The top cities between Pigeon Forge and Charleston are Asheville, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Greenville, Columbia, Cherokee, Hendersonville, Maggie Valley, and Bryson City. Asheville is the most popular city on the route. It's 2 hours from Pigeon Forge and 4 hours from Charleston.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a national park located in the U.S. states of North Carolina and Tennessee, with over 800 square miles of beautiful forest, mountains, rivers and ridges. It is well known for its diversity of nature - including hiking trails to the summits of the mountains, viewing gorgeous waterfalls, or learning about history from old structures on the property.
This amazing park is home to a thousand black bears. In winter when I went the bears were hibernating, so ducks, deer and elk were the wildlife we saw. Winter here makes the park as beautiful as in other seasons but with completely different and unexpected views of nature and the landscape. Amazing!
Eduardo Mace — Google review
Loved the mountains!!! If you have time wished I did would loved to explore the surrounding trails. Very beautiful place. Peaceful and relaxing. We came through on a week day so traffic was good. If you see people with cameras and huddled you may be in for Elk seeing!!!
Explore With Who — Google review
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park provided my family and me with an unforgettable experience of natural beauty and tranquility. As we entered the park, we were immediately captivated by the breathtaking vistas of rolling mountains, lush forests, and cascading waterfalls. The park's serene atmosphere created the perfect setting for us to bond and reconnect with nature.
Exploring the park's numerous hiking trails allowed us to immerse ourselves in the peaceful surroundings. Each step we took revealed a new wonder, whether it was a hidden stream, a vibrant wildflower, or a majestic wildlife sighting. The diversity of the park's ecosystem was awe-inspiring, and we were constantly amazed by the wonders that unfolded before our eyes.
One of the highlights of our visit was witnessing the sunrise from Clingmans Dome, the highest point in the park. Standing atop the observation tower, we were treated to a panoramic view of the mountains as they were bathed in golden hues by the first light of day. It was a moment of pure serenity and a memory that will forever be etched in our hearts.
Overall, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park provided us with a remarkable and memorable experience. Its beauty and tranquility rejuvenated our spirits and allowed us to forge lasting memories. Whether you're seeking adventure, relaxation, or quality time with loved ones, I highly recommend visiting this extraordinary park.
Rosanne Cifani — Google review
LOVE the Smoky Mountains!! It’s a must see during all the seasons especially summer and fall! Plenty of pull offs for picture taking, enjoying the scenery and hiking. We live less than 2 hours away and frequent here several times a year and we still can’t get enough of the beauty! Also great towns all around with plenty to do and eat!
Mindy B. — Google review
What can one say about a National Park?
More than I can type here. Everywhere we went was kept very clean and had no issues.
The hiking trails are generally well kept and safe.
The rest areas have clean bathrooms and the roads are excellent.
We enjoyed our time in the southern part of the park very much and will be back again.
Be ready to use your brakes and steering wheel a lot while traveling the mountainous roads!
Jason Olson — Google review
One of our greatest National Parks to be sure!
The Elk are out in full force this year! Such a beautiful sight to see.
Did you know…?
A parking pass is now required for anyone sitting still for more than 15 minutes.
The passes can only be obtained in the park at the visitor’s centers by kiosk with a credit/debit card
Chris Powers — Google review
It was so spectacularly beautiful! Cade's Cove was awesome! We saw a couple of bears, deer, and other small critters. Loved the stops at the churches, cemeteries, and home/farm remnants from the 1800s settlement. My old phone doesn't do it justice. Can't wait to return to this part of Tennessee!
Jennifer Johnston — Google review
We really enjoyed our short trip here. Our first time, so we were just taking in the beauty of nature. The visitors center was great and many gifts for sale at reasonable prices. The staff was very pleasant, knowledgeable and professional. We can't wait to come back and explore much more with weather that is a tad warmer. It was 23 degrees the day we went, but barely noticed with all the surrounding beauty to behold!!
Jim Melton — Google review
This is an amazing park with so much to do. It’s no wonder the park is packed in the summer.
We were here in the spring, mid-April, and it was amazing. The green undergrowth was amazing and provided an assuredly different view than if we’d gone in summer or fall.
The park staff was amazing at each encounter, especially the volunteers. Every hike we did provided different experiences and views to enjoy. And best of all, despite all we did there was so much we didn’t do and look forward to future returns to tick those things off.
If you’re planning a visit, be sure to pick up the guide pamphlets for $1 or so each, the wealth of information is amazing in helping to plan your experience. There are also plenty of picnic areas to choose from, so packing a lunch to enjoy at them is a great idea.
We can’t wait to go back.
Mark Hamilton — Google review
Great smoky mountains National Park if full of adventures. A few days are not enough to explore its beauty and vastness.
We could see some great sites and will definitely come back to see more. Good infrastructure in the area. Various options of accommodations for all prices range from cheapest to higher side. It is difficult to express my feelings here. It is a must go site for people loving fun and exploring mesmerizing nature out there.
Abdul Basit — Google review
Due to its size, this national park offers so much to do and explore. From quick hikes and glamping for weekend warriors to more rugged outdoor activities for more experienced people. There is really something for everyone, provided you are even remotely interested in the outdoors.
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Slim Guy — Google review
I didn't want to leave. It has to be one of the most beautiful, peaceful places I've ever been. I cannot say enough about the place. The only wildlife that we saw were a few turkeys and geese but it was still a beautiful place and experience. If you haven't been, you should plan to go. ❤️❤️
Selena Black — Google review
Awesome place. It was bit crowded but the we were on the perfect time. It got all colors and awesome views and weather. Was able to see bears live. Enjoyed a lot with family
dilip kumar sahu — Google review
Popping fall colors! Spent Halloween at a cabin, tucked away in the Smoky Mountains. Beautiful scenery!
Def recommend the hiking trail to Laurel Falls, easy for beginners and families. So happy we saw Mama bear & 3 cute cubs close to our cabin!
Travel Babe — Google review
Besides the beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains, we encountered a herd of 23 female Elk who just crossed a nearby stream to graze in the nearby freshly growing grass. My Grandson, wife, and 2 young children stood behind that old rugged fence watching quietly and in awe of these beautiful animals. At one startlingly moment, I turned around, and not 6ft. from in back of us, stood this gigantic male bull staring at us. We all froze hanging onto the fence, and prayed, as the3 and 5 yr old sat on their parents shoulders. I had on a bright green jacket and could feel and hear him breathing on it. Thank God, the kids were warned in time to be extremely quiet. 🙏🏼 Thankfully, the big guy left as quietly as he came. My Grandson was in tears as he explained that through the corner of his eye he could see the big Elk back up behind me and put his head, huge antlers down in an attack mode. THANK GOD, I guess he realized we weren't a threat to his Harem of some pregnant females,and slowly walked away. I asked my Grandson if he was able to get a picture of him. He said, Gram, I didn't dare move an inch. I thought we were going to have to take you to the hospital, or worse!!!!! SMART THINKING 🤔 👍 SO, as you enjoy the beauty of the land, also be aware of the dangers that could creep up on you!!!!! God Bless!!!!!
Dot Cambern — Google review
The views were good but when we reached there the peak was over. So I could not see the best of fall colors. We did not go to top of mountain we covered half way. In some places there is elevation.
There are small walkway bridges which are very good and best for taking our pictures.
Shilpitha — Google review
GSM is an absolutely beautiful preservation of the mountains. The trails, picnic videos and ranger stations we visited were all maintained, clearly marked, accessible and fun to visit. Trails along the creeks were especially beautiful. Driving, walking or hiking are all great ways to experience the views. Most trails and wildlife areas in the region are park of the park, so buying a parking or visiting pass is a good idea. They are mostly reasonable at around $5.
Jess Hogg — Google review
81% as popular as Asheville
45 minutes off the main route, 16% of way to Charleston
Cherokee, located in western North Carolina, is a town on the reservation of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation. Visitors can experience the 18th-century Cherokee lifestyle at Oconaluftee Indian Village through live demonstrations and watch the tribal story unfold at the outdoor Mountainside Theatre during summer performances of "Unto These Hills." The nearby Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers campgrounds and Appalachian hiking trails for outdoor enthusiasts.
42% as popular as Asheville
21 minutes off the main route, 21% of way to Charleston
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Bryson City, a charming small town in North Carolina, serves as a gateway to the picturesque Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The area is known for its wildflowers, streams, and a section of the famous Appalachian Trail. Visitors can enjoy scenic train rides through the park with the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad and explore the history of trains at the Smoky Mountain Trains Museum. For adventure seekers, white-water rafting on the Tuckasegee River is a popular activity.
19% as popular as Asheville
35 minutes off the main route, 25% of way to Charleston
Nestled in the picturesque mountains of North Carolina, Maggie Valley is a charming town located on the eastern edge of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Visitors can explore the park's natural beauty, including wildflowers and black bears, along trails like Deep Creek Trail with its stunning waterfalls. For winter sports enthusiasts, Cataloochee Ski Area offers slopes and trails for skiing and snowboarding. History buffs will enjoy the Wheels Through Time Museum's collection of vintage motorcycles and rare cars.
11% as popular as Asheville
13 minutes off the main route, 25% of way to Charleston
Asheville, situated in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina, is renowned for its thriving arts scene and historic architecture. The city boasts grand landmarks like the Basilica of Saint Lawrence with its striking dome and also the 19th-century Biltmore estate, home to priceless artworks by masters such as Renoir. Asheville has a lively Downtown Art District filled with galleries and museums, while the River Arts District houses artists' studios in converted factory buildings.
Most popular city on this route
7 minutes off the main route, 31% of way to Charleston
I'll never travel to Charleston without this trip planner again
Hendersonville is situated in North Carolina, located south of Asheville. The downtown area features the Henderson County Heritage Museum showcasing Civil War relics and a replica of a 1900s general store. Meanwhile, Jump Off Rock provides an excellent view of the Blue Ridge Mountains to the west. Mills River Park is equipped with dog parks and picnic areas for visitors to enjoy.
14% as popular as Asheville
5 minutes off the main route, 36% of way to Charleston
Located in South Carolina, Greenville is a bustling city that boasts a rich cultural history. The Greenville County Museum of Art showcases an extensive collection of artwork by Southern artists from various centuries. Meanwhile, the Upcountry History Museum takes visitors on a journey through the interesting and diverse history of upstate South Carolina. Those who love nature will enjoy visiting Falls Park on the Reedy, where they can take in stunning views of waterfalls and gardens along the river's edge via suspension bridges.
46% as popular as Asheville
14 minutes off the main route, 47% of way to Charleston
Columbia, the largest city in South Carolina, serves as the state's capital. The area boasts a number of notable attractions including the South Carolina State House, which is characterized by its Greek Revival architecture and accompanied by an array of monuments. For those interested in wildlife and nature, Riverbanks Zoo & Garden offers expansive animal enclosures as well as stunning botanical gardens.
34% as popular as Asheville
6 minutes off the main route, 68% of way to Charleston
Best stops along Pigeon Forge to Charleston drive
The top stops along the way from Pigeon Forge to Charleston (with short detours) are Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Falls Park on the Reedy, and Riverbanks Zoo & Garden. Other popular stops include The North Carolina Arboretum, Middleton Place, and The Biltmore Inn.
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Grew up on this river,beautiful and plenty to do along the Nolichucky River...name comes from the Cherokee Indians,means the river of death..
MarkPerree Ward (Together Forever) — Google review
Love camping in spots alongside river. Also love the music and arts festivals hosted by river.
The Basilica of Saint Lawrence is an iconic and gorgeous Catholic church in downtown Asheville, NC. It was designed by Spanish architect Rafael Guastavino and features stunning stained glass windows. The basilica offers free guided and self-guided tours, but you don't have to take one if you just want to see the architecture from the 20th century.
Beautiful Architecture can be seen in Basilica of St Lawrence. It was completed in 1909. The Basilica of St. Lawrence is designed by Rafael Gustavino and Richard Sharpe Smith, renowned architects on the Biltmore House. Their updated mass time schedules and visiting hours are available in their website. You can also book a tour with a guide on their website. Make sure to book it atleast a week in advance to get confirmation or approval. Worth to visit!
RJ Conner — Google review
You must come and visit on Sunday for the 9 AM mass and be sure to stay late to receive the amazing free tour afterwards! It was such a joy and funny to hear our hosts speak about the wonderful things of this church and help us to more appreciate the stained glass, sculptures and architecture. The architect love this place so much he is buried here! We had a wonderful mass with Latin spliced in. The congregation was welcoming. We felt good about giving to this church which is in dire need of repair. Peace, Joshua
Joshua Knight — Google review
Beautiful church and the guy at the door was very welcoming. You do need to pay attention to the visiting hours. Self guided tour and the informational sheet was full of helpful history and pointed out awesome details.
Douglas Arterburn — Google review
If you love old buildings with so much history and impressive architecture, this church is a must-visit. Their front door is under kind of construction/repair so the entrance to the church is off to the side. It's a straightforward self-guided tour. It's free to enter but there's a donation box by the entrance.
Maricris G — Google review
While honeymooning in nearby Maggie Valley, we happened upon the Basilica of St Lawrence. This stood out to us as an architectural oddity in the middle of a modern city, and decided to stop in. The outside betrayed the beauty of the inside where frescoes, tapestries and statuaries reign supreme. An absolute beauty.
This structure with its fascinating details in design, is included on my list of Wonders of the World. Truly amazing ❤️
Allicia Beadle-Lee — Google review
The architecture on display at the Basilica is captivating. Such a remarkable display of mankind’s ingenuity.
Dennis Steck — Google review
My husband and I were very excited to go to mass here on our vacation. We learned about it’s history on some of the walking tours we went on. The architecture is unique and amazing so be sure to learn about it! We wish we could have stayed for the free tour after mass! Mass was beautiful and everyone was very friendly. There is a parking lot for people going to mass but we went to a parking deck nearby since we had dinner reservations right after.
joellen devitis — Google review
Beautiful and humbling church. Felt at peace inside and appreciated the care that has gone into caring for this sanctuary. Please leave a cash gift for your entrance before leaving.
Sjk Nelson — Google review
Amazing church and the pastor has a heart of gold. The basilica is beautiful. Sunday tours after mass. Tour guide is a local volunteer who is incredible. One of americas great architects Raphael Guastavino built the church. Its magnificent to behold. And whats best is Jesus is present here. The sacrament of communion is beautifully reverant.
And this parish has a true leader shephard! He dedicates all his time to everyone who enters the doors. He has a true heart for Jesus and you can tell on first glance. He answers questions anyone has about the faith during coffee hour.
M Long — Google review
Full house runs into the street.
Easter morning downtown Asheville. The church filled up fast as more people arrived. Happy Easter
JimBo' B. (JimBo') — Google review
Beautiful church with some interesting history. My rating is due to expecting just a quick stop. If we weren't staying walking distance away and had planned to stay longer, I probably would have been disappointed. As others have pointed out, the posted hours were not consistent with the actual time. We wanted to see the church as tourists, so we came during hours posted for visiting / touring. But as we walked in we were informed mass was starting in 30 minutes. We wanted to be respectful so we didn't walk around. The staff were very friendly and polite and I'm glad we got the chance to see the inside. I completely respect the church wanting to be less tourist focused and more exclusively a place of worship, but feel the hours and information should reflect that.
B Mc — Google review
Beautiful and amazing structure build in the old day, see visiting hours in a picture
G Santana — Google review
Gloriously beautiful basilica! As a visitor, I felt welcomed by the parish. Parking was not hard at all. The mass was celebrated with the deacon, priest, and local seminarians. The stained glass and sculptures were a work of art. The mass was enhanced by amazing music from the choir. I highly recommend for your Sunday worship.
Mark David — Google review
I really don't like having to put up such a low star rating for a place of worship. Unfortunately, for this particular Church, I'm afraid I have to.
And my reason for doing so is quite a simple one: I had been to this church with a fellow homeless man ♂️, who had been staying in the "starvation army" 🪖 shelter of apathy with me, during this weekend. It was a Sunday morning, and pretty cold when we came into this church.
I had initially wanted to have a day of worship at a different variety of church, not far from this one. I had written a review of the other Church in question during the same day I was trying to determine their hours of operation. But, after I had left this basilica to find out if the other church had actually opened its doors yet, the young man I was traveling with caught up to me after a while of me waiting at the other church.
What he told me came as an absolute shock of disgust at all the clergy members of this basilica... Apparently, during my absence, one of their female staff members complained about his carrying bags to him. And even though she offered him a chance to store them away in a side room, he declined on the grounds which he felt directly disrespected by the person who confronted him over his baggage. If this is how staff and clergy members of a Catholic basilica are going to treat regular citizens who only wish to head over to a church for a worship service, then I highly doubt I'll be setting foot into any church at any point in time within the near future of my life!
Ross Eberle (Spiral Storm) — Google review
What a breathtaking Basilica. It's known to have one of the largest free-standing domes in North America. The greeter was especially kind and hands out brochures for those who are visiting. The dome itself is massive, and there are many sculptures, art pieces, and stained glass windows to enjoy. If you can, go for a service so you can get the full experience.
Kelsi H — Google review
I was blessed (tho I didn't know at the time) to visit your Church a few years back, as a protestant. I am so deeply, truly and incredibly sorry for the things I said and the way I felt when I was there. I could never repay you for my sins but I can tell you, my Confirmation is tomorrow night at the Easter Vigil. What a glorious redemption!! I pray I can visit you again some day, with my new heart and eyes set aright.
The River Arts District is a 22-property commercial and vintage district located close to the French Broad River in Downtown Asheville. It encompasses various craftsman studios as well as galleries open to the public, making it an incredible place to buy unique souvenirs from your time in the city.
Awesome place to walk around and go in different artists' studios and see what they have to offer. So if you're looking for art of all kinds and in different mediums, this is the place to start. Everyone was so nice and helpful. Most artists, if not busy, will come over and explain some pieces and whatnot, very pleasant and informative. We wound up getting a few pieces from different artists, nice additions for our house. Prices vary, so there's something for everyone. Even if you're not in the market to buy, definitely go and check out what's all there, it's like going to museum of fine art.
S Walkr — Google review
Loving this River Art District in Asheville! 😍. A hub of 300+ artists collective to meet, chat with and appreciate is such a unique experience!
HOWEVER, the key locations to visit are scattered and without planning ahead, I accidentally walked 30,000+ steps in 4 hours! 😥 very tired indeed!
So, NOTE for future visits:
START the day with ULTRA Coffeebar (great coffee and breakfast),
THEN park at WEDGE brewing company to visit the studios in its building (also because they open earlier),
THEN drive to lunch at 12 BONES (best BBQ in town), visit the street arts, studios, Marquee and have a wine tasting at Plēb Urben Winery nearby before you
MOVE to the other side of the railway - the studios on Depot st. near the Magnetic Theatre and,
END the day with a meal at Vivian (make sure to reserve a table in advance for this small and special dinner place)!
AND that would be a perfect day for River Art District! 👌
Jennifer Liu — Google review
Love all the street art and cute shops ! Def worth stopping by ti check out. Great spot to tak photos and check out some talented artists.
julia feiler (Jules) — Google review
Enjoyed walking around this area. Some great art work and reasonable prices. The graffiti on the buildings is a great addition to the artisan atmosphere.
John Kurton — Google review
A MUST see if ever in the area. I love the painted murals all over the River Arts District. Not only was it extremely creative but beautiful to look at. All the shops and buildings in this area are covered in graffiti style art. Great area to explore.
MLW — Google review
If someone is interested in a variety of art work, glass, paintings, pottery, wood, etc. this is a great place to visit.
Highest waterfall east of the Rockies, offering 2 overlooks & steep, rugged forest hiking trails.
Awesome falls! Plenty of parking. Easy 0.5 mile hike, fully paved. Bit of stairs at the end if you want to get a little closer to the falls. But stairs are optional. The falls is clearly visible at the end of the trail before the stairs start.
GJ The Gman — Google review
Absolutely amazing! The stairs to get the better view are completely worth it. There doesn't seem to be any path to the bottom of the falls, so you don't get the chance to get close to them, at least that we found. If I were in the area, I would go back. Parking is $3 using the envelope system.
Kaptan Kurt — Google review
BEAUTIFUL!!! This is a nice little hike, or it can be a long hike. There is a nice size parking lot. It is $3 per vehicle or $1 per person after 7 people. The path to the waterfall is paved. You can view from up top, or if you are able and willing, you can take the stairs down to another viewing area! It is so worth it. There were quite a few people there, so it was a wait to get a picture of the fall from the viewing platform. There is a path off of the viewing platform that consists of stairs, stairs, and more stairs. Lol Different kinds of stairs too...wood stairs, rock stairs, tree root stairs.... there were probably more kinds if we made it all the down! Although I was completely unprepared for that kind of hike, carrying my 6 year old and her teddy bear strapped into it's adorable little teddy bear stroller that she just had to bring, it was quite beautiful. If you're not looking to exert a bunch of energy... skip that trail and just enjoy the view of the waterfall from the platform!
D S — Google review
Whitewater falls is amazing view point. You cannot reach the water by any source. 1st view is with road path which is less than .5 mile… then there is a .1 stairs down less than 100 steps to get a full view of waterfalls… looks awesome! 3 dollar ticket for car parking!
Life Uncut — Google review
Beautiful area 2 great viewing spots.
There is a 3rd path that leads to the top of the falls but it was closed and covered by down trees and such so if you want to see the falls up close I don't think it's "allowed" at the time I went. Overall it was beautiful I didn't take the trail but parking is only $3 a day at the time I went and it looks like a good family outing time
Anthony Smith — Google review
Beautiful! The highest waterfall East of the Rockies. In the Nantahala National Forest. Fee is $3 per car. Restrooms on site. Paved trail to the upper overlook (handicap accessible). Stairs down to the lower overlook. Family friendly.
Terri Watts — Google review
This is a very nice area. They do have few picnic table you can come and enjoy with the beautiful view. If you go through the trail. Be careful as it can be slippery in some of the steps. It was a little wet when we went. Beautiful waterfall though.
Eli M — Google review
Beautiful falls but only gave it 4 stars because it's the kind of place that you get to it, take a picture, and leave. After walking down wooden stairs, you end up on a viewing deck. The waterfall is in the distance. It's a fairly easy hike. Getting there is easy but after you do have to walk back up the stairs but there is a bench at the halfway point to take a rest.
We did this along with Silver Run Falls, 9 miles away. Both of these hikes are fairly easy and would be good for small children and/or dogs. I recommend doing both of these falls on same day because you can easily do both within 90 minutes.
Nicole Hallway — Google review
This fall was within an easy walk from the parking lot. The walkway and steps looked new and were well designed. The viewing platform was plenty big enough for many people to comfortably stand, take selfies, and enjoy the view.
Patricia Vasko — Google review
Amazing views with multiple trails, if you're noy much of a hiker or don't want to go up and down small trails through woods you can park at "upper whitewater falls parking area" and walk the .5 mile paved path to the falls overlook. But if you love hiking and want great views whole time I suggest parking at the lower falls parking area and hiking your way up to the overlook. There is also multiple trails on that path that lead to other falls if you choose to hike more.
D&J Gaming — Google review
Awesome hike! 10/10 short and sweet! So worth the decent! I definitely had to do some rock hopping to get to the bottom of the falls but so worth every minute of it! Enjoy
Brandon Thornburg — Google review
Terrific views from the top.
You can either walk down the first set of steps until the first lookout suitable for kids or elderly and if you’re more adventurous and fit you can keep going down the steep trail, remembering that you’ll have to walk everything back up but the nature walking down, arriving to the bridge and river will take you with great memories.
Sebastian Ortega — Google review
It is located in a very accessible NC State Park that costs 1.00 per to enter. It's a system of honesty, so be honest. It's really worth it. Great place to have a picnic with all the covered tables and clean restrooms. Handicap accessible all the way up to view the falls, then if you want a better view, a short walk down about 50 or so wood steps. Great place to stop for a picnic and take a break with a great view. Some hiking in the area with clean restrooms!
LJ — Google review
Whitewater Falls is incredible beautiful! You do have to pay to park but it’s only $3! If you paid at Dry Falls then you have access to this waterfall! And if you paid at this waterfall then you have access to Dry Falls! It’s a short trail that is paved! Then you do have to climb down stairs to view the falls and then of course climb back up! Definitely recommend seeing this waterfall if you are in the area!
