Summer in South Carolina can be, um, intense, to say the least! In this guest post from realtor Elizabeth Faulkner, she shares her top 5 favorite spring activities that you and your family should tackle before the heat dictates what you can and can’t joyfully (or even safely) do! Outdoor activities are still manageable, so check out the list and plan your family’s next outdoor adventure now—before it’s too late!
As spring winds to a close I find myself bracing for the dog days of summer. Lucky for us here in the Upstate of South Carolina, June tends to be a month with some lingering beautiful spring-like days! So, before my family hunkers down at our neighborhood pool for the hottest part of the summer, we make every effort to get outside and enjoy SPRING while we still have it! Here are a few of our favorite things we try to do every year in the short season we love so very much.
Located in Greenville, Birds Fly South has a green space on which kids can run around and play. Plus, the popular White Duck Taco is right next door!
This article was formerly sponsored by Elizabeth Faulkner.
Looking for a new place to play? East Riverside Park has some fun playground equipment along with fields and a community garden. We checked it out to let our readers know what to expect when they visit this park.
East Riverside Park is a wonderful park located near Riverside High School in Greer. Let’s explore the park from the back of the park to the front.
Football Fields, Community Garden, and More
When you wind your way to the back of the park by car or by walking on its roadway, you will find a large sports field. The field is used for both soccer and football. The wide open area would also be a great place to fly kites. You will find restrooms right in front of the field. There is a large parking lot there, too.Â
A short walk from the ball field is a single basketball hoop and the community garden. East Riverside Park is the home to one of the community gardens in the Greenville Parks and Recreation system. What fun it would be to rent a garden plot there to work on with your children!
You can take a trip through the trees or back on the main park road to get to the picnic pavilion. It is a large area filled with picnic tables, a large grill, and a set of bathrooms. The bathrooms in the pavilion are the closest ones to the playground area. There is a parking area right in front of the pavilion that is also used by park visitors who want to explore the playground area.
East Riverside Park’s Playground
The playground area is filled with fun playground equipment, recently replaced within the last couple of years.
There is a section of the playground that features equipment just right for younger children and the section for older children is on the other side of the playground.
Both areas have some sun cover. Between the areas, you will find equipment that children can stand or sit on and spin. My son tested out each of the pieces of spinning equipment and announced they were all a lot of fun. Both areas feature climbing equipment and equipment that moves.Â
There are no swings available at this park. There is a swinging bridge area that my son enjoyed in the area for older children. Younger children at the park the day we visited needed help from their parents to cross it.Â
In front of the playground, there is a sand volleyball court. Young children would have fun trying to get balloons over the net while older children could actually play volleyball there.
Across the parking lot from the playground and pavilion, you will find an open field that would be great for playing tag or maybe even bike riding.
Finally, at the front of the park, you will find baseball fields. The fields have their own parking lot and bathrooms.
East Riverside Park: Quick Review
Favorites:
Great new playground equipment
Restrooms located near the sports field and pavilion
Variety of fields and courts to play on
Drawbacks:
No swings
1155 S Suber Rd, Greer, SC 29650
East Riverside Park is only a stone’s throw away from residential and business areas. We found it to be a wonderful place to get away from the hustle and bustle. It was a great park to play and explore nature.
Have you visited the new playground at East Riverside Park?
Drive-in movie theaters still exist and there’s one about an hour from Greenville, SC that is just perfect for making those fun, family memories together.Put “visit 25 Drive-In movie theater” on your bucket list this year.
I went to a drive-in movie (sometimes known as an ‘auto theater’) with my family when I was maybe 12 or 13 years old. It was so fun! We brought blankets and pillows and popcorn, tuned our radio to the channel that broadcasted the audio from the film, and had a blast together. Nowadays, drive-in movie theaters have all but disappeared. But there’s one in Greenwood, SC (a little over an hour from Greenville) that is still showing movies and it’s a great spot to make those lasting family memories.
25 Drive-In Movie Theater Times & Dates
The 25 Drive-In Movie Theater, which first opened in 1945, shows movies and Friday and Saturday nights on three screens. The first movie starts around 8:15 pm, the second at 10 or 10:30 pm.
New movies will be posted by Tuesday or Wednesday before the weekend.
Movies range in rating from PG to R so be sure to check out what is showing beforehand to make sure it is an appropriate fit for your family.
Bathrooms are available.
25 Drive-In Movie Theater Admission + Food
The 25 Drive-In Movie Theater offers concessions as well so you can consider it ‘dinner and a movie’. On the menu you’ll find hand-patted burgers, hotdogs, popcorn, nachos, and a lot more! If you want to bring your own food, you’re welcome to do so but will be asked to pay $20 for a food/drink permit.
The cost to go to the movie is $5 for ages 3-11 and $10 for ages 12+. Gates open at 7 pm
Have you been to a drive-in movie?
25 Drive-In Movie Theater 3109 Highway 25 South, Greenwood 864.942.9871
The Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail System is a mixed-use (walking/running/biking) path that stretches through Downtown Greenville up into Travelers Rest. Since opening in 2009, the popular trail has grown from 9 miles to 22, and sections are still being added all over the Upstate! As the trail grows, so does local business. Breweries, cafes, parks, and shops have all popped up along the path, providing Greenville residents with tons of fun activities!
A long-time resident of Greenville and a fan of getting outside and having fun with his family, Dan Hamilton shares some of his favorite stops along the trail system. Follow along as Dan walks us through the trail, starting in Downtown Greenville and ending in Travelers Rest.
Have you visited Cleveland Park near downtown Spartanburg, SC? This gorgeous, heavily shaded park is located just off Asheville Highway and is the perfect place to spend the day with your family. This park has everything, from a large duck pond spotted with several species of bird, to an expansive playground. There is something new to experience with each visit. The park is handicap accessible, so everyone can enjoy the park without feeling restricted. So, grab your picnic basket and head to Spartanburg for a lovely day at Cleveland Park!
