You don’t have to travel far from Savannah to find a prime family-friendly vacation. Hilton Head Island is teeming with fun ways to entertain the kids.

SEE SOUTHERNMAMAS.COM LATEST HILTON HEAD REEL HERE.

Hilton Head Island’s beaches are the No. 1 way. You can bike on this beach. You can play in the tidal pools at low-tide. Swim. Sand castles. Ride the waves.

Here are SouthernMamas.com top Things To Do With Kids On Hilton Head Island other than visiting the beach.

FOR MORE KID-FRIENDLY LOCAL ACTIVITIES, VISIT THE SOUTHERNMAMAS.COM EVENT CALENDAR HERE.

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Bicycling on Hilton Head Island

Hilton Head Island offers over 50 miles of public bicycle pathways and nature trails. The hard-packed beaches are also popular for bicycling at low tide.

Also bike the self-guided Legacy Oak Program tour, which consists of 20 landmark Live Oak trees in Sea Pines Resort which range in age from 100 to 320 years in 15 locations. Each designated tree is on an easily accessible public property. Most are identified with a wooden bench engraved with the name of the tree, its estimated birth year and the program logo.  Learn more here & download a pamphlet and trail map highlighting the history, location, size and age of each of the Sea Pines Legacy Oaks.

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Adventure Playground in Lowcountry Celebration Park & Beach Access @ Coligny Beach Park.

The park off Pope Avenue near the Coligny Beach parking lot and Coligny Beach Park features:
*The Adventure Playground, named after the ship Captain William Hilton was on when he discovered Hilton Head Island. It features a reimagined design of the ship, playground, wading pool/splash pad and more. The ship includes: cannons that spray a light mist, crow’s nests, swing bridges, port holes, rope nets, periscopes.
*An open pavilion and lawn for events.
*A perimeter walk
*Two fitness stations
*Wi-Fi
*Public restrooms

The playground is within easy walking distance to a Hilton Head Is. public beach via Coligny Beach Park (1 Coligny Circle) Coligny Beach Park has a splash pad fountain and free parking. Free parking is @ 109 Pope Avenue. Details here.

Lowcountry Celebration Park
94 Pope Ave.
Hilton Head Island, SC 29928

Coligny Beach Park

1 Coligny Circle
Hilton Head Island 29928

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Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park

Take a free, self-guided tour of Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park. Established in 1862 on Hilton Head Island, Mitchelville is the first place in the United States where African Americans, out of slavery but not yet citizens, self-governed. This first self-governed town of freed slaves is commemorated in the historic site of Mitchelville Freedom Park on Beach City Road. Learn more here 

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Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge, Bluffton SC

A mere hour drive from Savannah, Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge is an easy getaway from Savannah to bike amid nature on 14 miles of hiking and biking trails. The refuge is open from sunrise to sunset daily. (Not located on Hilton Head Is. but between HHI and Bluffton)

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Free petting farm at Lawton Stables in Sea Pines

The free animal farm includes goats, sheep, chickens, turtles, cows and alpacas.  Kids can also pet a friendly retired Clydesdale, Woody, at the stables. Pony rides and horseback riding available for a fee. 

The animal farm is free; there’s a $9 Sea Pines gate fee per auto. More info here. 190 Greenwood Drive, Hilton Head Island, 29928

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Free Skate Park

Free Skate Park @ Bristol Sports Arena. Free outdoor skate park. Ramps & rails for skaters of all abilities. Restrooms. Pads required. Details here. 4 Helmsman Way, Hilton Head Is. SC 29926.

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Coastal Discovery Museum

Educational natural history and animal programs at a venue that includes salt marsh board walks, open fields, gardens, trails and a 1200 square foot butterfly habitat that is home to some 13 species of native butterflies to the Lowcountry. Explore natural history and cultural heritage on the 68 acre Honey Horn property. The Museum’s trails, gardens, live oaks, butterfly enclosure and Marsh Tacky horses are just a few of the fun experiences you will encounter during your visit. Mon. – Sat. 9-4:30 and Sun. 11-3. *Perfect rainy day activity. More info here.
70 Honey Horn Drive
Hilton Head Island, SC 29926

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Sea Pines Forest Preserve

The 605-acre Sea Pines Forest Preserve includes easy trails to various points of interest including the 4,000-year-old Indian Shell Ring, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and a wildflower garden that’s amazing when in bloom. The walks range from 25 minutes to one hour. Bicycles are not permitted on the nature trails, so please park your bicycles at the locations provided. Open from sunrise to sunset. The Forest Preserve is free; there’s a $9 Sea Pines gate fee per auto. More info here. 

