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FREE Home Depot Kids Workshops (2024): Quality time with the kids

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Looking for the next FREE Home Depot Kids Workshop Kit? The Home Depot Workshops for kids have always been a Kidding Around favorite. We’ve been, we love them, and our readers do, too! We’re going to tell you what we love, why we love it, how to register, and some parent tips to help you make the most of your visit to the free workshops for kids at Home Depot.

Home Depot Kids Workshop Schedule and news

I have always looked forward to the first Saturday of the month for the past several years as it has been my mommy-daughter date at the Home Depot kids workshop. I grab my coffee and my two young kids get their hammers and paintbrushes and we build whatever the kids’ workshop has deemed the project of the month at our local store.

It’s all free! Home Depot offers workshop kits for kids, including all materials needed to complete the project, totally free. These projects are an amazing way to spend some quality time with the kids, without spending a dime. In this article, we’ll take you along on our in-person visit to a Home Depot Workshop for kids and tell you exactly what to expect when you visit.

This article includes:

Free things to do for kids across the USA

We LOVE free things to do!

Find more in the Kidding Around Guide to Free Things to Do for Kids

January 2024 Delivery Truck

Kicking off 2024, the Home Depot Kids Workshop in January is a delivery truck. How fun! Visit on January 6th from 9 am to 12 pm. Registration in advance is encouraged.

Home Depot Kids Workshops in the News

We sat down with local news outlet, Fox Carolina to chat about these workshops.

Experience The Home Depot Kids Workshop

We love taking kids to the Home Depot workshops. We pooled the experiences of our KA Team in this review, so you’ll know what you can expect when you attend.

First, the Home Depot has workshops of all kinds for their customers and they have these awesome kids workshops on the first Saturday of every month from 9 am-Noon.

Secondly, know that they provide all the materials you need to make whatever the craft of the day is. Just show up with your kid. With the take-home kits, you’ll have to do some of that yourself.

You, and your child, don’t need any kind of handyman experience. I’ve certainly made mistakes helping my daughters build all sorts of stuff but it’s a great learning time for all of us and it also helps with hand-eye coordination for the kiddos.

Building and Painting

The crafts always consist of something that you have to hammer together and then paint. My daughters both are great with handling a hammer and have only hit my fingers a few times. They also absolutely love the painting part too.

We have made all kinds of stuff together – a birdhouse, a car, a plane, a mailbox, a little sled, a planter (these are all kid-size, not big people, normal-sized things).

Thankfully there are instructions on how to put it together. I also cheat and see what the other parents do.

Free Home Depot Kids Workshop Kit, working with Dad on a project

How Kids Workshops at Home Depot Work

Check out your local Home Depot by going to the kids’ workshop link to make sure they have the kids’ workshop available. Most of the stores in the area have them.

All you do is show up between 9 am and Noon (look around for the area where they have the workshop or ask an associate) and the nice people at Home Depot will give you a packet that contains the craft, along with a kids apron and a commemorative pin, and step by step instructions.

You can register online to be sure you get a kit. If inventory levels of the kits are low, those who registered online will get them first. But usually, there isn’t a problem!

My daughter has a bunch of the commemorative pins on her Home Depot apron At the stores, Home Depot has benches and tables set up where you can sit down and get to work. They provide the little paintbrushes, the hammers, and the paint. I try to have my kids wear clothes I wouldn’t mind getting paint on because it can get a little messy.

I have to stop myself from helping them too much because it’s so fun. I’ve seen parents really get into it and do all the painting while their child watches. It’s a kid’s thing so let the kids do it! And they are learning how to woodwork in the process, which helps build their confidence.

More Details: Free Home Depot Kids Workshop

The kids’ workshops are on the first Saturday of the month. I started taking my oldest daughter when she was 3-years-old, which worked out great and my youngest when she was around two-and-a-half. It really depends on the child and how many kids you can control at once.

I have found it’s an awesome parent-kid date idea, especially for parents whose time is more limited during the workweek.