April Britt — Google review
Gorgeous waterfall! Easy “walk” on paved trail which leads to 2 different look outs. I suggest you plan your day and research other places/waterfalls in the vicinity bc this isn’t a hike but well worth the trip!
Maria Solorzano — Google review
Over the years, I have had the opportunity and pleasure of viewing these falls! Beautiful pretty well sums it up. Stunningly beautiful during the Fall season. Accessible by walking for approximately 1/2 mile on a relatively flat, asphalt pathway. Handicapped friendly to reach the viewing area. You can walk down a steep, well-constructed hiking trail to reach the bottom portion of the Falls. The hike back up is somewhat strenuous!
Hugh Smith — Google review
Amazing must visit. Paved path at the top if you cannot do the stairs, stairs to get closer and a more off the beaten path for hikers.
Lindsey Richardson — Google review
Pretty short walk up the paved hill for a beautiful view of the falls. There is a pay for parking but I did not have any cash or wifi to scan the QR code to pay. You just have to be mindful to stay on the trail, as there have been casualties from people going off on their own.
Zoe — Google review
One of the most blessed places in the Carolina. Some of the prettiest colors in the world enjoyed the day there everybody needs to stop and see this place take the time this place makes memories beautiful memories Kodak moments
Robert whitten — Google review
It's a really cool place. The waterfall is big and beautiful. Better to visit during the waterfall season.
Gorges State Park is a stunning natural wonder with rainforest rising up to 2,000 ft., cascading waterfalls, trout streams and rugged trails. It boasts a large visitor center and engaging history. The hike to Rainbow Falls offers breathtaking views of the river but can be challenging due to some eroded steps. Despite this, it's worth the effort as the scenery is epic. The park itself is beautiful with wide trails that have significant elevation changes yet are relatively easy to traverse.
Park is beautiful. The trails have a lot of elevation change but they are wide and relatively easy to traverse. Overall a great hikes. Besides the connection to foot hills trail, there are very few hikes in the park. Almost everything within the park can be done in a long day.
Kyle Lechtenberg — Google review
The brand new RV campsite is as phenomenal as the park. Very easy access and luxuriously big RV sites with concrete pad, rock area with fire pit and picnic table. The bathrooms are shockingly nice, when you walk in it feels like you’re walking into a hotel bathroom, so well done. They can’t post is very friendly and there’s even firewood you can buy on site which is a lifesaver if you have kids and they start asking for a fire and you don’t have any firewood! From the RV site rainbow falls is but a short walk. I highly recommend this park and definitely this campground.
Mike Butler — Google review
Satisfying visitor center and facilities. We hiked the Rainbow Falls trail. The waterfall is awesome and worth the hike. The kiosk is a bit misleading. I think it is more than a mile and a half. The trail is difficult when you get past the sign that says no leaving the state park. Pack smart and please pick up after your dogs! Most of the trail smelled like poop. I think I’ll come back on a cooler and less crowded day.
Sherman Norton — Google review
The only way this park possibly get any better is if it had a small dog park. This park otherwise is darn near perfect! The camp host Dale is very nice and extremely helpful. The office workers are awesome and it is a beautiful building with a great deal learning displays and actually have an amphitheater big enough for about 60 to seventy people to sit and watch the educational video about their parks in North Carolina. I highly recommend this park to everyone. It also has many hiking trails to some great waterfalls if your able.
Chad Hosmer — Google review
So beautiful! The hike was pretty long and tough but to be fair we were on a time limit with the school. Getting to Rainbow Falls 🌈 was amazing and you will be happy you went. ❤️ I also was able to capture some once in a lifetime exquisite shots with my Canon R6!
SJC Photography — Google review
What a beautiful, beautiful park! We visited to make the hike to Rainbow Falls on a gorgeous autumn day. It was a tough, 4 mile hike for this 70 year old but we made it! The falls are beautiful and well worth the effort. The park has other falls, picnic areas, camping and a beautiful visitor's center. Make the trip!
Cathryne Whitten — Google review
We camped at Gorges State Park for the first time this April. The campground is brand new so everything is in tip top shape. There are a variety of site types that include tent only, RV or camper, and even a couple little cabins that you can rent. There is a wood shed where you can purchase pre bundled firewood on the honor system. While this is very convenient and helpful, I do suggest bringing your own since the bundles are small and of course over priced. Also you are not allowed to take or use any sticks or limbs from the property even if it is on the ground dead and not attached to anything living. This is my biggest reason for the 4 star rating. I have never stayed anywhere that has not allowed campers to harvest the already dead and fallen sticks and branches that litter the ground and I have stayed at a lot of different types of campgrounds in different areas. I'm not talking about anything that needs to be pulled on or axed either as I would definitely not expect that to be allowed. Park Rangers did roll through regularly during all hours. Even though it was a weekend and pretty much every site was occupied it was very calm and quiet. The sites are a decent size and you don't feel like you are on top of your neighbors. The bathhouse is very nice and spacious which isn't surprising since it is brand new. Showers looked decent as well. Depending on where you're staying will depend on how far your walk to the bathroom will be so it can either be very convenient or quite a hike. The only other thing I can say I didn't love was how long the road is to the campground once you get into the park however this is also a plus because it puts you way back in the woods which makes for beautiful views and a peaceful, quiet atmosphere! You also drive past/over a pretty waterfall so it is a great way to start your stay. Overall I definitely recommend checking out Gorges State Park and it's campground. There are also numerous hiking trails of varying degrees of difficulty and length and plenty of amazing views and waterfalls.
Jennifer Linc-Starnes — Google review
Great park with nice trails with waterfalls, really great camping sites to reserve and even cabins you can rent. Perfect place to get away and enjoy nature and beautiful scenery.
Nancy Metts — Google review
My husband and I loved this place 🥰, very nice hike. The view was spectacular. Rainbow Falls is the best waterfall I’ve seen in a long time. The bathrooms at the visitor center were clean. just be careful and make sure you follow the signage instructions concerning slippery rocks and messing around near the falls.
Joselyn Supe — Google review
Amazing park engaging history. Hike to rainbow falls was amazing once you get river side. A little on the wet side, not a hike for people who don't hike as the steps are a little eroded so there are some more difficult parts. It is worth the hike though, epic doesn't do it justice.
Brian Martin — Google review
This park and rainbow falls had been hyped up to me from many people I've met. I looked at the Alltrails options and some photos and I just didn't really get it (there are so many waterfalls and hiking options nearby). Well now I get it. The beautiful visitor center has spectacular views and Rainbow Falls is unlike any other we've seen. And it's all free! North Carolina state parks are fantastic.
Meghan Jensen (Patterson) — Google review
The campgrounds are rather new, beautiful and well maintained. The visitors center is great with a lot in the gift shop. The waterfalls are worth the hike with proper footwear. Did see two timber rattlers in the park not on the trails.
Melissa Cotch — Google review
Gorges State Park is a family friendly Park with extremely clean restrooms, picnic areas, short hikes, or even long moderate challenging hikes. Beautiful waterfalls and scenery everywhere. I will be back for a longer hike.
LJ — Google review
My husband and I and out 4 kids stayed in one of the cabins. The cabins have a back room with 2 sets of bunk beds (sleeps 4) and the front room has a queen size bed. They have electricity and space to put your stuff and food inside. The bathhouse is right across the street from the cabins and is super super nice! Probably the best I have ever seen! There was firewood available at the campground for $8 a bundle and you can pay via PayPal which was nice. We hiked rainbow falls with our kids (ages 8,6,4, 2.5) and it was totally worth it, roaring waterfall. We are in decent shape so the hike was not what I would consider strenuous but it is more uphill coming back. The nature center is super nice with a great view, there isn't a kid playground but the roads in the campground were all well paved so the kids could ride and scooter around those, we will be back!
Katherine Barnard — Google review
There's a reason why this hike consistently gets rated as one of the best in NC--with three waterfalls to checkout on this moderate out and back hike, it is a popular destination for families and hikers with pets.
There is ample parking, clean restrooms, and plenty of nice picnic areas.
Valerie Mena — Google review
We went again the other day and walked the easy trail below the park museum and info center. It has viewing platforms that I didn't know were there before. And in the fall just wow they are stunning. This is perfect trail for toddlers, littles learning to walk, strollers, etc. It's a pretty decent trail. My son was adequately worn out after and had fun exploring and reading the signs along the way. Very informative infographics too
Brittain Schiele — Google review
Great park w/ lots of hiking trails and waterfalls to hike to. Campground is brand new w/ generous concrete pad RV sites, full hookups, picnic tables and fire pits. Only slight negative was the price of firewood bundles. At $9 each seemed a bit pricey.
Sam Ciraulo — Google review
We went on the trail to see rainbow falls. It was a very beautiful trail. There are some difficult spots towards the end that I could see an older person struggling with but overall a wonderful hike. The waterfalls were also beautiful.
David Bloomer — Google review
The most perfect park to stay at. Pads are cemented with water, sewage and electricity. Off to the side is a gravel area with fire pit and picnic table. Restrooms have the most amazing showers. There are cabins for rent and an area for tents. Area is so clean and trash is picked up day a couple of times.
The North Carolina Arboretum is a public garden located in the Blue Ridge Mountains near the Western North Carolina town of Asheville. The arboretum contains more than 60 acres of carefully cultivated gardens, including one of the most extensive bonsai collections in the United States. The gardens also showcase a variety of flora, including one of the most extensive ericaceous (acid soil-loving) plant collections in the United States.
So many different things to look at and the flowers are beautiful I went the second week of September and they all still had their colors. They have a very cute gift shop. There was a wedding going on while we were there which was very interesting to look at! Didn’t know they offered those kind of services there. But it is nice to know they do! Also, the cafe they have there was delicious. I believe I got the garden salad and it was so good. The ranch dressing was perfect. Staff is very friendly!
Emily Madrigal — Google review
Excellent arboretum full of beautifully curated displays, fun for the entire family regardless of season! Wonderful outdoor trails to meander peacefully. Huge train exhibit with live plants was really neat and inspiring. Bonsai garden was pretty even though it’s off season. Lots of cool educational nature exhibits inside too. Absolutely stunning welcome center, though the staff totally ignored me, but that was fine because I was able to locate what I needed by myself. Also, great educational program with dedicated area for future outdoor enthusiasts. Overall, a great experience minus the lack of customer service inside the welcome center. Would recommend.
Dawn Gossett — Google review
One of the most beautiful and well kept gardens anywhere! Immaculate care of everything. Don't miss the Bonsai Garden or miniature train area with Thomas and amazing the Bonsai plants in railroad area. Amazing and varied walking trails. Great gift shop. Nearly every plant or tree has marker description. Just amazing for $20.00 car entry fee.
Chad S. — Google review
We’ve been here twice and we loved it both times. So much to see! There are easy and difficult hikes. Everything is well marked. The staff is always so helpful. We love the bonsai exhibit. First Tuesday of the month is half price!
Deanna Watts — Google review
Had a small elopement at the Heritage garden and it was honestly so professional and lovely! Thank you so much to the staff that allowed our dream event happen. Stephanie Carter was so accommodating and flexible. She was super attentive and engaged with everything. They even helped coordinate on the day of which I am honestly so grateful for. They also drove us around to take pictures around the venue and I'm so so grateful for them because walking around in a wedding dress is hard. They went above and beyond for us! The bridal waiting area has a full size mirror, a smaller close up mirror that lights up, a place to hang your clothes, and a lot of charger which was very much needed.
Overall we were so happy with the service and the location!
Thank you so much!
Chonk Family — Google review
A family favorite, every spring, summer and fall! They always have a new exhibit experience, plus the gardens and miniature train town is fun for all ages to enjoy. Easy trails to walk or longer ones if you want. Plus a nice cafe or great areas to bring your own picnic.
Cathy “Cat” Huebner — Google review
We were in Asheville for a long weekend and I was trying not to overdo the hiking since I was trying to recover from an injury. We decided to come here for the afternoon after a short hike in the morning.
I had heard good things, but this place still surpassed my expectations! It's a pretty big place and there are even more traditional trails through the wooded area.
It's $16 to park, but there is technically no entrance fee so you might be able to bike in for free.
Unfortunately, we didn't plan ahead and the Bonsai exhibit was closed for the day (closes at 5 and everything else is open until 7 or 9 depending on the time of year). What we could see from the outside looked cool though.
This is a great spot to spend a few hours exploring. It looks really cool in the winter with Christmas lights too from what I've seen online.
Jacqueline Telljohann — Google review
Such a beautiful and well maintained place. 16 bucks to park and the rest is free unless you decide to buy some $3 succulents. The bonsai exhibit was absolutely beautiful. A miniature redwood tree? One of the cutest things I've seen. The flowers are breathtaking as well. I highly recommend this place for its awe inspiring beauty.
Dylan Ramsey — Google review
The Arboretum is stunning! The gardens are so peaceful and beautiful to walk through. There were musicians playing music outside the bistro, which set such a fun mood. And when the heat gets to be too much, the visitor's center and gift shop have excellent air conditioning. There's also a water fountain with a water bottle filler. We appreciated that the Arboretum was dog and family friendly.
Jordon Hofman — Google review
We loved this place! The gardens were beautifully designed by Frank Law Olmstead and have to be seen to be believed. Beautiful nature trails wind through the entire area and there are plenty of benches to take a break or just take in the scenery. This place is magical. We were fortunate to spot a mother bear, her two cubs and a copperhead on the trail. The trails are well marked and pretty easy to traverse. If I lived here I would be hiking at the Arboretum several days a week. The bistro served a great lunch - The Hungry Hiker Salad with a scoop of curried chicken salad was delicious! Don’t miss the bonsai exhibit!
Barry Hasson — Google review
Loved the winter lights show! A massive amount of colored lights which was a perfect way to get into the Christmas spirit. We got there early on a Thursday so it wasn’t too busy! As the crowd picked up it was still a very comfortable crowd level. Highly recommended!
Elsie Shuler — Google review
As a member, this is one of our favorite places to walk our dog through the grounds and trails.
I usually enjoy looking at all the flowers and large planter displays.
This late March visit, I was surprised that not very much was in bloom yet, the Quilt Garden was empty and the Planters were not done.
So, it was enjoyable to see what little signs of Spring had popped up.
Looking forward to our next visit to see the Tulip beds in bloom!
Haute Interiors LLC — Google review
This is a really nice park. I personally love walking so for me this place has plenty of trails. There are a ton of decorations around here for Christmas so I highly recommend coming here after dark during the Christmas season. They also had a really nice gift shop at the building that's past all of the decorations.
Lev Marushevskyi — Google review
This place is a steal with only a sixteen dollar parking fee. Everything else was free to enter and explore. Give yourself a few hours to walk and enjoy the gardens and trails. The bonsai exhibit was very well laid out. There is plenty of photo opportunities and great mountain views throughout the park. I would recommend a visit here.
Mountain Guide — Google review
Amazing first visit here. We will definitely return. It was one of the nicest gardens we've ever visited. The design and layout were obviously well thought out and painstakingly built. The Bonsai exhibit was extraordinary! We could have easily spent a whole day here. We can't wait to come back.
$20 per vehicle for parking, no cost for the Arboretum. You can use your parking stub as $20 towards an annual membership.
Marcus Davis — Google review
This is an absolute “must” if you visit Asheville. It was very easy to jump right in and engage in some nature walks.
The navigation MIGHT lead you to a side road through a neighborhood. In which case, the road to the arboretum is two lights over. We luckily had a very nice lady who was an attendant in the campsite parking help us with directions.
You pay $20 per car, and go straight up to the parking. The parking lot is right near the main education center which leads right onto a “red” nature trail that isn’t that advanced. You can do the nature hike, or start with the Bonsai and Quilt garden as pictures, as well as other curated natural exhibits, right next to the education center.
*we brought some binoculars, which was fun because you will spot some red squirrels and other birds. It can be fun to try to find these critters as you navigate the hikes. We watched a squirrel build a nest from the comfort of a bench!*
Gotta go to the Arboretum!
Austin St. Denis — Google review
Loved shooting Brittany and Jakes's summer wedding portraits at the NC Arboretum! The relaxed vibe here is perfect for my intimate, candid photography style. The couples were themselves, laughing and having fun - just like hanging out with friends. The light, the composition, everything so inspired me! It's a dream location for any photographer who loves to tell unique love stories. And the best part? Seeing the joy in their eyes when they saw their stunning, personal images. Five stars for sure!
Michael Freas (Michael Freas Photography) — Google review
We had an incredible day here. The gardens are beautiful, and the bonsai collection outstanding. There was an exhibit about the manufacturing of perfume, related to flower cultivation that is a real treat for the senses. There are "sniffer" tubes set up, so that you can smell different perfume scent sources. A harp trio played in the garden, and the tranquility was so pleasant. What a place to unwind, and get in touch with your soul! Go there!
Ian McIntyre — Google review
Me and my Dad go here regularly. They do a wonderful job making this place bloom. I especially love the bonsai exhibit, which is up during the warmer months. There is a toy train that runs if you get there early in the day. Christmas they do lights and it's so wonderful 😍 ✨️ all year long this is a fun place to visit and I always look forward to it.
Sarah Tilly — Google review
We love coming here. So many beautiful lights. Everyone will definitely love it. There's plenty of room to walk around. The little ones will love the trains. There's hot chocolate, soft drinks, food, gift shops, and restrooms. Lots to enjoy and see .
crystal hollifield — Google review
I recently had the pleasure of visiting The North Carolina Arboretum, and it was a delightful experience. Nestled in the scenic beauty of Asheville, this arboretum offers a tranquil oasis for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts alike.
The gardens at the arboretum are meticulously maintained, showcasing a diverse range of native plants and flowers. Walking through the various themed gardens, from the peaceful Japanese garden to the vibrant Southern Appalachian garden, was a feast for the senses. Each garden section offers something unique, from colorful blooms to serene water features.
Nook Hanklang — Google review
This is one of the most beautiful garden settings I’ve ever seen. There are many activities and educational programs that go on here.
Before I start, let me tell you that dogs are welcome. However, they are not welcome inside of the Baker visitor center.
there are many beautiful native trails that are surrounded by plants and trees. The trails are nicely cared for and just about anyone could hike them.
There’s an amphitheater, A gift shop, dining and picnics. A waterway and a pond escape. There’s an education center and a bonsai exhibit.
I could go on and on. If you love trailing, botanical things, trees,taking pictures and being outside you could spend the whole day here.
Have a great adventure ♥️
Alicia Vega — Google review
The best place to leisurely experience the nature of the North Carolina words while appreciating the lengths that gardening can go to. I love this place at every season. Entrance for a car full of people for a whole year was $50. It's my favorite place to unwind, enjoy the sun, and read a book.
Patricia Corbin — Google review
We didn’t have enough time to explore everything but it’s beautiful and well maintained. I am sure you can spend hrs if you want to walk all the trails and visit all exhibits. Entrance fees of 20 per vehicle covers parking and admission. We went there at end of March and lot of plants didn’t have leaves yet. Most of bonsai section was empty because of colder temperatures.
Deepak Patil — Google review
You have to pay for parking, but entry to the NC Arboretum itself is free. I didn't mind the parking fee at all, because I'm sure it goes toward caring for the grounds and the people who work there. I took my mom through here and we both enjoyed it. I wheeled Mom around in her wheelchair very easily. There were so many different types of flowers, shrubs, and trees. There's also a small train track and town display. We could've spent so much more time just taking in all of the beauty, but it began to sprinkle, so we went inside to grab gifts and we were on our way. We took lots of photos and will have fun looking back on the memories. The bonsai tree displays had my imagination running wild!
The staff were all very kind, other guests were polite, and everything was clean and well cared for. This is a must see, if you're in the area. We had a blast!!
De Anna — Google review
The North Carolina Arboretum was a wonderful stop during our visit to North Carolina. We went in late October, and the foliage was midway through its transformation. I observed lovely flowers and bonsai trees that were incredibly well-maintained and cared for. I would highly recommend this destination to anyone passing through. It was a wonderful and incredible facility.
Deysi Vatman — Google review
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100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville, NC 28806, USA
The Biltmore Inn is a beautiful, historic hotel located outside of Asheville in South Asheville. It has a wide variety of rooms and suites to choose from, as well as several great restaurants and lounges within the property. The atmosphere is romantic and inviting, perfect for any special occasion.
I didn't expect to enjoy this as much as I did! We took the self guided tour with listening devices and were able to enjoy this with no rush.
So beautiful!
There were multiple families touring at the same time and the kids did well although I don't think it's somewhere I would've taken my own kids.
We enjoyed the drive through the estate to the wine tasting. John was great at guiding us through each option.
Shopping was very pleasant and Carl helped us decide on our favorites as well as the best way to save to get the most bang for our buck.
The gift shops were great too! We each purchased an ornament for a souvenir.
Ehsan Golzar — Google review
Love the Biltmore Inn. The views are spectacular. Food is delicious....breakfast especially. Rooms are comfy with nice little extras. Staff is very helpful.
Elizabeth Kelly — Google review
My husband and I decided on a whim, to pack a bag and head to The Biltmore House. Neither of us had been, and we were bored. We stayed at The Biltmore Inn. From the moment we arrived... to the moment we left, everything was amazing. We will absolutely be back when we can stay longer than a night. I absolutely love the view from the deluxe terrace rooms. So beautiful and dreamy. And dinner at the on-site restaurant downstairs was superb.
Samantha Hill — Google review
Absolutely wonderful place to stay. Great restaurants, great lounge with big fireplace as well as nice outside firepits
Richy Wittmer — Google review
Enjoyed an amazing First Class Afternoon Tea in the Dining Room. The staff were top notch in thier attention and kindness. The tea was simply the best I have had of tea services I have experieced all over the world. The view was breathtaking. Splendid Holiday decor. Topped off with delicious food and tea.
Cynthia Thompson — Google review
A great experience, tours were so informative, professional and friendly.
John Zarogoza — Google review
We went there for our honeymoon for a week. The valet were excellent and very nice. The front desk, not so much. We were not fans of the front desk. Every person we encountered working there while on our stay was snobby and rude.
The rooms are pretty basic to me. I live about 30 minutes from the West Baden in Indiana and I was just expecting more from the Inn, I suppose. I would rate the Inn a 3/5 on service and friendliness compared to the West Baden. The view is a 10/10. That is perfect and I'm assuming that's why you pay so much to stay there.
Also the "Library" lounge is not a library. It's the "common area" essentially. The drinks are outrageous. We paid $63 for two drinks. Bloody Mary's are $20.. for one shot of vodka lol. Those are like $5 where I live. It was a jump scare. Don't get food delivered to your room either. We wanted a quick lunch while we were getting ready one day. So we ordered one sandwich to split and a Tito's and cranberry... $65 dollars. It's just extortion really. The food was good but not worth $45.
If we come back to Asheville, we would probably stay in a cabin & getting a day pass or at the hotel on the Biltmore. The house tour, the kayaking, the trails, the E-Bikes were all really fun. We just didn't like the Inn and our experience. Also, eat at the Bistro and Cedric's! Both very good and very friendly service and staff.
Also we were told the pool was heated and would be open on our stay, it wasn't. But the hotels was. So all around, I would just stay at the hotel. It's essentially the same thing but friendlier.
Taylor Fischer — Google review
The inn was very welcoming. Complimentary wine every day in the lobby was a nice touch. The turn-down service was one of the best of all my hotel stays! They even tied up the phone charging plugs with a silky red ribbon that has the Vanderbilt insignia. One major disappointment is the room felt damp at all times!
Ashley Biddle — Google review
Staying at Builtmore Inn comes with the great perk of shuttle service on the estate.
Food and service as expected for for its ratings.
Corey Leonhard — Google review
We have had passes to Biltmore for years. Our daughter got married there. We're so grateful for one of N.C.'s greatest treasures. Sometimes, though, their reach for profit exceeds their mission and value proposition. We had not eaten at Biltmore Inn for perhaps a year or so. So we pulled up to Inn to valet park (raining hard). The valet informed us we would have a $20 parking fee for this lunch! Didn't make me very happy. This was NEW. Then we went downstairs for lunch and they informed us that they had transformed downstairs dining room into the "tea room" for afternoon tea and that upstairs in the library where high tea had been held, they were serving lunch. So we go back upstairs and were seated after long wait. They brought menu..... it was not lunch ... it was snacks and appetizers to be taken with drinks! Ugh! So at the Biltmore Inn, now, one cannot have a lunch!!!!! The Inn guests have to leave the hotel if they want to take lunch. The demand for (and profitability of) afternoon tea was large enough to move it downstairs to more capacity and lunch was eliminated, but we were inaccurately guided to library for snacks and appetizers ...... at one time there they even served hamburgers etc. NOT NOW.
