Are you craving some cow cuddling therapy? South Carolina has a couple of places where you can hang out with cows, but Have you heard about Moo Cow Farms? The small farm near Greenville offers the chance to get up close and personal with miniature cows so we sent Kristina and her kids to try it out. Actually, Kristina beat out all our other writers to go to the cow cuddling farm.
I saw a study not too long ago about how cuddling with cows lowers blood pressure, reduces stress, and pumps up oxytocin, the feel-good hormone released during instances of bonding in humans. The Applied Animal Behaviour Science study also indicated that mental health benefits are even stronger when humans cuddle with larger mammals – like cows. But are cows really cuddly? Some are, and we found them at Moo Cow Farms in Simpsonville, the only place in our region that offers cow cuddling and bottle feeding to calves. Let’s face it, we all need some cow cuddling therapy these days!
Have you heard about the Blue Ridge Snorkel Trail? If your family loves enjoying the outdoors, you’ll want to check out this trail. It’s full of places where families can explore the mountain rivers in North Carolina.
You’ve probably heard of BBQ or brewery trails (mapped-out routes with curated stops for food & drink), but NC has a snorkel trail! For parents with small kids who are looking for safe places to get in a river (easy access, high water quality & safe water volume), the Blue Ridge Snorkel Trail has a variety of locations to explore the underwater world in our mountain rivers. We recently visited the Mills River snorkel site and had a blast looking for crayfish, mussels & different fish species!!!
First stop, Blue Ridge Snorkle Trail Website. There is a map to find the snorkel trail locations closest to you, as well as learn about the different wildlife that are native at that particular site. Inclusion within the snorkel trail means there is parking available and that the river access is public, and restrooms and other conveniences are often available.
You don’t need a whole lot of fancy equipment either. A mask, snorkel, and water shoes are the basics, and flippers, floaties, or a life jacket are possible extras. We’ve had the opportunity to use underwater viewers, and although they can get pricey, they offer an excellent alternative for a child who doesn’t wear a snorkel or a parent who wants to share the view. In the summer I often keep towels & dry clothes in the car, and the usual essentials – water, snacks, sun protection – will go a long way to keeping the crew happy.
We’ve visited several sites, but the two we frequent the most are the Tuckasegee and Mills River sites. If you would like to get more involved, the local conservation organizations often host river cleanups and educational programs; the websites of Conserving Carolina, mountaintrue, and Mills River Partnership are a great place to start for those particular locations.
To get a little taste of what a visit to one of the Blue Ridge Snorkel Trail sites, check out this Ingles Open Road video on the Little Tennessee River at Queen Branch Preserve location!
Remember:
Never snorkel alone Don’t move rocks around as they provide shelter to our native species Practice LNT and help keep our banks and waters clean Be aware that rocks are often slick, and know your limits regarding water depth & current
Planning a trip for apple picking at Jeter Mountain Farm? This gorgeous farm hosts weddings, has seasonal u-pick flowers, fruits, and more plus an enormous indoor play area.
The views from the parking lot of Jeter Mountain Farm are sweeping shots of the nearby mountains, open space, and a beautiful building that seems to fit right into the landscape with its earthy hues of brown and green. The farm is a welcoming spot for families that has nearly two dozen varieties of apples, cider, live music, a wagon ride, and lots of other activities to enjoy.
About Jeter Mountain
Jeter Mountain Farms has an upscale, but welcoming, vibe from the signage to the tap bar. Every employee we met was super nice, kind, and helpful. And it’s beautiful. The first time I was there, I didn’t take a wagon ride so I didn’t see the whole farm and appreciate the beauty. This time I did (I’ll tell you more about the wagon ride shortly).
Jeter Mountain is a family-owned farm and is unique in several aspects. In addition to u-pick apples, guests can pick their own sunflowers, zinnias, elderberries, raspberries, peaches, blueberries, and grapes. They have added to the farm in the past couple of years including a massive market, indoor play area, and coffee shop. This place reminded me of Sierra Nevada Brewery and the Biltmore. In other words, it is gorgeous, the most beautiful orchard I’ve ever been to. They offer u-pick but also have a stunning wedding venue.