2024 Home Depot Kids Workshop Kit Schedule

Free Home Depot Kids kits are available the first Saturday of the month for completion in-store.

January 6th, 2024: Delivery Truck
February 3rd, 2024: Valentines Basket
March 2nd, 2024: Butterfly House

Past Projects Included

Kids workshops 2023 made:

  • Snowball Game
  • Valentine’s Vase
  • Pinball Game
  • Poolside Birdhouse
  • Flower Planter
  • Putting Green
  • Fireworks Bean Bag Toss
  • Treasure Chest
  • Build a Microscope
  • Rescue Floatplane
  • Horseshoe Game
  • Penguin Photo Ornament
  • Gingerbread House

Don’t want to wait? Purchase Wood Kits for Kids

This section contains Amazon affiliate links.

You can purchase woodcraft kits for children instead of waiting for the free Home Depot kits each month. Help children develop woodworking skills, practice following written directions, get a little creative, and just enjoy some quality time with you!

You also find some of the Home Depot Kids Kits on sale at Home Depot online. You can even purchase a kid party pack. What a great idea for a kids’ party!

The Home Depot Kids page also has virtual workshops and virtual field trip videos about plants that kids may enjoy.

Bird Bungalow

Mechanical Model Cars

Candy Dispenser

Home Depot Free Kids’ Workshops FAQ

How do I sign-up for the free Kids’ Workshops at Home Depot?

Sign-up at Home Depot Kids. It just takes a minute and it’s the best way to make sure there will be a kit there for your kids.

Are the Home Depot Kids’ Kits hard to build?

Don’t worry. Picture instructions are included and you don’t need any special prior knowledge of building things to complete the project with your kids. Just go and have a good time. It doesn’t have to be perfect.

Are the Home Depot Kids’ workshops really free?

Yep. Totally free. Sign-up and then spend a little time building something fun with your kids. Few things in life are free anymore and opportunities to do something cool with your kids for free are definitely limited. We love that Home Depot is keeping these workshops free. Go make some memories. You’ll never regret spending time with your kids.

What ages are good for the Free Home Depot Kids’ Workshop

We’d recommend about age 3 and up. At 3, the kids will need lots of help from you. but as kids get older they’ll be able to do more and more of the project independently.

Are there more free kids’ workshops and events at other stores?

  • Lowe’s offers similar Free Kids’ Workshops once a month.
  • And, JCPenney offers free kids craft events each month.



  • So mark your calendars and have fun!

     

    13+ Places to Ski, Snowboard, & Snow Tube: North Carolina & Beyond (2023)

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    Looking to hit the slopes near Greenville, South Carolina this winter? Heading up into North Carolina you’ll find so many great ski and snow tube options from full North Carolina ski resorts to super family-friendly North Carolina snow tubing parks.

    Best snow tubing, skiing, and tubing near Greenville, South Carolina

    We have a list of the closest ski resorts, slopes, and snow tube runs to South Carolina including North Carolina slopes, plus some in Tennessee and Georgia.

    We also have some great options for snow tubing in Tennesee, including America’s first indoor snow tube park! Use our list to find the best snow ski slopes for your family.

    Snow tubing at Black Bear in Hendersonville, NC
    Blackbear Snow Tubing


    Snow Tubing near South Carolina

    Are there places to go snow tubing in South Carolina? Are there any South Carolina ski resorts? Where are the ski slopes near me?

    The short answer is “No.” If you want to ski, snow tube, or snowboard you’ll need to head out of South Carolina. But, the good news is that there is most definitely skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing very near South Carolina. You’ll just need to head up to North Carolina for most of it.

    There are some great spots just an hour or two from Upstate, SC, and two to three hours from the Midlands, SC.


    Quick Guide: Ski and Snow Tube Near You!

    Here’s a quick list of locations by activity. Scroll down for a description of each park and resort!

