivering the VIP experience to guests of some of the town’s best restaurants, all the while regaling guests with tales from Greenville’s past, complete with photos.

At the Chef’s Table Culinary Tour, chefs at the restaurant stops mingle with guests, take them into their kitchens, and share food and drinks. John points out the ruins of textile mills, explains how the town was named, and shows old photos of Main Streets. I got to go on one of these tours and it was incredible. I’ve since taken my husband and the experience was just as good.

So when John reached out and told us at Kidding Around Greenville that he was launching a breakfast tour, I was all in. Breakfast is my ultimate favorite meal of the day. Game on.

breakfast grits

Breakfast Tour

The restaurant scene is exploding in Greenville but the breakfast places aren’t getting much love. This tour highlights some of the best places in the area and wow, are they yummy.

The driving tour starts on Main Street and heads to Southern Pressed Juicery.

Founded and established in Greenville, Southern Pressed Juicery is focused on helping you take care of your health and well-being.

Their menu consists of fresh juices, acai bowls, smoothies, and salads. There’s even a Sweet Treats section with an assortment of doughnuts.

biscuit head greenville

Biscuits Next

We continued on… and before we knew it, John had stopped the van at our next destination, Biscuit Head.

Truthfully, this was the place I was looking forward to the most because…biscuits. I love them. I love making them and I love eating them.

Biscuit Head opened in 2013 and has been busy ever since. Their whimsical design and creative dishes keep guests coming back for more. They even have their own cookbook that patrons can purchase.

We had a divine dish of a poached egg with lime zest, a lime crema, and a grilled chicken biscuit with avocado and mango salsa. The biscuit was so good but what pushed this dish off the charts was the jam bar.

This jam bar was crazy. It was all kinds of homemade jam, like sweet potato chai, peach, and raspberry, plus butters like the s’mores butter. It was just as tasty as it sounds. I can still taste the flavors as I write this. This was my favorite part. I should have asked for another biscuit just so I could try more jams.

And Biscuit Head sells all of their jams to go. Winner.

Oh, and the owners surprised us with a little mimosa to round out the meal. As with everything else they served, it was excellent.

Tacos…or Croissants

The last stop on your tour will either be Papis Tacos or Le Petit Croissant.

Papi’s Tacos has delicious tacos with an incredible view of the Reedy River. Their menu also features nachos and burrito bowls. And for your sweet tooth, you’ll find churros and gelato.

Le Petit Croissant specializes in artisan chocolates and pastries, but they also have a breakfast menu featuring avocado toast, B.E.C. (bacon, egg, and cheese), quiches, and other breakfast sandwiches and croissants.

breakfast tour greenville

Want to go?

Tours take place every Tuesday and Thursday morning at 9 am.

I’d do this again in a heartbeat… especially as a date. As a working parent, I’d also have no hesitation to reserve a spot for a client coming into town or as a breakfast meeting. It’s such an interesting idea for a creative outing in Greenville whether you are a native or just visiting.

It’s also a great way to begin a Girls Day Out or even a special Moms Morning Out or something similar. It makes a fantastic gift for friends as well.

Breakfast is underrated in my humble opinion. John Nolan and Greenville History Tours elevates breakfast the way it should be and delivers a memorable experience at the same time.

To sign up, go to the Greenville History Tours website (you can also register for John’s other great history and culinary tours as well).

Greenville, SC Tours

Want more tours?

We have a huge list of all the foodie, history, nature, and family tours (plus a few really unique options).

Check out the KA Guide to Greenville, SC Tours for more!

Does the breakfast tour sound like a fantastic way to spend a morning to you?

Escape Artist Is One of Greenville’s Best Places for Fun and Mystery

Posted on by Bethany Winston |

Do you think you can beat the clock at Escape Artist Greenville SC? Several years ago, some friends were visiting from out of town and wanted to meet up. When we asked them what they would like to do, they suggested that we meet up at one of Greenville’s top escape rooms, Escape Artist Greenville. We are very glad that we said yes. In fact, we had such a great time we can’t stop recommending Escape Artist to all of our friends in Greenville. Escape Artist Greenville was even voted one of the Best Escape Rooms in 2025 by Newsweek, how cool!

