Posts Tagged ‘Landrum SC’

It’s Fall Upick Season at Thompson Family Farms Near Campobello, SC!

What’s Going On? Fall at the Farm at Thompson Family Farms opens for Upick cut flowers and sunflower fields on September 13th, 2025. The pumpkin patch will ripen soon!

Thompson Family Farms in Campobello, SC offers pick-your-own Upick pumpkins and sunflowers in the fall. Count us in! Thompson Family Farms has a huge pumpkin patch, sunflowers, and a beautiful cut-flower garden each fall. We adore this farm because it is well-maintained, it is run efficiently, the view of Hogback Mountain is perfect for photos with my kids, and everything we have picked has been high quality.

Fall at the Farm: Upick Flowers, Sunflowers, Pumpkins, & More in September/October

Fall is Here: Fall at the Farm at Thompson Family Farms

Watch! Our Fall Visit to Thompson Family Farm

About Fall at Thompson Family Farm

As the fall season begins, so does the time of year to head down to the pumpkin patch to pick some pumpkins for decorating your home for fall and Halloween. Thompson Family Farms will open their UPick cut flowers on September 13th, 2025. You can pick dahlias, zinnias, and walk through the huge sunflower fields. Pumpkins to come! There will be over 10 varieties of pumpkin to choose from, which is more than I even knew existed. The farm will also have pre-picked and organized pumpkins near the farm stand if you aren’t too keen on picking yours yourself.

While at the farm, you can enjoy a u-pick sunflower field, a pumpkin patch, lawn games, a u-pick cut flower garden ($25 per cup to fill with flowers), a selection of fall crops, and lots of photo opportunities! So, grab your sunscreen and closed-toed shoes (it’s a little bumpy out there in the fields) and head on down to the pumpkin patch at the farm.

Games at Thompson Family Farm — Lawn Games at Thompson Farms!

U-Pick Pumpkins

Pumpkins will be priced by size and variety. The farm will have a limited number of wagons to help lug your pumpkins to the car, but they do recommend bringing a wagon if you want to have one out in the fields.

Pumpkins in the field are precut from the vine to ensure that underripe pumpkins are not picked. Any pumpkin still on the vine is not ready to pick, so please do not pull on their stems!

There will also be prepicked pumpkins, Indian corn, gourds, and other seasonal items for sale.

Pick your own pumpkin patch at Thompson Family Farms

See the Sunflower Fields

Sunflowers

If you love sunflowers (it is hard not to), then Thompson Family Farms has an experience for you! You can mosey through fields of gorgeous sunflowers, and take some gorgeous photos!

The sunflower fields are located in Campobello, SC, right past the Greenville County line into Spartanburg County off of Highway 11. The patch is huge, and overlooks Hogback Mountain, making for spectacular views. There are also several varieties, so you can create an array of yellows and orange colors for your bouquet!

The sunflower fields at Thompson Family Farms. — The sunflower fields at Thompson Family Farms

Sunflower Photo Ops: More Than Just the Flowers!

There is not much needed to get some amazing photos, but Thompson Family Farms has created some special areas to get those Pinterest-worthy shots. There is a pallet-style photo backdrop surrounded by sunflowers, a fun “face in the hole” sunflower wall, and even some adorable bamboo bean pole teepees near the entrance that make for some adorable photos.

There are also rows and rows of blooming sunflowers to use as the backdrop of your photos.

Sunflower display at Thompson Family Farm. — Photo-Op at the Farm!

Hours and Pricing for Fall at the Farm

Thompson Family Farms will open for the fall season on September 13th, 2025. They will open through the end of October for u-pick pumpkins, the sunflower field, flower u-pick, Indian corn, and gourds. They will also have additional seasonal items for sale. For updates, including weather changes and sell-out date, check out their Facebook page (Thompson Family Farms Facebook page).

Hours: Thursday-Saturday, 10 am to 7 pm.

