Ready for lazy river, spray pads & waterslides?

Water park season is here.

The Pooler water park – Surf Lagoon – is closed.

However, there are the following water parks in Statesboro, Jekyll Island & Charleston.

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Water Parks Near Savannah

Splash In The Boro opens for the 2019 summer season May 18 & 19
45 miles from Savannah in Statesboro, Ga.
Water Slides – 2 body slides and 1 inner tube slide wind around each other and finish with a plunge into a common wave pool. The park has a double flowrider , a 5-lane mat racer, a spray pad and slides for toddlers, 3 tube slides, a lazy river.

2019 Summer Season
Weekends only: May 18 & 19.
Open daily starting May 25. For hours click here.

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Summer Waves opening weekend May 11-12; opens daily for 2019 summer season Wed. May 15.
75 Miles from Savannah on Jekyll Island.

2019 Summer Season
Weekends only: May 11-12; Aug. 10-Sept. 15.
Daily: Wed. May 15-Aug. 7. Open Memorial Day & Labor Day.
For hours, click here.
Summer Waves Water Park located on Jekyll Island with 11 acres of splashing summertime fun for the whole family. Nine exciting attractions including six water slides, wave pool, lazy river, splash zone and kiddie area.

Opening dates & hours are subject to change. Please call ahead to confirm Summer Waves is open.  912.635.2074

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Charleston, SC Water Parks

Splash Zone Waterpark
at James Island County Park
871 Riverland Drive
Charleston, SC 29412
79 Miles from Savannah in Charleston, SC
2019 Summer Season Schedule
10AM-6PM
Open Weekends May 11-12, May 18-19, May 25-26
Open Daily starting May 27
Weekends Only Aug. 17-Labor Day.
Schedule here.
200-foot tube slide – 200-foot open slide – Caribbean play structure with slides, wheels, and sprays – 500-foot lazy river with an adventure channel featuring sprays and a waterfall – Leisure pool – open seasonally

Whirlin Waters Adventure Waterpark
87 miles from Savannah in North Charleston, SC
2019 Summer Season
10AM-6PM
•Weekends Only: May 5-June 2. Open on Memorial Day May 27. Aug. 17-Labor Day
•Daily: Starting June 8.
Fun for all ages, Whirlin’ Waters Adventure Waterpark is located within North Charleston Wannamaker County Park and offers seasonal, island-style water play packed into over 15-acres.
Rip Tide Run mat racer takes riders on an exciting head-to-head competition over gut wrenching bumps, accelerating riders towards the finish line. (minimum height of 42”)

Splash Island Waterpark
91 miles away in Mount Pleasant, SC
2019 Summer Season
10AM-6PM
•Weekends Only: May 5-June 2. Open on Memorial Day May 27. Aug. 17-Labor Day
•Daily: Starting June 8.
200-foot water slide – 16-foot otter slide – Sprays, geysers, and raindrop waterfalls – The Cyclone, a 10-minute swirling water ride – Recreational pool

Don’t miss out on this fantastic chance to support the outreach programs @ The Sandbox Children’s Museum on Hilton Head Is. and win 2 Jetblue tickets and a 3 day, 2-night stay at a Marriott Vacation Club.

Purchase tickets online here. Only 500 tickets will be sold for this raffle.

Sandbox @ the Stables
10AM-2PM Mon. May 27 2019
Lawton Stables in Sea Pines Resort, Hilton Head Is.

The Sandbox Children’s Museum on Pope Avenue will be closed on Memorial Day.

Hosted by Lawton Stables in Sea Pines Resort

Lawton Stables
190 Greenwood Dr.
Hilton Head Island, SC 29928

Sandbox @ the Stables is a Memorial Day Celebration benefiting The Sandbox. Learn more here. 

Activities (some free, some require activity tickets) scheduled include:

• Craft projects
• Inflatable water slides and bounce houses and a mini train ride!
• Pony rides
• Facepainting
• Family games
• “Island Explorer” Corner: Excavation Station, I3 (Imagine.Invent.Inspire.) Makerspace, Mad Scientist, Spin the Wheel (Everyone’s a winner!) and Friends from The Coastal Discovery Museum and The Outside Foundation!

The Cowpoke Caper Parade is back again at High Noon. Come dressed as your favorite cowpoke and bring your cowpoke name – creativity is key. Free bandanas to the first 50 entries.

New this year: a visit from “Captain Jack Sparrow.”

Food available for purchase.

Admission is $5 per person; tickets for concessions and activities are $1 each(some activities are free). Sandbox Annual Members receive $5 in concession tickets for each paid admission. Become a member here.

$6 per vehicle for entry into Sea Pines Resort gate.

