🌴 The Charleston Museum, Juneteenth Family Fest, and Betty Lou's in WA

Happy Father's Day weekend, friends!

It has been another fun and full week over here. It feels like we are at a different neighborhood pool every single day of the week. Between sunscreen, wet towels, and constant snack requests, we have fully embraced summer mode. Somehow, my daughter has slept until almost 9am every day this week, and I am hoping my boys follow her lead!

This week we are sharing several ideas to help you make the most of Father's Day weekend and beyond. First, if you need an indoor adventure to escape the heat, we are featuring The Charleston Museum and all the fun exhibits and summer programs that make it such a great outing for little explorers. Then we have a great Junetenth celebration in North Charleston this Saturday. For our restaurant, we are giving a shoutout to Betty Lou's in West Ashley, one of those neighborhood gems that deserves a spot on your family's dining rotation.

Lastly, we are talking about simple ways to intentionally show Dad gratitude with meaningful conversation prompts and easy ideas for making him feel appreciated!

As always, thank you for letting us be a small part of your week. We hope you make some wonderful memories with your families this weekend!

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When the Charleston heat starts climbing and everyone needs a break from the pool, The Charleston Museum makes the perfect family outing, especially for families with younger children. Known as America's First Museum, The Charleston Museum combines history, science, and hands on fun in a way that keeps kids engaged while parents enjoy a little air conditioning and a slower pace.

One exhibit little animal lovers will not want to miss is the Bunting Natural History Gallery, which tells the story of Lowcountry natural history through fossils, specimens, and animal displays. Children can marvel at the mounted skeleton of Pelagornis, the largest known flying bird in history, along with an 18 foot crocodile and a 13 foot giant ground sloth. The gallery also features fossils and plant specimens that are nearly 300 million years old, Ice Age discoveries, and casts of the jaws of a giant Megalodon shark that once swam off the South Carolina coast. Kids who love animals will also enjoy seeing birds that once called the Lowcountry home, including the extinct Carolina Parakeet, Ivory billed Woodpecker, and Passenger Pigeon. It is the kind of exhibit that inspires plenty of "wow" moments.

For younger visitors, Kidstory brings Charleston history to life through interactive exhibits designed specifically for children. Kids can examine creatures under a microscope, listen to stories of the Lowcountry, illuminate a lighthouse, raise a pirate flag, and even play inside a kid sized historic mansion. The exhibit encourages children to explore and imagine while making history feel exciting and approachable.

Families visiting this summer can also enjoy the Museum's seasonal Kid Tours, which take place every Wednesday at 3:30 pm during June and July. These programs highlight fascinating artifacts from the Museum's collection that have captured children's imaginations for years. After an engaging tour led by a Museum educator or curator, children have the opportunity to participate in a themed craft or activity. Kid Tours are designed for children of all ages to enjoy with a parent or guardian and are included with paid Museum admission or free for Museum members.

Admission to The Charleston Museum is $15 for adults, $12 for youth ages 12 through 17, and $6 for children ages 3 through 11. They are open Monday - Saturday from 9am-5pm and Sunday from 12pm-5pm.

Whether you have curious preschoolers, dinosaur lovers, budding historians, or siblings with different interests, The Charleston Museum offers something for everyone. It is educational without feeling like school and provides a wonderful opportunity to make memories together while staying cool indoors. This summer, consider trading one pool day for a museum day. Your little explorers just might discover a new favorite place.

If you are looking for a powerful and family friendly way to spend part of your weekend, the Juneteenth Family Fest at Riverfront Park in North Charleston is one of the biggest local celebrations happening this June. It is an easy outing for families with kids of all ages and a great way to experience live music, culture, food, and community all in one place.

The event takes place at Riverfront Park in North Charleston on Saturday, June 20, from 3-10pm. With festivities beginning in the afternoon and continuing into the evening. Families are encouraged to come early, bring lawn chairs or blankets, and settle in for a full day of programming that blends entertainment with education and celebration.

Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, the day enslaved people in Galveston, Texas learned they were finally free, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Today, celebrations like this one bring that history into the present through music, storytelling, and community gathering, while also creating space for joy and connection.

At the Juneteenth Family Fest, families can expect a full schedule of live performances, cultural entertainment, and interactive experiences throughout the day. The main stage features music, dance, and spoken word, along with community moments that honor history and reflect on freedom and progress. One of the most meaningful parts of the evening includes tribute performances and storytelling that connect deeply to the significance of the holiday.