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Gregg Russell Playground at Harbour Town, Sea Pines

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 $9 Sea Pines gate fee per auto.  Harbour Town, Hilton Head, SC 29928

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FREE historical Stoney-Baynard Ruins, Sea Pines

The ruins of the old Baynard estate, the main house as well as attendant slave quarters, are permanently preserved within six-acre Baynard Ruins Park. The home was raided during the Civil War and Union forces made it their headquarters. Details here. The ruins are free; there’s a $9 Sea Pines gate fee per auto.

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Seasonal

Spring & summer events

Free family-friendly outdoor Gregg Russell concerts at Harbour Town, Sea Pines

A classic on Hilton Head Is. for almost four decades, Gregg Russell Concerts under the Liberty Oak in Harbour Town happen regularly during summer (weather permitting) & periodically during spring.

This family-oriented singer/storyteller performs sing-a-longs, ballads & silly songs with audience participation. Kids in the audience try to get Gregg to pick them to sing a song to the crowd, often using creative pick-me posters etc. Concerts are free; there’s a $9 gate fee per auto. Celebrating 40 years in 2016, Gregg has become a Sea Pines classic. Under the Liberty Oak in Harbour Town is where you’ll find Gregg Russell entertaining adults and children alike. His concerts are not to be missed. Find the concert schedule here. 

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Free Sea Pines Trolley

Take the free Sea Pines Trolley to Sea Pines locations during summer months & some holiday periods. This is a way to entertain kids who are still thrilled by “bus rides etc”. The trolley offers an easy way to get around Sea Pines. Schedule info here.  Trolley rides are free; there’s a $9 Sea Pines gate fee per auto. Good rainy day activity

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Beach access at Sea Pines Beach Club. 

Sea Pines Beach Club has convenient access to the beach, Surf Shop, restrooms, shower facilities & Surfside Market featuring to-go sandwiches, salads, snacks &  cold beverages. Details here. 87 North Sea Pines Drive, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina 29928. The beach club is free; there’s a $9 Sea Pines gate fee per auto. 

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The Sandbox Children’s Museum

Located off Pope Avenue on the south end of Hilton Head Island (about a 60 min. drive from Savannah), this interactive museum provides a place for educational play between children and their caregivers.

For ages infant to eight.
18A Pope Ave, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
(843) 842-7645
Daily rates & membership rates here.
The Sandbox Children’s Museum, 18-A Pope Avenue, next to St. Andrew’s by the Sea United Methodist Church, Hilton Head Is., 29928 www.thesandbox.org

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FOR MORE KID-FRIENDLY LOCAL ACTIVITIES, VISIT THE SOUTHERNMAMAS.COM EVENT CALENDAR HERE.

Places to visit in Atlanta with kids

Chances are you know the popular spots to hit in Atlanta with kids such as Georgia Aquarium; Martin Luther King Jr. Center National Historic Park; The Varsity ; National Center for Civil and Human Rights; Zoo Atlanta; The Atlanta Beltline; and Stone Mountain Park.

Here are more things to do with kids when visiting Atlanta:

Take a group tour of Mercedes-Benz Stadium, home to Atlanta United Soccer & Atlanta Falcons. Tour details here.

Solve the self-guided scavenger hunt @ Oakland Cemetery.

Ride the Atlanta Ferris wheel Skyview Atlanta, next to Centennial Olympic Park. Details and ticket links here.

Tour Fox Theatre. Details here.

Explore Piedmont Park. Enjoy the playgrounds; Sign up for a free Saturday morning tour here. (FREE)

Take a ride in a glass elevator 723 feet high to the observatory View Level atop The Westin Peachtree Plaza, the tallest hotel in the Southeast. Children ages 6 & younger can ride the elevator for free. Tickets & hours here.

Enjoy the children’s garden and special exhibits @ Atlanta Botanical Gardens.

See a show at the Alliance Theater (See ‘Water for Elephants’ musical through July 9) or Center for Puppetry Arts.

Savor the fare @ DeKalb Farmers Market.

Take a self-guided tour of Georgia Tech. Details here.

Explore Chastain Park. Enjoy the playground. See a show at the outdoor amphitheater.

Tour the Atlanta Monetary Museum in the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. Details here.

See the Cyclorama Exhibit @ The Atlanta History Center . Details here.

