🌴 Mount Pleasant Park, Free Museum, The Harbinger Cafe, and a Gratitude Practice for Kids

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This week, we’re highlighting a favorite Mount Pleasant park, the historic Edmondston Alston House, a cozy stop at The Harbinger Café, and a fun gratitude practice to try with your kids.

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The school year might have already started, but summer isn’t over! Charleston County splash pad’s will stay open until the end of September. If you haven’t visited the new splash pad in Mount Pleasant at Memorial Waterfront Park - here is your sign!

I took all three kids a few weeks ago, and we had a blast. This giant park sits at the bottom of the Ravenel bridge and has so much to offer. The park is split in half with a giant free parking lot in the middle. On one side you have two splash pads, enclosed basketball courts, a dog park, public restrooms with AC, and a body weight gym, including a tire to flip and punching bag.

The other half has a playground and swings, a fishing pier that has a view of downtown Charleston, lots of trails, and a store with sandwiches and soft serve ice cream. My son brought his skateboard, but the pavement trails are best suited for bikes and jogging strollers.

With all the amenities at this park, you and your family could spend a full day enjoying all it has to offer!

Have you even admired the iconic pink houses of downtown Charleston and wished you could step inside? This Saturday you and your family will have a chance to do just that - for free!

Step inside the Edmondston-Alston House Museum, lovingly known as the “pretty pink house,” and feel transported back to Charlestons 18th and 19th century with stunning views of the water and downtown. The tour acknowledges the enslaved people whose labor added to the home, offering a respectful and educational perspective.

This Saturday, the 23rd of August, the house will be celebrating its 200th anniversary, marking two centuries of history within it’s walls. There will be free admission to the public as well as cookies and lemonade. The tours will start at 11am and end at 3pm.

Don’t forget to visit a local park favorite - Hazel Parker Playground. A few blocks from the Alston House, the park offers lots of amenities such as a jungle gym, a dog park and public bathrooms.

Have you ever heard of the ‘Starbucks tax’ when you’ve got kinds in tow - where grabbing a coffee suddenly means shelling out for cake pops too? To dodge that, we save sweet treats for Saturday mornings in between sports and birthday parties. This way I can say no to cake pops during the week in a much nicer way - with the promise of an epic cafe experience on Saturday.

This week we went to the Harbinger Cafe & Bakery downtown, and it was such a win. If you go, you should be able to find easy street parking.

They’re open from 8-1pm on weekends and 7am-3pm on weekdays.

We split a bunch of desserts between all of us. Blueberry lavender muffin, spice girls cake, and cinnamon bun were recommended to us, and did not disappoint.

The cafe itself was vibey and cozy, but big enough that my three little animals didn’t stand out too much. It’s a bit tight for bigger strollers and there’s no changing station in the bathrooms, but they do have a patio that’s perfect for messy kids or dogs alike!

Back to school season can feel chaotic, so having a calming bedtime routine makes a big difference in our house. My husband came up with an idea we’ve been loving: each night before bed, we ask the kids to share one thing they’re grateful for from the day. It’s a simple practice, but it helps them wind down, be thoughtful, and end the day on a positive note.

For us as parents, it’s also a sweet way to slow down and really listen to what’s on their minds, because let’s be honest, most of the day is filled with screaming, tossed toys and peanut butter sandwiches on repeat. This small routine helps us connect and notice their feelings in a way that often gets lost in the noise of the day. It reminds me that raising kids is such an important calling, and that we’re tasked with possibly the greatest responsibility there is— raising great humans.

It also pushes me to lean on my faith instead of my own understanding, because there’s no way I could do this on my own. And yes, sometimes my daughter says she’s grateful for boogers, but hey, at least she’s grateful!