Hey Charleston Parents,

Happy November! After a busy few weeks of Halloween fun, sickness, and a little chaos, we're ready to slow down (at least a little). This week we're exploring Hampton Park, one of Charleston's prettiest spots for a family morning, sharing some fun weekend events including the Johns Island Harvest Festival, Kids Book Fest, and a Gator Walk at Kiawah. We're also checking out Angel's Biscuit Co. and Emily Pizza + Bar, a new West Ashley spot serving up biscuits in the morning and pizza at night.

And because Halloween never goes quite as planned around here, I'm sharing how my daughter saved the day with two random sand buckets when I managed to put our actual trick-or-treat buckets in storage. A little reminder that sometimes the best memories come from the plans that fall apart.

Have the best week!

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If you're looking for a way to get the kids outside without spending a dime, Hampton Park is one of those Charleston spots that deserves a regular place in your rotation. Located on the upper peninsula near The Citadel, Hampton Park is one of the largest parks in the city, with more than 60 acres of beautiful landscaping, shady oak trees, walking paths, and plenty of room for kids to burn off some energy.

One of the best things about Hampton Park is that there's a little something for everyone. Start with a walk around the park's beautiful lagoon, where you can watch the ducks, cross the little bridge, and take in the gardens. The park is especially pretty when the seasonal flowers are in bloom, and the historic rose collection makes it a lovely place to slow down for a bit. You'll also find a beautiful gazebo, fountains, benches, and plenty of grassy areas where the kids can run around.

If your kids are anything like ours, though, a pretty garden can only hold their attention for so long. That's where McMahon Playground comes in! Located right at the entrance to Hampton Park, across Cleveland Street, this is a great place to let the kids climb, play, and get some energy out. There are also athletic fields and basketball courts nearby, making this a fun stop for kids of different ages.

You can easily make an entire morning out of the two parks. Pack a picnic lunch, bring the scooters or bikes, and spend some time exploring the paved paths. The park is also a great place for a stroller walk, and there are plenty of shady spots to take a break along the way.

Hampton Park is one of the few Charleston city parks with public restrooms on-site, which is a huge plus. There are also restrooms inside the McMahon Recreation Building, but those are only available during staffed hours. If you're planning to spend most of your time at the playground, it's worth checking the recreation building hours ahead of time. Otherwise, you can use the public restrooms within Hampton Park.

Hampton Park is free to visit, has on-site parking, and is open from sunrise to sunset. You'll find it at 30 Mary Murray Drive, Charleston.

Our recommendation? Make a morning of it. Grab coffee, pack a few snacks, let the kids explore, and enjoy one of Charleston's prettiest outdoor spaces. It's an easy, inexpensive outing that doesn't require much planning, and sometimes those are the best kind of family days.

Happy November! If you're looking for something fun to get the kids out of the house this weekend, we've rounded up three family-friendly events happening around the Lowcountry. From hayrides and bluegrass music to meeting local children's authors and spotting alligators, there's a little something for everyone.

Harvest Festival at Johns Island County Park

Saturday, November 7 | 11am–4:30pm

If you're ready for a little fall fun, head out to Johns Island County Park for its annual Harvest Festival! This is a great opportunity to spend an afternoon outside enjoying some classic fall activities without having to travel too far. Kids can enjoy hayrides, pumpkin decorating, fall arts and crafts, giant bubbles, and even a scarecrow stilt performer. There will also be live bluegrass music throughout the afternoon, local craft vendors, and plenty of food options, including Carolina barbecue and kettle corn. It's also a fun opportunity to get a little early holiday shopping done while supporting local makers. Bring a blanket or lawn chairs so you can sit back and enjoy the music while the kids explore. Admission is $10 for anyone 13 and older, while children 12 and under are free. Food and activities are additional. The festival is located at 2662 Mullet Hall Road on Johns Island.

Kids Book Fest at Fam's Brewing Co.

Saturday, November 7 | 12–3pm

Calling all little bookworms! Fam's Brewing Co. on James Island is hosting its Kids Book Fest, and it's a fun one for families who love a good story. The afternoon will feature local children's authors, book signings, kids' books, T-shirts, giveaways, and plenty of new stories to discover. Kids can meet the authors behind some of their favorite books, browse the selection, and hopefully find a new favorite to bring home. They're also offering a free toy with every purchase! Have a few gently loved children's books sitting on your bookshelf that your kids have outgrown? Bring them along to donate and receive a free T-shirt. A portion of sales will benefit Charleston Friends of the Library and its work supporting literacy in our community. Admission is free, so this is an easy afternoon outing for families. You'll find Fam's at 1291 Folly Road on James Island.

