12 cool parent hangs
By: Tiffany Nettles, owner + founder of Columbia SC Moms Blog. She continuously seeks new ways to enrich her son’s life in and around Columbia, and hopes the Columbia SC Moms Blog will be a valuable resource to all moms in the area.

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We hope all of you parents reading this had a nice Mother’s Day yesterday. Hopefully, it was full of relaxation, hugs and maybe even a fun outing with your family (with the kids on their best behavior, of course).

But: Where do you hang out in real life? Where can you take the baby and have a nice meal, or make a connection with a fellow parent?

Since none of the COLAtoday team has reached the life stage of parenthood yet (except to our 4-legged children), we asked Columbia SC Moms Blog what the Cola hot spots are for cool moms + dads to hang out with their kids.

...Because we know Midlands parents aren’t like regular parents; they’re cool parents. Here are her parent hang #protips. 👇

📍Barnes and Noble | 3400 Forest Dr.

Grab a Starbucks coffee from the café and head over to the kids area where there is a train table, puzzles, toys and lots of books. Sip coffee in adult chairs and let your toddlers play at the train table while you catch up with your friends.

📍Chick-fil-A | multiple locations

I know it's fast food, but it's the mom's dream. There's an enclosed play area so kids can scream in there without it bothering other guests. You can grab food that both you and your kids will eat. They get a toy. There is ice cream. The only downside is if have a toddler they may not be big enough to climb the play equipment (or worse yet, they get stuck in one of the tunnels way up and you have to climb up there and get them out). Bonus with big kids: they can do it all, so the kids can play and you can catch up with your friend outside of the glass while you keep an eye on them.

📍EdVenture | 211 Gervais St.

Great for big kids, toddlers and babies. There is "My Backyard" which caters to the 3-and-under crowd so your little ones won't get trampled. And My Backyard also has a nursing area and bathroom with changing room (a lifesaver when you have a baby or toddler). With bigger kids, they can enjoy most all the attractions and you can catch up with your mom friends.

📍The play area at the bottom level of the State Museum | 301 Gervais St.

You don't have to pay to play, and it's an enclosed room which keeps toddlers and crawling babies from escaping. There is a treehouse, tire swing, building blocks, and construction area. Best for toddlers and babies to keep a watchful eye and also allows you hang out with your mom friends and actually have a conversation.

📍Richland Library Main | 1431 Main St.

They just reopened the bottom level and it's a kid's dream! Perfect for older kids to pick out books, play checkers and find a nice reading nook. For toddlers and babies, there are puzzles, a doll house, baby toys, stuffed animals, tons of books, and lots of programming to include story times geared at age level, puppet shows, art projects and more! When kids turn 3, they go into story time by themselves (to help foster independence), and mom has about 30 minutes of alone time – perfect to check out books without small hands pulling you, catch up with friends, or enjoy some silence. There is also free Wi-Fi.

Photo by @gritsandgraceblog

📍Urban Cookhouse | 3000 Devine St. + 1072 Lake Murray Blvd.

Columbia doesn't have a ton of restaurants with kids play areas, and Urban Cookhouse is a nice change from the traditional fast food. There is a kids playroom off to the side that has a chalkboard kids can draw on, books, toys, a kids play kitchen, and they usually have a kids cartoon playing on the TV in the room. Parents and adults can sit outside the door and enjoy time together while keeping a watchful eye on your little ones. However, if you have a toddler, you probably want to go in there with them. Not really a space for babies.

📍Citadel Park | 4941 Citadel Ave.

This is a parent and kid hot spot. The playground has foam padding so you don't have to worry about sand in the shoes or pesky wood chips. Plus, it's enclosed (for the most part) so there is less likelihood of little ones running out in the street. Grab a Starbucks or coffee of choice and meet friends here. You'll see lots of groups of moms mingling with other moms while the kiddos play and have fun. There is also a large grassy field for kids to kick a ball around. Perfect for kids of all ages. Plus, baby swings.

Photo by @pbingaman22

📍Irmo Community Park | 7473 Church St

Also a parent and kids hotspot with foam padding. Plus, there are walking trails great for scooters or bikes, a lake you can throw rocks in (and also see frogs), and a super fun playhouse. Play equipment for children of all ages. Plus, public restrooms that don't rival that of a horror movie!

📍Play area at Columbiana Centre | 100 Columbiana Cir.

Perfect for babies and toddler, and a bonus is they have a height limit so bigger kids are not allowed. I know what you're thinking... "how do they keep bigger kids out?" Often times the security guards will patrol which includes enforcing the rules in this area. Also, carpeting that is gentle on crawling knees, and play equipment that is appropriate for babies + toddlers. Just keep in mind no food or drinks allowed. The security guard will enforce that as well. Regardless, it's a small enough area your kids can have fun and you can meet your mom friends and catch up on the latest.

📍Dave and Busters | 100 Columbiana Cir. #5

Definitely a bigger kid hangout. The menu has lots of fun options geared towards kids, but plenty for adults, too. Think of sports bar-meets-arcade. Just watch out because you could easily end up with an empty wallet in no time.

📍Riverbanks Zoo | 500 Wildlife Pkwy.

Who doesn't love animals? There is plenty to see and do for kids of all ages. While your baby might not actually be "doing" anything, they will enjoy viewing all the attractions and sites. It's an easy way to meet up with friends, carry on an adult conversation, and ensure the kids have a good time. If you live in the Midlands, consider the annual pass (you'll get your money's worth). If at all possible, visit on the weekdays to avoid crowds.

Photo by @breautifulcurls

📍River Rat Brewery | 1231 Shop Rd.

River Rat has a play area for kids, a kid’s menu, and a big open, enclosed fields for toddler and bigger kids to run around and play. Plenty of outdoor seating to soak up some of the great S.C. weather. You don't have to have an alcoholic drink to have fun here. If you do drink, drink responsibly.

Here's what you said:

"Hi! Just wanted to let you know you missed Spirit Communications Park for a great hangout for moms and kids! Not only for games with the kids zone, but the ballpark is open all day everyday where moms can go walking while pushing a stroller or letting kids run around or meeting there for lunch with friends! I took our 20 month old last week to the Fireflies game on Sunday and they had a splash zone with a fire truck that sprayed the kids and some sprinklers for smaller kids. He had a BLAST!" –Kelly