I expect more from the Biltmore Inn.
Roger Jenkins — Google review
We spent $450 for tickets, gas and food for 1 day - 2 people. NOT worth the money; gardens and art exhibit were a big disappointment. When we purchased the tickets they told us the spring flowers would be planted, dogwoods and wisteria would be in bloom. Minimal annuals were planted, in fact they were just in the process of digging up dead tulips, so that is what we paid to see. We had to seek out the dogwoods and didn't see 1 wisteria in bloom. Art exhibit was a joke. A projection of renaissance art on the walls, no actual prints to view.
Jacqueline Oshier — Google review
Our experience at the Inn was nearly perfect from beginning to end.
We stayed in the Inn @ Room 259. I was disappointed that we didn’t have a mountain view, but the room was perfect, and we did have a terrace that offered substantial privacy when sitting outside. [I assumed a terrace would come with a mountain view, and I was wrong.]
The valet & bellhop were outstanding, as was the front desk, the concierge, and all of the wait staff. We were treated with the utmost respect and never got bad vibes.
We took the early morning tour of the Biltmore Mansion and it is HIGHLY recommended.
We ate one night @ the Inn and the experience was fantastic! The service was perfect and the meal was delicious. We started with the crab cake, and both ordered filets, then finished with the creme brulee…………like seriously - how can you complain?
The $30 +/- cocktails were pricey, but then you take in the priceless views and suddenly the drinks seemed like a fair value!
CONS:
The website is very confusing. The difference between the Hotel, the Inn, & the Home is not clear at all, and the room descriptions could use some work.
I ordered the embroidered robe for my wife, and it was probably 4 sizes too big. I contacted guest services and they said they only offer one size fits all. It was really only meant to be a keepsake, but perhaps one of my boys will grow up to be a 2x or 3x!
Great job Biltmore – we have told several friends how much we enjoyed our stay and we are proud to have been your guests.
Reed Strunk — Google review
This is much more than a place to stay while visiting Biltmore: it's an experience in and of itself. We stayed here for two nights while celebrating our anniversary last week. Everything was pleasantly over-the-top - just as a stay at the Biltmore must have been. The property, the location, the staff, the accommodations, the view, the shopping, the food. All exceeded our expectations. Definitely worth the stay.
The Folk Art Center and Southern Highland Craft Guild is a place where you can see art from local and regional craft artists, as well as purchase unique gifts. It's located off the Blue Ridge Parkway in Asheville, North Carolina.
We stop here every single time we are in Asheville. Throughout the years we’ve bought platters, clocks, lamps. It’s a treasure. There is always an artist in house doing their craft/art. Lovely museum, store, and art gallery
RobertsMom NC — Google review
Located along the Blue Ridge Parkway,the Southern Highland Craft Shop is one of the oldest craft shops in America.
Local artists from Southern Appalachia sell beautiful artisan made jewelry,pottery,textiles,pottery,glass and more.
Definitely worth a stop !
John Moore — Google review
This place was beautifully maintained with a lot to see. The gift shop was huge and stocked with art from all kinds of mediums from local artists and craftspeople. The prices were so fair too. I loved seeing the quilts and the pottery. Such a great stop!
Julie Zerk — Google review
Excellent craft and gift store. Over 400 artist show and sell their work at the Guild. Special events like glass blowing. Call or check website for times. This is also the oldest craft store in the U.S. Take a ride on the Blue Ridge Parkway afterwards!
Athena Reel — Google review
I loved walking through the craft market! They have their displays on the second floor, and the bottom floor is where you can purchase crafts from various artists. Many of the pieces were well out of my price range, but it was still nice to look at everything. The store on the bottom floor has cheaper souvenirs like stickers, CDs, and postcards.
Tawni Lamb — Google review
A nice break from the heat with beautiful artwork to look at and to purchase, although expensive and for good reason.
There were neat displays and even a local artist demonstration. A gift shop as well. My 13 year old even enjoyed it.
It’s easy to get to right off the parkway. Signs are easy to follow. I’m terrible with directions and I was able to find it easily without maps.
Katie Alexander — Google review
My first stop while driving on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
First impression: very pretty stop with lots of trees (it's Asheville, duh) and lots of parking. You can even have stop here to have lunch (prepare a quick meal in advance) - they have some picnic tables in the parking lot.
If you want a map of the Blue Ridge Parkway, you can ask the cashier for a free map.
The store has many interesting crafts like bugs made out of beer bottle caps and pins, tiny little vases, handmade christmas ornaments, etc. You can find all sort of things here and they are good quality stuff. However, they are on the pricey end. One of the ornaments I saw was $115 and a (handmade, one of a kind, pretty) jacket was $900 (it's really nine hundred, I didn't add a 0 by accident).
I didn't walk the whole museum because I didn't know there was more. Will do next time.
Ngan Nguyen — Google review
Pulled in to just use the bathroom, ended up spending a good hour plus here (outside of the bathroom). So many cool things to look at! My wife and I do some woodworking and we took lots of pictures for inspiration for future projects to make. Really great spot to stop and look around. We’ll definitely stop again on our next trip and will give ourselves enough time to really explore and enjoy.
Brady Howe — Google review
Amazing art works from all types of craftsmanship. Great to see with the eyes as every piece is very valuable. Everything is displayed well and o much to see. Be careful if u have a touchy toddler, lol. Came here for a stamp cancelation. Lots of people came with their dogs to hike in the area. Parking is great.
GiGi Fuentes — Google review
So amazing. It smelled good and I felt so comfortable in there. The museum was quiet and the gift shop items were so beautifully made. I love how the museum exhibit items had booklets near most of them explaining the process or showing us more detail. All I want in a museum! Next is let me live here.
Katrina Ostrom — Google review
We always love to hike around the folk art center when in the Asheville area.
The art/craft center is a gem, with amazing local art and beautiful furniture/home good pieces.
Kaitlin Talbot — Google review
It's a hopping place on a Saturday! I happened upon "clay day" with potters of all different kinds, plus a glass blower out front that looks like he's more permanent. There's all manner of potter, fabric, quilts, clothes, jewelry and tons more for sale and to look at. Upstairs is a fancier gallery and some of that is for sale as well. It's a really interesting stop.
Sara Beth Wade — Google review
Enjoyed seeing the art and the historical information. Beautiful place and beautiful work.
1,946-acre park on the highest peak east of the Mississippi, with camping, hiking & panoramic views.
The summit was very nice to drive up to, the road beautiful. We took the small trail between the parking lot and the summit, and walking casually it took us 20 minutes, lots of stairs and rocks. I suggest having a coat for the high wind up top! And a walking stick if it's muddy, many of the rocks get very slick. Beautiful fir trees and scenic overview at the end. Walking the trail really feels like being in another world.
Angela Berben — Google review
I was here in late July and it was so peaceful. The air was cool & misty and there was moss covering the trees and fallen logs. The air was so refreshing to breathe in. There was a small museum packed with information about the environment, wildlife, geology, and history of the area. The man who “discovered” it as being the highest point on this side of the Mississippi River is actually buried near the peak! He died there while conducting scientific research. The info in the museum compared the habitat to that of Canada. There are magical trails to hike and a short, wide paved hike up to the summit. I highly recommend you go and check it out for yourself! I will be back again soon!
Jen Rivard — Google review
A well-earned state highpoint with beautiful views along the way.
I made the drive here as I continued my journey to hike all 50-state highpoints. As usual I started my day early and had the crisp clean air all around me as I got my gear together. Feeling the clouds up at our elevation roll through was an awesome experience. It is otherworldly and makes you feel like you are living out an epic story from a novel.
It was a beautiful fall day and I didn't see one person while hiking on the trail to and from the peak. Nothing but the sounds of nature and my fellow companions of animals bustling about in the woods.
Much of the trail is exposed to the beautiful vistas surrounding the mountain. You'll certainly work for the summit but is very doable for just about all ranges of hikers.
Nick Ligon — Google review
First State Park in North Carolina (established in 1915) and highest point east of the Mississippi River (6,684 ft). The park contains a great set of trails, an observation tower (at the summit), museum, gift shop, campground, etc. You can even drive to the top and take a short walk (only 300 yards) to the summit. Access to the park is off of the Blue Ridge Parkway so even the drive to the park is nice.
Rocky Bilotta — Google review
Great views! We did the short walk up, and then did the nature trail hike. My kids thought the nature trail was their favorite part of our trip. It was peaceful and smelled like Christmas with all the pine trees.
Laura H — Google review
The drive to the State Park is a very twisty and scenic. It is a slow go, so enjoy the views! Tower at the summit with maps of which mountains can be seen in the distance facing each direction. A snack bar and small museum near the summit. Very clean restrooms. Tent sites available near the top. Sadly, it rained the day we were there but we managed a few views on the way up.
Melissa Lutz — Google review
Gotta say--this hike was definitely not a favorite of mine, although I would come back and give it another go.
To do the full hike starting at the lowest point, you have to put "Black Mountain Campground" into your GPS because the State Park & peak is about a 30 minute drive away from it.
Not only does this hike include trekking 11 miles round trip (for typically 7+ hours) on rugged terrain with a punishing elevation gain--but the weather can change in an instant, the forest is very dense & there are places along the trail where it was so dark/overcast that it felt like dusk. Also, there has recently been a lot of bear activity & sightings along the trail--so be advised and be sure you're comfortable with bear safety.
You'll also want to pack enough water and nutrition to fuel you on your hike as well as a rain jacket/extra layers for temperature & weather changes.
Finally, keep in mind if you are hiking from the base, you will likely go long bouts without seeing other hikers, and I had no signal on my phone, so letting someone know ahead of time about your route is not a bad idea.
I made it about 2 miles up before I decided to turn back and drive to the top. Another hiker said a mama bear was on the trail ahead, and given that it had started to rain and it was kind of dark too, I decided it simply wasn't worth it or all that enjoyable to keep going.
So I drove to the top of the mountain & did the quarter mile hike up to the peak. Honestly, the view was a bit less impressive than I had imagined or seen at other hikes, but that could be because it was overcast, (which I'm told is common there).
There is a little shop at the top as well as a museum, and place to buy coffee & hot chocolate, although the restaurant was closed. There are also several picnic areas with grills, etc.
All in all, there is a lot of promise for this hike-- I likely just chose a less than perfect day to visit.
Valerie Mena — Google review
Note: the mountain is foggy most fall mornings and doesn’t clear up until the afternoon.
We visited during a very foggy morning and weren’t able to see the famous 360-degree views. The 10 minute paved hike from the parking area was easy and the summit is still cool to see.
There are restrooms, a museum and gift shop, and a concessions stand.
Kevin Wang — Google review
It's beautiful not just at the top but getting to the top. It definitely makes you feel small.
I would recommend checking the state park website and the national forest website for closers at the park and on the blue ridge parkway rd.
Jeffrey Young — Google review
Short incline walk to observation deck. We visited on a cold, very windy March day. We dound snow still on the ground. Sky was beautiful blue and view made us forget about the temperature. Well worth the drive.
Laurie Simmons — Google review
This is a beautiful park! It was very crowded, even for a weekday, but it is almost summer. There is a smooth, paved path to the summit. It might be challenging for some due to the slight incline, but it is only 300 yards long and there are benches along the way to sit and rest. Once you do get to the top, you won't be disappointed. There are 360 degree views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It was gorgeous!!
I also took the nice Balsam Nature trail path. This had many information stations along the way that described the different animals, birds and flora at Mt. Mitchell. Don't forget to check out the museum and the gift shop. The museum is very interesting and has lots of information about the history of Mt. Mitchell.
Carrie Hart — Google review
Gorgeous park and views. Great for kids and dog lovers. The hike up to the lookout is steep but mostly paved. Bring comfy shoes you’ll be walking up steep hill. Tons of picnic areas for a great family outing. Stay hydrated!
Jake Stewart — Google review
I love the Mountains!! We drove to the Top of Mount Mitchell from Grandfather Mountain. It took almost one and a half hours for almost 50 miles as the speed limit is 35 and winding roads. Very scenic and beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway to Mt. Mitchell. I visited almost the last week of June. Last 3 miles drive to the top was breathtaking. I was driving almost into the clouds. Visibility was almost zero. Couldn't see anything beyond 20 feet. But I really enjoyed the drive. There is an overlook point, but we couldn't see anything as we were in the clouds. This is the highest peak to the east of the Mississippi River. It was quite chilly even though it was a sunny day. Just a little bit disappointed as the Visitor center was closed as I wanted to get Magnet or Souvenir.
Amol More — Google review
Beautiful park. I recommend spending as much time there as you can. If you love to hike, I cannot suggest a better place. There are so many different trails to explore. The drive into the park offers quite a few stops or 'overlooks' for views of these breathtaking mountains. I highly recommend the walk up to the Observation Point. The view from here, the highest point, offers a 360° view of the mountains!
Mary Perkins — Google review
An absolutely wonderful place for an easy hike. Driving the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway to get there was lovely in and of itself, and when you enter the state park (which is FREE), you drive most of the way to the top. They have a nice gift shop, small museum, clean restrooms, and a food area for snacks and drinks. The walking path to the top observation deck is paved, with a moderate incline. We went during a foggy/cloudy day, with low visibility. But it only added to the beauty and mystery. The trails looked like something out of a gothic fairy tale. If I hadn't known I was in North Carolina, I would've thought I was in the Pacific Northwest. A must-see, in any weather.
Liz W — Google review
Mount Mitchell is a beautiful place where you can hike and enjoy enchanted forest. This place is truly beautiful and I enjoyed hiking here with my husband. It's not a difficult hike but in a few places you will have to climb over big boulders. We were able to see some beautiful birds there.
Alex Radovic — Google review
Absolutely gorgeous. The short path up to the observation deck is fairly easy but also steep. It is paved. The observation deck is wheelchair friendly but again, the path up is fairly steep. It was pretty busy when we went but there was a lot of parking. There was a small museum, a gift shop, and bathrooms. There were park rangers to assist.
Kylie — Google review
It was very foggy at the peak when I visited back in October! Although, I really enjoyed the hike through the fog. I’d love to go back on a clear visibility day. My dog loved the hike as well 🐾🥾🌲
Rachel Rathle — Google review
Great hiking trails surrounding the entire area. Great platform at the highest park to get a 360 degree view.
Juan Laureano Jr. — Google review
Beautiful and largely accessible natural wonder. The views are of course magnificent, from the summit and most areas within the park. The museum, concession stand, restrooms, and gift shop are all located right off of the huge parking lot. The viewing platform is a 300-yard walk uphill on a well-paved road. There are many hiking trails, including the Mountain-to-Sea trail. Highly recommended.
Jenn Morley — Google review
So glad we made a visit to Mount Mitchell! We drove all the way to the top and started by checking out the observation deck. Stunning 360 views. It’s a very short walk up on a paved path, but on a fairly steep incline.
We then took one of the shorter loop trails and enjoyed ourselves thoroughly. Such a beautiful park all around.
Flat Rock Village Bakery offers a variety of baked goods and cafe fare, including wood-fired pizza, as well as a selection of coffee, beer, and wine in a relaxed setting. The bakery is known for its clean and well-maintained accommodations with genuine hospitality. It's one of the best spots to experience delicious flavors in Flat Rock, North Carolina. Additionally, the bakery is surrounded by other local coffee shops where visitors can enjoy freshly roasted coffee beans and aromatic brews.
I was told to stop here from my sister and she was right. The baked goods looked amazing. I got a gluten free pizza. It was the potato but I subbed prosciutto instead of potatoes, yes nightshade allergy. It was delicious. Next time I’m buying all of the baked goods.
Also, service was wonderful and friendly.
Thank you!
Will be back soon :)
Cassie Keigan — Google review
Great old style bakery! Where you’ll find the locals… Only suggestion is offering decaf coffee (heart condition).
* they did have decaf tea…
Wonderful outside seating and cranberry muffin was one of the best!
Time2Geaux — Google review
Flat Rock Village Bakery catered for our wedding, and it was everything we had hoped for and more! We created our very own signature pizzas and salads using local ingredients. They were easy to work with, reliable, and delicious. We would highly recommend it for your next event.
Jen Olin — Google review
Best local pizza, salads, sandwiches and baked goods, hands down. Made with fresh, local, natural and organic ingrediants when available. Hip staff, vibe and ambiance. Highly recommended.
Lovinglybeing — Google review
Super cute place, home baked goods, delicious sandwiches. It was very crowded on a Saturday but worth the wait time (30min). Sit outside and enjoy a fresh baked pizza, sandwich or something sweet.
Vanessa — Google review
Such a nice, cute little bakery and their pizza is amazing!! ✨😍🍕💁🏼🥤😋✨ I’m from New York and North Carolina is so not an Italian state lol So finding good pizza around here is so hard. They also have tons of goodies and baked goods to choose from:) Friendly staff and I always enjoy chatting with them when I come in:) Definitely give them a visit:) I highly recommend this place:)
Zach Spencer — Google review
Love, love this place. The salad and pizza is always what I get and they never disappoint. The wood-fire makes the pizza exceptionally tasty. I love the back deck as it's spacious and shady. I'll make a detour on a day trip just to go here. Their bread and pastries are also really good and a stop at the Wrinkled Egg next door is always fun - they have so many cool products from local artists!
Kristina Hernandez — Google review
Top tier bakery and coffee shop we live 5 minutes away and the highlight of my weekend is grabbing a mocha and quiche croissant or danish. For lunch and dinner their pizzas are amazing and the folks are always friendly and efficient
Kyle Ponder — Google review
A favorite for locals and travelers. Love the wood fired pizza and nice selection of fresh baked goods. Beer, wine, and coffee available
Mark H — Google review
Got the hummus sandwich (vegan) and loved it! They always have wonderful food and a good atmosphere. Ate outside and enjoyed the sun. Would definitely recommend for food sandwiches in the Flat Rock Hendersonville area!
Taylor C — Google review
This is a legit bakery. The pastries, bread and breakfast sandwiches were all delicious and there was a great selection. We sat on the large patio with our dogs and enjoyed the fresh and flavorful food. Highly recommend in the area! They care about the quality, sourcing and delivery of a bakery experience.
Rebecca Campbell — Google review
Me and a friend went here to meet up. It was my first time visiting, and it was a little packed, but the service was fast and faultless. The workers were very nice and made sure everything was taken care of. The food was delicious. I ordered a gluten-free pizza, and it was perfect. I even ate it for lunch the next day, and it still tasted just as good as it was fresh! This place is perfect for a quick lunch or dessert i would recommend! 😋
Amber Martin — Google review
Wonderful place. Delicious deserts and menu items. I recommend their chicken salad sandwich. I recommend their Faugasse too.
Very reasonable prices also
Sravan A — Google review
After several years of not visiting this bakery, they still don’t disappoint. I’ve always loved getting the Italian cheese bread!!! It is a “Must-Try!”
Emily Bell — Google review
The food was good. I waited 20 min for a sandwich. The service was not friendly at all. Not sure if she was having a bad day. No smile, no greeting and annoyed that my gift card didn't work. After waiting for a while I finally asked another employee if my sandwich was finished. She pointed to the back door and some rack that my sandwich was sitting on. I explained no one had told me and she said this is how we do this. Just felt cold and unwelcoming.
Jennifer Seagle — Google review
Unassuming Excellence at Flat Rock Village Bakery
Flat Rock Village Bakery in Flat Rock, NC isn't just your typical local bakery. This gem in the heart of the town is a delightful surprise that consistently impresses with its diverse menu, transcending the expectations of its quaint name.
At first glance, you might assume that it’s merely a haven for bread and pastries. But one step through the door and your senses are greeted by the alluring aroma of their mouthwatering pizza, whispering promises of culinary bliss. Their thin, crispy crust carries an array of vibrant toppings, each bite a symphony of texture and flavor.
But the wonders of Flat Rock Village Bakery don't stop at pizza. Their sandwich repertoire is a masterclass in simplicity and quality. From fresh ingredients to the carefully crafted bread, every sandwich sings a song of comfort and satisfaction.
The salad offerings are not an afterthought either. Fresh, crisp, and bursting with nature's colors, they are the perfect accompaniment to any main, or a lighter choice for the health-conscious.
And let's not overlook the delightful breakfast options. Bagels and lox sandwiches that rival any New York deli greet the early birds with a morning experience second to none.
What makes Flat Rock Village Bakery my consistent choice for breakfast and lunch isn't just the stellar food. It’s the homely ambiance, the friendly staff, and the assuredness of knowing that whatever you choose will be just right - always hitting the mark, every single time.
Flat Rock Village Bakery is more than a bakery - it's an unexpected gastronomic journey, a no-brainer destination for those in search of reliably excellent cuisine. From the first morning light to the leisurely lunch, it consistently delivers an extraordinary culinary experience. No doubt, it's always on the money.
Built in 1909, SC's sole remaining covered bridge spans Beaverdam Creek & is surrounded by parkland.
Quaint piece of Americana can be felt at Campbells Covered Bridge. It's painted school yard candy red which makes it stand out in the landscape. The parking is plenty and there are picnic areas around to enjoy the stream flowing under the bridge. It's very nostalgic and impressive to see a 100+ year old structure still intact.
Jessica Shin — Google review
A great place to go on a short road trip. A beautiful, well preserved, well maintained park area. Enjoyed a few hours here with my four legged travel companion and I think he loved the park even more than me. My dog really enjoyed playing in the water under and around the bridge.
Ronald Bierworth — Google review
Visiting Campbell's Covered Bridge was nice. It's beautiful for anyone wanting some unique pictures taken. We enjoyed the beauty of the land & how the bridge fits in so naturally. It's easy to find for everyone.
B — Google review
This was such a peaceful place to visit! I will definitely be back and have a picnic in tow. It's not a far walk down to the bridge and it is beautiful scenery. You cannot drive through the bridge but there is a decent amount of parking. There are no bathrooms on site so be sure to stop before your visit! It's worth a visit for sure!
D S — Google review
What a great little picnic spot! Shallow stream rinsing under a well-preserved covered bridge. Original stonework visible. Nice hiking trails and not over-crowded.
Zachary Aument — Google review
I love this place! 💘
My husband introduced me to this place for the first time, about five years ago and I fell in love with it.
I love to get out and snap pics of beautiful nature scenery, and this place made it easy to do🌈. I didn't have up edit many of the photos I was able to get and the ones I did, it was just me wanting to play around with them.
The water is so peaceful and the walk was beautiful, and the atmosphere breathtaking! 🥰
Leah Gunter — Google review
Much had been reconstructed to preserve the bridge so some imagination was needed to appreciate the original bridge history. Short drive from Poinsette Bridge so can be combined together.
Tim Gieschen — Google review
We came upon this gem as we were driving the Cherokee Foothills Scenic Drive. This is one of the stopping points on the drive and did not disappoint. It is a beautiful little spot, very shaded. Would be a perfect spot for a wedding. As were we there, there were some people doing a photo shoot. Very peaceful and relaxing and plenty of room to have a picnic.
Dave Cipriani — Google review
I love coming up here for just a place that's quiet and serene. It's so beautiful here with the bridge, all it's history, and the river. The bridge is currently undergoing conservation repairs as of October 2022 so hopefully it will be open to walk through again soon. All other areas of the park are still accessible just as they always have been.
Jacob ?Jake? Pegg — Google review
I have been going to this place on & off for years, with my boys when they were growing up and now with my 5 grandbabies, ages 4-14 and now we ALL love it!! And now I love taking them 🙂. It's just a beautiful place with the beautiful red bridge over the river and plenty of space and room for family activities and picnicing.
Kelly Sullivan — Google review
Cool place to stop. Walk across the bridge, wade in the creek below or have lunch at one of the picnic tables. Walking trails are a great way to see lots of different plants and some animals. The keep the bridge looking nice, just painted it.
Missy Kess — Google review
Such a beautiful place to see. The bridge, the creek and the trees starting to change. Make sure this is added to your trip.
Mindy Dilley — Google review
Ample parking area with trash cans. The bridge is a very short walk down a path and there is no entrance fee. Probably “peak” scenic in the fall or under winter snow. In summer the creek running under the bridge can be accessed from both ends of the bridge, but there is lots of algae on the water rocks which is extremely slick.