Prices: Admission is free, pumpkins are priced by weight

Cut Flower Garden – $25 per Cup

Create your own bouquet of zinnias, dahlias, sunflowers, and more. For $25, you’ll receive a cup to keep, scissors to borrow, and access to stroll and pick from our Cut Flower Garden and Sunflower Field.

Guidelines:

Check in at the farm stand to pay and pick up your cup. One cup admits your group; individuals only need their own if taking home a separate arrangement.
Only touch the flowers you plan to pick.
Stay on pathways.

Picking flowers at Thompson Farms! — Picking Flowers at Thompson Farms!

Things to Know Before You Go U-Pick Pumpkins and Sunflowers

The Thompson Family Farms pumpkin and sunflower fields are located at 13830 SC-11, Campobello, SC.

There is a graveled parking area right when you enter the farm to park at.
Be sure to bring sunscreen or a UV umbrella; the farm is mostly unshaded.
Wear closed-toe shoes or boots to protect your kids and your feet from ants, sticks, etc.
The fields are pretty bumpy, so strollers are not recommended. We recommend bringing a carrier if you have smaller children, as the ground has dips and holes that are hard for little feet to navigate.
The farm does have porta-potties if you need to use the restroom.
Bring water! It gets hot out there in the fields.
There are honeybees enjoying some of the flowers, so be careful when picking your flowers to avoid getting stung.
Bring your own food for weekday picnics, though they do have food trucks on occasion (check Facebook for special days)
Pets are not allowed!

Pumpkin Guide to Greenville, SC, pumpkins in Greenville

Love pumpkins? We have a whole guide for that!

Kidding Around Greenville Pumpkin Guide: where to get pumpkins, where to learn about pumpkins, tasty pumpkin treats, and lots more!

Thompson Family Farms
13820 SC-11, Campobello, SC

Visit the Quiet Brookwood Park in Landrum, SC

Curious about Brookwood Park, tucked quietly away in Landrum, SC? Kidding Around’s Sarah Burnett paid it a visit with her 3 kids and shares everything you need to know about what this little neighborhood park has to offer.

Quick Summary: Fun at Brookwood Park

Address: 199 S Bomar Avenue, Landrum, SC 29356
Playground for preschool to early elementary age
Paved walking trails
Pavilion
Military Memorial
Parking on site

Finding the Park

Depending on which mapping app you use, this address could take you right to Brookwood Park’s car lot, or it could land you across the street at the Land Mart Corner Store wondering where you are. Guess which one happened to me? But don’t worry! One phone call to the City of Landrum’s front desk gave me the guidance I needed: “Look behind you.” And with embarrassed laughter and a sigh of relief, I saw the sign!

To be fair, Brookwood Park is a little hidden from view. The road sits high compared to the park down below, so if you happen to miss the sign (like I did) then it’s easy to overlook the park itself. But once you catch it, oh boy! Down a steep hill and across a stretch of greenspace, your eyes take in the climbing wall, multiple swing sets, and playground with playthings to spare!

If you are a hiker, it is also worth noting that Brookwood Park is along two major hiking routes which pass through the City of Landrum. The park makes a convenient rest stop about 4 miles into the Blue Wall Passage of the Palmetto Trail, coming down from the Foothills Equestrian Nature Center (FENCE). It is also located less than 1/10^th of a mile from the conclusion of the 14-mile Peach Country Passage of the Palmetto Trail coming from Inman, SC.

Around the Playground

Brookwood Park features an older playground, with its main playset appealing mostly to preschoolers through early elementary ages. The main draws for littles will almost certainly be the stationary red car with double-steering wheels or one of the rocking toys with a spring base. With mulch all around, excellent visibility, and a small set of bleachers for seating, this play area right next to the parking lot is ideal for parents juggling multiples.

Brookwood Park Playground in Landrum, SC

Farther into the park, though, older kids will also love the open greenspace, additional swing sets, and of course, the climbing wall! My oldest delighted in running around “hunting” squirrels in the grass, and I delighted in seeing the squirrels escape into the scattered oak trees. He quickly conquered the climbing wall and then turned to jumping out at me from either end of the tunnel underneath it.

