1

GERALD SWEITZERCO -AUTHOR: THE 50 BEST SMALL

SOUTHERN TOWNS

Where Should We Go Next Weekend?

2

Destinations Organized By:

Distance From Easley/Clemson—20 miles to 250 miles—Up to 4.5 hours S.C. N.C. Ga.

Big CitiesSmall TownsAdventure Destinations & ActivitiesGrand Kids

3

Resources

See handout for websites for most destinations. Brochures in folders by state, cities, towns.

Some folder on adventure destinations. Write down source for brochures to order. Last day of class see brochures, but leave one in folder.

Visit the state Welcome Centers on I-85 S.C. at Lake Hartwell coming north, Ga about 3 miles south

of state line, NC about 5 miles past state line going north on I-85

See this PowerPoint presentation on Slideshare.net. Enter Where Should We Go Next Weekend course title in search box.

4

Getting to Know A New City, or Town

See the Visitor & Convention Bureau Website for your Destination. Download Brochures & Booklets.

Visit the Visitor & Convention Bureau, or Chamber of Commerce for Maps, Brochures, and Information.

Large Cities have Visitor Center with Videos, Tour Information, etc.

Take a Trolley, Horse Carriage, Bus or Boat Tour of the City Before Venturing Out On Your Own in Large Cities.

5

Destinations Within One Hour

6

Towns Within One Hour

S.C. Pickens County

Pickens—Pickens County Museum & Hagood Mill Abbeville & Greenwood

Abbeville—Home of John Calhoun, Abbeville Opera House Greenwood—Park Seed Company

N.C. Hendersonville & Flat Rock

Hendersonville—One of The 50 Best Small Southern Towns, 2,200 ft. elevation, picturesque, thriving downtown

Flat Rock—Home of the Flat Rock Playhouse, and Carl Sandburg Historic Site

7

Close By: Duke Energy World of Energy

Exhibit area “More than three-million people have visited the World of Energy, and we’d love for you to be our next guest! We can easily accommodate small families or large groups; and, once here, there are plenty of fun and exciting things to see and learn. We are open six days a week and close for just a few holidays each year”

Hours Monday – Friday:   9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday:               Noon to 5 p.m.Sunday:                 Closed

Nice to Know Free Parking, Including Bus Area Free Admission Handicap Accessible Address 7812 Rochester Highway 

Seneca, South Carolina  29672 Call for Directions (800) 777-1004

8

Stumphouse Mountain Tunnel & Issaquena Falls in Oconee County

9

Stumphouse Mountain Tunnel History

Located about 7 miles northwest of Walhalla on Hyw 28, the 1,617 foot long Stumphouse Tunnel is an oddity. Started in 1852 to connect Charleston to Knoxville and eventually on to Cincinnati, the Civil War—and lack of funds—brought construction to a halt. While there were various efforts by the Blue Ridge Railroad to revive the tunnel, none of them came to pass and it stands today as a monument to the efforts of pre-Civil War engineering.

Take flashlights, and water resistant light jacket & shoes to go into tunnel.

10

Cities: Greenville & Spartanburg

Greenville area—Download, or Pickup the Downtown Greenville Visitors Guide & the Michelin Greenville & Upstate Guide Available at the Visitor & Convention Center in the Lobby of City Hall Between the Marriott Courtyard & the Poinsett Hotel on Main Street

Spartanburg—Convention & Visitors Bureau @105 N. Pine St. You Can Download the Visitor Guide from their Website @www.VisitSpartanburg.com

11

Greenville-Falls Park & the Liberty Bridge

12

Greenville Festivals

13

Mice on Main & Thoughts on the Walk

Nine bronze mice on Main St between the Hyatt Regency Hotel & The Greenville News building

See the 28 famous quotes located on the sidewalk in front of Carolina First Bank & Poinsett Plaza on Main St.

14

Fluor Field—Home of the Greenville Drive

5,000 seat baseball stadium modeled after Fenway Park with manual score board

15

Greenville Artisphere & Streetscape Painting & The Village of West Greenville

30+ artisans in galleries & studios @ Pendleton & Lois Ave & Traction St.

Streetscape painting on Riverwalk along Reedy River

16

Mast General Store on Main Street

Old fashion general store atmosphere with mix of merchandise for active lifestyleVisit the wonderful toy store with 2 nutcracker statues next door

17

Upcountry History Museum, Art Museum, & Children’s Museum

All three are within two blocks of each other

18

Children’s Garden at Entrance to Swamp Rabbit Trail Under Viaduct

19

Ice on Main

Ice on Main is located on Village Green, in front of the Courtyard Marriott in downtown Greenville, adjacent to City

Hall. Check website for dates

20

Bob Jones University Museum & GalleryBob Jones University Campus in Greenville

21

Pickens County

Pickens County Museum in Pickens Haygood Mill--One of the finest

regional examples of nineteenth century technology can be found just three miles north of Pickens. Located just off Highway 178, this 1845 gristmill is still working today

22

Pickens County Flea Market

Pickens County Flea Market and Bargain Exchange1449 Walhalla Hwy., PickensOpen year-round. 4 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday, 6 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. For more information, call 864-878-9646.