NEW for 2026: Reservations
Jeter Mountain Farm will be requiring reservations for u-pick only this season – this includes peaches, apples, fruit, anything you want to pick. Slots may be open if you show up but they are not guaranteed, especially during the busy season of September and October. Here’s what you need to know:
Reservations are a must if you want to do u-pick. You may be able to grab slots if you walk up but only those with reservations are guaranteed spots.
Whatever you pay for the reservations will be deducted from your u-pick cost when you get there (so if you pay $15 for your reservations and you buy $30 worth of u-pick fruit, you will pay $15 at the orchard)
All other attractions on the farm will operate as usual and you are free to enjoy them without reservations: the playground, coffee shop, smokehouse, market, donut shop, creamery, back porch, cider room, etc.
The farm chose to do this because they want to make the overall experience more enjoyable for all guests. This system will reduce wait times and hopefully help everyone to enjoy the beauty and experience that Jeter Mountain Farm offers.
Scenes from Jeter Mountain Farm
We had a great day at Jeter Mountain Farm. Check out scenes from our day in the video below.
Cider Donuts, Coffee & Hard Cider Flights
Inside their Cider Barn is a hard cider tap room where adults can enjoy several different varieties of the fall beverage. Jeter Mountain offers pints of cider and flights of four flavors. Prices change yearly and are posted inside the barn.
In addition to the five flavors of Jeter Mountain Hard Cider that most are familiar with (Original, Pink Lady, Granny, Blackberry, and Grape), the orchard is also featuring a rotating seasonal small-batch cider.
They also offer cider slushies outside the taproom and cold apple cider in the market barn.
The market has handmade pottery, local apple butter and honey, baking mixes, canned sparkling cider, and t-shirts. I got a half gallon of the cold apple cider and the cashier was very kind and offered me plastic glasses so we could drink it then, which I was thought was quite classy since I was planning to just chug it because I wanted to drink it immediately.
There is a courtyard that is central to the Cider Barn, Market, coffee shop, and cider donut counter. It’s covered and there are picnic benches and live music. The donuts are amazing by the way – perfectly crisp on the outside and oh-so-soft on the inside. I could have eaten a half dozen by myself.
If you’re hungry, you can get a 20-hour smoked pulled pork sandwich at 1813 Smokehouse, which has a brand new location at the orchard as of 2024 with picnic tables and a covered area to wait in line for ordering. They also have two homemade BBQ sauces plus a traditional BBQ menu.
Then there are the bathrooms. These bathrooms are nicer than my house! They are spacious, have gorgeous flower wallpaper and benches. They are located on a hill overlooking the cider barn and courtyard and are huge and beautiful. Usually you don’t notice bathrooms, right? Impossible not to notice them here.
2025 Additions: Amish-Built Barn, Bakery, and Creamery
New in 2025 is a gorgeous Amish-constructed barn with almost 100 rocking chairs overlooking the orchard, covered areas with seating, a delicious creamery, and a large bakery where you can watch the donuts being made. Yum.
Jeter Mountain ice cream
Small batch ice cream is made right there using ingredients from the orchard itself. We tried all four flavors in late August – peach, cookies & cream, chocolate, and vanilla bean – and the peach was my personal favorite but all were delicious. They also offer homemade floats if you want to go the old school route.
In the bakery, there are glass windows so you can see the cider donuts being made, which only made me want them more. They are so, so good – crispy and flavorful on the outside and soft and warm on the inside. I’d eat a half dozen by myself if I didn’t have any self-control.
This is a must-visit when you spend a day at the orchard.
Tractor Ride & U-Pick Flowers and Fruit
Jeter Mountain claims they are the largest apple orchard in Western North Carolina. While we didn’t fact-check that claim, it seems accurate since there are 6,000 apple trees at the farm, which makes for an expansive orchard.
Some of the seasonal berries like the blueberries and blackberries, are within walking distance to the cider barn and are sold by pint or pound. You can pick your own apples or fill smaller bags right at the barn of different varieties of apples. The orchard grows 25 varieties and you can see what’s available here.
