June
in Greenville brings the start of summer vacation, with plenty of festivals,
programs and adventures to keep the kids busy and the parents from losing their
cool. Here are a few things that we’re looking forward to…
1.
Butterfly Adventure at Roper Mountain Science Center. The live butterfly
exhibit is returning for the second year in a row, bringing an up-close
experience with hundreds of butterflies in the RMSC greenhouse. The exhibit was
opened yesterday and will run through July 7th – and it’s free for
RMSC members! For my review, please visit my post A butterfly adventure, and for more on hours and for tickets visit the RMSC website.
2. Now
that the hot weather is here to stay we’ll be heading to Long Shoals Wayside
Park for some fun in the water! As it runs down a smooth slab of algae-covered
rock, Little Eastatoe Creek provides a gentle water slide that ends in a plunge
into a shallow pool at the base. Read more about the park and the natural water
slide in my post A waterslide at Long Shoals Wayside Park.
3.
Another hot weather favorite is a trip to Stumphouse Tunnel. The interior stays
cool even in the hottest summer days, and the chance to use headlamps and
splash around in a ‘cave’ brings excitement to those seemingly endless days.
For everything you need to know about the tunnel and nearby waterfalls read my
post Issaqueena Falls and Stumphouse Tunnel, and if you’re in the mood to try the blue cheese that was once produced in the tunnel, stop by Clemson and the ’55 Exchange
on the way home.
4.
Summer solstice, the longest day of the year, falls on Wednesday, June 21st
this year. This is an important holiday for Latvians, and we’ll be celebrating
with the local Latvian community with a bonfire, flower wreaths, cheese tying
and a feast of Latvian proportions! Want to know more about Jāņi, the Latvian celebration?
Jāņi Chatenet –
A glance at celebrating in France
Līst kā pa Jāņiem – why it always rains on
Jāņi.
And
also important, a list of the stores in the area that carry European
foodstuffs!
5. Looking
for some summer fun that has an educational aspect mixed in to keep those
little minds sharp through the coming months? You might want to try one of the
many educational programs at the County and State Parks in our area. One of our
favorites is the Paris Mountain Ranger-led Creek hike, where the kids get to explore a creek ecosystem and then take
their catch back to take an up close look under the park microscope. Programs offered this month include National Trails Day Celebrations at Croft, Jones Gap and Table Rock State Parks, Frontier
Encampment at Oconee Station State Historic Site, a Twilight Paddle at Chester
State Park and Lessons from Nature at Paris Mountain. See SC State Parks website for full schedule.
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