2025 List is Pending.

Easter Basket Ideas:
• Personalized Easter Baskets
• Chocolate
• Personalized Stuffed Bunny
• Amazon gift cards

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There's no water park in Florence yet but we do have many options within a couple of hours or less away!

Waterpark & Splash Pad Options

• A favorite place for some water fun is taking the kids to the Waterfall Junction and it's part of the Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia, SC. It's like an upscale splash pad. They do center on kids. There are areas that are more toddler friendly so you can find the area that is best for your family to sit nearby. I love that zoo and it has a wonderful gardens area, wh...

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Kimberly Patrick Photography is having a 2 day Santa Mini Studio Photo Sessions for $125 at her indoor studio. Each session is 15 minutes and includes 5-8 images with print release.

Theme:  North Pole Mailbox - All letters to Santa will be answered and delivered by UPS!
Dates: Saturday, Nov 21, 2020 between 12PM - 5PM & Sun, Nov 22, 2020 between 1PM - 5PM. 


They are covid-friendly and will be disinfecting all hard services, hand sanitizer, and using a UV room sanitizer between sessions. There is...
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Tami Bachman, her husband Skip and her children: Koa, age 7 and Ayla, age 4 are moving to Dominican Republic at the end of 2020 to serve as missionaries with an organization called The Samaritan Foundation. 

They will be sent from Church at Sandhurst (Florence, South Carolina). 

"Once we get there, Skip will help with the current construction projects on the north coast (a pediatric hospital, a school and homes for families in need) and Tami will serve in women's healthcare. We are excited to j...
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Lynches River County Park Summer Camp
With fun indoor and outdoor activities like arts and crafts, field trips, games, activities, canoeing, splash pad and more for kids who like a real adventure, this is FlorenceMom.com's #1 pick if you don't mind the longer drive. For kids ages from kindergarten through 5th grade. They start mid June through the beginning of Aug. Call 843-389-0550 to secure your child's spot. Address: 5094 County Park Rd., Coward, South Carolina 29530

YMCA Florence Summer Cam...
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We meet new people throughout our lifetime and some may only stay as acquaintances while others become an instant close connection. I find that having that great, trustworthy friend in this town takes effort and giving others a chance is not easy, but something's gotta give. It is, as we all know, like dating.


And what better way to go on a date or get to know your friend than doing a creative exercise together over a glass of wine? My favorite choice: going to a Paint & Sip in downtown Floren...
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We've lived in the Pee Dee area for 5 years now and I've watched many restaurants or coffee shops go out of business during that time.

Here's the list of local restaurants that have gone out of business:

• Clay Pot (closed in 2017)
• Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt
• The Library (closed in 2018)
• Hibachi Grill Buffet on Irby St. (closed in 2018)
• Fiasco 
• Cast Iron Waffles (closed in 2016)
• Smoky Oak Taproom (because of a fire in 2015)
• Cruise the View (closed in 2016)
• Primo Pizza inside of Magnolia Mall (closed in 20...

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There are several coffee places in Florence, SC that you can check out and I've personally visited them all!

Starbucks at Florence Mall shopping center (1933 W. Palmetto St., Florence, SC 29501)
Centrally located at the 5 points intersection and with a drive thru, this place is the most convenient location to get a Starbucks crafted drink. It has the standard of a typical Starbucks that anyone from a major city would expect. The drive thru can get congested so I suggest using their mobile order...
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This Florence mom took a break from a regular night and joined another friend at a Paint Nite event at Mellow Mushroom! They had it in a private closed room so you really feel like you are in a party with 18 other painters in the room. 

We came 15 minutes early to check in and ordered a drink. I ordered the Sunset in Paradise and my courteous server delivered me this beautiful drink. 


As we were about to begin, our friendly art instructor Sara (pictured below) had us all do a painter's oath wit...
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I'm always looking for new resources on places for mommies and babies. Here are some current resources for new mommies and babies in Florence, SC. 

MOPS in Florence, SC: There used to be a MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group in Florence that met twice a month from September to May. This is a group of mothers who have kids from 0 - 5 years old. They have now canceled this group. You can find an online Florence, South Carolina Facebook Mom Group with thousands of members. 

Florence Moms and Tots...
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Update: I am 65% sure that Pop Zone has closed the business.

We went to The POP Zone's grand opening yesterday on October 2nd and my 3 year old and 1 year old sons had a wonderful time playing at the 2 hour Open Play time! With a play room popping (pun intended) with bright colors, my toddlers were instantly engaged upon arrival! 