So here’s the thing about Pickens: It has two flea markets that are right next to each other. One is “old” and the other is “new,” though the new one has been around for at least 30 years. They’re both open on Wednesday mornings. It’s probably better not to question it and instead just show up for the market that was voted best in America by the Small Business Association. The Pickens County Flea Market and Bargain Exchange opens at 4 a.m.., and people in the know recommend getting there at 4 to get the best deals. Sure you’ll be tired, but by 4:30 a.m. you might also be the proud owner of a beagle puppy and a ceramic bust of Elvis. Be sure to check out the bluegrass band jamming throughout the morning.

23

Happy Berry Farm—Pick Your Own Berries

24

Table Rock State Park Hwy 11 in Pickens County

25

Table Rock State Park

1930’s era CCC constructed lodge for meetings, events

26

Waterfalls—22 in Oconee County, 2 in Pickens County, 7 in Greenville County

Twin Falls in the Estatoe Valley off Hwy 178 in Pickens Co. Viewing platform & easy walk

27

Tryon N.C.

Tryon is an upscale 1,800 pop. town with multiple galleries, bed-and-breakfasts, wine bar, bookstore, Architectural Warehouse for grand home antiques, & fine arts center. Plenty of places to eat, drink. The Blockhouse Steeplechase is held at nearby FENCE

28

Saluda N.C.

Take in Tryon & Saluda on the same trip. See sights listed in handout. Unique shops, and waterfalls.

29

Hendersonville, N.C.

Two good Irish pubs serve excellent food

30

Hendersonville N.C.23 Places to Eat, Unique Shops, and Popular

Festivals

31

Flat Rock N.C.

Flat Rock Playhouse, The State Theater of North Carolina Seats 500 & hosts 80,000 annually during eight month season

Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site

32

Lake Lure Inn and boat tour of lake Lure

33

BMW Zentrum & Plant Tours—Stop By on the Way to Spartanburg

34

Tour the Modern BMW Plant

Tours by reservation only, costs $7.00 Takes one hour Wear fully enclosed comfortable walking shoes. Not open during model changeover or new model introduction.

35

Spartanburg

Attractive Downtown, with public parks, & the Chapman Cultural Center

36

Chapman Cultural Center

37

Abbeville—Birthplace of John Calhoun

38

Greenwood Flower Festival (Spring)

39Hodges, Just Outside Greenwood is Home to Park Seed Company

40

Adventure Stuff

Hot Air Balloon Flights in Anderson

Canopy Tours on a Zipline at Long Creek S.C.

More Zipline facilities in Western NC, including in downtown Asheville

41

Within Two-Three Hours

42

Georgia

BIG City—”Hotatlanta” is 2.5 hrs from Easley on I-85 Atlanta is: Entertainment, Major Sports, Transportation, &

International o Attractions of Possible Interest

o Centennial Olympic Park area (downtown)o The World of Coca Cola (great for kids also)o The Georgia Aquarium (largest in the world)o CNN Center & tour o Top of the Peachtree Plaza (highest hotel in the Western

Hemisphere) with revolving lounge & restaurant & 360 degree view of Atlanta

o Atlanta Botanical Garden (one of the ten best in the U.S.)o Jimmy Carter Presidential Library o Stone Mountain Park (good for kids)o Fernbank Museum of Natural History & IMAX Theater o Atlanta Cyclorama

o

43

Getting Around in Atlanta Tips

Take MARTA (subway & rail) to Downtown from Major Stations Outside of I-285. Parking available at several Marta stations.

Traffic Accelerates to 75+ mph on the Freeways

There are Over 60 Streets with Peachtree as Part of the Name. Know Which One you Want—A GPS Highly Recommended

Get Out of Dodge (Atlanta) Heading North on I-85 by 4 pm on Weekdays

44

Downtown Atlanta

Start with Centennial Olympic Park

45

46

Looking Down on Centennial Park From 73 Story Revolving Lounge Atop Peachtree Plaza Hotel

47

Attractions Around Centennial Park

Coca Cola Museum

Georgia Aquarium—the world’s largest

48

Worthwhile Attractions in Metro AtlantaOLLI tour Fri Oct. 4th

49

The Fuqua Conservatory—One of the Top 5

50

Dale Chihuly Glass Sculpture

The Canopy Walk—600 ft. Long Reverse Suspension Bridge 40’ Above the Storza Woods.

A

52

Jimmy Carter Presidential Library

The Oval Office

Carter’s Nobel Peace Prize

53

Fernbank Museum of Natural History & IMAX

54

IMAX Presentations at Fernbank & Exhibits

55

Small Towns in Ga. Within 2-3 hoursDahlonega-Site of First Gold Rush in the U.S.

