How To Spend 3 Days In South Carolina's Olde English District with Kids
We spent 3 days this summer on a weekend trip exploring York County which is part of South Carolina’s Olde English District. In this How-To guide, I'll be sharing all of my recommendations on what to see and do as a family in 3 days!
To get to York County from Atlanta, it is about a 4-hour road trip. When traveling with kids and dependent upon traffic, it could take a little longer. With this area being pretty close to Atlanta, it made for the perfect weekend trip with the kids! This area is so unique with its small-town charm, mom and pop shops, orchards and plethora of outdoor adventures for everyone!
This region of South Carolina also has more state parks per capita than just about anywhere and the outdoor adventures are truly unmatched! We have family that lives in this area, but it was fun to explore some of the other parts of the Olde English District.
Disclaimer: This blog post is in collaboration with the Olde English District
Where is the Olde English District?
The Olde English District is in the North-Central part of South Carolina and spans across 7 counties (Chester, Chesterfield, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lancaster, Union, and York). It got its name from the region’s early settlement by the English in the mid-1770s. Each county has a little history to it which is a great learning experience for the whole family. This region also has 9 State Parks and we visited one of them during our 3-day adventure.
Spend 3 Days exploring South Carolina's Olde English District with Kids
For this 3-day trip we spent time in York County and camped at Kings Mountain State Park. This state park sits adjacent to Kings Mountain National Military Park which was the site of a very pivotal Revolutionary War battle. If you have time during your 3-day adventure, be sure to check out the National Military Park! Kings Mountain also boasts a variety of outdoor activities such as hiking, fishing, camping, horseback riding, and boating. The Living History Farm was a favorite for us. It is a recreated 19th-century Piedmont farm that provides a glimpse into the daily life of the early settlers that were once in this region.
Day 1 - Arrive at Kings Mountain State Park
On day 1 you will arrive at Kings Mountain State Park and get settled into your campsite. You can explore the campground and some of the hiking trails if you wish on this day or just settle in for the night and explore more on Day 2.
We stayed at Hammock Site 1 which was a real treat. The campsite comes with a built-in fire pit, camp tables, a gazebo, sink and storage drawers, 6 poles to house 6 hammocks and a tent pad. It was honestly one of the most unique sites we’ve stayed at thus far.
Day 2 – Explore York County and Kings Mountain State Park
This day will be jam packed with fun, but you will be sure to have the best time! We took this trip during late August and there was plenty to do. Start your morning with a hike to the Living History Farm. You can reach the farm via the farm trail from the trailhead by Lake Crawford, which is across the street from the campground. If you wish to bypass the hike and save it for the afternoon or Day 3 you are welcome to do so. The Living History Farm can also be reached by driving over to the farm parking lot. I didn’t realize this at first, so we drove over to the farm, explored that area and then did the hike down to Lake Crawford.
After your morning hike, it’s time to head into town for lunch. Papa Docs on Lake Wylie is a must if you enjoy seafood. Sit outside and enjoy views of the lake while you eat your lunch. The po’boy is absolutely amazing!
After lunch it’s time to orchard hop! If you time your trip to go during apple picking season, you’ll be able to pick apples at Windy Hill Orchard & Cidery and explore Black’s Peaches market. The good thing about these two orchards is that they’re right next door to one another!
Windy Hill Orchard & Cidery is a family-owned orchard, which also produces hard cider. You can enjoy apple cider donuts (a MUST have), fresh pressed apple cider, some local favorite hard cider and pick apples during the apple picking season! They are open mid-August until Christmas, so you know there is much to offer during this season.
Black’s Peaches is another family-owned business that is a produce & meat market, along with a restaurant on the outside. This market sells fresh local produce and serves lunch with a farm to table experience. We brought home peaches from this market and they were absolutely delicious! Another perk of visiting Black’s Peaches is the Farm Playground right outside! The kids will love this unique playground made from old tractors, big tires, horse swings and so much more!
After a fun filled day, it’s time to head back to camp and wind down from your fun filled day.
Day 3 – Canoe/Kayak at Kings Mountain State Park
On your last day exploring South Carolina's Olde English District you will go canoeing or kayaking on Lake Crawford at Kings Mountain State Park and spend time at the dam that the lake drops down into. You can rent all of your equipment for the canoes or kayaks at the Trading Post and then head over to the lake. This is the perfect way to end such an eventful 3-day adventure with your kids.
I hope you enjoyed this family friendly guide to exploring South Carolina’s Olde English District. There is so much to do in this area that will make you want to come back for another trip!
For more resources on other family friendly fun, be sure to check out the Olde English District’s website to plan your next family adventure.