Mini-Golf, Go-Karts & an Arcade @ Fun Zone in Pooler

Fun Zone in Pooler is the perfect place for a day of family fun this summer! Fun Zone has a combination of indoor and outdoor activities including two 18-hole Miniature Golf Courses, Go-Karts, and an Arcade. With so many things to do, you’ll be sure to find something fun for everyone.

Looking to spend time outside? Try out Fun Zone’s newly renovated Miniature Golf Courses. Complete with footbridges and waterfalls, our adventure-style courses are great for a laid-back afternoon or a high-stakes competition. You can also get your heart and kart racing on one of Fun Zone’s four Go-Kart tracks. From the Kiddy Track to the high-speed Hi-Bank Track, your whole crew can put the pedal to the metal.

Cool down inside and play one of Fun Zone’s new arcade games including King Kong VR, HYPERpitch Major League Pitching, Minecraft, and Hungry, Hungry Hippos! Win awesome prizes from Fun Zone’s newly restocked ticket Redemption Center as you play. When you need to recharge, check out the Concessions for delicious summer treats like pizza, nachos, ICEEs, funnel cakes, and more!

Head to Fun Zone for endless summer fun! Enjoy plenty of ways to play with bundle options including annual passes, value bands, reloadable arcade cards, and individual tickets. Fun Zone can also help you celebrate any occasion with party packages and party rooms.

Fun Zone is conveniently located at 1040 US-80 East, Pooler, GA 31322. See you and your family soon!

Summer 2023 hours (June-August):

Sunday-Thursday: 12PM-11PM

Friday-Saturday: 12PM-12AM

Be sure to follow Fun Zone on Facebook and Instagram (@poolerfunzone) to stay up to date on all things Fun Zone!

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Full-day adventure Day Trekkers camp @ JEA Camp Savannah for 4th-8th graders

In addition to weekly day camps, JEA Camp Savannah offers specialty summer camps on certain weeks including Day Trekkers full-day camp.

Day Trekkers is June 19-23 2023, 8AM-6PM for 4th-8th grade students.

Day Trekkers features 5 days of 5 adventures including trips to FunZone in Pooler, Adventure Hilton Head, The Clubhouse in Statesboro, Summer Waves Water Park on Jekyll Island and a kayaking adventure.

To register, visit JEA Camp Savannah then click on registration link. Under Week 3 (June 19-23), select the Day Trekkers option in the drop-down menu.

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JEA Camp Savannah is open to everyone entering grades K-10th grade

Looking for a fullfilling full-day summer camp for your child? Check out the much-beloved, well-established JEA Camp Savannah. Check out the camp schedule here.

Different, spirited weekly themes, field trips, special events are all part of the JEA camp tradition. Speciality camps and add-ons are also available.

JEA Camp Savannah is open to everyone entering grades K-10th grade.

Register here.

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For more information or questions about programming, please contact DJ Horton by email Camp@savj.org  or Jackie Laban by email Jackiel@savj.org or by phone: 912.355.8111.

If you have questions about registration or financial assistance, please contact Camp Registrar, Sarah Docar by email Kids@savj.org or by phone: 912.355.8111 Ext 308.

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U-pick daffodils near Savannah, Bluffton, Hilton Head Is.

U-pick daffodils opens when blooms are available to pick @ U-pick Daffodils farm in nearby Okatie, SC (near Bluffton).

The farm’s hours are dependent upon the weather and availability of flowers.

Pick your own are 50 cents per stem. Pre-picks are $9 for 15 stems.
Parking is free.

Stay updated on the farm’s opening/closing updates via the U Pick Daffodil Web site. Or on Facebook here 

UPickDaffodils.com is family owned and operated on what was once the family dairy farm. Chuck and Diane have planted several varieties of daffodils, not all of which bloom at the same time, according to their Web site.

UPickDaffodils
48 Calhoun Plantation Road
Okatie, SC 29909
843-368-1998
chuck@upickdaffodils.com

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Find more kid-friendly things to do locally in the SouthernMamas.com Events Calendar.

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Savannah River Fire Festival 2023

You’re invited to the third annual Savannah River Fire Festival at the Mary Kahrs Warnell Forest Education Center, 10 AM-2 PM on Sat. March 4 2023, in Guyton.

Adults and kids will enjoy a fun day outdoors celebrating how prescribed fire is good for Georgia’s forests and meet some of the organizations using it to support healthy wildlife habitat and reduce the risk of wildfires.

This is a FREE festival for the whole family with fire equipment, food trucks, face painting, and games!

