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Posts Tagged ‘Summer Family Favorites 2021’

Our Readers Say These Are the Best SC Beaches (Family Favorites 2021)

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Are you trying to figure out which South Carolina beach is the best for that next weekend getaway? We asked our readers to vote in our inaugural Summer Family Favorites contest, and these are the beaches they voted as the best in SC.

Are you looking to just relax and listen to the waves crash, are you looking for a coastal adventure to write home about, or maybe a little of both? These top 5 South Carolina beaches include the perfect beach for any type of family.

During our first Summer Family Favorites contest, we had readers vote on three different categories:

For more family-friendly beach locations in the Southeast, check out this guide to The Top Beaches Located in the Southeast

1st Place: Best South Carolina Beach (Summer, 2021)

Hilton Head Island

4 hours and 15 minutes from Greenville

The picturesque seaside town of Hilton Head offers families lots to do in the way of vacation activities! It’s Kidding Around Contributor, Kristina’s favorite salty South Carolinian destination.

It’s not hard to see why Hilton Head Island was The Kidding Around Family Favorites Winner For Best South Carolina Beach! We’re sharing some of the things the coastal town of Hilton Head provides and why readers love vacationing there, so you can plan a trip to see for yourself.

Things to Do at Hilton Head

Hilton head marina & lighthouse

We know all about the great things to do in Hilton Head Island, but don’t take our word for it! Check out what readers had to say about some of the most popular things to do when visiting Hilton Head Island.

Make Your Mermaid Dreams Come True On This Magical Boat Tour in Hilton Head Island

We just loved the Mermaid of Hilton Head cruise – the kids were mesmerized by seeing a **real** mermaid!

Kristina Hernandez

Take Your Family To See Dolphins and Explore a Vanishing Island in Hilton Head

We did their tour and it was great – 2 parents, 2 Grandparents, and 4 kids and we got the boat to ourselves. The captain was so nice to all of us and we loved it.

Shawn Murphy Kendrick
We did their dolphin and vanishing island tour, and it was amazing!

Christy Astolfi Decker

You Can Let Your Kids Can Dress Up Like Pirates, Shoot Water Canons, and Find Treasure on This Pirate Cruise in Hilton Head

If you have young children, the pirates of Hilton Head is a blast! Before you board their boat that looks like a pirate ship, the kids get face paint, a pirate name, pirate attire, and they teach them how to talk like a pirate. Then on the boat, there is a store line and they are trying to find treasure in the water. A sneaky pirate comes up in a small boat who has stolen the keys and the kids get to blast him with water cannons. It’s such fun!!

Dawn Thorpe Sabean

Take Your Family To Some Of Our Favorite Family-Friendly Things to Do on Hilton Head Island

Pirate’s Island Adventure Golf of Hilton Head Island is our favorite (and veteran owned) mini golf course. Coligny Plaza is a great place to shop, eat, and relax. We especially love getting ice cream from The Ice Cream Cone it is the best place to get ice cream – expect a line, so worth it! The Sandbox Children’s Museum is fun for the littles. The Crazy Crab Hilton Head is so so good! If you like crab legs, get their low country boil. It’s the only place I’ve ever been able to say that I was full from crab legs. The Salty Dog is a must! There are so many outlets to shop. HHI is our favorite beach to vacation at! You can get some really great, oceanfront condos on airbnb & VRBO

Jessica Thompson

Where to Stay in Hilton Head

Finalists: Best South Carolina Beach (Summer, 2021)

Edisto Island

4 hours from Greenville

The Kidding Around Visitor’s Guide to Edisto Island can help you plan a family trip to this non-commercial beachfront destination. This is the perfect spot to head when you just want to listen to the sound of the waves and your kids playing in the sand to be on the itinerary.

They are one of the few beaches that are family driven and not commercialized. They also have been the least effected by erosion in the past years.

