🌴 Tanger's Fall Fest, Top Golf, & Hugh Baby's

Hello Palmetto Parents!

We’ve hit a milestone of having over 1,000 subscribers to Palmetto Parents CHS and we are so glad to have you along for the start of this journey! Whether this is your first Palmetto Parents newsletter or you’ve been reading since the first, we’re so glad you’re here and hope our content is providing meaningful ways to connect with your family and your community. 🫶🏽

This past weekend was a blur of celebrations! We had two birthday parties, one for my five-year-old niece and another for one of my mama friends… and I got zero pictures. But that’s how you know it was a great weekend—when you’ve had so much fun you forget to document it. As we head into a new week, we’ve got a mix of fall festivals, family outings, restaurant favorites, and parenting reflections to share. Plenty of ways to make memories (whether or not you remember to snap a photo!).

For all the moms and dads of both two-legged and four-legged kids—this one’s for you! 🐾 Twice a month, we’ll fetch the latest on pup-friendly restaurants, tail-wagging events, and the best local spots to explore with your furry family member. Charleston is basically a dog’s paradise, and we’re here to make sure you and your pup never miss a treat.

If you’re a serious golfer, Topgolf probably isn’t your scene. But if you want to introduce your kids to the joy of swinging a club (and maybe whacking a few balls into the wrong direction), this is the perfect spot. Topgolf in North Charleston is a great choice. With its hitting bays, mini-golf course, arcade games, and a full restaurant menu, there’s something for everyone, even kids who’ve never swung a club! One of the biggest perks is that golf is half-price Monday through Thursday, and weekday mornings until noon also offer a special deal of $15 unlimited game play per person to start your day.

We don’t get to go as much as my kids want to, but there’s easily a half-day full of fun things for our family to do. The venue features over 70 all-weather hitting bays, a 9-hole mini golf course, plenty of arcade games, and a family-friendly restaurant and bar. When we’ve gone before, it tends to work out really well for the whole family. The kids get to hang out outside, snack on whatever they need, and stay happily entertained while the adults relax and play. It feels like a different kind of family event, one that strikes a balance of fun for the kids and downtime for parents, which makes it a win for everyone.

If you want to use a hitting bay, especially on weekends or evenings, it’s best to reserve ahead of time since they fill up quickly. If you do have to wait, you can make use of the mini golf course, arcade games, or restaurant to pass time (which we’ve had to do before).

Topgolf is open daily from 9am-1am and is located at 5000 Topgolf Way in North Charleston.

This Saturday is an extra special day at Tanger Outlets— it’s there Fall Fest and Vendor Market! From 10am-4pm, the Gift Much Vendor Market will feature unique finds, handmade treasures, and seasonal goodies. Then from 1–4pm, Fall Fest takes over with a FREE Kids Pumpkin Patch (one pumpkin per child under 10, while supplies last), live music by the Cooper River Band, and lively performances by the Charleston Boogie Babes. Kids can enjoy train rides around the festival, face painting, and balloon twisting—plus plenty of surprises to make the afternoon feel like true fall magic.

We always end up having a good time at Tanger: there’s plenty of space for the kids to run around, and it’s a great chance to sneak in some shopping or take care of returns while enjoying the day outside. Plus, parents will appreciate the convenience of plenty of bathrooms, changing rooms, and even a dedicated breastfeeding room.

Mark your calendar, bring the family, and get ready for a Saturday full of fun!

Did you know one of Palmetto Parents’ very own cofounders is also the voice behind a weekly podcast? Two Dads in Tech dives into parenting, technology, and the everyday moments that matter most.

In this timely episode, host Daniel sat down with bestselling author Nir Eyal (Indistractable), tells a simple story: a quiet afternoon with his daughter, flipping through a book of games. She answered the timeless question, “If you could have any superpower, what would it be?” But he can’t remember what she said, because he glanced at his phone.

Just for a second.

And the moment slipped away.

That’s the cost of distraction. It’s not just lost seconds, it’s lost memories.

In this episode, Two Dads in Tech explores how attention is the real superpower of our time. Not invisibility, not flight, just the ability to fully show up for our kids.

They talk about the difference between using technology and being used by it, why boredom is the price of presence, and how to build small habits that create big family memories.

Two Dads in Tech is available everywhere you listen to podcasts.

YouTube | Spotify | Apple | Website

In our house, my husband considers himself a carnivore. So much so that chicken is basically considered a vegetable. The only one of us who actually eats it is our 13-month-old, who gets his chicken fix through baby food pouches. As self-proclaimed burger experts, we’ve tried just about every burger joint in town, and honestly, most places taste pretty similar to me. But Hugh-Baby’s is truly a step above the rest.

This spot is perfect for young families. You can pop in for a quick bite or stay a while and let the kids settle in. One of our favorite parts about Hugh Baby’s is the simplicity of the menu. Their burgers are incredible, made with a flavorful blend of both beef and sausage, and you have to try their signature comeback sauce. The fries are solid, and they round out the menu with a handful of other sandwich options plus a few shakes worth sampling.

They have one location in Charleston (1028 Saint Andrews Blvd. Charleston) but are spread throughout Nashville and North Carolina. They are open daily from 11-9pm.

Hugh-Baby’s also makes a great takeout stop if you’re planning a picnic. One of our favorite pairings is grabbing burgers and fries, then heading over to Northbridge Park just 10 minutes away. It’s got easy parking, beautiful views, and is the perfect place to hunt for a few shark teeth before heading home.

Now that we have three kids, spending time with just one of them feels very, very quiet. Almost suspiciously quiet. But those little pockets of one-on-one time matter more than we realize. Research has shown that kids who regularly get individual attention from their parents often develop stronger self-esteem, better communication skills, and a deeper sense of security. In fact, one survey by the Gottman Institute found that just 15 minutes a day of undivided attention can strengthen parent-child relationships in noticeable ways.

Of course, in the real world, “15 minutes a day” can feel impossible. Sometimes, it’s only once every week (or every few weeks) that we can carve out that time. And that’s okay. The consistency matters more than the frequency. For me, Friday mornings are reserved for my oldest son. We head to the gas station, where I try to steer him toward healthier picks like a protein drink, a protein bar, and sometimes a Prime. Then we top it off with a car wash. And let me tell you: for kids, car washes are nothing short of a spiritual experience.

The best part? One-on-one time doesn’t have to be a big, elaborate outing. It can be short, simple, and close to home like grabbing a snack, a quick walk around the block, or even running errands together. What matters is the intentionality behind it. It gives our kids a chance to feel seen, heard, and valued as individuals, and it gives us as parents a reminder of how much we enjoy them, outside the chaos of siblings and schedules.