Looking forward to picking a pumpkin at The Nix Pumpkin Patch in Hendersonville, NC? This u-pick pumpkin patch allows you to cut the pumpkin right off the vine. We visited The Nix Pumpkin Patch and had so much fun searching for the perfect pumpkin, visiting their market, drinking apple cider, and making a lot of memories!
The Pumpkin Patch is open from September 9th, 2023 until late November.
The Nix Pumpkin Patch is a family-owned and operated pick-your-own pumpkin patch. Situated amongst a plethora of orchards and farms, you’ll find one of the only u-pick patches in the Hendersonville area. There is just something about cutting your pumpkin right off that vine that makes it so much better!
Fall will be here before we know it and you may be planning an apple-picking trip with your family. Use these tips to make your apple-picking adventure a fun and memorable day for everyone!Let your expectations for “perfect” be low and your expectations for “enjoyable” be high.
Have you checked out Blackstock Battlefield in Enoree, SC? One of the benefits of living in South Carolina is the chance to bring history to life by visiting the hundreds of historical sites across the state. We’ve visited Musgrove Mill State Historic Site many times, as it covers all the bases for my kids: Revolutionary War battlefield to explore, Tyger River trail to hike, and Horseshoe Falls to cool down in. But did you know Musgrove Mill manages a second battlefield?
Located only 7 miles to the north, Blackstock Battlefield preserves the site of the Revolutionary War battle where the infamous British Lt. Col. Tarleton was foiled in his attempt to defeat Patriot Brig. Gen. Sumter in 1780. We recently received a tour of Blackstock Battlefield during the South Carolina 7 Wonders Expedition, and wanted to share with you more on this little-known historic site just 40 minutes from Spartanburg!
Revolutionary War Action
Some months after the Battle at Kings Mountain, Sumter had gathered troops in preparation to attack the British post at Ninety Six. The British summoned Tarleton from his pursuit of the “Swamp Fox” Marion down near the coast to intercept Sumter, and the British Lt. Col. managed to secretly cross the Broad with his feared Dragoons before a defector informed Sumter he was being pursued. Sumter chose to make a stand at Blackstock’s Plantation on the Tyger river as Tarleton raced towards his position with his cavalry and mounted infantry.
Historical Map of Blackstock Battlefiled
When the British caught up with Sumter, they were at a disadvantage; they had gotten ahead of their infantry and artillery in hopes of catching Sumter unawares, and instead were themselves caught in the open under heavy fire from the high ground. After suffering heavy losses and regrouping, Tarleton retreated to join his infantry and artillery – but without half of his men, who had been lost in the battle. Sumter was badly wounded, and was evacuated overnight. Tarleton pursued the Patriots for two more days, and although he claimed a victory for dispersing Sumter’s militia, it was a costly defeat for the British in that they lost numerous officers, horses, and equipment. The Battle of Blackstock’s was a precursor to the action later at Cowpens.
On Your Visit to Blackstock Battlefield
Directions: From Exit 44 on I-26, go east on SC Hwy 49 about 5.5 miles to the Blackstock’s Historical Marker. Turn left onto Blackstock’s Road, then go about 1.2 miles and turn right onto Monument Road. Continue until the pavement ends, and park in the parking area before the gate.
For the best vantage point of the battlefield, continue up the gravel road to Monument Hill. Standing with your back to the monument, Blackstock’s Ford of the Tyger River is down the hill to the right. The open meadow was much larger when the Blackstock family lived there, and the British would have come charging up the hill to meet the forces lined up along the top. On the far end of the meadow was where the house and barn were located.
Take a Hike
The parking area is also the trailhead for the Blackstock Battlefield Passage of the Palmetto Trail. This 1.6-mile loop descends to the Tyger River, and then follows the river for about ½ mile before climbing up to the battlefield. Skirting the edge of the open field, the trail re-enters the woods and returns to the parking area.
The SC Park Service asks that you remain on signed roads & trails while visiting the battlefield. Going off-trail can be hazardous, especially to children, as there are many deep holes from when the area was logged and the stumps were buried. On our visit, we also saw fire ants, bees, and snakes. Highlights of our hike included seeing an eastern box turtle, taking in the view from Monument Hill, and experiencing another piece of the Revolutionary War puzzle that we have been piecing together during our southeastern travels.
Things to do near Blackstock Battlefield
After hiking the Palmetto Trail Passage, my kiddos were more than happy to make the 15-minute drive to Horseshoe Falls, a small waterfall on a tributary of the Enoree River that is located in Musgrove Mill State Historic Site off Battlefield Trail. Just across the Enoree is the main portion of the State Park, including a Visitor Center and British Camp Trail. A little farther to the east is another State Historic Site, Rose Hill.
