We hope you had a very merry Christmas! As we wrap up 2025, we wanted to share a round-up of some of this year’s highlights in Summerville—our favorite new activities, restaurant discoveries, and a few of the inspirational pieces that resonated most with us (and you!) along the way. Whether you’ve been reading since the beginning or just joined our community, we’re so glad you’re here.

In 2025, we wrote over 87,000 words to our Palmetto Parents community and more than doubled our subscribers—a milestone we’re incredibly grateful for. Thank you for reading, sharing, and being part of something that feels so special.

Here’s a little peek at what’s coming in 2026:

Wishing you a joyful end to 2025 and a Happy New Year filled with rest, laughter, and plenty of memory-making with your people. We can’t wait to keep growing with you in 2026!

Did you love receiving Palmetto Parents in 2025? For only $5/month (less than a cup of coffee!) you can become a Palmetto Parents Supporter, which will help keep this labor of love free forever. And for a limited time only, you’ll receive 50% off the Palmetto Parents Store when you become a Palmetto Parents Supporter!

When we travel to visit family in other places, we’re always reminded just how family-friendly our area really is. Summerville—and the surrounding Lowcountry—offers so many incredible ways to get out, explore, and make memories with our kids.

This past year brought some exciting new additions to town, and we wanted to highlight a few of our favorite 2025 Summerville family-friendly developments:

Pine Trace Park
One of the most exciting additions for our family was the long-awaited opening of Pine Trace Park. Years in the making, this new Dorchester County park has already become one of our favorite spots. We’ve used it for everything: letting the dog run at the dog park, weekday playdates at the playground, family picnics under the pavilions, fishing, and long walks around the pond. We’re still planning to try kayaking and a bit more walking on the trails, but we’re thrilled to have such a beautiful space so close to home. The $40/year Dorchester County Park family pass (which also gives access to Ashley River Park with its splash pad and zip line!) has been absolutely worth it for us.

Azalea Park Children’s Discovery Garden
Early in the year, Azalea Park added the magical Children’s Discovery Garden—a nature-focused, interactive space designed to spark curiosity and creativity. Built by Leadership Dorchester, the garden features musical instruments, a tree fort, sensory plants, spiral mosaic paths, an amphitheater, and playful touches like mushroom steppers and a giant climbing turtle. My sons love wandering through the park, spotting turtles in the pond and flowers in bloom, and now the Discovery Garden has made it even more fun to explore and play.

We Rock & Sip N’ Slide Play Cafe
Indoor play got a serious upgrade in 2025!

We Rock the Spectrum opened as an inclusive indoor gym for kids of all abilities, offering classes, special events, and even a Parents Night Out option that some of our friends have taken advantage of. Our boys love running around and getting their energy out in the best way possible.

And opening tomorrow, Sip N’ Slide Play Cafe is set to become a favorite hangout for parents and kids alike. Parents can enjoy locally roasted coffee and fresh-baked snacks while their little ones explore the play space. We’re especially excited about their co-working memberships, which include childcare while you work on site (I have a feeling a newsletter or two will be written from there!).

We’d love to hear from you! What were your favorite Summerville additions in 2025? Hit reply and let us know—we’re always looking for more family fun to explore!

If you’ve been with us for a while, you already know why we love Ernest Govan—he’s not only our trusted realtor, but also an incredible supporter of Palmetto Parents and families across the Summerville community.

Born into a military family and raised around the world, Ernest learned early how to connect with people from all walks of life. His journey into real estate came after 25 years in corporate sales and a desire to do something more meaningful. Today, he’s known as “Your Dream Maker Agent”—a title that reflects his heart for helping families find not just houses, but homes.

What makes Ernest stand out? He brings deep market knowledge, genuine care, and a personal touch that makes every client feel like family. Whether he’s helping first-time buyers navigate the process or supporting long-time locals through life transitions, Ernest shows up with wisdom, empathy, and purpose.

He’s earned the Realtor of Distinction award every year since 2019—but more importantly, he’s earned the trust of countless families across the Lowcountry.

If you're buying or selling in 2026, there’s no one we’d recommend more than Ernest Govan. He’s not just building homes—he’s building community, one family at a time.

Start the conversation with Ernest if you’re looking for a realtor— you won’t regret it!

For this year’s restaurant round-up, we focused specifically on new spots that opened in Summerville in 2025—and even with that filter, it was hard to narrow down. It’s been a big year for the local food scene, with more new restaurants opening than we can count.