Since the farm is more than 400 acres and has so many apple trees, you have to take a wagon ride to get to the apple orchard itself and other areas to pick sunflowers and berries. You can only u-pick from the orchard once you’ve paid for your basket/bag. You pay for this at the new Apple Depot near the bathrooms and then you and your family jump on the wagon.
Once you are helped into the wagon by the very kind staff, you’ll be taken on a beautiful ride through the orchard with various stops at the areas you want to pick. So when we went, guests were able to peaches and zinnias and sunflowers so we stopped first at the flower field and then were dropped off at the peach orchard. We were given instructions on picking peaches and then got to it.
Once we filled our basket, we just waited for the wagon to come back and pick us up. The wagons were running maybe five minutes apart so you won’t be waiting for too long.
This was my first time taking the wagon ride and it was fantastic because I got to see the sweeping views of the orchard and the new plantings of apple trees.. The orchard is perfectly manicured and mowed, with trees all spaced the same distance. It’s very organized, which is kind of an odd way to describe an orchard but that’s how it looks. The wagon was super clean and covered so if you’re allergic to hay, no worries since it’s not in the wagon.
Kids Play Area & Field Trips
The 6,000-square-foot covered play area is perfect for kids. There is a hay mountain, slides, and plenty of things to tire out kids before heading home. The play area is huge. What’re 6,000 square feet, right? Big, like really big. And here’s the best part: it’s entirely covered so kids can play – for free – rain or shine. And there’s a high-top bar with stools that extends the entire length and overlooks the play area so parents can chill out and watch their kids.
There’s a little house with a chalkboard inside. There are tractor tire trampolines, an enormous haystack with a tunnel underneath, a John Deere-inspired climbing structure with a slide, and my favorite – a basketball hoop play area where you can shoot hoops with your kids. Or by yourself, no judgement.
The play area is right next to the coffee shop and market so you can get coffee and watch your kids play until you decide to pick apples or peaches or whatever it is you want to pick. Or you can do that first, get apple cider donuts, and then let the kids burn off energy before the ride home. I’d honestly say this play area is worth the visit to Jeter Mountain Farm alone.
U-Pick Pricing {2025}
U-pick peaches include a wagon ride for up to four people and a basket you can keep. A peck of peaches and apples are $32. They have pre-picked fruit available in the market. Your u-pick includes a wagon ride for up to four people.
For blueberries, u-pick are $10/quart and do not include a wagon ride because you can walk to them from the main barn and parking area.
U-pick flowers are $20/cup and allow up to four people to ride a wagon through the orchard and include a reusable Jeter Mountain Farm cup. You can pick as many flowers as you can fit in your cup.
Additional pickers or just to take a wagon ride is $4/per person.
Tips on Visiting
With lots of space to roam and play, the farm has certainly made it an appealing day trip for families. They also offer field trips every Thursday and Friday from 10 am – 2 pm from in September and October. Field trips fill up usually in March so plan ahead.
Additionally, the farm has a pumpkin patch that opens in the early fall.
One thing to note is that pets are not allowed at the U-pick orchards, inside the market, inside the taproom, coffee shop, and wagons. They also do not allow strollers or wagons in the orchards or on the wagon ride. You can park them before you get on the wagon and go to the orchard. They also request that you do not bring your own picking containers.
Jeter Mountain plans to be open through October. Check their website for updated details and hours.
If you’ve only been to Beechwood Farms for strawberries or have heard of them in passing and have thought about going, read on. This place is a hidden gem in the Upstate, SC.
I have a list of places I want to explore in the Upstate. It’s long. And I get pretty excited when I have the opportunity to check one off the list. Beechwood Farms is one of those places I had not been able to visit and wow, I’ve been missing out.
Beechwood Farms has u-pick strawberries in the spring, sunflowers and vegetables in the summer, and pumpkins in the fall. They have special events and a fruit and produce stand that is open April through mid-October. But the story behind the farm is just as interesting and beautiful as everything you’ll see when you go.
I was greeted by Donna Tesner when I arrived at Beechwood Farms. Donna runs part of the farm now as a second-generation farmer. Her parents, Elizabeth and Billy Ledford, started Beechwood Farms over 50 years ago and much of her family still lives nearby. Just after she introduced herself, her parents pulled up so I could meet them. Her dad, Billy Ledford, is pure sunshine. His blue eyes sparkled as he regaled me with tales of meeting his wife in high school and starting the farm because he didn’t want to have a boss. His whole family grew up in the area and he’s obviously a proud South Carolinian who loves farming, family, and faith.