Park and Ride: Guests parking is at the Trolley Stop inside the Greenwood Dr. Sea Pines Gate. Ride the free trolley to Lawton Stables. (There is NO Event parking at Lawton Stables)

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The Sandbox Children’s Museum is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser 

Free Birthday for the Birds event, May 4 2019, 8-11AM in Port Royal SC.

The Town of Port Royal invites the community to come celebrate the 7th Birthday for the Birds, a one of a kind event showcasing Beaufort County’s natural resources, the Port Royal Rookery & Wetlands, along with the wildlife within.

This free celebration focuses upon the various species living in this habitat along with educational resources. With support from Fripp Island Audubon Club & other organizations, it will be an informative, fun day to enjoy the Port Royal Rookery & Wetlands. Representatives from the Fripp Island Wildlife Department will be onsite showcasing inhabitants of the wetlands including alligators & other species. Master Naturalists will provide tours of the boardwalk through the wetlands.

Sign up for tours @ 8:15AM. Tours will begin @ 8:30AM. There will be a Scavenger Hunt @ 9AM for children with check offs for finding all the unique species to earn an “I Found all the Wildlife Species at the Port Royal Rookery.”

Event will also feature: Low Country wildlife face painting, local school children’s artwork, a Birthday Cake, Kazoos, bird hats, costumed bird greeters & more.

The event, created by the commitment of Pete Richards, who wished to share his love of birding, and, in his own words, “the importance of the birthday is making wildlife and birds accessible to community, families & children.” The Town of Port Royal has helped along with Audubon & volunteers.

For event info or to VOLUNTEER, contact Kate Hamilton Pardee at 508-221-7355 or email garyh2otreatment@gmail.com or capecodh2o@comcast.net.

Kids ages 6-12 are invited to the annual Girls In Engineering Day March 2 2019 at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro.

Society of Women Engineers at Georgia Southern will host the annual event. Kids will spend the day participating in STEM related activities as well as a tour through the Carruth Building Lab. Lunch is included.

Cost: $10 per person. Register online here. 

Sat. March 2, 201, 9:30AM-3PM
@ Georgia Southern Information Technology Building
1332 Southern Dr, Statesboro, Georgia 30458
Hosted by Society of Women Engineers at Georgia Southern

The 12th annual Hilton Head Island Seafood Festival will be Feb. 18-24, 2019.

This is a family-friendly, week-long culinary and cultural tourism event, where top chefs, mixologists, sommeliers, local seafood, artisans, live music and wildlife come together.

The Hilton Head Island Seafood Festival, hosted by the David M. Carmines Memorial Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit organization helps raise money for other non-profit organizations including the Coastal Discovery Museum, Island Recreation Scholarship Fund, Waddell Mariculture Center, Port Royal Sound Foundation, Gullah Heritage Museum and Medical University of South Carolina.

Saturday Seafood Festival, Feb. 23 2019
11AM-5PM
@ Honey Horn Plantation on Hilton Head Is.

The family friendly headlining event features area restaurants and chefs serving up seafood specialties; celebrity chef cooking demonstrations; expanded kids activities; David M. Carmines Foundation Silent Auction; Beer Garden; Artisan Market; & more.

Live music by Deas-Guyz from noon-4PM.

Cost

Free admission to children younger than 10.

Tickets: $10 per person (age 10 & older). There is NO additional cost for parking @ Honey Horn Plantation.

Learn more here. 

U-pick Daffodils farm in nearby Okatie, SC (near Bluffton)

Hours of operation are dependent upon the weather & availability of flowers.  Check here and on Facebook here for hours  & opening/closing updates. If you’re coming in the afternoon, you are strongly encouraged to text 843-368-1998 to make sure the farm still has blooms and are still open.

Farm owners will post if they’re able to be open this weekend as soon as they know. Please call or text 843-368-1998 to make sure the farm still has flowers.

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.

Cash or check only. Cost is 25 cents per stem.

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

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Daytrips

Find more daytrips from the Savannah-area here. 

Thanks to Delta frequent flier miles, we did a 6-day whirlwind trip to San Francisco, Yosemite National Park & Monterey, California during winter break 2018.

Here’s this mom’s list of things to do when visiting this inspiring area of The Golden State with kids.

Free national park pass. If you’re traveling with a fourth grader, be sure to obtain your free national park pass before your trip through The Every Kid in a Park program. The program gives every U.S. 4th grader and his or her family free access to 2000+ federally managed parks, lands and waters. This program begins Sept. 1 of your fourth grade year and runs until Aug. 31 of that year. Learn more here. 

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Yosemite National Park: As a cost-saving measure, we stayed at Half Dome Village (formerly called Curry Village, pictured below). While not fully camping, most Half Dome Village spots are canvas platform tents. Full disclosure: this is not for everyone – especially in winter. Although these canvas tents are heated, they were cold during our 2-night stay in December 2018. However, this is an affordable way for families to stay in the south central part of Yosemite Valley rather than have to stay outside of the park and spend lots of time commuting back and forth. Half Dome Village sells out quickly, so be sure to make your reservations well in advance to ensure availability. Reservation info here. 

