You’re invited to Free Family Day: Nov. 1, 1–4 pm, Jepson Center, 207 W. York. St., Savannah

This program is free and open to the public. Funded by Georgia Power and AGL Resources.
*Major funding by the City of Savannah Department of Cultural Affairs.

November Family Day:
Nov. 1
Deep River
Jepson Center
Families are invited to explore Whitfield Lovell’s earthy installations, participate in storytelling, create drawings on objects in the museum studios, and see demonstrations by local artists who incorporate historical themes in their work.

December Family Day
Dec. 6
Make Your Mark
Jepson Center
This program includes art-making activities for families and a demonstration by longtime I Have Marks to Make artist and teacher Kenneth Martin.

Register with Kip Bradley at bradleyk@telfair.org.

Jepson Center, 207 W York St. Savannah, 31401 , http://telfair.org/learn/family-programs Telfair Museums is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.

Come out to Skidaway Island State Park in August 2014 to enjoy FREE kids’ nature activities most Wednesdays-Sundays including free Toddler Time for kids ages 2-4 and their caregivers at 10 AM some Thursdays. Bring your child to enjoy stories, games and learning designed just for them. Different nature-based theme each Thursday.

To see the complete list of FREE kids’ nature activities @ Skidaway Is. State Park during July 2014, click here.

Skidaway Island State Park, 52 Diamond Causeway, Savannah , GA 31411. On Facebook here.

FOR MORE FREE LOCAL KIDS’ EVENTS, CLICK HERE.

Here’s an updated 2021 list of Savannah-Pooler-Hilton Head Is. area restaurants that offer Kids Eat Free specials on certain nights.

Most will offer one free kid’s meal for children 12 years old and younger on certain nights with the purchase of an adult entree. Typically, Kids-Eat-Free nights deals cannot be combined with any other offer. Valid in-store only at participating locations. Please call ahead to confirm.

Know of more kids-eat-free nights to add to this restaurant list? Please email details to anne@southernmamas.com.

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Sundays

Sundays, Kids Eat Free w/ purchase of adult meal @ certain Moe’s Southwest Grill locations including:
Moe’s Pooler (246 Pooler Pkwy, Suite H)
Moe’s Savannah (7801 Abercorn St.)
Moe’s Bluffton (3 Malphrus Road, Bluffton, SC 29910

Sundays, Kids Eat Free @ Dickey’s BBQ Savannah

Sundays, Kids Eat Free (w/purchase of adult entree) @ Barberitos Habersham Village location, Savannah
Call to confirm: (912) 349-6750

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Mondays

Mondays after 4PM, $1.99 Kids’ Meals @ Mellow Mushroom, Pooler
Call to confirm: (912) 330-7133

Mondays 11AM-10PM, 99-cents Kids’ Meals & Desserts @ The Tin Fin Restaurant, Rincon
Call to confirm: (912) 295-5837

Mondays & Tuesdays, Kids Eat Free (w/ purchase of adult entree) @ Huddle House, Rincon

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Tuesdays

Tuesdays 5PM until close, Kids Eat Free @ Ruby Tuesday Pooler

Mondays & Tuesdays, Kids Eat Free (w/purchase of adult entree) @ Huddle House, Rincon
Call to confirm: (912) 826-6940

Tuesdays, 99-cent macaroni or hot dog kids’ meals @ Texas Roadhouse, Pooler
Call to confirm: (912) 748-7878 (Pooler)
(912) 961-5650 (Savannah)

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Wednesdays

Wednesdays, Kids Eat Free (w/purchase of adult entree) @ Riley’s in Rincon
Call to confirm: (912) 295-2851

Wednesday, Kids Eat Free 3-9PM @ Jersey Mike’s. One free mini sub with a regular sub purchase.

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Fridays & Saturdays

Fridays & Saturdays, Kids Eat Free, Fish & Chips @ Pie Society, Pooler location
Call to confirm: (912) 856-4785

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Hilton Head Is. 

