15 minute read
SURROUNDING TOWNS
Our Towns
A Journey into the Heart of Greenville County
Once you arrive in Greenville, South Carolina, it’s tempting to spend all your time enjoying its many charms. But if you want our advice—and you do—be sure to branch out! Greenville is surrounded by a captivating collection of small towns offering their own unique experiences. From quaint Main Streets, revamped and repurposed textile mills, boutique shopping and art galleries to some of the area’s best restaurants, our neighboring small towns are full of big surprises.
Travelers Rest
You won’t find a place with a more fitting name than Travelers Rest. “TR” as locals affectionately call it, was once a stopover for Lowcountry travelers seeking an escape from South Carolina’s summer heat in the 1800s. It was also a resting place for weary travelers and livestock drovers heading from the mountains down to the coast. Today, it’s become a destination of its own for families, foodies, and outdoor adventure seekers alike. Located at the northern end of the Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail where you will see numerous bikers, walkers, and joggers stopping into town, TR is the perfect jumpingoff point for outdoor recreation, to have a great meal, or to quench your thirst.
TRY
Sunrift Adventures, the region’s go-to outfitter, will get you geared up and ready to enjoy any outdoor adventure you choose—from peddling along the Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail to hiking or paddling in any of the three nearby state parks.
TASTE
Whether you’re craving an artisan sandwich or a sinfully sweet cookie, Upcountry Provisions Bakery & Bistro has a selection of goodies to fuel wherever your wanderlust takes you next.
TUSCANY
Hotel Domestique pairs breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge Mountains with picturesque architecture inspired by castles in Spain and Tuscany, giving it a distinctly European feel. Inspired by the world travels, tastes, and active lifestyle of legendary cyclist George Hincapie, delight in award-winning cuisine at Restaurant 17. These local favorites are sure to be a hit. Leopard Forest Coffee Company features roasted specialty coffee and has been a TR mainstay since 2004. Whether sweet or savory is your choice, you’ll find something to please your palate at Tandem Crêperie and Coffeehouse. A farm-to-table restaurant led by a James Beardnominated chef, Topsoil Kitchen & Market fulfills its mission to connect guests with food grown in the community. Explore wines from small-production vineyards from all over the world at TR’s wine and craft beer shop, The Tasting Room of Travelers Rest. TR Makers Co. brings art lovers and artists together with handcrafted artisan gifts and DIY art bars where you can shop and play. 10 MILES
FROM GREENVILLE
Fun in the Foothills
Greer
While Greer may be home to BMW’s only manufacturing plant in the United States, this former textile town has retained every ounce of its small-town allure. Nowhere is that more evident than in Greer Station, the town’s central business district. The aptly named Trade Street, which dates to the early twentieth century, is lined with one-of-a-kind shops where you’ll find fashionable men’s clothing, women’s designer shoes, trendy apparel, and an expansive offering of antiques, jewelry, and home furnishings. When hunger hits, Greer fights back with a rapidly expanding collection of restaurants and a fabulous new food hotspot, Cartwright Food Hall. And just a few blocks away, Greer City Park hosts a variety of events ranging from Tuesdays in Town to the spring and summer Greer Farmers Market.
GO
The BMW Zentrum, BMW Performance Center, and The Ultimate Driving Museum, presented by the BMW Car Club of America Foundation, are three must-sees for car enthusiasts. You can learn about the past, present, and future of BMW through rotating exhibits, all adjacent to one of the world’s most advanced car manufacturing facilities. Then, take a ride on the wild side in a BMW Performance Drive, where you can put a range of vehicles through their paces off-road or on a track.
GRUB
Put a little thrill in your evening meal with a Plate 108 Murder Mystery Dinner. Play one of the characters, learn cooking skills (or just dine on delectable cuisine), and unlock your inner Sherlock Holmes. Bon appétit! 13 MILES
FROM DOWNTOWN
GUZZLE
When you’re not feeling the need for speed, head over to the tasting room of VICARIO
Spirits and Liqueurs
for a garden-to-glass experience. Tour the micro-distillery and farm and learn about their botanical gin and 15 exquisite liqueurs.
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Packing enough clean clothes won’t be a worry with Green Laundry Lounge. While you wait for your laundry, grab some food and drink at the café, featuring cuisine from Oak Hill Café and Farm. Trapped in the Upstate puts a twist on your weekend escape as you solve one of several escape room puzzles. Put a unique spin on your tour of the city with Premier Pedal Parties as you cruise through town on a 14-person party bike! Belvue & Paris offers unique gift and home décor items featuring work from local artisans. With its baubles and bubbly, Sparkling Sisters Champagne Bar & Boutique is the ultimate destination for ladies.
