The SC State Museum is not only huge but so entertaining, educational, and fun! Here’s why you should consider a trip to Columbia, SC to explore it.
The South Carolina State Museum has been on my list as a homeschooling parent (actually, before that since my daughter was supposed to go as a third-grader and then the pandemic hit). I had heard it was cool but did not know the extent of exactly how amazing it would be. So I hauled my kids out there for a truly fun day trip.
(more…)Looking for a place to go strawberry picking? Greenville, SC and the surrounding area have over a dozen farms just waiting for you to pick those juicy berries! If you don’t like doing the hard work yourself, you will also find farms that have prepicked berries for you. Here’s the inside scoop about which local farms to go strawberry picking in Greenville, Spartanburg, and the Anderson areas.
And since we know how much you all love maps, we made one for all these strawberry farms:
(more…)Keowee-Toxaway State Park straddles Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway (Hwy. 11) between Devils Fork State Park and Long Shoals Wayside Park, one of eight South Carolina State Parks located along the edge of the Blue Ridge Escarpment.
Known for spectacular views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the 1,000 acre park is considered a gateway to the Jocassee Gorges, the area defined by a series of steep-sided gorges delivering mountain rivers and streams down to the Piedmont of South Carolina.
The state park is split by Highway 11, with the picnic shelters located on a short loop to the south. Five picnic shelters are available for rental. The picnic tables with free-standing grills throughout the park are offered on a first come, first serve basis.
Once you’ve finished your picnic lunch, head across Highway 11 to the north portion of the park. The Park Visitor Center houses exhibits about the natural diversity and history of the park, and its importance as a scientific research destination of the region.
If you’re looking to check out the Visitor Center, be advised that office hours are 11 am to noon and 4 – 5 pm. Despite these rather short hours, the Park is open Saturdays through Thursdays from 9 am – 6 pm and Fridays 9 am – 8 pm. After daylight savings time, the park is open Monday- Sunday until 9 pm. Keowee-Toxaway State Park is free to the public.
There are 5.5 miles of trails in the Park, the two main hikes being Raven Rock Trail and Natural Bridge Trail. The trailhead for these two trails is located behind the park office. Natural Bridge Nature Trail is a 1½-mile loop, and at the far end of the loop is the Raven Rock trailhead. Combined with the Natural Bridge loop, you achieve a 4.4-mile hike to Raven Rock and back.
Use the Keowee-Toxaway SP trail map to help you navigate the area easily.
Hiking the Natural Bridge loop clockwise starts you off along Poe creek and numerous small waterfalls. Soon you’ll come to the intersection with Raven Rock Trail with its views of Lake Keowee, passing rock outcrops and a boulder field before reaching Raven Rock. Looping back to Natural Bridge Trail you’ll cross Poe Creek on the trail’s namesake, an enormous natural rock ‘bridge’. You’ll then cross through an upland hardwoods forest to reach the parking lot.
The ½ mile Lake Trail departs from the campground and emerges from the woods near the Villa to Lake Keowee, where guests can enjoy fishing for bass, bream, crappie, and catfish.
Keowee-Toxaway is a perfect hike for a spring day! Keep your eyes peeled for the wildflowers that enjoy the moisture along Poe Creek. You’ll also enjoy the rhododendrons and azaleas blooming in late spring and early summer. On a hot summer’s day prepare to cool down in Poe Creek. The irresistible tumble of water makes it hard to leave. Autumn brings colorful fall foliage, but catching the right day in winter means less-crowded trails and parking lots – this is a park for all four seasons.
Ten paved camping sites have individual water and electrical hookups for RVs up to 40 feet, while the tent camping area has 14 sites with central water, individual tent pads and fire rings. Restroom facilities with hot showers are available, as well as a dump station.
Backcountry camping is allowed at three designated sites on Lake Keowee. These are accessible by a hike on Raven Rock Trail, or by paddling to them in a canoe/kayak. For larger groups a primitive group area is located in the backcountry; registration is required and reservations are accepted.
If camping isn’t for you, reserve the three-bedroom villa that overlooks Lake Keowee near the boat launch. The cabin is completely furnished, heated & air-conditioned with all the amenities. It comes with linens, cooking and eating utensils, washer/dryer, satellite television, Wi-Fi, two fireplaces, and a private boat dock. Just know that pets are not allowed in the cabins.
Boating: Keowee-Toxaway provides non-motorized boat access to Lake Keowee; to launch a motorized boat you have to use the access at Fall Creek Landing, five miles southwest of the park.
