Steed’s Dairy Farm– two weekends left in the season!!

WHO:  Everyone!!

WHAT:  A working dairy farm that is open to visitors, providing a wide variety of outdoor fun.

WHEN:  The farm is only open to the public on weekends (weekdays are for school field trips only).  Saturdays 10am – 10pm; Sundays 1pm-7pm.  Open through November 17th.

WHERE:  4634 Wrightsboro Road, Grovetown, Georgia  30813 (only 15 minutes from West Augusta).

WHY WE LIKE IT:  You may have noticed that there is a LOT of fun to be had at this dairy farm!  Today was the second time I have been there on a field trip with one of my kids, and my family has also gone together on a weekend.  The kids are entertained from the minute you enter the gate, with a bean bag toss, lasso game and pumpkin patch.  From there, the activities at Steed’s seem endless, including a mini-barnyard (horses, calves, pigs, chickens and goats) and cow milking demonstrations; a large playground with giant slides, fun play structures, a zipline, a giant jumping pillow, and corn boxes; a large corn maze (we got lost!); and hayrides around the farm’s property.  The kids love that there are so many exciting things to do, and I love that they are outside and learning about the workings of the dairy farm while we’re there.  A visit to Steed’s Dairy Farm is definitely one of our family’s favorite fall activities in this area!

HOW:  Admission is $10/ person ($8 for seniors, military, and groups); kids 2 and under free.  Full information is on their website: http://www.steedsdairy.com/index.html

Giant slide

View of playground with pasture beyond

Barnyard

Bean bag toss

Playgrounds: Church-affiliated playgrounds in West Augusta

WHO:  Toddlers to kids aged 10

WHAT:  In addition to plenty of city and county parks and playgrounds, the Augusta area is also full of great playgrounds that are run by churches but open to the general public.  This abundance of playgrounds is largely a result of the great number of “Children’s Morning Out” and preschool programs that are run by local churches.

WHEN:  Because these programs utilize the playgrounds, most of them are closed to the public during CMO, preschool, and Sunday school hours (typically from about 9am to 1pm on weekdays and Sundays during the school year).  This means that they are usually open after about 1pm on weekdays/Sundays, and all day Saturday.

WHERE:  My family’s vote for the best of West Augusta’s church-affiliated playgrounds is, hands-down, the playground at Covenant Presbyterian Church, on the corner of Aumond Road and Walton Way.  (3131 Walton Way  Augusta, GA 30909)

WHY WE LIKE IT:  There are so many things to love about this playground:  there are play structures for both toddlers and bigger kids; a great variety of structures (climbing/sliding/tunnel structures, as well as riding toys, monkey bars, and two swing sets); two very large sandboxes with sand toys; numerous picnic tables and benches; tons of shade from the trees and large umbrellas over the sandboxes.  Also, I love that the playground is fenced in, so I don’t have to worry as much about a wandering child.  But for me personally, the true icing on the cake for this playground is that, on a nice day, it is almost always a bustling place, and I love meeting and chatting with various parents while my kids have plenty of little buddies to run around with… a true pick-me-up for parents and children alike!

HOW:  Just show up and play!

RUNNERS UP FOR BEST CHURCH-AFFILIATED PLAYGROUND:  The playgrounds at Reid Memorial Presbyterian Church (2261 Walton Way, Augusta, GA 30904) and Trinity on the Hill UMC (1330 Monte Sano Ave., Augusta, GA 30904) are also big hits with my boys.  Both of these playgrounds are fenced and offer a variety of play structures as well, though I would guess that they do not hold much appeal to kids over the age of 7 or so.

View of smaller slide structure and one of the sandboxes

View of bigger slide structure, monkey bars, and swings

Evans Towne Center Park

WHO:  Everyone

WHAT:  A park complex including a large playground, picnic shelter, water feature, walking track, and of course the large Lady Antebellum amphitheater.

WHEN:  I have been unable to locate official park hours (please let me know in the comments if you have info on this!), but I’m assuming the hours would be dawn to dusk.

WHERE:  7016 Evans Towne Center, Evans, GA.  At the corner of Evans Towne Center and Ronald Reagan Dr., across the street from the courthouse and library.

