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Archive for the ‘Things to Do’ Category

Yellowbobbypins: Your Young Artist Will Love Creating at This Local Art Studio for Kids in Greenville, SC

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If you are looking for art classes for kids in Greenville, SC, then you have to try Yellowbobbypins! Make art, get messy with paint, learn something new, and take home their creation. What could be better?

Yellowbobbypins Art Camp in Greenville, South Carolina

My four-year-old daughter and I were invited to create some art at one of Yellowbobbypins’ art classes at their Hampton Station location. It was such a joyful experience that further strengthened her interest in the creative arts. Yellowbobbypins has art playgroups, art classes, party packages, and even art camps for the budding artist in your life. Find out more about Yellowbobbypins below.

A special thank you to Lauren Runion, owner of Yellowbobbypins, for having us for this review!

Art Classes for Kids: Yellowbobbypins Art Camp at Hampton Station

My daughter loves to create art, but finding art classes for kids that fit her age range hasn’t always been easy. Good thing Yellowbobbypins has art classes for kids ages 0 – 13! From the moment we walked into Yellowbobbypins owner Lauren Runion’s studio space at Hampton Station, I knew we were in the perfect place to create comfortably. 

Firstly, Lauren exudes creativity and kindness. It was beautiful watching her interact with the children in a kind, calm, and direct way. Her passion for art is delightful and she is such a talented art educator. Her knowledge stems from many years of experience as an art teacher in the public school system.

Throughout the class, she patiently guided the kids through each step of their project and addressed each child by name. She was helpful and attentive to each child and their project.

My daughter is a little nervous in new situations (as am I), and Lauren made it a point to ask her questions about her art pieces and to include her with the other children who regularly attend classes. This really brought out her creativity and interest in the class, making for a memorable experience for both of us.

Variety of art classes offered at Yellowbobbypins in Greenville, SC

Drop-in and Semester Long Art Classes

For the budding artist in your life, Yellowbobbypins offers semester classes, drop-in art classes, homeschool classes, holiday camps, summer camps, and classes for ages 4 and under. Classes strengthen creative problem-solving, build confidence, and teach about various art techniques such as painting, drawing, and mixed media art. 

The in-person art classes are located at the Hampton Station studio. Kids of all ages are welcome, with classes in groups of different age ranges. Parents can opt to have their child in the classes for the full semester, exploring a core theme throughout. Or, drop-in classes are also available, where the child can join the group to explore the theme for that day. 

There are class options for morning, afternoon, and evening classes throughout the week. When my daughter went for a drop-in visit, she explored Mexican Hojalata metal and mirror art! These classes are 1 hour long, guided classes with the instructor, and the kids constantly learn as they go.  Classes are available throughout the school year, but there are no classes during the summertime (but there are summer camps your child can join!). Find out more and register for art classes at Yellowbobbypins on their website.

Creating metal art at Yellowbobbypins art classes in Greenville, South Carolina

4 and under Art Playgroup: Wee Create and Painted Paci’s

Have a young kid who loves to make art? Worried about the mess that usually comes along with arts and crafts with small kids? Worry no more! Yellowbobbypins offers Wee Create art playgroups for ages 2-6. Plus, you do not have to worry about cleanup. These classes are currently offered twice per month during the school year. You will also be pleased to find art classes for babies! The Painted Paci’s Playgroup is wonderful for younger children ages 6 months – 2 years to explore with paint and other art mediums while playing with mom or dad.

Here, parents and children can engage in art play that strengthens creativity through engaging and interactive lessons. Kids will build on their fine motor skills, explore with their hands with art materials, socialize with other kids, and engage their senses through sensory play.

During the art playgroup, the kids will explore different sensory stations with different topics, like oceans and cities. Adult participation is required for the art playgroups, but parents will have just as much fun creating as their kids will. Art playgroups are 1-hour long morning classes, with some parent/child activity classes occasionally offered during evening hours. You can register for classes on the Yellowbobbypins website.