Fishing: Fishing is allowed. Bass, bream, crappie, and catfish are commonly caught fish.
Swimming: Swimming is allowed, however, there are no lifeguards or designated swimming areas in the park; swim at your own risk.
With easy access to Lake Keowee, three beautiful trails with all kinds of unique natural features, and spectacular views throughout the park, Keowee-Toxaway has plenty to offer. We’ve enjoyed our visits in all four seasons. However, spring has a special magic with the ephemeral wildflowers blooming and trees budding electric green. Head north to this gem of a state park and experience the magic for yourself!
A portion of this post originally appeared on Femme au Foyer.
What’s your family’s favorite thing to do at Lake Keowee?
Learn why the Jocassee Gorges are considered one of the most beautiful places in SC (and the US)!
Planning your spring calendar and don’t want to miss any of the kid-friendly spring festivals in Greenville, SC this year? Pack up the kids because you’ve got some amazing options for great family memory-making. Here’s your ultimate list of the best kid-friendly spring festivals in the Upstate.
See what’s going on this month with our calendar of events near Greenville, SC!
Check us out in the latest edition of InSouth Magazine, where you will find more information about spring festivals in Greenville, SC, along with wonderful articles, business profiles, and more for the Latino community in the Upstate!
Saturday, March 16, 2024 | NOMA Square | 10 am – 8 pm
Lots of wonderful Irish entertainment is planned and the festival is for all ages. The parade starts at 10 am. FREE
Greenville St. Patrick’s Day Festival
Friday, April 12 – Saturday, 13, 2024
Friday 12 pm – 11 pm | Saturday 12 pm to 9 pm
During the festival, teams will be competing in categories including brisket, ribs, wings, and butts. The food prepared by the competition teams can be sampled at different times, while supply lasts. There will also be live music and regional food trucks to enjoy.
Saturday, April 6, 2024 | 11 am to 5 pm
The iMAGINE Upstate Festival is one of the most popular spring festivals. This event centers around STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) activities that would make the biggest nerd – a fun one of course – jealous. There are high-tech gadgets and 3D printers, drone races, robots, rocket launchers, and virtual reality exploration, and more. Add live music and food and it’s a day well-spent with the family. FREE
iMagine Upstate Kidding Around Review
iMAGINE Upstate
Saturday, April 6, 2024 – Sunday, April 7, 2024 | Village Green
Local vendors, music, art and family entertainment. FREE
Historic Pendleton Spring Jubilee
Saturday, April 13, 2024 | Happy Cow Creamery
Celebrate Happy Cow and local vendors at this inaugural festival from 9 am – 4 pm. There will be giveaways, vendors, food trucks, and music.
Spring Shindig
Saturday, April 13, 2024 | Fountain Inn | Noon-6 pm
Enjoy a free concert from Mac Arnold and the Plate Full of Blues and enjoy the traditional Southern food of cornbread & collards in lots of different ways. The event will also feature a spring market.
Cornbread & Collards Festival
Saturday, April 20, 2024 | Split Creek Farm
Love baby goats? This is the festival you need to attend! Split Creek Farm will have samples of their award-winning cheese and amazing goat milk fudge plus lots of local vendors and of course, baby goats. $8/adults, $5/kids, free/kids 2 and under.
Spring Means Babies
Friday, April 26, 2024 – Sunday, April 28, 2024
Friday 5 to 10 pm | Saturday 11 am to 9 pm | Sunday 12 pm to 6 pm
Lots of live entertainment, food, and vendors plus a Family Fun Zone and cycling race. FREE entry, cost of food and entertainment extra.
Spartanburg Spring Fling
Saturday, April 20, 2024 | Greer City Park | 11 am to 4 pm
The highly attended annual international festival is celebrated in downtown Greer. Event-goers will have the opportunity to learn about more than 40 different countries and get a taste of their country’s cuisine from vendors and food trucks! There will be a children’s area, that will include arts and crafts from different cultures. FREE
Greer Goes Global: International Festival
Saturday, April 27th, 2024 | Downtown Fountain Inn | 12 pm – 6 pm
Embrace and celebrate Italian heritage at this festival! There will be lots of delicious food, beer & wine, food demonstrations, Italian memorabilia, crafts, and games for the entire family to enjoy.
Italian American Heritage Festival
April 26, 2024- April 27, 2024 | Pendleton Street downtown
Hundreds of local artisans, vendors, food and family entertainment happen at this festival that has been going on for 30 years.
