Good morning, Palmetto Parents!

We hope you've had a wonderful week! Our family has been traveling this week, and while it's been full of sweet memories and adventure, it's also included all the normal realities of traveling with a 2 and 4-year-old—snacks at seemingly every hour, disrupted sleep schedules, and learning to embrace a little extra flexibility. Even with the occasional chaos, there's something special about experiencing new places through our kids' eyes, and we're grateful for the time together.

As always, we're excited to share a few local ideas to help make your week a little easier and more fun. We hope this issue helps you enjoy these summer days with your family!

We were so excited to hear that our favorite place for blueberry picking in town, Myers Blueberries, is opening for their summer season tomorrow, June 13th! We love getting to go and eat the berries right off the trees as we pick buckets full of delicious blueberries. If you go, remember to bring cash with you since they do not accept card. It’s $15/gallon. Check here for the address and hours to plan your trip!

If you haven't taken your kids on the Sawmill Branch Trail yet, this is the week to change that. It's one of those spots that feels like it should require more effort to find but it's right here in Summerville, just south of downtown, running alongside the old Sawmill Branch Canal. We are lucky to live close to an entry point, so now that our four year old learned how to ride his bike we’ve been taking advantage of it frequently as a family!

The trail is a paved, flat, 10-foot wide path that stretches just under seven miles one way (about 13 miles total out and back). A buffer of trees lines most of the route, which keeps it shaded at certain times of day and surprisingly peaceful even in the middle of a Lowcountry summer morning. There are no significant hills, no confusing intersections — just a smooth, wide path alongside the canal that's genuinely ideal for little bike riders, strollers, scooters, or anyone who just wants to walk somewhere that doesn't feel like a parking lot.

Along the way there are fitness stations and a playground at Newington, so you can break it up and let the kids burn some energy mid-route before heading back. Riding to the Newington playground is one of our favorite rides! The trail is also dog-friendly on a leash, so bring the dog too. For adventurous older kids (or dads), there's an adjacent off-road singletrack trail called the Sawmill Ridges tucked in alongside it for when the paved version starts to feel a little tame.

The best entry points are near Gahagan Road (right next to Summerville Catholic School), Luden Drive (small parking area off Luden Drive near the canal), or Bacons Bridge Road. All are free to access. If you're heading out this week, go in the morning before the heat really kicks in or use it as an post-dinner activity.

Lately, our favorite way to use the trail is to bike to downtown Summerville. The exit on Richardson Ave. is just a couple minute ride away from downtown. Just use caution when crossing Richardson even though there’s a crosswalk— cars tend to drive really fast. Once we get downtown we let the boys run around in Hutchinson Square or treat them to a slice at Benny’s, ice cream at Simple Treasures, or a hot dog and Italian ice at Puma’s which makes it an even more fun (but still affordable outing). Riding down to the farmer’s market on Saturday mornings is a super fun option, too!

If you've been around Palmetto Parents for a while, you know our family loves Flowertown Charm. Flowertown Charm is a local farm in Summerville that creates memorable experiences for families through animal encounters, seasonal events, goat yoga, and hands-on opportunities to connect with farm life. We've joined them for marshmallow roasting, pumpkin carving with goats, and most recently celebrated our son's second birthday there with one of their Snuggle Sessions. It was such a memorable experience for everyone involved. The kids loved interacting with the animals and exploring the farm, and honestly, the adults had just as much fun. At one point, I had a baby goat asleep in my arms, so I'd call that a pretty successful evening myself!

Flowertown Charm has a wonderful way of creating simple, meaningful experiences that families remember long after they leave. This summer, they offer Weekly Snuggle Sessions, Monthly Farm Bingo, and Monthly Slushies & Snuggles events. They also host Goat Yoga every Saturday at 10:30am for ages 8 and up. Looking for something more personalized? Private farm sessions are available by request and make a unique option for birthdays, celebrations, or simply spending quality time together.

If you're looking for a fun way to connect with animals and make some sweet summer memories, Flowertown Charm is definitely worth a visit. You can see more about all the animals on the farm and their full calendar and book your visit here.

Whether your family is celebrating with something sweet and relaxed or something with a little more horsepower, there's a good mix of options around Summerville this Father's Day.

"My Dad Rocks" — Dads, Donuts & Doodles at We Rock the Spectrum Summerville Sunday, June 14 | 10am–12pm | 10359 Highway 78, Suite 105, Summerville | Event included with open play price ($16/child)

Get a head start on Father's Day with this sweet morning event at We Rock the Spectrum. Whether it's Dad, Grandpa, Uncle, or a special father figure, families are invited in for donuts, refreshments, fun coloring pages, and quality time together. It's a relaxed, inclusive setting that makes it a great fit for kids of all ages and abilities. RSVP here.

Father's Day Weekend at Eggs Up Grill — Knightsville Father's Day Weekend | 1585 Central Ave Suite 15-16, Summerville

Eggs Up Grill in Knightsville is getting in on the Father's Day fun all weekend long. Stop by and enter to win their Father's Day giveaway — a cooler packed with goodies for Dad. While you're there, bring the kids to the card making station where they can create a personal card to take home. It's a simple, sweet addition to a weekend breakfast or brunch run, and a good excuse to let the kids feel like they made something special for Dad.

