Things to Do in Goose Creek

Art may be a subjective experience, but with 75 regional and national awards, Steven Jordan’s talent is indisputable. A master of watercolor, mixed media, and oils, Jordan’s creativity knows few bounds, and his paintings have appeared in nationally published art books, as well as on TV and film. The South Carolina native now frequently judges art competitions, gives lectures to organizations and strangers in the grocery line, and teaches classes and workshops.

A Snappy Event brings Charleston residents together for fun and food-centric events held throughout the year. The party-planning machinations started with the Mac Off, a no-holds-barred mac 'n' cheese cook off, and have spread to other cuisine-themed bashes such as rib festivals, oyster roasts, and ground-beef food fights. The annual food truck hoedown beats back the February chill with satisfying food and a raging bonfire, while the Top Gun '80s party on Memorial Day is held from the flight deck of the USS Yorktown.

At Brick by Brick, owners Kendra and Matthew Randall have developed programs for all ages around the customizable world of Lego models, encouraging kids to hone their STEM skills—science, technology, engineering, and mathematics—through imaginative building projects. By guiding students through hands-on construction work, they and their staff of certified teachers convey concepts that range from simple counting to the physics of a pulley system.

All curriculums are centered around age-appropriate activities. Sessions for 2- to 3-year-olds are designed to hone motor skills by stacking large foam blocks. From there, classes steadily progress in complexity: 5- to 7-year-olds begin working with rolling vehicles, whereas 8- to 10-year-olds can motorize their models. The most advanced lesson focuses on computer-guided robotics, and tasks groups with creating a robot that can navigate a maze or packed middle-school dance floor on its own. Weeklong summer camps also result in creations that adhere to a motif. Under the Sea participants undertake marine-themed projects, and burgeoning directors compose a short film to conclude Stop Motion Animation Movie Making Camp.

In addition to hosting their onsite sessions, birthday parties, and open-play hours, Brick by Brick instructors travel to more than 40 area schools to lead enrichment programs. These visits still adhere to the business's central philosophy of teamwork, imagination, and analytical thinking, a framework backed by Matt's career as a professional engineer.

By the banks of the Ashley River at Brittlebank Park, an eclectic lineup of groups from across the genre spectrum will gather to share their love of rock-and-roll. Featuring everything from alternative-rock bands to bluegrass outfits, the Spring Jam Music Fest brings people together for a large line-up of artists. Guests can sip cold beer while browsing the works of artisans and sampling the wares of food vendors.

Art and teaching have always been a part of Sarah Stahlhuth Dubay's life. So after she received her master's degree in education, it was only natural for her to combine her love of art with her work as an elementary-school teacher. But when she celebrated her birthday with a Wine and Design party, something clicked as she was adding the finishing touches to her painting of a shrimp. Aside from feeling really hungry, she felt that sharing the beauty of art with young minds just wasn't enough anymore; she wanted to share it with the world.

Today, Sarah runs her own Wine and Design studio, where professional artists supply students with stroke-by-stroke instruction and all the supplies necessary to forge vivid paintings. At the end of each session, budding artists return home with a finished masterpiece, which they can hang on their wall or “accidentally” lose in a museum. In addition to regular classes, Wine and Design offers private parties and Art Buzz summer camp for kids. In an effort to paint it forward, they also donate funds to causes, such as Relay For Life and the MUSC Children's Hospital.

Aboard the 45-foot, USCG-certified Palmetto, Captain Bryan Collins whisks up to 49 passengers away on tours that drift past scenic Charleston sites. Upon departing from the Charleston Maritime Center, the Palmetto overlooks silhouetted steeples during sunset cruises and floats over dark waters as guides spin horrific yarns on ghost tours. Elsewhere, a local naturalist joins nature tours to point out snowy egrets soaring overhead. A local historian climbs aboard history tours to explain the significance of the Battery in the Civil War and which history textbooks are the tastiest. Along with scheduled tours, Sandlapper Water Tours accommodates visitors on private sightseeing cruises, couples on wedding-themed charters, and students on educational tours. Guests craving a more intimate seafaring adventure can hop aboard a 27-foot skiff for treks around the harbor or through salt-marsh creeks.