Rain date: In case of inclement weather, the rain date for the festival is Sat. March 11 2023.

Organized by The Longleaf Alliance.

Learn more here.

Free admission to museums, historic sites on Super Museum Sunday 2023

Explore more than 100 sites in person and online during Super Museum Sunday 2023 on Feb. 5.

Enjoy free admission to participating historic sites, house museums, art museums, and other points of interest throughout Georgia open their doors for an exceptional opportunity to experience the history in our own backyard.

Participating sites include SCAD Museum of Art, Telfair Museums’ Jepson Center, Wormsloe State Historic Site and more.

View a full list of participating sites here.

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Georgia’s State Historic Sites are offering free admission on Sun. Feb. 5 as part of Super Museum Sunday.

That includes:

Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation State Historic Site, Brunswick: A forgotten empire comes alive at this scenic rice plantation set among live oaks near the Altamaha River. Tour the antebellum home furnished with antiques and the museum showcasing fine silver.

Fort McAllister State Park, Richmond Hill: Nestled among giant live oaks, this is the best-preserved earthwork fortification of the Confederacy and the end of General Sherman’s March to the Sea.

Pickett’s Mill Battlefield State Historic Site, Dallas: Pickett’s Mill is one of the best-preserved Civil War battlefields in the nation, highlighted with a museum, earthworks, and wooded trails. The 1864 battle was one of the few Confederate victories during Gen. Sherman’s Georgia campaign.

Magnolia Springs State Park, Millen: During the Civil War, this site was called Camp Lawton and served as “the world’s largest prison.” Today, little remains of the prison stockade; however, the earthen breastworks which guarded it may still be seen. The park’s Camp Lawton Museum tells this gripping story.

Fort King George State Historic Site, Darien: From 1721 until 1736, this fort was the southern outpost of the British Empire in North America. Climb into the reconstructed cypress blockhouse, explore the palisaded earthen fort, and tabby ruins, tour the museum and hike a short nature trail.

Fort Morris State Historic Site, Midway: This earthen fort on the Medway River protected Georgia against the British in both the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. A museum describes the colonial port of Sunbury; a nature trail and picnic sites are available.

Wormsloe State Historic Site, Savannah: A breathtaking avenue lined with Live Oaks leads to the tabby ruins of this colonial estate. A museum houses artifacts excavated at Wormsloe and a film about the founding of the 13th colony.

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FIND MORE FREE KIDS EVENTS HERE. 

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Hilton Head Snow Day 2023 @ Shelter Cove Park

This is a family event that will have inflatable rides, a snowfield, family fun music and bounce houses.

For the kids who have never seen snow, this is the perfect event. Admission: $10 for ages 2-17. Babies & adults are free.

Learn more here.

Hilton Head Snow Day, Sat. Jan. 28 2023

11AM-4PM

Shelter Cove Park, Hilton Head Is.

Find your Island Treasure now through February 2023.

Every year, Jekyll Island commissions a group of highly skilled artisans from across the U.S. to create exquisite, handworked glass floats for Jekyll’s annual Island Treasures event.

(Jekyll Island is an easy, roughly 90-minute drive down I-95 from Savannah. See our list of things to do with kids on on Jekyll Island here. )

The glass floats are part of a hide-and-seek style game played on Jekyll Island throughout January and February. Each day, volunteers called Beach Buddies hide clear globes around the island for lucky guests to find and redeem for a real glass float. Gather your friends and family to search for globes that can be exchanged for dazzling handcrafted glass floats.

Learn more about Island Treasures here.

Find more things to do with kids on Jekyll Island here.

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FIND MORE DAYTRIPS FROM SAVANNAH HERE. 

Poppell Farms pumpkin patch, maze, hayrides open weekends in October

Poppell Farms – a daytrip from Savannah- includes a pumpkin patch, maze, hayrides, farm fun, giant outdoor jumping pillows, barnyard & farm games & activities.

Poppell’s annual Fall Festival celebration Oct. 2-30 2022.

Get lost in Poppell Farms’ tall sorghum maze, enjoy wagon hayrides and the Pumpkin Patch!  Stay after dark on Friday and Saturday nights to explore the maze with a flashlight (it’s NOT haunted). Beginning October 7, brave the Haunted Trail through the woods after dark.

Open every Friday night, Saturday (day and night) and Sunday from October 2-30, 2022.

Learn more here.

