The winter blues* are all too common, as many people struggle with the short days and early nights of winter. Add in cold, gray, wet weather and the stress of juggling holiday season commitments, and you’ve got a recipe for burnout. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to brighten your mood even when the days are dark and cold.

3 Tips for Beating the Winter Blues

• Stay active – While the weather and short days can make it hard to stick to your normal outdoor exercise routine, spending the winter on your couch is not going to help you feel better. As tempting as it may be to settle in with Netflix, your mood will improve if you force yourself to workout. Visit a gym, join the local YMCA, or sign up for a class like yoga, spin, or martial arts! The physical activity will boost serotonin and elevate your mood.
• Be social – Again, resist the siren call of your sofa! Making time for relaxation with family, friends, or your significant other is important amid the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. Visit Charleston Fun Park for an afternoon or evening to burn off some steam with our go-karts, putt putt course, rock climbing wall, bumper cars, arcade, and more! We truly have something for everyone and every mood, so stop by and treat yourself to a little fun this winter!
• Get some sun – Shorter days mean less sun exposure, and that’s also responsible for lowering serotonin levels. Make a point to spend some time outside in the morning sun, which will likely improve your mood.

Ready to kick those winter blues to the curb? Get moving, soak up some sun, and invite your friends to a night out at Charleston Fun Park!

*If your winter blues are affecting your ability to enjoy life or function normally, you may have Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD. If you’re suffering from symptoms of seasonal depression, it’s super important to speak with your doctor. SAD is very treatable, and you deserve to thrive – not just survive – all year long.

When it comes time to planning a kids’ birthday party in Charleston, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with all the options. Pinterest alone can have your head spinning with so many ideas, themes, and tips for the “perfect” birthday party.

But if you want to make your child’s Charleston birthday party fun and memorable without working yourself into a frenzy, step one is renting a good Charleston birthday party venue. This way you can start the day fresh and well-rested instead of already being tired from getting your home “Instagram-ready.” And perhaps best of all – you won’t be the one cleaning up all those cake crumbs and soda spills once all the children leave!

But aside from the convenience of hosting a party at a venue instead of your home, there’s also the inherent entertainment value and exciting novelty of renting a space. Here at Charleston Fun Park, when you book a birthday party, you’re getting a built-in activity, not just a room to sing “Happy Birthday” and eat cake in.

When you book your child’s party with us, there’s no need to plan games or hire entertainment, just let your guests go wild with our go karts, Putt-Putt, cool climbing wall, fun bumper cars, virtual reality coaster, virtual reality arena, mini bowling, and huge arcade!

So take the stress out of planning your child’s birthday party by booking your child’s next birthday party at Charleston Fun Park today. You’ll be giving your child a truly memorable party that will impress them and their friends!

As Thanksgiving approaches, the team here at Charleston Fun Park is thankful for so many things! Whether it’s counting your blessings, writing in a gratitude journal, or telling the people in your life how much you appreciate them, it is always a good idea to focus on being thankful for what you have. In fact, the benefits of gratitude are even well documented by scientific studies! Being grateful is good for mental health and it can even help free us from negative emotions.

With that in mind, here’s our list of just a few of the many things that we’re grateful for this year.

• Charleston – We’re located in Charleston, and we couldn’t be more pleased. Charleston is a wonderful town with amazing music, vibrant art, and outstanding food. Charleston is also a great community, and we love the people here most of all!
• Family Togetherness – We love being part of happy family memories, whether it’s an impromptu night out with the kids, a much-needed date night for Mom and Dad, or even a Charleston birthday party with all your closest family and friends.
• YOU – We couldn’t possibly build a list of things we’re grateful for without including you! We couldn’t run our Charleston family park without you, our loyal customers. Thank you so much for your ongoing support.

Want to add some fun to your gratitude list? Check out our holiday hours and make plans to visit us for Charleston family fun with your kids, a night out with friends, or a unique date night!