    *Tubing Only Parks

    Best Snow Tubing in NC

    • *Moonshine Mountain, Hendersonville, NC
    • *Black Bear Snow Tubing, Hendersonville, NC
    • Frozen Falls Tube Park at Ski Sapphire Valley, Sapphire Valley, NC
    • *Zip N Slip, Mars Hill, NC
    • Highlands Outpost at Scaly Mountain Outdoor Center, Scaly Mountain, NC
    • Tube World, Maggie Valley, NC
    • *Jonas Ridge Snow Tubing, Jonas Ridge, NC
    • *Hawksnest Snow Tubing Park, Seven Devils, NC
    • Sugar Mountain, Sugar Mountain, NC
    • Beech Mountain, Beech Mountain, NC

    Where to go Snow Tubing in Tennessee

    • *Rowdy Bear’s Smoky Mountain Snowpark, Pigeon Forge, TN
    • *Pigeon Forge Snow, Pigeon Forge, TN
    • Ober Gatlinburg, Gatlinburg, TN

    Best Ski Slopes in NC

    • Hatley Point, Mars Hill, NC
    • Ski Sapphire Valley, Sapphire Valley, NC
    • Cataloochee Ski Area, Maggie Valley, NC
    • Appalachian Ski Mountain, Blowing Rock, NC
    • Sugar Mountain, Sugar Mountain, NC
    • Beech Mountain, Beech Mountain, NC

    Where to go Snowboarding in North Carolina

    • Hatley Point, Mars Hill, NC
    • Ski Sapphire Valley, Sapphire Valley, NC
    • Scaly Mountain Outdoor Center, Scaly Mountain, NC
    • Cataloochee Ski Area, Maggie Valley, NC
    • Appalachian Ski Mountain, Blowing Rock, NC
    • Sugar Mountain, Sugar Mountain, NC
    • Beech Mountain, Beech Mountain, NC

    Ski Resort & Tube Park Map

    And we made a map!

    Some resorts have closings when the weather gets too warm. Be sure you check the resort website before planning your trip.

    Moonshine Mountain Tubing in Western North Carolina
    Our visit to Moonshine Mountain

    Ski, Snowboard, and Snow Tube in North Carolina

    Western North Carolina Ski Slopes and Best Snow Tubing in NC

    Looking for the closest ski slopes to Greenville, SC? The ski resorts and slopes in Western North Carolina are nearest to Greenville, SC. You’ll find several options in the Asheville, Hendersonville, and Sapphire Valley areas. Here are the nearest ski slopes to Upstate, SC.

    Hatley Pointe Resort

    Hatley Pointe, formerly Wolf Ridge Snow Tubing Park and Ski Resort, in Mars Hill, NC brands itself as a boutique mountain resort with slopes, restaurants, and bars. We have not confirmed if they have snow tubing yet.

    Hatley Pointe
    578 Valley View Circle, Mars Hill, NC
    828.689.4111

    Moonshine Mountain

    Moonshine Mountain in Hendersonville, NC was mentioned by several Kidding Around Greenville readers when we asked you where to go tubing. Located just over an hour from Greenville, this snow tubing-only park offers two hours of tubing for $40 per person. Be sure to check their current hours before making the trip. Minimum height is 36″.

    Note: This is a cash-only business, with an ATM on site.

    Read our Moonshine Mountain review for special tips on making the most of your time there. Target opening date is December 20, 2023.

    Moonshine Mountain
    5865 Willow Road, Hendersonville, NC
    828.696.0333

    Ski Sapphire Valley

    Sapphire Valley, North Carolina was also mentioned as one reader’s go-to for fun in the snow. Sapphire Valley offers ski school, Frozen Falls Tube Park, The Vordach Zipline Experience, and, of course, snow skiing. Plus Sapphire Valley is under two hours from Greenville so it makes for an easy day trip. There are no height or weight restrictions.

    They open on December 16th, 2023. Read our Sapphire Valley review here.