Escape Artist Greenville

Liberty Bridge at Falls Park

Looking for more fun things to do downtown? Check out the KA Guide to Downtown Greenville.

What is Escape Artist Greenville Like?

Upon arriving, we were energized immediately by owners Will and Kim Rutherford’s enthusiasm. It was impossible to not catch the excitement about trying to test our group’s wits against one of their escape rooms.

After a short explanation of rules such as “don’t tear apart the ceiling” followed by a creepy story intro we handed over our iPhones and headed into  “Dr. Fratelli’s cabin”. Inside the mad scientist’s cabin, we quickly got to work looking inside and under the many objects in order to start finding clues. These clues then led to puzzles that had to be solved in order to find the special locked exit and escape the room where Dr. Fratelli had trapped us. Of course, the primary entrance remained unlocked so we weren’t actually physically locked in. It is just a game!

We were given just one hour to escape the room, but we had the ability to ask for three clues during our hour. Will was watching us through his surveillance cameras and was quick to offer the exact help needed for each clue. The puzzles were challenging but still simple enough for a group to solve.

Did We Escape?

Of course, the first question everyone asks is “Did you escape?” Actually, Will told us that only 20-25% of the groups that try the room “get out”. We made it though with only a couple of minutes left to spare and we used all 3 hints.

Will greeted us after we finished and shared his own observations of how we solved the puzzle. We then were allowed to grab our phones again so that Kim could take a victory photo for us showcasing our time.

Objects and clues at Escape Artist Greenville SC
Photo Credit: Eli Warren, used by permission from Escape Artist Greenville

Is Escape Artist Greenville Worth the Money?

Escape Artist is a little bit more expensive than most of the attractions my husband and I visit, starting at around $30/person. It was worth every penny we spent. We had so much fun working together, laughing at our mistakes, and bragging about what we solved. The room was very well designed, all of the clues were clear and worked correctly, and Will & Kim executed everything wonderfully. It’s no wonder that they have received so many 5 star reviews.

Any hints?

Well, of course, I can’t give any hints on how to solve the puzzle because that would ruin the fun, but here are a couple tips to help you have the best chances of victory:

  1. Don’t be afraid to ask for a clue when you are stuck. It’s better to use them up than not get out!
  2. Get started quickly. Don’t be shy about looking around the room when you enter it. The sooner you find your first clues the better.
  3. Don’t overthink your clues. None of the clues will require knowing weird facts and you won’t mess up your clues by touching or moving objects in the room.
  4. Playing an escape room game on your tablet or phone ahead of time will help give you an idea of the types of puzzles you might encounter.
  5. Have fun! Don’t get too stressed out. This activity is all about having a good time.

What About Kids?

I visited Escape Artist Greenville with 3 other adults and I thought that it was a great adult activity but older children and teens would definitely enjoy it as well. Children under 16 are allowed to attend with an adult, and Will told us that he had even recently hosted a party of 11-year-olds. Will did tell us that he adapts the clues as necessary for children and that the children who have come through really have enjoyed the puzzle. All of the content in the story and inside the room was appropriate for any age audience and there weren’t any thematic elements that would scare a child.

About Escape Artist: Greenville SC

Be sure to book your time ahead of time online. Due to the nature of the event, space is limited and 2 hours advanced reservation is required.

This attraction is completely unique to Greenville. While there are other “escape rooms” in Greenville and in other cities, Will & Kim specifically designed this room and story making it a one-of-a-kind adventure.

The attraction can fit 2-8 people at a time. Your group may get placed with another group if you don’t purchase the entire 8 tickets.

In addition to Dr. Fratelli’s Cabin, there are four other escape rooms including our current favorite Starlight Motel (a spooky, interactive room for adults). You can read about Starlight Motel in our review.