WHY WE LIKE IT:  The playground at this park is definitely the most exciting playground for “older” kids that we have found in the area.  It is roughly divided into two sides, one for toddlers and the other for ages 5 to 12.  The side for the older crowd easily pleases kids all the way up to age 12 (unlike many other playgrounds that give the same age range but provide little entertainment for the older set).  This side consists of a HUGE climbing structure with really high, curvy tube slides, a “zip-line-esque” monkey bar set, rope climbing structure, and more.  The toddler side consists of a smaller-scale climbing/slide structure, music making area, and bouncy rides.  My boys can entertain themselves for a looooong time at this park.  The water feature and the walking/biking track offer additional possibilities, and the location of the shaded picnic area adjacent to the playground makes it easy to snack or lunch there, and watch your kids from the shade (which I did in order to nurse the youngest).  The only two drawbacks to this playground are 1. the complete lack of shade in the playground itself (it is very hot on a sunny day, and you have to bring plenty of sunscreen!) and 2. the lack of a physical barrier between the toddler section and older kids section.  This was a problem for me particularly last summer, when I had a 5-year-old who was able to play on the larger structure but still needed some help, and a 2-year-old who wanted to play on the larger structure but really couldn’t.  The younger fellow ended up taking a fall from quite high up while I was busy with his brother, and after that I only took them there if I had another adult with me.  This year, however, with the 6-year-old fully capable of climbing the larger structure without a problem and the 3-year-old better able to keep up, we’ve been able to really enjoy the playground again.

HOW:  Just show up and play!  There are also lots of great outdoor concerts held at the amphitheater, so be sure to check out their calendar as well: http://evanstownecenterpark.com/

* My apologies for these pictures taken from my sad, ancient flip phone.  My camera is broken and I’m in the process of trying to finally upgrade to a phone from this century, so hopefully I’ll soon be able to replace these with better shots! 🙂

View of the playground from the picnic shelter

Inside the larger climbing structure

Library Resources: Part 3: FREE ticket to a Braves game!!

Here’s another awesome program through the Georgia public libraries  this summer… The Atlanta Braves Summer Reading Program.  Kids going into grades K through 12 can receive a code to redeem a FREE ticket to an Atlanta Braves game by reading a book on sports and/or sportsmanship and then filling out a related online activity on the programs website.  For more details, see their site: https://secure.mlb.com/atl/community/reading_program.jsp

Richmond & Columbia County Park Locators

Could it be that we actually have some DRY weather in the forecast??  Finally time to hit the playgrounds again!  And with these park locator maps, it couldn’t be easier to explore some new parks in your area.  So get out there and enjoy this weather while you can!

Richmond County:  http://appweb.augustaga.gov/maps/parks.asp

Columbia County:  http://www.columbiacountyga.gov/Index.aspx?page=4201

Pendleton King Park

WHO:  Everyone!

WHAT:  A 64-acre park  and bird sanctuary including two playgrounds, an arboretum, hydrangea and camellia gardens, a small lake, wetland trails, a disc golf course, and a dog park.

WHEN:  Park hours are 8am-8pm (8am-6pm Sundays and everyday in the winter).

WHERE:  1600 Troupe St  Augusta, GA 30904.  Turn south onto Troupe St. from Central Ave. or Wrightsboro Rd.

WHY WE LIKE IT:  Besides being a piece of Augusta history (see their weblink below), there is a lot to do in this extensive park: once you enter the park, up ahead on the right there are two side-by-side playground areas, one most suitable for toddlers/preschooler and another for the school-age crowd (although my 3 and 6 year olds enjoy both of them).  The play area designed for smaller children is special needs-friendly.  To the side of that play area, there is a musical structure– basically several over-sized xylophone-type instruments.  Sadly, the attached mallets keep disappearing, so they aren’t very functional, though my boys will usually pick up sticks and bang out some tunes anyway.  There are restroom facilities beside the playgrounds, as well as several picnic tables in shaded areas.  The extensive hydrangea gardens to your right as you enter the park and head towards the play areas are also worth checking out, as is the arboretum on the left (for those bringing a four-legged friend, the dog park is right at the entrance, immediately before you pass the arboretum).  If you walk around the parking lot from the playgrounds (past the rather down-on-their-luck tennis courts), you’ll come to Lake Elizabeth, a small lake where you can often find ducks to feed.  Beyond the lake is a wetlands trail which we have not yet had time to explore, but it is on our list!  A kiosk near that far side of the parking lot features a guide to the trail and the wildlife you may encounter there.  Behind this kiosk is something a bit random:  an old military tank that was donated by Fort Gordon to the park in the 1950s.  This is of course a big hit with my boys, as there is a ladder they can climb to get on the top of the tank.  Be sure to accompany any small children who wish to climb, however, as the surface is fairly slick and unprotected from potential falls.  There is also a fairly new disc golf course at the park which may be of interest to older children and adults who enjoy the sport.  The advantages of this park are the beauty of the setting, its extensiveness and variety, and the abundance of shade.  The main drawback is that the play equipment could be better maintained, as well as the lake, which looked fairly polluted when we visited a few weeks ago.  I’m going to try to get in touch with the parks and rec people about these issues.

