Searching for a enjoyable, straightforward highway journey with children 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 incredible place to decelerate, discover the outside, and eat effectively 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 most effective time to go to Glencairn Backyard. You’ll be able to see 1000’s of azaleas in a variety of colours completely begging for a household portrait. It’s spectacular.
However if you happen to don’t occur to be right here in spring, there’s nonetheless loads to see. In winter, admire the camellias; in early spring, daffodils; in summer time, crape myrtle and daylilies; in fall, sasanquas and pansies.
The paved paths are stroller pleasant, and the various 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, reside performances, and far more, together with children’ 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 children danced on the grass. They actually have a free youngsters’s coloring ebook. Good vibes throughout.
The competition is a should if you happen to’re on the town in April.
For Independence Day, Rock Hill hosts the Pink, White & BOOM downtown, full with free inflatables and fireworks. When the climate turns — if not cool, at the least milder — have a good time 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 large vacation competition, ChristmasVille.
Landsford Canal State Park
From mid-Might 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 house to the biggest focus of this flower on the earth. The easiest way to see it? By kayak.
We signed up for a tour with NC Out of doors 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 if you happen to get caught on a rock within the shallows. No kayaking expertise is required. Children as younger as 5 are welcome, and older children can paddle their very own boat.
The magic occurs as you observe your information by means of the mild rapids, after which immediately, you’re there, surrounded by lilies. You will get out of your boat and stroll amongst them because the information tells you extra about this uncommon flower. You then proceed winding your approach by means of the maze of lilies, simply absorbing this pure spectacle. It’s a bucket listing expertise.
NCOA proprietor Christy Thrift agrees. “Paddling by means of a maze of lilies so far as the eyes can see is really a novel, one-of-a-kind journey!” she says. Of the 20-plus tour choices they provide, the spider lily paddle (now in its thirteenth yr) is her favourite.
They run a number of excursions every day on the weekends, and I extremely advocate reserving as quickly as attainable if you wish to go this yr. To see how the lilies are faring, verify the park’s lily watch webpage.
If you happen to want 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’ll be able to 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 get pleasure from on one of many many picnic tables. They serve unimaginable strawberry ice cream that’s simply value a visit to York County by itself.
Strawberry season actually is a superb time to go. They harvest these plump purple berries from October to early July with u-pick working from April by means of Mom’s Day, climate dependent. In the summertime, you possibly can decide your personal blueberries and blackberries (June) and peaches (July). Within the fall, it’s pecans.
Previous City Rock Hill
There’s tons to do in Previous City. I like to recommend a cease on the Heart for the Arts, a number of household selfies in entrance of the various 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 bunch of Black males arrested after a sit-in protest at a segregated Rock Hill five-and-dime. It’s a shifting, heart-wrenching, however finally uplifting saga.
You 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 beneath.
After absorbing the exhibit, wander down Fundamental Road for extra buying or simply to admire the historic structure. Households visiting on Saturdays from Might 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 exterior 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 lively 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 targeted our go to across the Crandall Bowles Kids’s Farm this time, petting the goats, cows, alpacas, and llamas and admiring the horses and lovable rabbits. The farm is included along with your greenway admission, and this park is large enough for a half- and even full-day journey if you happen to’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 the most effective issues I’ve had right here.
For an upscale dinner with inventive small bites, I like to recommend FM Eatery. Listed here are a number of 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 an effective way to pattern a number of of their well-liked biscuits and toppings. Get one for the desk.
There are additionally loads of aspect choices if you wish to assemble your personal 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 recent. 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 type 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 well 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 mild, they usually have an incredible salad lineup. I ordered ahi tuna salad, which was loads filling, they usually 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 big 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 large enough to share.
Dinner
Situated within the constructing that made historical past in 1961 with the Friendship 9 (see above), Kounter Eating preserves its previous whereas getting inventive with its culinary future. The delicacies is difficult 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 fairly 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 if you happen to haven’t tried it.
The vibe is upscale informal, with a give attention to inventive dishes and a stable cocktail menu plus beer and wine. Their location downtown is handy whether or not you’re visiting for a competition or simply window buying.
Native tip: In addition they have a newly opened speakeasy.
The place We Stayed
We obtained the most effective of each worlds and skilled a resort in Rock Hill and Fort Mill.
Staybridge Suites in Rock Hill was our house away from house through the Come-See-Me Pageant.
With full suites, it actually was like house. Having a kitchen was useful so we might wash our strawberries and use the paring knife to skim off the leaves. The room had a modern, trendy toilet and cozy beds with loads of lighting. I might have barely most well-liked 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 same old 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, arduous flooring, an extremely trendy toilet, and a placing uncovered brick wall. However, after all, breakfast wasn’t included as is normally the case with increased tier resorts. What you possibly can’t see within the photograph above is the microwave and fridge, each of which got here in useful.
We additionally used the gymnasium, which was fairly good with a view onto the pool.
Each resorts had been nice, and I might keep at both once more once I go to York County — which hopefully will likely be quickly!
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