Art Summer Camp with Yellowbobbypins

Summer camp at Yellowbobbypins is a fun way to keep your child engaged during summer break! They have several themed art camps available to choose from, with camps like Interior Design, Mythical Creatures, or Harry Potter! There are several additional camps to choose from. Each camp is 1 week long from Monday through Friday, from 9 am to 12 pm. Check out the current availability for summer camps on the Yellowbobbypins website!

Of course, you can see all the summer camps in Greenville on our huge Summer Camp Guide to Greenville, SC.

Art Birthday Parties at Yellowbobbypins

Yellowbobbypins also hosts parties for ages 2 and up! The space is perfect for an intimate birthday party centered around art and learning new things. Parents can choose from three party packages, including painting parties for ages 7 and older, Little Parties for ages 2-6 years old, Delux Parties for ages 6 and older that involve potions and slime, or a custom event of your choosing! Party packages start at $265 and can be offsite or at the Yellowbobbypins studio at Hampton Station in Greenville, SC.

For 2024, Yellowbobbypins even won Best Kids Birthday Party Venue in our KABOOM Awards!

Would your child love a visit to Yellowbobbypins?

Yellowbobbypins
1320 Hampton Avenue Extension
Greenville, SC

SCCT in Greenville, SC Offers Pay-What-You-Can Tickets

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The South Carolina Children’s Theatre offers a Pay-What-You-Can pricing system for select shows to be more inclusive for all members of the community. The next performance is coming up on April 27th, 2024. Get your PWYC tickets now!

SCCT Pay What You Can Tickets

Pay What You Can Performances

“We believe everyone should have access to great theatre,” said the SCCT in their announcement on social media. “Ticket prices can prevent us from engaging with the widest possible audience, so we have been listening to our community, gathering feedback, and working hard to eliminate that barrier.”

PWYC tickets will be offered for the April 27th performance of The Spongebob Musical. Visit the Pay-What-You-Can site to purchase tickets for the April 27th

Reserving Your PWYC Ticket

The software that SCCT uses cannot accept anything lower than $1 a ticket for a PWYC performance so that’s the lowest you can pay. Normal tickets are around $20-$25.

“We are excited to provide this new program to create opportunities for ALL patrons to experience the positive impact of our productions,” continued the SCCT announcement.

The SCCT has been a longtime sponsor of us at Kidding Around Greenville and we are just thrilled with this program they are offering and hope that many families take advantage of it since the productions at SCCT are always just so stellar.

south carolina childrens theatre

Find out why we love the South Carolina Children’s Theatre!

Mom Review: Lakeside Park in Piedmont, SC

Looking for a park to explore? South of Greenville, in Piedmont, SC you’ll find Lakeside Park. When you think of Lakeside Park, you may only think of it as the home of the 7th Inning Splash Park. But, there is so much more to do at Lakeside Park.  You’ll find playgrounds, swings, ball fields, and even mountain biking at Lakeside. It is a great place to go year-round.

Looking for information about more parks in Greenville? Check out our Ultimate Guide to Parks in Greenville and Spartanburg Counties!

Places to Play at Lakeside Park

Behind the waterpark, you will find a small playground with several covered picnic areas.  While the playground isn’t new, it is in good shape.  The play area features climbing equipment and a set of swings.  The swing set has swings for children young and old.

Lakeside Park also has walking trails that are fun to explore. They take you off the beaten path. Your family will love taking walks in these shady areas. The walking trails total almost 6 miles, that includes mountain biking trails.

Covered canopy at Lakeside Park in Piedmont, South Carolina

Four baseball fields, a football field, and basketball courts can also be found in the park. The football field would be great for playing football, tag, or maybe flying kites. The basketball courts would be a great place to play a game of horse or practice making shots.

7th Inning Splash Park

The 7th Inning Splash Park features a splash pad, funnel slide, water slide, and lap pool. While it is smaller than Discovery Island, it does have areas for children of various ages to explore. For more information about this water park, check out our review of 7th Inning Splash Park.

The 7th Inning Waterpark funnel waterslide.

7th Inning Splash Park in Greenville, SC is a excellent way to cool off on a hot summer day! Find out why we love this waterpark.