HOW:  Tons of information on the park, including its interesting history and maps can be found on this website:

http://www.pendletonkingpark.com/

Hydrangea Garden view

Lake Elizabeth

Playgrounds (younger area on the left, older kids area on the right)

Savannah Rapids Park & Pavilion

WHO:  Everyone!

WHAT:  A 33-acre park along the Augusta Canal and Savannah River, featuring a walking/biking trail, waterfall, up-close view of the canal’s lock and dam, picnic pavilions, playground, kayak and bicycle rentals.  Aside from being a popular area to explore on an ordinary day, the pavilions are also very popular venues for outdoor wedding receptions.

WHEN:  Park hours are dawn to dusk.

WHERE:  3300 Evans to Locks Road, Martinez, Georgia 30907.  In Columbia County; easy to reach by taking either Furys Ferry Road or Stevens Creek Road to Evans to Locks Road.

WHY WE LIKE IT:  We love this place!  Any time we are looking for an easy, fun outdoor activity for the whole family, Savannah Rapids Park is one of our top picks.  By crossing the canal at the lock and dam and again at the pedestrian bridge, you can make a great short walk for adults and little ones alike.  Our boys like to bring their bikes or scooters; the packed dirt trail is equally easy to navigate with any kind of stroller.  (For the more ambitious, it is possible to follow the trail along the canal for a full 7.5 miles and end up in downtown Augusta!)  Highlights for our boys are the view of the water coming over the dam on the river (especially neat to see following a period of heavy rains like we’ve been having recently) and the Reed Creek Waterfall (adjacent to the pedestrian bridge on the parking lot side).  There is also a small playground that is a fun spot to hit if the little guys have any energy left after walking/riding the trail (be warned that there is no shade there, in contrast to the pleasantly shaded walking trail).  Once the kids are older, we plan on taking advantage of the kayak rentals there.  They also rent bicycles (though none for small munchkins).  Amenities include restrooms and water fountains, and of course several large picnic pavilions with grills that are often rented for weddings and family reunions.  Check out this great scenic area and let your kids have fun trying to spot alligators in the canal (we haven’t seen any yet, but the signs at the park tell us they are there!!).

HOW:  More information on the park and pavilions can be found on the following websites:

http://www.columbiacountyga.gov/index.aspx?page=4063

http://www.columbiacountyga.gov/index.aspx?page=2422

Kayaks on the river as seen from the trail

Water coming over the dam as seen from the trail

The pedestrian bridge across the canal

Reed Creek Waterfall

Phinizy Swamp Nature Park

WHO:  Everyone!!

WHAT:  I’m cheating this time, as I couldn’t describe the park any better than their website does.  Here is what it says: “Located on 1100 acres and just minutes from downtown Augusta, Phinizy Swamp Nature Park offers visitors the chance to see blue heron, red-shouldered hawk, otter, alligator and the elusive bobcat in their natural settings.“

WHEN:  The nature park is open every day, dawn to dusk.  The Visitors Center is open Saturdays and Sundays, 9-5.  The first Saturday of every month is “Swamp Saturday”, featuring a free guided tour that begins at 9:30 and last 1 1/2 hours (covering a 2.5 mile trail).

WHERE:  Next to the Augusta Airport.  Coming from downtown Augusta or Bobby Jones Expressway, turn left onto Lock & Dam Road.