Edisto Island canopy drive

Where to stay near Edisto Beach

Surfside Beach

4 hours and 30 minutes from Greenville

Surfside Beach

Close enough to the attractions of Myrtle Beach but quiet neighborhoods to relax

This beach just minutes from Myrtle Beach is known as “the family beach”. It offers visitors several beach access points, with lifeguards and a family-friendly atmosphere.

Your next family beach trip awaits at the Westgate Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Resort

The Westgate Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Resort towers right over the beach with stunning views of the ocean out of the rooms overlooking the water. It’s closer to the South end of Myrtle Beach and 40 minutes north of Huntington Island State Park. It took us just over four hours to get there from Greenville and we never even got back in the car while at the resort until it was time to go home, since everything we did was within walking distance.

Kristina

Where to Stay Near Surfside Beach

Kiawah Island

4 hours and 15 minutes from Greenville

Kiawah Beach

This island on the coast of Charleston, SC is home to one of the nation’s top-rated beaches Beachwalker Park.

There is such a relaxing atmosphere but still lots to do with the family.

It’s quiet, not crowded, and plenty of space for the kids to run around!! Also, it’s always felt very safe.

Secluded, private, upscale, and remote.

Where to Stay Near Kiawah Island

Sullivan’s Island

3 hours and 40 minutes from Greenville

Sullivans Island Beach

This Charleston beach is not only a great place to swim but also is in close proximity to several historic sites. It’s a less crowded beach that has lots of parking.

Things to Do, Places to Eat, and More at Sullivan’s Island

Fort Moultrie on Sullivan’s Island

Where to Stay Near Sullivan’s Island

RELATED:
2021 Kidding Around Summer Family Favorites Contest Winner: Best Indoor Spot To Beat The Heat
2021 Kidding Around Summer Family Favorites Contest Winner: Best Place To Get A Frozen Treat

Our Readers Say that These Are the Best Indoor Spots to Beat the Heat (Summer Family Favorites 2021)

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Where can families go when it’s too hot outside? We’ve got the answer to where you can go to beat the summer heat! During our inaugural Summer Family Favorites contest, we had readers vote for their favorite indoor spot when it’s hot outside and these are the top 5 places!

During our first Summer Family Favorites contest, we had readers vote on three different categories:

1st Place: Best Indoor Fun to Beat the Heat (Summer, 2021)

Big Air Family Favorites

Big Air Trampoline Park

36 Park Woodruff Drive, Greenville

660 Spartan Boulevard #200, Spartanburg

Kidding Around readers LOVE trampoline parks! Big Air is always a popular spot when we get questions in the Kidding Around Community Groups about where people can have birthday parties. Big Air is great for getting the kids out and active any day, not just for birthdays! But don’t take our word for it, check out why readers voted Big Air The Kidding Around Family Favorites For Best Indoor Spot To Beat!

We’ve just blended our family, and trampoline parks have been a great outlet for stress and opportunity for us to play and bond! We are SO excited to have Big Air right around the corner from us

Madelyn Moser

It is a great place for a party

Lucinda Hollifield

We love this place…it is a great place to take the kids to burn off energy

Heather O’Brien Judd

For more indoor options for fun to escape the rain, or heat during the summer check out our Indoor Activities Guide to Greenville, SC, and The Indoor Activities Guide to Spartanburg, SC

Finalists: Best Indoor Fun to Beat the Heat (Summer, 2021)

Palmetto Proper

164 S Main Street STE B, Travelers Rest

Find out why Kids (And Parents) Won’t Want to Leave This Play Spot in Travelers Rest, and why voters named it one of the top spots to beat the heat!

Palmetto Proper interior

The Children’s Museum of The Upstate

300 College Street, Greenville

130 Magnolia Street, Spartanburg

Another reader favorite is The Children’s Museum of the Upstate! It’s a great way to have an enriching day’s worth of fun, and beat the heat of the summer!

SpareTime Greenville

22 Congaree Road, Greenville

If you are looking for a fun day out or birthday party spot, SpareTime Greenville offers plenty to do, including:

  • Bowling
  • Escape Rooms
  • Arcades
  • Laser Tag
  • Lots to Eat

Pavilion’s Recreation Complex

400 Scottswood Road, Taylors

The Pavilion is one of Greenville’s oldest indoor spots to have fun, and it just recently had a full remodel. This one-of-a-kind facility in Greenville has a full ice rink as well as a bounce house.