Tuesdays, Kids Eat Free (w/purchase of adult entree) @ Reilley’s Grill & Bar, Hilton Head Is.
Call to confirm: (843) 842-4414

Saturdays, Kids Pay What They Weigh (w/purchase or adult sandwich, bowl or tavern plate) @ Street Meet American Tavern, Hilton Head Is.
Call to confirm: (843) 842-2570

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More Deals

Denny’s offers Kids Eat Free days, but participation varies depending on your location.

Firehouse Subs: Birthday deal at Firehouse Subs. By filling out THIS FORM, you can get either a free kids combo or a free medium sub for your child on their BD. The free deal requires the purchase of medium or large sub, chips and drink.

Now that Spring is almost, spend the day “playground hopping,” visiting some of our top picks for playgrounds in the Greater Savannah, Ga. area & Hilton Head Is./Beaufort, S.C. area or just picking one and spending the day there.

Here are our picks for the best playgrounds in Savannah, Hilton Head Is., Beaufort, S.C. To see our ENTIRE list of playgrounds (the best & the so-so), click here.

Forsyth Park
Two playgrounds with restrooms, café, spray pool, paved sidewalk for walking, biking. Pack a lunch (or eat at the café) & spend the day in this landmark, historic park. Check out the gated fragrant garden for the blind if it’s unlocked, the park fountains. Kids can dance to their heart’s content on the bandshell’s canopied stage. Toddler playground at Forsyth Park (next to the Visitors’ Center cafe) includes a rocking toucan
700 Drayton Street, Savannah 31401

Mother Mathilda Beasley Park:
Two playgrounds with new equipment, large grass-covered field, a baseball field, multi-purpose trail and dog park, picnic tables. Drawbacks include lack of shade & the beautiful new pavilion with restrooms is often locked & inaccessible.
500 E. Broad Street Savannah, 31401

Hull Park 
Playground, sheltered picnic area, spray pool, baseball field. A great, popular neighborhood playground with a merry-go-round perfect for playdates. Drawback: no restrooms and not a lot of shade.
55th St./Atlantic Avenue, Savannah 31405

Lake Mayer
Playground includes three climbing structures complete with climbing walls, tunnels; swing sets, baby swing sets, swivel seat, twirling toy, see-saw, mulch; picnic tables, two pavilions available for rent, tennis courts, lighted basketball courts, 1.5 jogging/bike paved trail with fitness course, lake, boat ramps, restrooms, baseball field, lighted hockey rink, dog exercise area.
1850 E. Montgomery Crossroads Savannah, 31406

Memorial Park Playground, behind Tybee Is. Library, Tybee Is.
Fenced playground, bath rooms, covered picnic area, faux pirate ship, see-saw whale rocker, climbing wall, swings.
405 Butler Ave., Tybee Island 31328

J.F. Gregory, Richmond Hill
Fenced playground, picnic tables, restrooms, covered pavilions available for rent, 335 acre multi-use recreational area with a lake, walking trail, birding tower, and two restored Henry Ford era homes.
521 Cedar St, Richmond Hill, 31324

Tom Triplett Park, Pooler
Playground, two Pavilions available for rent, conference room available for rent, tennis courts, lake, 1.5 jogging/bike paved track with fitness course, restrooms, dog exercise, disc golf course
Tom Triplett Rd Pooler, 31322

West Chatham YMCA playground
Chatham County’s first play facility compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act and features a music station, a tractor, a climbing wall and therapeutic swings for special-needs kids.
off Pooler Parkway between the YMCA and Pooler’s new municipal recreation complex

Hilton Head Is/Beaufort, S.C.