WHY WE LIKE IT:  Some of the best natural scenery in the area!  I absolutely love Spanish moss, and there is Spanish moss galore at Phinizy.  The swamp itself is beautiful, and then there is the bonus of catching sight of some interesting wildlife while you’re there (of particular interest to the kids).  My family also enjoys the fact that there are many different trails and combinations of trails, so depending on how much time you want to spend exploring, you can choose one as short as 50 feet or as long as 2+ miles.  The Visitors Center also has a wildlife diorama that the kids find interesting, and they plan on adding more educational exhibits there over time.  This is the perfect place for a low-key yet stunning family nature hike!

HOW:  More information on the park, including detailed directions, as well as descriptions of the various trails and educational programs offered, can be found on their website: http://www.naturalsciencesacademy.org/PhinizySwamp.htm

Riverbanks Zoo and Garden

WHO: Absolutely everyone!

WHAT:  A traditional zoo paired with an extensive botanical garden.

WHEN:  Open 9am-5pm (extended weekend hours until 6pm from March 29th to Sept. 29th).

WHERE:  500 Wildlife Parkway, Columbia, SC 29210: super-easy to get to from Augusta taking I-20 East to I-126 East (exit at Greystone Blvd.).  Botanical garden entrance is at 1300 Botanical Parkway, West Columbia, SC 29169 (just off SC Highway 378 at I-20 and I-26), across the river from the zoo.  It takes about an hour to get there (without traffic).

WHY WE LIKE IT:  Who doesn’t love a great zoo?!  This zoo is extremely family-friendly. The exhibits are spacious, but the animals are close enough to give even the smallest kids a really good view of them.  There are programs scheduled throughout the day, so it is easy to catch a feeding or presentation without having to plan it in advance. There are very nice cafes located around the park; we ate at Kenya Cafe and the food was really tasty and reasonably priced (my husband and I got the chicken fingers and fries, which was surprisingly good, and the boys had hotdogs); however, we realized after we got there that you are allowed to bring in coolers with food and drinks, so we will probably bring a lunch sometimes.  I also loved the set-up: tons of shade (in my opinion, a necessity for any zoo on a hot summer day) and benches absolutely everywhere, which made it very easy to stop and nurse my fourth-month-old in peace while the boys enjoyed the exhibits.  An addition bonus is a small train that runs through the farm animal exhibit… my boys are train-crazy, so that was a big win.  (Be aware that tickets to the train cost $2.)

HOW: Tickets are $11.75/adult and $9.25/child (under 3 free).  You can buy then ahead of time online and skip the ticket line when you get there (we went on a holiday weekend, so that line was looong).  You can also skip the lines and go right in if you have a membership.  At $79 for a basic family membership (includes entry for all family members for a year, a number of free guest passes, entry to members-only nights at the park and eventss, and a subscription to the zoo’s magazine), a family of four will save money by getting a membership even if they only go to the zoo twice… great deal!  To buy tickets online, go here: http://www.riverbanks.org/etickets/

For more info on memberships, go here:  http://www.riverbanks.org/membership/

And for the zoo’s main website, go here: http://www.riverbanks.org/membership/

Brookfield Park

WHO:  Play areas for children; picnic areas and walking trails for all ages.

WHAT:  We finally checked this park out and it is now an official favorite of my boys.  This park has it all!   There are two play equipment areas, one designed for smaller kids (toddlers to preschool) and one for the slightly older crowd (preschool to school age); three (yes, THREE) picnic table pavilions; a splash pad; a putting green; a 1/3 mile walking trail; and restrooms/water fountain.

WHEN:  Open dawn to dusk.

WHERE:  2740 Mayo Road, Augusta, 30907.  Easily accessible from Riverwatch Parkway, Furys Ferry Rd., or Stevens Creek Rd.

WHY WE LIKE IT:  As I mentioned, this park truly has something for everyone… and enough variety to keep my kids entertained for hours.  In addition to the traditional equipment with slides, climbing, and swings, my boys LOVE bringing their golf clubs and balls to “practice” on the putting green (a large astroturf area  with practice holes), and their swimsuits for splashing around in the water feature.  It’s also a great playground for a picnic lunch because of the abundance of shaded tables.  The only drawback is that there is not a lot of shade, so it’s best to go on an overcast day or during the hours of day when the sun is not as strong.

HOW: This is a simple one… just come on out and PLAY!

Play area for younger kids

View of the open field area with water feature in background

Practicing his putting game