In addition to amazing hikes, we got a lot out of the Night Prowl guided walk with an Interpretive naturalist in Yosemite Valley. Find more family activities that require advance registration here. 

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San Francisco: We kicked off our 2-day visit to San Francisco with a super kid-friendly walking tour & scavenger hunt in Chinatown / Northbeach with City Clues Adventures & Tours. 

This two-hour hunt  – which included a fortune cookie factory & a hidden temple – was the perfect introduction to SF for my two kids, ages 12 & 10. They learned about the city & its history without realizing they were learning. Tour guide Beth even escorted us to SF’s most crooked Lombard Street after the tour while pointing out landmarks along the way.

Bike the Golden Gate Bridge: Taking full advantage of ideal weather, we rented bikes (after the scavenger hunt & lunch) from Blazing Saddles near of Ghirardelli Square then pedaled through Crissy Field, Presidio, with a stop at the pier next to Fort Point National Historic Site (where we spied a sea lion) before crossing the Golden Gate Bridge into Sausalito, where we caught a ferry back to SF. This was a top highlight of our trip & a must-do if you have the weather to do so.

Muir Woods: Spent most of day 2 exploring the Redwood forest & earning their junior ranger badges @ Muir Woods National Monument outside of SF. Parking or shuttle reservations are now required when visiting Muir Woods. Make reservations here. 

Cable Car Ride: We avoided the long lines for cable car tickets in Ghirardelli Square by catching a cable car at California & Market Streets then riding it to the top of Nob Hill. We bought tickets on the car.

Alcatraz Blues: Mom Mistake No. 211,530: Not making Alcatraz reservations well in advance, as in before we even booked our flight. I will never forgive myself for being too late to the game on this. Say it with me: Reservations for The Rock must be made far in advance. Learn more here & don’t be me like me.

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Elephant Seal Guided Walk @ Año Nuevo Coast Natural Preserve

Monterey: So glad we started our first Monterey morning by making the drive south on Pacific Coast Highway to Point Lobos State Natural Reserve in Carmel & savoring the trails there. We saw sea lions & otters galore.

After lunch outdoors at the funky Baja Cantina in Carmel, we headed back to Monterey via Point Pinos Lighthouse, the oldest working lighthouse on the West Coast. Then left the car at Lover’s Point Park so we could walk the Monterey Bay Coastal Trail to Cannery Row & Monterey Bay Aquarium, where we immersed ourselves until early evening finally leaving at closing time. The aquarium is a must-do.

Ano Nuevo: Our last day in California (New Year’s Eve Day) was spent falling in love with Ano Nuevo State Park elephant seals, off Pacific Coast Highway between Santa Cruz & SF.  Every year up to 10,000 elephant seals return to breed & give birth @ the park’s dunes and beaches. Because we were there during breeding season, we were able to take advantage of the 3-mile guided seal hike, available via advanced reservation, so we saw oodles of elephant seals & pups. This was a top highlight of the trip. To make reservations for the 2.5 hour Elephant Seal Guided Walks visit ReserveCalifornia at anonuevo.reservecalifornia.com or call 1-800-444-4445. 

Highway 1 Highlights: Thanks to the Web site Through My Lens, we visited Shark Fin Cove near Ano Nuevo State Park & Santa Cruz’s Natural Bridges State Park  on our way back to SF.

Last stop before catching our New Year’s Eve red-eye flight back to Georgia was an evening stop @ SF’s Moraga Street tiled steps. This sea-to-stars themed mosaic staircase flowing up 163 steps in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Heights Neighborhood was the ideal spot to stay goodbye & thank you to this amazing state.

The Sandbox Children’s Museum on Hilton Head Is. now offers AWE-STEM Saturdays on the 2nd Saturday of the month.

3-4PM, Sat. April 13 2019 & Sat. May 11 2019.

Roll up your sleeves, put on your safety goggles, and get ready to explore the world of science, technology, engineering, and math! These hands-on,  facilitator-led STEM experiments will introduce concepts of chemistry, biology, and physics as kids learn about the world around us.

First Come First Serve.

Cost: FREE with Admission  |   FREE for Members

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SENSORY SATURDAYS | AT THE SANDBOX

Sat. April 27 2019.

On the last Saturday of each month, The Sandbox Children’s Museum will open an hour early (9AM) exclusively for families with children who have sensory processing differences or those with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).

Children with other developmental challenges are welcome @ these Sensory Saturdays.

