Posts Tagged ‘Sports’

10+ Family Friendly Bike Trails: Greenville, SC

Are you looking for a place to ride bikes as a family in Greenville, SC? Maybe you’re looking for scenic bike trails? We’ve got some great places to ride near Greenville!

Greenville, SC has quickly grown into a bicyclist haven since the creation of the Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail. With that, more natural and paved biking trails have emerged. Below, you will find a list of some of the best bike trails Greenville and the surrounding area have to offer. Don’t have your own bike? Don’t worry! You will also find places to rent bikes if you don’t have your own.

Biking can involve the whole family – whether the kids are old enough to ride on their own or ride in a trailer or on a bike seat. Here’s our list of family-friendly bike trails in and near Greenville, SC.

Looking for more things to do outdoors? Check out our guide of the Best Things to do Outdoors Near Greenville.

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What’s Not to Love About The Pavilion?

Where in Greenville can you make a snowman, bounce with a giraffe and possibly see a Penguin? If you couldn’t answer “The Pavilion Recreation Complex” then let me fill you in on one of the Greenville area’s greatest spots to play! With ice skating rinks, a bounce house, athletic fields, and more, there are plenty of activities for every age. We’ve compiled all the details you need to know for a visit to Greenville County’s Pavilion Recreation Complex.

Find even more great park and playground reviews on our Greenville SC Park page!

Find things to do outside near Greenville, SC!

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Fluor Field: Greenville Drive Baseball and Year-Round Events to Enjoy

Summer is here and Greenville Drive Baseball is in full swing at Fluor Field. Greenville, SC has one of the most adored minor league baseball teams, but Fluor Field also hosts several fantastic events throughout the year. This micro replica of Fenway Park even has a mini version of the Green Monster, how cool! Find out why Greenville’s beloved minor league ballpark has become a top gathering spot for Greenvillians and visitors to the area.

Fluor Field Greenville, SC: Greenville Drive Baseball and special events

Gateway to Baseball: Special Features of Fluor Field

The North End entrance at Fluor Field is welcoming, with a digital Drive marquee sign and an expanded brick and stone paved plaza as the backdrop to giant baseballs all in a row makes for an attractive and fun design element. Kids love to climb them and also a favorite spot for selfies.

In the middle of all this ruckus and seeming right at home, is the statue of “Shoeless” Joe Jackson which used to be outside a restaurant downtown. Did you know that before Jackson became a famous ballplayer, he was a mill worker at Brandon Mills in West Greenville?

With his connection to Greenville’s past, “Shoeless” Joe’s new location is a great choice. The statue highlights the city’s mill town past and memories of old textile baseball leagues. Ballgames were already a popular form of recreation and community building back then.

Entrance of Fluor Field, Greenville , SC

On Augusta Street, if you decide to enter through the East Entrance of Fluor Field, You can sit by the bar or at the picnic tables and have a great view of the action behind first base. NOTE: On the weekends, inflatable attractions are usually located at the East entry, where junior players can hit a few balls for FREE.

Greenville Drive Team Store and New Ticket Booths

Once you arrive, you can find will-call ticket booths alongside the Greenville Drive team store. Rolling barn doors offer more browsing space for souvenir shopping. Another piece of trivia, did you know that the store used to be a 1920s firehouse? Shop and have a look at the original tin ceilings.

Front Porch Lounge at Fluor Field: Greenville, SC

Fluor Field has often been referred to as downtown’s “front porch.” As a nod to this, the Drive has turned its front office at the corner of Field and Markley Streets into the Front Porch lounge, a 2,700-square-foot hospitality area for Drive Ticket Plan holders. The lounge offers comfortable indoor seating, a full-service bar, flat-screen televisions, and other fun ballpark perks.

Event Venues: The Rooftop and Champion Lounge

One thing for sure, if you are catching a game, you can’t help but glance across the field and admire the Rooftop, and wonder, “How did the people get up there?” The Rooftop space is an events venue atop the adjacent Fieldhouse building with its own express elevator. This area can accommodate up to 75 people, providing picturesque views of the ballpark and downtown Greenville.

The Rooftop even has a private food and beverage menu. Another venue is the Champions Club. The Club offers over 3,700 square feet of space and can accommodate groups of 100-300 people. The space is air-conditioned and even has outdoor seating, so it makes a great location for a year round event space.

Fluor Field view of the baseball diamond.

Family Friendly Year-Round Events at Fluor Field

Fluor Field has made a name for itself that is much more than baseball thanks to West End Events at Fluor Field. There are events throughout the year that help there, some of which are super family-friendly. Here is a list of some of the more popular events to check out!

Easter Eggstravaganza: Every spring you can watch your kid race across the field collecting as many eggs as their little basket can hold. There is typically a picnic, pictures with the Easter Bunny, and tons of kid-friendly activities to enjoy.
4th of July at Fluor Field: Every Independence Day, you can watch a baseball game and fireworks in celebration of our nation’s biggest celebratory holiday. There is special programming this day for military appreciation, including flyovers and more!
Reading All Stars: If your kid participates in a summer reading program through their local library, chances are they will receive a ticket to the Reading All Stars game with Greenville Drive.
The Green Monster Mash: Enjoy kid-friendly Halloween activities, including inflatables, face paintings, costume contests, and more during this annual event.
Kringle Holiday Village: Get into the holiday spirit with this holiday market, fun inflatables, and Santa!

Plan a trip to Fluor Field: Greenville, SC

945 South Main Street
Greenville, SC 29601
864.240.4528
See their season schedule here.

We hope we’ve enticed you to visit Fluor Field at the West End. Let’s root, root, root for the Greenville Drive!