Peek at the picnic shelter right by the playgrounds, too, and you’ll find the Carolina Lily! This is the 6^th pattern of the Foothills Quilt Trail scattered throughout Landrum, SC— Finding them all could make for a great family scavenger hunt, if you feel like exploring the city!

More to Explore

On the other side of the parking lot is another, smaller greenspace. A picket fence wraps around the far side of the space, creating a barrier between your kids and the woods beyond.

Here, you’ll also find a small brick pavilion with stone tables inside and two military memorial stones flanking the entrance. We happened to be at the park when the maintenance team came through to replace one of the American flags there, and we were thankful to see the memorial being stewarded with such respect and care.

This is also where you can find the entrance to the Brookwood Park Walking Trail. It’s a roughly half-mile loop, which is mostly level and heavily shaded by trees all around. Most of the loop is paved with some boardwalks in the mix. Strollers and dogs are welcome on the trail, but bicycles, skateboards, and the like are strictly prohibited.

We visited in winter, but I have seen photos of this trail in autumn and definitely want to visit again when we can catch the changing foliage! There is a little stream that runs alongside much of the trail, and I saw several spots that would be great for family pictures once the leaves have come out.

Tips for Your Visit

While this park is located on a residential street, the view from the main road is limited and the wooded trail, in particular, has several points of isolation. Safety precautions to consider could include planning your visit with multiple families and always walking with a buddy when on the trail.
The steep hills around the park create a natural barrier between the play area and the roads, but there are no fences around the main part of this park. If you have little ones or kids who like to explore, you may want to set clear boundaries upon arrival and be sure your kids stay closer to you than to the road.
There is a picnic shelter with restrooms available, but the responsibility for maintaining these facilities is primarily up to the groups who reserve it. As a result, you might find it in varying condition, depending on the people who used it last.

Brookwood Park is maintained by the City of Landrum. If you notice a maintenance issue or other concern on your visit, be sure to let them know so they can address it!

Find lots more fun in Landrum, SC!

Stone Soup in Landrum, SC is Perfect for A Lovely Lunch

Have you visited the quaint Stone Soup in Landrum, SC? The market and cafe has beautiful, comfortable seating indoors and out. We love the pretty garden-like setting outdoors, as well as the cozy and comfortable indoor seating. And, we loved the relaxed ambiance and friendly service. Here’s why you should add this spot to your list of great restaurants for a date night, or a relaxing meal out with friends and family.

Outdoor space at Stone Soup in Landrum, SC — Outdoor Seating at Stone Soup

Complete Restaurant Guide to Greenville, SC

Looking for more restaurants near Greenville? Check out our Ultimate Guide to Restaurants, where you’ll find every cuisine!

Stone Soup Setting

Outdoors, and tables are set under shade awnings and a pavilion. There are both fans and heaters so the space can be enjoyed in a variety of weather. Indoors, cozy and comfortable tables are spread throughout a couple of smaller rooms of dining space with great big windows, allowing for easy conversation and a relaxed ambiance.

It is rather unusual for my husband and me, especially leaving the kids at home, to enjoy a drink, then an appetizer, a meal, and also stick around for coffee and dessert. But at Stone Soup we do because it was just that beautiful and relaxing. We probably spend an average of 2 hours on our date night meals at Stone Soup. The service was wonderful and we never once felt rushed. In fact, our waitress suggested at the end of our meal that we just keep sipping our coffee and take our time.

Stone Soup Menu

All that and we haven’t yet discussed the food. The menu at Stone Soup includes a wide variety of wood-fired pizzas, sandwiches, unique appetizers, and entrees, plus cocktails, and a small selection of the day’s desserts.

We ordered (and highly recommend) the Tuna Bites for an appetizer. It was gorgeous and delicious, The tuna bites are black sesame-crusted Rare Ahi Tuna, pickled ginger, wasabi cream, chopped red pepper, and green onions, on top of the lightest, crispiest wontons you’ve ever seen or tasted.

We ordered the tuna bites again on a second visit, and they were just as delicious!