56

Dahlonega & Helen

Four Wineries in the areaThe largest gold mine east of the Mississippi

& several where you can pan for gold & gemstones

30 min. between Dahlonega & Helen, a Bavarian mountain town with a Alpine look now attracting over 2 million visitors annually

57

Madison—2nd Largest Historic District in Ga. With Nearly 100 Restored Antebellum Homes

58

North Carolina

Big City: Charlotte Charlotte is: Culture, Arts, & walkable

Attractions of Possible Interest Levine Museum of the New South Discovery Place The Mint Museum The Billy Graham Library

59

Downtown Charlotte NCGet Around on Foot, & Light Rail

Take grandkids on the light rail for fun & ride to the East West Station, within 1 block of Pike’s Old Fashion Soda Shop

60

Charlotte—Walk to Many Attractions

61

Charlotte, N.C.

Levine Museum of the New South about Post Civil War Southern History

62

More Charlotte Attractions

NASCAR Hall of Fame Fashion Collection at Mint Museum

63

Asheville, N.C.

The Grove Arcade

The Grove Park Inn—fireplace as tall as a man

64

Asheville, N.C.

Downtown filled with unique shops Biltmore VillageCollection of shops & eating placesAcross the street from the entrance to Biltmore House

65

Asheville, N.C.

22 downtown galleries. Learn more at Asheville website

Woolworth Walk Soda Fountain & gallery with 150 artists & craftsmen located in former Woolworth store

66

N.C. Towns

Bryson City –The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad is the main attractionExpensive but enjoyable with grand kids

67

Model Train Museum in Bryson City

Admission to the largest collection of Lionel trains in the U.S. included in Smoky Mountain Railroad ticket price.

68

Nantahala Outdoor Center Near Bryson City Safe Whitewater Rafting for Active Seniors

69

Mt. Airy N.C.

Home of Any Griffith (deceased) and setting for his TV show about life in Mayberry.

70

Columbia S.C.

Riverbanks Zoo & Garden. Kid friendly & just right size

71

State Capital Attractions-- Governor’s Mansion & State House

72

Aiken, S.C.

Downtown Aiken & Wilcox Inn (B&B) lower right

73

Aiken, an Equestrian Friendly City

Statues downtown & Polo matches See the Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame & Museum

74

Newberry, S.C.

Known for their Restored Opera House. Features full schedule of excellent music, theater, & other performances

75

Three-Five Hours (270 miles)From Easley/Clemson

Furthest Destination is Beaufort @4.5 hours

76

Old Salem Village, Winston-Salem N.C.

80 building restored historic Moravian community depicting early American life. Small version of Williamsburg.

77

S.C. Cities—Charleston

Ranked in the top 5 tourist destinations in North America by several reliable sources.

Visit to the Official Visitors Center essential. Hot & humid in the summer. Spring best time to visit, with fall next.

The America's premier international performing arts festival, Spoleto Festival USA fills historic Charleston’s theaters, churches and outdoor spaces with 17 days and nights of over 120 performances of the world's best opera, theater, dance and chamber, symphonic and choral music. Late May until mid-June

78

Charleston, S.C.

The Battery waterfront area—beautiful, large, & expensive homes.

79

Battery homes

80

Fountain in White Point Gardens--Battery Park

81

Arthur Ravenel Jr Bridge Between Charleston & Mt. Pleasant

Longest cable-stayed bridge in the Western Hemisphere. Includes popular running, walking, bike lane

82

Charleston Area Attractions

Boone Hall Plantation Patriots Point Naval & Maritime

Museum—home of the USS Yorktown aircraft carrier

83

Magnolia Plantation & Gardens

Charleston Tea Plantation

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and only plantation in SC still under original family ownership, since 1676. 500 acres

America’s only tea plantation, was started in Summerville in the late 1880’s. Tour & purchase American Classic Tea. Bigelow Tea of London is now a part owner.

Charleston Area Attractions

84

Sullivan Island

Poe’s Tavern—Edger Allen Poe lived here 1827-1828. His “The Gold Bug” was set here

$1 million houses here, along with Lighthouse close to beach. Great public Beaches

85

Sullivan Island—Ft. Moultrie

Ft. Moultrie has guarded the Charleston Harbor through the Revolutionary War, Civil War, & WWII .

86

Place To Eat Seafood in Charleston Area

On causeway going to Mt. Pleasant Shem Creek Bar & Grill, & R B’sLow County specialty---Shrimp & Grits at

both

87

SC Towns—Beaufort

Known as the Hamptons of the South Beaufort Museum

88

Beaufort, S.C.

Waterfront Park on Left Bridge connect Beaufort to Hunting Island. You may want to see Hunting Island Lighthouse.

Downtown Beaufort has attractive art shops

89

NC towns: Southern Pines, Pinehurst, & Aberdeen N.C.

Home to some of the best golf courses in the U.S.—43 within 15 miles of each other

N.C. Equine Park in nearby Raeford N.C. Pottery Center in nearby Seagrove

90

Questions & Comments

What are some of your favorites?