🌴 Helicopter Egg Drop, Swim Goggle Tips, and Frannie and The Fox

Hey Palmetto Parents,

Every morning this week it has looked like someone poured a matcha late on my windshield after I put my wipers on while starting the car. The pollen in Charleston has been extreme this season!

We also had our first pool day! The water was cold, but my kids are brave. Don’t forget to make sure you adjust your kid’s goggles before your first time in the water. Adjusting googles is always a hassle I forget about. It can take a solid 10 minutes of readjusting to get the right fit. Check out these two videos (first and second) to get some quality quick tips on how to fit your kid’s goggles so they work well and don’t cause irritation. If your straps won’t stay on your kid’s goggles check out this tip here on how to “restrap” the proper way.

For this week’s newsletter we have details about:

Like every week, I hope this newsletter helps you and your family have a great week. Enjoy!

Love discovering family-friendly things to do around town? Consider becoming a Palmetto Parents Supporter. For just $5 a month, you help us continue finding and sharing the best parks, events, and local spots for families, while keeping the newsletter free for our community.

If you have been following along with our calendar, you may have noticed that we love sharing events happening at the American Gardens and we are excited to highlight them once again. Now that spring is fully underway, it is the perfect time to stop by and see the gardens in bloom. Flowers are beginning to pop with color, the oak trees offer beautiful shade, and the space makes a peaceful little pit stop for families exploring downtown Charleston.

This garden escape is perfect for families looking for something simple, beautiful, and relaxing to add to their day. The American Gardens are open daily, so you can stop by anytime to stroll through the space, enjoy the fresh air, and let little ones take in the sights and sounds of nature.

Tuesdays and Saturdays are especially great days to visit thanks to Books on the Green, a weekly story time held beneath the oaks. Presented in partnership with the Charleston Library Society and Buxton Books, children of all ages are invited to gather for timeless stories, big adventures, and moments of wonder. Story time begins at 10:30am on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and every now and then families might even be surprised by a special guest author stopping by for a personalized reading. It’s a wonderful mix of sensory experiences as children enjoy the outdoors while listening to stories, and a social opportunity for families to gather with others in the community.

If you want to make your visit a little longer, be sure to check out the Coffee Cart while you’re there. The cart is open Wednesday through Friday from 8am to 1pm and Saturday through Sunday from 9am to 2pm, serving freshly brewed coffee, espresso drinks, and seasonal favorites. It’s the perfect stop if you are taking a morning stroll through the gardens or looking for a quiet moment to relax.

Later in the day, the gardens also come alive with music. On select afternoons from 3pm to 6pm, local artists perform live, filling the garden with laid-back Lowcountry sounds. Families are welcome to find a seat, bring a picnic, or simply wander the paths while enjoying the music.

The American Gardens are located at 174 King Street in Charleston, making them an easy stop during a day downtown. Quick reminder there are no public bathrooms on the property. Whether you are stopping by for story time, coffee, live music, or simply a peaceful walk among the flowers, this springtime garden is a beautiful place for families to slow down and enjoy the season together.

One Easter event I am especially excited about this year is the Helicopter Egg Drop at Legare Farms on Johns Island. What makes this event stand out is how family-friendly and thoughtfully planned it is. It takes place a few weeks before Easter, which makes it a fun way to start celebrating the season without adding more to an already busy Easter weekend. It is the kind of event that helps build excitement for the holiday while giving families a chance to make a special memory together.

Another detail that really caught my attention is that there is no candy involved. While we love living in South Carolina, one adjustment since moving here has been just how much candy and pizza show up at many school and community events. This event offers something a little different. Instead of candy-filled eggs, children collect plastic eggs that can be exchanged for a small toy, making it a fun surprise without the sugar overload.

One more thing parents will appreciate is that adults can attend for free. Many family events require a ticket for both parents and kids, even though the activities are mostly designed for children. Here, parents can join in on the fun without needing their own ticket. And honestly, many adults might be just as excited to see a helicopter in action!

Tickets are $15 per child, which makes it a great option for a special family outing. There will also be food trucks on site, so families can grab something to eat and turn the event into a relaxed afternoon together. There is plenty of parking, extra fun farm activities and porter pottys on site.

If your kids love the excitement of an egg hunt and the thrill of watching a helicopter drop eggs from the sky, this is definitely an event to add to your spring calendar.

