On the lookout for a enjoyable, simple street journey with youngsters within the Carolinas? York County, South Carolina, packs so much into its small-town Americana cities and scenic countryside. You’ll discover festivals, pick-your-own fruit, walkable downtowns with public artwork, and one of many prettiest spring gardens within the state.
It’s an important place to decelerate, discover the outside, and eat nicely whilst you’re at it.
Right here’s what to do on a household journey to York County.
Glencairn Backyard
Late March to early April is the perfect time to go to Glencairn Backyard. You may see hundreds of azaleas in a variety of colours completely begging for a household portrait. It’s spectacular.
However should you don’t occur to be right here in spring, there’s nonetheless lots to see. In winter, admire the camellias; in early spring, daffodils; in summer season, crape myrtle and daylilies; in fall, sasanquas and pansies.
The paved paths are stroller pleasant, and the numerous fountains and butterflies will delight youngsters. Admission is free!
Festivals
Each spring, Rock Hill welcomes the season with the Come-See-Me Pageant, a 10-day affair impressed by the azalea bloom at Glencairn Backyard. There’s a parade, race, film evening, cook-off, fireworks, dwell performances, and far more, together with youngsters’ actions like storytime and a teddy bear tea.
On the Seashore Bash occasion opening weekend, we grabbed a burger from a meals truck and browsed the makers’ market because the band performed throwback hits and youngsters danced on the grass. They also have a free youngsters’s coloring e book. Good vibes throughout.
The pageant is a should should you’re on the town in April.
For Independence Day, Rock Hill hosts the Purple, White & BOOM downtown, full with free inflatables and fireworks. When the climate turns — if not cool, no less than milder — rejoice autumn on the Fort Mill Fall Pageant with music, science, nontraditional scarecrows, face portray, trick-or-treating, hay bale maze, and extra.
Bonus: Visiting Rock Hill in December? Learn my assessment of their completely huge vacation pageant, ChristmasVille.
Landsford Canal State Park
From mid-Could to mid-June, Landsford Canal State Park is suffused with stunning blooms thriving within the fast-moving waters of the Catawba River. That is the rocky shoals spider lily, and the park is dwelling to the most important focus of this flower on the planet. One of the best ways to see it? By kayak.
We signed up for a tour with NC Outside Adventures that took us paddling by means of the lily-covered shoals. You begin within the open river, getting your bearings within the inflatable kayak. The useful guides share navigation ideas and may nudge you alongside should you get caught on a rock within the shallows. No kayaking expertise is required. Children as younger as 5 are welcome, and older youngsters can paddle their very own boat.
The magic occurs as you observe your information by means of the mild rapids, after which abruptly, you’re there, surrounded by lilies. You may get out of your boat and stroll amongst them because the information tells you extra about this uncommon flower. Then you definitely proceed winding your approach by means of the maze of lilies, simply absorbing this pure spectacle. It’s a bucket checklist expertise.
NCOA proprietor Christy Thrift agrees. “Paddling by means of a maze of lilies so far as the eyes can see is really a singular, one-of-a-kind journey!” she says. Of the 20-plus tour choices they provide, the spider lily paddle (now in its thirteenth 12 months) is her favourite.
They run a number of excursions each day on the weekends, and I extremely advocate reserving as quickly as doable if you wish to go this 12 months. To see how the lilies are faring, examine the park’s lily watch webpage.
For those who favor to remain on land, there’s a 1.5-mile Canal Path that results in a viewing platform overlooking the lilies. The path follows the historic canal, with remnants of Nineteenth-century stonework alongside the best way. It’s a simple hike for all ages and delightful in any season.
Bush-N-Vine
There’s normally one expertise on a visit that surprises me by how a lot enjoyable I’ve. This time, it was our morning go to to Bush-N-Vine.
The household farm grows round 65 fruits and veggies, which you will discover of their retailer together with souvenirs like jams and recipe books. You may simply spend a pair hours right here, letting the children play within the sandbox and on the swings or grabbing lunch of their cafe to take pleasure in on one of many many picnic tables. They serve unbelievable strawberry ice cream that’s simply price a visit to York County by itself.
Strawberry season actually is a good time to go. They harvest these plump crimson berries from October to early July with u-pick working from April by means of Mom’s Day, climate dependent. In the summertime, you may choose your individual blueberries and blackberries (June) and peaches (July). Within the fall, it’s pecans.
Outdated City Rock Hill
There’s tons to do in Outdated City. I like to recommend a cease on the Middle for the Arts, just a few household selfies in entrance of the numerous murals, and looking the too cute wares inside The Mercantile.
One must-see is the free “Jail, No Bail” exhibit, which tells the story of the Friendship 9, a gaggle of Black males arrested after a sit-in protest at a segregated Rock Hill five-and-dime. It’s a transferring, heart-wrenching, however in the end uplifting saga.
Yow will discover the indoor exhibit proper subsequent to Kounter, a restaurant that includes the unique counter the place the Friendship 9 sat — learn extra about Kounter under.
After absorbing the exhibit, wander down Important Road for extra buying or simply to admire the historic structure. Households visiting on Saturdays from Could to October ought to take a look at the farmers marketplace for native meals and artisan creations. Go to for a First Friday as we did and you’ll stumble into pop-up markets (as pictured above) with uncommon, eye-catching artwork.