There is a second location of Escape Artist Greenville, located at Hampton Station. The Hampton Station location has fewer rooms (Help Wanted and Dark Lullaby), but the proximity to dining, breweries, and shopping makes it a great activity.

The Escape Artist Greenville: SC Has Two Locations!

209 East Stone Avenue, Greenville, SC
864-509-9305
info@escapeartistgreenville.com
www.escapeartistgreenville.com
Book the Downtown Greenville location

Hampton Station
1320 Hampton Avenue, Bay 11C, Greenville, SC
Book the Hampton Station location

Have you ever visited The Escape Artist or another Escape Room in Greenville? We would love to hear what you thought in the comments!

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The Best Family-Friendly Gyms in Greenville and Spartanburg

Posted on by Kidding Around Contributor | 3 Comments

Are you wondering what gyms in Greenville and Spartanburg are the most family-friendly? Or maybe you’re searching “gyms with childcare near me”? Being able to access a gym with a quality daycare that your kids could check into while you are exercising, a gym with a pool, or a gym that has exercise programs for the whole family is an amazing thing to have. Here’s what other local parents in Greenville and Spartanburg recommended when we asked them where their favorite family-friendly gyms are!

Gyms with childcare Greenville, SC Spartanburg, SC
Best Family Gyms Near Greenville, SC
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About this list: These recommended gyms are based on recommendations from our readers. We have updated information as we are able to but we always recommend checking the websites and/or calling to get the latest information. If you know of a gym that’s kid-friendly that didn’t make our list (or have a review to add), just add a comment at the bottom of this post.

Reader Recommended Gyms For Families in Greenville

Prisma Health Family YMCA

864.963.3605 | 550 Brookwood Point Place, Simpsonville
Childcare: Membership includes up to 2 hours of free childcare each day. They also offer Parents’ Night Out; call to check for upcoming dates.
Facilities: group exercise classes, two pools, wellness equipment, and more
Children’s Fitness and Health: After School Program, Adventure Guides, Aquatics, Summer Day Camp, Dance, Overnight Camp, and more

GHS Family YMCA definitely! They are very sweet and kind to the kids. My kids love going there. They have fitness classes for them almost every day.

Erika

Prisma Health Family YMCA all the way! They have childcare, kids classes (fit kids, sports performance, dance, swim) and have summer camps and after school programs

Natalie

Prisma YMCA in Simpsonville is good. They have a 2 hour limit each day for child watch. If you are one who enjoys a good workout and showering before leaving,you do have to be very strategic in your arrival time. I have yet to find the sauna they advertise, but they do have a steam room. The pool is outdoors and under a dome in the winter. High winds will shut it down. The waters been 72-74 so far. All instructors have been amazing.

Kelly

Kroc Center

864.527.5948 | 424 Westfield Street, Greenville
Childcare: Child watch services are limited to 2 hours at no additional cost.
Facilities: Fitness facility, gymnasium, swimming pool, group fitness, and tennis
Children’s Fitness and Health: Family fitness classes, aquatics, and children’s fitness classes

location, location, location

James

ACAC (Formerly Sports Club)

Multiple Upstate Locations
Childcare: Up to 2 hours for children 8 weeks-14 years at no additional cost with membership; otherwise, it’s $5 per day
Facilities: Racquetball, Fitness Studios, Pickleball, Training Area, Women’s Only Fitness Area, and more
Offers: Children’s Fitness Class

Caine Halter Family YMCA

864.679.9622 | 721 Cleveland Street, Greenville
Childcare: Up to 2 hours of free child care each day and a Parents’ Night Out included with membership, on a first come first serve basis.
Facilities: Cardio equipment, indoor pool, sauna, whirlpool, wellness center, walking track, express fitness, strength equipment, and more
Children’s Fitness and Health: Afterschool program, aquatics and swim lessons, summer day camp, dance, Overnight Camp, and more

I love the Caine halter y. Lots of classes, access to the swamp rabbit trail and childcare is included. I will say though that I lived in simpsonville for a while and the prisma family y out there is amazing! Fantastic childcare staff!!!