Idyllic and Inviting Landrum
If stunning views of the Blue Ridge Mountains weren’t enough to make Landrum a must-see small-town destination, then its historic downtown, rolling hills, and picturesque horse farms certainly would complete the package. Landrum was founded in 1880 when the railroad made its way north from Spartanburg. The city, which is one of the “South’s Best Small Towns” according to Southern Living, is known for its abundant antiquing, outdoor recreation, and dining offerings.
LOOK
Constructed between 1909 and 1911, the wooden Campbell’s Covered Bridge spanning Beaverdam Creek is the only remaining covered bridge in South Carolina. Once upon a time, the state had 20 covered bridges.
LODGE
Luxurious rooms tucked into an idyllic setting in the rolling foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains make the Red Horse Inn, an award-winning bed-andbreakfast inn, the ideal spot for an adults-only getaway. Enjoy live music on the terrace and choose a glass on which to sip from more than 90 different wines at the outdoor Wine Bar.
LUNCH
Located in a historic building that once served as a mercantile for the area’s thriving textile and agricultural industries, The Hare & Hound has been a long-time favorite of both locals and visitors. American fare and classic pub food rules here; on Friday and Saturday nights, be sure to try Rick’s Famous Baby Back Ribs, a weekend special. 33 MILES
FROM DOWNTOWN
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Rutherford Street is the center of a shopping adventure in Landrum. There, you’ll find a variety of shops including Landrum Eclectics for antiques and The Vintage Corner for home décor. Other options include boutiques like
Peachy Southern Boutique and Salon
and Classic Couture. If shopping is not your thing, take a drive on Cherokee
Foothills National Scenic Byway (Hwy
11), a 130-mile road that winds through some of the most awe-inspiring views of the mountains of South Carolina. Be sure to see the Poinsett Bridge, the oldest surviving bridge in South Carolina. The Blue Wall Preserve, a 575acre preserve with trails, a waterfall, and amazing views is also well worth a stop.
Making Old New Again
Simpsonville
Together with neighbors Mauldin and Fountain Inn, Simpsonville forms part of the Golden Strip, an area of southern Greenville County that straddles I-385. Once a stagecoach stop, Simpsonville dates back to 1838 when local farmer, Peter Simpson, started a blacksmithing operation. Simpsonville’s downtown is marked by a landmark brick Clock Tower that overlooks Main Street and the working railroad that runs through the town’s center. While Simpsonville still has plenty of small-town feel with quaint shops and corner eateries, it also has some big-time amenities. Outside downtown, the 15,000-seat
CCNB Amphitheatre at Heritage
Park brings in national headliner musicians like Willie Nelson, Paul Simon, The Doobie Brothers, and Counting Crows.
15 MILES
FROM DOWNTOWN
SEE SAVOR SIP
Unlike many museums, the Upstate Pinball & Arcade Museum is definitely not “a handsoff, don’t touch” kind of place. More than 50 games are ready for guests to play, including classics like pinball, Pac-Man, Frogger, and ice-hockey foosball. When you’re all done playing Pinball Wizard, take a stroll to Ice Cream Station. Located in an oldtime train depot in the center of town, this walk-up ice cream shop offers a wide variety of tasty frozen treats. Stop by Unterhausen: The Castle Cellar Pub. Along with a Germaninspired menu, the underground cellar pub, named after a small village in the BadenWurttemberg region of Germany, features an extensive list of European brews.
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People of all ages can climb aboard the Heritage Park Railway, a miniature replica steam engine like the trains that passed through Simpsonville for many years. Once an old-school feedand-seed store that had been a mainstay in downtown Simpsonville for 100 years, the Warehouse at Vaughn’s is now serving the culinary needs of those with grumbling stomachs by offering a plethora of food and drink options. Nearby, check out Clock Tower Taproom & Billiards for food, fun, beer, and camaraderie. Stella’s Southern Bistro offers cuisine inspired by the coastal Carolinas and the American South.
A City with Southern Charm
Fountain Inn
Follow Simpsonville’s Main Street south for a few minutes and you’ll soon find yourself in the charming city of Fountain Inn, a name drawn from an old inn with a fountain (in actuality, a gushing spring) that provided a much-needed rest stop on the stagecoach route between Greenville and Laurens. Today, Fountain Inn still has a fountain that welcomes travelers to its downtown, which is the site of numerous outdoor concerts and festivals. When the weather is warm, you can cool off at the Fountain Inn Splash Pad or head to the Fountain Inn Farmers Market for some local goods you won’t want to leave town without. Be sure to check and see what’s on the schedule at the Younts Center for Performing Arts, where you can sit back and enjoy a play, concert, or comedy show.
FIND
With 2.2 miles of paved and natural trails for walking and mountain biking, and a picnic shelter and playground, Cedar Falls Park is the perfect place to enjoy the great outdoors. Just 10 miles from downtown Fountain Inn, this historically significant park has a 200-foot-wide waterfall where the Reedy River tumbles down a series of rocks and boulders to create a beautiful natural vista.
