Blue Ridge Country - July/August 2019 - 62

SOUTH CAROLINA
1. Pickens County (Clemson, Easley)
Clemson, while named for the city's
Clemson University, is much more than
a college town. Clemson and Pickens
County can be considered an adventuring hotspot. Nestled in the foothills of
the Blue Ridge Mountains and along the
banks of Lake Hartwell, Clemson offers
the perfect mix of outdoor adventure,
classic southern charm and history.
"We are ecstatic to be named a top
trending destination," says Visit Clemson
Tourism Director Kade Herrick. "It means
that others are seeing what we have seen
for years-the beauty and wonders of
Clemson and Pickens County-the lakes,
mountains and waterfalls, along with living so close to a major university. It is a
championship lifestyle."

FIVE THINGS NOT TO
MISS:

* Clemson University, home of the
national champion Clemson Tigers
football team.
* South Carolina Botanical Gardens,
a 295-acre garden and natural area
perfect for both relaxation and
exploration.
* Table Rock State Park, an oasis of
about 3,000 acres with two lakes, a
lodge, playground, restaurant and
trails.
* Sassafras Mountain, the highest peak
in South Carolina.
* Twin Falls, accessed by a popular
hiking trail.
R. P. JENNINGS | STOCK.ADOBE

The Saturday Market in Greenville is part of the
welcome of a great downtown.

2. Greenville County (Greenville,
Travelers Rest)
Nestled in the foothills of the Blue
Ridge Mountains, Greenville offers a
unique blend of traditional Southern
charm and contemporary cool. Its walkable downtown is packed tight with cultural and culinary distractions. An awardwinning, tree-lined Main Street buzzes
with people, locally owned boutiques and
more than 110 locally owned restaurants.
"There are a million reasons why
people are saying 'Yeah that Greenville,'"
says Ty Houck, director of Greenways,
Natural and Historic Resources for Greenville County Parks & Recreation. "With
countless annual events and activities like
standup paddle boarding on Lake Saluda
to bicycling along the tree-lined Prisma
Health Swamp Rabbit Trail System, Greenville has it going on."

FIVE THINGS NOT TO MISS:

* Falls Park on the Reedy is the crown jewel
of Greenville's award-winning downtown; a
nationally acclaimed green space with the curved
Liberty Bridge, spanning 345 feet to allow
unobstructed views of the Reedy River Falls.
* The Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail is a 22-mile
multi-use trail.
* Stroll the streets of downtown Greenville to see
more than 70 pieces of public artwork featured as
part of Greenville's Art in Public Places initiative.
* Caesars Head State Park offers 50 miles of easy to
strenuous hiking trails, camping and fishing.

Table Rock State Park is a beautiful and major
lure for Pickens County.

BLUERIDGECOUNTRY.COM

* Experience the events of downtown Greenville,
including "Moonlight Movies in the Park" and
"Downtown Alive."

3. Oconee County (Seneca, Walhalla)
Oconee County is best known for its
natural resources that contribute to outdoor adventures. The Chattooga River
offers world-class whitewater rafting and
fly fishing. Lake Jocassee is a 9,000-acre
primitive lake surrounded by the Blue
Ridge Mountains, and lined with numerous waterfalls. The county also features
hiking trails to 29 waterfalls.
"On the hottest day of the year,"
says Ken Sloan, President & CEO of Visit
Oconee, South Carolina, "you can always
find a cool spot to chill either under a
waterfall, floating the Chattooga or swimming on Lake Jocassee. Oconee is truly a
really cool place to play!"

FIVE THINGS NOT TO MISS:

* Lake Tour of Lake Jocassee, which includes a
historical narrative and tour of several waterfalls.
* Raft the rapids of the Chattooga River, where the
1972 movie "Deliverance" was filmed.
* Short hike to Whitewater Falls, combined with a
very short drive to Wiggington Overlook, which
offers views of the Jocassee Valley, including Lake
Jocassee.
* Stumphouse Park: Hike through the historic
tunnel, walk over to Issaqueena Falls, hike the
Blue Ridge Railroad Trail and go biking on the
Stumphouse Mountain Bike Trail.
* Experience "Jazz on the Alley" every Thursday,
6:30-9 p.m., April to October, on the historic Ram
Cat Alley at Seneca.

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Blue Ridge Country - July/August 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Blue Ridge Country - July/August 2019