I’ve interviewed enough farmers and written on plenty of farms to understand that farming life isn’t easy or predictable but somehow, the Ledford family made it work. Billy and Elizabeth started out small by growing corn and beans and eventually bought more acres to start u-pick strawberry fields and other crops. They lease out several acres to another family, the Ceron family, who runs the open-air market and sells the fruit and vegetables grown right there on the farm, picked at their prime and perfectly ripe.
U-Pick Strawberries, Vegetables, and Pumpkins
I knew of Beechwood Farms because of their u-pick strawberries in the spring. Our readers are always recommending them and rightly so. I’ve had their berries at the TD Saturday Market in Greenville and they are delicious. Strawberry season is very short, only five or six weeks at best, so get ready around April to head over there and get your strawberries.
Throughout the summer, the Ceron family lets visitors go out into the fields and pick vegetables. It can’t get any fresher than that. They have squash, several different kinds of beans, corn, peppers, eggplant, tomatoes, and cabbage. They also have a vast array of fresh produce in the market to purchase if you don’t feel like picking.
During the fall, you’ll get to pick your own pumpkins from the vine. We saw at least three different fields filled with pumpkins of all sizes already in mid-August so they’re coming soon. The best way to stay updated on what’s in season, what’s open, and what hours is through Beachwood Farms’ Facebook page. Things like weather can quickly impact hours and availability.
The Sunflower Field
Donna runs the sunflower field and her enthusiasm and love for these beautiful flowers is evident. Besides helping to run the farm, she’s a teacher in Greenville County (one of the best her dad tells me, which is not only his opinion as she has been nominated as one of the top 10 teachers in the county), which really plays well into the tour she gives to visitors when they come and visit the farm and pick sunflowers. We really enjoyed learning about all the different things they grow. She will give tours over the summer for school kids (just call and ask about it).
Donna grows more than 25 varieties of sunflowers. I didn’t even know there were 25 varieties of sunflowers. We visited Beechwood Farms towards the end of sunflower season but there were still lots of beauties out there in the fields from bright yellow to red sunflowers, from small pretty blooms to huge ones the size of my head.
Sunflower Hill overlooks the farm and it’s just beautiful. This is one of those farms that allows professional photographers to do sessions with clients as well. There’s a fee to go but if you’re wondering just how pretty family photos can be in a sunflower field, here are a few gorgeous shots that will probably make you want to book a session stat. It’s by appointment only.
Donna works hard to find the best sunflowers to grow in her field and I think she has done an amazing job. Even though the sunflowers were just about done showing their glory when we were there, the ones that still stood were breathtaking. I can imagine what an entire field of yellow, red, and gold sunflowers looks like when they are all in bloom.
The 2024 sunflower field is open as of June 20, 2024 and costs $20 per vehicle, which includes one u-pick flower stem. After that, each stem is $2. Dogs on leash are allowed but not inside the farm store. Hours are 9 am – 5 pm.
Visiting Beechwood Farms
The farm is open Monday-Friday 9 am – 5 pm and Saturdays 9 am – 4:30 pm seasonally. They usually open for the season mid-April and close after the first frost, likely mid-October. It’s best to check their Facebook page before you go for up-to-date hours.
The farm also has some animals to feed and a playground for kids. They have public events throughout their season but again, it’s best to check their Facebook page for when they happen. And since this is a farm, with dirt and bugs and mud and sunshine, consider wearing closed-toed shoes and clothes you don’t mind getting a little dirt on.
They are located in Marietta not far off of Highway 25. If you need ideas of other things to do in the area, our guide to nearby Travelers Rest can help you out.
Looking for something new and exciting to do this summer that kids of all ages will enjoy? We sent a local mom to check out Shipwreck Cove in Duncan and tell us all about this water park. Filled with water slides, a lazy river, and a toddler play area, everyone is sure to enjoy a visit to Shipwreck Cove!