The giving season is upon us, and there are lots of ways to give back here in Charleston! Check out some ideas for spreading goodwill in Charleston this holiday season!

• Volunteer at a soup kitchen or food bank. Over 13 million children in the United States regularly don’t have enough food. 1 in 6 children face hunger daily. That is why the work that Lowcountry Food Bank does is so important! You can help hungry children in the coastal counties of South Carolina by volunteering your time at this amazing food bank.
• Help Charleston’s homeless residents. Charleston’s All of Us Resource Center for Homeless Residents, which just opened this year, is a great way to give back this holiday season. There’s lots you can do to help, from collecting coat donations to helping homeless youth fill out applications for housing or college. Apply to volunteer today.
• Help build a home for those in need. Pitching in on a Habitat for Humanity house is always another great way to give back in Charleston. Charleston Habitat for Humanity accepts both individuals and groups to volunteer all year long, so it makes a great volunteer opportunity for corporate groups or social clubs.
• Host a fundraiser at Charleston Fun Park! With so many fun attractions, your fundraiser is sure to be a success. Select a local charity you care about and then schedule a Charleston fundraising event with us.

For more information about hosting a fundraiser at Charleston Fun Park, or to schedule your special event, call us at (843) 971-1223 today.

The holiday season is nearly upon us! And that means it’s time to start planning a corporate holiday outing for your employees.

There are many benefits to holding a corporate outing. Getting your employees out of their normal day-to-day activities will help them grow their collaboration and communication skills. The change of scenery can also help with morale and employee motivation. Having a new, fun goal to focus on can be a great challenge!

A good corporate holiday party should be fun, rewarding, and interactive. Consider working with a local charity. The holiday season is a great time to volunteer by helping those less fortunate. Food and toy drives are a great way to bring the office together. Or you can schedule a day for your employees to get out of the office by volunteering their time.

If you’re looking for a little holiday fun, then book a party at Charleston Fun Park! Blowing off some steam in our arcade or Go-Kart track is a great way to get rid of holiday stress. Getting your employees out of the office to let loose is good for their mental health and team morale.

Charleston Fun Park is easily the best place for a corporate holiday event in Mount Pleasant! With so many fun attractions like Go-Karts, Putt-Putt, and Mini-Bowling, your holiday outing is sure to be a success.

What’s more is that group rates start as low as $5 per person. Contact us today at (843) 971-1223 to schedule your corporate holiday party!

Looking to putt-putt like a pro? Then check out these putt-putt tips to bring your game to the next level.

1. Select the Right Putter. When in a putting position, the top of your putter should come up just to your belt level and your hands should be positioned roughly in the middle of the putter’s grip.
2. Use Your Left Hand as a Lead. Proper putting techniques show that the most effective way to putt is by using your non-dominant hand to control your putter’s direction. Try putting using only your left hand to practice.
3. Go for a Roll. Ideally, you shouldn’t “hit” the ball. Instead, try to “roll” your putter into the ball for greater distance and control.

4. Scout Out the Hole. Before you line up your shot, take your time to look over the hole and its obstacles. Pay special attention to dips, uneven terrain, and drop-offs.

5. Be Aware of Your Speed! It’s common for people to hit the ball too hard. Be aware of how fast the ball travels, and remember that sometimes less is more.

6. Aim for a Specific Spot. Sometimes it’s better to go for two strokes rather than for a hole-in-one. Either way, it often helps your game to aim for physical target (like a nick in the green) to help you focus.

Now that you know how to putt-putt like a pro, come on down to Charleston Fun Park to give your new mini golf tips a try! We have 2 different, 18 hole mini golf courses to challenge you. $9 buys you one 18-hole game, or you can play both courses for only $13.

Finding activities that the whole family can enjoy together is a challenge. If your kids have several years of age difference between them, it might be even harder to find an activity that everybody is on board with. The little kids want one thing, tweens and teens another, and if you’re not careful it can devolve into an argument. Thankfully, here comes Charleston Fun Park to the rescue!