We still remember the early days of Nonna’s, when people stood in hour-plus lines just to try their (very worth it) sandwiches. And the arrival of coffee chains like Dutch Bros and 7 Brew might have permanently changed local traffic patterns... We still haven’t tried those yet!

Of course, every family has their favorites, but these are the places that stood out most to our family this year:

Biscuit Belly
If we had a list of our top-visited restaurants in 2025, Biscuit Belly would be at the top. Anytime we went out for breakfast, it was a no-brainer—and it never disappointed. Our son loves the mini biscuit kids’ meal, and we appreciate that the menu has something for everyone, whether you're in the mood for comfort food or something a little lighter. The food is consistently good, the service is quick, and the atmosphere is bright and welcoming. But what really keeps us coming back is the staff. They’re the heart of the place. (Shout out to Claire, who knows our boys by name and always takes time to chat with us.)

Kersey House
If you’re looking for that charming, Summerville-specific feel, Kersey House delivers. This historic home-turned-French-bistro manages to feel both elevated and cozy, with a welcoming staff that made us feel right at home. The food gave us big-city vibes—refined and flavorful—without ever leaving the suburbs. We recently enjoyed a date night there, but we wouldn’t hesitate to bring the kids for lunch or brunch. They also offer a fun Saturday tea service, which is on our list to try again soon. When our father-in-law asked for a local restaurant gift card for Christmas, this is the spot we picked!

Rotolo’s Craft & Crust
Daniel was thrilled to find a local option for deep dish pizza, and Rotolo’s has quickly become a go-to. The menu is packed with variety—from pasta and burgers to wings and different pizza styles—so it’s easy to please the whole crew. The kids love being able to order a single slice or something just their size. It’s top of mind because I recently placed a catering order with them and had a great experience. Definitely worth trying out for a casual, crowd-pleasing meal.

Honorable Mentions

We’ve still got a few on our list to try in the new year—La Chev, Naan, and Cielo—so stay tuned for reviews on those soon. We’re also super excited about some of the 2026 openings, especially Odd Duck Market coming to downtown Summerville.

Let us know which new spots you loved most this year by replying to this email!

As we close out the year, we wanted to take a moment to revisit a few of our favorite Palmetto Pieces—reflections that have stayed with us, challenged us, and encouraged us throughout 2025. These are the thoughts that continue to shape how we parent, show up as friends, and build meaningful community.

Whether you’re reading them for the first time or coming back for a second look, we hope they offer fresh inspiration and perspective as you step into 2026!

Not in A Hurry: This Palmetto Piece served as a gentle reminder of how easily we rush through life—even when our schedules are light. Caught up in the pressure to be productive, I realized how often everyday moments like grocery runs or bedtime routines are treated as tasks to "get through" rather than opportunities to be present. This mindset, though subtle, sends a message to our children that busyness matters more than connection. By choosing to slow down and be fully present, we not only enrich our own lives but also model balance, mindfulness, and gratitude for our kids. Through simple shifts—like limiting commitments, creating small daily rituals, and practicing presence—we can turn ordinary moments into meaningful ones. Read the full Palmetto Piece here.

Seasons of Friendship: Friendship is one of the biggest struggles young parents talk about—and it’s no wonder. Life with kids brings constant change, and our friendships naturally shift with those seasons. While we all hope for a few close friends who walk with us through everything, many friendships will ebb and flow based on life’s demands. The key is not to give up when the rhythm pauses. Research shows that strong friendships are incredibly resilient—even after long lapses in communication. A quick check-in or simple “thinking of you” text can go a long way. With grace and patience, friendships can stretch, grow, and come back stronger when the season allows. Read the full Palmetto Piece here.

Protect the Relationship: One of the Palmetto Pieces that received the most positive feedback this year was the one guest-written by my dad—and rightly so. His heartfelt reflection offered wisdom from a father who has walked through the full arc of parenting and come out the other side with close relationships to show for it. In the piece, he shared the guiding advice he and his wife received over 35 years ago: “Protect the relationship.” Through stories like navigating messy bedrooms and choosing connection over control, he showed how this simple principle shaped they parented. Rather than letting conflict over small things create distance, they chose to lean into conversations, give appropriate freedoms, and prioritize long-term closeness over short-term compliance. The result? A home filled with laughter, mutual respect, and relationships that remain strong into adulthood. Read the full Palmetto Piece here.

Love,

The Berks 👨‍👩‍👦‍👦

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