Pickens Azalea Festival
Saturday, May 4, 2024 | 10 am – 4 pm
Sponsored by the Simpsonville Arts Foundation, this festival will have kids activities, food vendors, live music, chalk art, and art demos. It’s free to attend.
Spring Into Art Festival
Saturday, May 4, 2024 | Falls Park | 2:30 pm
Seeing 10,000 rubber duckies racing down the falls at Falls Park is quite the spectacle. The festival is actually a big event to raise money for local charities and incorporates food, a giant duck mascot wandering around taking photos with kids, fun crafts for the little ones, and music. Here’s KAG’s story on the Duck Derby, which explains how it all works. FREE
Duck Derby
Saturday, May 4, 2024 | Dolly Cooper Park, Powdersville | 12-8 pm
This event sounds like it is going to be a blast! Dolly Cooper Park, in Powdersville, is nestled at a bend in the Saluda River–hence the “Rhythm on the River!” There will be live music from The Fortunate Sons, as well as food trucks, local vendors, and a kid’s zone. FREE
Rhythm on the River
May 10, 2024 – May 12, 2024
Probably the most anticipated spring festival in Greenville, Artisphere lives up to its reputation as one of the very best events in the Southeast. But it’s awesome for kids too! They have an entire area aptly called Kidsphere full of kid-friendly activities, building blocks, and STEM-related and hands-on exhibits. There are also several performing artists that are exciting to watch for all ages. FREE
Artisphere
May 17, 2024 – May 19, 2024 | St. George Greek Orthodox Church, Greenville
I have a slight obsession with Greek pastries, especially the honey-drenched baklava, so I was more than happy to go to the Greek Festival last year and search it out. I was not disappointed. Not only was the baklava sweet and delicious, but the music, food, and kids area were enjoyable and entertaining. This festival immediately went on my to-do list for the spring of this year. The food is amazing – oh hi, tasty gyros! – and the music was lively. There is an admission charge and we’ll update it when it’s announced.
Greek Festival
Great Scot! Parade | Friday | May 24, 2024 | Main Street, Greenville | 6 pm
Greenville Scottish Games | Saturday | May 25, 2024 | Furman University, Travelers Rest
The Scots are back in full force and will keep you busy during Memorial Day Weekend! Join in on the fun, wear your tartans, and immerse yourself in Scottish culture including Celtic Music, Military Salute, Border Collie exhibition, British Classic Car Show and lots of more. This is a ticketed event.
Gallabrae
Do you have a favorite Upstate Festival? Let us know in the comments.
Need more fun this spring?
Check out the Upstate’s Guide to Spring! It’s full of things to do and family fun.
Check out this list of spring festivals in Spartanburg, SC!
Do you love baby goats? KAG’s Kristina Hernandez sure does. She visited local farm, Split Creek Farm in Anderson, SC, and got to spend some time with baby goats. You can head to Split Creek Farm and see goats, too. This farm offers tours, events, a farm store with delicious cheese and more.
For more places to see and interact with animals, see our Petting Zoos in and near the Upstate.
(more…)Looking for the most delicious, best nachos Greenville, SC has to offer? Whether you are looking for traditional nachos or nachos with unique toppings, you’ve come to the right place. Our readers are sharing their top 5 favorite places for nachos in Greenville.
Are you looking for fun or adventurous hiking for teens in Greenville, SC? Here’s our list of great hikes for teens in or near Upstate, SC! Some are challenging and some a bit more relaxed, perfect for a day with friends or family. Plus, there are plenty of trails with gorgeous views that are perfect for the ‘gram. For even more hiking ideas see our list of our favorite local hiking trails.
There are so many great hiking trails in the Greenville area or nearby, it’s truly hard to choose where to go. Luckily, the weather here can lend itself to hiking all year round for the most part, which means lots of weekends to take the teens out on adventures.
(more…)Are you looking for the perfect Easter Egg hunt in Greenville, Spartanburg, or Upstate, SC? We have an amazing list of egg hunts, Easter bunny photos, Easter farm events, crafts, and all sorts of kid-friendly 2024 Easter events in the Upstate SC area. Bookmark this list!
Have you seen the Oconee Bell? Spring is the perfect time to spot this rare flower. It doesn’t bloom in very many places, but Devils Fork State Park is one of the few places you can see the Oconee Bell.
For even more hiking suggestions see our list of best hikes near Greenville.