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Oct. 30, 2022
Sensory Sensitive Morning       

Poppell Farm gates will open at 10AM this Sun. Oct. 30 to accommodate children with special needs and their families.  Farm and hayride music will be turned off and all loud noises will be minimized. There will be no large crowds or long lines. The hayride will be constantly running to avoid wait times.

Gates for all other visitors will open at Noon.

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2022 Hilton Head Island Lantern Parade, Nov. 12 2022 @ Alder Lane Beach Park across from Coligny Plaza

Come participate in a community parade of light.

At the FREE Lantern Parade 2022 on HIlton Head Is., every participant will have a lantern to march. Each lantern will be a representation of our history, our ecology, our recreation or ourselves.

Lantern Kits Available for Purchase at the Coastal Discovery Museum gift shop on Hilton Head Is.

2022 Hilton Head Island Lantern Parade
Sat. Nov. 12, 2022
Parade Route: Alder Lane Beach Access to Coligny Beach Park
Parade Starts @ Sunset (5:45 PM-ish)Created by and featuring artist Chantelle Rytter, the Lantern Parade is a free event and an opportunity for the surrounding community and visitors to celebrate the history, ecology and people of Hilton Head Island.

The only requirement to participate is having a lantern!

Lineup for the parade begins at 5PM at the Alder Lane Beach Access.

The parade will start at 5:45PM Sat Nov. 12, right after sunset, and travel north along South Forest Beach up to Coligny Beach Park.

Spectators can watch along the beach anywhere between Alder Lane and Coligny Beach Park.

Learn more here.

Fall Farm Fun @ Holiday Farms in Ridgeland SC

Holiday Farms will be open Thursdays-Saturdays from 9AM-6PM and Sundays from Noon-6PM during October 2022.

Activities for kids including Pumpkin Patch, Hayrides, Barnyard Zoo, Duck Races, Haytona Speedway, Corn Grinding, Steer Roping, Cow (Faux) Milking, Corn Maze & MORE!

Learn more here.

Holiday Farms: 10884 Grays Hwy, Ridgeland, SC 29936

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Holiday Farms Grand Opening Moved to Thurs. Oct. 6

Due to expected inclement weather, Holiday Farms Great Pumpkin Patch in Ridgeland will be closed this weekend Oct 1 & 2 2022.

Opening day is now Thurs. Oct. 6 2022. Military Appreciation Day will now be Sat. Oct. 8 2022. Half price to military and immediate family with proper ID.

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Starting Oct. 6 2022, Holiday Farms will be open Thursdays-Saturdays from 9AM-6PM and Sundays from Noon-6PM.

Activities for kids including Pumpkin Patch, Hayrides, Barnyard Zoo, Duck Races, Haytona Speedway, Corn Grinding, Steer Roping, Cow (Faux) Milking, Corn Maze & MORE!

Learn more here.

Holiday Farms: 10884 Grays Hwy, Ridgeland, SC 29936

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Poppell Farms 10-acre maze gets shout-out on ESPN

Poppell Farms 2022 sorghum field maze design – which features Stetson Bennett, the Georgia Bulldogs’ quarterback- was mentioned on ESPN during college football this Sat. Sept. 17.

“Work hard. Life is tough. Work through it.”-Stetson Bennett IV

The maze is just one farm activity at Poppell’s annual Fall Festival celebration, happening Oct. 1-30 2022.

Get lost in Poppell Farms’ tall sorghum maze, enjoy wagon hayrides and the Pumpkin Patch!  Stay after dark on Friday and Saturday nights to explore the maze with a flashlight (it’s NOT haunted). Beginning October 7, brave the Haunted Trail through the woods after dark.

Open every Friday night, Saturday (day and night) and Sunday from October 1-30, 2022.

Learn more here.

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15th Annual The Great Pumpkin Patch will be open for the 2022 season Oct. 1-31

UPDATE:DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER, HOLIDAY FARMS GRAND OPENING POSTPONED UNTIL THURS OCT. 6. Military Appreciation Day (Half price to military & immediate family w/ proper ID) will be Sat. Oct. 8. Details here. 

Opening day of The Great Pumpkin Patch @ Holiday Farms in Ridgeland SC is October 1 2022.

Holiday Farms will be open Thursdays-Saturdays from 9AM-6PM and Sundays from Noon-6PM.

In honor of our military, Holiday Farms will host Military Appreciation Day on Sat. Oct. 1st. Half price to military and immediate family with proper ID.