Parking and Picnics at Lakeside Park

A picnic shelter and bathrooms are also right behind the water park. The shelter features a grill, fireplace, and 16 picnic tables. You can even reserve the large shelter.

The playground shares a small parking lot with the picnic shelter. When the water park is open, water park visitors may fill the spaces in this parking lot. Keep that in mind when visiting, and wear your sunscreen!

The circular area around the baseball field is filled with parking spaces. If the other parking areas are filled, you are sure to find parking in this circular area. Most of the parks 789 paved parking places are part of this circular area.

Lakeside Park Quick Review

Favorites:

  • Shady Walking Trails
  • Swings
  • Playground with Covered Picnic Areas

Drawbacks:

  • Smaller playground
  • Parking near playground can be crowded when the water park is open

Are you ready to explore Lakeside Park?

Idyllic Treehouse is the Romantic Getaway You Didn’t Know You Needed

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Are you looking for a place to get away for a weekend as a couple? Life is busy! And you both need a little time to reconnect, no distractions. We totally get it and you are in luck because we have found the most idyllic and romantic treehouse for your escape! The Old Soul Treehouse on Lake Greenwood is nothing short of completely stunning in every way. It’s one of a kind, nothing like it, completely magnificent and we’re going to tell you all about the magic we found in our stay!

The Old Soul Treehouse, Lake Greenwood

Thank you to Old Soul Treehouse owner, Kristen, for providing us with a two-night stay so we could bring this review to our readers.

Watch the Video Tour

About the Treehouse

A true work of art, this treehouse is stunning and very special. Built with beautiful, unique, reclaimed, and restored pieces that are flawlessly incorporated into animaginative design, we’ve never seen anything like this treehouse. And we have stayed in a lot of vacation rentals.

The home’s guest book of information shares the history of these reclaimed components, including the gorgeous French doors in the tree house that opens to the deck and the view of Lake Greenwood. They are restored, fully functional, and came all the way from Turkey. I loved these doors. I think I probably took nearly a thousand pictures of them. Which, I realize sounds so silly. “What did you do on vacation?” “I took pictures of doors!” But they are that pretty. And, they work beautifully. The craftsmanship in this home does not disappoint.

Is a treehouse complete without a bridge and spiral stairs?
Probably not.
The property’s cast iron spiral staircase came from Bob Jones University, according to the home’s guest book. They date to the early 1900s and were located in the study of Bob Jones himself.

If you take the spiral staircase down to the ground, you’ll arrive at a beautiful deck under the treehouse. Lit with a strand of lights and a pretty chandelier, there’s a swinging bed to relax with a view of the lake plus two cozy wicker chairs. My husband and I enjoyed snacks, wine, and quite a few rounds of our favorite board games here.

Back up the spiral stairs, you can return to the house or turn and cross the bridge to the other deck which is round with little trees growing right through it, in true treehouse fashion. There’s a table for dining and a hot tub that lights up at night.

Heading back across the bridge is my other favorite part of this home. There’s a vintage window that opens out from the interior kitchen to an outdoor breakfast bar with two stools. We enjoyed lunch and breakfast at this little cozy outdoor nook.

Inside the treehouse

The interior of the treehouse is small but so airy and beautiful. We loved the kitchen with the vintage farmhouse feel, especially the soapstone sink! The smaller appliances are so cute, new but made to look vintage. We didn’t cook here and opted for a charcuterie one night and Doordash the next, but the home is fully equipped to cook a meal. You’ll find all the cooking things including pots and pans, cookie sheets, cutting boards, dishes, silverware, and the like. Everything you need!

There’s a pretty king-size bed that looks like it might have come from a Disney princess movie, and a full bathroom with a clawfoot tub. Don’t miss the totally gorgeous stained glass window above the tub, another beautifully incorporated treasure. The details in this treehouse are tremendous.

Treehouse bed

The treehouse book on the table has restaurant recommendations, information on where to get groceries, things to do, and everything you could possibly think of is there. You really don’t have to plan much at all before you arrive!