RELATED:
2021 Kidding Around Summer Family Favorites Contest Winner: Best South Carolina Beach
2021 Kidding Around Summer Family Favorites Contest Winner: Best Place To Get A Frozen Treat

Our Readers Say These Are the Best Places To Get A Frozen Treat (Summer Family Favorites, 2021)

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Are you wondering where the best place in the Upstate is to pick up an ice cream cone, gelato, or snow cone? We had our readers vote in our inaugural Summer Family Favorites contest to tell us what they thought the best Frozen Treat was in the Upstate! This list includes gelatis, Italian ice, snow cones, ice cream, and more!

During our first Summer Family Favorites contest, we had readers vote on three different categories:

1st Place: Best Frozen Treat (Summer, 2021)

Houni’s Italian Ice

1848 Woodruff Road, Greenville

Types of Frozen Treats: Italian Ice, Gelatis, and Soft Serve

It’s no secret that parents love drive-thrus, but when the item they are handing you through the window is a cold and frosty treat like this, it’s even better!

The Italian ice comes in a bunch of flavors and you can get it layered with soft serve to make what Houni’s calls a Gelati. If the choices are overwhelming they can help with their custom combination offerings. You could go every day for an entire year and most likely not have to duplicate a flavor combination. That’s a lot of options!

We’ve been fans since day one, so this reinforces what we already knew! But don’t take our word for it! Instead, check out what readers have to say about The Kidding Around Family Favorites Winner For Best Place To Get A Frozen Treat – Houni’s Italian Ice

Houins Italian Ices

What Our Readers Say About Houni’s Italian Ice

Their combination of shaved ice, gelato and soft serve tastes so rich. Especially their soft serve. Tastes like real milk.

Yaaas!!! So Good! That Pina Colada!!!

We went yesterday and my kids asked if we could go everyday!

Houni’s is literally the BEST!!

Houni’s has great flavor combinations and you can add soft serve

Are you looking for more locally-owned favorites to support when you dine out? Check out our guide to Locally Owned Restaurants in Greenville & Spartanburg.

Finalists: Best Frozen Treat (Summer, 2021)

Good Karma Ice Cream

203 West Main Street, Easley

Types of Frozen Treats: Ice Cream, Milkshakes, Dole Whips, Sundaes, and Ice Cream Sandwiches

This ice cream shop in Easley offers up unique menu items like Over The Top shakes (shown below), and ice cream burritos! Since they are conveniently located right next to the Easley Amphitheater, you can grab a frozen treat while you enjoy a show!

Ice cream shop / milkshake from Good Karma

Vampire Penguin Shaved Snow & Desserts

11021 Anderson Road, Powdersville

Types of Frozen Treats: Snow Cones with Specialty Toppings

Shaved ice topped with vanilla cream and other delicious toppings are what make the newer Vampire Penguin Shaved Show & Desserts in the Upstate unique from the rest and why it’s popular with readers! You get to enjoy Snow-Cream without the threat of icy roads!

The Nomadik Few

10862 Anderson Road, Piedmont

Types of Frozen Treats: Gourmet Shaved Ice

Nomadik Few

The Nomadik Few offers over 100 flavors, including organic and sugar-free flavors.

We love them because they have such a great variety and their prices are affordable.

Sno Hut

3243 Wade Hampton Boulevard, Greenville & 3605 Brushy Creek Rd, Greer (Century Park)

An Upstate staple since 1987, Sno Hut serves over 60 flavors of snow cones at the Edwards Forest Plaza and at Century Park in Greer.

Sno Hut treat

RELATED:
2021 Kidding Around Summer Family Favorites Contest Winner: Best South Carolina Beach
2021 Kidding Around Summer Family Favorites Contest Winner: Best Indoor Spot To Beat The Heat