Do you know about Cars and Coffee of the Upstate? This exciting event is back in 2024! This free, quarterly Greenville event features interesting local cars that kids can check out! Kidding Around Contributor Deborah brought her kids recently and tells us all about it so you can plan your own trip to the next Cars and Coffee.
Do you have an old car seat to trade in? If you’ve got an old car seat around collecting dust, you can participate in the Target car seat trade-in or Wal-Mart car seat trade-in. All you have to do is trade it in, and the respective store will give you coupons or gift cards. Read on to learn how these programs work. The next Target car-seat trade-in event is coming up April 2024.
Are you looking for a family-friendly place to enjoy a meal? Universal Joint in Greenville, SC is the perfect place to do just that. Don’t worry if a burger isn’t what you crave, they have other delicious things on the menu too!
Looking for a great date night option? Universal Joint is located right next door to Stone Pin Company. You can plan a night of dinner and bowling, without having to drive to another location.
(more…)Love a good brunch? KAG Contributor Kristina Hernandez does, and she’s sharing all the info about brunch at Cantina 76. Find out about the Mexican-inspired brunch fare and drinks on the new menu. Don’t blame us if you’re hungry when you finish reading. Just make plans for brunch!
Brunch is the best meal, hands down. It’s the ultimate combination of sweet and savory, preferably enjoyed with a mimosa. All of those expectations are met with the new brunch at Cantina 76, the locally-owned and operated Mexican-inspired establishment in the heart of downtown Greenville. I had the chance to try the brunch menu recently and it was glorious.
Cantina 76 prides itself on using fresh and local ingredients to create imaginative dishes and handcrafted margaritas (which I highly recommend). Brunch follows this same idea and the results are delicious.
The Chicken & Waffles is sweet and savory with fried chicken and an ancho honey glaze, served with fruit and syrup if you like. Everything was cooked to perfection and now my kids want waffles every morning.
The Avocado Toast is perfection. Lots of ripe avocado spread across toasted bread and topped with a fried egg, pico de gallo, and lime crema.
You can enjoy the Steak and Egg Migas with either one taco or two, which has wok-seared flank steak, cheddar cheese, scrambled eggs, picante verde, and caramelized onions topped with crispy tortilla strips.
Other options include a huge Breakfast Rollup with chorizo, cheese, eggs, tater tots, and crema with pico de gallo, the Huevos Rancheros with refried beans, salsa fritti, sunny side up eggs, and salsa verde, and the Breakfast Bowl with smashed tots, salsa, a fried egg, cheese, and crumbled bacon.
Mimosas are also on the brunch menu because it’s brunch. The classic mimosa is composed of orange juice and champagne and is refreshing and delightful. Just be prepared to explain to your kids that it’s not orange juice.
Cantina 76 also serves a Honeysuckle Mimosa, Pama Mimosa, Peach Mimosa, and a Bloody Mary. Sides of fruit and tater tots are also on the menu. Outdoor seating is available when the weather cooperates.
The laid back atmosphere of Cantina 76 is perfect for families too. The staff are all very kind and accommodating and kids will recognize things they have eaten before on the menu, even though they are presented with a tasty twist. My two young kids really enjoyed everything and they aren’t exactly adventurous eaters. We’ll be back for sure.
Cantina 76
103 N Main St #101, Greenville
Brunch hours are every Sunday from 11 am – 2 pm.
Looking for more great restaurants? Here are some of the best restaurants near Greenville, SC.
Looking for ‘CSA near me’? Or maybe you’re curious about CSAs in Greenville, SC? In this article, you will learn how CSA farms work and the benefits of CSA programs for the farms and customers. And of course, where you can find a CSA in Greenville, SC.
Here are some GREAT farm-to-table restaurants near Greenville, SC!
Looking for Free Things to Do in Greenville, SC? We have some great ideas on this extremely packed list. This list is an ode to that song, “The Best Things in Life Are Free.” Make memories and take advantage of all the great things around Greenville. Enjoy!
Do you want to keep tabs on all the things to do in the Upstate? Don’t skip our giant list of Things to Do Near Greenville, SC, full of fabulous family fun any time of the year.
(more…)Have you visited the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Easter Bunny? Your child can get a free photo with that famous rabbit, the Easter Bunny. Cabela’s and Bass Pro Shops will host the Easter Bunny in March 2024. We have everything you need to know about this opportunity for free family fun and memory-making at Cabela’s.
