Did you know we have a FREE place to play mini-golf right in the middle of downtown Spartanburg, SC? Sparkle City Mini Putt is totally free! Plus, there are more fun things to do downtown in Spartanburg.
If you are looking for Greenville nail salons offering mommy and me manicures and pedicures, you’ve come to the right place! Kidding Around readers recommended several nail salons that accommodate little kids by giving them the pint-size version of the nail treatments many parents enjoy. We hope you and your little one have a great time bonding while being pampered with mommy and me manis and pedis!
(more…)Art and coffee? Add in some great sandwiches and that’s what you’ll find at the TReehoue Cafe and Art Studio in Travelers Rest. KAG’s Kristina Hernandez stopped by so she could tell our readers all about this unique cafe. Learn about the coffee, food and activities they offer in this review.
(more…)Looking for a place to make some art in Travelers Rest, SC? TR Makers Co offers art activities for both children and adults. You can plan a birthday party or girls’ night here, or take advantage of summer sessions, playdates and even homeschool classes.
(more…)More and more, families are using the holiday season to spread kindness and teach children the spirit of giving. Local mom Kristen Alcock and Kidding Around’s Melanie Coblentz are here with a number of ideas about how to include young children and volunteer as a family. Spread some cheer this season and give back!
For more volunteer opportunity ideas for older kids and adults see our list of ways to volunteer with kids in Greenville.
(more…)The Cottonwood Trail is the perfect space for your children to experience the seasons in the Upstate. In the summer, lush and green in the summer, crackling with autumnal colors in the fall, sparse and atmospheric in the winter, and brimming with new life in the spring, your children can observe the seasonal changes while exploring the great outdoors.
Named after the majestic Cottonwood trees dot the landscape, The Cottonwood Trail Preserve is maintained by the Spartanburg Area Conservancy.
Located on the Eastside of Spartanburg, the 3.6-mile trail is perfect for walking, jogging, or biking with the family. The trails are unpaved, but all-terrain strollers and bikes, and even wagons can easily navigate most of the paths.
The Cottonwood Trail is the longest in the preserve and follows along Lawson’s Ford Creek, providing a scenic water view that is still a safe distance from the walking trail.
The trail is pet-friendly so that the family dog can get in his steps for the day, too! (Dogs are expected to remain on a leash and under the control of their owners at all times.)
Parking and entrances to the trail are found off Sydnor Road (across from the Spartan High tennis courts) and Beechwood Drive (off of Fernwood Drive). The trail is open every day from dawn to dusk.
An offshoot of the Cottonwood Trail, the Boardwalk, and Wetlands Trails offer a first-hand experience of South Carolina’s famed wetlands. The Boardwalk Trail is marked by a sign pointing to the beaver dams and quickly turns from a dirt trail into a boardwalk. Take a break on the benches and observation deck to check out the reptiles and water birds. If you’re lucky, you might spot the heron that calls this particular wetland his home.
A picnic area lies across the main bridge, crossing Lawson’s Fork Creek, so pack a snack and pause to play in the woods!
You can access a map of the Cottonwood Trail online.
Have you seen Open Art Studios on Main Street in Greenville? Right in the heart of downtown Greenville, this local studio offers classes for kids and grown-ups, as well as birthday parties and special events.
(more…)This post contains affiliate links.
Can you believe that it’s February? That means Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. I have a few ideas to share that are great family friendly activities. As an added bonus this is a list of inexpensive ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day as a family. No need to break the bank just to say “I Love You.”
My 4 year old gave me this idea. She heard her older brother talk about his class Valentine’s party, and has since declared that we are having our own party. I am totally on board. My husband and I are planning to have cupcakes, balloons, and music.
Don’t bother with the generic cards from the store. Take this opportunity to use all the glitter and glue you want. The kids will love making homemade cards for their grandparents, classmates, and other loved ones.
Cozy up on the couch with blankets and pillows. Pop popcorn and watch a classic movie like, A Charlie Brown Valentine, or a family favorite. We will definitely have Frozen & Shrek in our rotation. (As if our kids needed another reason to watch either movie.)
Include the kids in your dinner plans! Dress everyone in their Sunday best and head out to an amazing restaurant. Just make sure your children are old enough to conduct themselves accordingly in a “fine dining” establishment. If not, dine at a kid friendly eatery. Here are 6 Great Restaurants to Take Your Kids (That Aren’t Fast Food).
Don’t forget about our Kids Eat Free Directory.
Groupon offers a list of local restaurants that currently have discount deals that would be perfect for a family on Valentine’s Day!
Okay, this is totally for me. Turn on your favorite Pandora playlist about love and belt them out with kiddos. I am pretty sure this will turn into a dance party at our house. I currently have Whitney Houston’s Greatest Hits & The Greatest Love Songs of the 80’s ready for a major karaoke battle! My kids are a bit young to know many of these songs, but they will love seeing Mom and Dad act silly.
Finally make this a month of love. Find creative and fun was to share love with your family all month long. Whatever you decide to do have fun!
Sherrica Sims is an Upstate native who is a stay at home mom of 2 precocious kids. She loves creative outlets and spending time with family. You can follow her thrift shopping adventures at Thrift Chic on Facebook.While we know Greenville is a wonderful place for little kids, it’s also a town that has plenty of things to do indoors with teens, everything from laser tag and trampoline parks to volunteering opportunities and movies.