This article was originally written by Anna Arzt and has been updated by the Kidding Around Team.

Learn to Fence at Foothills Fencing Academy

Thank you to Foothills Fencing Academy for sponsoring this giveaway on Kidding Around Greenville. Be sure to read this post in its entirety as the nice folks at FFA are giving away 4 weeks of beginner classes!

In college I was forced to choose between a multitude of courses worth only a couple credits to fulfill some obligation that I can’t remember now. But I do remember being psyched that Fencing was an option – so I signed up and couldn’t wait to wield my sword as a bad ass Medieval princess that I wish I was born as.

It was challenging but it was really, really fun. I had no idea the coordination and strength it took to learn the footwork, the proper way to earn points against your opponent, and the workout that every class entailed. I managed to pass the course, even toppling some of my male classmates in the process, and developed an unparalleled confidence that still lingers even today, long after my Russian instructor went back to coaching Olympians.

Here in the Greenville area, the Foothills Fencing Academy (FFA) is an awesome facility that teaches fencing to both kids and adults, even producing NCAA athletes and high-level fencers that go on to compete in worldwide tournaments.

Foothills Fencing Academy

The Foothills Fencing Academy is located in Piedmont, SC, only a 15-minute drive from downtown Greenville, and consists of a 4,000 square foot, air-conditioned facility with six tournament strips (they are like small runways but people-sized) which are on a raised wooden floor in order to provide better protection for joints than a concrete or tile floor.

The FFA offers open fencing time as well as classes and summer camps. The FFA is the finest fencing facility in the entire area and all their coaches are professional members of the USA Fencing, certified by the USFCA and have undergone background checks.

Why Fencing?

Fencing is a great way to develop coordination, agility, discipline, strength, balance and focus. Fencers must problem-solve quickly, assess situations, and learn how to think strategically – all crucial life-skills outside of the sport of fencing.

Fencing is also a wonderful activity to stay fit and healthy, work muscles from your feet and ankles all the way up through your shoulders and neck. It’s a sport of both mind and body.

Fall Classes

Whether you’re 8 or 38, Foothills Fencing Academy can introduce you to the fascinating sport of “Physical Chess” with their beginner classes for kids and their parents too! Beginner classes cover the basics – including the rules of fencing, footwork, blade work, and tactics. Fencers will develop coordination, discipline, speed, endurance and balance. By participating in three sessions of classes, students will learn the basic fundamentals of all three weapons. Oh yeah, its a fun sport in an air conditioned facility!

In addition to adult, family, and youth classes, private lessons are available as well. Plus they host birthday parties, homeschool groups, after-school groups, or church groups.

They provide all the safety equipment for an introductory period but fencers must purchase their own gear after two months of training.

Beginner Classes

Beginner classes run in 4 week sessions and begin August 14th. But no worries if you’re not that quick because new classes will kick off again throughout the fall! All equipment needed is furnished for the first two month; all you need is the right clothing! Cost is $75 plus a $10 US Fencing Membership.

For more details visit their website or call (864) 593 3684.

Adult Beginner Classes

Fencing is a sport for all ages! The USA Fencing Association sanctions tournaments for adults, beginning with competitors as young as 13 years of age, as well as exclusive tournaments for specific age brackets ranging up to 70 years and over! This is also a great class to share some time for parent and teen.

Any new students should arrive for this first class at 6:15 for footwork preparation. Class will last until 7:45. The next three weeks class will meet from 6:45-7:45.

Youth Beginner Classes

Youth classes are for ages 8 years through 18 years. Class will meet for four weeks.

Beginner classes for age 8-10: A weekly one hour session introduces students to fencing while improving coordination and critical thinking. Coaches use a mixture of fun games and discipline teach your child the basic fundamentals they need to begin fencing.

Beginner Classes for ages 8-18: This hour-long class introduces your child to each of the three Olympic style fencing weapons. Students learn to move and hit safely. They are introduced to the basic rules, footwork, blade work, and tactics of each weapon.

Family Beginner Classes: these are a great chance to get the whole family involved and learn a new sport.

The USA Fencing Association sanctions tournaments for youth, beginning with 10 and under programs. Boys and girls participate together locally, but compete separately at national tournament events. The coaches will use fencing games and lots of fun to introduce your child to this exciting sport!

Register today

Foothills Fencing Academy
1004 Piedmont Hwy
Piedmont, SC 29673
(864) 593-3684
foothillsfencingacademy@gmail.com
http://www.foothillsfencing.com

Giveaway!

One lucky KAG reader is going to win 4 weeks of beginner fencing lessons with our friends at Foothills Fencing Academy!

This giveaway starts now and ends at midnight on August 31, 2017. Good luck!

Our giveaway rules:

You must be 18 or older and live in the USA to enter this giveaway.
You must use a valid email address to enter this giveaway.
One entry per person per day.
We will contact the winner via the email address provided within three [3] days of the giveaway ending. The winner will have three [3] days (72 hours) to respond via email. If the winner does not respond within the three [3] days (72 hours), the prize will be forfeited and another winner chosen. Directions for claiming the prize will be given via email. A valid photo ID and/or mailing address may be required.
For a complete list of Kidding Around Greenville SC’s giveaway policies and terms and conditions, see the Kidding Around Greenville SC policy page. By entering this giveaway, you agree to comply with Kidding Around Greenville SC’s terms and conditions.

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Has your family ever tried Fencing?

Meet Kristina, Team Writer

Kristina Hernandez is a mom of two girls, freelance writer and photographer and New Jersey native who is thrilled to call the Upstate her new home. She loves cooking, trying new foods, and checking out all that Greenville has to offer.