Activities for kids including Pumpkin Patch, Hayrides, Barnyard Zoo, Duck Races, Haytona Speedway, Corn Grinding, Steer Roping, Cow (Faux) Milking, Corn Maze & MORE!

Learn more here.

Holiday Farms: 10884 Grays Hwy, Ridgeland, SC 29936

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Fall discount code for Friends of Georgia State Parks membership.

SouthernMamas.com readers can receive a 15 percent discount on Friends of Georgia State Parks membership levels.  Use the code southernmama to get your discount. 

Get your discount here. 

Georgia has nearly 50 state parks, each with different attributes. Think mountains, canyons, lakes, waterfalls, gorges, swamps, and more. We want to make it easier for you to go to enjoy hiking trails, biking, boating, camping, disc golf, fishing, golfing, paddling, and leaf-peeping.

Get your discount here. 

A Few of the Many State Park Events @ Nearby Parks include:

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Skidaway Island State Park, Savannah

Archery, Sept. 17

Sat. Sept. 17 2022, 10-11AM and 2-3PM. Learn the basics of archery and test your skills on our archery range. This program will cover basic safety and technique. Equipment will be provided. $10 per person. Participants must be at least 10 years old. Please call the Visitors Center to sign up:  912-598-2300.Please arrive 10 minutes ahead to go to the Visitors Center first.

Marsh Monster Masquerade, Oct. 29

Monsters of all ages are invited to Skidaway Island State Park in Savannah on Sat. Oct. 29 2022, 11AM-6PM for Marsh Monster Masquerade, featuring a spooky mask decorating contest for children and adults, children’s pumpkin decorating, a dog costume contest, fair-style games, prizes, and more. Details here.

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Fort McAllister State Park, Richmond Hill

Candle Lantern Tour, Oct. 22

Pre-registration opens Sept. 15 2022 for the popular annual Candle Lantern Tour @ Fort McAllister State Park on Oct. 22 2022. Details here.

Poppell Farms pumpkin patch, maze, hayrides, farm activities

Our favorite fall farm destination – Poppell Farms – opens for the 2022 Fall season, weekends Oct. 1-Oct. 30 2022. 

Poppell Family Farms pumpkin patch, 10-acre maze, hayrides, farm fun, giant outdoor jumping pillows, barnyard & farm games & activities are open every Saturday & Sunday Oct. 1-Oct. 30 2022.

We can’t wait.

SATURDAY Daytime Farm
Open 10AM-5PM Saturdays in October
Maze, Hayride to Pumpkin Patch, 20+ Attractions
$16.95 (ages 4+) No group rates
Must be in line for the hayride by 4PM

SUNDAY Daytime Farm
Open Noon-5PM Sundays in October
Maze, Hayride to Pumpkin Patch, 20+ Attractions
$16.95 (ages 4+)
Must be in line for the hayride by 4PM

Learn more here. 

Poppell Farms, email  here, (912) 586-2215, 1765 Hyma Poppell Loop, Odum, 31555 . On Facebook here. Poppell Farms is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser

Butterflies, carnivorous plants bog garden & more @ Coastal Discovery Museum

A favorite part of Coastal Discovery Museum on Hilton Head Is. is the Karen Wertheimer Butterfly Habitat but there is even more to explore around the Museum’s peaceful 68-acre property: marsh boardwalks, kids zone, discovery lab, gardens (including carnivorous plants bog garden with Venus,  Sundews, and several species of Pitcher plants, each with their own unique method of trapping insects ), Marsh Tacky horses, replica shell ring, nature trail & more.

Learn more here.

Win free camping, annual park pass

Giveaway: two year-long Friends of Georgia State Parks Supporter gift memberships to Georgia’s State Parks.

We excited about this “It’s Almost Fall!” Giveaway. We’re giving away two year-long Friends of Georgia State Parks Supporter gift memberships (value $125) .

Think free access to Georgia State Parks for a year – a year’s worth of access to mountains, hiking, leaf peeping, swimming, lakes, beaches, trails, biking, waterfalls, exploring, sight-seeing, rivers and more.

Two SouthernMamas.com readers will be chosen.

Here’s what the Friends of Georgia State Parks Supporter year-long gift memberships include: three free nights of camping, two annual park passes to Georgia State Parks, 10 percent off lodging, and two free picnic shelter rentals.

Winners will also each receive a Friends of Georgia State Park backpack and waterbottle.

To enter to win, visit this giveaway post on our SouthernMamas.com Facebook page. Comment on the FB giveway post, telling us what you are most looking forward to doing outdoors this Fall 2022.  Entry will be open until Aug. 11 2022. Then we’ll pick two names at random and announce the winners.