Cost: Reduced Admission – $5/person (1 yr & older) | FREE for Members

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FREE Family Night, April 5 2019

Come to the  The Sandbox Children’s Museum Fri. April 5 2019, 5:30-7:30PM for Free Family Fun night.

First Friday of the month
5:30-7:30PM
Join The Sandbox Children’s Museum on Hilton Head  FREE Family Fun Nights .

This is a community event designed to bring families together for a cost-free evening of creativity and play.

Weather permitting, the Bounce House and Big Blue Blocks will be available for play outdoors, or you can explore our exhibits and enjoy a craft indoors. Light refreshments will also be served free of charge.

FREE & FUN for all ages.

Learn more here. 

Upcoming Free Family Fun Nights

Fri. April 5, 5:30-7:30PM
Fri. May 3, 5:30-7:30PM
Fri. Sept. 6, 5:30-7:30PM
Fri. Oct. 4, 5:30-7:30PM
Fri. Nov. 1, 5:30-7:30PM
Fri. Dec. 6, 5:30-7:30PM

Supported by The Bargain Box

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Sandbox Children’s Museum
The Sandbox Children’s Museum
18 Pope Ave
Hilton Head Island, SC 29928

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The Sandbox Children’s Museum is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser 

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.

Jekyll Island Guest Information Center
901 Downing Musgrove Causeway
Jekyll Island, GA 31527
Monday-Saturday: 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

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. 

You are invited to 2018 Springfield Fall Festival featuring food, first class entertainment & vendors.

FREE Admission. Learn more here. 

Open ALL DAY: Hay Ride, Petting Zoo, Bounce House, Food Court and Craft Vendors. Free live concerts on Friday & Saturday nights and this year, the festival will continue the tradition with country music group, Shenandoah, on Saturday night. Car Show & wing eating contest on Saturday.

Fri & Sat. Nov 2 & Nov. 3
Springfield Fall Festival
Laurel Street
Springfield, Georgia 31329
Tickets: springfieldfallfestival.com

Hosted by: City of Springfield & Springfield Merchants Association,

Schedule

Friday 10/2:
5PM Festival Begins
8PM Thomas Claxton & The Myth
10PM Festival Closes

Saturday 10/3:
10AM Festival Opens
10AM-6PM Triple J Stables will have their petting zoo here with animal food available for purchase ($1 so please bring small bills).
10AM Car Show
12-4PM Local Talent on Stage
5PM Wing Contest
6PM TBA
7PM Josh Sanders
8:30PM Shenandoah
10PM Festival Closes

Open ALL DAY: Hay Ride, Petting Zoo, Bounce House, Food Court and Craft Vendors.

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See the complete list of Fall Festivals 2018 in the Savannah & Lowcountry area in our Fall Family Fun Guide.

It’s not fall until you’ve watched a pig race @ a pumpkin patch farm.

The 11th Annual The Great Pumpkin Patch @ Holiday Farms  will be open for the 2018 season from Oct. 4-Oct. 31 2018  in nearby Ridgeland, SC, about a 1 hour from Savannah.

Spend a day on Holiday Farms enjoying: Jumppad, Bounce house, Haytona Speedway, Duck Race, Cow Milking, Steer Roping, Corn Grinding, Barnyard Zoo, Barrel Racing and, of course, a hayride to the pumpkin patch. And our personal favorite, Pigtucky Derby (pig races).

Holiday Farms is open weekdays & weekends starting Oct. 4 until Oct. 31 2018

Hours:
Monday – Thursday 9AM-2PM
Friday – Saturday 9AM-dark (last wagon ride leaves at 6PM)
Sunday 1PM-5PM

Pig Race Schedule:
Monday – Thursday 11AM & 1PM
Friday – Saturday 11AM, 1PM & 3PM

Military Discount Day

Special Military Day on Sat. Oct. 6 2018
All active duty military, spouses, and children will receive 50% off admission with proper ID.

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Family owned and operated since 2008.

Stay connected about other events at Holiday Farms by liking their Facebook page here.

Holiday Farms, 10884 Grays Hwy, Ridgeland, SC 29936, (843) 726-5527, email holidayfarms@yahoo.com
www.holidayfarmssc.com  Holiday Farms is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser 

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FOR MORE SAVANNAH-AREA FALL EVENTS, VISIT OUR SAVANNAH FALL FUN GUIDE 2018. 

Hayrides, corn cribs, cow trains, hayrides, corn mazes & more. It’s all part of the pumpkin patch farm tradition. While Savannah isn’t a pumpkin-growing climate, we’re thrilled that we have our fair share of agritourism here with various pumpkin patch farms near Savannah.

Here are some favorites:

Poppell Farms pumpkin patch, corn maze, hayrides, barnyard. Grand opening for fall season 2018 is Sept. 29 2018. Open every weekend through Sun. Oct. 28. Details here. 

