Posts Tagged ‘Swimming’

4 Floating Obstacle Courses Over Water in Georgia and South Carolina

Need something different but also super fun to cool off during the summer and get out all your kids’ energy? Here are four floating obstacle courses in South Carolina and Georgia to do just that.

Floating obstacle courses are one of my new favorite summer activities. Here’s why:

I get to make my Wipeout and ninja warrior dreams come true
I get in an awesome workout
My kids are obsessed with and so happy to enjoy these aqua parks
My kids are completely wiped out afterward because it’s super exhausting

If you haven’t tried one of these, I’ve put together a list for you so you can try them all as well! I’ve noted the differences between the places to help you out in choosing your adventure. I’ve been to all of the places listed below so these are firsthand reviews and comments. Most are open all summer through September, depending on weather.

Aqua Parks in South Carolina

Splash Island at Big Water Marina

This huge floating obstacle course opened in the summer of 2022 on Lake Hartwell. Splash Island is situated at Big Water Marina and Campground, which has a sandy beach, hammocks, chairs, shaded spots, tiny cabins, TV pads, and a delicious restaurant, J.R. Cash’s on-site (it has a pirate ship playground!).

Cost: $15/hour; $25/two hours; kids must be 46″ tall (under 46″ are allowed with an adult)
Hours: Thursday-Sunday from 10 am – 6 pm and the two-hour sessions are 10 am – Noon, 1-3 pm, and 4-6 pm.
Distance from Greenville: One hour
Highlights: Sandy beach, restaurant, hydrobike/SUP/kayak rentals, tiny cabins for rent, restaurant with a playground
Address: 320 Big Water Road, Starr, SC
Kidding Around Review of Big Water

Big Water Marina Beach — Splash Island at Big Water Marina

Aqua Zone at The Shores at Asbury

The Shores at Asbury has their giant Aqua Zone floating obstacle course on Lake Hartwell also. It’s situated on a huge sandy beach, with sand imported from Florida, kayak and SUP rentals, and a restaurant on site. They also have a kids obstacle course for kids who are under 47″.

Cost: $18/hour or $25/two hours if bought online; $20/hour on site; $35/all day pass, $115/family four pass for all day access; follow on Facebook for deals on tickets
Hours: 10 am – 6 pm daily, closed Noon-1 pm, and 3 – 4 pm for safety checks and lifeguard breaks
Distance from Greenville: One hour
Highlights: White sandy beach with tents and lounge chairs, a kids floating obstacle course, lawn games, a restaurant
Address: 1600 Asbury Park Road, Anderson, SC
Kidding Around Review of the Shores at Asbury

Floating obstacle course at the Shores of Asbury — Aqua Zone Shores at Asbury

Charleston Aqua Park

The Charleston Aqua Park is super cool because it not only has an aqua park but also the only ropes course over water in the country. The owner assured us there aren’t gators at Trophy Lake, too. We had such a blast at this park and the water felt so good on a hot, summer day. Plus, it’s really close to the beautiful Angel Oak Tree!

Cost: $19/hour; discounts available during the week and/or if you book both the aqua park and ropes course
Hours: Open daily Noon-6 pm
Distance from Greenville: 3 hours and 20 minutes
Highlights: Big aqua park, little beach and swimming area for smaller kids, only over-water ropes course in the country, kids summer camps (you can send a kid there for a day while you’re on vacation), covered picnic areas, other water activity rentals
Address: 3050 Marlin Road, Johns Island SC
Kidding Around Review of Charleston Aqua Park

Aqua Parks in Georgia

Splash Island at The Ridges Resort

This was the largest aqua park we went to and likely the oldest as well judging by some partially deflated obstacles and well-worn life jackets is at Splash Island at The Ridges Resort. The park is located on Lake Chatuge in Hiawassee, GA, and also has a sandy beach with chairs and umbrellas for rent.