Theresa H — Google review
Very pretty place. Took my dog for some photos since we were in the area
amber wilder — Google review
Nice covered bridge. Very clean, inside a park. You can walk right down into the water
Bill Maguire — Google review
It's a cute little bridge, very short but still worth going to see. There is some renovation work going on at the moment and unfortunately a lot of ugly orange barrier netting that is hard to avoid in photos. Otherwise the surrounding area is nice for walking and the river is pretty. We'll go back later when there is more greenery and the construction is gone. UPDATE: we have since been back and all of the renovation work is done and the bridge looks lovely!
Patrice Christian — Google review
4.7
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4.5
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171 Campbell Covered Bridge Rd, Landrum, SC 29356, USA
The historic Fluor Field in downtown Greenville is home to the Greenville Drive baseball team. The stadium has been designed following the classic design of Fenway Park and Wrigley Field, and accommodates more than 5,000 people.
My family had a great time at today's game. Sweet Caroline's ice cream cones were wonderful and fair priced. On Sunday's kids are allowed to run the bases after the game which my daughter loved. It was very busy and crowded though. Today's game set an attendance record per the announcer.
Tonja Suttles — Google review
Beautiful venue to take in a baseball game. Several food options in the stadium and around the stadium. There is always something going on during the game to keep things interesting for fans. The staff, no matter where you are in the stadium, are super helpful and friendly. I would highly recommend visiting. Its not just a baseball field, it's an experience.
Louis Adams — Google review
Lots of fun, great food, energetic teams and mascot! My family and I had never experienced a baseball game with lights that dance the way this stadium's do to the songs so that was a delightful plus. The seats could be a tiny bit wider but the stairs were easy to use and the seat numbers easy to find. The way the vendors are set up was also convenient and the restrooms nearby and easy to find. The stadium was a bit of a trek to get to.
Overall, definitely recommending to friends and family left and right!
Robyn Westmoreland — Google review
Our team went to Fluor Field for an afternoon game as part of a team building offsite.
The suite was a little small for the size of our team but was really nice.
The food and drink was pretty good. Much better than I had expected, and the lady that was serving us did an awesome job of keeping everything stocked and everyone happy.
The game was good and the entertainment between innings was also good.
I'd love to do another event like this in the future.
Great job by the Greenville Drive and the Fluor Field Teams!
Duayne Stewart — Google review
Really great venue. Meticulously maintained. Obviously good for baseball but also for corporate event, holiday fairs, unique gathering, etc. Right downtown so access is easy and public transportation stops at the gate. Trolleys are clean and free to the public.
Nathan Olson — Google review
In terms of minor league baseball this is one of the best venues I visited. Highly encourage folks to check out an afternoon game here over the summer - just hope it doesn't rain! There are lots of food options and last time i was there you could order from your seat to have it delivered. This alone was a winning feature. Additionally, there are some cool options for team merchandise to purchase, beer & seltzer to try, and various good seating packages for single or season tickets. If you can "swing" it during your trip to the GVL, I am sure Reedy & the Drive will keep you entertained while you enjoy the trip.
Zach E. — Google review
Baseball is about as American 🇺🇸 as you can get and Fluor Field is an excellent choice to see a good game in downtown Greenville! This field is enjoyed by many, with a fun kid area, shops for your favorite Greenville drive gear to your favorite baseball gear this is a great place to visit and root for your favorite local team!
Plants Over Animals — Google review
Great atmosphere & clean facilities make this a wonderful ballpark for the Greenville, SC area. I try to make it to at least one of the yearly neutral site games for Clemson University. Outfield center is 420 feet & Boston's famous Green Monster in imitated here in this Red Sox minor league affiliate.
Tyler L. Gibson — Google review
We love Fluor Field! It's one of the best small town baseball venues we've ever been to! We love the people, the concessions are reasonably priced, the customer service in the box office is great and the foods are decent! They try to make it family friendly in all ways. Bring your family for a game. You won't be disappointed!
Marianne Schofield — Google review
We visited Fluor Field to take in a Greenville Drive baseball game while on a weekend road trip to Greenville. We sat in the "Green Monster" seats in left field, modeled after the Green Monster at Fenway Park in Boston. They were a lot of fun! The lower deck of the Green Monster has bar-type seating, but the upper deck where we sat has small individual tables with four seats clustered around it so that all faced the field. There was plenty of space on the table to place food and drinks, and we thoroughly enjoyed the experience of sitting in this special location.
The game was entertaining, the restrooms were plentiful and clean, and there were ample concession stands. The game was well attended by enthusiastic fans, and the experience was topped off by a great Friday Night Fireworks show. My son, who has visited many minor league ballparks, said this was his best minor league ballpark experience ever. I agree. Greenville is a wonderful town to visit, and Fluor Field is certainly one of the city's jewels.
Greg Squyres — Google review
Great friendly environment! I really how they have a huge play area for the kids, it keeps them busy and less distraction for the adults that want to watch the game! My son is 19 now and we had blast watching the game! Very clean stadium, good food, I will be back soon!
Mathew Lathum — Google review
Really nice stadium, great food and drink selections, and so fun to watch the team. If you haven't tried it yet, you must!
Jeanne S — Google review
Just left the Upstate Veterans Celebration. Excellent program including flyover, paratroopers, bands and fireworks to say thank you to our valuable veterans.
Robert H — Google review
What a great minor league ballpark! Beautiful field based on their major league team park, Fenway Park.
Brian Neher — Google review
Another amazing time had here! I love this venue. This is one of the best bangs for your buck in the upstate! Their 4th of July show was credible!
Christopher Bryant — Google review
Nice ballpark and they put on a really good show for the ballgame. Fun stuff between innings. Video board was top notch. Only dings were the food being uninspired, sEATz app delivery options were limited, and security to get in needs some bowls or something if they are going to have you empty all of your pockets.
Jeff Causey — Google review
This ballpark is great! It was very clean and we'll staffed. Crowd control was good. This is a wonderful family friendly and disability friendly setting. They have plenty of stocked, clean bathrooms and tons of reasonably priced food options. Nice serving of chocolate I cream in a souvenir helmet was only $4!
Don't forget to read the clear bag policy.
I liked that their mascot roams around and that photos with him are free of charge.
It's important to be alert when seated behind the netting. Multiple balls managed to get over the safety netting and into the fan sections. It was honestly nerve wracking, bc the net only catches some of the tipped balls. Fans ultimately DO have a responsibility to pay attention!!
Both teams tonight had some awesome diving catches! It was a lot of fun to watch!
My group had an overall great game experience and I'd enjoy returning.
Parking tip: behind the $10 pay lot there's an apartment building with a parking garage that offers public parking. It's PERFECT and basically right across the street from the entrance. I only had to pay $5.00.
Holly Murrah — Google review
So it was mother's day today and me my wife and kids had very good tickets for the game. After we walked a half mile to the stadium from the restaurant we went to, we finally arrived to have a great mother's day game. When we got to the gate we saw the clear bag policy and unfortunately she had a backpack purse. Almost immediately the guy says that we can't enter due to the policy. I asked is there any lockers or any place we can check the bag so we can enter and the response was " no you can't enter". Are you serious, on mother's day. There obviously was a solution with the clear bags in the gift shop but that wasn't even thought about by the staff. So we just ate 75 dollars in tickets because of a clear bag policy that could have been resolved by just buying one in the gift shop. This whole experience ruined my wife's mother's day because she was excited to go and that was taken away. Thanks for coming up with a solution for this policy.
Jigglybits — Google review
What a fun night out! Great little baseball stadium with plenty of seats, all with great views of the field and a play area for the kiddos! Lots of food options and drinks, tickets are very reasonable and on Friday nights they have fireworks. If you bring a pocketbook it must be under 8 inches wide and they will search your bag or you can bring a clear bag so they can see in it. There is a cute gift shop that sells all the Drive Team sports memorabilia. It's right in the heart of downtown Greenville in Main street surrounded by great restaurants, bars and Falls Park on the Reedy. Highly recommend!
The Peace Center Concert Hall is a large contemporary concert hall in downtown Greenville that regularly hosts major musical and dramatic presentations. The center has a combined seating capacity of over four thousand people, making it one of the larger performing arts venues in the area. The Greenville Symphony Orchestra and ballet company are both based at the Peace Center, making regular appearances throughout the year with both classical and contemporary works.
Went to see Earth, Wind & Fire last night and we thoroughly enjoyed the show even from the balcony. We could see and hear just fine. What a great show and venue.
Robert Sullivan — Google review
Loved watching Betelgeuse The Musical with my family! The bathrooms were very clean, the staff were extremely friendly and skilled in their jobs, and there was plenty of seating for the most amount of people to fit without anything being cramped. They had bars and bathrooms everywhere and the lines were relatively short and quick. Very nice place would love to go to another event here.
Lilly Day — Google review
A gorgeous theatre! Very clean, great seating, and a very friendly staff. I love that Genevieve's is attached to the theatre. Enjoying dinner and simply walking through the door and into the theatre was so convenient and having desserts and coffee during intermission was awesome!
We saw CATS and we will be back for another show.
Michelle W. — Google review
We sat in the very last row (K) of the balcony and still enjoyed the performance of Wicked. I highly recommend binoculars if you’re sitting in the balcony to see the faces, but the sound is great and I still felt involved in the show even in Row K balcony, middle seats. Fabulous venue!
Steph M — Google review
We came here to see Neil deGrasse Tyson. We parked in the lot across the street. $25 to park is pretty expensive but we didn't want to try to find another spot. We walked to Sobey's for dinner. Delicious! Lots of dining options near the Peace Center. We walked back and went straight into the venue. Went through the metal detector and had our e-tickets scanned. No problem. We had the absolute cheapest seats in the place. Tickets for live performances are getting outrageously expensive. We walked up all the steps to our seats. Even though we were far up, we could still see everything and the sound system made hearing the talk very easy. This place is always clean and the staff is very nice. There are several beverage stations so you don't all have to stand in one long line. Even the line for the ladies room was manageable. We enjoy coming to the Peace Center and will likely be back.
Shelly K. — Google review
Outstanding acoustics, comfortable box seats, and attentive staff. There's a bar for cocktails prior to the show. This venue has an intimate atmosphere coupled with sophisticated technology, which makes for a perfect experience, at least it was for us, despite the rainy night. (Just remember that you can't bring beverages into the hall.)
Rebecca Ambroe — Google review
What a fabulous venue, nice bars inside, not as pricey as some concert venues and very comfortable seating. The staff was friendly and helpful. Saw Weird Al concert, really enjoyed the show.
Charles Sweeney — Google review
Love the Peace Center! We have Broadway season tickets and absolutely love it. They bring in such a good variety of shoes. From Broadway to comedians to orchestras there are so many things you can see.
The restrooms are nice and there are some on every floor.
The people who work there are so polite. If you ever have to call customer service expect it to be the most pleasant call of your life.
All in all this is one of my favorite places in Greenville.
Kristen Klein — Google review
I just recently went to the peace center for the first time with my godmother. I was blown away by their production of wicked. The atmosphere was amazing. There’s not a bad seat in the house. The staff is wonderful. There was great parking across the street that was $20. This was a wonderful birthday gift. I highly recommend it as a special occasion event.
Gerry-Ann Bates — Google review
Love this place! We drove down from NC and the venue is well worth it. We always eat nearby first, then enter when the doors open. This time we saw the Indigo Girls and it was a blast! The crowd sang, yelled and clapped to all the songs…what a fun and happy crowd. We were in row D of the Founder’s balcony area and could see just fine. May want to use the facilities at intermission…otherwise there is a long line in all the restrooms for women. 👎🏼 We will be back in November and can’t wait!
Denise Fischer Hayes — Google review
First time visiting! Went to see Earth, Wind, and Fire!! Amazing Performance. The venue is nice and the sound quality is Great! I would definitely come back to see a performance here!
Victoria C — Google review
Saw my first concert since moving to the Greenville area. I was not disappointed. The seats were excellent and the venue is intimate unlike a huge stadium. Genevieve’s was great for the pre concert eats and dessert during intermission. I love the venue and will definitely be going back.
Erik Andersen — Google review
This theater is gorgeous!! The seats are extremely comfortable. I chose not to leave during intermission and sat for 3 hours without any discomfort. The acoustics are great. The staff was super kind. There are side entrances so don't get stuck in the long line through the main door.
Heather Ray — Google review
Amazing concert hall. Food was horrible as there was nothing but nuts to snack on and mostly alcohol drinks. So bring a purse big enough for drinks and snacks. Or eat a good meal before you go.
Trinity stables Horses healing hearts inc. — Google review
Beautiful, clean facility. Parking wasn’t so easy but the walk to the concert hall was short. Great atmosphere for all different types of people and walks of life
Magee L — Google review
Saw Girl From the North Country here on an anniversary weekend. Beautiful venue, comfy seats. It was a little chilly in the hall, but it was February. Helpful, friendly staff.
Maggie Schwarting — Google review
Drove over 4 hours to come and see the Celtic Woman and it was totally worth it! Even tho we had far up seats, the sound and view of the stage were incredible! The orchestra sounded amazing and over all it was totally worth the drive!
Oh and the hanging angel they have in the entrance is just an art masterpiece!!! So elegant and beautiful!
Lizeth Panuco — Google review
We saw Croce last weekend and everything was great! The venue is spectacular and we can't wait to go back! We actually bought tickets at the box office for another show! Good sight lines and the Peace Center seems like it is just the right size.
Michael Scully — Google review
Very impressive facility, a world-class concert hall. Great acoustics, very nice staff, cool part of Greenville. Well worth return visits!
Bruce Wharton — Google review
Wonderful production of "The Wiz." Comfortable seats in the performance chamber and excellent sound quality. Front of house staff (security, ticket scanners, greeters, and ushers) could stand to be given some refresher training in smiling 😃 and customer service - kind of off-putting lack of friendliness makes this first-time visitor wonder if this is the norm for the venue.
Falls Park on the Reedy is a gorgeous and peaceful urban park that is easily accessible for exploration. The park is home to gardens, walking trails, waterfalls, and art installations that make it a great place to spend a relaxing day. Passerelle Bistro in the park afterward is a fantastic French restaurant that should not be missed if you're looking for some great food and amazing views.
Absolutely gorgeous park that brings the city together as it shows the harmonious symbioticness between the river falls and skyscrapers. The extensive walking path purposely weaves everyone through the landscape with great views of the waterfall. The Liberty Bridge politely calls attention to its engineering marvel. What a great place to spend an afternoon people watching and soaking up the city vibe. Also a great place to take the pets!
Jessica Shin — Google review
Serenity found. We enjoyed an early midweek stroll and had this gorgeous place pretty much to ourselves. We had researched articles and short video history on this area so it made our visit that more interesting. History is fascinating on this area! Gorgeous and all FREE. Also public restrooms were available too.
Michelle Haley — Google review
This place is absolutely beautiful. Greenville has hands down the best looking downtown area I have been to date. There are several different walking areas and benches so you can view this waterfall. We sat on one of the benches near the bottom and sat there watching the falls for about 45 minutes as the sun was setting it was a sight worth seeing. I also recommend walking across the suspension bridge, and taking in the view from there. Will 100 percent come back to this place in the future.
Jake Young — Google review
What a beautiful and thoughtful place. We visited in the morning - the air was crisp, the water was flowing, and there were just a few people. We can't wait to come back and relax on a swinging bench and take in more of the area. We parked downtown and took advantage of the free 2-hour street parking - it was about a half mile walk. Just gorgeous!
Rachel Land — Google review
Falls park is unlike any other place in our country. It's beauty is supported by the eclectic nature of its city surroundings. Amenities aplenty including restrooms, eateries, many shops, galleries, picnicking areas, and walking paths. Dog friendly, the park is a playground of exploration for both children and fun seeking adults alike. The park IS the destination for those people in search of wonder and relaxation.
D.J. Humphrey — Google review
In the middle of the city, this is a beautiful gem with paved paths and beautiful fall views.
There is no free or public parking available nearby, so you need to park in a parking garage nearby.
It may seem like a small spot, but there are many paths you can take that takes you to beautiful spots where you can sit relax and enjoy.
Paths are a bit uneven, and there are stairs, so wear appropriate shoes.
Abeer Mustafa — Google review
The most amazingly and beautiful park in any city ever. Make sure to explore around and look for the secret staircase in the photos. Hint, you may have to cross the falls to find it. The suspended bridge is just incredible with views and energy. Plan to spend a good half day enjoying this park and walk along all the trails.
David Costa — Google review
Busy on a Saturday afternoon we found one parking space four blocks away. As we got closer there was a wonderful floral scent that grew stronger as we got closer to the park. Lots of restaurants and shops line the street leading to the park.
Beautiful falls and walkway gardens surrounding the park.
A three bathroom stall ( very tiny for the highly popular spot) is found through a outdoor patio.
A very clean, safe and family friendly spot! Highly recommended!
Psalms 118:17 — Google review
We love Falls Park on the Reedy! The waterfalls were enjoyable to listen to, beautiful views, pristine walkways and grass, the bridge was fun to walk on, and there was plenty of area to sit and relax! Our Pembroke Corgis loved their walk and all the attention they received by everyone around. Restaurants and hotels are there. We will return!
Jeanne French-Newman — Google review
While photographing a conference in Greenville I got to walk around and enjoy the park during one of the breaks. The thriving downtown area has a lot to offer. And this park is a beautiful oasis in the midst of it all!
Chris Smith (chrisandcami) — Google review
Falls Park on the Reedy in Greenville, SC, is a true hidden gem that offers a captivating natural escape. The park's main highlight is the breathtaking waterfall that cascades gracefully through the heart of the city. The sight and sound of the rushing water create a serene and enchanting atmosphere. The park's well-maintained trails and bridges provide scenic views and opportunities for leisurely walks or jogs. The beautifully landscaped gardens and lush green spaces make it a perfect spot for picnics and relaxation. The Liberty Bridge, a stunning architectural marvel, offers stunning panoramic views of the falls. Falls Park on the Reedy is a must-visit destination that combines the beauty of nature with urban charm, creating a peaceful retreat in the heart of Greenville.
Joel G — Google review
Falls park is very nice.
Lots of people and children along the banks and playing on the rocks in the middle of the river.
Lots of photo shoots going on and saw someone taking their wedding pictured.
Very nicely organized and designed.
The suspended Bridge is the center point of attention and curves around perfectly so you can enjoy the small falls in the river.
Over all a great place to visit.
Laura Lockhart — Google review
I will never forget the feeling of AWE the first time I saw Reedy Falls in the heart of Greenville! Magnificent, beautiful and breathtaking! The best view is from the pedestrian bridge and it also takes you to the other side of the river!
Greenville would not be such a spectacular place without the falls. We love and treasure our downtown park!
Olga Gloria Sundy — Google review
This place is so beautiful. My family was absolutely amazed to experience the falls in the middle of downtown. We took a few trails( woody, narrow stairs, bugs) that led to one exploration after another(Spill the Beans coffee has great ice cream. The Grand Bohemian very picturesque, and Gather has a ton of food options in a covered outdoor fun atmosphere) The Falls Park is really cool. You definitely need walking shoes!
DeAndrea Brown — Google review
Visited during the holiday season.. streets filled with lights and a festive atmosphere. There were Christmas decorations, live music and popup stalls selling trinkets and gift items. The highlight was the picture with Santa for free!
As this park was right in the middle of the city, there were all sorts of stores for shopping, restaurants and coffee shops.
Plenty of street parking and garage options.
V Yadiki — Google review
It's a nice walk for you and your partner. Or for you and your friends, walking over liberty Bridge and then down into Falls Park is both scenically beautiful but also just fun. There's usually someone playing music on the stone bridge. Or swings to watch the waterfall.
*pictures from several different occasions*
Callie cat — Google review
The grounds are beautiful. So many different trails to take and the vegetation/garden areas are gorgeous. I only wish it were more stroller friendly but overall, a definite must visit.
Shyann McWhirter — Google review
One time watch. At the heart of the town, this falls add to its beauty. Less crowded on weekdays but become busy on weekend. There are bench to sit at different location. No ticket is required. Other usual service such as public restroom is available.
Tej Raj Karki — Google review
The hidden gem in the heart of Greenville, Falls Park on the Reedy is everything a park should be.
We entered the park by way of Pedrick Garden at Falls Park, walked over a small bridge and down a side road to the park. We were able to get a great view of Liberty Bridge and could hear the falls.
Surrounded by restaurants, cafes and hotels all within walking distance, Falls Park boasts lush greenery lined paved walkways with benches and swings to sit, relax and enjoy the views and sounds of the falls. There are large open green spaces available for kids to play, families to picnic and relax and pets to roam.
The park was busy on the Saturday we visited, yet it did not feel crowded. There was plenty of room for everyone to enjoy the area.
A true gem for nature lovers!
Take a stroll across Liberty Bridge to get the most expansive view of Reedy River Falls. Enjoy listening to the flow of water, natural white noise. From the bridge you will be able to see adults, kids, and dogs on the rocks below enjoying the shallow areas of the falls.
We were not able to fully explore the area to our liking due to our time constraints.
So we look forward to returning for a long weekend to explore this amazing park, the Greenville downtown and the surrounding areas soon.
Danielle — Google review
This is an amazing place to visit. This park makes this city. The waterfalls are very relaxing and the park is beautifully maintained. The pedestrian sky bridge is a great place to take photos. The location is perfect for having dinner and enjoying the visit to downtown Greenville.
Paul Holstein — Google review
Well maintained, beautiful space. It was busy on a Saturday but still plenty of room to mill about. We found a parking spot not too far away.
Denise Seidensticker — Google review
Nestled in the heart of our city, this park is a true gem for nature lovers and dog owners alike. The highlight of the park is undoubtedly its artificial waterfall, which is nothing short of phenomenal. The sound of cascading water creates a serene atmosphere, offering a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of city life.
The surroundings complement the fall beautifully. The park’s design is thoughtful and aesthetically pleasing, with winding paths, lush greenery, and well-maintained flower beds. It’s a delight to stroll through the park, with every turn offering a new, picturesque view.
Dog owners will find this park exceptionally welcoming. The area is very dog-friendly, providing ample space for pets to run and play. There are also plenty of benches and seating areas, making it comfortable for pet owners to relax while their furry friends enjoy themselves.
Overall, this park is a wonderful spot for relaxation, exercise, and enjoying the beauty of nature. Whether you’re looking to unwind by the waterfall, take a leisurely walk, or spend quality time with your dog, this park caters to all.
KC TW — Google review
What a magnificent place. Bridges, green spaces, waterfalls, shopping ,great food and art plus so much more. Can't wait to go back to this perfectly designed park on the heart of Greenville. Wow.
Ellen Holmes Steeves-LeBlanc — Google review
Beautiful city walk with plenty of picnic areas, good for walking, jogging, people watching and plenty of restaurants nearby. There is also a hotel, a Bank of America if you need cash, parking ranges between $5.00 and $20.00 for the entire stay.
Alex L — Google review
Falls Park is a beautiful place to visit in downtown Greenville. I recommend if you have the ability to; to take a journey out across the rocks and get to a place I like to call “Falcons Cove” . In the last picture I took I am on top of the rock I like to call “Falcon’s Cove” . Maybe you’ll see why if you venture to the rock. Be safe, have fun. Love, Just!
Jamie Eschborn — Google review
Beautiful city park with lots of walking paths and several waterfalls, not just the big one. The bridge over the falls is perfect - what a good idea by the city whenever they did that! Lots of great places to eat - Spill the Beans coffee, Passerelle French bistro, Carmella's dessert cafe, and the restaurant and bar at the huge Grand Bohemian. Feel free to walk inside and sit on the terrace overlooking the falls!
The Greenville Zoo is a small, no-frills zoo that offers visitors a chance to learn about local and exotic wildlife. The zoo has a variety of walking paths, playgrounds, courts, and more to make it a great place for the whole family to enjoy.