We were given tickets to Shipwreck Cove in exchange for this review. Opinions are those of the writer.
It’s the last month of summer vacation and I feel like I’m running out of ideas on how to keep the kids entertained. I take that back. I have plenty of ideas on how to keep them entertained. I’m just getting a little tired of trying to wear them out! Over the weekend, I thought of the perfect way to do just that. Shipwreck Cove, here we come!
About Shipwreck Cove in Duncan
My crew, including 5 kids and 1 (super brave) mom, arrived at Shipwreck Cove slightly before they opened that park at 10 am. First word of advice before heading out: apply the kiddo’s sunscreen either right before leaving the house or at the car before you enter the park. If you’re juggling as many as I did today, it might be hard to keep them all still once they walk through the gates and see the fun that awaits them.
Not only did I think of heading to this nearby water park for the sake of trying to tire everyone out; it was a place I thought everyone would enjoy, from age 2 to 13. From the moment we arrived, my theory was proven correct.
The kiddie area at Shipwreck Cove
As you walk into Shipwreck Cove, the kiddie area for the younger children sits front and center. With a zero-entry pool that goes no higher than six inches deep, my two-year-old made a beeline right for the mini pirate ship in the middle of the kiddie pool. This pirate ship was her focal point while we were there- with two softly padded staircases, only about four to five small steps high, two pint-sized water slides, and a bridge, she felt like she could conquer it all.
The top of the pirate ship where she could walk around had a rougher texture (but was still easy on the bottom of her feet) so the surface wasn’t slippery. Bonus points go to whoever came up with that design idea. We all know wet surfaces can easily mean your child might fall, and this was just one less thing I had to worry about while we were there. All the slides in the kiddie area had a soft padding to land on. They really kept the little ones in mind here!
The older children weren’t so interested in the pirate ship, which was fine because they try to restrict it to just the younger children using it. The kiddie area also had a tall fixture with cone-shaped buckets that would fill up with water and eventually tip over (right on top of your head if you were standing under it). This was a big hit even for the older children. The suspense of “when is the water going to come down” really made them smile. A fountain and another small slide complete the kiddie pool area, and that was more than enough because, you know, younger kids and repetition sort of go together.
The pools, the slides, and the lazy river
All the pools at Shipwreck Cove are connected to each other, which makes it easy for the kids to swim from one area to the other without them getting out and you having to yell “stop running!” The larger pool can be entered either through steps toward the back part of the kiddie pool, through stairs that go directly from the deck to the pool itself, or through two tall windy water slides that the 11 and 10-year-old boys referred to as “awesome!”
Once they went down the slides, that is where they stayed a majority of the day. There is a yellow slide, which is covered like a tunnel, and a red slide that is a bit wider and is open. At first the red slide seemed to be the favorite because the boys said it was the faster of the two; that is, until one of them discovered “if you lay back on the yellow slide, it goes way faster!”
I personally didn’t go down the water slides (I’m not a chicken, I promise), so you might have to go test which slide is faster for yourself. There is a 42-inch height requirement to go on the slide, so not all kids may be able to test it out.
Connected to the larger pool is a lazy river. Grab an inner tube provided by the park (which is required to hang out in the lazy river), lay back and let the “current” take you for a smooth, relaxing ride. Try to keep your eyes open though or you may get surprised by one of the water fountains that spray into the water. This was the primary hang out spot for the 13-year-old I brought along. She told me, “I like going down the water slides a few times then going over to the lazy river to take a break from climbing up the stairs to get to the slide.” Who could blame her?
There are plenty of chairs and loungers pool-side, some next to umbrellas if you want shade. I opted for the row of chairs that were closest to the kiddie pool area, but also gave me a good view of the larger pool. The bathrooms are situated right behind this area near the entrance. Lockers are located near the bathrooms and are available to rent if you want to lock up your personal items.
Enjoy lunch at Shipwreck Cove
Time flies when you’re having fun, and before I knew it, it was lunchtime. Outside food and beverages are not allowed in the park, so I didn’t pack anything. No worries though because food is available to purchase inside the park and the prices are fair. Fries, nachos, mozzarella sticks, chips, popcorn, burgers, chicken sandwiches and tenders, hot dogs, a variety of drinks, and some tasty desserts are available to purchase.
