NEW PARK IN SUMMERVILLE - DOTY ST.

Just saw something in the local paper about a NEW park in Summerville, S.C. on Doty St. Haven't been to it, yet. But will give a full report when I do. Check it out! It could be great!

Rosey~

It's All about Saving MONEY!!!

What can you do when money is tight like it is now? You have to get inventive. That is why I wanted to share some ideas with you, to save you the headache & time!

Always look for free things to do. If it is not FREE, at least make it worth it. Strawberry picking time is right around the corner. That is a fun thing to do with the kids. During the summer, you can pick peaches, blue berries, or anything else you can think of . My kids even pick wild black berries, because we live out in the country. Just watch out for the thorns. They are great for just eating or making a cobbler! Rosey~

Fishing is Another Inexpensive Fun Thing

Want to relax with the family? Try fishing! You don't have to put a whole lot of money into it. You can get a fishing license at Wal-mart. Young kids don't even need a license. It use to be 16 & under was free. Check with your local area.

There are loads of ponds and rivers, especially in Charleston! Don't forget to bring a camera.

Rosey~

FREE WATER PARK

If you can't afford the water park prices, you could always go downtown where the waterfront park is. There is a wonderful pineapple fountain the kids could dip there feet into. Also there is a big squirting fountain out front. There is no place to swim, but at least they could get wet and stay cool.

Another option you would have is NOT FREE, but would save you money. Try going to the Water Parks after 3 p.m. there is a discount given. Or they usually have a buy one get one FREE day, Tuesday, I think! Remember senior citizens get a discount, too.

We only stay at the Water Park for a few hours anyway. Who wants to get that much sun in one day? So, don't forget the sunscreen!

Rosey~

Saving With Summer Time Fun Water Park

If you need something to do with the kids this summer and don't mind spending a little, you could always try Water Parks! In the Charleston area there are several. The season passes used to be $80 a person. We did it several years ago. It was just me and my 2 sons. My husband was sick. We went a few times a week. Also, you could go to any of the area Water parks. The one we went to most was Whirling Water in N. Charleston off highway 78 near Rivers Ave. There was one over in Mt. Pleasant, but that was more for the little kiddies. The one on James Island was nice, just a little far for us to go more than once. The one we went to most was mainly for older kids. Wave pool, lazy river, water flumes and they did have a small kids area and a play house. What fun!

Rosey~

Free Carriage rides for Charleston Residents

Don't you just love the carriage rides in downtown Charleston? They are one of my favorite attraction downtown. We've been on them a few times over the years. Prices have just gone out of this world!

They currently want $20 a person. That would be $80 for a family of 4. Too rich for my blood! Even with the $3 discount tickets you can get down at the visitor's center, it would still be $68. A little better, but why pay that when you can go for free!!

Saw in a commercial on TV a few weeks ago that on a specific Sunday from 9-4, you could do a carriage ride for free if you were a Charleston resident. FREE, I like that!

Of course, it is off season. But, the weather here is usually nice, so it is worth the wait!

Rosey~

Best time to Go is Off SEASON!

Some of the best savings are when tourist traffic is down. So check out things in the WINTER. Not that Charleston really has much of a winter. It is usually nice all year around. Sightseeing is cheaper and usually less crowded.

November- Febuary are the best times to check. You can wait for the savings to roll around again next year if you miss it!

Rosey~

Try the Local Parks!

Before venturing out of your area, try the local parks! They are usually right off the beated path. Ask local people at the grocery store, post office or gas station. In North Charleston there was a place we use to take the kids to play tennis off Dorchester Rd. There was also a Landing where you could put a boat in or fish or walk a trail. Also off Dorchester RD. There is a wonderful park off Gahagan St. in Summerville, talk about off the beaten trail. We call it Lincoln Log park. It looks like it is made out of logs with fairy princess towers and all! Fun for all ages and ALL FREE! There is even a bathroom at this park and ball fields.

Of course, who could not mention Azelia Park in Summerville. Gazebos & ponds & statues & don't forget the beautiful flowers! They have tennis courts as well. You can go back again and again!

Rosey~

Free Things to Do in the Charleston Area

To me the best things in life are FREE! You may as well start there. One year we found a local magazine that had about 20 things you could do for FREE. There is a small park in MT. Pleasant off of Rifle Range Rd. can't remember the name of it, but it was nice. Had swings for the little kids. It was right on the water! There is also the beach at Isle of Palms. The bridge over to the beach is beautiful! Packing a picnic lunch is always nice.

