If you are anything like me, you’re always on the hunt for new and exciting things to do, especially once you have kids. And as my little one has grown into a teen, the challenge is even more difficult. Gone are the hours we’d spend at the local playgrounds, children’s museum, and playing blocks on the bedroom floor. Now he wants something more entertaining and the be honest, mom does too! That is when we discovered York County – home to Rock Hill, Fort Mill and more!
The area is charming and quiet, but with just enough things to keep you busy and entertained…and planning your next trip back. Here’s what you need to put on your list for the perfect weekend getaway.
Where to Stay
There are lots of hotels in Rock Hill and the best part is they are on the newer side, so you can’t go wrong with most of the options. We stayed at Fairfield Inn and Suites, and it was the perfect option…located a short distance off the interstate and close to shopping, downtown, restaurants, and most importantly in my teen’s eyes, a Dave and Buster’s.
The Fairfield Inn and Suites offered comfortable bedding, quiet rooms, and a fully loaded breakfast with different options each day. You can expect anything from scrambled eggs and sausage to omelets along egg bites, waffles, bagels, yogurt, cereal, juices and more. And one of my very favorite things was the fresh water infused with fruit they offered each day.
Where to Eat
There are LOTS of great restaurants to try out, but here are some of our favorites to add to your list:
Flipside Restaurant
Located in the heart of downtown Rock Hill, it’s easy to see why this restaurant ranks as one of the top choices on Yelp. They offer brunch, lunch, and dinner and I’m not ashamed to say we tried all three. It is THAT good. They use local cuisine and a farm-to-table approach which leaves you with one-of-a-kind options and coming back for more.
What to order: fried green tomatoes, celery root crusted salmon, orange creamsicle Creme Brulé.
Kounter
Dining at Kounter is like taking a step back in history. This restaurant is a former five-and-dime and the site of a notorious civil rights era sit-in during which a group of peaceful protesters were maligned, arrested and jailed. Rather than ignore the building’s past, the owner insisted on honoring the significance of what happened by incorporating it into the restaurant concept he fittingly named “Kounter.” Today, patrons can opt to dine while sitting at the well-preserved, original counter in seats that bear the names of those nine men who courageously stood their ground.
What to Order: Beef cake stand sliders, lobster gnocchi, peanut butter pie
Poppyseed Kitchen
This darling little restaurant offers the freshest pastries, coffees, and all the breakfast goodness your heart desires! Looking around, you can tell they paid extra attention to detail – from ornate coat hooks by the booths, to the like-home baby changing station in the bathroom, to the games available to keep families entertained. And the food is top notch – everything you’d want from a quaint, homemade kitchen run off love.
What to Order: The grit, the nook nibbler, the poppy pancake
What to Do
Come See Me Festival
When we visited, our trip coincided with the Come See Me Festival which occurs two weeks each April. I highly recommend planning a trip during this time – whether it’s a weekend getaway or a longer stay! Each day there are multiple events that include everything from a parade to kid’s activities, street dance, food trucks, HOPS in the park, outdoor movies, Broadway shows and more!
Timeline Arcade
We all know teens love video games and pinball, and Timeline Arcade offers PLENTY of this to keep the entire family entertained! Located in downtown Rock Hill, it’s just steps away from local restaurants and shopping. What we loved about this venue is it offered a mix of new games and classics, and there was a pay one price option which meant we could play as many video games as we wanted without worrying about how much of a dent it was putting in our wallet. Plus, they offer beverages for adults and kids alike.
Comporium Telephone Museum
This museum was a neat little find and is completely free! Also located downtown, it offers details and history about life in Rock Hill before there was wireline and wireless telecommunications, high-speed Internet, security or cable TV, and tells of the beginnings of Rock Hill Telephone Company (now Comporium). It was nice to take a break from the electronics and take a step back in time where it all started.
Glencarin Garden
These beautiful gardens offer an escape from the everyday with its tranquil waters and rows and rows of azaleas and other flowers. Feed the geese, watch fish swim in the ponds, or check out turtles resting nearby. Spend time on the bench swings, enjoy a picnic or get your steps in while taking in this quiet piece of scenery.
Strawberry Picking at Bush-N-Vine
There’s nothing quite like fresh picked strawberries, and Bush-N-Vine is the place to get them! Whether you prefer to pick them straight off the vine or grab a quart already waiting for you, they have either option to meet your needs. Plus enjoy refreshments like strawberry ice cream, strawberry slushies, and more! Then wrap your day up with time on the playground or pursuing their country store.
Shopping
No trip would be complete without shopping! And even if you have a teen like mine who would rather sit on the sidelines than check out what the shops have to offer, there are plenty of things to do and see in between popping in and out of stores…plus ICE CREAM.
One thing I love about the shops downtown is they offer unique, handmade goods. It wasn’t uncommon to pass an alley with vendors set up or stop into a store like The Mercantile to see what the locals had made. I was able to stock up on one-of-a-kind items for me and for family back home! Early Christmas shopping done!
We had SO MUCH FUN on our weekend getaway to York! Next time you’re thinking about a trip not too far from home, check out this area and all there is to offer. We only had a chance to check out a fraction of the activities available and are already planning our next trip back!
We love Bush-N-Vine, Windy Hill Orchard, Ninety’s Dessert Bar, Baja Cero San Marcos, Playtopia, and Burger’s and Barley (the donut burger) in York County!