For our meals, we’ve enjoyed sandwiches like their salmon BLT and a woodfired calzone. The bacon on that BLT was some of the thickest and tastiest I’ve had while the salmon was cooked perfectly. The calzone was massive and could have easily fed two people, which it didn’t because my husband loves calzones and ate the whole thing. It was just that good.

Dessert isn’t printed on the menu, but just ask your server for what they are offering that day. We intended to get one dessert and share it, but, on the day we went, they had both peanut butter pie and a chocolate flourless cake that may as well have been fudge. So, we got them both and we had no regrets.

Stone Soup Market

Stone Soup also carries a selection of housemade baked goods, deli salads, and specialty items that can be purchased in their market. They also have housemade frozen casseroles to pick up and bring home.

Stone Soup
1522 E. Rutherford Street
Landrum, SC
864.457.5255

Tuesday through Saturday, 11:30 am – 8 pm
Closed Sunday and Monday

Explore This 110 Year-Old Covered Bridge: Campbell’s Covered Bridge

Have you been thinking about checking out Campbell’s Covered Bridge? This bridge is the last remaining covered bridge in South Carolina. At this Greenville County property, you can explore the bridge, enjoy a picnic by the creek, and even get in a short hike. Personally, this is one of my favorite destinations for a quick nature reset in the Greenville area.

Watch! Our Visit to Campbell’s Covered Bridge

Campbell’s Covered Bridge was built in 1909 by Charles Willis Irwin. Signage in the park says the bridge was named for Lafayette Campbell who owned the land at the time of its construction. Today, it is owned by Greenville County and the property has been turned into a small but lovely park.

Where is Campbell’s Covered Bridge?

171 Campbell Covered Bridge Road
Landrum, SC 29356

While the bridge address is in Landrum, it is really quite close to northern Greer and Taylors. As you pull into the main entrance of the park off Pleasant Hill Road (114) you’ll pull directly into a gravel parking lot. My GPS wanted me to turn onto a private road before I was quite to the parking lot for Campbell’s Covered Bridge. I just had to continue driving a few seconds before I saw the well-marked entrance.

As soon as you open your car door you’ll hear Beaverdam Creek and feel like you are off relaxing by a mountain creek somewhere much, much farther away. We’d had a rough morning and opening that door was like instant calm. You’ll see Campbell’s Covered Bridge from the parking lot, as it crosses the creek.

What can you do at Campbell’s Covered Bridge?

Hike the Trail

This park has a beautiful half-mile nature trail. It is unpaved and not suitable for strollers. While it is a bit hilly it is definitely walkable for little ones. You’ll walk along the creek and turn up a hill and around to a clearing on a hill with a pretty view of the bridge and some benches. The path continues on through the woods and exits at the parking lot.

Explore the Bridge and Creek

The bridge is open to walk on and you can get down to the creek from either side of the bridge. The creek is shallow and fairly wide with lots of flat rocks to sit on while you look at the water. This area is all shaded by trees making it quite cool.

Have a Picnic!

Off to the side of the bridge along the creek is the foundation from the grist mill that was located on this property. It’s fun to explore and quite picturesque. There’s a picnic table in the center of this foundation, which we thought was a pretty spectacular place for a picnic.

You’ll find other picnic tables spread around the property, as well as benches throughout the park, both in the shade by the creek and up on the hill in the sun. While there are lots of great picnic spots here, there are no restrooms, so you’ll want to plan ahead for that.

This park also doesn’t have a playground. But the kids will be entertained hunting around the banks of the creek, examining the bridge, and walking on the trail. There are also some great spots with the perfect scenery for family photos at this park.

Tip From A Reader: About 6 miles from the covered bridge, is David Jackson Park. You’ll find bathrooms and a playground at David Jackson Park. Swing by before or after your visit to the covered bridge for some playtime and a restroom!