    Sapphire Valley
    127 Cherokee Trail, Sapphire Valley, NC
    828.743.7663

    Snow tubing at Sapphire Valley in Western North Carolina
    Our snow tubing trip to Sapphire Valley

    Zip n Slip

    Located just outside Asheville in Mars Hill, NC, Zip-n-Slip is open daily during the winter season and has snow tubing plus a solarium with a fireplace and views of the runs. Hot chocolate and food trucks are also on-site.

    Prices start at $30/pp for an hour (it’s $22.50 for military, police, fire, and EMS persons) and go up to $45/pp for two hours. Unlike other snow tubing places, Zip-n-Slip allows kids ages 3-5 to ride in the same tube as an adult. Kids must be at least 3 years old for tubing. Kids 5 and under are free. The target open date is December 15th, 2023, and you can easily book your ticket online.

    Check their website or Facebook page for the latest info on weather and hours.

    Zip n Slip
    10725 US Highway 23 North, Mars Hill, NC
    828.689.8444

    Scaly Mountain Outdoor Center

    About two hours from the Upstate, the Scaly Mountain Outdoor Center has snow tubing all winter long for $35-40 per person for two hours for adults and kids. Snow tubing is open as of November 30, 2023.

    Kids must be at least 4 years old and 42 inches tall to ride. Scaly Mountain has a kiddie snow tube area for two hours for $20. Scaly Mountain is near Highlands, NC and they also have ice skating available. A combo two-hour tubing ticket plus one hour of ice skating is $50/person. Snow tubing is open now.

    Scaly Mountain
    7420 Dillard Road, Scaly Mountain, NC
    828.526.3737

    Cataloochee Ski and Tube World

    Cataloochee Ski Area and Tube World in Maggie Valley, NC is another reader favorite.  Also offering tubing, ski school, and skiing, this is a great option for families who don’t want to drive that far. They are aiming to open December 2, 2023.

    Tubing costs $35/person on weekdays and $40/person on weekends.

    Cataloochee
    1080 Ski Lodge Road, Maggie Valley, NC
    828.926.0285

    Jonas Ridge Snow Tubing

    Jonas Ridge Snow Tubing is also a two-hour drive from Greenville and offers snow tubing that even the little ones will love. This snow tubing destination has staff photographers to capture action shots of your family so you can remember your fun day long after it’s over.

    One KAG reader recently enjoyed Jonas Ridge with her family and said it was great. They open on December 18th, 2023, and require reservations.

    Rates are $30/ages 7+ and $20/age 6 and under for an hour of tubing or $45/person and $30/age 6 and under for two hours of tubing.

    Jonas Ridge Snow Tubing
    9472 Highway 181, Jonas Ridge, NC
    828.733.4155

    Black Bear Snow Tubing

    Black Bear Snow Tubing in Hendersonville is pretty close to home and a lot of fun. Check out our Black Bear Tubing review for all the details. Tickets are $40 per 2 hours of tubing or $30 for one hour. Children under 4 or under 40 lbs are not permitted to tube and kids ages 4-6 must be accompanied by an adult but every tuber gets their own tubes, even kids. They accept cash and credit cards and, to save time, sign your waiver online. They plan to open on December 16, 2023.

    Sliding down in a tube at Black Bear Tubing

    Check out our Kidding Around review of Black Bear Tubing for all the information.

    Hours vary so check their Facebook page or website before you go. You can reserve tickets online (which we recommend).

    Black Bear Snow Tubing
    373 Kerr Road, Hendersonville, NC
    828.685.1155

    Crowders Ridge Camp

    Hear us out: this place has snowless snow tubing at their camp, which they call Chutes. It looks really fun and is only an hour and 20 minutes from Greenville. They have four lanes, which are 225 feet long and you can go pretty fast, up to 15 mph. You need to make reservations in advance, which you can do through their website. The tubing is all outdoors so dress accordingly.

    Each ticket includes 3 hours of tubing time and proceeds support the camp. There is no official age limit but they suggest kids need to be at least five years old (younger kids can tube at the discretion of their parents). Tickets are $25/person. Hours are weekends only so far and they opened in November 2022.