Father's Day at Magnolia Plantation & Gardens Sunday, June 21 | 9am–4pm 3550 Ashley River Rd, Charleston | Dads get in FREE with the purchase of one adult garden admission ticket

Spend Father's Day surrounded by some of the most beautiful grounds in the Lowcountry. On June 21, dads and father figures get in free with the purchase of one adult garden admission ticket — available onsite at the Welcome Center. Stroll the gardens, enjoy the blooms, and take a beat from the usual Sunday rush. It's a genuinely lovely way to mark the day. Worth noting that Magnolia is about 30 minutes from central Summerville, so plan accordingly.

Father's Day at Luxe Bar & Bistro Sunday, June 21 | 11am–8pm | 1430 Central Avenue, Summerville | One free draft beer for Dad with the purchase of a meal

Luxe is pulling out the welcome mat for dads this Father's Day with a full day of lunch and dinner service plus a free draft beer for every dad with the purchase of a meal. It's a low-key, no-fuss way to treat Dad to a good meal without making a big production of it — and one free drink goes a long way toward making the afternoon feel like a celebration.

3rd Annual Father's Day Car Show — Cane Bay Family YMCA Sunday, June 21 | 3pm–8pm | 1655 Cane Bay Blvd, Summerville

For the dad who loves a great-looking car, this one is worth the afternoon. The Cane Bay Family YMCA hosts its 3rd Annual Father's Day Car Show with an evening of classic cars, community, and fun for the whole family. It's a great excuse to load up the kids, head to Cane Bay, and let Dad do some admiring. For admission details and more information, contact the Cane Bay YMCA at 843-719-9622 or [email protected].

Written by Luanne Berk

The Icehouse Restaurant is an historically authentic experience in downtown Summerville. Built in 1904 and nestled in Summerville’s Historic district, it was originally an ice plant. The main level of the restaurant was used for ice production while blocks of ice were stored upstairs. Renovations in 1980
restored it to what you see today.

While sitting at a table in Icehouse, you can sense the history: brick walls, hard wood floors, rustic décor. It all fits. The food is authentically southern, also a perfect fit. It has a casual vibe, not stuffy, no need to dress up. We sat near a table of 8 (three couples and two young children). They seemed completely
comfortable with the kids wiggling and being themselves, lots of family laughter and banter. We took note of that situation, thinking we may plan a family gathering there in the future.

My husband and I arrived around 5:30 on a Wednesday and had no trouble getting a table. It was quite warm, so we opted for indoor seating, but they have an incredible outdoor seating experience, including an outdoor bar with barstools, lots of tables with umbrellas and a play area for kids which is probably
why we saw several families sitting outside.

They offer a variety of unique foods from salads to all the meats, seafood, lots of local fare: Fried chicken, Shrimp and grits, Cajun pasta, shrimp po boy, pork chops, sandwiches, she crab soup, collards. The menu also indicates that they offer some gluten-free and vegetarian options.

My husband chose a “Grilled Peach and Goat Cheese Salad” with strawberries, blueberries, toasted almonds, prosciutto, and onions, topped with blackened salmon, which he claimed was nearly perfect. He said all the ingredients were fresh, the salmon portion was decent and cooked just right. The only
thing he would change is less kale in the salad but otherwise loved it.

I was tempted by their “Pecan fried pork chop” topped with caramelized onions and apple chutney (apparently a popular dish here), but it seemed too heavy for my not-so-hungry appetite. Instead, I went with the “Airline chicken breast” with sauce, mashed potatoes and green beans which turned out to be excellent. We were both impressed with how hot the food was when it arrived, as if it came right out of the pan, a rarity at most restaurants. The chicken was flavorful, delicious potatoes, yummy gravy, and the beans were cooked just right.

There is a kids’ menu offering: chicken tenders, mini corn dogs, shrimp, PB&J, grilled cheese and butter pasta with parmesan.

Overall, the experience was great in the category of mid-range, comfortable, locally owned, farm-to-table restaurants. We will definitely be back to try some of those unique menu options!

The hardest part of the summer for our family isn't mornings or bedtimes. It's the middle of the day.

Mornings still feel easy — coffee, independent play while they’re fresh and rested, maybe a walk before it gets hot. Evenings have a rhythm: dinner, bath, books, bed. But that stretch from about 2pm to 6pm between naps and dinner? That's where summer lives or dies.

Ours involves some combination of water, snacks, movement, and at least one moment where I genuinely cannot figure out how to entertain both boys at the same time with the energy I have available. The 4-year-old would choose to watch tv all afternoon, the 2-year-old wants to ride his tractor around in the blazing heat until he realizes how miserable it is, and both of them aren’t left with much patience for one another.

What I'm slowly learning is that the middle of the day doesn't need to be completely engineered. It just needs something to anchor it. A walk. The splash pad for an hour. A bike ride somewhere we've never turned off before. But also Half a popsicle before dinner because it's already 88 degrees and sometimes rules should bend.

The important thing is having some type of plan for movement and getting out, even if you go off track at some point. Daniel and I purposefully planned a very low-key last weekend as we’re gearing up for a big trip this week. But by mid-afternoon when we had no plans for the day, everyone was a little bit exhausted and miserable. Daniel and I talked about how with our boys (and specifically at their ages), it would probably be better for our family if we had at least one thing in mind for the day. We 100% don’t believe in entertaining our kids all day and want to push them to play independently and creatively when possible, but there’s definitely something to getting boys at this age out of the house.

Summer with little kids is a lot, but with the right amount of anchors in the day mixed with some flexibility, we can make it something beautiful for the whole family.

Love,

Courtney, Daniel, and the Berk Boys

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