Campbell’s Covered Bridge: Quick Review

Favorites:

Covered Bridge
Creek to explore
½ Mile Nature Trail
Sunny spots and shady spots

Drawbacks:

No playground
No restrooms

This park is a great stop to enjoy the outdoors for an hour or so. Sure it doesn’t have a playground, but the other unique features add some variety to a typical park day. We love this one for its woodsy feel and of course the bridge and the creek. So check it out and let us know what you love about Campbell’s Covered Bridge!

bullfrog at Campbells Covered Bridge — Bullfrog by the creek at Campbells Covered Bridge

For even more amazing options, see our huge Guide to Outdoor Things to Do Near Greenville, SC.

Have you visited Campbell’s Covered Bridge?

Discover Fabulous Food and Things to Do in Landrum, SC

Looking for a great little town where you can spend the day, then you’ll love our list of things to do in Landrum SC? Tucked away on the north side of Spartanburg, the quaint, small town of Landrum, South Carolina is worth a visit. Here are some great places to eat, things to do, and even a couple places to stay in Landrum, SC.

Things to Do in Landrum, SC

Great Restaurants in Landrum, SC

Places to Stay in Landrum, SC

(more…)

Pick Lavender at Elf Leaf Farm: Greenville County’s Only Lavender Farm

Elf Leaf Farm is the only lavender farm in Greenville County, SC and their u-pick lavender field is beautiful with views of the mountains. Lavender season is upon us and we’ve got all the details on how to experience this incredible farm with your family in Greenville, SC.

The family love is strong at Elf Leaf Farm in Landrum, South Carolina, just a 35-minute drive from Greenville, SC in the Upstate. The farm is run by Allison and Derek Garrett and their children. Their two youngest daughters, Deirdre and Georgia, are bubbly, cheerful and welcoming and I immediately wanted to be their best friend. They are really fun!

Elf Leaf, which is Scottish term for “lavender” (a nod to Derek’s side of the family), is nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, anchored by the prettiest farmhouse I’ve ever seen and built on land owned by the Campbell family. If you’re familiar with Campbell’s Covered Bridge, that’s the same family. The bridge is actually just a few minutes away from Elf Leaf Farm.

But let’s get back to the lavender, which is oh-so-gorgeous, and in season during the month of June. I’ll tell you all about how you pick your own lavender plus enjoy the special offerings of the family trade right at the farm.

Elf Leaf Farm’s Roots

Every farm has roots and Elf Leaf’s run deep as the land was part of the Campbell family for many, many years. When Allison and Derek started thinking about retirement, they wanted a farm. Derek always loved farming and Allison always loved soap-making. I promise this is relevant.

Derek was working at the Oconee nuclear plant and would drive home to Greer a different way most days, checking out various farms and properties along the way. When he found the current property that is now Elf Leaf Farm, the couple knew they had found home. They purchased about 48 acres in 2016 and then later added two more acres later on.

As one of only two lavender farms in the Upstate, I had to know why lavender was the crop of choice. It’s because Allison just loves lavender and made soap with it for years and years. She made a lot. And it took up a lot of space at home and while she did sell it at local farmers markets and at The Shoppes Off Trade in Greer, she kind of needed a bigger space. And more lavender of course. And that’s how lavender became the focus on the farm.

Lavender is not native to South Carolina and is very, very hard to grow. Allison and her family really had to figure out how to dig deeper in the Southern soil, past the red clay to make it work. They attended lavender conferences (yes, there’s such a thing) and talked to other lavender farmers and eventually, after a lot of trial and error, were able to grow some pretty spectacular lavender plants.

Events at Elf Leaf Farm

While u-pick lavender is certainly the focus of Elf Leaf Farm in June – and the family is truly all hands on deck during this time since it’s the only time of year to harvest – the farm also has a huge permanent tent to host events like weddings, corporate lunches or dinners, or whatever other things that people may want to do at a lavender farm.

They even have two separate cottages for a bride and groom and the view from the tent is directly at the mountains. Flowers and blueberries and more lavender are planted around the farm and Deirdre and Georgia have big plans for hosting people throughout the year at the farm.

For 2025, will be live music, prepaid picnic lunches available, lavender wand making on Wednesdays, and each Friday, there will be Fairies in the Fields for little ones to enjoy, along with much more!