Holiday Farms pumpkin patch, hayrides, pig races, farm activities. Holiday Farms is open from Oct. 4-31 2018.  Oct. 6 will be Military Appreciation Day. All active military will receive 50% off admission price with proper ID. Details here.  

FOR FALL FESTIVALS 2018 in Savannah, visit our Fall Family Fun Guide 2018 here. 

The 11th Annual The Great Pumpkin Patch @ Holiday Farms  will be open for the 2018 season from Oct. 4-Oct. 31 2018  in nearby Ridgeland, SC, about a 1 hour from Savannah.

Spend a day on Holiday Farms enjoying: Jumppad, Bounce house, Haytona Speedway, Duck Race, Cow Milking, Steer Roping, Corn Grinding, Barnyard Zoo, Barrel Racing and, of course, a hayride to the pumpkin patch. And our personal favorite, Pigtucky Derby (pig races).

Holiday Farms is open weekdays & weekends starting Oct. 4 until Oct. 31 2018

Field Trips

Holiday Farms offers field trips for schools, churches, scout groups, and more. Reservations now being taken for groups and field trips. You may reach Holiday Farms by phone at 843-726-5527 or email holidayfarms@yahoo.com.

Military Discount Day

Special Military Day on Sat. October 6 2018
All active duty military, spouses, and children will receive 50% off admission with proper ID.

Holiday Farms 2018 Schedule & Hours

Open Dates 2018:
Oct. 4-Oct.31

Concessions and Entertainment on Saturdays 11AM-4PM and Sundays 1-4PM

Hours:
Monday – Thursday 9AM-2PM
Friday – Saturday 9AM-dark (last wagon ride leaves at 6PM)
Sunday 1PM-5PM

Pig Race Schedule:
Monday – Thursday 11AM & 1PM
Friday – Saturday 11AM, 1PM & 3PM

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Family owned and operated since 2008.

Stay connected about other events at Holiday Farms by liking their Facebook page here.

Holiday Farms, 10884 Grays Hwy, Ridgeland, SC 29936, (843) 726-5527, email holidayfarms@yahoo.com
www.holidayfarmssc.com  Holiday Farms is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser 

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FOR MORE SAVANNAH-AREA FALL EVENTS, VISIT OUR SAVANNAH FALL FUN GUIDE 2018. 

STEM & Maker Fest @ The Sandbox Children’s Museum, Hilton Head Is. Sept. 22, 2018

Come tinker, create, innovate, and celebrate at The Sandbox Children’s Museum.

Enjoy a few hours of exploring, tinkering and making with STEM related demonstrations, a tinkering/making station and bounce houses.

This is an event where all ages can experiment and learn together.

STEM Maker Fest
Sat. Sept. 22, 10AM-2PM
The Sandbox Children’s Museum
18A Pope Ave
Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
Admission: $12 per person/$7 per person for members; $10 for seniors and active military, up to 12 months free

Activities (all INCLUDED) scheduled include:

Museum Admission and access to all exhibits including the museum’s newest, “The Shadow Wall”
Craft projects
STEM related demonstrations (including a LEGO demonstration by Chris Sudduth), Filtering Light Demo and Magic Milk Demo
Fix-It Clinic
I3 (Imagine.Invent.Inspire.) Makerspace
Bounce houses and a mini train ride!
Facepainting
Family games and activities (Corn Hole, mini walking stilts, big blue building blocks, etc)
Sno-cones and Popcorn machine
“Island Explorer” Corner: Excavation Station, Spin the Wheel (Everyone’s a winner!) and Friends from The Coastal Discovery Museum.
And also included, a visit from “Captain Jack Sparrow” and a scavenger hunt. 11AM-1PM

There will be hot dogs and burgers fresh off the grill for purchase. (Space and activities limited in the event of rain)

(Sorry, coupons not valid for special event)

The Sandbox Children’s Museum is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser 

Labor Day weekend family events @ Coastal Heritage Society sites in Savannah including Savannah Children’s Museum, Old Fort Jackson & Savannah History Museum. Learn more here.  Programs include:

LOYALISTS AND LIBERTY BATTLEFIELD TOURS @ Savannah History Museum: Thursday-Saturday well as extended to Sunday & Monday (because of the holiday weekend) 10:30AM, 12:30PM & 2:30PM
March through history and learn about the American Revolution in Savannah! Experience a black powder demonstration, immerse yourself in 1779 Savannah, and hear about the personalities that shaped the city’s fight for freedom. Learn more here.

INTERACTIVE CENTURY OF SENTRIES: Building Fort Jackson program for adults, kids and families @ Old Fort Jackson. Guests can also learn various drills and forms of military communication used and watch a cannon demonstration using some of the oldest artillery in the Southeast. This special programming will be offered 10AM-4PM, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday during Labor Day Weekend. To coincide with the programming, there will also be a special indigo dyeing activity at 10:30AM, 1PM & 3PM Saturday through Monday. Learn more here.