Rosey~

OTHER FREE PLACES IN CHARLESTON

If you've done the downtown thing and still want more. Try looking a local paper for Free things to do. Here are some of the things I've found. You can walk across the NEW BRIDGE. It's beautiful and so spacious! Doesn't even feel like you are on a bridge. It is a good huff from the Mt. Pleasant side, but well worth the Effort! Going back down is easy. We just went to the first set of towers. You get a marvelous view.

Also a little further down into Mt. Pleasant is a place called Charles Pickney National park. It's off Long Point Rd, right across from Boone Hall. It has a house, a small gift shop, bathrooms, and loads to see outside. The best part is it's free! More about Mt. Pleasant later.

Rosey~

More FREE Things To Do Downtown Charleston

It may take you several times to do everything there is to do in Downtown Charleston for FREE. Pace yourself! One of my families favorite places to go is right on the water, at the water front park. It is a few blocks south of Market Street and over a block toward the water, I believe it's Concord St. You can also go down Venue. There is a large water fountain type sprayer at the opening of the park. The kids can wear their swimsuits and get wet if it's warm enough. Then there are family swings under an awning going toward the water & dock. ON the dock is a view finder, so you can look at the Yorktown across the water or the Bridge or anything your heart desires.

Just before the swings are several block style maps of Charleston at different stages in history, very interesting. There are open fields and benches, so you can bird watch or eat lunch or through a ball. Also, there is a huge Pineapple fountain that is great for picture taking. There are steps to go into the water under the fountain, so watch the kids. I think it is a foot or 2 deep. There is also another dock down at the other end and ships galore! Don't forget to look up above the homes there. There are all kinds of things to see! You can even park down on that end. Parking there is usually FREE and that's our favorite word! Also there are public restrooms on the left looking away from the 1st sprinkler toward town and 2 others. One is a few blocks to the right in the parking garage and the other is in the parking garage 1 block up to the left a few blocks (good to know). Later I'll tell you other places FREE you can go!

Rosey~

Doing Downtown Charleston FREE

There are so many interesting spots down town. The hardest part is finding parking. But, that is free along the battery and on nice days you could walk where you would like to go!

On the corner of the market & I believe it is East Bay St. facing the water on the right corner across from the Customs house is a neat restaurant / hotel with a brass turn-style glass door. Most don't know you can go thru the lobby of the restaurant and past the desk of the hotel to the elevator and go the top floor. There is a pool & bar & tables. There is plexi-glass all the way around, so you will be on the roof and can see all over downtown Charleston! It's only like 3 stories up, but there aren't any tall buildings to block your view. It won't cost you anything, unless you order drinks or shop at the market. But, there is still more to do Free downtown, so stay tuned!

Rosey~

So Much History in Charleston So Little Time

When we first moved to Charleston, we wanted to see what there was to See & Do. We were overwhelmed with all the choices, but almost as overwhelmed at the cost. You could go broke doing everything. We decided to try the FREE things first. We were pleasantly surprised.

Here are some of the things we tried:

The visitor center is very interesting and has a wonderful map of Charleston pennisula in the floor under glass! There is also an aquarium, bathrooms & water fountains. Don't forget to get the coupons for money off things to do. Parking there is FREE for up to 30 minutes.

While you are down town, you can walk the cobblestone streets, see the four corners of the law, on the corner of Meeting & Broad St. There is a Post Office on 1 corner, which has a nice FREE postal museum in the back. You see how it was back during the Civil War and they even have letters from then.

There are plenty of ancient grave yards to see down town.

On Queen St. there is a wonderful Mariner Museum for model ships. This ship builder built the one at the restaurant, Queen Ann's Revenge on Daniel Island, which is a great place and has a Pirate museum inside (not free of course, but still neat). He has built ships by hand for Presidents & other famous people. Be careful when you enter, you could brake something expensive, so have children in hand.

Don't forget the historic Battery! There is an open park with pigeons. If you bring crackers or bread, the pigeons will fly right over you, which can be a little scary, but well worth the experience. If you pack a lunch, you could eat in the park.

Rosey~

Getting Started with Saving Money while having FUN

The way I got started with doing things in the Low Country was finding ALL the FREE things to do in the Charleston area. You can go online or even find things in magazines. It took my family months to do ALL THE FREE THINGS we found to do! We had a ball! Soon I'll be telling you what we found after the free stuff ran out.

Rosey~

Having Fun In Charleston for Less

Hi, I'm just starting this up. I want to share with people the wonders of Charleston, South Carolina! My family has done about everything there is to do here and I'll show you how to do it for less.