We visited on Friday 4/8/2022 - We arrived at the Zoo around 10:30 am. I did not have to wait long to purchase my ticket even though there was a small line. My daughter and I spent a good hour - hour & half, venturing around the open exhibits. Our favorite was the giraffes ! 🦒🦒🦒 The "baby" one kept running around between the adults, it was so cute! The Ocelot was super cute! The Leopard was GORGEOUS 🖤 Some animals were not present & some things were being built, so there is some construction - That just means more animals are coming , so let's be patient while we wait! 🤍 Several different playgrounds on site. Gift shop is reasonably priced as well. We didn't not purchase any food or drinks. There was a shaved ice truck also out front when we left. It was a nice thing to enjoy with my child on a Friday ! ✨️🙌🤍 They do hold special dates & seasonal events. Membership & group rates are available per request! Check out their website before heading out. I recommend the Greenville Zoo to locals & those passing through ! 🦒🦎🐸🐺🐒🐼🐆🤍✨️
Ashley H — Google review
We visited the Greenville Zoo for the first time and really enjoyed it. The park was very clean and the gift shop had a lot of neat things. We’ll definitely be back to see the animals again!
Lindsey Altman — Google review
Our family loves the zoo. It's a great zoo, not too big and we've never been when it's crowded. We get family passes every year. Everyone there is so friendly and easy to talk to. I've never had any issues with cleanliness in the bathrooms and the playground that's in the front of the zoo is great. The playground has different sections. Ones for 5 and under and the other is 5-12.
Angela Nicholson — Google review
We love the Greenville Zoo!! Beautiful location nestled in the hills, with a lot of trees for shade. Big enough but not too big and very well put together. There's even a small kids park mid-way through to stop and get some energy out. Great picnic area and additional larger park right outside the Zoo. We can definitely spend 1-2 hours here on a nice day.
Jade Lantz — Google review
A beautiful experience, with well cared for animals and clean atmosphere. Even with the little bit of renovating going on, the animals were quite relaxed and seemed happy. The kids had a blast! A great little seating area for snacks, and a large park for the little ones to let off some energy. Stay until near closing and you can get some interactions with the cats as they await dinnertime.
Amy Jeffery — Google review
As someone who has frequented bigger zoos in the past, I think this zoo is quality for the price of entry and the size of the space available. Some of the enclosures need to be updated and the exhibit descriptions are better for children than adults. There doesn’t seem to be much in the way of engaging enrichment for the animals since many of them were facing the back of their enclosures (the keeper side) clearly waiting to be fed. I think there are certainly better zoos in the southeast, but again, I think this one is on par for what you pay.
Zack Williams — Google review
It was okay for a small zoo. We enjoyed seeing the leopard and orangutans the most. My grandson was thrilled because he loves animals and those were two he had not seen before. There were also lions which he always enjoys. Only one small snack bar is offered. It only takes about an hour to traverse the whole zoo so we were able to see all his favorites two or three times.
Peggy Sherman — Google review
Small but fun zoo great family fun. There are lots of different animals for their size. Worth the trip if you have small kids and are trying to entertain them for a while.
Jermaine Wilhite — Google review
Greenville Zoo is small but kept nice and clean. They have many different animals, my favorites were red pandas and baby orangutan and the leopard. Unfortunately it was a cold day so giraffes were inside and we didn’t see any, same with lions. But that means we will have to be back.
Olga Gloria Sundy — Google review
It's a small zoo but well done - most areas look new, even the sections being remodeled! So while it doesn't have a lot of space, it seems that it's got some good donors. The animals look reasonably happy and relaxed and they even have a big African lion, giraffes, and a leopard. The red pandas are super cute and active, some bat-eared foxes are super cute, and there are several birds of prey and a reptile house.
I was mainly there to take a walk on a pretty day, and it only takes about 30 minutes to do a completely circuit, pausing to look at most of the animals. I did another lap in reverse, which rewarded me with different views of some animals. It is on a hill, so you are walking (and possibly pushing a stroller) up and down some decent hills. I recommend heading uphill first, then winding your way down and around to the alligator and farm animals.
Sara Beth Wade — Google review
I love all the improvements to the Zoo. Our granddaughter had such a wonderful time. She was literally squealing with delight at all the different animals. All the animals and their enclosures were clean and healthy. The reptile exhibit was outstanding! The staff was friendly, especially the lady in the gift shop. Keep up the excellent work!
bumblegirl — Google review
Wonderful zoo! Well designed and small enough for kids to walk around comfortably but plenty to see! Took us around an hour to walk though the whole park. My kids really enjoyed seeing the alligator, giraffes, lions, and monkeys. There's also a nice park right next to the zoo.
Rocky Bilotta — Google review
Very cute little zoo. Took only about 2hrs of pittling though. There wasn't much but the few they had were cool. Expected bigger and the gift shop they have wasn't stocked and bare. Could have been better but was a good little detour. Been to the Detroit Zoo in Michigan and that's an all day thing! Which I expected but it's ok.
Jhenna Strong — Google review
It's small but cute. Perfect to go to & just walk around for an hour or so... Price is fair, too. Go early or on cooler days, as with any place with animals, you won't see much movement from them when it's really hot outside. The baby giraffe is adorable!
Tatiana Moore — Google review
Unexpectedly great zoo! For a zoo on the smaller side, it was great! The animals are situated in a way where they are easily visible and the setting is very natural. The zoo is easily walkable with small kids and all the animals were out! We even saw a lion roar!
Pia Linder — Google review
We got free tickets and went here over Memorial weekend... it was sprinkling, so they weren't busy at all. It's a small zoo and doesn't take long to walk the whole thing. The gardens are beautiful and well taken care of and so are the animals. We always enjoy the giraffes, lions and monkeys, but this time they had some sort of lizzard. He loves people they said, and he followed my grandson all over near the window. It made his day! It was our 2nd time visiting this zoo and we will definitely be back.
Lori K — Google review
A great small zoo with a really nice reptile house. Some different animals than Riverbanks or Atlanta have. Tickets are $11 for adults and $8 for kids.
Beth McK — Google review
Small zoo but very nice. Not too many animals, several different kinds of monkeys, lions, giraffe, leopard, birds, flamingos. Cost was $14 for an adult. Very clean and well kept. Easy parking.
Debra Clen — Google review
Always a good time here. Small enough for little ones but still has exotic animals. Not to mention Cleveland park and the swamp rabbit trail right in the front yard. Tickets are fairly priced but the gift shop is pricey - still the money goes to the zoo so it’s not hard to spend anyway. Not to mention, downtown Greenville is right around the corner.
Hanna Inman — Google review
We were doing recon for a family picnic. While we didn't visit the zoo, the covered picnic areas were large enough which were located across from the zoo entrance. The nearby bathroom was a plus as well.
Jo-C Coleman — Google review
Cool little zoo. Not as big as some of the there’s we have seen, but a nice place to spend the morning around Greenville. Great addition to the surrounding park area. Definitely will be back again.
Brian Gottleib — Google review
Such a great place to visit for a couple of hours. Smaller than the Atlanta zoo, but also a fraction of the cost and crowds! We always have a blast!
Courtney Guess — Google review
Really cute local zoo if you don’t feel like fighting to crowds at Riverbanks. They are putting in a lot of work to make it even nicer over this next year. I can’t wait to see everything when it’s all done.
Ali Maclay — Google review
Nice zoo outing. There is a preschool playground inside the zoo and 2 large playgrounds outside the zoo. Parking is free.
Eve D. — Google review
What a fun, little zoo! Just perfect for young children and adults alike. Loved all the play areas and I’m excited to bring my family back here to visit and play. It was a rainy day when we spent time at the zoo, so we pretty much had the place to ourselves. Well maintained.
Maggie Schwarting — Google review
The Greenville Zoo is small, but don't let that dissuade you! This place is a real gem! They have a large variety of animals, and everything is nice and clean!
We had a lovely, personal tasting from the owner. Many wines on the flight were very good. We took the Mosaic blend home - highly recommend it for red wine lovers (Cab Sauvignon + Cab Franc + Chambourcin blend). The original Russian chapel is a cool touch. You can actually go inside.
A nice stop on a Lake Lure drive.
Julie Bayer — Google review
Very unique wines! We were blessed to visit at a time we were able to do a tasting with Andre, the owner. It was fascinating to hear him talk about his wines and his Russian heritage. We enjoyed our time at this winery very much. We look forward to visiting again in the future!
Courtney Ellison Mabe — Google review
So quaint and fun! Beautiful setting. Andri was extra friendly and knowledgeable. Wines were all excellent, so we bought a 3-pack, with plans to return for more soon. Would be an ideal place for a small event.
Ben Davis — Google review
Been here many times, the wine is great and the view is even better. A great place to have a party or get together, there are fire pits and a lot of places to sit, watch the view and converse. They also have music from time to time
Michael Ellis — Google review
This was the 2nd stop on my birthday celebration and an okay experience at best. The parking was confusing as the sign is way over to the side not easily seen as you first drive in. Our 'host' wasn't very personable but definitely knowledgeable about the wines, I really liked the Kagor and I enjoyed the Muscadine. There was no paper towel in the ladies room nor tissue in the men's which was taken care of as soon as we enlightened our host. We were also not able to sample the Rose either as they were out. They had beautiful beeswax candles I would have enjoyed purchasing on but there were no prices on them so I thought they were most likely just decoration. A bit of a disappointment.
Lynn V — Google review
Wines were pretty good, and tasting room was nice, but it looks like the owner has given up. Grounds are not maintained and it doesn't look like they are growing any grapes anymore.
John T — Google review
Their Russian Banya was incredible. The owner Andrew was super kind and accommodating. We enjoyed sampling his wine. We will definitely be back.
Vladimir Prokhnevskiy (Vladskiy) — Google review
Fantastic find! A little off the beaten path and well worth the travel. One of the better Chardonnay's we've had. Very nice facility, cozy, great ambience. A new favorite destination.
D Reedmeister — Google review
When I got there a woman said he was in the fields. Then here he was. A beautiful smile. Everyone was very nice. I walked up the stairs and into the room. My lips said Holy House. He looked at me..I tasted two wines. The one I chose probably wasn't the one he thought I would. It was absolutely fabulous. A Russian Vodka undertone. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Barbara — Google review
First of two wineries we visited recently while in this area near the NC/SC line. Friendly staff, we were served by the assistant winemaker - he was able to tell us about the history of the vineyard (established back in the late 90's) as well as the more recent russian owner and influence. The Russian Chapel in the center of the vineyard was beautiful, shipped over from Russia and reassembled in the vineyard. Wish was could have hiked out to it but we had limited time. I was impressed with each of their wines, white, red and only muscadine. Feeling was remote, mountain vineyard, relaxing (outside deck), shady overlook of the vineyard and chapel.
Jeff Rowe — Google review
We visited 4 wineries within the area, tasting their wines. By far, our favorite wines were at the Russian Chapel Hills Winery. The winery & vineyards are a bit off the beaten track but the wines are well worth going there to taste & buy. These wines are made in the old European style of greater complexity, sophistication, & dryness rather than the other local area wineries with their more typical American style of fruity forward tasting wines. I heartily recommend the winemaker, Alexei’s, 2015 Cabernet (100% Cabernet), his Tosca (80% Merlot/20% Sangiovese), his unusual but delicious Kagor (Communion Chalice wine) and his 2015 Sauvignon Blanc. After decanting his wines and letting them breathe for an hour, the full complexities and tastes were stunning and pronounced. Simply stated, these are superb crafted wines! And, the winemaker/owner, Alexei is gracious and exceedingly knowledgeable.
George Plasko — Google review
Enjoyed spending some time trying Honey wine which was delish and learning about the history of this very interesting winery.
Hollywild Animal Park is a zoo that boasts a vast array of animals who roam freely. Many of these animals have been featured in movies and television shows, and the park offers safari rides to visitors. One of its main attractions is the drive-in Christmas lights display and feeding experience, which is highly anticipated by visitors every year. Despite some issues with vehicles going in every direction during feeding time, people love this unique opportunity to see these precious animals up close.
We went to the zoo for the drive in Christmas lights and feeding zoo experience. The lights were good and our daughter loved feeding the animals. The only thing is during the feeding section there’s no order so the vehicles were going in every direction.
Jessica White — Google review
Unreal experience for children and adults alike! Having the tongues of the creatures lather your hands with their saliva is quite the involved experience and not for the feint of heart. Make sure your little ones are ready for some in for face wild animal action. No lions, no Tigers, no Bears, but oh my is this experience is - as the kids say these days - lit 🔥
It's Dad — Google review
Awesome awesome very Merry awesome touch for Christmas.
Buy your tickets in advance for both zones, and get the biggest bag of food to enjoy interacting with the animals. Very well taken care of.
Thank you Hollywild!!!! I came from far to disconnect from a hard week of work and I got served above and beyond!!
Kudos!!!!!
Marce — Google review
I look forward to this ALL year! Absolutely my favorite thing to during Christmas!!! I LOVE all of these precious animals. Best Time!
Gennifer Shafer — Google review
Great staff! Animals were super cute and look heathy! Place is kept clean no trash on sight. Had a great time. Make sure to buy lots of food bc the animals do love to eat it.
E. P. — Google review
We came to Hollywild to see the Christmas light display. The line to get in was not that bad. The lights were pretty decent, but charing $10 a person was a bit steep (and then another $10 per bag of food if you want to feed animals in the deer yard). I didn't mind paying them because I knew the money goes toward care of the animals. The deer yard would have been better had not there been SO many cars in it ... it was chaos and deer were running all over. I felt bad for them. Perhaps letting only so many cars in at once would make for a better experience for people and for animals.
April Emery — Google review
We had a blast if this isn’t a place to take your family to enjoy Christmas lights and seeing the reindeer, then there’s no other place to go. You’re admission fee is really helping the animals and when you buy the bags of food to feed the animals. It also goes towards them. It’s out in the middle of nowhere but when you arrive, you will be surprised.
Craft Stove Gas Log Repair — Google review
Went for the Christmas lights and to feed the animals. The lights were beautiful and well done. The wait to get in was understandably long but once you are in, you follow the path of the lights and it was very smooth moving and at a great pace to see everything! Once you get to the animals where you can feed them, the traffic is chaos. There is no path to follow and there are cars going every which way! It’s fun to have the gentle animals come up to your window for food but the structure around traffic is difficult to manage in that area. No one is there to direct cars so it’s kind of a free for all. After you leave that area, you’re back on the vehicle path and all is good getting back out. Loved the experience overall!
Marie Summer — Google review
This was great fun and a good way to introduce city kids to animals. We drove through twice while an assortment of deer, emu, donkeys, geese and more ate out of our hands. This family owned business deserves support. Thank you for creating and maintaining the park for the animals and families like ours. We will be bringing all our visitors here.
F and B Hoehner — Google review
My kids always wait for the season when we could visit this place. Hand feed the animals, they always are very excited. Nice to see many animals so close. Three stars only because of very short period for visiting this place
Olena Halushko — Google review
Have had this on my “must go” list for two years now after hearing from local friends about how awesome it was - finally made it this past weekend and I’m sorry to say it was an enormous disappointment. It appears that what used to be a unique local attraction has been outsourced to some third party to operate and it’s gone majorly downhill in the process. We spent $40 just to drive through the park and see the lights and then an extra $10 to experience the “enchanted deer forest” - most of the light display consisted of these canned sculptures/lighted signs propped up along the side of the road - the kind you can see on display in any number of cities for free. Half of the lights were out across the park - you could see several sculptures and structures that looked like they were maybe supposed to be lit, but the lights weren’t on for whatever reason. The signs at the entrance said to turn your radio to a particular channel (I assume to hear Christmas music) but the station was nothing but white noise. The “enchanted deer forest” was basically a section of open parking lot area with a herd of terrified deer running around trying to escape from cars that were driving around at them like some kind of strange vehicle rodeo. If you wanted to throw food at them, that cost extra $$. Santa’s village was open this year, but whereas that had been free to walk through in prior years, now they charge extra $$ just to enter (and there’s not much in there to see) plus it’s an extra charge if you want to do any of the activities in there ($30 for the “best deal” ticket package to do the 3-4 activities available). Plus it took us over an hour and a half just to get in and drive through the thing, which sounds like it would be great because that’s more time for the money spent right? But because the displays were so lame it just made the entire experience more painful - that’s an hour and a half of my life I can’t get back. So disappointed.
Jennifer Browne — Google review
The drive thru was not the greatest for being marked off. Got turned around but it is part of the ride. Lol. Had a blast feeding the deer and cows. What a treat for young people and all. Thumbs up from all of us.
Ronnie McElroy — Google review
The lights were spectacular. Definitely worth your money. The village was also great for kids and much easier to feed the animals. The drive through animal was a bit hectic. The deer just run terrified. I felt bad and left. All that CO2 they breath in. Do the walk thru. So much better. Kids love it.
Matt S — Google review
We have so much fun , this place it’s a most go if you’re visiting the upstate or
you’re from around , it’s amazing how you can touch and interact with deers cows and bulls, I feed them with my own hands 😁
Irene J — Google review
Lots of light decorations and an enclosed field full of deer to feed. They were all very cute, and so were all of the animals in Santa’s workshop. I only knocked off a star because it seemed like they were lacking some animals this year. I do not know the reason.
Aidan Mears — Google review
Lights are better than years past, and santas village was expanded but we went on Thanksgiving so it was slow and understandably understaffed but newbies don't understand the flow of the reindeer forest. KEEP MOVING!
The BMW Zentrum is a museum and information center that showcases vintage cars, motorcycles, concept automobiles, and more. Visitors can take a factory tour to observe the impressive machinery used in production. The tour involves some walking but includes frequent stops for detailed explanations by the guide. The atrium at the entrance features several cars on display, and there is also a gift shop available for purchasing BMW merchandise. It's important to note that strict policies and procedures are enforced during the tour.
We took the factory tour which was very interesting. There is some walking involved but you stop often for detailed explanations by the guide so you're not walking continuously if that's a concern.
The atrium at the entrance is very nice with a bunch of cars on display. There's also a gift shop for your BMW swag.
Overall excellent experience, I highly recommend.
Dan Larson — Google review
WHAT AN EXPERIENCE!
Having worked in factories earlier in life I wasn’t overly surprised by what I saw but I can’t say the experience wasn’t excellent! Doing the plant tour (can’t have phone on so no pictures) was really sweet to see and they make it a fun and enjoyable experience. The tour guide was knowledgeable and fun.
The factory is clean and really advanced. It was a rainy day on our trip and this was the perfect indoor activity.
Even getting a commemorative magnet when you finish the tour! They even had some amazing historic BMWs, including the first one driven by 007!
The museum is cool, the tour is where it’s at!
Colbe Wells — Google review
What a great experience, not too big and well managed. The factory tour was the highlight. Our guide, Faye, was outstanding! Many of the cars in the Zentrum brought back fond memories for us. I highly recommend this stop if you plan ahead and reserve your tour.
Tony C — Google review
Definitely take the tour! The factory is incredible and the machinery they use is awesome to watch. Keep in mind they're fairly strict with policies and procedures during the tour. It's fun, but they do have to keep things moderated.
Brandon Oscarson — Google review
Absolutely top notch experience, but could you really expect any less from BMW? Everything about the tour was well worth it. I can’t wait to order and get my vehicle delivered right off the assembly line.
Eddie Rock — Google review
WOW! Awesome tour courtesy of BMW. Your is 1.5 hours viewing the production facility and visitor center. After the tour of the production facility I was speechless, it truly amazing seeing BMW luxury cars assembled in person. Tour was only $15 well worth it! FYI no open toe shoes and no cell phones allowed during the production factory tour.
M M — Google review
Enthusiasts of BMW will find great pleasure in visiting this museum, which houses both classic and contemporary models, making it a destination of significance, albeit its compact size. The fact that the museum's admission is complimentary, coupled with its convenient proximity to the highway, facilitates the exploration experience.
Furthermore, the inclusion of the M Driving School, factory tours, and other activities contributes to creating an appealing environment for automobile aficionados.
Osman “Ozzie” G — Google review
Beautiful grounds. Fun little museum that you can get up close to the vehicles and not a ton of vehicles, so you can see them all. The factory tour was nice and informative. The only option for factory tour tickets is online.
Brian Diver — Google review
We visited the Zentrum as part of the paid 45-minute tour. The tour is a must-do if you've never been. Everyone was very friendly and welcoming with a lot of knowledge. Such interesting stories and history.
Rachel Land — Google review
The museum itself is small but the cars in it are in incredible condition. The best part is the factory tour that starts from the museum. I did the 1-hout tour and it was really incredible. Definitely worth the entry! You usually need to get tickets for the tours ahead of time though!
Johnathan Burchardt — Google review
Woof what a wunderbar welcome center open to the public during weekdays but we were in the area and wanted to check it out.
Its got a lot of history for Bmurr loving pups like us and makes for a fun and unique pit stop.
Pup & Pup — Google review
Beautiful museum showcasing some of the finest Bavarian cars made. It's free to attend Monday through Friday. I had some sticker shock in the gift shop but otherwise this is a fantastic collection of cars. Some of which I'd only ever seen in magazines or video games.
Peter Haight — Google review
I'd recommend going for the factory tour if you schedule it well enough in advance because it really does let you see the behind the scenes of how they make many BMW SUVs. As far as the Zentrum museum (Zentrum meaning center), really cool way to see some classic as well as some brand new BMWs and really get a good sense of the history of BMWs being built in the United States
Jeffin Koshy — Google review
I visited on 3/6/24. Our tour guide was wonderful. She was very knowledgable and was able to answer all of my questions. The tour did not seem rushed and we were able to see many facets of vehicle assembly (excl drivetrain, mechanicals, interior), especially fit and finish.
The museum was compact, but comprehensive. I wish they had some additional motorcycles on display; there were only four and I hoped the display would include adventure bikes. Maybe they didn't feature more because they aren't produced there? (Hey, BMW, they don't take up a lot of room!)
The biggest miss was the gift shop. I wouldn't be so harsh had I not previously toured the Munich plant (Sept. 2016) and experienced that store. Munich's store was nothing short of phenomenal. Reasonally priced, custom-made goods, with European flair and design. I previously purchased a black "BMW Welt" women's fitted v-neck t-shirt with cool, unusual graphics and made with thick cotton, a "BMW Welt" rollerball pen, a blue "BMW Motorrad Motorsport" women's fitted v-neck t-shirt (again, thick cotton with white and red sleeves and a BMW logo appliquéd patch, a silkscreened image on the other sleeve and "BMW Motorrad Motorsport" larger and written down the back, on the reverse). What the Greer, SC facility did have was two light pink women's shirts that I wouldn't be caught dead wearing (one was a polo shirt).
I saw nothing with "BMW Zentrum" on it. Instead what I found was typical American apparel with overinflated prices. I was interested in purchasing items for my three young grandchildren. There was nothing I could find to purchase for them! Two boys and a girl, ages 7, 4, and 2! My son always asks me to purchase books from where I visit for them. I purchased "Greenville, SC" books for them at O.P. Taylor's Toy Store in DT Greenville.
I also wanted to purchase a book about the facility. There were no books, postcards, coloring books, children's books, or any reading material for that matter! During my visit I walked through the store three times to make sure there wasn't anything I missed. Nope. This facility has been open for 20 years! What gives?
The gentleman working behind the counter in the Isetta Cafe made a perfect, European cappuccino! Bravo.
Karen E. Breen — Google review
Had a friend visiting and we decided to go to the 1 hour tour at the BMW Zentrum.
Before and after the tour you can browse around the museum and take a look at a few BMW models. From the very first produced BMW, to the 1 Millionth produced BMW, to the newest X model.
The museum also includes a nice little gift shop.
The tour was great and gave us some insights of their production, assembly and painting line. Each touring group has a max of 11 people and we had to walk in a single file line. In order for all of us to hear the tour guide, we all got a headset with adjustable volume. I would have preferred actual headphones instead of the doctor like telescope type but it was okay. Everyone got safety glasses as well.
Jessica Diett — Google review
My husband and I visited BMW Zentrum museum 10 years ago, now I came back myself. Enjoyed a one hour “ glimpse “ tour to see plant processes. Nice to see robots working on the field. If you like to see how a car rear hatch, doors, and hood attached to the vehicle by high-precision robots and more, book online ahead. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it too. Thanks again!
Emily C. — Google review
Always enjoy seeing legacy cars and new model cars on display. Videos give glimpses of the production process with just-in-time arrival of components, how robotics assist with heavy lifting during assembly.
Cel St.Pierre — Google review
Nice museum of BMW cars. Unfortunately, I did not have enough time to take a tour of the plant, but I hear it’s outstanding.