For kids, one of the biggest highlights is the dedicated children’s area, which is designed to keep little ones engaged all day. Families will find face painting, inflatable obstacle courses, games, and hands-on activities that make it easy for kids to have fun while parents enjoy the rest of the festival. There are also plenty of vendors and food trucks throughout the park, offering everything from sweet treats to full meals, so families can stay comfortably on site without needing to leave.

The festival also includes local vendors, community organizations, and cultural booths that showcase Black history, art, and entrepreneurship across the Lowcountry. It is a chance for families to walk, explore, and experience different parts of the community in one place, all while enjoying the energy of a large outdoor celebration.

As the day winds down, the festival typically ends with a fireworks finale, giving families a memorable way to close out the evening together under the summer sky.

Admission details vary by age but it’s $15 for adults and $12 for youth 6-17. Fees included! Children under 5 are typically free, which makes it especially appealing for families with younger children.

For parents in Charleston looking for something meaningful but still fun and easy to manage, this is one of those rare events that checks every box. It is outdoors, flexible, full of activities for kids, and rooted in a moment of history that is important to acknowledge and learn about together as a family.

This is one of those weekends where you do not need a complicated plan. Just show up, walk around, let the kids explore, and take in a celebration that brings the community together in a really special way.

There are some places in Charleston that you drive past a hundred times before you finally stop in, and then immediately wonder why you waited so long. Betty Lou’s in West Ashley is one of those spots.

It has that rare neighborhood feel where you are greeted like a regular even if it is your first visit, and you quickly get the sense that people here actually know each other. It is the kind of place where you will likely be on a first name basis with the hostess by your second time in, and honestly that is part of the charm. It feels personal in a way that a lot of restaurants do not anymore.

There is also been a noticeable energy shift lately with a new chef in the kitchen who has been awesome, bringing a fresh feel to a menu that already had a strong local following. It is the type of spot that has quietly been solid for years, but somehow still feels like it deserves a bigger shoutout than it gets.

What makes Betty Lou’s especially great for families is that it strikes that balance between comfort food and lighter options. You can walk in and order a fresh salad or something on the healthier side, or go all in with fries, a steak dinner, or one of their desserts if you are feeling like treating yourself. It really works for whatever mood you show up in.

On my most recent visit I had the Brussels sprouts and Cajun crab cakes, and both were absolutely worth ordering again. My husband went with the steak and was a very happy camper, which is always the simplest and most reliable restaurant review in our house.

It is also one of those places that works well with kids in tow. While there is not a specific play area or space for children to run around, the atmosphere is relaxed enough that families do not feel out of place. It is kid friendly in that easygoing, come as you are kind of way where nobody is stressed if someone drops a fry or needs an extra napkin.

Betty Lou’s is not flashy and it is not trying to be the newest trend in town, but that is exactly why it stands out. It is steady, welcoming, and the kind of place you end up recommending to friends later and saying, you really should try it, I do not know why we did not go sooner.

They are open Tuesday - Saturday from 11:30-9pm. They are closed Sunday and Monday.

My mom has actually been raving about it since she first tried it a few years ago, and she was right. It is one of those West Ashley staples that deserves a little more attention than it gets.

Sometimes the best restaurants are not the ones everyone is talking about online, but the ones that quietly become part of your rotation because they just get it right.

Father's Day does not have to be about expensive gifts or elaborate plans. Most dads simply want to know they are loved, appreciated, and noticed. This year, consider slowing down and helping your kids intentionally express gratitude for all the little things Dad does every day.

1. Share a Special Memory

Take a few minutes around the breakfast table or at dinner and ask everyone to share their favorite memory with Dad. It could be a beach trip, a bedtime story, or even something as simple as wrestling in the living room. Reliving happy memories reminds dads that the ordinary moments matter.

2. Create a Gratitude Card Together

Instead of just signing a card, help your children fill it with specific reasons they love their dad. A heartfelt sentence from a child often means more than any store bought gift.

Try asking these prompts:

You might be surprised by the sweet and funny answers your children come up with.

3. Give Dad the Gift of Your Attention

Put away the phones, turn off the distractions, and spend time together doing something Dad enjoys. Whether it is throwing a football, taking a family walk, grilling dinner, or eating ice cream together, the greatest gift many dads want is simply quality time with the people they love most.

At the end of the day, Father's Day is not really about perfect plans. It is about gratitude. Helping our children recognize and express appreciation for their dads teaches them an important lesson that will last far beyond one Sunday in June.

Love,

Jenna