Are you looking for ways to celebrate Mardi Gras in the Upstate this year? Whether you’re looking for places to pick up some festive Mardi Gras food and king cakes in Greenville, or you’re seeking a local Mardi Gras event near Greenville, we have all the information you need! So, use this list and pull off a fun Mardi Gras celebration with your family. The food, the sweets, all of it!
Maybe you’ve seen stunning photos of this mountaintop chapel and wondered exactly where it was. Maybe you’ve heard of Pretty Place, South Carolina but have never been. Well, we know exactly where it is and have experienced the utter amazement of this beautiful spot and are here to tell you all about it.
Pretty Place Sunrise
Video: Take a Peek at Pretty Place
Pretty Place
The actual name of this chapel is called the Fred W. Symmes Chapel but it goes by the more common name of Pretty Place, which I think everyone can agree is quite fitting. It is on the private property off Camp Greenville, which is owned and operated by the YMCA of Greenville. If you send your child to their summer camp, they’ll get to go here often.
Pretty Place is an open-air chapel that overlooks the Carolina Piedmont at 3,200 feet. It’s just one of those places that is difficult to put into words because of the incredible beauty that emits from the mountaintop there.
Camp Greenville has existed since 1912 but Pretty Place was built much later, in 1941, thanks to Mr. Fred Symmes. It was renovated in 2012 and 2018.
The inscription on the large beam overlooking the mountains in front of the giant cross is from Psalm 121. This is the full verse with the inscription italicized: “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.”
Visiting Pretty Place
Camp Greenville graciously lets the light of Pretty Place shine and is open to the public when not otherwise in use, which is most Saturdays and Sundays, especially during warmer weather when it’s wedding season. Go Google “pretty place” and “wedding” and you’ll want to get married there, or go find someone to marry solely to get married at Pretty Place.
Pretty Place is open daylight to dusk, schedule permitting, and is the perfect place to capture a beautiful sunrise. The roads are typical windy mountain roads to get up there so during the wintertime, it’s important to check the weather before you head out. It’s about an hour from Greenville.
Need to Know Before You Go
It is imperative that you check the public schedule online before you go. Check it the night before. Check it the morning of. You won’t be able to get it if it is closed for a private event. Find the Pretty Place schedule online here.
Bathrooms: There are no restrooms on site between December 1 and March 15 so plan accordingly. There are port-a-potties other times of the year.
Pretty Place is crazy popular for sunrises. I got there on a Good Friday morning about 15 minutes before sunrise and had to park down the street a half mile and walk to the chapel. Normally, there is no hike as there’s a parking lot next to the chapel. There were probably about 500 people there so be sure to allow plenty of time before sunrise if you need to walk a bit.
Visiting Pretty Place is free of charge but of course, they do accept donations.
No alcohol, pets, or smoking are allowed.
Visitors are asked to be respectful. For me, the mountains always bring a sense of peace and solitude. It’s no different at Pretty Place. The vast mountains, the breathtaking scenery, the reminder of the chapel as a place of prayer – it’s all peaceful.
Don’t litter. Pick up after yourself. Be a decent human.
Looking for boys dance classes near Greenville, SC? It can be hard to be the only boy in a dance class, and as a result, many boys don’t want to try a dance class. Kidding Around found a few studios in Spartanburg and Greenville that offer dance classes just for boys. Below you’ll find a list of places where boys will find dance classes just for them.
Looking for things to do for a romantic date night in Greenville, SC? Here’s our list of the 14 most romantic dates in Greenville! We’ve included date ideas that all couples will love. We also asked our readers for their thoughts and included reader-recommended ideas for great dates in Greenville.
Are you looking for hotels in Greenville, SC with indoor pools? Whether you’re visiting Greenville, SC or want to do a staycation, having an indoor pool can be a lifesaver for families because it’s instant entertainment any time of year. We did the legwork and have the list right here for you on where to stay in Greenville with an indoor pool.
As a kid, I always thought there was something magical about an indoor pool and would never want to leave at hotels that had one. It’s a pool, indoors, and warm! As an adult, I can still appreciate a good indoor pool, especially as a parent who sometimes just wants to rest while their kids swim.
In Greenville, there are several hotels with indoor pools where you can live out your childhood dreams and let your kids create new ones. These are fantastic options for families visiting or those who want to do a staycation in the greatest little town in the country. We’re not biased, of course.
Drury Inn and Suites indoor pool | Photo Credit: Drury Inn and Suites
This article contains affiliate links through STAY22. Kidding Around earns when you book through these links.
10 Carolina Point Highway, Greenville 864.288.4401 Bonus: They offer a free hot breakfast and free 5:30pm kickback, which includes hot food and drinks.
670 Verdae Boulevard, Greenville 864.676.9090 Bonus: Free made-to-order breakfast and complimentary evening reception. This location also has an outdoor, seasonal pool.
If you need date night ideas, Greenville, SC has some of the most fun and romantic options! Whether you’re planning a date night for a special day or just want to go out for an evening away from the kids, Kidding Around can help with some great date ideas & reader recommendations.
Looking for Greenville, SC consignment sales? There is just no better bang for your buck on kid’s clothing and gear than local consignment sales. We have all the local consignment sale details for sales in Greenville, Spartanburg, and Anderson, SC so you won’t miss a thing!
Looking for a special Valentine’s Day meal in Greenville, SC? If you just love celebrating love and that stuff with your significant other, we’ve got a list of Valentine’s Day restaurants in the Greenville, SC area that are offering special love-day menus. Plus, we’ve included a few other events that you may like to try with your partner, best friend, or family to celebrate the holiday.