    Crowders Camp Chutes
    130 Camp Rotary Road, Gastonia, NC

    Skiing and Snow Tubing in North Carolina High Country

    Looking for a great ski resort in North Carolina? Head to the North Carolina High Country where you’ll find a variety of resorts offering all kinds of winter fun. You will have no trouble finding someplace great to ski, tube or even ice skate. If you’re ambitious, you could even hit more than one ski resort in a single weekend.

    Appalachian Ski Mountain

    Appalachian Ski Mountain is located just outside downtown Blowing Rock and offers a little bit of everything. Not only can you ski or snowboard, but you can also ice skate too! They are open for the 2022-23 season now and reservations are required.

    Appalachian Ski offers three different ski school options for kids. Choose either Ski Wee for kids as young as 4 or Cruiser Camp for kids 7 – 12 who want to give snowboarding a try. Both of these camps offer 2 and 4-hour sessions. The newest program, Mountain Challengers, is for kids who are a bit more experienced and want to try intermediate terrain.

    While App Ski Mountain has a rustic lodge with dining and shopping inside, there is no inn so you’ll have to head down the mountain after your day on the slopes is over.

    The slopes end very close to the ski school area so parents can check in on kids at ski school every so often. 

    Read a mom review of Appalachian Ski Mountain here.

    Appalachian Ski Mountain
    940 Ski Mountain Road, Blowing Rock, NC
    828.295.7828

    Hawksnest Snow Tubing

    Hawksnest Snow Tubing is 2.5 hours from Greenville and worth the drive.  There is no hiking up the slopes here as they have magic carpets that allow you to save your energy for the tubing. The opening date is December 1, 2023.

    Hawksnest is the largest snow tubing park in the east with 30 lanes of fun. You can make online reservations here and they are open now. Tubers must be at least three years old and tickets are $35/person on weekdays and $40-47/person on weekends and holidays for an hour and 45 minutes of tubing.

    Hawksnest Tubing Park
    2058 Skyland Drive, Seven Devils, NC
    828.963.6561

    Sugar Mountain

    With 20 slopes and trails, plus four tubing runs many think of Sugar Mountain first when planning a ski trip close to home. Sugar Mountain also offers multiple lodging options, some slope side, so you don’t have to pack up the car when you’re done skiing for the day.

    Tickets are $34-50 per person during weekdays until January 1, 2023. Weekends until January 1, 2023 are $34-84 per person. Ages three and four are free with a ticketed adult. Sessions are an hour and 45 minutes long. Kids must be ages 3 and up to tube. Tickets are sold first come first serve and will likely sell out.

    They also offer half or full-day ski or snowboard school for kids as young as five years old. Kidding Around Greenville reader Kim warned that holiday weekends can get pretty crowded so be prepared if you’re planning a trip to Sugar over Presidents’ Day Weekend this year. They are currently open.

    Sugar Mountain Resort
    1009 Sugar Mountain Drive, Sugar Mountain, NC
    800.SUGAR.MT

    Beech Mountain

    Just up the road from Sugar Mountain is Beech Mountain Resort, the highest ski resort in the Eastern United States. Beech Mountain Resort offers skiing, snowboarding, a terrain park, tubing, and ice skating.

    Little ones as young as 3 can get in on ski school at Beech so the whole family can ski! Ski school students are placed into groups based on age and skill levels. Like Sugar, Beech Mountain offers multiple lodging options if you prefer to ski right out the door and onto the slopes.

    Tubing guests must be at least 42″ tall and tickets are $32/weekdays and $38/weekends and holidays (Dec. 10- Jan. 1). Tickets are sold the day of starting at 9 am on a first come first serve basis.

    There is also a free sledding hill right in the center of town. You can’t miss it as it’s on the main road that goes through the small town.

