Maggie Valley Ice Festival - One Tank Getaway

In the dreery January months after I've set my goals for the year, managed my budget and made a crude plan for the upcoming holidays and traveling we'll be doing this year, I start to get stir crazy. When we lived in Southern California and the kids were too little for school, January was a welcomed warm and sunny month filled with beach trips and day trips around the area, visiting parks and finding frozen yogurt shops while we were out. January in the Midwest was all about the snow activities and hitting the sledding hills early on the weekend before everyone else came, or going to the skating rink for some indoor excersize. Now that we live in the South, January alwyas seems to be teetering on 'too cold' or rainy, which tends to make me stir crazy. Since becoming a nurse I've tried to take boring January and use it for extra shifts so that when it does warm up we can do fun things and I won't need to work extra to pay for them. > During my extra shift on Friday I was trying to find something for us to do Saturday afternoon after my shift ended at 1pm and I stumbled upon the Maggie Valley Ice Festival and even though its a bit of a drive, I wanted to go. That night when I got home from work I told my family about it, and even though I didn't have any answers for them about anything other than ice sculptures, it seemed I had peaked the interest of my teen and tween (something that seems harder and harder to do recently)> On Saturday I came home from work, made deli sandwich kababos, made some home made hot cocoa, packed my new backpack I got for Christmas for exactly these trips, and we each grabbed a bottle of water and we left. The drive was just over 2 hours so we started the last Harry Potter book where we left off and drove to the mountains.> About 2 miles away from the festival traffic slowed to a crawl and hubby said I should find parking anywhere we could and then we could walk there. I have many of these events under my belt and didn't want to park somewhere we may get towed so I stayed in traffic until we saw the entrance, which was a bit less grand than I was expecting, and we parked in the area next to it. > We put on our jackets, gloves, etc and walked through the entrance of the festival grounds and... I was underwhelmed. There were some pretty cool ice sculptures and interactive ice sculptures (a slide, tic tac toe board and cornhole set up) and on the stage was a man carving an ice sculpture, but not quite as much to see as I was hoping for. There were booths of local vendors and food trucks, but that was it. > I'd be interested in going to the ice festival again next year, but I would make sure to include it in a ski or sledding weekend so that we don't drive that far for 20 minutes of walking around. > I am happy that we are getting closer to the end of the last Harry Potter book, we tend to only listen when we're in the car driving for long periods of time, so I don't consider this trip a wash. Plus the way things have been going lately we most likely would have been just sitting around the house the whole time anyway and at least we got to see something new and fun and spend time together listening to the book. >

Home made cocoa for us to sip on in the cold mountain evening!

Tic Tac Toe (it would have been nice if there were many more interactive ice games like this since the few we saw were being played by kids that didn't seem to want to give them up, not that I blame them!>

One Tank Away: Day Trips in South Carolina; Jone's Gap State Park, SC

Where: Jone's Gap State Park in Cleveland, SC

What to do: Hike, camp

Amenities: https://southcarolinaparks.com/jones-gap

South Carolina has some of the most beautiful state parks that I've seen and when I decided I wanted to check out a state park with a waterfall, I found Jones Gap one of the tallest waterfalls in the state.

We drove from Clover, SC and made it there in just under two hours. We went on a Saturday and since my work schedule has me getting home from work at 4am Saturday mornings, we left around 11am, getting there around 1pm. Anyone who wants to avoid the risky business of just showing up should consider making a reservation which will ensure your ability to enter the park. You see, Jone's Gap is a conservation area, which limits the number of guests it can accomodate per day. We were lucky enough that some guests had left, which opened up some slots for us to enter.

After we parked and paid the entry fee (Bring cash!) we grabbed our lunch and water bottles and sprayed ourselves with my new favorite all natural bug spray, and I added sunscreen to my red-headed-freckled skin. Then we started on the trail.

You are rewarded right away with some small falls as you walk over a bridge to start your journey up the mountain.