Treehouse table

Spending Time at the Treehouse

You won’t find a television at the treehouse and that is intentional. Kristen, the treehouse owner, wants this place to be where couples come to connect. You’ll find board games and a record player with a wide selection of records. My husband and I loved having the record player. Listening to records is actually one of our favorite things to do at home and it was so neat to discover in a vacation rental. Very rare!

The home also has a cute lantern Bluetooth speaker so you can play any music you like from your device and even bring the speaker outside. There is wifi available. We brought it out to the hot tub on both nights of our stay and were so happy to have it.

The treehouse also has a private dock in Lake Greenwood that you can access with just a short path through the woods from the treehouse. There you’ll find two comfortable Adirondack chairs to enjoy the view. This is a good place to enjoy a beverage or a snack and good conversation.

Treehouse Dock

You may notice a small building beside the dock in our photos and video. That is an old fishing cottage on the property. The owners hope to someday restore it but it is not currently in use by anyone. The dock is private just for you!

You can swim from the dock, fish with poles provided at the house (fishing license is required according to SCDNR and the owner warns that they do cruise around on a boat and check from time to time), or even rent a boat.

Treehouse Dock From the water

My husband and I brought our own inflatable paddle boards and we enjoyed several paddles on the lake. We went out to a railroad trestle crossing the lake and saw hawks nesting on the trestle top, several Herons, ducks, and other birds. Usually, when we head out to paddle we are keeping tabs on kids, so this was such a lovely change!

Speaking of kids, no one under 18 is allowed on the property. This is a kid-free space designed for adults to spend quality time with each other. After 4 kids and 18 years of marriage, we’ve learned that time for each other is a rare and precious thing, and we so appreciate it.

I love my kids, I really do, don’t get me wrong. But, to have a conversation without the possibility of being interrupted by our kids was so nice. It really took pounds off our mental load so we could just relax and communicate. And the kids were spending some quality time with their aunt, so it was really a win for us all.

Treehouse French door close up
Is this door not completely gorgeous?

Want to go?

We really can’t say enough wonderful things about this special property. We know you’ll want to visit for yourself.

Now for the best part! Ready to plan your little escape together? Just visit the Old Soul Treehouse on Airbnb and book it!

The Old Soul Treehouse
Waterloo, SC, on Lake Greenwood

Tyger River Park Has One of the Biggest Playgrounds Around: Spartanburg, SC

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Have you visited Tyger River Park in Spartanburg County? This giant park is home to ball fields, a huge playground, a splash pad, and more. Read on to hear everything parents need to know about Tyger River Park.

You definitely want to make the time to check out Tyger River Park operated by Spartanburg County Parks. It is located at 179 Dillard Road in Duncan, South Carolina. Don’t let appearances deceive you- there is more to this park than perfectly kept baseball fields. It’s a playground experience for all ages, especially with the brand-new renovation of 2023.

Parks in Spartanburg, SC

Looking for more great parks in Spartanburg, don’t miss our guide to Great Parks in Spartanburg County.

Spartanburg’s Tyger River Park is For All Ages

When you first enter the gates to Tyger River Park, you won’t be able to see the playground areas from the road that encircles the enclosure. Look for the tall tower in the center of the grounds. The brand-new playgrounds and giant sandbox are located on either side of it. Follow the signs to the Clubhouse and park there. From the parking lot, it’s a short walk to the play areas. You can get a sense of the park’s scale and use this handy park map to help plan your day.

Tyger River Playground

Play Equipment for All Ages at Tyger River Park

There is truly play equipment for all ages.

The first playground is geared for younger children, toddlers to preschool age. There are slides, swings, play horses, and even a cute little house to stoke the imagination. This playground is within sight of the giant sandbox, too. Kids can bring their own sand toys or just play around in Duncan’s version of “the beach.”

The location is perfect for smaller children to independently play between the sandbox and the playground, and benches are provided for adult supervision if you are lucky enough to get a chance to sit down. The new playground includes shaded benches for parents as well.

Playground at Tyger River Park

The second playground is much bigger and caters to children ages 5-12. The many slides available are taller and faster than the smaller playground and climbing features are more challenging. There are also swings in this area.