We are answering the 4 biggest questions about visiting the Easter Bunny at Cabela’s in 2024:
Special thanks to our readers who provided some adorable photos of their children with the Easter Bunny from previous year’s events!
Yes! Guests who would like to receive a free 4 x 6 professional photo with the Easter Bunny and your family or adorable kids, can do so this year at Cabela’s and Bass Pro Shops.
No Plexiglass for 2024: The Easter Bunny will not be behind plexiglass this year. Also, you can expect to find more details on Cabela’s Easter Event Page.
The photo is a professional 4×6 photo, printed free by Cabela’s & Bass Pro Shops. This is not just a photo op with mom or dad behind the cell phone camera. Mom and Dad can even get in the photo, too! We love opportunities for free fun and memory-making. Free holiday photos are definitely a rare treat for families.
Reservations open on March 16th, 2024 for appointments for Saturday, March 23rd, 2024, and Sunday, March 24th, 2024. Additional appointments will be available 7 days in advance. Bass Pro Shops & Cabela’s typically has the Easter Bunny visit for two weekends before Easter. The full schedule will be available when registration opens.
Do check with your local store as the times may vary from store to store!Â
Registration to see the Easter Bunny at Cabela’s will open on March 16th, 2024.
Yes. You do need to register in advance to visit with the Easter Bunny at Cabela’s or Bass Pro Shops. The registration link for visits and photos with the bunny, all free, will be found on the Cabela’s Easter Event page.
If you really love your photo, you can purchase packages with additional photos starting at $15.
The Cabela’s & Bass Pro Easter Bunny Photo Packages are:
Have you visited Cabela’s for photos?
Where can you find free kits and workshops for kids?
Here’s our list of stores and venues that offer totally free things to do for kids.
Looking for more? Did you know Cabela’s also hosts Santa at Christmas time, and you can get another free 4×6 professional photo of your kids with Santa? It’s true. Read all about in our review of Santa at Cabela’s. Then mark your calendars to check back for a registration date in November.
Are you looking for Spring Break Camps in Greenville or Spartanburg, SC for your kids? Greenville County Schools’ spring break is March 18-22, 2024. Spartanburg County districts will have their spring break April 1-5, 2024. Greenville and Spartanburg parents have their choice of a few local venues offering spring camps over the school break
See our spring break camp list below and be sure to let us know if we missed one.
This article includes:
Greenville Spring Break Camps
Spartanburg Spring Break Camps
Working parents need somewhere fun for their kids to go over the spring break school holiday.
Other parents want to take advantage of the extra time for fun by enrolling their kids in special camps that only happen over spring break. Either way, there are several exciting spring break camps in Greenville and Spartanburg.
Looking for more fun this Spring in Greenville and Spartanburg? Here’s your Ultimate Guide to Spring in the Upstate!
Looking for more things to do over spring break in Greenville? Here’s our guide to Greenville’s Spring Break with tons of things to do, day trips, and places to travel.
March 19, 2024, Pot of Gold: 9 am – Noon for ages 4-10
March 20, 2024, Emoji Camp: 9 am – Noon for ages 5-10
March 21, 2024, Stuffies Camp: 9 am – Noon for ages 5-10
Camps are $50/child.
Monday through Friday, March 18th – 22nd, 2024
Camps are from 9 am – 3 pm
There will also be a Teacher Workday Camp for kids on March 15th, 2024, and a Holiday Workshop Camp on March 29th, 2024. All camps are for ages K5- 5th grade.
The Greenville County Rec community centers will be offering spring break camps for children ages 5 – 11.
Camps will be at the following locations:
Brutontown
Mt. Pleasant
Slater Hall
March 18-22, 2024 – Monday through Friday 7:30 am – 6 pm.
$45 per child for Greenville County residents | $53 for non-residents
The Greenville YMCA centers will be offering spring break camps for children ages 5-13.
Camps will be at the following locations:
Caine Halter Family Y
Eastside Family Y
George I. Theisen Family YMCA
Prisma Health Family YMCA branches
March 18-22, 2024 – Monday Through Friday 7:30 am – 6:00 pm
Daily rate cost: $50 for GVL-YMCA members | $65 for non-members
Campers will enjoy activities, crafts, and more while learning about all things spring— plant life cycles, pollination, flowers, and more! Each camp day is infused with STEAM-based learning and museum exploration. Ages are K5-5th grade, 9 am-12 pm.