Good luck & get outdoors!

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Fall discount code for a Friends of Georgia State Parks membership

SouthernMamas.com and Friends of Georgia State Parks are partnering to make it even easier to get outside with your kids for late summer/fall 2022..

SouthernMamas.com readers can receive a 15 percent discount on Friends of Georgia State Parks membership levels.  Use the code southernmama to get your discount.

Get your discount here. 

Thanks Friends of Georgia State Parks for giving our readers this special late summer/fall discount!

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Late Summer State Park Events @ Nearby Parks

Wormsloe Historic Site, Savannah

Aug. 27 2022: Tools & skills that built a colony, 10AM-4PM. What did those first colonists do to survive when they arrived in 1733? Find out if you have what it took to build a colony. See craft demonstrations such as blacksmithing, spinning, cooking, and more. $2 – $10. 912-353-3023.

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Skidaway Island State Park, Savannah

Aug. 12 2022: Campfire Night, 6-7PM. Gather round the campfire with us and unwind. We will have free marshmallows and sticks to toast them. Meet at the firepit behind the Interpretive Center. $5 parking. 912-598-2300.

Sat. Aug. 20 2022: Archery. 9-10AM, 10:30-11:30AM, 2:30-3:30PM. Learn the basics of archery and test your skills on our archery range. This program will cover basic safety and technique. Equipment will be provided. Participants must be at least 10 years old. Please call the Visitors Center to sign up. Please arrive 10 minutes ahead to go to the Visitors Center first. $10 plus $5 parking. 912-598-2300.

Sat. Aug. 27 2022: Sand Art. 2-3PM. Make summertime-themed pictures using sand and glue. This will be fun for both children and those that are kids at heart. Materials will be provided. Location: Interpretive Center. $5 parking. 912-598-2300.

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Fort McAllister State Park, Richmond Hill

Sun. Aug. 28 2022: Shrimping class, 3-5PM. Limited space available, please RSVP. Have you ever wanted to learn how to shrimp? Learn the basics of how to throw a cast net. Short shuttle by boat to a sand bar across river so you can spread out and practice or casting skills. Must have own cast net! $5 plus $5 parking. 912-727-2339.

Sun. Sept. 4 2022: Labor Day Festivities 10AM-1PM & The Great Ogeechee Water Fight 1-2PM. Civil War interpreters will fire muskets throughout the day 10AM-1PM. $9. For the water fight 1-2PM, bring your water blaster, super soaker, or entire H20 arsenal to this water fight extravaganza. Play games like fortress destruction, and soak a ranger, and end with free play. Pre-register by calling park office. $2 plus $5 parking. 912-727-2339.

Labor Day Weekend 2022 @ Fort McAllister State Park, Richmond Hill

The Great Ogeechee Water Fight

Sun. Sept 4, 2022 (1-2PM) Summertime is almost over why not go out with a bang? Bring your water blaster, super soaker, or entire H20 arsenal to a water fight extravaganza. Play games like fortress destruction, and soak a ranger, and end with free play. Pre-register by calling park office: 912-727-2339 Admission: $2 Parking fee: $5 Fort McAllister State Park 3894 Fort McAllister Road Richmond Hill, GA 31324

Details here.

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SouthernMamas.com Giveaway: Two two year-long Friends of Georgia State Parks Supporter gift memberships to Georgia’s State Parks. Learn more here.

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Poppell Farms 2022 Maze open Oct. 1-30 2022

Poppell Farms 2022 sorghum field maze design features Stetson Bennett, the Georgia Bulldogs’ quarterback.

The maze is just one farm activity at Poppell’s annual Fall Festival celebration, happening Oct. 1-30 2022.

Get lost in Poppell Farms’ tall sorghum maze, enjoy wagon hayrides and the Pumpkin Patch!  Stay after dark on Friday and Saturday nights to explore the maze with a flashlight (it’s NOT haunted). Beginning October 7, brave the Haunted Trail through the woods after dark.

Open every Friday night, Saturday (day and night) and Sunday from October 1-30, 2022.

Learn more here.

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Family Fun Day, Children’s Book Fair @ Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn, Hilton Head 10AM-1PM Tues Aug. 9

Join the Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn on Hilton Head Is. and its partners in this FREE Family Fun Day 2022 for all ages, 10AM-1PM Tues. Aug. 9.