Rebecca

YMCA offers similar great family programming at their other Greenville locations, and we also love that membership at many of the branches comes with a free parent’s night out each month. Find all of the YMCA locations via their website, and consider an Upstate membership for access to all of the branches.

The YMCA memberships now include access to all locations with the location you attend most often designated your home location.

Whitney

Gyms in Spartanburg are Perfect For Families

Spartanburg Athletic Club

864.582.5050 | 2420 Andrews Road, Spartanburg
The nursery is for members’ children ages 6 weeks through 9 years (no exceptions)

Spartanburg atheltic club is the best!!❤we love the weight room. They have an indoor and outdoor pool. The daycare and workers are wonderful. They have zone training which is similar to crossfit. They have unlimited classes. The managers are awesome and genuinely care about you. The locker rooms are roomy and each have a sauna in them. There’s tons of lockers. Also for tennis lovers they have tons of courts!!

Alicia

Burn Boot Camp – Spartanburg

864.715.2267 | 1802 Drayton Road – Unit 110, Spartanburg

Burn Boot Camp – Spartanburg, SC hands down! Best gym I have ever been a part of. I love it and my kids love it! The childcare is the best and so clean!

Whitney

Burn Boot Camp at Drayton Mill is the place to go!!! My girls love going with me. They treat you like family. We won’t go anywhere else.

Candace

YMCA Locations in Spartanburg

Like the Greenville YMCA locations, the Spartanburg YMCA locations also offer childcare, child/parent classes, and the ever-so-popular “Parents Night Out”. Membership prices vary, but income-based scholarships and other discounts are available. Reciprocity benefits with some memberships allow you to visit any YMCA location nationwide!

Middle Tyger YMCA Family Center

864.433.9623 | 720 Shoals Road, Duncan
Parent’s night out is offered every 3rd Saturday night from 5:30 – 9:30 pm.

YMCA for our family is the best deal around. Child care. Great classes. Two locations close by. The pool!!! My big kids love the downtown location with the water slide. I love the hot tub! My almost 2 year old loves to play with his friends while I workout giving me some nice me time.

Christa

Y in Duncan has mom and child yoga classes

Donita

Thomas E Hannah Family YMCA

864.585.0306 | 151 Ribault Street, Spartanburg
Parent’s night out is offered every 1st Saturday night from 5:30 – 9:30 pm.

Currently the YMCA is the best fit for us – a family membership provides childcare while parents work out; indoor heated swimming pools for fun and for lessons; discounts on their sports programs; and the money we save on babysitters by using Parents Night Out (date night childcare on Saturday evenings) is amazing

Kristie

The YMCA on Pine Street. They have childcare, sports for kids are half off with membership, they are really nice, and my kids love the pool with splashpark.

Christina

Pine street YMCA has a great program and you can watch your child on a camera from your treadmill. Not to mention the water park that you can enjoy with your kids

Jennifer

Willis Road YMCA (Formerly Westside Club)

864.310.6400 | 501 Willis Road, Spartanburg
Parent’s night out is offered every 2nd Saturday night from 5:30 – 9:30 pm.

Fitness Ideas for Parents with Kids Outside the Traditional Gym

Barre 3

864.627.3900 | 2815 Woodruff Road, Greenville
Price: $22 per class / Class package deals available
Childcare: can be booked in advance

Barre3greenville has play lounge for the kids during many of their morning and afternoon classes.

Amy

Total Fitness Family Center

864.295.3687 | 9801 Anderson Road, Piedmont
Childcare: Kids have their own fitness program

Total Fitness in Powdersville is awesome. Childcare included. Christian gym and atmosphere is awesome.

local mom

Burn Boot Camp

864.483.6388 | 215 Pelham Road, Suite B101, Lower Level, Greenville
864.609.7401 | 1618 Woodruff Road, Greenville
864.715.2267 | 1802 Drayton Road – Unit 110, Spartanburg

Total Fitness in Powdersville is awesome. Childcare included. Christian gym and atmosphere is awesome.

