Hey Palmetto Parents,

The first real hints of fall are finally showing up around Charleston. It may still feel like summer by lunchtime, but those cooler mornings and evenings are making it a little easier to say yes to getting outside.

This week, we’re highlighting Fort Pemberton Park, a brand-new waterfront park on James Island that is perfect for a stroller walk, a morning jog or just a quiet stroll along the marsh after school drop-off. Plus, we’ve rounded up some of the best family-friendly things happening around Charleston this weekend, from Repticon at Exchange Park to the MOJA Arts Festival and the start of fall festivities around town.

For our restuarant this week we’re talking about taking the kids to Middleton Place for a fancy lunch, it can be a fun special outing with your kids or saved for a date night.

And because parenting is nothing if not humbling, we’re also getting a little more honest this week. In a judgment-free corner of the newsletter, the time I lied to my kids about their mac and cheese. Basically if you have ever felt bad about your parenting decisions you are not alone! No judgment here.

Have the best week!

Happy first day of fall! Although it may not exactly feel like fall by midday in Charleston, the mornings and evenings are finally starting to get a little cooler, which means it’s the perfect time to get outside for a long walk.

After you drop the kids off at school, pull out the jogging stroller and head to Fort Pemberton Park on James Island. This brand-new 8.7-acre waterfront park sits along the Stono River in Riverland Terrace, with winding walking paths and beautiful views of the Lowcountry marsh.

It’s exactly the kind of place I love for a weekday morning. You don’t have to pack snacks for six people, plan an elaborate outing or convince everyone to put on shoes. Just grab your coffee, buckle the baby into the stroller and go.

The park follows the waterfront and gives you plenty of opportunities to slow down and take in the marsh, river and surrounding wildlife. You might even spot an eagle, wood stork, fox or armadillo while you’re out.

And there’s a little history here, too. Fort Pemberton was a Civil War-era earthwork fort built in 1861 to help protect Wappoo Creek. The property eventually became farmland and private property before being transformed into this new public park.

If you want to make it more of a family outing later, there’s also a fishing dock, kayak launch and shaded picnic shelter. So while I’m recommending this one primarily as a peaceful post-drop-off walk, you can absolutely bring the kids back another day.

There is parking on site, including ADA parking, and there are public restrooms, which is always worth mentioning when you’re recommending a walking spot to parents. The park also has ADA-accessible entrances to the historic fort area and waterfront portion. It’s open daily from dawn to dusk.

So while we may still be sweating through our “fall” clothes by 2pm, these cooler Charleston mornings are your sign to get outside. Drop the kids at school, put the baby in the stroller and take the long way around Fort Pemberton.

You’ll get your steps in, enjoy some beautiful Lowcountry scenery and maybe even have 45 minutes where nobody asks you for a snack.

It’s officially fall, and Charleston is easing into the season with pumpkins, reptiles, live theater, festivals and plenty of reasons to get the kids out of the house this weekend. Whether you want a big family outing or something simple to fill a Saturday morning, here are a few of our favorite things happening around Charleston this weekend.

REPTICON CHARLESTON
Saturday, September 26, 9am-4pm & Sunday, September 27, 10am-4pm | Exchange Park, Ladson

If you have a kid who thinks snakes are cool and you are the parent standing six feet behind them saying, “Absolutely not,” this one is for you. Repticon is coming to Exchange Park with reptiles and exotic animals, vendors and plenty of opportunities for kids to get an up-close look at some seriously fascinating creatures. It’s indoors, so you can enjoy the whole thing without worrying about the Charleston heat. Tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for kids ages 5–12, with children 4 and under free.

BOONE HALL PUMPKIN PATCH
Saturday & Sunday, 10 AM–7 PM | Boone Hall, Mount Pleasant

Pumpkin season has officially arrived! The Boone Hall Pumpkin Patch opens for the season this weekend, and 2026 marks the event’s 30th year. Admission includes the corn maze, family-friendly Halloween tractor tour, petting zoo, pig races, giant inflatables, rubber duck races, live entertainment, an interactive honeybee exhibit and more. Pumpkins are also available for purchase by the pound. Admission is $15 for ages 3 and up, while children 2 and under are free.

THE WIZARD OF OZ
Saturday & Sunday | Dock Street Theatre

This is your last weekend to follow the yellow brick road! The Wizard of Oz wraps up its Charleston run on Sunday, September 27. If your kids are old enough to sit through a full-length theater production, this is such a fun way to introduce them to live theater. And yes, we took our own kids, and even the younger ones made it through the whole show. The production is recommended for ages 3 and up.