Tom Cortes — Google review
Had an amazing time getting to see the sheer size of this facility, How organized everything is, clean and super efficient every thing runs. Seeing behind the scenes help solidify why BMW is the ultimate driving machine. The tour staff was very enjoyable Faye was our guide and remarkably knowledgeable. Thank you for this memorable experience!
Nathan Hayes — Google review
It is amazing place with a stunning beautiful, shining cars, gift shope and cafe. There is a James Bond's 007 car over there, bmw bikes and 1st manufactured car of this plant with 700 signatures of emploees, who participated in assembling this car. I was impressed.
We had such a very lovely time at City Scapes winery this afternoon.
The server who greeted us was so warm and friendly, and she guided us through a really fun, relaxed, enjoyable tasting. Sometimes at wine tastings I feel like I’m supposed to be super proper and fancy :P so it was fun to laugh and chat and relax. Her shift must have ended halfway through our tasting because another server took over, and she was also lovely and gave us a lot of great info about the last several wines.
The wines themselves were great—a good variety, and all delicious. We snagged a bottle, took our wine glasses with us (they are included in the price of the tasting) and then strolled around and visited the goats and pig. Such a fun date!
Emily Anne Boyter Hager — Google review
Fun afternoon wine tasting close to home. SC is not known for their wines, but City Scape takes a creative approach with small batch wines fused with local fruit. The tasting room is beautiful and the staff is friendly and attentive. The food offering is limited but tasty. They easily accommodated our gluten allergy. There was also a food truck the day we visited. The grounds around the tasting room are still maturing. The reason for the four stars is I found the wines to be good but not great (often one dimensional). I will definitely go back and look forward to seeing this venue thrive.
Jeff Cockman — Google review
First time at City Scape since the expansion. Very nice and well decorated. We enjoyed date night and the new building. Be careful walking into the courtyard. The cement squares are loose and you can fall because some move when you walk. We had a great time and loved the wine and took a few bottles home. The tasting could be served with a tad more wine to be able to really taste and chew the wine more, but other than that it was great. Hopefully the patio will be open next time to walk out on. We will be back when it gets warmer.
Ran Ran — Google review
Yesterday I went the new City Scape Winery. I had a wonderful time and their new facility is absolutely stunning! I was very impressed with the courtyard with outdoor seating, the beautiful stone fireplace and their amazing new tasting area. If you are looking for a place to spend a relaxing and enjoyable afternoon I highly recommend City Scape Winery. Thank you to the owners, Deb and Josh Jones and their staff for a wonderful afternoon. I will be back!
Brenda Hovis — Google review
Everything from the planning process, communication and the day of the event was fantastic! I held a work gathering at City scape for my staff and everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves. I started the process with contacting the Winery. Tess, the Director of event planning was very helpful in helping me coordinate the entire event. She was knowledgeable, friendly, prompt in responding and answered all my questions. She even helped me choose how to cater the event in a budget friendly manner. When we arrived the cottage and outdoor area was gorgeous! Everything was set up perfectly and Anthony our bar tender was polite, enthusiastic and catered to all of our needs. I highly recommend City scape to those who have not been! This was not our first time here but my first time hosting an event and they definitely exceeded my expectations. We will definitely be back!
Sunny Patel — Google review
Loved it! Katie cotton couldn’t say more amazing things about the owners while I got my hair trial done for our wedding. We were already excited to try it before and it lived up to all the standards ! The atmosphere was beautiful! We did a Saturday wine tasting and ended up with only four bottles to take home. Would have taken home so much more but they don’t ship out of state. (Only bummer of the evening).
Would like them to be our wine of choice for our wedding and still need to ask them but we loved this place !
(The staff….. couldn’t brag about them more !) We are business owners and appreciate our staff so bragging about how others handle their staff is important. From the front entrance to even staff asking if they wanted to take our pictures for us … they did such a great job!
We will be back next time we’re in Greenville !
lisa stork — Google review
Went for our 12 year anniversary, which included a tasting and charcuterie board. The atmosphere was impeccable. The service was ever better, Jenna answered every crazy question we had (and even the relevant ones). She was amazing. Love this place and will be back!
Jess Trippi — Google review
If I could give this place 10 stars I would gladly do so. I searched for a long time for a venue to host a rehearsal luncheon and was very frustrated until I met Bri, the event coordinator at City Scape Winery. She told me she would take care of everything and she literally did. In just a few short conversations, she had the whole luncheon planned with a delicious menu of hors d'oeuvres, a beautifully presented sandwich, a wine tasting, and a tour of the winery. The service was impeccable. The facility is gorgeous. The staff is so friendly. Bri even personalized our event by having a sign with the bride's and groom's names as we entered the venue. Everyone was beyond impressed and it started the wedding festivities off perfectly. We also met the owners and they were so fun to talk with and very knowledgable about wine. This place is a gold mine. Well done City Scape!
Nancy Pasterz — Google review
So I finally got a chance to go to this place I've been dying to go to. Very pretty. Love the fact that they have food trucks if you don't want what they have on the menu. I'm not a cheese eater. It was my niece birthday so my sister RSVP a table for us. The greeters were very nice. Our table was occupied in error. They were very polite to move the group and seat us. My sister ordered a charcuterie board and our server asked if she wanted to start a tab. My sister only asked the lady if they were going to keep her card. She said no. Then there was a hold. She asked why was the board $50. The lady explained it was just a hold. Apparently that was inappropriate cause my other niece over heard the server tell another to watch out that was the "GHETTO TABLE" and to "WATCH OUT". Ma'am your hair is blue but the table of black woman are ghetto. My niece mood changed but she didn't tell us why. She only told us after the wine tasting portion was over. Otherwise they would not have gotten my money. I can't give 1 star for what 1 person did but she needs a reality check. That's definitely a 1 and done. I was only fond of 1 wine. I'll stick to my Josh Pinot Noir.
Shequila Hall — Google review
Great wines! I ended up getting the Green Apple Gewurz and was told it’s one of their most popular. I’m definitely coming back to get their dessert wine (coffee delight). It was a lovely experience to try all 9. Our wine guide did an excellent job describing each one and he matched our group’s vibe very well. Both guys who were working when we went were awesome!
Michelle Luna — Google review
Had a delightful escapade at City Scape Winery recently. Our wine-tasting guru, Gina, was a gem. Highly recommend seeking her out for an epicurean adventure. Oh, and don’t miss out on feeding their celebrity mascot, Pino the pig. Trust me, it’s a “wine” of a time!
Ernest Bush — Google review
We had a great time visiting City Scape! I had no idea we had a place so beautiful and enjoyable so close to us! The atmosphere was great, the wine was delicious, the service was awesome! It was very relaxing and enjoyable! I will definitely go back and would highly recommend to anyone wanting to relax and enjoy a couple of hours of down time! It was wonderful!
Tina Hartman — Google review
Great small family owned winery with a fantastic story and really nice wines! I went with a group of ladies, and we had booked in for the morning tour on a Saturday. I definitely highly recommend it. It's a lovely place to grab a glass of wine, some good food from either their kitchen or a food truck if one is on site and relax and enjoy the property.
The only confusing portion was caused by a pretty complete lack of communication from the host checking us in that day. We found out after the tour had already started that they wanted the tour groups to select a glass of wine from the bar beforehand to enjoy on your tour, and to wait either in the bar or in the courtyard itself for the tour to start. That one small misstep has no impact on my rating at all, though. They're absolutely deserving of 5 stars!
Stephanie Angelo — Google review
We had an amazing time visiting City Scape Winery! I am from Virginia and my husband and I loved visiting wineries and even dabbled in making our own while living there. When we moved back down to South Carolina (my husband's home state) 11 years ago, we new our weekend Winery adventures were pretty much over because there aren't many around here. Well, City Scape Winery has made this Virginia girl feel at home! The wines were delicious, the staff was super friendly/knowledgeable, and the property was gorgeous! We will definitely be back with friends and family in tow!
Ashley M. — Google review
I first contacted City Scape Winery to inquire about hosting my wedding reception. They were incredibly welcoming and set up an appointment to tour the venue. When I say I could not have asked for a better time.. I COULD NOT have asked for a better time!! They were so polite and very well organized the day of my event. The days leading up to my event Bri, the event planner with City Scape, was in direct contact with me to prepare and deliver exactly what we needed to meet our expectations. We had an event itinerary and it went perfectly!!! The wine of course was amazing, the venue was so beautiful that we used minimal decorations because the venue speaks for itself! I highly recommend attending an event with City Scape. I’m so thankful I trusted them with such a big event in my life and they did not disappoint. I will forever remember their kindness and professionalism.
RJ Rockers Brewing Company & Restaurant boasts an extensive range of microbrew options and offers tasting tours from Thursday to Saturday, as well as frequent live music shows. It is a dog-friendly establishment with a designated area for furry friends. Their Deli Korner menu is fantastic and pairs perfectly with their impressive selection of beers. The staff is known for being incredibly friendly and accommodating, making it a welcoming spot for families and beer enthusiasts alike.
Best bartenders kept the cup full and the conversation flowing. Whitney & Jenn! Thank you for the good time.. with that being said let’s talk about the manager, wow all
I can say is you let that position go to your head. You told us to be quiet and we were too loud, im sorry it’s a BAR and a bank was playing louder than we spoke. You will run off all the business if you keep that up!
Ramona Burns — Google review
Really enjoy this brewery. The wheat/peach based Son of a Peach is amazing. It used to be available around Norris Lake in Tennessee but it is no longer distributed to this part of the country so I made a run from Cincinnati exclusively for picking up several cases. Well worthy the effort Also enjoyed the fish and chips which were perfect and brought out extremely fast. Great staff, great facility. Highly recommended.
Alex Cassinelli — Google review
RJ's has an amazing beer selection, everything that we've tried so far was absolutely delicious. The food menu is not too big, it seems that they like to change it up once in a while. However, so far we've never had a bad experience. Everything tastes fresh and very yummy.
Olga S — Google review
This review could change, but it was only 6:30 and they were out of most of their menu food. It took a while to get service, but this could’ve been just a bad day. The beer I did have, which was the first snow was actually really good, I’ll be buying it again. We’ll come back and I’ll give it another review after I’ve had their food.
Russell Cape — Google review
Very good flavor and cool atmosphere! The only negative was that it took 45 minutes for them to bring out our food but other than that good experience.
Alec Fields — Google review
Was in town passing through for business. Great atmosphere usually live bands the nights I would patron. Barkeep we’re usually very friendly and the pace is broken up into two sections. 1 for the main taproom and the other will a full bar. All in all the experience was great and enjoyed the brews! Cheers!!
justin carpenter — Google review
One of the best spots in downtown, and very kid and dog friendly - we're here every week! The Deli Korner menu is also fantastic and pairs great with the awesome beer selection. Everyone working there is super friendly and accommodating. It's definitely worth a stop in for a pint or two.
Justin Greene — Google review
food and service was just average here. nice atmosphere, but other than that there seemed to be better options in the area for dinner. they were out of many menu items, on my third choice i landed on this, which wasn't very good.
Alan Kline — Google review
Fun place to catch some music, local brews and German food!
Thank you, John B - it was a fun evening and I am sure we will return!
Dawn Collazo — Google review
The servers are great and the food and drink is too. But they just started charging you to be able to park there and eat? You now have to pay extra just to visit. Makes me not want to show up at all. No other place downtown makes you pay like this to visit them.
Ayrton Menjivar — Google review
Had a great time at Rocker Brewing Company! The atmosphere was fantastic, and the chicken sandwich was delicious, though a bit dry—make sure to ask for sauce when ordering. Street corn was cold, which was a letdown; couldn't finish it. Overall, a positive experience with room for improvement in some dishes.
Jenny Alicea — Google review
Great beer and atmosphere. Friendly service. Food was cold, but okay. Cheers 🍻
Min-Joo Edwards — Google review
We did not come at a very good time to catch this place at its best, so I don't think we got to see how much fun this place could be. We'll definitely be back to check out RJs a few more times, and I hope to be able to bang out a solid 5 stars for them.
I understand you can bring your dog to a certain area of the bar, so that's a pretty cool feature that I'd like to try out.
Christopher Hinton — Google review
This place changed hands last year I think. The new guy is all about trying out new flavors. They have a lot of new flavors. All good. Nice spot to visit for happy hour and it right in downtown. Close to everything. Rj rockers is my jam.
Carlos Gomez — Google review
The only negative I could find in my experience was no normal sweet tea.
The service was exceptional! No matter who was helping us they were always on top of it.
The food was fresh and delicious. We ordered several things to try and couldn't choose what was the best.
Our waiter suggested some great beer selections, their October one was amazing.
Angela Ratliff — Google review
Nice building and layout. Great seating selections both inside and outside. The bar seating was great! I had the shrimp and crab dip with fried wontons. They were good and I enjoyed the flavor. I had two great IPA selections and both were tasty! Nice atmosphere and great service! I will be back.
A little busy but all shops are limiting entrance. Plenty of stores to choose from and a nice escape from corona lockdowns. All shops require masks and the sales and discounts flow like water. Downside is the wait at some stores. Not all have lines though.
Robert Brewington — Google review
This mall is becoming Home Goods Outlet. Pottery Barn Outlet, Crate & Barrel Clearance, Rug And Home and Bath Vanities Outlet offer really good deals for Home Decoration stuff and highest quality.
FoR Limited — Google review
This Outlet Village has definitely seen better days. Lots of the buildings are run down, there is litter laying around, half of the stores are either closed or almost empty, the restrooms are disgustingly dirty. Made a good bargain at Ralph Lauren but would definitely not recommend coming here.
Dominic Possoch — Google review
Depressing, dark, and many stores closed. This outlet mall is garbage. I know that is a very rough review, but trust me on this. The place is falling apart. A ton of stores closed. Check out the directory photo.
Bob Mango — Google review
Gaffney Outlet Marketplace is an older outlet mall.
A few decent shops but I noticed several units were empty.
You would probably be better off if you can make the trip to Charlotte.
Rich The King — Google review
Not sure how to put it really. I was there at noon to 1. Many stores are closed permanently. I never saw evidence of security. I understand we are coming out of the pandemic, but if the sign on the entrance doors say "mask required".. then enforce it. Some of us still are wearing masks AND if you aren't following your own requirements why would I go back in that store! @coachoutlet was a joke. No prices were posted, you had to scan a qr code to find the price, there was no help in the store. But... If you opened up all the zippers and dug around you could find a tag that had a price (but bring magnifying glass)...but it's back to the old saying.. "if you have to ask?"... What that means is if you have to ask how much it is, you probably can't afford it, outlets don't mean reduced price anymore. Ultimately I didn't feel safe there, I told my husband when I got back to NC that I felt unsafe walking around, not one specific thing, just an overall feeling. Two thumbs down.
Julie Faust — Google review
Used to love coming here. The last time I went it was like a ghost town...all the stores I loved the most like Ann Taylor and WHBM were gone. Don't know if it was due to COVID that they closed or the horrendous construction on I-85 or both but it was depressing and very disappointing. Having just checked the store directory map it still looks about half empty, maybe more 😔
Sue Kohl — Google review
I mainly go here to check out the Pottery Barn outlet stores. Most of the storefronts are vacant and some of the stores are not recognizable brands. I remember when this outlet mall was new and there were a lot more stores. The bathrooms are clean and there are available soft drink vending machines. Not sure if there’s a food court.
Alan and Tracy Reed — Google review
It's sad to visit this mall now; many of the stores I used to go have closed, included some places at the food court. I loved stopping at Gaffney on my way to Greer, at least three times a month, but not anymore. I hope one day Gaffney will have more stores, more places to eat, and more people who enjoy going shopping the way I used to enjoy going there.
Elizabeth Mendoza — Google review
Savannah made us great milkshakes. Really nice young lady. Worth the $7 each? Not really. Watching dates face enjoying it? Worth it. Will definitely be back. Especially if Savannah is working.
Michael Mabrey — Google review
Gaffney Outlet is nice, not too crowded, they have several stores that are open.
I don't recommend going to the food court at all, there's not much in there.
Laura Carpenter — Google review
Went shopping and there were lots of stores to choose from. The bathrooms could've been cleaner, though. For food, options were limited. When we visited, there was basically just one Chinese place open and that's it.
Yash Kiarashi — Google review
Came here for a car/motorcycle stunt show. Got here early an checked several places here out. Mostly clothing related. Saw a sign that said food court, but didn't actually see it lol Went to the Outback Steakhouse instead. I feel confident that it was better than food court food anyway.
135-ft.-tall water tower & local roadside attraction shaped & painted like a giant, ripe peach.
Been passing this since 1994 on my many trips up and down Interstate 85! Always a pleasant attraction specially since there's not much other to look at besides Charlotte.
Atlanta In94 — Google review
It was a neat little detour. Opening businesses up near this would be a great attraction. The restaurant next to it looks like it's been closed since COVID.
Tara M — Google review
It was under construction or remodel but just loved the whole landmark thing. Pretty kool to have such a landmark in a small town like Gaffney.
Sasha Marina — Google review
This was the perfect stop for us. Not only was this peach tall and beautiful but there was no one else there either which allowed us to have the park to ourselves and enjoy we did. Awesome stop!!! Keep in mind the gates are only open till 5pm so be sure to to get there before then to walk the grounds, otherwise you will be forced to view this beauty on the other side of a fence. And that's no good for pictures!
Scott Hackenburg — Google review
Yup, it looks like a peach. Pretty cool up front. Don't bother to go here, not much but an empty parking lot. Just gawk at this from the highway and you'll do just fine.
DreamRider — Google review
It was a quick fun stop for the kiddos to see the world’s largest peach. You turn off into a parking lot where you can only see the backside of Peachoid. It was a good spot for the kids to run around and the dogs to take a break. But nothing else to see here.
Cindy S — Google review
South Carolina is the second largest producer of peaches in the United States of America, second only to California. The peach tower, which holds 1,000,000 gallons of water, was Steel Tank of the year in 1991. Over the years we have visited the Peachoid, and we have seen the area change. The peach water tower used to stand on an open field. We would park behind the Fatz restaurant and walk over to play at the peach, read the monument, and enjoy the fresh air and open space. In more recent years, sadly due to vandalism, the Gaffney Board of Public Works decided to erect a fence around Milkwood Park. Landscaping was added, and there are even picnic tables now. The park is clean and well maintained. It is said to be open during daylight hours, though we have been there to find the gate locked. We are sharing pictures from 2011, 2012, and 2023. You can see different colors of the peach from front to back and from year to year, and you may notice no fence in our older pictures. Bring your family, bring your friends, pack a picnic, and enjoy a relaxing visit to Gaffney's peach tower.
Enjoying the Days — Google review
If you're looking for a giant butt shaped fruit in the sky, this place has you covered. 10/10 Would photoshoot in front of this again.
John ?Jay? Cowart — Google review
If you like peaches, there a huge peach in South Carolina!
This is a cool place, to take selfies
Laura Carpenter — Google review
Had to stop here on my way to Washington, D.C. After watching The House of Cards Netflix series and this was featured on there, it sparked my curiosity to see it in person. Gaffney was a beautiful town in SC, and it was near to see The Peachoid in person. If you are driving in the area stop off and take a picture it’s not far off the interstate at all.
Jonathan Stokes — Google review
All of the kids enjoyed it very much. The only setback was there was no way to get closer to it because of a fence. Of course we did visit it on a Sunday, so you may be able to it during the week.
Merle Green — Google review
It looks good in pictures. Not sure it’s worth the drive unless you have other things to do in Gaffney.
Raquel S — Google review
Who's ever heard of a SC peach? I thought the best were from GA. I guess I was wrong...
We're been wanting to stop and see the giant peach for many years. Finally had time today while on our way to NC. What a fun roadside attraction!
Appreciated that it was easy off the HWY on to the service road and then back on the 85 with no time lost on our journey. The peach was looking very fresh, possibly just painted or washed. The grass and monuments were well taken care of. Enjoyed reading the nearby plaques explaining the significance and history of the peach.
Very strange that the gate for vehicles was locked when we arrived but easy enough to park at the nearby eating establishment and walk through the open pedestrian gate.
Would love to see the addition of:
Snack/vending machine
Bathroom facilities
Dog park/fenced in area & doggie bags
Hard to realize from the road just how large and tall this water tank is. 100% would recommend at least once coming to check out the peach for yourself.
Sofia — Google review
Giant peach water tower. Happened to be in the area and stopped by..Okay place for picnic or for child with a riding toy or small bike.
Adam Guild — Google review
The Peachoid is an iconic local landmark that is sure to turn heads. Whether you are driving by or taking a pit stop for a quick photo, this water tower is a must-see for any visitor to the area. Interestingly, many people who are not from the region may recognize the Peachoid from the Netflix show House of Cards.
E Z — Google review
I love riding through South Carolina and seeing this giant peach. I am a Georgia girl through and through and you know that is the peach state, but apparently so is South Carolina? I am wondering why I haven’t seen a water tower like this in Georgia lol. Five stars for creativity.
Croft State Park is a vast expanse of land covering an area of 7,000 acres. It has various hiking and horse trails stretching up to 12 miles in total length. The park features two lakes that provide a peaceful atmosphere for visitors. There is also an equestrian center within the park's vicinity. One of the most popular trails in the park is the nature trail, which spans 1.5 miles and runs alongside a creek offering stunning views of nature at its best.
3/16/2022. I'll start with the negative, which possibly should reduce this review to 4 STARS: the trail signs are terrible. They are so bad that they will deter hikers who have experienced just how poorly marked the trails are from hiking in Croft as much as they might wish to. With map in hand, and referring to the map dozens of times, a year ago my wife and I went on a 1.5 mile hike (well defined on the paper map). By the time we returned we'd liked well over 4 miles. No big deal, but irritating consider the careful effort we made to follow the trail. Additionally, Croft has been very busy with woodlands maintenance, evidence of forestry mulching is extensive, mulching deadwood to reduce risk of out-of-control forest fires. This is all good with the exception that their work has obliterated sections of many trails. Without functional signs it is now harder to determine where the trails are. Croft State Park: greatly increase and improve the trails signs!!!
We stayed in the park 3 days recently in our RV and really enjoyed the freshness of the well maintained campground. It was clean, employees were very helpful, accommodating, and friendly. The restrooms/bathhouses were tidy, clean, well stocked and warm.
Extensive improvements to walkways near and around the lake, retaining walls, and newly installed benches and swings were everywhere.
The asphalt roads are in poor condition, but consider all the good features, as well as the great price for staying overnight, it balances out to FIVE STARS.
Fix the stupid trail sign system!
Rick Parkinson — Google review
Gorgeous, clean, peaceful, historic, and has something for everyone! It has playgrounds, historic graveyards, trails, a big stunning lake, a river, places to camp (tent or RV), ride horses, canoe, fish, etc! There's a little office with welcoming employees to point you in the direction you want to go.
My friend and I roamed around the lake and met super sweet families (it was Spring Break in Spartanburg) who were there to respectfully enjoy the place. It's a safe place to explore, and we're definitely returning... hopefully soon!
L M — Google review
What a hidden gem! Maybe it’s not hidden? But why did it take me so long to finally visit this beautiful place?! The lake is so peaceful and the nature trail was the perfect hike for someone who doesn’t want just a flat easy trail but also isn’t trying to climb up the side of a mountain. It’s a little narrow in parts but none of it was difficult. Also, the nature trail is a 1.5 mile loop that runs along a creek and is just one of the hiking trails there, they also have shorter trails and longer ones (some for horseback riding too). They also have kayaks and paddle boards available for rent at Lake Craig. We can’t wait to return.
Paige Harris — Google review
Great place for hiking, camping, fishing, etc. This is a beautiful place to get your workout in. Need your steps? This is your place, just wear sunglasses, sunblock, a hat, insect spray and hiking boots recommended.... do not wear your nice shoes, tennis shoes or your best shoes or they will get ruined. Bring your water bottle, you will need it. The restrooms by the main office are very nice, air conditioning and have showers. Dogs are allowed on leash only.
Laura Carpenter — Google review
Love this park for many reasons and being a Croft is just one.
If you are new to the area or a novice hiker, keep an eye out for snakes. I know that may sound obvious but my dog and I stumbled upon this massive snake this morning (7/4/23).
Check out the park signs on which snakes are native to the area and/or get an app to help you identify which are venomous and non-venomous.
Be safe and enjoy the beautiful area!