Just to the southeast is the Enoree Ranger District of Sumter National Forest. In addition to camping, cycling, OHV, fishing, horseback riding, and hunting, the Enoree is home to the Enoree Passage of the Palmetto Trail, with 36 continuous miles of trail linking Newberry, Laurens, and Union counties.
If you are headed north, towards Spartanburg, on your way home, you will pass near Glenn Springs, a small community with a lot of history, as well as by Croft State Park.
Musgrove Mill State Historic Site Admission to Musgrove Mill is $3 adults; $1.50 SC seniors; $1 children age 6-15; age 5 & younger free. Musgrove Mill is open 9 am to 6 pm daily.
Tallulah Gorge State Park is a natural wonder in Georgie that families will really enjoy. With gorgeous hiking, waterfalls, swimming holes, and more, the park is full of the stuff that amazing and memorable day trips are made of, so get packing. Kristina tells us all about how to enjoy this beautiful Georgia State Park, what to expect, and even where to grab something to eat.
Day Trip to Tallulah Gorge
It’s a day trip! Getting to Tallulah Gorge State Park, approximate driving time from:
Greenville, SC 90 minutes
Atlanta, GA 90 minutes
Columbia, SC just under 3 hours
Charlotte, NC 3 hours
Planning to stay awhile? If you’re planning a family vacation or weekend getaway, here’s where to stay near Tallulah Gorge State Park. Note: Kidding Around earns when you book through this link via an affiliate relationship with STAY22.
Have you been to SouthTown Wake Park? Summer adventures are calling us, and new and exciting things become harder to find towards the end of the season. We made a discovery in Rock Hill, SC, that will have you hopping in the car and making the trip to York County! SouthTown Wake Park has something to keep everyone entertained, no matter how adventurous you are!
Just about 90 minutes from here is one of my favorite day trip destinations. York County, South Carolina, has so many fun adventures to enjoy. My children and I have made countless trips and have yet to scrape the surface of possibilities. However, SouthTown Wake Park is worth the trip all on its own! This Aquapark has something for all adventure levels, so don’t worry if you don’t share the same enthusiasm for watersports with the rest of your family.
Wake-Boarding at SouthTown Wake Park
Traditionally wakeboarding consists of a boat pulling a rider around a body of water from a two rope, while they stand on a single ski. At SouthTown Wakepark riders are pulled around one of two lakes by a cable system. This activity is fun and in no time you can be zipping across the lake. SouthTown also offers wakeboarding if you have never done anything like this and want to ease into it.
The instructor will start you out on the straight cable, where there aren’t any features to complicate things. Here you will learn the basics and what to do if you let go of the cable system. Once you feel at ease, it’s on to the lake with the ramps and a cable system that loops the lake. Don’t worry, you won’t be jumping any features just yet, you’ll just work on holding on as that cable rounds the corner.
Wakeboarding is one of the fastest-growing extreme sports, and my son loved his time on the lake. He took to it and if we lived closer, he would be there every week.
$25 – 20-minute one-on-one coaching session (including rentals) on the training cable
$15 for rental of required gear (board, life vest and helmet)
The Floating Obstacle Course At SouthTown Wake Park
SouthTown also has a floating obstacle course for families to enjoy. This is a great activity to tire those kids out, as it takes a ton of energy to climb and jump over the obstacles. While you don’t need to be straight off the set of “American Ninja Warrior” to enjoy the course, I do caution you against participating if you have any back issues. While falling off the platform requires little effort, pulling yourself back up onto the platform requires a bit more muscle.
Ages 7+ and at least 48″ tall – 45 minutes session starts at $18 per person
For younger kids, and parents that aren’t into the excitement involved in the previously mentioned activities, SouthTown offers kayaking and paddleboarding. Parents can paddle across the lake with the younger kids, over to the floating obstacle course to wave hi! That way everyone gets some time out on the water. This is a great way to practice in a controlled environment if you are considering investing in paddlesports for your family (which we encourage!)
Dry Land Activities at SouthTown Wake Park
In addition to all of the fun on the water that is offered at SouthTown, they also have things that don’t require you to get wet. Land-lovers can enjoy a game of disc golf or cornhole. There are picnic tables to sit at and the pro-shop offers soft drinks and ice cream for sale.