SPECIAL HOLIDAY WEEKEND HOURS @ Savannah Children’s Museum: SCM will have Special Open Days from 9AM-2PM on Sunday, Sept. 2 & Mon. Sept. 3 in addition to their regular Saturday hours, 9AM-2PM.

More Labor Day weekend family events

The Sandbox Children’s Museum on Hilton Head Is will be open 10AM-5PM Come by and play. Details here. 

Labor Day Celebration @ Fort McAllister State Park, Richmond Hill
Sat. Sept. 1 2018 9AM-4PM
Fort McAllister State Park
3894 Fort McAllister Road
Richmond Hill, GA
Entertaining day for the whole family. Civil War soldiers will be firing rifles and cannons throughout the day while presenting living history programs. Old-timey games will be available. Cost: $5-$9. 912-727-2339.

Labor Day Commemoration @ Fort King George State Historic Site, Darien
Mon. Sept 3, 2018 10AM-4PM
Fort King George Historic Site
302 McIntosh Road SE
Darien, GA 31305
Join the Friends of Fort King George for a day of artillery drills, blacksmithing, and soldiers’ life activities. Learn about the various types of laborers of the past. Cost $4.50-$7.50 912-437-4770.

Labor Day Commemoration @ Fort Morris Historic Site, Midway
Monday, Sep 3, 2018 11 AM to 3 PM
Fort Morris Historic Site
2559 Fort Morris Road
Midway, GA 31320
Commemorate Labor Day holiday with hourly soldier talks and musket and cannon firings at this scenic coastal fort.
Cost: $3-$4.50 912-884-5999.

Labor Day Fireworks, Tybee Is.
@ 11th Annual Labor Day Beach Bash
Sun. Sept. 2 2018 @ Tybee Island Pier and Pavilion.
Free live entertainment will be provided on Sunday by Swingin’ Medallions from 7-10:30PM, followed by a fireworks show around 9:15PM that can be viewed from Tybee’s eastern beaches.
912.786.5444 or 800.868.2322.

FREE Family Fun Day
Coastal Discovery Museum
70 Honey Horn Dr.
Hilton Head Is. SC
Thurs. Aug. 2, 10AM-1PM

Join the Coastal Discovery Museum on Hilton Head Is. and many of its partner organizations for a day filled with hands-on and free activities.

Explore the grounds to meet members of the HHI Audubon Society, HHI Land Trust, Master Naturalists, The Outside Foundation, The Morris Center for Lowcountry Heritage, The Sandbox and more! Indigo tie-dyeing, meet the Marsh Tacky, birding, nature crafts and much more will be offered for visitors of all ages.

No charge to attend. Donations are greatly appreciated.

(843) 689-6767 ext. 223

Celebrate Fourth of July with Pop Goes The Sandbox! at the Sandbox Children’s Museum on Hilton Head Is.

Wed., July 4th 2018
10AM-2PM (but open til 5PM)

Take part in a special holiday craft, 4th of July Fun Fact Handout and show-your-colors cookie decorating thru 2pm

General Admission is $7 per person, FREE for Members. Military and senior discounts are available.

Details here.

Stay connected by liking The Sandbox on Facebook here.

The Sandbox Children’s Museum, www.thesandbox.org, 18A Pope Ave. (located behind St. Andrew’s By the Sea Methodist Church), Hilton Head Island, SC 29928, Tel: 843-842-7645 The Sandbox is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser

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FIND MORE JULY 4TH EVENTS INCLUDING FIREWORKS HERE. 

You are invited to a Sea Turtle Release this Fri. June 15 @ Great Dunes Beach on Jekyll Is., which is about a 90 minute drive on I-95 from Savannah.

Join the Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Is. as they release some of their rehabilitated patients back to the ocean.

The release happens at 2PM Fri. June 15.

Please arrive early, as the release will start promptly at 2 p.m. Remember to bring your hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, water, and a friend.

This event is free & open to their public. There is a required $6 Daily Parking Fee to enter Jekyll Is.

Learn more about the Georgia Sea Turtle Center including visiting hours & daily kid-friendly programs here. 

Read our Things To Do With Kids on Jekyll Island list here.

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Georgia Sea Turtle Center

Visit the state’s only rescue & rehabilitation facility to learn about the endangered sea turtles that visit our coast. Meet some of the turtle patients in the center’s hospital & learn their stories that brought them there.

During the nesting months of summer (June and July), the center leads nightly turtle walks.  After the turtles hatch in August, the center offers hatchling walks at dawn.

www.georgiaseaturtlecenter.org or (912) 635-4444

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Find more kid-friendly daytrips from Savannah here. 

