Activities abound for days of freedom

Many Columbia County residents try to escape the Masters Week excitement by heading out on vacation, but for families staying home on spring break, there are lots of activities to keep children occupied.

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Adventure Crossing, which opened March 24 in the former Funsville location on Wheeler Road, is offering specials during Masters Week. The recently refurbished amusement park includes a large arcade, miniature golf, and lots of outdoor games and rides including go-kart racing.

Ann Fulcher, the park's group sales and marketing manager said she expects big crowds for the week.

The park specials run Monday through Friday. For $16, visitors can receive 2 hours of unlimited rides and tokens. Groups of 10 or more get the deal for $13 per person. A kiddie ride special, for those 10 and under, offers 2 hours of unlimited rides and 10 tokens for $12.50 per person. For groups of 10 or more, it's $9 per person.

For more outdoor fun, Putt-Putt Golf and Games is offering unlimited golf, 20 tokens, a slice of pizza and a drink for $10 through Easter Sunday. Mark Ross, Putt-Putt's owner, said the miniature golf course and arcade on Martinez Boulevard is also presenting daily specials including Family Night on Thursday and Welcome Back Wednesday, when the first 50 people to buy miniature golf get free Dippin' Dots.

For the more active children, Gymnastics Gold is holding a Spring Break Gymnastics Camp for $100 for the entire week or $30 per day. The camp, held 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily through Friday, offers theme days - such as Pajama Day, Sports Day and Wacky Tacky Day - filled with gymnastics, crafts, games, contests and movies, said receptionist Wendy Hunter.

The gym, just off Baston Road in Martinez, requires a $30 registration fee for non-members and the fee is good for an entire year of events, Hunter said.

Creative children can attend Spring Break Kid's Art Camp at Art's A Way, 364 Furys Ferry Road in Martinez. The camp runs daily from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Children can attend all day for $28 a day or a half day (10 a.m. to noon or noon to 3 p.m.) for $28.

Pottery Camp at the store also is available for $40 per full day or $21 per half day. Registration is required.

"They'll paint ceramic items here and also be learning how to build their own figurines," store owner Mary Morris said.

For children who'd rather slow down during their spring break, all three Columbia County libraries are offering regular storytimes for younger children. The Columbia County Library, at 720 N. Belair Road in Evans, will hold storytime for 2-year-olds at 10:15 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday; storytime for 3- to 5-year-olds at 11 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday; and an all-ages family storytime at 4 p.m. Wednesday.

Pam Link, the children's librarian, said storytimes are usually a little more crowded during spring break, especially with older children attending with their younger siblings. More kids visit during spring break to spend time in the library or to check out materials, she said.

"We get it spread out throughout the day instead of just after school," Link said.

The Harlem Library, at 250 N. Louisville St., will be holding its regular storytimes for preschoolers at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday and is offering free family movies at 2 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, said Amanda Cash, branch manager.

The Euchee Creek Library, at 5907 Euchee Creek Drive outside Grovetown, is holding its regular storytime for preschoolers at 10:30 a.m.