The new playground has five benches with shade and is covered in astroturf.

Shaded benches at Tyger River Park

Splash Pad at Tyger River Park

The splash pad is open 9 am to 8 pm between Memorial Day to Labor Day but they are opening early in 2024 on May 1st! Located just past the playground area (opposite the direction of the Clubhouse), kids can easily go from the playground to the splash pad to cool off and back to the playground. Double bonus: the splash pad is fenced in.

Clean bathrooms

The bathrooms for the public are located on the side of the Clubhouse building. They were clean and well-stocked with soap and both paper towels and air dryers. As parents, you can never underestimate the awesomeness of a park restroom that doesn’t make you cringe

A Couple of Considerations for Tyger River Park

Bring sunscreen and water

The new playground has benches with shade and the shade screen above the sandbox does provide some relief but the playgrounds have no shade. Especially in the hot days of summer, it’s important to bring sunscreen and water. On warmer days, it is definitely best to plan on arriving early in the morning or in the late afternoon/early evening or spend hotter parts of the day at the splash pad.

Supervision may be challenging for children of different ages.

Tyger River is a big park and the playgrounds are on opposite sides of the tower, which can make it hard to watch kids of different age groups. So plan on negotiating how much time you will spend on which playground or bring a second adult for help with supervision.

Our Review

With proper planning, Tyger River Park is a must-do for a positive play experience for all ages. And we just love the new play equipment! With so much to do, the kids will be occupied for hours, so don’t forget to pack snacks and water or bring along a lunch to eat at the nearby picnic tables.

LushAcres Farm: Historical Farm Offers Playground, Strawberries, and Seasonal Fun

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LushAcres Farm, about an hour from Greenville, SC, is a pretty fascinating place that has animals, a playground, and lots of fun seasonal activities. 

LushAcres Farm is set on more than 300 acres and has been in existence since around 1875. They have a really fascinating history and have combined over a century of farming with agritourism and taking care of children who need it most. 

Jumping pad at LushAcres
Jumping pad at LushAcres

About LushAcres Farm 

LushAcres Farm in Clinton, South Carolina, is an extension of Thornwell, a large non-profit connected to the farm that takes care of foster children, vets and aids foster families, and has two schools on campus. Their mission is to directly prevent child abuse and neglect and make sure every child knows they are loved.

Thornwell began its mission in 1875 when they started housing orphans after the Civil War. During the Great Depression, LushAcres fed its residents and others nearby with the harvests from their crops. And now they support the children in foster care through events at the farm, their farm market, their strawberry patch, and their seasonal activities. 

The Farming Side of LushAcres 

The farm grows many types of vegetables and fruits like tomatoes, corn, strawberries, pumpkins, and peppers. They have u-pick strawberries in the spring, which are deliciously sweet and juicy due to the soil the plants are grown in. 

strawberries at LushAcres
Strawberries at LushAcres

The farm also has a beef share and raises the cattle from start to finish of the entire process. The cattle are all grass-fed and you can contact the farm to arrange to purchase a beef share.

They raise their own chickens and have a host of other barnyard animals for the public to see like adorable, fluffy alpacas, goats, and even Highland cows.

Be sure to stop by the farm market for fresh produce, meat raised on the farm, and goodies from local vendors like soap, candles, honey, and pickled vegetables.

U-Pick Strawberries

The strawberry fields at LushAcres are gorgeous and the berries look oh-so-good and juicy. The soil is exceptionally rich here so the berries turn out to be sweet and juicy.

The farm is currently open (as of April 12, 2024) for u-pick strawberries. They are $18/gallon. Always check their Facebook page or Instagram or call before you go as the weather can affect their u-pick field. 

Also, they do have wheelchair-accessible strawberry picking available. There aren’t many berries yet but the plants are at an accessible height and wheelchairs are able to use the path to get there. 

accessible strawberries at LushAcres
Accessible strawberries at LushAcres

Agritourism at LushAcres

A big part of the LushAcres Farm experience today is their agritourism. The farm hosts a Spring Festival (May 4, 2024 from 10 am – 5 pm), a Fall Festival every Saturday in October, and a Corn Maze After Dark experience near Halloween. They also have u-pick strawberries in the spring and offer field trips for schools. 