    Beech Mountain Resort
    1007 Beech Mountain Parkway, Beech Mountain, NC
    828.387.2011


    Snow Tubing Slopes in North Georgia

    Lanier Islands

    Margaritaville at Lanier Islands in Georgia has fast and high runs on Parrot Mountain for snow tubing. The slide is eight stories high and 575 feet long. The minimum height for snow tubing is 42″ inches tall and one person per tube is allowed.

    Tickets are sold to the entire “License to Chill” area which includes snow tubing, ice skating, the snow play area, and amusement rides. Day passes start at $39.99 for kids ages 3+ and $54.99 for adults. Winter passes are available, which cover the $20 gate fee. There are also discounts when purchasing online.

    Margaritaville at Lanier Islands
    7650 Lanier Islands Parkway, Buford, Georgia 
    470.323.3440


    Snow Tubing in Tennessee

    Rowdy Bear’s Smoky Mountain Snow Park

    Rowdy Bear boasts Tennessee’s longest outdoor snow tubing lanes which are over 500 feet long with a 70-foot drop. Tubing sessions are 90 minutes long and kids must be at least 48″ tall to ride alone and at least 40″ tall to tube with someone over the age of 18. They have a magic carpet that takes you and your tube to the top to slide back down.

    Tickets are $35.99/person and can be reserved online. Wear closed-toed shoes and arrive 30 minutes before your start time. Rowdy Bear also has summer tubing, outdoor axe throwing, and a ski lift shooting game.

    Rowdy Bear’s Smoky Mountain Snow Park
    2155 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
    865.365.1883

    Pigeon Forge Snow

    This snow tubing place is open all year round because it’s indoors! This place has real snow for the tubing lanes plus a snow area where kids can build forts and snowmen. Plus, it’s always around 60-70 degrees inside so you aren’t freezing. Kids must be 38″ tall to tube. If not, you can buy them a ticket just to play in the snow.

    Tickets start at $29.99 for an hour of snow tubing and at $36.99 for tubing plus 30 minutes of snow play. No reservations are needed.

    Pigeon Forge Snow
    2533 Teaster Lane, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
    865.366.1334

    Indoor snow tubing at Pigeon Forge Snow
    Pigeon Forge Snow

    Ober Gatlinburg

     Ober is one of the oldest entertainment areas in Gatlinburg that gets mixed reviews. They have snow tubing, skiing, and snowboarding over the winter. Book online because they do sell out. Also note that parking is an extra fee. Kids need to be at least 3 years old to tube.

    Tubing sessions are 90 minutes long and start at $35/person. Prices are higher on weekends.

    Ober Gatlinburg
    1001 Parkway Suite 2, Gatlinburg, Tennessee
    865.436.5423


    Ski Vacations on the East Coast

    So, you’re looking for a serious ski vacation without having to book a flight? Snowshoe Mountain in West Virginia offers 251 acres of fun and a total of 57 trails! Snowshoe offers everything you’ll need for a fantastic ski vacation, all at the top of the mountain! 

    This West Virginia hot spot offers a lot; everything from ski school to a tube park, snowmobiling, shopping, dining, entertainment, lots of lodging options, and even an inn and spa. Snowshoe offers some pretty great package deals on skiing.

    Snowshoe Mountain
    10 Snowshoe Drive, Snowshoe, WV
    877.441.4386

    Did your favorite place to snow ski or tube make our list? If not we’d love for you to fill us in!

    Croft State Park: The Perfect Park for an Outdoor Adventure Near Spartanburg, SC

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    Have you visited Croft State Park? With a wooden dock, a clear lake, tiny minnows sparkling in sunny shallow waters, tall trees, horses, hiking trails, and a playground, it sounds like the perfect place, right?  You’ll want to check out Croft State Park the next time you’re looking for a family adventure!

    Croft State Park in Spartanburg, South Carolina

    Spending a Day at Croft State Park

    This gorgeous 7,000-acre state park offers miles of hiking, biking, and even equestrian trails.  On our visit, we walked the short Lake Craig connector trail and then enjoyed views of an absolutely beautiful Lake Craig.  We ate snacks we enjoyed them sitting on an adorable little dock watching the tiny minnows in the shallow water around us.  The nearby fishermen were also quite entertaining for my crew.