Camp Themes Include:
March 18, 2024, Sow & Grow
March 19, 2024, H2 Whoa!
March 20, 2024, Sunny Side Up
March 21, 2024, Flower Power
March 22, 2024, Busy Bees
March 18-22, 2024 – Monday – Friday 9 am – 12 pm
$43 per day for members, $48 per day for non-members, Book per day
Have fun and train with CESA, the largest soccer club in the Upstate. All camps take place at the MeSA Soccer Complex and are for both boys and girls ages 6-13 years old. They don’t need to play for CESA teams to go to the camp.
March 18-22, 2024 – Monday – Friday either half-day (9 am – Noon) or full day (9 am – 3 pm)
$165 for half-day and $260 for full day
March 20th, 2024 from 9 am – Noon for kids ages K4-5th grade
The cost is $35/person and the camp is at the Piedmont location, 2310 River Road, Piedmont. Register online.
Join Sassy Stables for a three-day horse camp. Camp is for ages 6 and older, and camp will focus on the basics of horse care, including general riding instruction, grooming and care, breeds and anatomy, saddling and equipment, feeding and handling, horseback games and crafts, live demonstrations from professionals and so much more! Registration will include a tshirt and entry to the end of camp conclusion “fun show”. Parents can register for March Break (Greenville County) or April Break (Spartanburg County) AM camp (8-11 AM) or the PM camp (12-3 PM).
March 18th – 20th, 2024 (Greenville Break Camp) from 8 – 11 am or 12 pm – 3 pm for ages 6 and up.
April 1st – 3rd, 2024 ( Spartanburg Break Camp) from 8 – 11 am or 12 pm – 3 pm for ages 6 and up.
Cost is $225 per child before March 1st and $250 per child after March 1st.
This horse farm in Simpsonville is offering Spring Break camp for ages 6-16 that includes riding lessons, stable care, and arts and crafts. Riders must bring a bagged lunch and change of clothes and wear long pants and shoes with a smooth sole like heeled boots.
March 18-21, 2024 – Monday – Thursday from 10 am – 2 pm
$285/person with a $85 deposit required to hold your child spot.
March 18-22, 2024, 9 am to 4 pm, Ages 5 +
Half-Day, Full Day, Single Day, or Full Week options ranging from $65 to $395
March 20 – 24, 2024, 8-hour full-day camp
Full-day camp. Weekly rates and daily rates available ranging from $85 per day to $250 per week.
Are you looking for a Spartanburg spring break camp for your kids? Spring break for Spartanburg school districts is April 1st-5th, 2024. See our spring break camp list below and let us know if we missed one!
Looking for more things to do during spring break in Spartanburg? Here’s our list of 100 Things to Do Over Spring Break in Spartanburg, SC.
Offers full-day spring break camp for children 5 – 14 years old. The camp will be at the Middle Tyger and Willis Road brances. Registration closes March 29th, 2024.
April 1-5, 2024- Monday through Friday 7 am – 6 pm.
$130 per child for YMCA members | $200 for non-members
Day camp for ages 3 through rising 7th grade. The camp is offered for the full week, or you can choose to do drop-in days. Preregistration required.
April 1-5, 2024 – Monday through Friday, 7:30 am to 5:30 pm.
$200 for full week | $50 per day
Offers full-day martial arts spring break camp for children in grades 4K-8th grade. Includes field trips, martial arts lessons, and snacks.
April 1-5, 2024- Monday through Friday 9 am – 4 pm.
$199 with a $20 registration fee
Are you planning on sending your kids to a spring break camp?
Planning your family’s spring break? Spring break for Greenville County Schools is March 18th through the 22nd, 2024. Spartanburg County School Districts have their spring break from April 1st through the 5th, 2024. Whether you are staying in Greenville or desire to travel for a little family vacation, KAG has the information you need. From budget-friendly ideas, to spring break camps, and nearby vacation rentals, our spring break content has you covered.
Looking for something that’s not here? Let us know in the comments so we can grow this guide!
We’ve got everything you need to know about spring things to do near Greenville, SC!
Staying in Greenville for spring break? We have a bunch of suggestions for fun things to do in town.
Are you worried about being bored over spring break? This is the list you want. It is jam-packed with ideas to keep the kids busy and help you make some family memories. You’ll find events, plus places to explore outdoors and inside. We’ll be updating this list with new events as they are announced so check back often!
