With the romance and mystique of an era gone by, guests on board the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad will enjoy year-round scenic train journeys across fertile valleys, through tunnels and across river gorges in the Great Smoky Mountains. Tuckasegee River Excursion (3½ hour round trip), Nantahala Gorge Excursion (4½ hour round trip) and the Gourmet Dinner Train (2½ hours) are just a few of the wonderful excursion trips available to passengers.
Family Fun
Authentic general store featuring quality goods, traditional clothing and custom fit shoes. Since 1883, Mast General Store has been outfitting the Appalachians with traditional mercantile goods, comfortable clothing, rugged footwear and quality outdoor gear for all mountain seasons. Discover for yourself why….. some times are just too good to leave behind, and why it is a simple pleasure to just browse throughout the store.
Since its inception more than ten years ago, Music on Main has been embraced by the Spartanburg community as a favorite after-work social gathering. What began as a plan to re-introduce the business community and the local residents to the downtown area is now a destination point where you can meet your friends and colleagues, hear great live music, enjoy food and beverages in an outdoor setting, and just have plain fun! Free concert are held Thursday evenings April through July from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm at Morgan Square.
Cowpens National Battlefield, in Cowpens, SC, commemorates a decisive battle that helped turn the tide of war in the Southern Campaign of the American Revolution. The battle at the “Cow Pens,” one of only a few successful double envelopments in history, is recognized by historians as one of the most important of the American Revolution.
Suber’s Corn Mill is just one of a handful of grist mills still operating in South Carolina. Located in Greer on Suber’s Mill Road, just a short drive from downtown Greenville, Suber’s rests on the slope of a hardwoods-covered hill in the Upcountry.
The Children’s Museum of the Upstate (TCMU) is 80,000 square feet of fun making it the 7th largest children’s museum in the country and the 10th largest in the world. Conveniently located in the heart of downtown Greenville on the cultural campus of Heritage Green, it’s close to all the action and offers ample parking. Visitors experience 18 exhibit galleries with more than 100 individual exhibit components that offer a continuum of programming in the areas of arts, humanities, sciences, health, nutrition and the environment. There’s also a traveling exhibit hall, two outdoor interactive exhibit spaces and an outdoor programming space. Kids and adults can simulate flight into space, design their own Formula 1 race car, go shopping in the BiLo Market or even make their own TV Broadcast! Whatever your age, The Children’s Museum is a place of possibility to explore, discover, imagine and pretend. “I Can be Anything!” is their motto and you’ll agree when you walk through the doors of this hands on, interactive museum. TCMU is committed to serving the needs and interests of all children by providing experiences that spark a lifelong passion for curiosity and learning through play.
Open Tuesday – Saturday 9am – 5pm, Sunday 11am – 5pm (Closed Mondays during the school year). Admission: $9 child, $10 adult, under 2 free. 300 College Street, Greenville, SC 29601.
Inman, SC
Hollywild Animal Park is located near Inman in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, one of the most scenic and culturally diverse areas of South Carolina’s Upcountry. Nestled on over 100 acres, Hollywild is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to providing an interactive and enlightening experience for our visitors as we continually improve the lives of our animals in an enriching and respectful environment.
Currently we have 5 displays running which include O, HO, N, and G scales, a 1400 sq. ft. children’s play area featuring wooden toy trains, coloring tables, a basketball arcade, corn-hole game, etc., and a museum artifact room. We now have our birthday party room available for rental. Please call or visit our website for availability, hours, and prices. We are a non-profit 501c3 organization.
At scenic South Carolina State Parks, you’ll find the best boating, mountain biking, horseback riding, fishing, kayaking, canoeing and hiking in South Carolina. One of the original 13 Colonies, South Carolina’s significant contributions to American history are brought to life in historic parks throughout the state. A popular family, sporting and group vacation destination, South Carolina State Parks feature cabins and villas, campgrounds, picnic areas, meeting rooms and even equestrian stables.
Walnut Grove Plantation is on land granted in 1763 by King George III to Charles Moore when the area was known as the backcountry. The documented collection of antique furnishings and accessories vividly portrays living conditions in Spartanburg County prior to 1805.
More than a rock, Chimney Rock Park in Lake Lure, North Carolina is a mountain of possibilities. Enjoy a leisurely walk or a challenging hike out to 404-foot Hickory Nut Falls. Sign up to take a rock climbing clinic or spend a half or full-day taking rock climbing instructions. Bring a picnic or pick up a Hiker’s Lunch and savor the views. Take the kids and the dog on the Great Woodland Adventure trail. There’s no shortage of ways to find yourself breathless. Check out our special events and group activities. Just 60 miles north of Spartanburg. Open all year. Live it up!
Peachoid Water Tower is the 1-million-gallon water tank built by the Gaffney Commission of Public Works to honor the state’s (and particularly Cherokee County’s) fresh peach industry. The giant peach is easily seen from I-85, but you can take the exit for S.C. Highway 11, Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway, for a closer look.
The mission of Hatcher Garden & Woodland Preserve is to be a place for the public to come for inspiration, enjoyment and education through the study of nature. The Garden is home to over 10,000 trees, shrubs and flowers. Admission is free.
in downtown Spartanburg hosts summer concerts, call 864-596-3105 for more information.
Western North Carolina Area
More than a rock, Chimney Rock Park in Lake Lure, North Carolina is a mountain of possibilities. Enjoy a leisurely walk or a challenging hike out to 404-foot Hickory Nut Falls. Sign up to take a rock climbing clinic or spend a half or full-day taking rock climbing instructions. Bring a picnic or pick up a Hiker’s Lunch and savor the views. Take the kids and the dog on the Great Woodland Adventure trail. There’s no shortage of ways to find yourself breathless. Check out our special events and group activities. Just 60 miles north of Spartanburg. Open all year. Live it up!
When you’re in Spartanburg, you’re just over an hour away from the nation’s leading home furnishings resource and a shopping experience you’ll never forget. See a thousand lines in nearly a hundred beautiful factory stores, outlets and galleries. Ideas galore. Famous North Carolina prices. On-site hotel, restaurant, shipping service. Visit hickoryfurniture.com.
AppalachianTrail.com offers extensive information relating to the longest hiking-only trail in the world. Thousands of AT trail hikers have shared their advice, photos and stories for others. From various wildlife you might encounter on the Trail – to the best movies featuring the AT – we have it covered. You can read other hiker’s stories, discover the highest peaks, famous places and attractions on the Appalachian Trail, and research communities along the way. We strive to be your all-everything reference when planning your AT hike and learning about the history of the trail.
With the romance and mystique of an era gone by, guests on board the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad will enjoy year-round scenic train journeys across fertile valleys, through tunnels and across river gorges in the Great Smoky Mountains. Tuckasegee River Excursion (3½ hour round trip), Nantahala Gorge Excursion (4½ hour round trip) and the Gourmet Dinner Train (2½ hours) are just a few of the wonderful excursion trips available to passengers.
The State Theatre of North Carolina, and one of the finest local playhouses in the United States. Highly acclaimed throughout the theater world. The Playhouse’s dual mission of producing the performing arts and providing education in the performing arts includes a ten-show professional series; a summer and fall college apprentice and intern program; performances and cabaret series by the YouTheatre; year-round classes and workshops for students from kindergarten through adults. Flat Rock Playhouse now hosts over 90,000 patrons annually and is a major contributor to the local economy and the Arts in North Carolina. Check the web site for schedule: www.flatrockplayhouse.org.