Gregg Russell Playground in Harbour Town, Hilton Head Is.
The Gregg Russell Playground at Harbour Town is one of the top playgrounds in our area.
Fenced, somewhat shaded playground that includes a treehouse; swings; numerous slides; lots of climbing bars, jungle gym bars, monkey bars. Just outside the fenced-playground is a water fountain; picnic tables; bathrooms; and plenty of spots for lunch, drinks or coffee and of course, the famous Harbour Town lighthouse which is open to climb for a fee plus $5 Sea Pines gate fee.
Harbour Town, Hilton Head, SC 29928

Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park Playground, Beaufort, S.C.
Playground with hardwood mulch, restrooms a stage for performances, a pavilion for displays and a grassed amphitheater for picnicking, frisbee or simple relaxing. Kids can watch fishermen showing their skills on the dock in front of the playground
1010 Bay Street, Beaufort, S.C. 29902

Pigeon Point Park playground, Beaufort, S.C.
Age appropriate playground equipment that includes merry-go-around, restrooms, picnic tables, water fountains, age appropriate playground equipment, large oak trees that provide shade
Pigeon Point Road Beaufort, SC 29902

FOR MORE FREE LOCAL KIDS’ ACTIVITIES, CLICK HERE.

Dog days

Got a shy beginner reader?

In this popular library program, children are encouraged to practice their reading skills with the most patient of listeners: therapy dogs. For readers ages 5 and up. (Note: Some of the dogs at this special library program are “Tail Waggin’ Tutors” from Therapy Dogs International.)

Rincon Library, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 4:30 p.m., 826-2222
Southwest Chatham Library, Saturday, Oct. 11, 12 p.m., 925-8305
Oglethorpe Mall Library, Saturday, Oct. 18, 12 p.m., 925-5432
Pooler Library, Monday, Oct. 20, 4:30 p.m., 748-0471
Southwest Chatham Library, Saturday, Oct. 25, 12 p.m., 925-8305
Bull Street Library, Monday, Oct. 27, 4:30 p.m., 652-3630

FOR MORE FREE LOCAL KIDS’ ACTIVITIES, CLICK HERE.

FREE Kids BootCamp
Lake Mayer Pavilion
Monday and Thursdays at 4 pm
For school aged children

No registration, just show up and join in the fun. Sponsored by COPE and Nonstop Fitness – 912.349.4902

Nonstop Fitness & Childhood Obesity Prevention & Education (COPE) sponsor this FREE kids boot camp, at 4 PM every Monday & Thursday at Lake Mayer in Savannah. Bring your kids.

COPE also has begun a free program called Project 10 Kids for children ages 10-17 who need to lose weight and get healthier.  Absolutely free and all needs are provided for participation.  Any adult interested in this for their child should contact Sandy Baker at 912.247.2086 or sbaker@copeforchange.org for more information to get started. This program begins NOW, in January and runs 60-90 days.

FREE Entrance to Fort Pulaski National Monument  on Sept. 27 2014 .

Fort Pulaski National Monument is one of nearly 400 national parks across the country where the park entrance fees will be waived.

More information on free entrance days in the National Parks can be found at www.nps.gov/findapark/feefreeparks.htm  .

FOR MORE LOCAL KIDS’ ACTIVITIES, VISIT OUR EVENTS CALENDAR BY CLICKING HERE.

JUNIOR PARK RANGERS

When you take kids to tour national parks, you never know how much they are getting out of the visit. Especially for those of us moms who aren’t exactly history experts.

Which is why you need to pick up the Junior Ranger booklets at the visitor centers of national parks you visit. The Junior Ranger program kids engage more during the visits.

Junior Ranger booklets have activities about the national parks for ages 5-12. Junior ranger books are free to any visitor and usually are available at the visitors’ centers. Often, similar programs with more advanced activities are also available for older kids. Just ask at the site’s visitor center.

While doing the activities, children enjoy earning a badge and a certificate.

Various national parks that have Junior Ranger programs include:
*Fort Pulaski National Monument, on U.S. 80 en route to Tybee Island. Info on the Fort Pulaski Junior Program here.
*Fort Sumter & Fort Moultrie national monuments, Charleston, S.C. Info on these forts Junior Ranger program here.
*Cumberland Island National Seashore, Ga. More info here.