Looking for a playground to visit? You may want to check out West Greenville Community Center’s playground in Greenville!
It’s winter and, yes, it can be cold. Really cold. However, we also get the occasional 60 degree day, in January. You know the kind. When you absolutely must spend as much time outside as possible, before it turns cold again. That’s the perfect day for one of the many awesome parks in Greenville!
Recently, I took the kids to a playground at the West Greenville Community Center. In case you haven’t noticed, Greenville’s West End is bursting with new life. The small, quaint streets are lined with art galleries, vintage shops and to-die-for restaurants. Tucked off the main road, away from all the activity, we found Greenville Rec’s newest addition to the community. It’s not very big, but the boys and I were impressed.
A little about West Greenville Community Center’s playground
There’s ample space to throw down your picnic blanket. The next time we go, I plan to park myself under the huge Oak Tree. If the ground doesn’t appeal to you, there are two really nice, new tables and benches. The park has two regular slides, one double slide, several climbing apparatus and monkey bars. In spite of the cold, we had a really nice time.
There’s good news and bad news for parents of younger children. The good news is, there’s mulch. The bad news is, there’s mulch. You’ll want to use the set of eyes in the back of your head for the little ones who put anything and everything in their mouths.
Honestly, there’s only so much a girl can write about a playground. So, here’s a short list of comments thrown at me from the back seat on our way home:
“Do we have to leave?”
“Even though there aren’t any swings, it was still fun.”
“Can we come back tomorrow?”
“I’m glad we didn’t have to drive far.”
“I really want to ride that spin around-thingy again!”
Visit West Greenville Community Center for yourself
Poppington’s Gourmet Popcorn, a staple on Main Street in Greenville, SC for more than a decade, is under new ownership and we’ve got the story on this Willy Wonka-ish amazing small business.
If you’ve walked on Main Street in downtown Greenville, you’ve probably stopped into Poppington’s Gourmet Popcorn, even if just to window shop. It’s been there since 2012 and only recently came under new ownership. Boy did they hit the ground running.
We stopped by to get the story and try the popcorn and really, didn’t want to leave. It was that good. And read to the bottom for a little gift for Kidding Around readers!
So many flavors
How One Acquires a Popcorn Shop
Skyler Burkett and his wife, Brittanie, were visiting Greenville with some friends a few years ago. They were looking to move from a tiny town in Illinois and stopped into Poppington’s on Main Street. They asked the owners if they were looking to sell at all. Turns out, the owners were open to it.
It took a couple of years to actually make the move to buy Poppington’s and get to Greenville but it all fell into place in April 2023 and Skyler was now a modern-day Willy Wonka, creating all kinds of wonderful and creative flavors that make you second guess exactly what you’re eating.
Skyler and Brittanie Burkett, co-owners at Poppington’s Gourmet Popcorn
Fun fact: Skyler grew up on a farm in Illinois that was basically all corn fields. And now he’s a popcorn shop owner. Full circle!
The Flavors Are Incredible
Sweet or savory, you name it, they have it. And it’s going to be good.
I personally love pickles so I jumped at the chance to try the Dill Pickle flavor of popcorn at Poppington’s (don’t judge). I was 99% sure I was eating an actual pickle and not popcorn, that’s how close the flavor was. Literally the only thing different was the texture. The Bacon Cheddar popcorn was also a favorite. It tastes like you are eating a piece of bacon along with the best piece of cheddar cheese you’ve ever had in your life. I just kept wondering how in the world they pack that much flavor into a kernel of popped corn.
Skyler Burkett at Poppington’s Gourmet Popcorn
Oh, and the Havarti Dill flavor was amazing with lots of bold cheese and dill pickle flavors.
Don’t worry, if pickles aren’t your thing, there are plenty of other flavors I promise you’ll love like Cotton Candy, Birthday Cake, Salted Caramel, and Toffee. Every single flavor we tried was just so good.
Popcorn at Poppington’s is the Real Deal
All the flavor combinations and ingredients at Poppington’s are real foods. No powders or fake foods. And they even have a chef who comes up with ideas and makes them happen. He is one of the business partners and went to culinary school. He hadn’t really found his spot in the culinary community until he became a Popcorn Chef. It’s a thing and now you have new goals in life if you love popcorn and cooking.
So the Popcorn Chef uses all real food to make the 50 flavors available at Poppington’s and this is why they taste so good. This is why the cotton candy flavor tastes like cotton candy – because it is cotton candy – and why the dill pickle flavor tastes like dill pickles, because they are.
Looking Ahead for More Poppington’s Goodness
What’s the future look like for Poppington’s? Skyler tells me they are expanding fast and are always trying new flavors and taking the suggestions of their customers. I gave him a few ideas but am keeping them secret so you’ll have to just wait.
Poppington’s Gourmet Popcorn
If you love Poppington’s so much and want to send all the popcorn goodness to your friends around the country, Poppington’s ships their popcorn. Also, you can order little bags of popcorn for corporate events, weddings, parties, Christmas gifts, literally anything.
Special Poppington’s Gourmet Popcorn Gift for Kidding Around Readers
Skyler is one of the nicest guys you’ll meet. If you go to the shop, be sure to ask for him and he’ll be excited to talk to you and see you. He’s one of the most peoplest people persons I’ve ever met.
And because he’s so nice, he has given our Kidding Around readers a special code to use for 15% off their orders at Poppington through January 31, 2024. Use the code KAG15 for orders online and in-store.
Hours of Operation
Poppington’s is open during these hours but call ahead during snow or big storms to double-check before heading out:
Monday – Thursday: 11 am – 7 pm Friday and Saturday: 11 am – 8 pm Sunday: 12 pm – 5 pm
