Staycation in the CSRA

With gas prices in the United States at an average for $3.83, a lot of us can't find room in the budget to go out of town for a vacation AND pay for the gas that it would take to get us there!  If you're in the same boat then look no further.  This blog project was born and I am here to help you out Augustans!

If you aren't a local, then come back tomorrow and I'll be sharing over 75 Staycation links to an area that might just be near you or your town!  

Our town, Augusta, Georgia, or area, known as the Central Savannah River Area (C.S.R.A.) covers a large area but is semi-small, so it can take some creativity to do a "staycation" around home, but with a little planning and a minimal amount of money, you and your family can have a wonderful vacation right here at home.

Here is what I was able to come up with for you and your family to keep you busy while trying to avoid the increasing gas prices.

Our family's favorite summer time activity is to head to one of the splash pads or area pools.  Brookfield Park, located off Riverwatch Parkway, in Martinez and the park behind the Columbia County library, in Evans, both have a park and a small splash pad.  Its a wonderful and FREE! way to let your kids cool off!

If you can afford to spend a little money, Augusta has a splash pad on Highland Ave, in Augusta, that for a small fee(was $1.50 per person, last summer), your family can enjoy the large splash pad!

If you are up for the monthly cost during the Summer months, your family can sign up for a Wilson Family Y family membership and enjoy the pools and splash pad, located on Wheeler Road or any of the local neighborhood pools that allow open memberships.  The Y's family monthly cost is around $50-65 and area neighborhood pools memberships, for the summer, are anywhere from $300-500.

If you are up for a small drive, you can head out to one of the nearby lakes.  In Aiken Co., South Carolina, you and your family can enjoy the day at Richardson's Lake.  This place is a ton of fun, gated, clean, has some water features and even has refreshment stands.  There is a charge (latest info I have is that its $6 per adult, $4 for 3 yrs old up to 12 yrs old & senior citizens 2 and under free ) but would definitely be worth the costs for this family friendly place.  In Columbia Co. (and many other counties in the surrounding areas) there is the J. Strom Thurmond Dam and Lake with plenty of activities to keep you and your family busy.  You can fish, swim, boat, camp, hike, sight see for a small entrance fee to the lake.  Be sure to check out the website before heading out, because there are quite a few entrances and different costs, etc.

If getting wet isn't your thing, on the weekends head to the Big Mo, in Monetta, SC.  This place is too cool for words!  Hubbie and I haven't been out there since having babies, but its something I can't wait to do when our kids get a tad bit older.  Its a drive in movie theatre and for the price of admission, you get the choice of a double feature on any of their 3 screens!  And its new movies which saves you a bundle!  Adults are $7, Kids from 4-11 are $3 and kids under 3 are free!  Check this place out, but beware, no food allowed.  There is a concession stand on the property so take your piggie bank!

If you aren't planning your staycation during the weekend, you may want to check out one of the local movie theaters that offer free or cheaper day time kids movies.  This is an awesome thing that several of the movie theater companies offer each summer!  Our kids look forward to our trips to the movie theaters every summer, because, frankly, its one of the only times they go!  The movies are too expensive for our family, so we wait for the summertime and see some of our favorites on the big screen!  Regal Cinema, on Agerton Lane, has their summer movie listings here and they charge $1.  Evans 14 Theater, off Washington Rd, also has a summer time movie kids program.  Call to check out their listings, prices, etc.  Also, many of the area libraries have free mid day movies at their facilities.  I have been unable to locate the information on this, so call around to the area libraries if you're interested.  Its a wonderful way to beat the heat mid-day!

Staycations often include weekends, so if you're up and about on a Saturday morning and looking for something to do, head downtown to the river front and check out the local farmer's market.  The farmer's market is definitely not large, but its a big deal that our area finally has one and the vendors are wonderful, friendly and eager to sell to their neighbors!!  The local selection is a wonderful treat for our family!  We've gotten wonderful produce and honey in years past and our "chicken" lady even has a booth out there, so definitely check this out!

What kid doesn't enjoy a jumpin' place?!  I think my husband has just as much fun as the kids do at indoor jumping places.  If burning some of your kiddos energy is the plan for one or your staycation days, check out Monkey Joes, which is located in Martinez.  Monkey Joes is not on our family's cheap activity list, but you can definitely get your money's worth and the selection of activities is the best in the area.  Check here for pricing.  There are quite a few other area jumping places in our area, but I know a few have closed recently, so if you're looking for something to do like this, get on the internet and do a search for your particular area of town!

If its a cooler summer Georgia day (HAHA!) or if you're up early to beat the heat, you may want to head out to one of our area's wonderful parks!  We really do have some great ones!  Our kids "nickname" the parks according to what color the equipment is or where its located.  Some of our favorites are the "library" park(has the splash pad that is mentioned at the top of the post) because it has the pond, walking track and swings.  Also, Warren Rd. Community Park, located on Warren Rd, in Augusta, is a wonderful summer park, because its nice and shady and has two playgrounds for different ages, plus a walking track, tennis and basketball courts.  Our whole family enjoys Blanchard Woods, located out in Columbia Co. because of the woods, playground and grassy soccer fields.  If you're looking for some cheap exercise, look no further!  Hubbie runs here.  The kids love to go "hiking" in the woods.  Its a wonderful place to just hang out and explore!  Another favorite on the other side of town is Pendleton King Park, off Wrightsboro Rd, in Augusta.  This park is an oldie, but a goodie and one that the city has spent some money to fix up in the last few years.  The playground equipment, like I said, is new and updated.  There is a pond with ducks to feed and tennis courts.  The park also has the frisbie golf equipment if you and your family play that! Like I said, our area has so many fantastic parks and I could devote a whole blog post to the area parks and where they are located, so definitely check the local recreation sites and see whats near you!

Your family might have older kiddos and parks and jumping places aren't really what they are interested in.  If thats your family, check out FATS which is a hiking and mountain biking trail system.  I personally have never gone out here... probably because I don't mountain bike or run, but I've heard its a wonderful place if you're into these type of sports.  FATS is located in Edgefield Co., in South Carolina and you can get directions and more information here.

Our area has a great art museum, Morris Museum of Art, which has summer time programs and sometimes free sessions on Sunday afternoons, etc..  Also, if you're up for a little bit of a longer interstate drive, Columbia, SC has a fun Children's Museum, Edventure.  Many of these museums also have free admission days if you use a Bank of America card, on select days throughout the year.  Don't forget, if you're heading up to Columbia, to check out the zoo, Riverbanks Zoo.  Our family heads up there once or twice a year and the kids always enjoy what it has to offer.  Besides checking out the animals, there are some hiking trails down to the river, gardens, rock climbing and much, much more!

If this isn't enough information for you and your family to be able to plan a week full of local activities, then get online and start searching!  The internet or word of mouth can be the best way to research for your next Staycation!  It may take a while to get some information together, but keep searching and if you can't find something, just ask here!  Or, if you are local and think I've forgotten some of the wonderful activities and events that our area offers, email me and I'll go back and include it!