    We enjoyed a very peaceful morning in the park.  My homeschoolers were able to practice making super sentences with quality adjectives about all the things they were noticing from the dock.  “The sun sparkles on the backs of the wiggling minnows.”   The next time we go I will bring sketchbooks and writing paper so they can write down their sentences and illustrate.  There were definitely plenty of places to sit near the lake, and lots of grass for blankets, if that’s your preference.

    You will find bathrooms conveniently near the parking lot for Lake Craig, and a short walk up the hill brings you to a nice playground with views of the park’s equestrian facilities.  While there were only a handful of horses and riders when we visited, my children really enjoyed watching as we walked past.  The playground was great for my children (ages 4 through 8), but younger children will need to be watched carefully due to the height of some of the equipment.

    croft-state-park

    Things to Do at Croft State Park

    Hiking and Biking Trails

    Croft has many hiking trails, including an easy Nature Trail that’s about one and a half miles long.  We went to the park intending to hike this trail, but even with a map, we struggled to find the trailhead.  We gave up and went on our little adventure at the lake and playground instead.  However, as we drove back down the park road headed for home, we noticed work crews clearing a few trees, and their trucks had been parked in front of the trailhead for the nature trail.  We could have driven by 20 times and never seen it!  ‘

    Trails at Croft

    There are several trails at Croft, with some of the major ones being the Palmetto Trail (Croft Passage), Nature Trail, Foster Mill, Southside Loop, and Rocky Ridge/ Whitestone Springs. You will also find several additional mixed-use trails that are designated for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. This park has over 20 miles of mountain biking trails, which is spectacular if you love the sport.

    The SC State Park Croft State Park website does a great job detailing what trails are for what, their difficulty, and how long each trail is. The Park Ranger can also help you out, with office hours 11 am to noon and 4 pm to 5 pm daily.

    Fortunately, there’s so much to see and enjoy at Croft State Park, that it didn’t matter much to us.  But, do bring a map with you! If you’re looking for the Nature Trail, then you’ll find the trailhead on the right, just before you get to the parking lot for the equestrian facilities.

    We love taking a small portion of the Palmetto Trail out to Fairforest Creek in the summer because it is not too difficult of a portion of the trail, so our toddler and four-year-old can come along. It also leads out to the creek, which is a great place to splash in the creek for a little while on hot days.

    Camping

    Love camping? Then camping at Croft should be on your radar for places to go next time you’re ready to pack up and head to the great outdoors. The park offers both RV camping and tent camping sites, in addition to a primitive group camping site that can accommodate up to 100 people. Camping sites are on packed gravel and come with electrical and water hookups. There are even hot showers, which as a mom with messy kids, makes taking them camping a little easier.

    Canoe, Kayak, and Paddleboard Rentals

    One of the great places to do watersports in the area is at Croft. You can bring your own equipment, or you can rent canoes, small boats, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards from the state park itself. For Jon boat and canoe rentals, you pay $15 for 4 hours of time or $25 per day. For kayaks and paddleboards, the cost is $10 per hour for the rental. They do not rent after 6 pm, so keep that in mind when planning your trip.

    Nature Trail at Croft State Park
    Nature Trail at Croft State Park

    Want to go to Croft?

    Admission for Croft State Park is $3 for adults, and $1 for children 6- 15. Children under 6 are free.

    Pets are allowed as long as they are leashed.

    Park hours are 7 am – 6 pm daily (8 p.m. on Fridays), and 7 am – 9 pm daily during daylight savings time.

    Croft State Park Address: 450 Croft State Park Road, Spartanburg, SC

    Have you ever been exploring at Croft State Park?


    Winter hiking in Spartanburg, South Carolina

    These trails in Spartanburg, SC are great places to hike during the wintertime!