We’ve compiled some of the best things to do inside with teenagers in Greenville. If we missed something, let us know in the comments!
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Main Event is Greenville’s newest entertainment venue with bowling, laser tag, and arcade games, You’ll also find a restaurant, bar, and billiards. They run specials like kids eat free and all-you-can-play nights. Here’s our Kidding Around article on Main Event.
Main Event
225 Entertainment Boulevard
Greenville, SC
Frankie’s Fun Park is a mecca of arcade games, mini-golf, laser tag, and road courses, Frankie’s Fun Park is a great place to get out some energy with teens. There are plenty of activities for everyone to enjoy no matter what their interests are. Attractions are priced separately and there are food options as well: Mini golf ($8), go-karts ($7), indoor playground ($8), laser tag ($7), batting cage ($2), arcade, drop zone ($4), and bumper boats ($6).
45 Park Woodruff Drive; Greenville; 864.627.9888
Visit the website.
The Big E in Gaffney is another great place for indoor fun. They have arcades, laser tag, mini-golf, bumper cars, and a ropes course (outdoors). Check out our video tour here.
1100 Factory Shops Blvd, Gaffney (I-85 at exit 90 next to the Gaffney Premium Outlets); 864.489.1515
Visit the website.
Greenville is home to Gravitopia and Sky Zone, both really fun trampoline park with ninja courses, foam pits and extreme. Gravitopia hosts a Club Night for kids 15 and older and Sky Zone has an event called Glow that is similar. And if you’re up for a little drive, Big Air Trampoline Park in Spartanburg just celebrated their 1st birthday and is super cool. They host Cosmic Nights, which is perfect for teens, every Friday and Saturday night.
Defy (formerly Gravitopia)
48 Brookfield Oaks Drive, Greenville; 864.715.2044
Visit the website.
Sky Zone
2465 Laurens Road, Greenville; 864.558.2400
Visit the website.
Big Air Trampoline Park
660 Spartan Blvd, Spartanburg; 864.580.6462
Visit the website.
Big Air Greenville
36 Park Woodruff Drive, Greenville; 864.626.5252
Website.
If you’ve ever been to Artisphere, you’ll understand how vibrant the art community is in Greenville. There are mediums for any level of interest and talent in art – painting, pottery, felting, welding. It’s all here. These places below offer all kinds of art classes or the opportunity to paint your own potter.
Greenville Center for Creative Arts
Maya Movement Arts (an aerial arts studio)
There are tons of opportunities for teens to volunteer and give back to their community. There are soup kitchens, Meals on Wheels, and places like Project Host. The City of Greenville also accepts teen volunteers for their many festivals.
Here is a list of places to volunteer in the Greenville area.
For a unique experience, teens can try using their best investigative skills to break out of a room together in 60 minutes or less.
Greenville Escape Room
319 Garlington Road, Suite A-5, Greenville; 864.982.5083
Visit the website.
Teens under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
Breakout Greenville
614 N Main Street, Greenville; 864.326.0190
Visit the website.
Teens under 14 must be accompanied by an adult.
Escape Artist Greenville
217 East Stone Avenue, Greenville; 864.509.9305
Visit the website.
Teens under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
What would a teenager like more than speeding in a car around an indoor race track? Let them get out those urges at a go kart facility. Kids under 18 can race during the week before 5 pm and on weekends before 2 pm.
Speed Factory Indoor Karting
1524 Roper Mountain Road, Greenville; 864.412.3323
130 E Daniel Morgan Avenue, Spartanburg; 864.447.4000
Visit the website.
Bowling alleys have stepped up their game and aren’t the sketchy establishments of the 90s any longer. Greenville has some good options to bowling for teens.
Stone Pin Company
304 E Stone Avenue, Greenville; 864.412.7228
Visit the website.
Spare Time Entertainment
822 Congaree Road, Greenville; 864.412.0299
Website
AMF Star Lanes
740 S. Pleasantburg Drive, Greenville; 864.242.5724
Visit the website.
Peach Bowl Lanes
14515 E Wade Hampton Blvd, Greer; 864.877.8340
Visit the website.
Wade Hampton Lanes
3065 Wade Hampton Blvd, Taylors, SC; 864.268.4136
Visit the website.
Golden Park
108 Balcome Blvd, Simpsonville; 864.967.8551
Visit the website.
Rock Springs Bowling Alley
201 Rock Springs Road, Easley; 864.442.2057
Visit the website.
There are always the movies. And teens still love going to them.
Regal Cinemas Hollywood 20
1025 Woodruff Road, Greenville; 864.462.7342
Visit the website.
Camelot Cinemas
48 East Antrim Drive, Greenville; 864.235.6700
Visit the website.
Regal Cinemas Cherrydale 16
3221 North Pleasantburg Drive, Greenville; 844.462.7342
Visit the website.
Do you have a great place for teens to add to our list?
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. 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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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 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!
Foothills Fencing Academy
1004 Piedmont Hwy
Piedmont, SC 29673
(864) 593-3684
foothillsfencingacademy@gmail.com
http://www.foothillsfencing.com
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:
Has your family ever tried Fencing?
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.