Gator Walk at Kiawah Island

Friday, November 6 & Monday, November 9 | 11am-12pm

For the kids who are fascinated by all things wildlife, this one is a little different! Head out to Kiawah Island for a guided Gator Walk, where a naturalist will take families around local ponds and alligator habitats to learn about these prehistoric-looking creatures and how they survive in the Lowcountry. It's a great opportunity for kids to learn more about the wildlife that lives right here in our backyard, while getting a chance to observe alligators in their natural environment. This is a guided experience, so you'll have someone knowledgeable along the way to answer questions and point out wildlife. The walk is recommended for children ages 4 and up, and admission is $20 per person. Reservations are required, so be sure to call ahead at 843-768-6001. The walk takes place at Night Heron Park Nature Center on Kiawah Island. Since Kiawah has controlled island access, confirm entry instructions when making your reservation, especially if you're visiting from off-island.

West Ashley has a new neighborhood spot, and it's giving us two very good reasons to stop by. Meet Angel's & Emily, a two-in-one restaurant concept in Avondale that goes from homemade biscuits and coffee in the morning to Detroit-style pizza and burgers in the evening.

Let's start with the morning side of things. Angel Biscuit Co. is all about house-made biscuits, breakfast, and coffee. Whether you're looking for a quick breakfast after school drop-off, a weekend morning treat, or somewhere to grab coffee and a bite with the kids, this is a welcome addition to the West Ashley breakfast scene. They're also serving bagels and grab-and-go breakfast options, making it an easy stop when you don't feel like cooking another meal at home.

But here's where things get interesting. As the day winds down, Angel's transforms into Emily Pizza + Bar. Emily brings a New York restaurant favorite to Charleston, with its signature Detroit-style square pizzas, burgers, and cocktails. The concept comes from the team behind Pizza Loves Emily and Emmy Squared, which have built quite a following for their pizza and burgers.

And if you're having trouble deciding between breakfast and pizza, weekends are your chance to have both! Saturdays and Sundays are when the two menus come together, so you can order biscuits and coffee alongside pizza and burgers at the same table. Honestly, that's a pretty good brunch combination.

We love seeing new neighborhood spots bring something different to West Ashley, especially in Avondale, where you can make a morning or evening out of exploring the surrounding shops and businesses.

Angel's & Emily is located at 835 Savannah Highway in Charleston. Angel Biscuit Co. is open Wednesday through Friday from 7am to noon and Saturday and Sunday from 8am to 2pm. Emily serves dinner Wednesday through Friday and Saturday and Sunday, with Saturday service beginning at noon. Check their website or Instagram before heading over for the latest menus and hours.

One address, two restaurants, and a pretty good excuse to let someone else handle breakfast or dinner for a change!

I'll be the first to admit that Halloween didn't exactly go according to plan at our house this year. Between a busy few weeks, sickness making its way through our family, and trying to keep up with everything else, I was a little behind on just about everything Halloween-related.

I had these grand plans to put together cute little Halloween baskets, or boo baskets, for the kids. I had everything planned out in my head, and somehow those baskets ended up in storage. Along with them? The personalized pumpkin buckets my kids use every single year for trick-or-treating. Apparently, I had managed to put away just about everything we actually needed for Halloween.

By the time I got home late Saturday afternoon, trick-or-treating was just about to start. I was already feeling like a bit of a mess, realizing that the kids didn't have their usual baskets and that my carefully planned Halloween surprises weren't happening.

But instead of complaining, getting upset, or asking me a million questions about where their things were, my daughter simply looked around, spotted two sand buckets that had been left outside, picked them up, and headed across the street to start collecting candy.

No complaints. No disappointment. No big production. Just two sand buckets and a very clear understanding of what Halloween was all about: getting candy!

I stood there watching her and couldn't help but laugh. Here I was, worrying about all the things I hadn't managed to pull together, while my kids were perfectly happy making the best of what they had.

And honestly, it was a little parenting lesson I probably needed more than they did.

We spend so much time trying to create special memories for our kids. We plan the outfits, buy the decorations, put together the baskets, coordinate the activities, and try to make every holiday feel magical. Sometimes we put so much pressure on ourselves to get every little detail right that we forget the kids aren't necessarily measuring the experience the same way we are.

They don't always need the personalized pumpkin bucket. They don't need the perfectly assembled boo basket. And they certainly don't need every holiday to look like something out of a Pinterest board.

Sometimes they just need a bucket, a few neighbors handing out candy, and the freedom to enjoy themselves.

I went into Halloween feeling like I had dropped the ball, but I ended up with one of my favorite little memories from the night. My daughter reminded me that resourcefulness, a good attitude, and the ability to roll with things don't come from having everything perfectly prepared. Sometimes they come from realizing that what you have is already good enough.

So here's your reminder, especially as we head into the busy holiday season: You don't have to make everything magical. Sometimes the magic is in letting go of the plans and watching your kids make their own fun.

And if all else fails, apparently a couple of sand buckets will do just fine.

Have the best week!

Love, Jenna