Fort Pulaski National Monument is located on U.S. Highway 80, 15 miles east of Savannah. Learn more at www.nps.gov/fopu and visit us on Facebook www.facebook.com/FortPulaskiNPS and Twitter www.twitter.com/FortPulaskiNPS.

Kids love to ride one of the FREE water ferries with Savannah Belles Ferry system on River Street. Or if you want to make River Street your destination, catch it on the other side of the Savannah River @ the Westin Savannah Harbor Resort & Spa on Hutchinson Island.

The free ferries shuttle you from River Street, across the Savannah River, to the Westin, with departures with arrivals every 15–20 minutes from 7:00 AM until 12 AM (subject to weather and river traffic conditions)

While @ the Westin Savannah, enjoying your treat at the Midnight Cafe, check out the bush playhouse near the ferry landing.

Click here for a ferry schedule. The ferries operate 7 days a week, 362 days a year – closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas & New Years Day. Click here for more info. on the ferry system.

While on River Street, be sure to ride the rails on the FREE River Street Streetcar – an authentic 1930s Melbourne streetcar – that runs back and forth on River Street. There’s a streetcar stop right by the ferry dock, in front of City Hall and the visitors center. (UPDATE: STREETCAR IS TEMPORARY OUT OF SERVICE FOR MAINTENANCE)

The River Street Streetcar runs Noon-9 PM Fri-Sun with the exceptions of First Saturdays festivities each month when it stops running at 6:30 PM. The 54-passenger streetcar is updated with environmentally-friendly green technology. It makes six stops along Historic River Street between Montgomery St. & the Waving Girl Landing

FERRY FACTS

• Scenic two-minute ride on the Savannah River
• Operates 7 days a week, 362 days a year with departures with arrivals every 15–20 minutes from 7:00 AM until 12 AM (subject to weather and river traffic conditions)
• Climate-controlled, easy passenger loading and unloading
• Unique vessel, designed to ensure a steady ride
• All vessels US Coast Guard certified
• Ferry vessels and ferry landings ADA compliant
• Modern passenger-only ferries, reminiscent of vessels seen in the harbor a century ago
• Named for Savannah’s “Belles”— strong women who shaped the city’s history.

FERRY LANDINGS LOCATIONS

• River Street at City Hall
• Waving Girl Landing at the Savannah Marriott Riverfront
• Hutchinson Island at the Savannah International Trade & Convention Center and adjacent to the Westin Savannah Harbour Resort & Spa
• Ferry Schedule

FOR MORE LOCAL KIDS’ ACTIVITIES, VISIT OUR ONLINE EVENTS CALENDAR BY CLICKING HERE

Catch the one of the FREE water ferries with Savannah Belles Ferry system on River Street, right in front of City Hall. Or catch it on the other side of the Savannah River @ the Westin Savannah Harbor Resort & Spa on Hutchinson Island.

The free ferries shuttle you from River Street, across the Savannah River, to the Westin, with departures with arrivals every 15–20 minutes from 7:00 AM until 12 AM (subject to weather and river traffic conditions)

Click here for a schedule. The ferries operate 7 days a week, 362 days a year – closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas & New Years Day. Click here for more info. on the ferry system.

FERRY FACTS

• Scenic two-minute ride on the Savannah River
• Operates 7 days a week, 362 days a year with departures with arrivals every 15–20 minutes from 7:00 AM until 12 AM (subject to weather and river traffic conditions)
• Climate-controlled, easy passenger loading and unloading
• Unique vessel, designed to ensure a steady ride
• All vessels US Coast Guard certified
• Ferry vessels and ferry landings ADA compliant
• Modern passenger-only ferries, reminiscent of vessels seen in the harbor a century ago
• Named for Savannah’s “Belles”— strong women who shaped the city’s history.

FERRY LANDINGS LOCATIONS

• River Street at City Hall
• Waving Girl Landing at the Savannah Marriott Riverfront
• Hutchinson Island at the Savannah International Trade & Convention Center and adjacent to the Westin Savannah Harbour Resort & Spa
• Ferry Schedule