Danielle Croft — Google review
This park is amazing and huge. There is so much to do, a lot of trail options, you have the lake that is beautiful, and a little river. It is so peaceful. You can also see the horse trail and it is so wonderful, peaceful and magical
Lory Fernandez — Google review
Great state park with 20 miles of trails. Tons of camp sites, but the first set by the office are a little cramped for my taste. The sites by the lake are a little larger and seemed to be more spread out.
The lake is about 2 feet lower than normal right now, but you could literally watch the fish jumping out of the water.
The staff was very friendly and the restrooms were spotless.
You can access the Palmetto trail from this park.
Jon Weaver — Google review
Pretty clean bathhouses, could use a bit of updating but they really aren't bad. The lake was down and a bridge was out which limited our adventures.... and the dust from the dirt road areas who have been would have not been fun! All in All, we did have a great time and the park staff and rangers were very helpful and amazing
Justin Morrison — Google review
It's impossible to do everything that is available at this state park. I'm surprised it's not a national park. There are so many things to do - kayak, swim, fish, camp, hike, bike, ride a horse... it's endless. The park is beautiful and pretty mountainous. We walked the nature trail, but we will DEFINITELY be coming back to kayak, swim, and walk some other trails. The lake is huge and provides many opportunities. I would consider the park a camping paradise. I cannot express how amazing this park is!
Jaxon Hale — Google review
I always enjoy my time at Croft. There are so many trails and I still haven't explored them all. You do need to bear in mind that while you can hike them all, some also allow cyclists and horses. So if you're on a horse trail you may have to dodge their business. Just be mindful and it's not a big deal.
The trails are gorgeous year round.
Eric Lane — Google review
Spacious campsites! Water/Electric only. They have options for pull+through or back-in. Also have printing camping, did not visit that area.
Stayed in the smaller numerical sequence side. The other half is about a mile away and has a view of the lake. Sites 20-21 is a double site, great if camping with another family. We were in 21 individually, but did not feel as if we were in each other's space. Only negative about our site or positive, is that the bath house and bathroom was behind us, so people on occasion would walk through our site, but the site was large enough that it didn't matter to us.
Dump offered a hand sanitizer dispenser, that's a first and it was operational 😁
Lots of horse people, they must have done good horse trails.
It's about an 8-10 minute drive from main gate to actual camping areas.
Would go again!
Jeanette Chervony — Google review
The park has a lot of history and plenty of space to roam. Trails for bikes, hikes, and horses abound. Kayak and paddle board rentals are available. The views around the lake are gorgeous, adventurous around the creek. I stayed for 4 nights; both camping loops have water and power hookups, 20/30’s really serve me best and this park has them. The showers and bathrooms are clean and nicely functional; a warm shower is always a treat!
Walt Wunderly — Google review
Update: 9/24/23 we are home and missing this place already!! We will definitely be back soon!!....
*We stayed from Thursday until Sunday and plan to return for a weeks stay sometime in the near future with the rest of our close family and friends, as we all enjoy camping now as a family activity to make memories with each other and our children. This park was so awesome that we are already planning a big family stay as soon as possible*
We had the BEST time here while camping for the first time in our camper as a family of 4. (My Husbands cousin, son, and her boyfriend, along with his daughter, joined us and stayed in a tent Saturday night...we also had a family friend stop by and eat on Friday and another family friend came Saturday for dinner and a day trip hanging at the river and fishing on Lake Craig. They also loved it! My husband and our 2 boys were thrilled with the fishing opportunities, the river being close to our site, and this section of the Palmetto Trail.(SO far we have been to the Peak, Newberry, Prosperity, and, Pomaria sections of the Palmetto trail and we are only getting started!! I, too, loved ALL if it. Our site was perfect, all the campers around us were like neighbors we had known forever, after about 9pm it was very quiet and so relaxing and peaceful, the restroom/bathhouse was always clean(we do have a bathroom in our camper but preferred the Bath house because it was bigger and gave us a chance to all take a shower at one time considering we had so much to do that it was always late before we showered and went to bed)The office staff, especially Teresa, were amazing. They were BEYOND helpful, very kind, and accommodating to anything we needed or wanted while here. We never got a chance to rent a boat or kayak, but the fact that it's only 15$ is a great deal for such a beautiful area. We are on a mission to visit every state park in SC and they gave us a book with ALL the parks listed and a place to have each park you visit give you a stamp for a fun keepsake. We, of course, received our very first stamp here. We are headed to Lake Hartwell State park next and we are very excited to have this opportunity as a family to make some amazing memories across the state my Husband and I were born, raised, and grew up in. We do plan on moving in the next 5 years or so, and whatever state we choose to move to, we already know new adventures await us!!!
1st camping trip here with my husband and 2 boys, and it has been amazing so far. We arrived on a Thursday and are staying until Sunday. We also were running behind on Thursday and arrived after the office was closed, and it was NO problem at all. We called, and we were told how to get in with a gate code on our receipt and told we could check in Friday morning. We got lot #5 for the camper and lot 6 for a tent, which was a perfect spot for 6 located directly across from the shower/restroom. We found the river after walking the Palmetto Trail today and plan on spending more time there tomorrow. So far, this has been the best vacation we have had....
Lisa Gray — Google review
Huge, spread out state park (former military base) with 50 miles of trails for hikers, horses, and mountain bikes. Camping, fishing, picnic shelters, lake for non-motorized boats, horse stables and horse ring.
Loretta Divine — Google review
More geared towards horse riding, there were still some nice trails. But they could use a little love... the nature trail's signs were all broken or fallen down. Pay attention because some of the trails are overgrown, and you could get lost. Tried to enjoy the lake, but the blasting music from the campers ruined the experience.
Jeffrey Feld — Google review
This is a long time favorite of mine. When I lived in SC I would camp here ALL the time, taking horses and dogs in tow. Now I visit every time I’m in the area. The trails are well marked and well maintained. Campsites are always in great shape and the bathhouse is usually clean. I love all the water access for horses and dogs to play in. If you’re lucky you’ll visit on a horse show weekend, they are always beautiful to watch!
J “Gypsy Jeni” Dillon — Google review
4.7
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4.5
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450 Croft State Park Rd, Spartanburg, SC 29302, USA
This renovated 400-seat French Gothic–inspired facility presents a variety of live concerts & shows.
It was a great place to spend St Patrick's Day.
Such a wonderful setting... imagine how many people have shared and enjoyed the same spot that we sat in.
Jean Kroll — Google review
Kudos to NOH, for "The Polar Express" show. Took my 3 grandkids and between the hot chocolate and cookies and treats, plus crafts all free, it was well over the ticket price of $5. Thank y'all so much for doing this for the kids. It was fantastic!
Stacy Gunn Patterson — Google review
Last night was our first concert at the Newberry Opera House. Wow is all I can say. The moment we walked into the door we were greeted warmly by the staff, which included the director of the opera house!
The facility was spotless, the sound was clear as a bell, and the Sierra Hull and Justin Moses show was about as good as a concert could possibly be.
If you’re looking for an intimate venue to see a show, this is the place
We can’t wait to see another show at the Newberry Opera House!
Tommy Kasperski — Google review
This place is the best facility in the neighborhood for concerts. Great variety, and every seat has incredible acoustics. I got a tip from a patron the last time I went. He said the "very best" acoustics were in the back of the center seats under the cover. The ceiling there adds to the overall sound by "enclosing" the sound. Like sitting inside a high-quality loud speaker. Honestly, I didn't think you could improve the acoustics no matter where you sat. Looking forward to trying that next time we go. Beverages a little pricey.
David Blair — Google review
Lady Supreme Tribute to Diana Ross. An Absolutely Amazing Show. A Vegas Style Production. Newberry Opera House Hosted this incredible Show! I hope they invite them back next season! Absolutely Amazing!!
Kubbi * — Google review
The theatre is a cute one, all good seats, and most of the staff is friendly and helpful. But beware, you are hot allowed to have “too much” of a good time. The theatre nazi’s will be chasing you down and literally almost running across the theatre to tell you to sit down or put your camera up. I’ve been to many many shows and performances of all types and they ALWAYS announce at the beginning of the show if you are allowed to take photos or videos. Well they did not at the Buddy Holly show and it was very distracting to see the staff running around telling people to put their phones down. And when the audience wanted to participate, the staff was telling people to sit down. When the performers were LOVING it and asking people to get up and participate. I have also been a performer and still am and we love when the audience reacts and looks like they are having a good time. It made the experience not as great as it could have been. But the performers were great even though I know they can slightly see the movement around from the white shirts. And yes in a small theatre they can see YOU. Very rude to be honest and disrespectful of the talent. Please just announce it at the beginning, while your kissing up to the tour groups.
DeeDee Fraps Bowman — Google review
An amazing venue where every seat has a great view. The variety of shows covers all styles. Don’t miss events here!
Daniel Rendelman — Google review
Drove 2.5 hours to this venue for a really good show. Nice place with even nicer staff. Photosensitive people should be aware of the flashing lights on the audience during some of the concerts here.
Bi Rr — Google review
Pleasant and helpful staff, beautiful venue. Nice blend of events, a bit pricey for the area though. clean/well stocked restrooms, refreshments served for most of show, acoustics were off tonight but perhaps that can be adjusted per performance. I’ve heard other patrons have same complaint. Is why I have deferred some events and gone to Charlotte, greenville, ATL. Not sure if is just design of venue ( which is a fabulous restored old theater), modifications, or sound adjustment altogether. I am told it can be adjusted but it may be up to the performers.
laura Williams — Google review
The Wizard of Oz was a great show. The kids did a fantastic job. Being assisted by a nice worker can make such a difference in your experience. When someone is friendly, helpful, and genuinely cares about making sure you're taken care of, it creates such a positive atmosphere. It's so refreshing to encounter someone who goes above and beyond to assist you with a smile. Bentleigh Croom was kind enough to be in my assistance.
Chace Berwald — Google review
Had a wonderful private tour with Shirley. Did not realize all of the big names that came here. And the up and comers. We WILL be coming back for the shows!
Kent Kolanko — Google review
This was my first visit to the Newberry Opera House and I was impressed with the facility and the staff. I definitely plan to attend more events now that I have been there.
Jerry Lindahl — Google review
If you've never attended a show at this beautiful facility, you're missing out. We catch a performance about once a year. We saw Crystal Gayle last night and she's still amazing. There's not a bad seat in the house. Small building puts you up close and personal with the act.
George Renard — Google review
Being new in the area discovered this place and now attend regularly. Great entertainment and the price is right. A great variety of offerings that one should be able to find an entertainment group to their liking.
Marty Koblish — Google review
Gorgeous renovated theater with amazing access, parking, with no bad seat in the house. I want to try balcony next time!
Riverbanks Zoo & Garden is a family-friendly zoo with African and Australian animals, reptile galleries, a bird house, a farm, and botanical gardens. The zoo features a splash pad with rubber surfaces that has been upgraded in the summer. There are also playhouses, treehouses, a large field with toys and games, a waterfall and 2 splash pads.
Riverbanks zoo reminds of Animal Kingdom set in good old Disney World without the financial hard ship going there. Riverbanks is simply an amazing zoo. I would recommend setting aside 3-4 hours to see everything, this of course is set with a two old in mind. We stopped and saw just about everything and even petted some very friendly goats. Some stuff does cost extra, $20 on the zoo card will be more than enough for two children.The giraffe feeding stops at 1:30pm so if that is on your agenda I would get in line early. We went on a Sunday and the crowds were not too bad. We will definitely become frequent visitors. 10/10 I highly recommend.
Tai Sanders — Google review
Riverbanks Zoo & Garden is fabulous! We absolutely love it here and have been visiting regularly for 10+ years. The animal variety is second to none. The layout of the zoo flows very nice to ensure you can enjoy each stop to see all that it offers during your visits. The staff do a great job of keeping the zoo very clean and safe. They are very, attentive, and provide excellent service every time we are there. The expansions keep coming and continue improving and evolving this Zoo into one of the best visits you and your family can make.
If I was going to provide a critique, I would recommend more fans through out the park. South Carolina (especially in the midlands) can get very hot and humid during the summer months and that heat can make visiting the park a less than pleasant experience if you are not use to the heat down here (heck even if you are 😂). More fans through out the park would add to the already amazing atmosphere and help create some more much needed cool zones through out.
One last add. Please visit during the Halloween and Christmas events. They are fantastic and highly recommended. For adults the Brew at the Zoo is one of the best attractions around. Enjoy!
Jacob Gillen — Google review
This was an amazing experience! The $5 parking is worth it if you are wanting to go to the botanical gardens/splash pad first or last on your visit. The prices were fair for adults at $26 for how big of a zoo it is! There were some of every animal including giraffes you can feed, a kangaroo exhibit you can walk through, and sea lions you can stand next to. Animals included monkeys, gorillas, lions, tigers, snakes, birds of all kinds, goats, alpacas, bears, otters, tortoises, penguins, tropical fish, jellyfish, sea turtles, koalas, sloths, and so much more. I even tried out the ropes course within the zoo (requires shoes w/ heel strap) which was priced at $7 for non-members. It was a good ropes course for the price! I do recommend having a parent or older sibling go up with a younger child if they're new to ropes courses. The height can be a fear factor and the way the harness is attached to the top of the course can make it harder for smaller kids to reach in order to move around the course. As an adult, it's a fun add-on especially if you're looking for some more thrill with your zoo experience. The botanical gardens were gorgeous! They were located right next to the $5 parking and the tram. Overall, I really enjoyed visiting the Riverbanks Zoo and all of the staff here were polite and happy.
Michelle Luna — Google review
Wild Nights was awesome! Really looked great from the front gate fungi/coral to the animated creatures. Went on Black Friday with family in town for the holidays. Highly recommend buying tickets in advance as another group mentioned it was already sold out when we arrived right after 5pm. The kids loved that the train and carousel were both running.
The person at the gate was very helpful as we had multiple ticket purchases across several confirmation emails. Would definitely go again.
Jeremy Lane — Google review
A place where families can come and witness animals from around the world in a protected and safe environment. The Riverbanks Zoo rescues animals from around the globe to rehabilitate them and care for them with such love. The zoo is filled with a variety of animals ranging from tigers, lions, gorillas, and birds from all countries. This place is clean, family friendly, and caters to all ages. If you're ever in Columbia, SC, I would definitely recommend this place for a fun family outing. If you wish to take friends, you can purchase yearly passes that give you 4-8 guest passes, depending on your choice of yearly pass.
Alexander Nunez (Alex) — Google review
The zoo is well maintained, clean, and organized.
There’s a $5 dollar fee for the parking and they have plenty of parking spaces.
You can book in advance “behind the scenes” to pet some of the animals. (Check their website).
If you go early in the morning you can feed the giraffes.
There are plenty of restrooms around, some of them smell bad and are messy, specially
If the zoo is pretty busy.
The bird part smells bad but is just the smell of the birds. Just be aware.
They rent strollers
Gift shop available
They have photographers at the entrance with a giant green screen.
They have an interactive farm for kids, a carousel, and more.
Food and drinks from outside are not allowed.
Veronica — Google review
we love this place! this is my fourth time at the riverbanks zoo, and it's never failed to please. easy access, plenty of parking, affordable ticket prices (I recommend getting the extended bracelet deal, feeding the giraffes is part of it, and it's really worth it). the animals seem to be well taken care of, and if you go earlier in the day, you'll be able to see everyone waking up and hanging out (the otters were especially excited for the sunshine and company). definitely dress comfy and bring plenty of water! there's lots of shade and several drinking fountains, but it was nice to have our own on hand. this was our first time making it up to the gardens, and that was also really worth the trip up. the waterfall splash area is great for the kiddos in the heat. I believe there's a lot on the west side where you can park and the access is much easier for the gardens and play area. all around great time!
Heather Hitz — Google review
The zoo was awesome! There were a lot of nice animals, and the enclosures/habitats were more than adequate for the animals. Healthy animals! My favorite places to visit had the flamingos and the lions. They had a grizzly bear, which I had not seen before. The botanical gardens were nice, as well. Small, but nice. There is a tram that takes you from the zoo to the garden. It took me and my partner about 3.5 hours to do the zoo and the garden.
Mar Pepin — Google review
I visited her in the spring, and it was fantastic. We enjoyed feeding the giraffes. We were able to get up close to the gorillas even though their enclosure is going through renovations. I loved the sea lion exhibit. The aquarium had just recently opened back up and was super crowded. We were not able to check that out, but it looked super nice from the outside. My daughter and nephew loved all the activities this zoo offers. This zoo is very well kept, and the animals looked happy and healthy.
Marsha Dowdle — Google review
Went this past week with my nieces (1 yo) and they had a blast. There are lots of exhibits and we saw all of them and stayed for about 2 hours total. We were able to see all of the animals except the tiger(s). My nieces especially loved the aquarium and the penguin exhibit. We got to see them performing maintenance/cleaning in one of the aquarium tanks which was pretty cool. Also got to see a couple of young gorillas nursing. I would recommend bringing some bug spray and sunscreen. There’s a lot of tree cover and canopies at exhibits providing shade throughout the park but there are also areas in direct sunlight at many of the exhibits. The park overall was very clean and there was lots to do. Also recommend going during the week/off season as the temperature is cooler so you’re able to see more animals and it is WAY less busy. There were maybe a max of 5 other people at an exhibit with us. Did not see or visit the garden this time, but definitely have plans to visit next time. This was our 2nd time making the trip to this zoo and we will definitely be back!
Faith Lide — Google review
Beautiful and spacious zoo. There are unique animals that live here, that are not at a typical zoo. Lots of shade to keep you cool while viewing the animals. And very, very clean!
The enclosures have lots of space and the animals seemed happy and energetic, compared to other zoos I’ve visited. There are friendly zookeepers posted around the zoo to share interesting information on the animals. They were well informed and were able to answer all the questions we asked. My favorite part was visiting the Kangaroos. You are able to actually go inside the enclosure (while staying on the path) to view the kangaroos from a short distance without any fence or obstruction blocking your view. The experience felt up close, but was a safe distance away.
We enjoyed the trek up the trail to the garden through dense trees that felt like it’s own separate space from the zoo. The garden is well taken care of and has a calming atmosphere. We then rode the tram back down the trail where we were brought back to the zoo. It is nice the facility offers the tram at no extra cost.
Overall, we had a great time! This is probably my favorite zoo now.
Gabi Bambach — Google review
I visited with my kids here during the Christmas holidays. The weather was pleasant.
There was no wait line at the ticket counter.
The charges for kids and adults are almost the same.
It's not very big zoo but there are lots of animals and well maintained.
There are more than one lion, tiger, orangutan and many more.
There are different animal talk times for more information.
With special bands you can go near few animals like giraffe, feed birds and play games.
Sometimes the layout gets confusing but it's small enough to trace the steps back.
The alligator 🐊 was not there.
There are lots of picnic tables.
I could go near kangaroo 🦘.
Zoo rangers are always nearby and helpful with information or directions.
There are many eating outlets.
It's a good to spend with kids.
Archie — Google review
The zoo was pretty big, and had a good selection of animals. Compared to other zoos I've visited, it was ok. Animals were on the smaller size, and the one grizzly bear we saw looked like he had mange (fur was patchy in several places). The plus for me was that you can take the free tram to the botanical gardens which was included in the ticket price. That was my favorite part. Walking through the gardens was a nice outing, and there were places with seating, food, activities, and a splash park for kids. Overall I enjoyed it.
Tonya — Google review
I would recommend getting here EARLY and leaving before 1-2pm. It gets extremely busy after lunch time, but aside from that I had a wonderful time! I had to bring my service dog with me and the staff were respectful and understanding! There are some places you aren’t allowed to go with a service animal but that is understandable and totally fine! Bathrooms were kept clean and smelled fine, there wasn’t trash or debris everywhere. The animals confinements looked clean and well taken care of which was a favorite of mine! I will say it took a while to get our food when we went up to a food truck. This was at lunch time and the place was getting pretty crowded by then. I had an absolute blast here and will definitely come back.
Jayden Cash — Google review
I dropped in unexpectedly, looking to get some steps in. Lots of trails and flora. Many places to sit and take a load off.
You can walk from the garden to the zoo, it's only 3/10 mile. Zoo was a bit more crowded, but pretty cool....and they sell beer 😁.
Check out Saluda Ruins, BEAUTIFUL walk and an interesting story. I was there for about 2 hours and got in my 10k steps.
Erik Summers — Google review
Well worth the visit! I went with my wife and 2 kiddos, oldest is 9. We really liked the aquarium with a wide variety of up close exhibits. The ocean exhibit had numerous "Coming Soon" attractions. Note that to ride the carousel or do the climbing wall, you must buy extra tickets like at a carnival, but the prices are not ridiculous. When we went, the carousel cost $2 per ride. We also let our daughter try the high ropes obstacle course. This was another fee ($7 per person) but well worth it. Mom and Dad enjoyed the bridge and trails to the botanical gardens, which was included with the zoo admission. Great family outing!
Jarrod Reed — Google review
Free zoo map is available. I was able to see all the animals so close. Was also able to feed a giraffe and brush the goats. They are very cute. Don't forget to get some merchandises too on the way to the parking lot.
Andita Meilyana — Google review
I've always loved the zoo, and now I get the joy of taking my girls. I do suggest a membership as it pays for itself and tickets are pricey but it's worth it. We usually take snacks with us and we have the souvenir cups. We love doing boo at the zoo and the lights at the zoo
Angel Watters — Google review
Such a great place to bring the family to! The kids loved seeing the animals and learning about all them. Love their aquarium area too! So neat to see them all and watch the kids eyes light up with joy over seeing how they live. If you haven’t gone yet I’d strongly suggest going asap!
Danielle Ortega — Google review
Beautiful zoo, kept clean, prices are as you'd expect going to any big park these days. Good food variety, as well as snacks, drinks. Tons of animal exhibits, overall great for the fam & everyone!
Great parking options.
C Price — Google review
Took advantage of the last free Friday for this month. First time at the zoo and was not disappointed. Only spent about 2 1/2 hours but really enjoyed. I pretty much stuck to one side of the zoo this time and will explore the other half later on. Highly recommend. The only thing I wish they had was more food options but I’m not complaining because i know how that goes but I went prepared! Took my own food!
Annie Maiden Gipson — Google review
Very well put together Zoo and Gardens. There is a lot of various animals to see, such as gorillas, giraffes, kangaroos, grizzly bear, sea lions and so forth. I recommend you bring some water for your walk around this zoo you will be doing a lot of walking especially if you want to walk across the pedestrian bridge.
There are a couple different options you can take to get to and from the Zoo side and the Botanical Garden side. One way is taking the Woodland Trail beginning on the garden side. Next would be taking the walking path that runs along the Tram Road it is rather steep. Finally is the Tram with are two Ford Super Duty Pickups with three “wagons” attached behind each pickup it will take you to and from the Zoo side and the Garden side. There however is usually a wait for the Tram. We chose to walk the path along the Tram road.
This Zoo was extremely crowded. It is probably best if you try to go on a weekday. We went on a Saturday it was extremely busy. I highly recommend checking out the gift shop and buying a souvenir. This is one of the best Zoos I have been to.
Jake Young — Google review
We had a great time,animals were cool food was good and wait times were a bit long on a few things but other wise it was great, it’s very nice and nothing is to far apart so it’s not that bad when walking from place to place extra things were very affordable being 2 dollars a person just so you know the zoo does a coin system kind of so if you want to do an extra and you had 3 people it would 6 dollars with each coin being 1 dollar a piece,extras were very cool with the extras being feeding giraffes,feeding birds and other things. I would recommend getting to the zoo as early as possible because it gets crowded very fast you could get to see more things actually moving and running around and that’s just a few things to keep in mind.
Mc Bojangles — Google review
God have us an absolutely perfect day for our visit! It was 75°, partly cloudy, and a gentle breeze. Although it was fairly busy, everyone moved along through all the exhibits quickly. I'd have to say that our group's highlights were feeding the Coconut Lorikeet, walking among the kangaroos, and visiting the botanical garden (took the tram up). It's a great place for kids of all ages. The garden has quite a few play areas of all different themes and many water features. The kids were having a blast in the water activities. They even have a cabana for bathing suit changes. It's a "must see" if you're in the area. We'll be visiting again in the future.