KICK-OFF SUMMER 2018 AT THE SANDBOX!

Join The Sandbox Children’s Museum on Hilton Head (about 1 hour drive from Savannah) for the best schools-out-for-summer, kids’ party on the the island, 10AM-2PM Wed. June 13 2018.

Celebrating sun, fun and the beach!

ARTS & CRAFTS • BOUNCE HOUSE
OUTDOOR GAMES & ACTIVITIES
PICNIC LUNCH
Cost: MEMBERS $5 | GUEST $10

Military & senior discounts available. Sorry, coupons not valid for this event.

First come, first serve. Space and activities limited in the event of rain.

The Sandbox Children’s Museum
18A Pope Avenue,
Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
843.842.7645

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June 2018 Museum Hours:
Mon.- Sat. 10AM-5PM

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July 2018 Activities @ The Sandbox

Check out  Parent’s Night Out and Summer Camp on The Sandbox website to learn more!

The Sandbox Children’s Museum is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser

The UGA Marine Education Center & Aquarium on Skidaway Is. in Savannah is offering lots of family & kid-friendly programs for Summer 2018 including special events, Toddler Touch Tanks, Family Friend Trips & Behind-the-Scenes Aquarium Tours.

Celebrate World Oceans Day on Fri. June 8 2018, 10AM-2PM at the UGA Marine Education Center and Aquarium on Skidaway Island.

Throughout the day, visitors can tour behind the scenes at the aquarium, encounter reptiles, interact with horseshoe crabs and learn about the incredible animals of Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary.

All activities are included with general admission to the UGA Aquarium.

UGA Marine Education Center And Aquarium
30 Ocean Science Circle
Savannah, GA 31411

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Toddler Touch Tanks
Tuesdays, 9:30-10:30AM
Cost: $6

Explore the coast with your child in a unique setting perfect for inspiring wonder and curiosity. A mix of games, art, stories and animal encounters provide fun learning experiences about the ocean. Children 3-5 years old are welcome and must be accompanied by an adult.

Prior registration is encouraged but not required. Contact Kayla Clark at kayla270@uga.edu or 912-598-3345 to register.

Learn more here. 

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Family Field Trips
Thursdays, 10AM-Noon
Cost: $15.

Learn more here.

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Behind the Scenes Aquarium Tours
Thursdays, 2-3PM
Cost: $10.

Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at the UGA Aquarium? Visitors are invited to spend the afternoon exploring our exhibits before learning what it’s like to care for our native marine animals during a behind-the-scenes tour led by staff.

Prior registration is encouraged but not required. Contact Kayla Clark at kayla270@uga.edu or 912-598-3345 to register.

Learn more here.

U-pick thornless blackberry season 2018 is now open through June @ Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens, Savannah.

U-pick blackberry fields are open:
Wednesdays, Thursdays & Fridays 9AM-1PM
Saturdays 10AM-1PM
Tuesdays 10AM-1PM
Closed Sundays & Mondays

The fields will be closed June 2-June 4 and reopen at 10AM June 5.

Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens at the Historic Bamboo Farm offers fresh berry fruits for picking from the fields when in season. The harvest season is weather dependent.

Call 912-921-5460 to learn the status of the field prior to arriving, as poor weather or large crowds may pick the field clean well before the 1PM scheduled closing. The best time to pick is first thing in the morning (as it is cooler, too).

No pets allowed in the fruit picking fields during your harvest. Children must be supervised to prevent plant trampling. You are responsible to pay for all fruits (ripe or unripe) picked during a visit. Remember, blackberries do not further ripen once picked, so only focus on berries that fall/tug off the stem easily. If they’re still “glued on”, they’re sour and definitely not ready to pick.

COST: $3 per pound. Containers provided.  Cash and credit card (debit cards as well if they have a major credit card symbol on them) are accepted.

The gardens have picnic tables scattered around the grounds if you want to make a picnic out of your trip.

CGBG does NOT offer a picking service.

Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens, 2 Canebrake Road, Savannah, 31419 (912) 921-5460, E-mail: coastal@uga.edu,www.coastalgeorgiabg.org

Celebrate Port Royal, SC’s wetlands 6th anniversary on Sat. May 12, 9-11AM @ the free, annual “Birthday for the Birds” bash.

The “Birthday for the Birds Celebration” marks the sixth birthday of the Port Royal’s Cypress Wetlands park.

A bird parade at 8:30AM begins the festivities. The parade starts @ Port Royal Elementary School and proceeds on Paris Avenue to the wetlands amphitheater.

The event is free & open to the public. It includes cake, popcorn and bird hats, too. 