Chicken tenders and chicken sandwiches were our choices today, and we chose well because the kids ate it all (even my picky eater two-year-old)! After lunch, of course they all wanted to get back to running up the stairs to go down the water slide, but I put my foot down on that one. Time to take it easy for about 20 minutes so no one feels sick after inhaling their lunch. Hello, lazy river!
Safety at Shipwreck Cove
One worry I had when I arrived was “how am I going to keep an eye on five kids going in all different directions?” Two things gave me a very simple solution to that. One- since all the pools are connected, I was able to stand near the back part of the kiddie pool while I was with my youngest and keep an eye on everyone else at the same time. Solution number two- lifeguards! The lifeguards are situated around the lazy river and the larger pool.
There is also a lifeguard at the top of the larger slides to regulate when people can go down and a couple lifeguards at the bottom of the slides in case someone needs a little help getting out of the water. Since I haven’t quite figured out how to grow eyes on the back or sides of my head yet, these lifeguards put my mind at ease to make sure everyone stayed safe. There is no lifeguard around the kiddie pool though, so I stuck around there pretty much the entire time.
Another way Shipwreck Cove looks out for the safety of their guests is by having life jackets available at no extra cost, and there are various sizes available to choose from. They do have traditional life jackets available for younger children, but they do not carry Puddle Jumpers. I’m personally a fan of Puddle Jumpers for my little one, so I brought it along with me. If you feel more comfortable using your child’s life jacket from home, they will allow you to bring it into the park.
Events & Parties
They offer a large party rental space just outside of Shipwreck Cove called Stolenedge Park. This rental space can host up to 40 people at the smaller shelter and up to 75 people at the large shelter. It includes a park, walking trail, and restrooms convenient to both shelters. The fee for the small shelter is $30 and the fee for the larger shelter is $60. You can only reserve these for 2-hour intervals. Additionally, they offer birthday party packages and special events. .
My kids’ thoughts on Shipwreck Cove
Into the afternoon hours, I knew my youngest was ready for nap time. This was the time I dreaded: telling everyone it was time to go and hearing their objections. Boy was I shocked when no one objected to going home because, (((drum roll please))), they were tired! Yes! Mission accomplished!
I managed to not only wear out all five kids, but they all had a great time as well. The ride home consisted of two of them falling asleep and the others talking about the fun they had. Shipwreck Cove provided a fun day for the kids, and an easy day for the parent (me). We will definitely go back for more fun!
Plan a visit to Shipwreck Cove
119 South Spencer Street, Duncan SC 864.949.0290 $11.50 for 41″ & Under $14.50 for 42″ & Over Seniors/Handicapped/Military (with ID) $8.50
Open Monday – Saturday 10 am – 6 pm Open Sunday 1 pm – 6 pm
Have you seen the panoramic views at the top of Echo Mountain from Jump Off Rock? Just a few minutes outside Hendersonville, NC in Laurel Park, NC is Jump Off Rock Park. You’ll drive straight to the top for some gorgeous views, and while you’re there you can do a little hiking or enjoy the grassy mountain top lawn for a picnic with a view. Admission is free and that’s not the only reason this park is so great for families. Here’s why we love Jump Off Rock.
Looking for a place to take the kids where they can grow their skateboard skills? Hot Spot Skate Park is the place! Located at 339 Union Street in Spartanburg, Hot Spot features a variety of street-style steps, ramps, ledges, rails, mini-ramp, pole jam, and a bowl.
And if you’re looking for more things to do or places to eat while you’re in the area, we have your ultimate guide to Spartanburg, SC!
If you are interested in Geocaching, Greenville, SC and the Upstate have lots of “caches” you can treasure hunt for that are a part of the global adventure, and we have all the details on how to start!
Unbeknownst to many people, at any given moment there could be hundreds of small treasure chests hidden in public places around you – just waiting for you to find them! This worldwide game is called geocaching, it’s a blast to do with your kids, you can play nearly anywhere, and the best part is it’s free.