The farm has a big playground with the biggest and best corn pit I’ve ever seen, a gaga ball area, a big slide and wall climbing spot, tires to run on, basketball hoops, a jumping pillow, and swings made of tires. There’s also a large picnic area. 

For those who want a little extra fun, gem mining is available as well. My kids and I had a blast on the playground and I made some snow (corn?) angels in the corn pit. The playground is open whenever the farm market is open so this is a great spot to pick up local food and berries while the kids play!

LushAcres Corn Pit
LushAcres Corn Pit

The barnyard is open as well where you can see chickens, cows, goats, and two ginormous pigs. 

Fun fact: they have a therapy cow where foster children who need a little extra confidence when learning to read can go read to. The therapy cow is non-judgemental and loves to hear stories while the kids gain confidence. Win-win. 

Visiting LushAcres Farm 

You can visit LushAcres when the Farm Market is open, which is Tuesday – Friday from 9 am – 5 pm and Saturdays from 9 am – 1 pm. 

LushAcres playground
LushAcres playground

You can also check them out during special events like the Spring Festival on Saturday, May 4, 2024 from 10 am – 5 pm. Admission is $12/person and kids ages 2 and under are free. They will have local vendors, food trucks, and the playground and strawberry patch will be open. 

Proceeds from events and the farm market go right back into supporting the children at Thornwell and their foster care mission. If you are interested in learning more about becoming a foster family, visit Thornwell’s website.

Hours: 
Sunday-Monday Closed
Tuesday-Friday 9 am to 5 pm
Saturday 9 am to 1 pm

LushAcres Farm
1875 W. Maple Street Extension, Clinton, SC 
Lush Acres Farm Website

pick your own strawberries near Greenville, SC

Find more strawberries!

Where to pick strawberries near Greenville

Five Playgrounds in Spartanburg, SC Your Kids Will Beg Not to Leave

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Ready to get outside and play? These playgrounds in Spartanburg, SC are perfect for playtime! You’ve read about the wonderful playgrounds that Spartanburg and the surrounding area have, but after a long winter of planning indoor activities, here is a reminder of some of the best playgrounds in Spartanburg you can revisit, or check out for the first time.

5 excellent playgrounds in Spartanburg, South Carolina
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15+ Awesome Places to Go Fishing in Greenville, SC & The Upstate

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Are you looking for places to go fishing in Greenville, SC and around the Upstate? Fishing is a super fun activity to do with the kids, and we have a list of great fishing spots for families. So, grab your fishing pole, tackle, and line because we are sharing a list of great places for fishing in Greenville, SC, and the Upstate.

Where to go fishing in Greenville, South Carolina and throughout the Upstate.

There is something quite magical about the moment when a small child wrestles a tiny fishing rod with a wriggling bream at the end. Their smile can be seen from outer space. No matter if the poor tiny thing will be tossed back or become dinner, everyone remembers their first fish. Read on for some great fishing lakes under an hour’s drive from Greenville where you can take your kids for their next worm-and-hook adventure.

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Burrells Ford Campground: No Reservations Needed at This Remote Campground Near Scenic Waterfalls

Looking for a campground that doesn’t require reservations months ahead? The Burrells Ford area is a great home base for a weekend of adventure, and KAG contributor Liene has all the details. You’ll find waterfalls, hiking, and an excellent campground at Burrells Ford Campground!

Camp fire at Burrells Ford Campground

Burrells Ford Campground: A convenient location and interesting background

Despite being in a remote corner of the state, Burrells Ford remains a crossroads: historical and natural. The old wagon road (and later logging road) that forded the Chattooga was replaced with gravel Forest Service Road 708 (FS 708 or Burrells Ford Road) in 1968, allowing access to the section of the state bordering Georgia and North Carolina. Here the Foothills Trail intersects with the Chattooga Trail and East Fork Trail. Ellicott Rock Wilderness overlaps the Wild & Scenic Chattooga River corridor.