Cost: $15/hour or $35/all day; kids have to be 45″ tall or 7 years old for the big course; $115/family of four all-day pass
Hours: Monday-Friday from 3-7 pm (last ticket sold at 6 pm); Saturday-Sunday Noon-5 pm (last ticket sold at 4 pm)
Distance from Greenville: 2 hours and 20 minutes
Highlights: Huge splash island, kids floating obstacle course, sandy beach, chair, and tent rentals, offers season passes
Address: 3379 US Highway 76, Hiawassee, GA
Splash Island at The Ridges Resort

*Splash Island at The Ridges Resort in GA*

Would you try out one of these aqua parks? Did we miss your favorite place? Let us know in the comments

Sugar white sandy beach and floating obstacle course await at the Shores of Asbury on Lake Hartwell, SC

The new aqua park and sandy white beach at the Shores of Asbury in Anderson, SC is the only one of its kind in the Upstate and less than an hour from Greenville, SC. We checked it out and have all the information for you and your family to have a blast on this floating obstacle course.

Media tickets were provided for this review and all opinions are those of the author.

This article includes:
About the Shores of Asbury
White Sand Beach at Shores of Asbury
Aqua Zone- floating obstacle course
Waterfront Grill
Tips for Visiting Shores of Asbury
Tickets and Admission

(more…)

Twelve Mile Recreation Area Has One of the Nicest Beaches in the Upstate

Have you visited Twelve Mile Recreation Area, a Clemson City Park on Lake Hartwell? Grab the swimsuits and those inflatable tubes because local mom Liene brought her kids for swimming and found a park full of family-friendly amenities that make it a great spot to spend a summer day. Here’s why you should visit and what to expect!

You can find more lakes that allow swimming in our list of swimming holes near Greenville, SC.

Things to Do at Twelve Mile Recreation Area

Swimming
Playing in the sand
Picnics
Boating
Fishing
Playground

(more…)

Discovery Island: Water Park Fun for the Whole Family in Simpsonville, SC

Are you thinking about bringing the family to Greenville Rec’s Discovery Island Water Park for some summer fun? The park, located inside Southside Park in Simpsonville, SC, has a little something for everyone. Find out about each of the park’s attractions and all the details you need to know for a fun day at Discover Island.

For more suggestions of where to swim this summer, see our list of places to Splash & Swim in Greenville.

Thank you to Greenville Rec for providing passes so we could bring this information to our readers.

(more…)

Mile Creek County Park: Play all day on the shores of Lake Keowee

If you need a fun day trip to a little park on the shores of Lake Keowee, Mile Creek County Park is a great option. Kidding Around’s Kristina reviews it for us.

Sometimes the most fun day trip or entertainment with your family is a simple little park with a small beach and access to crystal clear water on a super hot day. That’s what Mile Creek County Park is like.

(more…)

Lake Murray Public Park: The Perfect Swimming Spot This Summer in Lexington, SC

Are you planning a trip to Lake Murray Public Park in Lexington, SC? If you are looking for a family-friendly place to take a swim this summer, Lake Murray might be just the place. At Lake Murray Public Park you’ll find both a beach area and lake swimming access that’s the perfect place to play, then jump in and cool off. We recently visited Lake Murray Public Park and have all the details you need to know from a mom’s perspective.

Accessing Lake Murray Park

There are two sides to Lake Murray Park: the Lexington Side and Irmo Side. The Irmo side is open all year and includes a boat ramp, picnic areas, and fishing dock, but no swimming. This side is great for kayaks and paddling.

The Lexington side is open from April to September and is where you will want to go for all things swimming-related! Keep reading to learn more about the Lexington/swimming area of the lake!

Swim and Dig at the Lake

Whether your family is made up of babies and tots or even if you’ve got teens, your children will love it at Lake Murray Public Park! The beach is the perfect size for kids to dig and run around on and for families to spread out their beach towels or even set up an umbrella for extra shade.