Searching for these ‘caches’ can take you from your favorite trails, to your most frequented parks, to the places you have passed a hundred times on Main Street, locating hidden objects you never knew were there! Greenville’s downtown area is home to over twenty-five caches, the Swamp Rabbit Trail has a couple dozen, and Paris Mountain is home to an infamous Bucket of Toys.
What exactly is a Cache?
Caches are containers ranging in size from a tiny thimble to a paint bucket and everything in between. There are millions hidden worldwide! They might be a coffee can hidden in a tree hole, a medicine jar under a rock, or a magnetic container (such as a hide-a-key) fastened to everyday objects like handrails, bridges, benches, signs, stuck to landmarks, and the list goes on and on. Each cache has been logged into a system with its exact GPS coordinates, a unique name, a description of its size, and perhaps a clue or two if you’re lucky.
What’s inside?
Caches almost always contain a log book inside which you should sign upon finding. Larger caches may contain small cheap toys (think an army man or random beads), coins, or nature finds like acorns or interesting rocks. Occasionally you may be lucky enough to find a ‘Trackable!’
What is a Trackable?
Any object fastened with a GPS tracker. You may have a task to complete if you decide to take the Trackable. On our first hunt, my kids found a Trackable; it was a toy fixed with a tracker and a note. The note explained that the car was in a race! It had been placed in a geocache in Florida along with two other cars at the same time. The task was to take the car and place it into another geocache as far west as possible. The family which set the cars in motion was tracking them online to see which car would make it across the U.S. to the coast of California first. You could take down the code yourself and watch the car you ‘helped’ as it continued to make its way across the states. HOW COOL WAS THAT!? From that day on, my kids were hooked.
What to bring?
Bring a pen to sign the log. If you are planning on collecting any items from a cache, you must go prepared to leave something behind. The general rule is take one, leave one. So have fun with your kids picking out small items from home before you head out. Research the size of the caches you will be locating ahead of time; if the cache is tiny, there will not be anything to collect.If it is medium/large, you can generally expect to take something and leave something.
Unfortunately, not all seekers follow the rules! Prepare your kids in advance by letting them know there may be nothing to take, or the things may be undesirable. We like to leave things if size permits (even if we haven’t taken something) because it makes the finding fun.
Download A Geocaching App
The easiest way to geocache is to use an App. Some may be free, but the paid versions will be worth your while. One popular app is Geocashing®, but it does cost money ($6.99 per month). Geocaching.com is also a great resource. Almost all apps will show you all the caches around you, along with details, additional hints, geocache description, photos, and logs from people who have recently found it. I do not recommend geocaching with small kids without using a good App. Put on the compass, hand it to your tot, and let them guide you to the cache – simple! Then roll up your sleeves and search.
Tips for Getting Started Geocaching in Greenville, SC
Each cache is different in terms of difficulty. Some are nearly in plain sight and some are nearly too difficult to find. Check the ratings before you head out.
Read the past logs on the Apps before you hunt. You may find that the cache has very recently been “Muggled” i.e. stolen by a non-game playing person. You need to know this!
You must return the container to the exact same spot you found it.
Look high, low, under, behind, get creative! The Apps will get you close, but it’s up to you to seek the treasure. They can also be off. Rely more upon the clues (like the name of the cache) than the precise point the phone GPS takes you. Use your detective skills and common sense over, “But it says it’s right HERE?” It is never exactly where the App takes us, instead it’s close.
Caching in the city is generally MORE difficult than caching in the park or woods. It is much easier to hide an object from “Muggles” in the woods than the city. Things downtown are more of a puzzle, and often small.
Expect to miss sometimes. Prepare your kids for the chance of not finding it, or the toys being sad, or the log missing, etc. These things do happen! We rarely find every single cache we set out to.
If the geocaching goes south, there’s always ice cream!
When going geocaching in Greenville, SC, we have found several along Main Street, the Reedy River, throughout Greenville County, and all of them at Paris Mountain.
Until a few weeks ago, I had not heard of College Street Park. I had no idea what to expect. I googled the address and found that it was located in the middle of an older neighborhood in Simpsonville. “This won’t take long,” I thought to myself. How big could the park be?