Located at 906B S Cashua Dr., Florence, SC 29501, you can see their entire weekly schedule: http://www.thepopzone.com/weekly-calendar.html.

In addition to offering ag...
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Update! Local Motive Brewing Company moved out of Downtown Florence. Their new location is next to Naturally Outdoors Area at 2519 W. Palmetto Street, Florence, South Carolina 29501.

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August 3, 2017 (Old post from when they were still located in downtown Florence)

I had my first visit at the new Local Motive Brewing in Downtown Florence last week and I was pretty impressed! It felt urban like many other brewery restaurants that I've been to before. They had flights of 4 for just $7! That is a st...
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I have been calling a handful of childcare/daycare prices/rates for my 1 year old since May 2017. I think the rates are safe to apply for any child between the ages of 3 months - before kindergarten (between 4 or 5 years old). This is for full day care. To save you some trouble, here are my findings. 

Central United Methodist Church Preschool - Central United Methodist Preschool's regular program is from 9AM - Noon and you can extend the care to 2:30pm as part of their lunch brunch program and...
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(Update: Currently, they are not hosting birthday parties anymore. This is an old review.)

There is a new Tae Kwon Do Center in town and they are offering an awesome birthday package for kids parties!

You can host a 2 hour birthday party at Master J. Kim's U.S. Tae Kwon Do Center a really reasonable price! For up to 15 participating kids, the special birthday boy or girl and the guests get to enjoy fun games, bounce house and activity, pizza & drink, birthday cake, fun martial arts lesson and b...
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The kids play area just opened 5 days ago at the Magnolia Mall and we gave it a try today! We love that it is located at the food court because that makes it easier to grab a snack or lunch before the kids play. It is sort of hidden but it's located on the farthest left side of the food court, right next to the Japanese/hibachi part. (This is one of 3 slides there.)

The whole kids play area is sea-themed with 3 slides and a few other sea creatures like this whale, that the little ones can clim...
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Here are suggestions below for Valentine's Day in Florence!

Downtown Florence area:

1. Town Hall (101 W. Evans) - This is hands down the most romantic and maybe expensive of the bunch but with a rooftop bar called The Dispensary, this place is hard to beat and the food is top notch. Make sure to make a reservation! Click here, to see a detailed blog on what we ordered and pictures of Town Hall.  (Rooftop bar is only open when weather is favorable.)
2. Victors Bistro (126 W. Evans) - Located inside of...

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For our 4th wedding anniversary, my husband surprised me with a dinner reservation at the newest restaurant in downtown Florence called Town Hall. 

Once we stepped inside Town Hall, I couldn't believe I was still in Florence. The restaurant felt modern and urban and even the people looked like they poshed up! It was a busy night and the service was still excellent. Here was what we ordered. (Pictures below.) 

This was from their specialty cocktail menu. It was mixed very well and I felt a buzz ...
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It's been exactly 3 years since we've moved to South Carolina from Southern California and it's been quite an experience for me to adjust from a different lifestyle to an unknown territory with no friends nor family nearby. The truth is, moving to a new environment and knowing nobody is difficult, AT FIRST. It'll take time and patience to find new friends and get familiar with your surroundings. If you are a new mom who just moved here from a different place as well, the first year will proba...
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Here are all the locations of the free trash dump sites in Florence, SC for all those just relocating here or moving to a different part in Florence: 

Locations:                                                                                        

Site 1	Greenwood	2325 Carnell Drive	Florence	29505
Site 2	Airport	708 South Stadium Road	Florence	29506
Site 3	Quinby	1508 East Marion Hwy.	Florence	29506
Site 4	Timmonsville	1840 S Warren Street	Timmonsville	29161
Site 5	Pamplico	411 South Oak Street	Pampli...

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Suggestions for Mommy's morning out/Morning Preschool in Florence, SC

• All Saints 2 K Program is from 7:30am - 11:50AM for 2 year olds. You can run errands in the morning while your child learns and plays! Your child will be taught the alphabet, numbers and colors and create many fun craft projects throughout the year! All Florence/Pee Dee area residents are welcome to enroll their child here! Children here come from many backgrounds. For more information go to: https://www.aseds.com/admissions...

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My 20 month old baby and I went to the Florence County Library for the first time today for baby story time at 11:00AM. My baby had a great time! Besides hearing a story, the babies also played with other walking babies. The librarian also blew bubbles and let the kids each have a scarf and bell bracelet to dance to the songs. It was located in a private room. After the story time was over, I let my baby played around the little house in the children's section of the library. He continued to ...
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