The birthday celebration hosted by Fripp Island Audubon Club will include tours of the wetlands, a scavenger hunt, an art show featuring local student art, wildlife on display such as baby alligators and snakes, live music with DJ Billy Drysdale and a cake-cutting.

In season, the wetlands are the home to a rookery of several species of wading birds including egrets, herons, white ibis and wood storks.

Cypress Wetlands Port Royal SC
Paris Avenue
Port Royal, SC 29935
Contact: Pete Richards via email at richardspete42@gmail.com or call 843-441-2153

Free for moms on Mother’s Day 2018 in Savannah 

On Sunday, May 13 2018, admission to all Coastal Heritage Society sites in Savannah are FREE for mothers and grandmothers in honor of Mother’s Day! That includes:
*Savannah Children’s Museum. See schedule of daily here. 
*Georgia State Railroad Museum
*Old Fort Jackson
*Pinpoint Heritage Museum

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FREE for moms on Sat. May 12 
Free bring your mom to workout day @ Crossfit Hyperformance in Savannah, 10:15AM. Details here.

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Free for moms on Mother’s Day Weekend in Jacksonville 

Celebrate MOM with free admission to Jacksonville Zoo on Mother’s Day Weekend 2018.
Mom gets in free with the purchase of any adult or child’s ticket with the coupon.

Click here for more info.

Jacksonville Zoo & Garden, 370 Zoo Parkway Jacksonville, Fla 32218, (904) 757-4463 www.jacksonvillezoo.org

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Ready for lazy river, spray pads & waterslides?

Water park season is here.

The Pooler water park – Surf Lagoon – 2018 season runs from April 21 to August 26.

Surf Lagoon 2018 Summer Season, Pooler

Open 11AM-6PM
Daily: May 19-Aug. 6. Open Memorial Day.
Weekends Only: April 21-May 21, Aug. 11-26
For hours, click here.  

Hours & opening weekend subject to change. Please call (912) 988-1801 or check their web site here. 

Surf Lagoon Water Park
Located near 1-95 and Pooler Parkway
Exit 104 off I-95.
130 Towne Center Dr, Pooler, 31322
email: info@surflagoonpooler.com

Learn more here.

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More Water Parks Near Savannah

Splash In The Boro opens for the 2018 summer season May 19 & 20
45 miles from Savannah in Statesboro, Ga.
Water Slides – 2 body slides and 1 inner tube slide wind around each other and finish with a plunge into a common wave pool. The park has a double flowrider , a 5-lane mat racer, a spray pad and slides for toddlers, 3 tube slides, a lazy river.

2018 Summer Season
Weekends only: May 19 & 20, Aug. 11-Sept. 3. Open Labor Day Sept. 3, last day of operation.
Open daily starting May 26. For hours click here.

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Summer Waves opening weekend May 5-6; opens daily for 2018 summer season Wed. May 16.
75 Miles from Savannah on Jekyll Island.

2018 Summer Season
Weekends only: May 5-6; May 12-13; Aug. 11-Sept. 9.
Daily: Wed. May 16-Aug. 8. Open Memorial Day & Labor Day.
For hours, click here.
Summer Waves Water Park located on Jekyll Island with 11 acres of splashing summertime fun for the whole family. Nine exciting attractions including six water slides, wave pool, lazy river, splash zone and kiddie area.

Opening dates & hours are subject to change. Please call ahead to confirm Summer Waves is open.  912.635.2074

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Charleston, SC Water Parks

Splash Zone Waterpark
at James Island County Park
871 Riverland Drive
Charleston, SC 29412
79 Miles from Savannah in Charleston, SC
2018 Summer Season Schedule to be announced soon
200-foot tube slide – 200-foot open slide – Caribbean play structure with slides, wheels, and sprays – 500-foot lazy river with an adventure channel featuring sprays and a waterfall – Leisure pool – open seasonally

Whirlin Waters Adventure Waterpark
87 miles from Savannah in North Charleston, SC
2018 Summer Season
10AM-6PM
•Weekends Only: May 5-28. Open on Memorial Day May 28. Aug. 18-Labor Day
•Daily: Staring June 2.
Fun for all ages, Whirlin’ Waters Adventure Waterpark is located within North Charleston Wannamaker County Park and offers seasonal, island-style water play packed into over 15-acres.
Rip Tide Run mat racer takes riders on an exciting head-to-head competition over gut wrenching bumps, accelerating riders towards the finish line. (minimum height of 42”)

Splash Island Waterpark
91 miles away in Mount Pleasant, SC
2018 Summer Season
10AM-6PM
•Weekends Only starting May 5. Open Memorial Day May 28. August 18 – Labor Day.
•Daily starting June 2.
200-foot water slide – 16-foot otter slide – Sprays, geysers, and raindrop waterfalls – The Cyclone, a 10-minute swirling water ride – Recreational pool