The Spartanburg Parks and Recreation Department (cityofspartanburg.org) operates the Spartanburg Swim Center for instructional and recreational activities. The junior Olympic-sized pool has a diving board as well as lanes for lap swimming. In addition to recreational and instructional swim times, the pool facilities can be rented for parties. At the time of publication, children can use the pool from 8:00a.m. to 8:00p.m. on Mondays through Thursdays; until 4:00 p.m. on Fridays; from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturdays; and from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Sundays. Non-members pay $2.00 per day to swim or use the fitness room. Families may purchase a $30.00 monthly membership.
Families, educational institutions or individuals who wish to expose children to Spartanburg's history may visit the Regional History Museum (spartanburghistory.org/) in Spartanburg at the Chapman Cultural Center. The museum features information about the day-to-day life of Spartanburg settlers and residents from the 16th century through today. Children can learn about the textile industry of Spartanburg, the importance of the town to military training camps located nearby and special exhibitions for Black History and Women's History Months. At the time of publication, visitors can see the museum on Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Children ages 6 to 17 pay $2.00.
Families may visit a Spartanburg-area blueberry farm to pick blueberries with the children. The Bar W Ranch (pickyourown.org/SC) invites visitors to visit the farm for blueberry picking on Mondays through Saturdays from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and on Sundays from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Blueberry picking season spans from mid-June through mid-August. The farm is in Woodruff South Carolina, 24 minutes from Spartanburg.
Croft State Park (southcarolinaparks.com), 19 minutes away from Spartanburg, offers biking and hiking trails, a playground and fishing and boating activities at the park's Lake Craig. Visitors can also camp and picnic in the park, which has horseback riding facilities and frequent horse shows. The wooded terrain provides the opportunity to view a variety of plant and animal life. Children under the age of 15 may enter the park for free. At the time of publication, the park is open to visitors from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily with extended hours on Fridays and during the summer months.