Spur trails to Burrells Ford and Spoonauger Falls depart from multiple trailheads. And three National Forests – the Chattahoochee-Oconee, Nantahala, and Andrew Pickens ranger district of Sumter National Forest – converge to form one giant natural area.

But the region remains wild. Isolated, winding mountain roads require 1 ½ hours driving time to reach the campground from Greenville, including the last 3 miles on gravel Burrells Ford Road. At one point those wishing to camp at the Burrells Ford campground could drive right to their campsite, but all that changed when the Chattooga River received the “Wild & Scenic” designation in 1974.

Now parking is in a lot just off the gravel road, and requires a ½ mile hike down the old road bed to reach the campground.

How to Find the Campground and Nearby Trails

The confluence of trails can provide some confusion, and the mileages can be hard to pin down. There are two parking areas: one for the campground, and a second closer to the Chattooga on the edge of Ellicott Rock Wilderness. The Chattooga Trail (blazed green) stays along the river through the campground and emerges at this second parking area, while the Foothills Trail (blazed white) curves away from the river south of the campground and emerges adjacent to the campground parking area.

There are several connector trails from the Foothills Trail to the Chattooga Trail, as well as additional spur trails to the waterfalls. Add in to that East Fork Trail leading to the only other road in this corner of the state (Fish Hatchery Road), and a not-very-accurate map posted at the trailheads, and you have an idea of why you need to come prepared with a good map if you’re planning on doing any hiking.

We used National Geographic’s Sumter National Forest map on our Chattooga Trail hike, but later I utilized a Forest Service map to make a more detailed version of the campground area, as seen here.

Map of Burrells Ford area in South Carolina
Map of Burrells Ford campground area, as adapted from USFS map.

About The Burrells Ford Campground

Close enough to Greenville that you would still have daylight to set up camp after a Friday evening arrival, or you could pitch camp Saturday and then spend the day exploring. Just make sure to park at the first parking area (for the campground), and then follow the road down to where you’ll have your pick of tent sites.

You’ve got bear-proof trash receptacles near the restrooms (in reality pit toilets, but luxurious compared to the alternative), and picnic tables, lantern posts, fire rings & bear poles in each campground. Some of the sites are right along the Chattooga, while others are scattered through the woods.

Remember to pack appropriately, as your return trip will be all uphill. The walk in possibly deters a portion of the car campers, and the campsites cannot be reserved ahead of time; plan accordingly.

Ellicott Rock in South Carolina
Ellicott Rock

Things to do Near Burrells Ford Campground

Hiking

From the campground take a hike to Ellicott Rock Wilderness following the Chattooga Trail; Ellicott Rock is about 4 miles north (one way), but scenic Spoonauger Falls is less than a mile. Or, head south on the Chattooga/Foothills Trail, destination Oconee State Park (16.4 miles), Ridley Fields (11.8 miles), the Bartram Trail junction (8.1 miles) or Cherry Hill campground (about 10 miles). Of course, you could just go ahead and hike the rest of the Foothills Trail – 59.8 miles to Table Rock State Park!

Chattooga River

Fishing

Burrells Ford is the gateway to some of the most premium trout water in the Southeast. The SC DNR stocks the river with rainbow, brown, and native brook trout grown nearby at the Fish Hatchery. The river is easily accessed from Chattooga Trail & most of the campsites, and even in October the boys were happy to get their feet wet.

Spoonauger Falls

Waterfalls

The high point of a stop at Burrells Ford is the proximity to two of the most picturesque waterfalls in South Carolina, King Creek Falls and Spoonauger Falls. King Creek Falls is just west of the campground, and is a 70-foot, tiered waterfall that is less than a mile, roundtrip (about 1.4 there and back if you’re starting at the campground parking area). Spoonauger Falls is a 50-foot beauty, a short hike up a series of switchbacks from the Chattooga Trail.

King Creek Falls in South Carolina
King Creek Falls

This post was originally published on the blog Femme au Foyer.