    Where Can Young Kids Volunteer in Spartanburg, SC?

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    Are you looking for volunteer opportunities in Spartanburg for young children to participate? We’ve come up with several places where young kids can volunteer and where kids can take donations in Spartanburg. Peruse the list and find a Spartanburg location that will motivate your child to give.

    Volunteering in Greenville

    Looking for more ways to volunteer? Here are over 10 ways to volunteer in Greenville and Spartanburg.

    (more…)

    This Indoor Winter Farmers Market Is No Longer a Secret: Greenville, SC

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    Miss the local farmer’s markets in the winter? We’ve got the scoop on Greenville’s best indoor farmers market and it’s really a lot more than a farmers market. The Toasty Farmer is no longer an Upstate secret; however, parents in the know have discovered that the family-friendly winter farmers market can be the perfect outing on a dreary winter’s day.

    (more…)

    The Barnyard Flea Market is the Ultimate Bargain Hunter’s Dream

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    Have you been to the Barnyard Flea Market in Greer, SC? If scouring Craigslist, eBay or local yard sales is your kind of fun then this is a place you’ll want to visit! It is equally diverse in its offerings as eBay, somewhat questionable in its taste of décor as a Craigslist ad, and customers have as good of a chance of finding a great deal as their neighborhood garage sale.

    Barnyard Flea Market in Greer, South Carolina

    The Barnyard Flea Market is only open on weekends and offers free parking at an easy-to-find location, wide aisles for strollers, and hundreds of vendors that will sell you nearly anything you need.

    What Can You Find at the Barnyard Flea Market: Greer, SC

    Need a dog collar, a hunting knife, a Barbie, some dish soap, and a slow cooker? You can find all of that and more at this flea market. How about some luggage and an adjustment from a chiropractor? Yup, that too.

    There are hundreds of vendors, most of which are under huge barn-like structures. Some vendors are outside as well. The aisles are easy to navigate and I saw lots of kids and families there.

    It’s a lot of fun to walk around and see what people are selling. Some vendors have tables there every week and are permanent or semi-permanent. Others, like the nice couple I bought a couple of dolls from, were just selling what they couldn’t sell at their garage sale the day before. It was their first time there – as was mine – and they divulged that they only paid $14 to rent a table and were doing pretty well with their leftover goods.

    Vendors can rent a table for as little as $14 a day or pay a monthly fee to stake out their spot at the flea market.

    Another plus at the flea market was that the bathrooms were really easy to locate and they were clean. This is a huge positive for my two little girls, one of whom is potty-training.

    If you get hungry, there are plenty of options to grab a snack. We saw taco booths, vendors selling pigskins, boiled peanuts, fried dough with powdered sugar, soft pretzels, and drinks. There is a little café indoors as well that sells reasonable eats.

    Boiled peanut station at the Barnyard Flea Market in Greer, South Carolina

    The only drawback was that the Barnyard Flea Market is perhaps one of the very last unregulated places for smoking. People are allowed to smoke wherever they like. This place definitely isn’t like bars used to be before smoking bans were instituted – it’s not smoke-filled, but the smell is noticeable, so just be aware of that when you go.

    My kids and I stayed about an hour and they loved checking out all the different stuff. They were reasonably controlled in their desires for toys, girly clothes, and dolls. I had fun too, checking out all the crazy stuff that was for sale and the rock-bottom prices of everything under the sun. It was entertaining and a great way to spend some downtime on the weekend.

    Outdoor sellers at the Barnyard Flea Market in Greer, South Carolina

    Plan your own trip

    Office hours are Thursday from 9 am – 2 pm and Friday from 8 am – 4 pm. Market hours are Saturday from 7 am – 4:30 pm and Sunday from 8 am – 4:30 pm.

    Barnyard Flea Market
    2000 Highway 101 S., Greer; 864.968.1700

    What would you hunt for at Barnyard Flea Market?


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    Thank you to John Nolan for providing this tour in order to allow us to share a review with you.

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