Anne Springs Shut Greenway
Simply outdoors Fort Mill, the Anne Springs Shut Greenway provides households an opportunity to immerse themselves in nature with out venturing removed from city. I’ve visited the park twice. In December, it was quiet with skeletal timber and funky temps that turned out to be excellent as soon as we obtained climbing. Within the hotter months, it’s greener, bustling with guests, and the animals are extra energetic too.
Some 40 miles of trails crisscross this 2,100-acre protect. You’ll discover a swinging bridge, lakes and ponds, historic websites like log cabins and a grist mill, and a pure playground. We centered our go to across the Crandall Bowles Kids’s Farm this time, petting the goats, cows, alpacas, and llamas and admiring the horses and lovely rabbits. The farm is included along with your greenway admission, and this park is sufficiently big for a half- and even full-day journey should you’re up for it.
The place To Eat
So many good choices in York County! Hopefully, you didn’t miss the strawberry ice cream shoutout above for Bush N Vine. It’s top-of-the-line issues I’ve had right here.
For an upscale dinner with artistic small bites, I like to recommend FM Eatery. Listed here are just a few extra locations we love.
Breakfast
Flipside Restaurant deserves a leisurely brunch. Go fancy with a lobster omelet or indulgent with the fried hen and waffle. Their biscuit board is a good way to pattern just a few of their common biscuits and toppings. Get one for the desk.
There are additionally loads of aspect choices if you wish to assemble your individual breakfast from sausage, egg, or what have you ever.
We liked the prime rib, completely cooked and moist, and the fruit on the aspect was tremendous contemporary. I additionally loved my eggs benedict with glorious smoked bacon and asparagus. I splurged on a dessert of orange creamsicle creme brulee with vanilla chantilly cream, by some means decadent however not too candy. I used to be tempted by the hummingbird cake, however we’ll need to return!
Lunch
After we completed our kayaking journey on Saturday, we had been ravenous. The sort of hungry the place solely a plate of meat will do. And so we slid right into a desk at The Improper Pig.
This restaurant in walkable downtown Fort Mill serves smoked meats (hen, pork, andouille sausage, and brisket) plus burgers, ribs, steak, wings, and extra. There are additionally nice choices for vegans, together with smoked tofu and a portobello sandwich.
I began off with a mocktail mule of raspberry, citrus, and ginger beer that complemented the barbecue properly. Then we ordered a platter of sausage and pork, experimenting with the half dozen sauces on the desk to dip and slather at will. The creamy macaroni and cheese, a premium aspect, was definitely worth the improve, and the token hush pet that got here with our platter was so good, we ordered a aspect of them.
One of many good issues about The Improper Pig is the menu’s selection. My husband is extra the barbecue connoisseur, however I needed one thing gentle, and so they have an important salad lineup. I ordered ahi tuna salad, which was lots filling, and so they even have salmon and mahi-mahi.
However there are some eating places the place you end with a dessert that outshines all that got here earlier than. And so it was at The Improper Pig. The banana pudding was large and scrumptious, however the cobbler of the month was perfection: stewed strawberries topped with a thick, cookie-like crust below a scoop of ice cream and served heat in a forged iron skillet. It’s sufficiently big to share.
Dinner
Positioned within the constructing that made historical past in 1961 with the Friendship 9 (see above), Kounter Eating preserves its previous whereas getting artistic with its culinary future. The delicacies is tough to pin down — I’d say New American with some Southern and worldwide influences.
Assume bourbon BBQ nachos, tuna poke, and lobster gnocchi. I loved the seared scallops with candied bacon jam and a aspect of parmesan creamed corn — each beautiful — and the somewhat fancy whipped key lime made for a candy however not too wealthy end. They do have ice cream Cheerwine floats, a Carolinas basic, so I like to recommend that should you haven’t tried it.
The vibe is upscale informal, with a concentrate on artistic dishes and a stable cocktail menu plus beer and wine. Their location downtown is handy whether or not you’re visiting for a pageant or simply window buying.
Native tip: Additionally they have a newly opened speakeasy.
The place We Stayed
We obtained the perfect of each worlds and skilled a lodge in Rock Hill and Fort Mill.
Staybridge Suites in Rock Hill was our dwelling away from dwelling in the course of the Come-See-Me Pageant.
With full suites, it actually was like dwelling. Having a kitchen was helpful so we may wash our strawberries and use the paring knife to skim off the leaves. The room had a glossy, fashionable rest room and cozy beds with loads of lighting. I might have barely most popular a bedside desk on each side, however I did admire the a number of shops shut at hand for charging all our units.
Breakfast was complimentary, which we at all times admire. The buffet-style providing had good selection, together with wholesome choices like oatmeal, hard-boiled eggs, and fruit in addition to the standard cereal, scrambled eggs omelets, sausage, waffles, muffins, and extra. It’s a handy technique to feed the entire household earlier than you begin your day of sightseeing.
Cambria Resort Fort Mill felt extra upscale with stylish room furnishings, exhausting flooring, an extremely fashionable rest room, and a placing uncovered brick wall. However, after all, breakfast wasn’t included as is normally the case with greater tier motels. What you may’t see within the picture above is the microwave and fridge, each of which got here in helpful.
We additionally used the health club, which was fairly good with a view onto the pool.
Each motels had been nice, and I might keep at both once more once I go to York County — which hopefully might be quickly!
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