FLAVOR
Tay Nelson grew up in Fountain Inn and always had a passion for good central Texas barbecue. Now he’s the owner of Bobby’s BBQ, and he’s serving up flavors you’ve got to taste to believe.
20 MILES
FROM DOWNTOWN
FROLIC
When it’s time for the temperature to dip and for us to pull out our sweaters and scarves, take a horse-drawncarriage ride through town and see homes dating back to the Victorian era, decked out with lights during Christmas “Inn” Our Town, an almost month-long celebration every December.
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Barefoot Acres adventure farm is not what you typically think of when you hear “farm.” While it does have barnyard animals and grows produce, it also has two 800-foot-long racing ziplines and a challenge course built for varying abilities. Afterwards, stop by Pennsylvania-based Voodoo Brewing Co.’s first location in the South for a cold one. This European-style beer hall serves barrel-aged cocktails, wine, cider, and food, in addition to craft beer. If a “hot one” is more your style, check out Steam Coffee & Cream to perk yourself right up. Finish off the evening with ice cream, gelato, or a Stuffed Shake (also known as a Freakshake) from The Chill Factory.
8 MILES
FROM DOWNTOWN
Reborn and Revitalized
Taylors
Taylors, which is not an incorporated town, is Greenville’s largest suburb. Its prime location directly north of downtown Greenville, with easy access to everything from shopping to interstates, has made it a popular place to live. Taylors’ historic hub centers on the Southern Bleachery (now an event venue) and Piedmont Print Works Mill, which was once a bustling textile hub employing more than a thousand people. Now known as Taylors Mill, this once-defunct industrial complex has been reborn as a gathering place. You’ll find Pinky’s Revenge Arcade, The Blue Ox Hatchet House (an axe-throwing venue), diverse food options, and much more.
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Sometimes, you just want to break something. If that’s the case, The Mad Smash – Rage Room is your place. Pick your breakables, choose your weapon, and smash things for stress relief or fun. If climbing is more your thing, you’ve got to visit Climb @ Blue Ridge, an indoor climbing facility that offers top roping, bouldering, and lead climbing. The Pavilion Recreation Complex is home to a full-sized indoor public ice rink, tennis courts, 7,000 square feet of bounce house inflatables, outdoor playgrounds, and a dog park. If roller skates are more your speed, Roller Sports Skating Rink, which has been rollin’ since 1969, is the destination for you.
TRY
You don’t have to be a train fanatic to enjoy Model Trains Station in Taylors Mill. This familyfriendly destination has more than a dozen themed custom model train displays. All aboard!
TASTE
Stop by The Farehouse and explore a diverse menu—everything from pizza and pasta to shrimp and grits and Sunday brunch.
THIRST
Enjoy a craft beer at 13 Stripes Brewery, a 10-barrel brewhouse. The brewery operates daily and features events ranging from Trivia Tuesday to beer stein pottery workshops.
Mauldin
Fast-growing Mauldin may not have a traditional downtown area, but that doesn’t stop this thriving community from offering plenty of reasons to visit. The Mauldin Cultural Center presents concerts, theater productions, and festivals celebrating everything from history to beach music. Next door, the Mauldin Sports Center offers a full range of fitness classes and programs, as well as a 32-foot-high rock-climbing wall. Currently under development, the 40-acre BridgeWay Station will feature restaurants, entertainment venues, residential opportunities, and more, as well as a pedestrian bridge crossing I-385. This new urban village will also connect to the 23-mile-long Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail.
Making Its Mark
9 MILES
FROM DOWNTOWN
MOSEY
Enjoy the year-round beauty of the 600-acre Conestee Nature Preserve as you explore a collection of diverse wildlife habitats that serve as home to thousands of plant and wildlife species, including 224 identified species of birds and exciting sightings of river otters, fox, deer, and much more.
MUNCH
SOOIE, Mauldin’s annual BBQ Cook-Off, features pitmasters from all over the Southeast and lip-smackin’ flavors that will keep you coming back for more.
MUSE
South Carolina artists’ work is displayed on Mauldin’s Public Art Trail, lining the perimeter of the outdoor amphitheater at the Mauldin Cultural Center. Every year, one new and inventive piece is commissioned for one of the nine available trail spots.
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Located at one of the most prominent intersections in the city and leading to the Mauldin Cultural Center, Maverick Station is a hub of activity for locals and visitors alike. While there, stop by Bohemian Bull for a burger and brew or Sully’s Steamers, a popular fast-casual bagel-sandwich shop. For unique gifts, jewelry, accessories, and apparel, visit Moonstruck & Monograms. Add a sweet end to your visit with Pop’s Cabin Creamery, located in a historic Boy Scout cabin on the grounds of the Cultural Center, and owned by local restaurateur Don Deas of Low Country Shrimper, also in Mauldin.