The swimming area of the lake is roped off, but very spacious. You may even see some boats driving past, however they are pretty far off from the swimming area and don’t cause too much of a wake.

Parking at Lake Murray Park

There are two large parking areas, one of which costs $5/car CASH ONLY! If you’re like us, and never have cash on hand, there are a few gas stations within a five-minute drive from the park that have ATM’s or will give cash back for small purchases. The main parking lot will get you close to the swimming and beach area.

Just past the main parking area, you will find the second, FREE parking option. Although it’s free, beware that you will have a further and trickier walk to the water.

Picnic at the Lake

At the park, you will find countless amounts of picnic tables, both covered and uncovered. Several of them also have public grills nearby. Keep in mind that these are all first-come, first-serve, however, I don’t foresee there being an issue with places to sit down for snacks or lunch breaks.

Swim at Your Own Risk: No Life Guards at Lake Murray

There are no on-duty lifeguards at Lake Murray Public Park. Because of this, lifejackets may be a good idea even if your children are a bit older. While there are no lifeguards, there are on-site security personnel, a security station, and an emergency phone.

Packing for the Lake

The entrance into the lake itself is a bit rocky and rough on little feet. I highly suggest bringing water shoes for everyone, but especially your littles! This is one thing I kept saying over and over again that we needed for next time.

If your kiddos are part fish another great idea would be to bring their goggles! I know, it might sound funny for a lake, but the water was surprisingly super clear. It would be fun for your kiddos to dive down and see what treasures they can find.

Blow up the floaties and inner-tubes and load them with you, too! While the swimming area doesn’t get super deep, floats are always fun to lounge around on or, really to flip each other over! As mentioned previously, lifejackets may also be necessary!

Don’t forget the toys! My kids really enjoyed digging with their shovels and making sandcastles near the water. Several families also brought water guns, beach balls, and floating toys.

Here’s your Lake Murray Park Packing List:

hats
sunscreen
sunglasses
towels
water bottles
snacks
beach blanket and maybe folding chairs
grilling utensils if you plan on using that feature
water shoes
goggles
floats and water toys
life jacket

More Things To Do at the Lake

From the parking lots, you can also walk the Lake Murray Dam. This will be covered by your $5 parking fee (remember…CASH ONLY!). The walk is 1.7 miles one way and gives you beautiful views of both the lake and city skyline. Pro tip: do this in the evening so you can watch the sunset and so it’s a bit cooler!

It’s very unlikely that your kiddos won’t be worn out from the lake, but if you’re still looking for more fun, Saluda Shoals is less than a 10 min drive and offers several playgrounds, hiking trails, and a splash pad.

Off To The Lake

Lake Murray
1832-1834 N Lake Drive
Lexington, SC 29072

Open April – September
Weekdays: 11:00 am – 8:00 pm
Weekends: 10:00 am – 8:00 pm

Greenville Speaks: Best Swim Lessons in Greenville, SC

Are you looking for the perfect place to sign your kids up for swim lessons in Greenville, SC this summer? We polled our readers to get some parent reviews of what pools and places are the best for swim lessons.

Greenville Speaks is a collection of reader recommendations based on our Facebook page. While this listing may include KAG sponsors, listings are not based on sponsorship. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement.

Girl swimming. Find swimming lessons in Greenville, SC

(more…)

Cool Off! The Ultimate List for Where to Swim and Splash near Greenville, SC

Want to take the kids out for swimming or water play in Upstate, SC? The heat of summer is on the way, and what better way to enjoy it than swimming or splashing? If you want to know where parents can take kids to swim or get wet near Greenville, you’ve found the right place. We’ll tell you all about local pools, splash pads, creek stomping places, and swimming holes.

If we missed any places to swim, let us know in the comments!

Love our content? Get it delivered right to your inbox twice a week with our free newsletter! Sign up here.

(more…)

Posts Tagged ‘Swimming’

4 Floating Obstacle Courses Over Water in Georgia and South Carolina