The sides of the streambed are blanketed in waxy, red-tinged leaves, small white flowers visible only upon a closer look. Had we not traveled to Devils Fork State Park specifically to see this delicate wildflower, we might have hiked right past the colonies of this rare plant.
The Oconee Bell is only found in a few locations in the southern Appalachian Mountains, in moist, wooded areas along the streams of Georgia, North, and South Carolina, like Jocassee Gorges. The tiny flowers are one of the first to bloom in the Upstate, and attract quite the crowd to this state park better known for summer swimming and camping.
One of the rangers said “We had a brochure in the holder by the trailhead. Usually, folks finish the trail and put them right back. Last weekend cleaned us right out, there were at least a hundred; I’m going to have to print more.” (This was on our visit last year, right about the middle of the month of March.)
The flower has a very limited range in the wild, and so the appearance of the native wildflower is cause for celebration. Every year Devils Fork SP puts on the Oconee Bell Nature Walk. If you can’t make the ranger-guided walk, you can still see the Oconee Bell blooming; the flower usually blooms from mid-March to early April, and the Oconee Bell Nature Trail takes you along a dozen colonies of this unique wildflower. The park holds Bell Fest every year as well, a festival dedicated to the rare wildflower that also has lots of great local vendors. In 2024, the date is Saturday, March 16th from 10 am – 3 pm. It’s free with park entry.
The trail is an easy 1.5-mile loop that takes hikers through the oak-hickory forest, past a small pond full of American toads, and alongside the creek that is home to the elusive wildflower that gives the trail its name. In addition to the Oconee Bell, dozens of other plants and trees are identified by wooden markers, and several small cascades on the creek add to the list of attractions available year-long.
If you’re headed to Devils Fork to hike the Oconee Bell trail you just follow signs to the Ranger Station. A quick stop there for a map or restrooms, and then it’s just a matter of crossing to the other side of the parking lot to the trailhead. The parking lot is on the southeast corner of Lake Jocassee, and the scenic views of the lake, Double Springs Island, and the swimming and picnic area on the southwest shore are stunning.
Bring a picnic to eat on the lake, or upon finishing your hike circle around to Buckeye Drive where you will find picnic shelters and a playground.
In any case, make sure you practice what the Park Naturalist terms “belly botany” – to get an up-close look at the low-lying flowers you’ll have to get close to the ground. There are several locations where the colonies are right on the trail, so it’s relatively easy for all the kids (and adults) in your group to get a good look at the Bell. Remember, for your safety and the protection of the bells, please stay on the trail!
Devils Fork State Park
161 Holcombe Circle
Salem, SC 29676
Oconee County
Visit the website Devil’s Fork Oconee Bell Nature Trail.
This post was originally published on Femme au Foyer.
Enjoy your hike, and know that spring is on the way – the Oconee Bell says it’s so!
Have you visited the Carl Sandburg home in North Carolina? We love the Carl Sandburg National Historic Site for many reasons – great hikes, gorgeous views, and adorable goats you can pet and play with – but there is so much more to do at the Carl Sandburg National Historic Site in Flat Rock, NC. The Carl Sandburg home, Connemara, is less than an hour away from Greenville, so visiting makes for a perfect day trip. Tours of the historic home and access to the pasture, barn, and trails are currently free!
Looking for more day trip ideas? Check out our guide to Ultimate Guide to Daytrips Near Greenville, SC to plan your next adventure with your family!
Connemara, home of Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and writer Carl Sandburg, is located in the charming town of Flat Rock, North Carolina. It’s an easy drive across a beautiful mountain, just below Hendersonville, NC. Once you arrive, you will find several trails branching from the National Park Service parking lot, including the contact station, Front Lake (restrooms and brochures), Front Lake Loop, and the wide main road that heads up towards Connemara.
One of the wonderful things about being so close to Connemara is that you can read Sandburg’s children’s book The Huckabuck Family one morning and then get in the car that afternoon to see where the book’s author wrote and explored and ate and laughed and walked.
Poet Carl Sandburg and his family lived at Connemara from 1945 until his death in 1967. Currently visits to the farm, grounds, and House tours are available Wednesday-Sunday. Tour tickets for adults are $10 each and tickets for kids 15 and younger are $1. House tours are free in 2024 on January 6th, March 23rd, June 15th, and October 19th-20th. It is highly recommended to make reservations for house tours, as tour capacity is 10 people and fill up quickly.