I don’t mean to restaurant name-drop, but I’m going to for a second. I’ve had the chance to dine at Charleston favorites like FIG, Husk, and Circa 1886 Restaurant. I was also raised on Dunkin’ Donuts so don’t come at me for what I am about to say! All incredible in their own right. But after a recent second visit to Frannie and The Fox, I have to say it is my favorite restaurant in Charleston.

What makes Frannie and the Fox so special is how it balances being unassuming while still feeling like a high-end dining experience. The menu has a wide range of options that feel thoughtful and elevated, yet the atmosphere never feels stuffy or overly formal.

Another thing I absolutely love is the ambiance. The restaurant flows beautifully between indoor and outdoor spaces, with a courtyard that feels effortlessly charming. It’s the kind of place that looks incredibly Instagram-worthy, but without the crowd of influencers trying to capture the perfect shot. Instead, the vibe encourages you to put your phone down, relax, and enjoy the moment. The only things you really need in your hands are good food and a great drink.

We started with the whipped bone marrow with sourdough and sun-dried tomatoes, along with pork belly served with compressed apple and cabbage. Both dishes were rich, flavorful, and a perfect way to begin the meal. The restaurant also offers wonderful salads, including the winter panzanella and the Aglio chopped salad, which add a fresh and vibrant option to the menu.

From there, we shared a taleggio pizza topped with burnt honey and black pepper, which struck that perfect balance of savory and slightly sweet. Our table also ordered the nocchietti sardi with mushroom ragout, charred cauliflower, and pancetta crumble, along with rigatoni with braised lamb.

My personal favorite was the apple tortelli with brown butter sage and savory granola. Yes, granola in a pasta dish. It was definitely unexpected, but somehow it worked beautifully. The dish was rich, comforting, and incredibly delicate, almost melting with each bite. It felt like the kind of pasta that takes real time and care to prepare.

For dessert, we shared the salted caramel panna cotta with torched meringue, Nutella praline, and chocolate crumble. It was decadent, rich, and absolutely perfect for sharing at the end of the meal.

After dinner, we moved out to the courtyard and sat by the fire with another cocktail. The space is peaceful and relaxed, and it was refreshing to enjoy the soft buzz of conversation rather than the familiar chorus of little voices asking for snacks.

Frannie and The Fox is located at 181 Church Street in Charleston and offers dining throughout the day. Breakfast is served Monday - Friday from 7am to 11am, brunch Saturday and Sunday from 8am to 2pm, lunch Monday through Friday from 11am to 3pm, and dinner daily from 5pm to 10pm. The bar stays open until 11pm during the week and midnight on weekends.

Reservations are recommended, but if you arrive early enough there is also first-come, first-serve seating available. Whether you’re planning a date night, a special evening out, or simply want to try something new in Charleston’s incredible dining scene, Frannie and the Fox is worth a visit.

Every 18-month-old is so different. My first child was obsessed with the toilet and basketballs. My second, and only daughter, went through a phase where she was completely fascinated with the drawers on my bedside table. They were filled with little trinkets, makeup bottles, and nail polish, and any chance she got she would sneak into our room and empty every single item onto the floor. My third child, however, has developed a very different obsession. Trash.

I actually save our plastic water bottles now because they are his favorite “toy.” But his real excitement comes from the weekly and biweekly visits from the trash and recycling trucks. When we hear the rumble down the street, we head outside to watch. A few weeks ago, during one of those regular mornings, something special happened that I can’t stop thinking about.

I held my soon-to-be toddler as he stared at the large, loud truck pulling up to our house. He wasn’t scared or shy. He was simply in awe. His eyes were wide, completely fixed on what was happening, watching every movement with intense curiosity and appreciation. It struck me that the hard workers driving that truck probably don’t often experience someone looking at them this way. Trash collection is one of the dirtiest jobs in our city, but it is also one of the most important. Our community quite literally depends on it every single week.

The two men in the truck noticed my son watching them like they were superheroes. They waved, smiled, and clearly enjoyed seeing a little boy so fascinated by what they were doing. Then something unexpected happened. They parked the truck and one of the men stepped out to come say hello. After greeting us, he reached into his wallet, pulled out a dollar, and handed it to me for my son. I still tear up thinking about how thoughtful that moment was. It was such a small gesture, but it carried so much kindness.

That morning reminded me how beautiful it can be when people truly see one another. My toddler saw the trash collectors with pure admiration, and in return they showed him warmth and generosity. It was a simple exchange on an ordinary morning, but it felt like a powerful reminder to notice the people who quietly keep our communities running. Sometimes the most meaningful moments happen in the most unexpected places… even on trash day!

Have a great week and drop a note!

Love,

Jenna