We have tons of amazing Charleston attractions for kids (and adults) of all ages.

Go Karts

Our Go Karts are a wonderful family attraction! Anyone 54” or taller can drive a cart, but we also have double seater carts so that younger children (38” or taller) can ride with an older driver. This is a great way to get the whole family involved! Younger kids will love riding around the track while older kids (or parents) get the fun of driving. Plus, double seaters don’t cost extra, so two people can ride together for the same price as a single cart.

Climbing Wall

Our climbing wall is 35 feet high and offers four different difficulty levels. The wall is open to climbers 40-250 lbs, so this is another great options for families. The wall can also be tackled by up to three climbers at once!

Arcade

You’re never too old for arcade games! Our large arcade has dozens of video games and traditional family classics like Air Hockey and Skee-Ball.

All of our wonderful attractions makes us the premier location for Charleston parties, including child and adult birthday parties, company outings, corporate team building, and bachelor/bachelorette parties.

So if you’re looking for a fun outing in Charleston that the whole family will enjoy, come to Charleston Fun Park! Check out our hours and make your plans today.

Halloween is fast approaching! But with all the fun comes the potential for hazards. Make sure your child stays safe during the festivities with these Halloween safety tips:

Hats and Masks

Make sure your child’s costume doesn’t interfere with their vision. Masks, large hats, headpieces, and helmets can all obstruct your child’s view, making it hard for them to perceive potential dangers such as traffic or lit candles.

Light It Up!

Make sure your child is easy to see in the dark. Adding reflective tape, stickers, or fabric to their costume is a great way to increase visibility. Carrying a flashlight with fresh batteries is another good idea when trick-or-treating after dark. Finally, make sure they know to only trick-or-treat at houses with the lights on.

Traffic Safety

Remind your children of basic street safety. A sugar rush combined with Halloween excitement can make even the most cautious child forget to look both ways. Make sure your child uses the sidewalk whenever possible and doesn’t cut through people’s yards, which may contain hidden tripping hazards.

Have a Plan

It’s vitally important that your child knows how to reach you (e.g. by cell phone) in case they get lost, not only on Halloween, but every day. Children should also stick to a pre-established route, curfew, and general Halloween night plan.

Stay safe this Halloween season, and check out some of the fun fall activities around Charleston. And if you’re looking for more family-friendly things to do in Charleston, then plan a day at Charleston Fun Park to experience some of our amazing attractions for yourself!

Did you know that the history of arcade games dates all the way back to 1909? The history of arcades is full of fun facts!

Skee Ball

The first skee ball game was invented in 1909. Originally, skee ball alleys were 36 feet long! In 1928, the size was reduced down to 14 feet to allow for more players in a smaller area.

Coin-Operated Machines

It wasn’t until 1931 that the first coin-operated machine was created, called Baffle Ball. Over the next few years, a slew of pinball machines were designed. These machine were considered gambling and were heavily regulated. Many states actually banned them outright! In 1947, pinball machines began using flippers, turning the machines into games of skill rather than chance.

Coin-Operated Video Games

The first coin-operated video game was Galaxy Game. Installed at Stanford University, this machine cost a whopping $20,000 in 1971. That’s roughly $115,000 today!

A year later in 1972, Pong was released and quickly became the first commercially successful video game operated by coins. Pong was soon surrounded by dozens of competitors as more than 15 different companies began producing video games between 1972 and 1984.

A few notable titles during this Golden Age of video games are Space Invaders (1978), Asteroids (1979), and of course Pac-Man (1980)! Pac-Man is considered the most successful video game of all time. Its 350,000 individual cabinets racked up over $2 billion. (That’s about $3.4 billion with inflation.)

Once you’re done reading about arcades and are ready to play in one, head on down to Charleston Fun Park! We have an amazing arcade with well over 50 games. Make your plans to visit today!