If you’re doing spring break in Greenville on a budget, this is one list you don’t want to miss.
School breaks can be tricky when parents have to work. Even stay-at-home parents can find themselves searching for something to keep the kids busy and maybe a few minutes of quiet. Fortunately many places in Greenville offer spring break camps for the kiddos. We have a list of spring break camps in Greenville and we’ll keep updating it as more camps are announced.
If you’re sticking around Greenville for spring break, consider a day trip. This list is full of day trips perfect for spring.
Planning to travel for spring break? Here are some fabulous destinations and vacation rentals that are in the Southeastern United States. Many are close to Greenville for a short road trip, and full of adventure and family fun.
These vacation spots are a quick hour and a half drive from the Upstate. No road trip, no long car ride and hefty gas bill. Just vacation fun.
These vacation rentals on the South Carolina Coast all had availability for Greenville and Spartanburg schools’ spring break at the time of publishing.
Use these tips to save some money on your spring break travel.
Transport your family to a fantasy land in one of these fantasy-themed vacation rentals. Wave your wand and sleep at Hogwarts, tuck into a Hobbit Hole or head out to space.
You don’t have to worry about crowded hotel pools when you rent an Airbnb with a private pool. These Florida rentals are all near the beach and they all have private pools.
Spring in the mountains can be a little chilly at times, but that won’t bother you when you rent a mountain cabin with a private indoor pool. And, you won’t have to stake out any space in a crowded shared resort pool, either.
Charleston is not too far from the Upstate, and it’s a great place to explore full of history and nearby beautiful beaches. This list of vacation rental homes near Charleston has great options whether you want to stay near the city or out by the beach.
Thinking about going out of town for spring break? Here’s a list of places that are just a few hours from Greenville. These destinations make great family vacations.
What will you do this spring break?
Conestee Nature Preserve in Greenville, SC opened in 2006, and quickly has become a favorite destination for families across the Upstate. We’ll tell you all about this amazing preserve right in the heart of Greenville.
Conestee Nature Preserve is an incredible park with miles of trails, wetlands, boardwalks, educational programs, and lots of hands-on opportunities to learn about the environment, conservation, and participate in some pretty cool things. We are big fans of the Preserve and can’t wait to tell you all about it here.
First and foremost, it is easy to confuse Conestee Nature Preserve (CNP) with its neighbor, Conestee Park. Managed by Greenville County Recreation, Conestee Park has an enormous playground, stadium, baseball fields, dog park and picnic shelter. For more about Conestee Park check out Kidding Around Greenville’s mom review of Conestee Park.
The nature Preserve boasts 13 miles of trails that crisscross 640-acres of forest and wetlands. In 2020, the Preserve changed its name from Lake Conestee Nature Park to Conestee Nature Preserve to better reflect the park’s environment education and conservation mission.
Since its inception in 2006, the nonprofit has purchased more land and expanded the preserve, making it one of the top nature destinations in Greenville. They host events throughout the year like river cleanups, night hikes, bird watching, homeschool days, educational programs for kids, and even adult events like the Winter Wine Walk, which features wine and food.
With 13 miles of hiking and walking trails, you can easily get however many miles you’d like of the easy trails. We like to combine them and wander around. Conestee Nature Preserve has a helpful Trail Guide to get you started. We like using AllTrails as well in there to kind of see where we are and help us get to where you want to be.
There are boardwalks throughout the park as well where you can observe all kinds of cool things in the water like salamander eggs, salamanders, turtles, fish, ducks, geese, and lots of different kinds of birds. There are 11 observation decks so no shortage of places to check out the local wildlife.
The Swamp Rabbit Trail even goes through the heart of the Preserve. In the spring, be sure to look for all the cool wildflowers. We like using the free Seek app to identify them. Just don’t pick any and follow the Leave No Trace principles.
It may not be widely known but there are mountain biking trails at Conestee Nature Preserve. The trails are accessed by parking at 415 Churchill Circle, Greenville. They are located on the Brushy Creek Lands and are used by both pedestrians and bikers so trail etiquette is important.
The Preserve asks that bikes go right on trails on even days, and left on odd. Pedestrians should go left on even days, and right on odd. You can see the trails on this map.
Other than hiking and biking, there are many other fun things to do at Conestee Nature Preserve. CNP is one of our favorite destinations for birdwatching. The National Audubon Society has designated the Preserve as an Important Bird Area of Global Significance, and over 220 bird species have been reported by the Greenville County Bird Club. You can join the Greenville County Bird Club on a guided bird trip in the Preserve on the third Saturday of every month.