Alison

Burn Boot Camp – Greenville, SC has child care and enthusiastic women working out! We all cheer each other on! The only competition is with yourself. Our trainer does a great job of helping with techniques and form while celebrating your growth!

Lauren

Burn Boot Camp Five Forks! I have worked out a lot of places in this is by far the best! Child care is full of friendly ladies who also workout at the gym. My kids love it ,and have made lots of friends. They also do fun family camps, outside events, etc. We are a HUGE family there, and it so welcoming!

Lindsay

Burn Bootcamp Five Forks! I love it and my children do. Awesome ladies in childcare and the best community of people. You won’t find better trainers or more support anywhere else.

Jeni

Hiking in the Upstate

Hiking is an excellent physical fitness activity you can do as a family for very little money. Check out our Hiking Guide to Upstate, SC to find some gorgeous trails to explore. We have ideas for all ages and abilities!

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You Can See Dolphins and Explore a Vanishing Island in Hilton Head

Posted on by Kristina Hernandez |

If you love dolphins and nature and are planning a trip to see the vanishing island in Hilton Head Island, exploring the salt marshes and trying to find dolphins with Island Explorer is the way to go. This story reviews three of Island Explorer’s dolphin cruises out of Hilton Head. Some of those trips were granted as media tickets so we could tell our readers all about these neat experiences. All opinions here are our own.

Find a place to stay in Hilton Head. This article contains Stay22 affiliate links.

The other passengers in our boat all gasped when we caught sight of the first dolphin off of Hilton Head Island on the gorgeous South Carolina coast. Growing up with a love of dolphins, I was right with them, grabbing my camera to capture the beautiful creatures in their natural environment.

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My two young kids and I were guests of Island Explorer, led by Captain Jim, who was the very first person to open a water sports company on the island 20 years ago. He started Island Explorer with just a raft and a love of showing visitors the vast diversity of ocean life right off the dock in the salt marshes.

The boat we were on was custom-made – Island Explorer has three of them – that was designed for comfort and maximum viewing capabilities of dolphins. It also conforms to US Coast certifications and fits up to 12 passengers. The summer is the company’s busiest time of year for obvious reasons, although they operate from March through Thanksgiving.

Island Explorer dolphin tour hilton head island

Let’s See Some Dolphins

The first time we did a tour with Island Explorer, we enjoyed the one-hour tour of the salt marsh, which Jim describes as a “nursery for ocean life.” I immediately understood this as I had taken my young daughters the evening before to a boardwalk overlooking another salt marsh where fishermen were only catching baby black tip sharks (and throwing them back). Captain Jim described this fertile environment as perfect for the smaller sea life just trying to make their way.

The cool thing is that the tours often take guests during low tide because it’s the best chance to see dolphins – for the reason that the fish have less places to hide from the dolphins and it’s prime feeding time. I love nerdy information like that. 

As we watched the dolphins swim close to the boat, I wondered if Island Explorer has ever taken guests out and not seen dolphins. Nope. They always see them, to the delight of everyone on board.

Another cool thing I loved was that the boat allows guests to bring snacks and drinks. If you have young kids, snacks are essential. They are probably more important than water. My kids loved an extended snack time plus dolphin watching. Big win.

vanishing island hilton head sc

Vanishing Island Tour

I had my eye on this tour for over a year so when I had the chance to go, there was no hesitation. The Vanishing Island tour with Island Explorer is a three-hour expedition that takes guests to an island that is only visible during low tide where they can hunt for sand dollars and cool shells.

Vanishing Island is just past Hilton Head Island and Daufuskie Island, the last island in South Carolina, and is a wide expanse of sand. You can only get there by boat but when it’s high tide, it disappears. It feels like you’re out in the ocean walking on water! Because of the currents and tides, sand dollars are aplenty here, much more so than you’ll ever find on the beach. Island Explorer gives you a bag when you board the boat so you can grab as many interesting items from the island as you like.