The house has been left exactly as it was when Sandburg passed away in 1967. The rooms of the home are teeming with books that Sandburg touched, read and studied. The view from this house elicits a smile just thinking about the poet sitting in his chair on the rocks being inspired by the same image. The Sandburg’s had over 17,000 volumes of books. The man liked to read. Inside the basement of Sandburg’s home is a sweet little gift shop and a room for viewing a video about the writer’s life. During the year there are several events scheduled that are engaging, educational, and fun!
As you head past the lake, up towards the house on the gravel road, and past some of the older historic structures, you’ll eventually end up at the dairy barn. This is where the goats live. The property continues to be a working goat farm to this day. Gentle, adorable, loving goats. Goats that love kids petting and touching and hugging them. The goats are actually descendants of Mrs. Sandburg’s own prize-winning goat herd.
The barnyard is also home to chickens and giant shady trees and rock walls and green fields. Excellent for a picnic. During April and May the barnyard is full of babies, so when visiting in Spring be ready to hear lots of awes from your kids.
The goat farm is unique in that visitors can walk in the pasture with the goats (and in the enclosure with the kids!) as well as explore the barn, not only meeting the goats, but petting them and watching them feed and interact. The hours of access to the barn and goat pasture will be daily from 10 am – 3 pm and is free. The entire park is open from sunrise to sunset.
September is National Literacy Month and March is National Reading Month. Both fit nicely with the theme of the entire park given Sandburg’s choice of career. So to honor the heritage of the park and give guests a pretty good reason to come there, the Carl Sandburg National Historic Site invites visitors to grab a book and read to a goat (or several).
You can bring your own book, although I don’t recommend it for one very important reason, which I will get to in a second. They also have books in a red wagon right outside the gates to the barn that you can borrow and bring into the pasture to read to the goats. We found a couple of great books that both my kids really enjoyed. The goats did, too.
Once you pick out your book, you can go see the goats. All the goats you’ll interact with are females and they are really sweet and curious and have no idea about personal space. The very first time I ever went to see the goats was when my kids were super little, they were terrified because the goats are pretty big if you’re a little kid. Now my kids, ages 10 and 7, love the goats and enjoy petting them and this time, reading to them.
So reading to goats is not an easy task. We really tried. One of the goats ripped out a page and started eating it, which we grabbed back because you know, they have special diets, which don’t include books. This is why you may not want to bring your own book. We ended up sitting with a few goats who may or may not have been sleeping and reading the books. I had a book of Sandburg’s poetry, which was wonderful to read while at his home.
My oldest daughter found a nice, docile goat with a white coat who seemed to be totally enthralled with being read to. It was very cute to watch.
We spent about an hour with the goats and our attempts at reading books. We had a blast and reading was such a bonus because books are pretty popular at my house and we all enjoy it.
But reading to goats? A whole level of awesomeness.
In addition to the home and the barns, which are plenty to fill an afternoon, there are hiking trails on the property that are family-friendly and quite rewarding. You can also take the rambling walk back to your car and trek around the beautiful fishpond. It’s a great path to wear your children out with good, honest exercise so they can nap on your drive back across the mountain to Greenville.
If you are up for a challenge, you can take the Memminger Trail Loop and the big Glassy Mountain Trail up to the Glassy Mountain overlook. It is 1.25 miles, but the 523-foot increase in elevation makes this a more challenging hike. Although there are several other options for reaching Glassy Mountain from the parking lot, they are all about the same length with the same workout.
The exposed rock makes for interesting plant communities in the various seeps, and the overlook is the only spot in the park with a view of the mountains. Round trip, this strenuous hike takes around 4.5 miles.
You might notice a Kids in Parks TRACK Trail kiosk at the entrance. The Kids in Parks network is a family-friendly collection of outdoor adventures called TRACK Trails. Each TRACK Trail features self-guided brochures and signs that can enhance your outdoor experience, and you can earn prizes for tracking your adventures.
Get more info on the Kids in Parks program from our Kids In Parks Review on Kidding Around
A couple of things to note when planning your visit:
Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site
81 Carl Sandburg Lane
Flat Rock, NC 28731
828.693.4178
Get Directions for Carl Sandburg’s Home.
Other Western NC Travel Ideas:
There’s so much to see in WNC!
Find more fun in our Kidding Around Guide to WNC.
After visiting Carl Sandburg’s home, spend the day in nearby Hendersonville, NC!
Has your family ever visited the Carl Sandburg home?