They do a short and long walk so you can choose what suits you best.
We have been to so many of the Preserve’s educational programs and have loved all of them. Here are some of the different programs they offer.
Ever seen an ant zombie or get up close to a snake? It’s all possible if your school group does a field trip at the Preserve! They offer field trips from pre-K all the way through high school and adhere to the South Carolina Science Standards. The field trips fill up really fast so if your group wants to do it, get in touch with them well before the beginning of the next school year.
Field trips are free for public schools. The cost for private schools are $10/student for a standard field trip (3.5-4 hours long) and $8/student for a two-hour field trip. For homeschoolers, the cost is $10/student, $5/adult or child ages 3 and 4 for a standard field trip; $8/student, $4/adult for two-hour field trip.
If you have been looking for educational but fun classes for your kids, then you are in luck! Conestee Nature Preserve offers classes for kids ages 2 through middle school! Classes are offered monthly, and they even have some specialized homeschool classes and adult classes you may want to check out. Some of the adult classes include themes like rain barrel workshops, guided hikes, and birding! Tickets must be purchased ahead of time.
For younger children ages 2 – 4 years old, this spectacular program gets your kids outdoors learning about local wildlife. Cee, our instructor during our hour long class, was amazing! She speaks to every child with kindness, making the class interesting and fun, while creating a fun craft to go along with our lesson.
For our class in February, we started off reading a book about the subject we would be studying, in our case, metamorphosis. The classes have a different theme each month and correspond with what is going on during that time of year. We then explored logs for larvae and beetles, and the kids were so excited to find some critters crawling around on the logs. Afterward, we made a fun craft lighting bug that paired with the theme while reading another book and talking about what we saw.
The class is an excellent bite-size science lesson for littles, allowing them to engage with nature and look a little closer at the world around them. Classes are available twice per month, usually on a Thursday morning or Saturday morning, during the school year.
Nature Discovery is a really cool program that gives exclusive access to elementary and middle school students to parts of the Preserve that the general public cannot go to. Kids can explore well beyond anything they could if they just visited the Preserve and this lets them dig deeper into the environments present and learn all about the different wildlife and seasonal cycles.
We did a salamander-focused Nature Discovery with the middle school group and had such a fun time! We learned what the eggs look like, got to search for them, hold them, and look at them under a microscope. We even got to search around to find a salamander, which one of the kids in our group. It was the coolest thing. Like the themes for the younger kids, these classes also follow the seasons and what is happening that time of year.
The staff at the Preserve are so passionate about their jobs and it’s hard not to have some of that passion rub off on the students while there.
Nature Discovery is offered in the fall and spring and you can sign up for one class or the semester. They meet every other week in the late afternoons. The cost is $10/session or $60 for all eight sessions.
The Preserve offers multiple homeschool days throughout the year but they sell out quickly. This is a drop-off program and you must reserve tickets in advance. You can stay tuned to their events page or subscribe to their email newsletter for the latest updates on when those dates are released.
Conestee Nature Preserve is open daily sunrise to sunset. While there is no admission, the Preserve kindly asks for a donation of $3/person. All proceeds go to supporting the Preserve. It is entirely a nonprofit and funded by donations.
CNP has a brand new little shop, which you can check out at the main entrance near the playgrounds. You can purchase CNP-branded merch.
Dogs are allowed at the park but they must be on leash at all times.
Follow Conestee Nature Preserve on Facebook to get the most up-to-date information on trail closures. The Preserve often floods and sometimes these waters can damage or close trails.
There is absolutely no swimming at Conestee Nature Preserve, for humans or animals. The lake was created when the Reedy River was dammed at the Conestee Mill in 1892. The lake originally covered about 130 acres, but over the years industrial waste and discharge filled about 90% of it with sediment so toxic that the lake was classified a Superfund site. Safety studies of the brownfield site were completed, and it was determined that the best course of action would be to leave the toxic sediment in place.
Conestee Nature Preserve
840 Mauldin Road, Greenville (there are four other entrances to trails, which you can view on the Conestee website)
Conestee Nature Preserve Website | Conestee Nature Preserve Facebook
Love bird watching? Be sure to read our article about Upstate, SC birds at Lake Conestee.
What is your favorite place to visit in Conestee Nature Preserve?
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