Lavender at Elf Leaf — Picked lavender at Elf Leaf Farm

These ladies are a lot of fun to be around and if their events are anything like their personalities, they are going to be awesome. Deirdre actually went to acting school and lived in Brooklyn, New York for awhile and in 2016, she did the most Brooklyn thing ever and went home to help on the family farm. When the pandemic hit, she started working there full-time. Her and her family are so invested not only in the farm but in each other and that shines through in how they run the farm. Southern Hospitality runs deep here!

2025 U-Pick Lavender

The lavender fields at Elf Leaf Farm will be open to the public these dates from 9 am – 4 pm:

Tuesday, June 3 – Sunday, June 8, 2025
Tuesday, June 10 – Sunday, June 15, 2025
Tuesday, June 17 – Sunday, June 22, 2025
Tuesday, June 24 – Sunday, June 29, 2025

There is no admission to Elf Leaf Farm for u-pick dates but there is a $5 parking fee per car. They take cash or card. Also, if you pre-register for one of the events or classes, the ticket comes with a free parking pass.

When you go u-pick lavender, you only pay for your lavender, which are sold in 2 inch bundles for around $8. You get shears and a beautiful basket to go pick your lavender.

If you’re a family who would just love from family photos in a lavender field, that’s possible! There is a $50/hour charge to use the field for professional photography. You can contact the farm to arrange your amazing lavender photo session.

Lots of Lavender Products

The first place I went when I got to the farm after meeting Derek was the Elf Leaf store. Oh my gosh, I thought I went to heaven. The scent of this little shop was perfection. I really didn’t want to leave. I only left because my new best friends, Deirdre and Georgia, promised my kids and I lavender brownies and iced tea at the farmhouse.

Lavender products at Elf Leaf Farm — Lavender products in the store

The shop is small but mighty. They have everything you can think of that involves lavender: tea, lotion, lavender coffee, lavender scone mix, lavender simple syrup, soap (the soap is always involved), lavender honey right from the bees on the farm, dried lavender, and just so many other things. They also have tea towels, local pottery, and even a lavender cookbook. It’s pretty amazing. Take your time. Smell the lavender, buy some stuff.

You can also find Elf Leaf’s products at the Landrum farmers market or buy directly online if you happen to need more lavender things (which you probably will).

In 2024, they offered lavender ice cream and lavender-lemon soda and strawberry-rhubarb soda. We had the ice cream and the lavender-lemon soda and whoa, they were delicious! We hope they are available this season!

Tips on Visiting Elf Leaf Farm

To make the most of your visit at Elf Leaf, we have some suggestions:

Leave your pets at home. The farm does not allow them.
Wear sunscreen and a hat. It’s hot and lavender likes full sun, hence you’ll be in full South Carolina summer sun.
Bring lunch or snacks. The farm is a beautiful place to hang out.
Wear closed-toed shoes. It’s a farm and there are ants and bugs and other things you don’t want on your feet.
They are able to help people in wheelchairs into the lavender field.
Follow the directions of the staff. There are certain plants you can pick from and others you cannot. Just be courteous and follow directions.
The farmhouse is private. As much as you’d probably like to live in the farmhouse on the property, it’s the private property of the Garrett family so don’t go and invite yourself in.
There are beautiful bathroom facilities at Elf Leaf Farm so don’t worry if your kid needs to take a potty break!
After your visit, dip your toes in the water at Campbell’s Covered Bridge, just three minutes from the farm. It feels great!

Elf Leaf Farm
141 N Campbell Road, Landrum
864.331.9866

There’s more to explore in Landrum!

Here’s our guide to things to do in Landrum, SC.

Love Flowers?

Here are the UPICK Flower Farms near the Upstate.

Posts Tagged ‘Landrum SC’

It’s Fall Upick Season at Thompson Family Farms Near Campobello, SC!

Fall is Here: Fall at the Farm at Thompson Family Farms

Watch! Our Fall Visit to Thompson Family Farm