WALK TO FIGHT HUNGER
Saturday, September 26, 10:30 AM–1:30 PM | Wannamaker Park

Looking for something active that also does some good? The Lowcountry Food Bank’s annual Walk to Fight Hunger takes place Saturday at Wannamaker Park. The family-friendly event includes a two-mile walk, educational signs along the route, vendors, snacks, a scavenger hunt and other activities. Registration is free, or you can register with a $25 donation and receive a commemorative T-shirt.

MOJA ARTS FESTIVAL
Saturday & Sunday | Various locations around Charleston

The annual MOJA Arts Festival is underway this weekend, celebrating Black arts, culture and heritage through music, visual arts, poetry and performances. Saturday’s schedule includes MOJA Arts Fitness and the New Jack Swing Concert, while Sunday brings the Gospel Extravaganza and other performances. The eight-day festival runs through October 1, so there are plenty of opportunities to check out different events throughout next week, too.

Whatever you choose, enjoy one of these first fall weekends before we blink and somehow it’s Halloween.

If you’re looking for somewhere a little more special to take the kids for lunch, put Middleton Place Restaurant on your list. The Restaurant at Middleton Place is a beautiful spot for a fancy Saturday or Sunday lunch, or even a weekday outing when you want to make an ordinary day feel a little more special.

The food is just as much a part of the experience. We started with the Caesar salad and pork belly appetizer, and both were amazing. For dinner, he had the ribeye with Yukon Gold mashed potatoes, while I had the vegetable risotto, and we shared everything. The food felt elevated without being overly fussy, and there are plenty of Southern-inspired dishes and familiar options to choose from.

The meals can feel a little pricey, but we think the experience is worth it. You’re not just going out to eat. Lunch and Sunday brunch also give you access to Middleton Place, where you can wander through the historic gardens, see the heritage animals and explore the property.

Bringing the kids? Bring the stroller! There is plenty of walking around the property, and a stroller will make things much easier if you have a toddler or little one along. Let them ride while you wander through the gardens and take in the Lowcountry scenery.

And here’s a tip if you think you’ll visit more than once: a Middleton Place membership gets you 10% off your meal at the restaurant for you and your guests, in addition to giving you access to all of the gardens and historic houses. If you’re local and plan to make Middleton Place a regular outing, that could make the membership worth considering.

And then save Middleton Place for date night, too. Dinner is Tuesday through Saturday, and afterward you can take an evening stroll through the property, surrounded by gardens, giant live oaks and Lowcountry scenery. It’s a particularly beautiful way to spend an evening when you want something that feels special without heading downtown.

Middleton Place is at 4300 Ashley River Road. Lunch is Monday through Saturday, and Sunday brunch is 11am to 3pm. Lunch and brunch require Middleton Place admission. Dinner is Tuesday through Saturday from 5 to 8:30pm and does not require general admission.

I have a stash of boxed mac & cheese in my pantry for those nights when dinner has completely fallen apart. You know the ones. Everyone is hungry, it’s already way too late, nothing is thawed, nothing is started and suddenly you’re considering whether cereal counts as dinner for the third night in a row.

A while back, I accidentally bought a bunch of boxes of protein and fiber-rich mac & cheese. I thought, “Hey, maybe I can sneak a little extra nutrition into the kids’ dinner.”

Wrong.

My kids took one bite and immediately protested. Apparently, they could taste the difference, and they made it very clear that they were never eating the protein mac & cheese again.

Fast forward to this past Sunday. We were way past dinner time. Nothing was planned. Nothing was started. And, of course, Chick-fil-A was closed because apparently they enjoy watching parents struggle on Sundays.

So I went to the pantry and saw the dreaded protein mac & cheese. At this point, I decided I was going to make it and simply not tell them what it was. As I was preparing it, one of my kids asked, “Is this the healthy kind of mac & cheese or the regular kind?” Without even thinking, I said, “Regular.” I completely lied to my children. And you know what? They ate it.

Not only did they eat it, they loved it. No complaints. No suspicious looks. No “This tastes weird!” Just three kids happily eating their dinner while I stood there knowing that I had successfully pulled off the greatest parental deception of the week.

Was it technically dishonest? Yes.

Do I feel guilty? Not even a little bit.

Because sometimes, as a parent, you have to pick your battles. And if my children are happily eating a bowl of mac & cheese that happens to have extra protein and fiber in it, I have decided that this is one of those moments where I can live with a little white lie.

So if you’re picking and choosing your parenting battles, just like I did last Sunday, Palmetto Parents sees you and we’re not judging. Make the protein pasta, cross your fingers, and if your kids ask whether it’s the healthy kind, well… you didn’t hear it from us.

Have the best week!

Love, Jenna