We found tons of beautiful sand dollars and pretty shells. My kids were in heaven.  We were able to spend over an hour on the island and wandering to other parts of the island through shallow waters. It was a unique experience.

Child walking on the beach at Hilton Head Island

Since the tour goes through the same salt marshes as the other dolphin tours, you get to see dolphins! We got really lucky and saw them doing a unique feeding behavior where they splash their tails really hard in the water to stun the fish and then gobble them up. I only heard about this but had never seen it. I really love dolphins and seeing them in the wild doing their cool things was amazing.

Bring plenty of sunscreen and water since it’s really hot and the summer sun is relentless.

Sunset Dolphin Cruise

The last trip I did with Island Explorer was actually with co-workers – so no kids aboard this time. We had a lot of fun! The trip goes out in the early evening on Broad Creek with plenty of time for dolphin sightseeing and viewing the sunset over the sound.

Guests are welcome to bring aboard snacks and adult beverages if they like. For our sunset cruise, the sky was overcast and far away near the horizon we could see clouds start to gather as we started out of the creek area and past the oyster beds. But our captain was in control and happy to slow the boat down when we spotted our first dolphin near one of the oyster beds, which he told us plenty of information about. He fielded all our questions with ease as he guided the boat out to the waters surrounding Daufuskie Island.

Dolphin in water near a boat

I really want to go to that island, like badly. I was trying to convince him to drop me off for a bit. I wasn’t successful (maybe next time!). Our captain spotted a pod of dolphins near the island and we headed in that direction, which also happened to be in the direction of storm clouds that looked like the alien spaceships of the movie Independence Day. It was pretty cool I have to say. Scary, but neat.

No worries though as our captain was watching the radar – and the dolphins – and checking in with the other boats out in the same area. We decided to turn back at this point for safety and I figured our chances of actually seeing the sunset were pretty slim. I was wrong.

Somehow the dark clouds never reached us. In fact, they parted just enough so we could see the brilliant reds and oranges of the setting sun. It was spectacular. The beauty of the sunset over Broad Creek was stunning. We spotted a few more dolphins on our way back to the dock and really didn’t want to leave.

Sunset over water at Broad Creek.

This cruise was fantastic. One of the better parts of it was that the sun wasn’t beating down on you since it’s much later in the day. It’s a relaxed, but very enjoyable adventure. Kids are welcome on this cruise but if you’d like a date night while on the island, this is the way to go.

Trips

Island Explorer has several trips you can choose from to watch dolphins and explore nature.

There are several tours to choose from. After the pandemic, Island Explorer changed their pricing and business model to focus more on private, chartered tours. However, there are cruises, like the Sunset Dolphin Cruise, where you can still pay by person.

Ready to See Dolphins?

Book a tour now for your Lowcountry trip because summer is the busy season for Island Explorer. The company has won multiple travel awards for their exceptional experiences for guests, and ours was no different. They are top-notch operation and I would choose them again in a heartbeat!

Island Explorer
101 Marshland Road
Hilton Head Island, SC 29926
843.785.2100
book@dolphintourshiltonhead.com
Island Explorer Website

Would your kids love to see some dolphins on your next beach trip?

Are you looking for more fun things to do in Hilton Head Island, SC?

Read our 30+ things to do in Hilton Head Island Guide.

Family friendly things to do in Hilton Head with kids.

Adventure Awaits at Great Wolf Lodge in Concord, NC

Posted on by Maria Bassett |

Are you looking for a magical, holiday weekend trip just under two hours from Greenville? Great Wolf Lodge in Concord should be at the top of your list. It’s an easy drive from Greenville, it’s a great destination for families with all ages from toddlers to teenagers, and your stay includes an indoor waterpark that’s nice and warm even in the winter. The lodge is packed full of activities for making family memories.

Thank you to Great Wolf Lodge for hosting Kidding Around. Note: Prices and information are included for your convenience but may change. Please check the Great Wolf Lodge website or call before making plans. 

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