Come early or stay for lunch at the weekly Farmer’s Market on site between 9AM and 1PM

Visit the Coastal Discovery Museum’s boardwalks, learn about the salt marsh, and walk to the horse barn and pasture to see the marsh tacky horse “Comet” and his companion horse “Hawk”.

Stop by the Karen Wertheimer Butterfly Habitat to see the life cycle of native butterflies and learn from museum docents how to plant a butterfly-friendly garden of your own.

Express yourself – artistically – with hands-on activities offered by the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina and The Sandbox. Make a piece of “Tiny Art” to take home or to share with the Tiny Art Galleries around town (sponsored by the Town of Hilton Head Office of Cultural Affairs). Create your own tie dye shirt using real indigo dye or watch sweetgrass basket makers at work.

Sing along with Jevon Daly at one of the two “Kids Concerts” (10:15AM and 11:30AM) in the Birdseye View Theater. Jevon is a local favorite with the young and old alike and is known for his summertime concerts at Coligny Plaza.

Watch and learn about local birds from the Hilton Head Audubon Society. Dive into our local history and environment with the Lowcountry Master Gardeners, the Outside Foundation, Hilton Head Archaeological Society, the Gullah Museum, Heritage Library, Explore Mitchelville, the Morris Center for Lowcountry Heritage and others.

Stop in the Discovery House for the “Children’s Book Fair” to purchase signed copies of educational and local children’s books to take home. Authors scheduled to attend include Susan Diamond Riley, Susan McElroy Montanari, Lisa Anne Cullen, Rebecca Chamberlain, Patricia Bee, Donna Brainard, Mary T. Jacobs, Miho Kinnas, Iris Jackson, Robin Prince Monroe, and Antawn Eady. Find out more about our local literary scene with the Pat Conroy Literary Center.

Visit special exhibitions in the Discovery House. “Conservation in the Classroom” (Main Gallery) includes student artwork focused upon the conservation and protection of dolphins, sea turtles, shore birds, and horseshoe crabs. “Nikon Small World” (Sea Island Room) is a traveling exhibition of 20 jaw-dropping, prize-winning photomicrographs (photographs taken through the light of a microscope).

There’s something for everyone at Family Fun Day!

There is no charge for admission on this special Museum Day and reservations are not required.

Please call (843) 689-6767 ext. 223 for details or learn more here.

Coastal Discovery Museum, 70 Honey Horn Drive, Hilton Head Island, SC 29926

Looking for a kid-friendly daytrip destination from Savannah?

We love Sea Pines Resort on Hilton Head Is. – a roughly 70 minute drive from Savannah. While there be sure to try to catch a sighting of one of the manatees (pictured above in a photo we took in July 2022) that hang out @ Harbour Town Yacht Basin. The manatees sometimes can be seen in the part of the marina near where this sign pictured below is posted, where the arrow points in the photo below.

Other places to visit there while in Sea Pines (aside from the beach at Sea Pines Beach Club): Gregg Russell playground @ Harbour Town; Lawton Stables (free animal farm, pony rides for a fee); Stoney-Baynard Ruins; Sea Pines Forest Preserve and Wildflower Field (picnic tables next to Lake Joe).

There’s still time to catch a legendary free Gregg Russell concert outdoors under Liberty Oak in Harbour Town this 2022 summer season. See his Summer 2022 performance schedule here. This beloved family-oriented singer/storyteller performs sing-a-longs, ballads and silly songs with audience participation. Kids often make & bring “pick-me-to sing-with-you” signs to hold up for Gregg to see.

There’s a $9 Sea Pines gate fee per vehicle.

While on Hilton Head Is. be sure to visit The Sandbox Children’s Museum and neighboring Adventure Playground @ Lowcountry Celebration Park.

Next time you take the kids to Hilton Head Island, here are two of our favorite playgrounds there.

Adventure Playground @ Lowcountry Celebration Park, Hilton Head Is. 

The spacious Adventure Playground features a giant ship complete with mist cannons. located off Pope Avenue near the Coligny Beach parking lot. Adventure Playground is open from sunrise to sunset. Restroom facilities at the park close at 10PM. Parking is available in the Coligny Beach Parking Lot, the parking lot off Nassau Street or onstreet parking on Nassau Street. Details here. 

Gregg Russell Playground in Harbour Town (pictured), Sea Pines Resort, 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 $9 Sea Pines gate fee.
Harbour Town, Hilton Head, SC 29928

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See our favorite Savannah & Beaufort area playgrounds here.