The $64 First Time All Access Pass is the best deal for those new to wakeboarding and gets you everything you need for an entire day at SouthTown Wakepark!
a 20-minute one-on-one Getting Started Lesson on our training cable
2 hours of wakeboarding or kneeboarding on the main cable
Our complimentary fun at SouthTown Wake Park was arranged by Visit York County, all words and opinions of the writer are honest and genuine. All the info you need to make the most of a trip to York County, South Carolina can be found on Kidding Around!
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Are you planning a trip to Congaree National Park in Hopkins, SC? Whether you want to kayak, canoe or hike through the old-growth forest, Congaree National Park is a fabulous adventure. With unique hiking trails for all skill levels, plus so many natural features and animals to observe, there’s something for everyone at Congaree National Park.
Looking for a fun outing where you can enjoy the great outdoors and take in some history too? We’ve got just the place! Local mom Maria took her kids to Musgrove Mill Historic Site and is sharing her experience with us. This beautiful outdoor destination includes lots of territory to explore plus American history to share with your family.
On a hot, humid August day in 1780, 200 Patriot militia defeated over 500 Loyalist troops at the Battle of Musgrove Mill. Today you can visit the beautiful Musgrove Mill State Historic Site to walk the steps of those soldiers and militiamen. If you do, you’ll also enjoy a beautiful, wooded hike alongside a clear, clean creek and waterfall.
A Day at Musgrove Mill State Historic Site
You’ll want to begin your visit at the Visitor’s Center, where park rangers will play a short audio presentation about the battle, accompanied by a map with lighted markers, which will give your family a birds-eye view of the movement of both patriot and loyalist troops. Then you’ll need to choose to hike one of Musgrove Mill’s two trails. Will it be the one-mile hike to the loyalist camp along the Enoree River? Or will it be the 1.3-mile battlefield trail beginning at Horseshoe Falls along Cedar Shoals Creek? My family is studying the Revolutionary War this fall and have visited several Southern Campaign battlefields, so we decided to follow the battlefield trail. We were not disappointed!
Hikers will find the camp trail at the end of the Visitor Center parking lot, but if your family decides to visit the falls and the battlefield trail, you’ll need to get back in your car and drive about three miles to cross the Enoree River and get to the park’s other parking lot. The ranger at the Visitor Center will provide you with a map! You can also follow the road signs for Horseshoe Falls. When you arrive at the trailhead, you will find a gravel parking lot and sign, just before the metal bridge that crosses the creek.
The battlefield at Musgrove Mill
The battlefield trail begins with a couple of hundred yards of concrete, wheelchair-accessible trail that takes you to Horseshoe Falls. Hikers of the battlefield trail will continue on past the falls, where the trail is no longer paved. The battlefield trail is a 1.3-mile loop, with frequent signage that describes the backcountry’s roll in the Revolutionary War, the key players in the Battle of Musgrove Mill, and takes you to step by step through the battle. You’ll walk the soldiers’ path to the ridge where the outnumbered patriot militia waited to attack the loyalists. Of the Revolutionary War sites my family has visited, these signs were the easiest for my children to understand. My 8-year-old was able to read the majority of them aloud to the rest of us, and the pictures were clear and helpful. It was wonderful to gain a clear understanding and appreciation for what happened that day on the exact ridge upon which we stood.
The battlefield hike does have some hills, but our little group didn’t find it too difficult. My 5-year-old was able to hike it without any difficulty, and my 3-year-old needed a piggyback ride for just the last bit of the loop. For young children, a carrier backpack would be helpful.
On our hike back to the car, we stopped at Horseshoe Falls to enjoy the waterfall and have a snack before heading for home. The nature-loving, rock skipping, critter hunting little ones among you will love exploring the edge of the sandy pool at the bottom of the falls.
Musgrove Mill State Historic Site is located at 398 State Park Road in Clinton. The Horseshoe Falls and battlefield trail is open sunrise to sunset daily, and the gate to the visitor center and the camp trail is open 9 am – 6 pm daily. The visitor center is open 10 am – 5 pm Friday through Sunday, and other times depending on staff availability. (We went on a Monday morning and there were two very helpful staff members at the Visitor’s Center.) There is a small fee for admission since it is part of the SC State Park system (if you have an SC State Park pass, it’s free). You can find more information and directions here.
Curious to learn about the battle before you go? Check out this site, which gives an overview of the battle.
We hope you love your hike through a bit of American history. If you enjoy the trip, you’ll be happy to know that there are many state and national parks at the site of revolutionary war battles in the upstate and throughout South Carolina. You’ll find an excellent overview of the war in South Carolina, and links to sites you can visit today here.
Would your kids enjoy a historical field trip to Musgrove Mill State Historic Site?