Then you pass the bathrooms and then the camp store before starting one of a few trails marked with traditional colored paint. If you want to fill up your water bottles, now is the time, there's a drinking fountain by the bathrooms.

Once you start up the trail to Rainbow Falls, you will be greeted with a jungle-like trail with foliage brushing against you as you pass. Because Jone's Gap is a conservation park, the limited number of guests allows it to stay closer to the natural wooded trail as opposed to a well-walked path. The trail is laiden with rocks, some used as steps as you make your way up the mountain. There are also manmade wooden steps that have been added to help you gain altitude. I will say that my fourty year old knees were in need of a walking stick on the way down, which my husband lovingly found and created for me.

The hike isn't an easy one, and my daughter was having a tough time because of a dissability she has in which she can't feel parts of her legs/feet and her legs get sore easier. But after taking many breaks and letting her legs rest as much as she needed along the way, we made it to the top and it was the sweetest reward.

The view of the falls is spectacular, and the breezy mist as well as elevation make it a cool reward as well as gorgeous one. We sat, enjoying the breeze, our water, and the view for a good long while before starting the trek back down.

The journey back down only lasted about an hour and a half, as opposed to the two hour climb. The kids were in a good mood and giggling and chatting, and after my husband found and made my hiking stick, the steps were easier for my knees.

We finished the hike with a bathroom break and a purchase of stickers for the kids to put on their Nalgene bottles. By that time it was dinner time and we stopped at a restaurant called Big Glenn's BBQ, a place so small-town that I couldn't find a website or link of any kind to put here for you.

What's your favorite waterfall in SC?

Goat Island Park in Cramerton, NC

Where: Goat Island Park in Cramerton, NC

Playground: Yes

Walking trail: Yes

Drinking Fountain: Yes

Take a day trip to the sweet little town of Cramerton, NC and you'll get all the feels for nostalgic small-town vibes. Enter through the one-car train underpass and take your first left where you can park next to a few shops. Looking for coffee and a snack? Head down towards the firehouse and take a left where you'll find Floyd and Blackies.

When your coffee is drank, walk down to the park, where you'll find a woodchip playground, but sadly, no goats.

If you bring your frisbee, check out the disc golf course, which looks like many people enjoy and partake in.

If you're a Pokemon Go fan, there are plenty of Pokestops to get Pokeballs from, and a few gyms to battle at.

What's your favorite part of Goat Island Park?

Ebaneezer Park York, SC

Location: 4490 Boat Shore Rd Rock Hill, SC 29732

Amenities: Beach swimming, picnic tables, pavillions, campgrounds, camp store, grills, lounging chairs, playground with swings

Hours: gate closes at sunset

If you are looking for a public access beach in York County, then look no further, this is the beach you want! Situated along Lake Wylie, there is a man-made cove perfect for the littles (and you!) to enjoy. The water goes to about 6 feet deep but stays shallow well into the cove. The cove is protected by a pier where you can sit on swinging benches or fish.

Ebaneezer is also a campground with basketball hoops, volleyball net, and several pavillions with picnic benches scattered about. There are chairs for sunning with awnings over them and you'll see golf carts go by as the local residents are out for a drive or coming down to visit with friends.

Have you been to Ebaneezer Park? What's your favorite thing about it?

Glencairn Garden in Rock Hill, SC

Address: 725 Crest Stree

Hours: Dawn to Dusk

Cost: Free

Time alotment: 30 minutes

Glencarin Garden is centrally located in Rock Hill, SC. If you're driving by you might miss it, but throw it into the good 'ol maps ap on your phone and you'll be there in no time.

With flowers and paths, you and your littles will love walking around the garden and seeing the beautiful landscaping.

There is even a Veterans Memorial for you and your littles to check out and reflect on.

What's your favorite thing about Glencairn Garden?

Hello friends! I am a working mom new to York County, SC. My family has traveled around the world and I'm so excited to get to know York County and find all the amazing places to go with my kids!