The boys and I hopped in the van and headed down the road. I was impressed with Simpsonville’s Main Street, lined with small-town restaurants and shops. Our destination was only a few blocks off Main.
The park is pretty small, but there are several things I really liked about it.
What I loved about College Street Park
There is a basketball court. While this may not appeal to the younger crowd, it’s perfect if you have older kids who may have outgrown the monkey bars (or maybe you have a child like mine who just doesn’t like monkey bars). Obviously, you’d have to bring your own ball.
There are also 4 pickle ball courts for all of you pickle ball loving fans!
There are two blue see-saws. I was most excited about this! I can’t tell you the last time I saw one of these. In fact, I had to teach the kids how to use it because they had no idea what it was.
There’s also a swing set, jungle gym, slide, and merry-go-round.
The grass is perfection. This may not be a big deal to anyone except me, but it was one of the first things I noticed when I got out of the car. The entire park is well manicured. It would be a beautiful spot for a picnic, but keep in mind there is very little shade.
In addition to the see-saws and basketball court, you’ll find swings, different types of monkey bars and a slide. College Street Park was a hit with the boys. The neighborhood was older and the playground isn’t fancy, but both had character and charm.
The equipment will get very hot on a sunny summer day, so we will make plans to return in the fall after the cooler weather rolls in.
Have you visited Pelham Mill Park in Greer, SC? This park is both pretty and historical. Local mom, Liene, visited Pelham Mill Park and she’s sharing all about it what you’ll see when you visit.
This historic site in Greenville has somehow flown under the radar of the majority of locals, even those living and working nearby. However, with its old mill ruins, river shoals, and a couple of acres of bottomland forest, Pelham Mill Park could be considered one of the more interesting parks in Greenville County.
Quick Review of Pelham Mill Park
Plenty of Paved Parking
No restrooms on site
Dog park
No playground
Hiking trails (Be careful as they are not well marked, but the ones behind the dam are fairly easy. The trail in front of the dam we found to be harder to navigate and steeper.)
Overlook of historic dam
About Pelham Mill Park
Home to one of the first textile mills in Greenville County, there are scenic and historic elements that liken it to Falls Park downtown. The Upstate was largely shaped by the textile industry, and just as Falls Park contains the ruins of a grist mill, Pelham Mill Park contains the remnants of a cotton mill.
Evidence of a complex series of stone and brick foundations span the floodplain, shoals, and terrace that overlook the Enoree River. These ruins are accessible to visitors, though be warned – with steep, muddy footpaths, tall grass, and sometimes unfortunate litter & poison ivy, caution should be exercised when exploring the site.
The Greenville County Historic Preservation Commission donated the thirteen acres to Greenville County in 1988. Seven acres have been added through a partnership with Western Carolina Regional Sewer Authority.
The site is also home to the restored Pelham Mill Post Office. The building was built in 1870 as Pelham Mill’s office until the textile plant closed in 1930. It became a post office until it was closed in 1996, and when Highway 14 was widened in 2002 it was moved to its present location.
Exploring the Mill’s Dam
Other features of the park include a paved path leading to the historical 19th-century stonework dam. An overlook provides a view of the dam, architectural remains of the mill, and shoals on the Enoree River.
Crumbling walls, foundations and depressions give evidence to what used to stand on the site: two steam smokestacks, underground pipes, drains, turbines, nine brick pilings, the mill’s main powerhouse and steam generator, and finally the large mortared stone dam with six sluice gates spanning the Enoree River. The Mill burned down in 1943 (except for the mill office), as the only fire trucks available had to come all the way from Greenville and Greer.
Pelham Mill is recognized by the Greenville County Historic Preservation Commission as one of 11 historic sites in the County.
The Enoree River History
On a related note, the Enoree River served another important purpose a few hundred years earlier. In 1766 NC/SC negotiated a boundary with the Cherokee between ‘Indian land’ and their new settlement. This line extended from Honea Path across the Reedy River all the way to Virginia, but today there is nothing to remind us of this aspect of southern history except a few historic markers like the one nearby on Highway 14.
Plan a visit to Pelham Mill Park
2770 E Phillips Road Greer, SC 29650 Visit the website Palham Mill Park
Never snorkel alone