Patricia Vasko — Google review
Came to the zoo in the morning. Most animals were out as breakfast was being served to some of the animals. It was pleasant that the weather was cool, so a light coat or long sleeves did the trick. By the time it was 11 a.m., it warmed up. Not very crowded, it was nice to walk through and take some time to see the animals starting their day. Since it was 9:30 am when I got in, not many food/drink places were available until closer to 11, so I purchased a bottle of water from one of the vending machines and kept exploring. If you're looking for a slower pace to venture, I recommend the morning, I enjoyed it.
Ari George — Google review
"Love taking the kids here! Awesome zoo with aquarium and aviaries. Large habitats are great but animals can be shy. Park lacked water due to a break on a hot day, $4 for water bottles is steep. Offering cheap bottles until boil mandate lifted would've helped. Kids enjoyed feeding birds and the sky high safari was a highlight!"
Cobey Riley — Google review
Riverbank zoo is a all day adventure for the family! I recommend buying tickets online as somedays it's packed here. Always building new and exciting exhibits for the animals. This is definitely a all day trip for all ages. Many many animals to see and multiple locations thay are indoors and cooled when you get too hot. There is also petting zoo areas and small rides like a train and carousel for the little ones. They do sell food and drinks there but they are very very expensive. We bring food and eat it outside on the benches then go back inside.
Tony Goehring — Google review
Riverbanks Zoo is always a fun day for the kids. Even after multiple visits, it never gets old. A great way for the kids to get their energy out. They absolutely love it when Waterfall Junction is open and love the giraffe feeding, too! The grounds and gardens are always beautiful!
Deanna Breivik — Google review
This is a great Zoo. Downside is make sure you get the wristbands to actually participate in feeding the 🦒 and doing a good amount of things the kids will want to do. Downside was we didn't see the large tortoise or many monkeys. There were no cats available to view either as a lot of exhibits were being renovated. The food is definitely not great, everything costs so much these days. Expect to spend at least $160 for a few hours and 2 people. Clean, well staffed and easy to find.
Ree C — Google review
Here visiting for the weekend and came on a Friday. Really enjoyed this zoo! I think it is very kid friendly and has a lot of activities for them to do, not just see the animals. We came at a good time (10 am) so most of the animals were pretty active. We enjoyed seeing the reptiles and Gorillas the most. It was definitely busy that day due to many schools having field trips to the zoo. They only really had snacks around the park, which is expected at a zoo. I do recommend doing to Tuskers if you real food while visiting though. We also really enjoyed walking the Garden trails. I highly recommend checking out this zoo!
Lauren Lowell — Google review
Other than the number of people, we had a great time. The staff was nice and all the animals were out. Can't wait to go on a weekday and be able to take our time watching the animals.
Lydia Dean — Google review
We got there at 1pm and had enough time to stop by most the exhibits, but many of the animals were sleeping. I'd recommend getting there earlier so you can go back to see the animals you missed on the first round. The zoo itself was not very big, so you can easily make a couple laps. The parking lot was hectic when we got there (1pm on a Saturday), but once we got past the entrance, we found many open spots, while others were fighting for closer parking.
The South Carolina State Museum is a large museum located in Columbia, SC that houses both permanent and rotating exhibits on a variety of topics ranging from art to history to science and technology. The museum also has a planetarium and an interactive 4D theater that are great for kids.
This is definitely a gem. They have 4 floors of exhibits. We didn’t get thru it all today. They have kid friendly exhibits as well. They have a gift shop an they also show mini movies. Today admission was $1 per person. ( First Sunday of each month).
Kimbryea Walker — Google review
Great museum with multiple levels of interesting exhibits to view. Short historical movies were free for viewing. Great lunch cafe if you’re hungry and gift shop on first floor. Would recommend to others.
Nicole McMorris — Google review
I’ve been to the museum multiple times, as I am a local. Which also means I’ve seen many different exhibits featured here. I believe the museum is well known for the massive great white shark hanging in the entrance and can be seen from every level of the museum (4 floors ). While it’s very impressive it’s also very intimidating for younger visitors as well. My most previous trip here was a random Tuesday in April. Total spur of the moment with my 4 year old son, sister and nephew (2 years old). My son thought the giant shark was the coolest thing ever and my nephew couldn’t run away fast enough (he was leashed to his momma and just about pulled her down he ran so fast 😂). After convincing him it wasn’t going to eat him we saw the cool dinosaur exhibit, explored prehistoric times, walked the many different destinations SC has to offer, learned about SC history and saw the planetarium 🪐 they are currently completing renovations on multiple floors, so many of the hands on exhibits and interactive displays were gone. Honestly the 3rd and 4th floors held very little interest for everyone. The museum is geared more towards older kids interested in history. Although it’s a great place to visit, make sure to check the website to see what new exhibits they have and if any are unable to access. In the past they have had some great exhibits, you just have to keep an eye out. All in all, it’s a great place to take friends and family from out of town or a trip to the past on a random Tuesday with your kiddos to reminisce about horse and buggy times, rotary phones, and 1970’s televisions. Definitely a must visit when in South Carolina 💖
Courtney W. — Google review
What a fun place to discover a little bit about everything. The stars, the sea, the land, technology, people. This museum has it all and everyone at every age is sure to have fun. The is a cafe for snacks, a gift shop, planetarium, and hands on activities throughout. It is four levels of fun. It is handicap accessible and elevators are handy. It is a lot of walking so if you do have mobility issues they have provided benches throughout for a rest.
S Gomez — Google review
Although it's showing its age in places (some of the exhibits are 25+ years old) the museum is clearly undergoing a renewal. Many signboards and displays have recent updates, exhibits are being tweaked, new displays are going on. It's true this isn't the state of the art museum it was in the early 90s, but it's still a solid place to pick up on state history and I still love coming here to see what's been updated since my last visit. Watching the changes from one visit to the next in almost real time has been pretty exciting!
In good weather, definitely check out the observatory. Even if it's closed due to clouds or rain, they're always happy to have a chat about the telescope and show off pictures they've taken with it, which is extremely cool. The updated space exhibits are also fantastic, as are the telescopes on display and the recent acquisitions hall. Showing its age in places, yes, but like I said it's still definitely worth the visit.
Cara C. — Google review
Staff were pretty friendly. I was with a large group of people. I believe there could of been a better explanation of how we could navigate the area. There was construction going on during this time. Like any museum the food in the cafe was over priced for the quality of food. There are 4 floors so be sure to wear comfortable shoes. The hours are work friendly.
Mickeal Rhaney — Google review
The state museum really is a Columbia treasure. I've been going my whole life and now take my kids, ages 6 and 8. They are just now getting to the age where they understand and appreciate what they're seeing. I'd say any younger than 6 it's probably a better idea to check out the children's museum across the street, Edventure. This museum is definitely geared towards ages 7-8 and up, in my opinion. You can easily spend 3-4 hours at the state museum, especially if you stop to read things. There's so much rich history in SC! The planetarium theater is awesome and we've enjoyed the different shows featured over the last year or two. The 4D theater is cool, but if you have a little one scared by sudden noises, feels, etc I'd skip it. Certain films have effects where they may mist you with water, the seat may vibrate, or you may feel some other sensation. So just know that in advance. My Boys love the military exhibits, dinosaurs, and space exploration exhibits the best. There's also a very impressive telescope collection, lots of prehistoric animals, a look at transportation and daily life over the years, life of the early Native Americans, and so much more!
Beth Banco — Google review
What an absolutely overwhelming experience this museum is. We spent nearly 3 hours exploring and only saw maybe half of what there is to see. It has everything from history to science, to amazing planetarium shows that are worth every penny. I can't wait to make it back to Columbia to see the rest!
Christopher Caudle — Google review
This museum is AMAZING! 4 floors of soooo much information and exhibits. I got there at 11 thinking I’d be there thinking I’d be there just a couple hours but 4hrs later I was still there enjoying myself. Such a great way to spend a day.
Cynthia R — Google review
Great place to explore. The building itself is cool. The planetarium is a great experience. Also do the observatory. Impressive telescope and knowledgeable staff. The other displays throughout are fantastic, but there isn't much change. Still, I enjoyed repeated visits. The manually powered submarine model is fascinating. We went this last time for the eclipse. The staff members really make you feel welcome.
Jimmy Sadler — Google review
Really awesome museum! I highly recommend visiting! Probably plan on showing up earlier in the day if you do plan to go.
Jeremiah Corgatelli — Google review
My daughter and I had a wonderful time exploring the exhibits. Make sure you plan to spend the entire day as there is a lot to see. My daughter really enjoyed the fossils, space, and habitat exhibits. We visited on a Friday and had very little traffic in the exhibits. There were a handful of other guests and one field trip. Something of note, the bathrooms are being renovated so they are few and far between. We ate lunch at the cafe, which had a small wait but was fair priced.
Tonja Suttles — Google review
It is always a great place to take friends and family from out of town. Fun and educational. 4D educational films are available also. The NASA exhibit is really cool.
Dawn Skipper — Google review
Ever since I can remember I have loved coming to the museum! I love the exhibits, even the ones they've had for years and years! There's so much to see and do and I learn something new each trip. I'm excited (and also slightly sad) that they are updating some of the older exhibits. I'll miss the old classics but I'm looking forward to whatever is next!
Katie Ratcliff — Google review
Really enjoyed the museum. The telescopes were some of my favorite things but I really loved seeing a piece of the moon! Really interactive parts and a great mix of science, history, and nature! I would recommend this place to anyone and I would especially encourage checking out one of the shows in the large dome.
Milen Patel — Google review
Nice, well curated museum. It contains information mostly on South Carolina and it's history and ecology, but there is also a sound and light exhibit.
Dylan Woessner — Google review
A nice museum over several floors: 2-3 hours recommended to fully experience the site.
Free public WiFi available, free parking, and a cafe on site as well.
Ryan Smith — Google review
You can tell it's built with huge budget. It doesn't have expensive dinosaur bones.
However, they managed to make it look interesting and diverse.
It definitely shows quality and character
Ali Bakir — Google review
Educational museum. Great promotion on the first Sunday of the month, entry is $1. I'm delighted with the planitarium. You can also visit the 4D cinema. There is a cafe and children's activities.
Nat Shor — Google review
Wonderful and so full of interesting South Carolina, natural, and technology history (radio, TV, automobile) and earth science that we couldn't finish. Fascinating telescopes, a small cafe, and dioramas too. Great for all ages.
V Mars — Google review
This was a letdown in a lot of ways. The displays were vast spectacles of nothingness. Large dioramas made more to take up space and less about educational content. Many, if not all of the interactive displays were broken or in some state of disrepair.
J C — Google review
My son and grandkids live in Irmo. We were visiting from NY and found this museum and planetarium a fantastic place. We arrived for the 1:30pm show and it was OK. But the history in the museum was amazing. We only had a couple of hours to go through the museum but you really need half a day to take eveything in. When we return we will certainly come back again and spend more time.
The State House is a famous tourist destination and the capital of South Carolina. It is a fine example of Greek Revival architecture and was built in 1851. The highly-regarded design work of John Niernsee makes it one of the most beautiful state government offices in the country. The grounds include monuments to historical figures such as George Washington and S.C. Senators, as well as fallen State Law Enforcement Officers.
A friend of ours who lives in the area took us on a tour of the grounds and then we went into the building for a quick peek inside.
The grounds are well kept with a lot of statues/monuments and history. We especially loved their African American History Monument - long overdue.
The picture of the “ship” etched into the ground is an eye opener. You can see the way the laves were transported side by each and crammed in there. The way they were treated is horrible and the story needs to be told.
The State Building had gone through a long renovation and it is beautiful inside.
We loved the law enforcement memorial and it is very cool that the blue lights leading up to it from the walkway light up at night.
Sheri Lucas — Google review
My first time visiting and I enjoyed walking the grounds of the SC State House. The staff on-site were very friendly and informative. I wish I could of stayed to explore more, but it was a hot day.. and my children were not very thrilled to be walking around in the heat. We will be back though once the weather cools down a bit.
Dina — Google review
Definitely recommend a stop here. There is also a parking garage near by and a short walk to the main street area as well. We spent a solid hour just outside walking around the grounds. Very beautiful building and interesting history here. Lots of it. The stairs and view outside is worth going to view alone. When facing the building from main street the original building was a little to the right until it was burnt down in a war. The city was great to view and enjoy for the bringing in of the new year. The fireworks were great and wonderful to watch from the middle of main street and the oldest streets in the city.
brittany hemingway — Google review
Beautiful state capital. The grounds and all the history present is wonderful. So proud that the South Carolina state capital counties to honor the citizens of its past . Beautiful Confederate monuments on grounds. Love showing my family our countries history. Great job !
C Davis — Google review
Highlight of my Columbia visit. Awesome grounds very well kept. Nice statuary and interesting stories about origins and age of trees planted. The capital building itself had great architecture and artwork. Stained glass windows were awesome pictures cant do justice. Lawmakers were not in session so we could look anywhere there wasn't a locked door. Well worth visit. Don,t bring any knives, guard took my swiss army and held it at guard station til done looking around, nice polite man too.
dan theman — Google review
Visited the State House on Saturday after visiting the Soda City Market a block away. The security guard was very friendly & courteous. We removed our personal belongings to be x-rayed & walked through the metal detector without issue. We did not take the free tour, but wandered around on our own. 3 floors & not all rooms are open. There’s a gift shop on exit. Make sure you walk around the grounds outside. Very nice state house.
Hung Do — Google review
By far South Carolina State Capital grounds were the prettiest we’ve seen out of 30+ Capitals that we’ve been to 🏢⛪️ 🌸🌼🌺🌷
N M — Google review
I live nearby to the State house itself. We generally go for walks there. The state house is a tourist attraction which show cases the African American history. It’s a must see place for everyone who visits Columbia, South Carolina.
They have great architecture and have statues of important personnel. Also, the place is well lit for Christmas.
It is Located in downtown Columbia, Visitors can take free guided and self-guided tours of the South Carolina State House. It is open Mon-Sat until 5pm
Sai Yaswanth — Google review
Exquisite architecture, paintings, history and workmanship at this state house. Beautiful grounds. Statues and monuments outside. Inside there is a very nice gift shop. You can take a guided tour or if you have watched the interesting and detailed video on the dot gov site, you will have gotten a good background on the state house, so that you can tour yourself with a sufficient understanding of the place.
V Mars — Google review
The South Carolina capitol was quite busy and festive. We had to wait our turn to take a photo with the huge Christmas tree. There were other festive displays that people were taking pictures with. There is a parking lot across the street that wasn't busy and offered metered parking.
Felicia Forletta — Google review
The grounds of the State House and the building itself are worth a visit. Both are impressive and filled with history, but we really like walking around the grounds. There is a scavenger hunt sheet and map on their website that can be downloaded, and it is filled with interesting facts about the monuments and gardens. There is a lot to see here. If you visit on the weekends, there are usually parking spaces on Sumter Street right next to the grounds available.
Beth McK — Google review
Had a good time at the State House on yesterday. Received a tour around some parts of the building. I will tell you to wear good shoes. I got my exercise in yesterday!! There are soo many stairs to climb. My legs are screaming today. Great experience if you get a chance to stop by.
Hope McGill — Google review
Absolutely amazing to see the architectural beauty this building has to offer. Off street parking and easy to walk around the property to explore the area. If you’re in the area, it’s definitely worth a visit.
Jennifer Rowlinson — Google review
The state house is open for the public. You can enter from the left side of the building just go through the security check. There is guided tour or you can just go around with the pamphlet. The three storey building is a magnificent piece of art. Kids were super excited to see the inside and got to take lots of pictures too. Definitely worth visiting if you are around the area.
Babita — Google review
Beautiful state house - arrived too late to get to see the inside on this trip although I’ve been in previously. Can spend a solid hour looking at the various monuments and beautiful landscaping surrounding the building. Kids loved running up and down the steps.
Middleton Place, a sprawling rice plantation on the Ashley River dating back to the 1730s, is located about fifteen miles northwest of Charleston. Once home to the Middleton family, who played significant roles in South Carolina's colonial and antebellum history, this landmark suffered damage during both the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. Despite being ransacked by British troops and burned by Union soldiers, Middleton Place stands today as a National Historic Landmark District.
We have visited four plantations in the Charleston area. This is our favorite setting and relaxing atmosphere. The grounds are exceptionally maintained. We spent two hours walking the grounds. It is the various buildings that tell the story. One stop shows a very large number of Middleton slaves. Depicted by each location and where they determined their value to the plantations.
The house tour is self guided after a short synopsis of the Middleton family and furnishings.
We had lunch outdoors in a very relaxed setting. Salad with baked chicken breast, green fried tomatoes with sauce and corn fritters with honey butter.
Runnsun — Google review
Lovely grounds. You pull into the gravel parking lot and there is a Cafe/market to the left. Please know that is not the only place to grab a bite. You can access this, as well as the gift shop, prior to your paid entrance. We opted for a tour of the house for an additional $15pp. Not sure if I would do that again. We were maybe in there 15 minutes....maybe. it's self guided but there are volunteers to tell stories or answer questions. If you are expecting a grand southern plantation mansion, this is not it. Its a small 2 story home. The first thing you see upon entering the plantation is the large reflecting pond. Very beautiful. The next thing you'll notice is the livestock running amuck. Namely sheep. So be careful where you walk. 😉 they do have a lovely dining room. It was a very nice plantation. Lots of grounds to explore. Everyone was very nice. Just not that grand southern home. Not sure the livestock gets the best care. Which is why I gave it 4 stars.
Sherri Fischer — Google review
We visited Middleton in late September 2022. Granted, hurricane Ian provided atypical weather, but in general, it’s probably not the best time to visit. Little to nothing was in bloom. The grounds were well kept and people were friendly and helpful. There were a few animals freely roaming - a handful of sheep and some swans. They had horse stables but nothing super interactive. There are some small buildings to showcase how the enslaved lived, but it’s not very detailed. The grounds had easy walking paths - mostly sand-based so if you are wearing sandals, know you’ll get a little
dusty. There’s a restaurant on site which is nice. The beyond the fields tour … wasn’t a tour. You gather around under a tree, sit on benches and listen to a historian explain the enslaved conditions. It was informative, but different than how it was presented. There is a restroom, gift shop and plant shop in the parking area. It’s not a must-see for me. We spent about 2.5 hours here.
Cortney Ayers — Google review
Absolutely gorgeous location. The oak trees are stunning, the gardens are lovely to stroll through, and I love a history lesson. We went to the restaurant last week and enjoyed the drive out, delicious food and cocktails and friendly and helpful staff. Shout out to Maggie who helped us make memorable dish selections. Looking forward to coming back later this fall for a wine stroll. I went last year and enjoyed it so much, I am coming back with girlfriends! I would recommend it as a date or as a nice evening with friends.
BKV — Google review
Middleton Place is really special. First the staff are very helpful. And they are easy to find. Everything is well organized & with the map, it's not hard to get around. The grounds are beautiful and peaceful. There are plenty of beaches to set and enjoy the views. It's nice the restaurant is on the grounds. Having a place to set, cool off and relax helps so much.
K A — Google review
Restaurant had a very good steak, but the locally made cinnamon ice cream, I honestly cannot stop thinking about it. The view outside this restaurant, although "wild" not tamed, alligators were ALL OVER THE PROPERTY, was Southern thick farmland and just spectacular. The property tour was very neat and the history was rich and interesting. The Inn was very different and unique, rooms had ceiling to floor windows showing the lush grounds. An interesting property worth the visit.
cyndi becker — Google review
Breathtaking! This place was the highlight of our honeymoon. The cured gardens and ponds were like a dream. The staff are all very helpful and know their stuff or will send you to someone who does. What a pleasant and enjoyable day. Give yourself a whole day to soak in the history and experience of this estate. Enjoy!
Kevin Keller — Google review
Beautiful grounds and house. Wonderful restaurant on property with absolutely amazing food. House tour was very informative as were the historical interpreters around the grounds. Very relaxing and serene surroundings.
US 1 — Google review
What a wonderful place to visit. It has great trails throughout the property, and it is so peaceful and beautiful. It is truly a step back in time. I loved the trails that were bordering the Ashley River.... phenomenal! A huge Osprey dove down, caught a fish, and flew right by us. So cool! We did not do the house tour, but I was perfectly content outside with the beautiful topography and interacting with all the animals, most excellent visit!
MA B-B — Google review
Great historical place to visit. Beautiful landscapes and the old buildings are amazing. Bring bottled water as it was hot a d humid and there is a lot of walking but, worth every minute of it.
Jeff King — Google review
Absolutely beautiful! Loved getting to walk around and explore the gardens- there were tons of free garden tours or other guides that you could listen to- to learn more information about. But overall it was such a wonderful way to spend the afternoon. It’s pretty far North Charleston- and tons of walking- we got there around 9:30am and didn’t get done until 12:45pm- so allocate for a good chunk of time here!
Kelley — Google review
Absolutely loved it! Amazing grounds and scenery. The house tour was really cool, lots of history in the building. The restaurant waa nice, I didn't eat there, but it smelled amazing. Had a couple drinks at bar, beat Old Fashioned I have had in years! Huge shout out to Colby H.....kudos buddy!
Gloria Worthington — Google review
We booked a tour van out to the estate which included transportation, tour of house and lunch. Self guided tour of grounds and gardens in between the timed tour and lunch.Beautiful place and well preserved house with interesting articles from the Middletons. Gardens are beautifully maintained. All of the staff were extremely helpful and kind. A must if visiting Charleston.
Bernadette Jamieson — Google review
This is a lovely place to spend the day. We went specifically to see the Middleton Oak. The ticket agent was helpful with directions to get to the oak on the shortest route. The grounds are lovely with lots of wooded, shady paths. We saw swans in the reflecting pond and alligators in the flooded rice fields, which my daughter was very excited about. The two gift shops are very nice and well stocked with a variety of items of different price points.
Rhonda Waterhouse — Google review
Visiting from Georgia and this was such a fun outing! Bought student tickets online, quick and easy. The parking is good. The whole estate is very large and worth the price. There are some small trails around the swamp, some by the water, some around the garden. It is all well maintained and beautiful. We were not able to attend any of the tours but there are plenty scheduled throughout the day. The livestock here are very nice and obviously well taken care of. The chickens ran up to us expecting food, which kind of startled my partner. I loved the whole experience here. Though I do recommend coming when the heat of summer isn’t in full affect, we were dripping sweat by the time we were done here in July.
Unknown Inc. — Google review
Middleton has beautiful gardens and grounds along the Ashley River. You can find period reenactment of many of the trades that used to exist on the plantation, along with animals that would have been present during the Middleton family's residency. It has also been the set for movies, such as "The Patriot."
The Foundation that runs Middleton does an excellent job maintaining the property and in recent years has been very open about the tragic reality that the Middleton family owned hundreds of enslaved people. It seems they are trying to do their part to preserve history and acknowledge the failings of the past.
Scott Penick — Google review
Went on a Wednesday night when they were having one of their annual wine walks. Four stations with a red and a white wine as well as a cheese board and finger sandwiches at each station. The grounds were beautiful, not a lot of colorful flowers, but lots of greenery. The ponds had alligators and turtles, made for a magical night. Highly recommend.
Jaime Kessler-Gengler — Google review
Huge property, nicely laid out walking tour of the gardens and working areas. The day we were here, they were doing guided golf cart tours of the rice field.
There is an extra cost to see the home on this site. I would suggest going earlier in the day rather than later due to heat during this late spring and summer.
Leith Britt — Google review
I have been to Middleton multiple times over the years. It has beautiful gardens that you can get lost in. Don't look at the pics here. Just get out and see it. I went to a Creative mornings event that was hosted here and didn't pay but there is usually a fee. There is a cute garden center where you can buy plants, but the big draw is the incredible southern landscape. Enjoy!
Descartes — Google review
Incredible tour with lots to do! My husband and I spent 6 hours walking around the beautiful property, ate an incredible lunch and toured the main house. So many beautiful things to look at and a lot of rich history. Make sure to say hello to Arthur, the resident stable cat!
Miranda Zook — Google review
Amazing plantation with knowledgeable guides and tons of history. We visited early October and the weather was spectacular. Did Beyond the Fields and Guided Garden Tour. Both were included in the admission price. Ate lunch in the restaurant which was wonderful. Our wait staff was engaging and attentive. (No tax on the bill!) Learned so much about slavery and history of the plantation. The trees alone were worth the visit. One was 1,000 years old! I highly recommend.
Robyn Brooks — Google review
Great way to spend the afternoon in Charleston area. This place was brimming with history but had enough to keep all ages occupied. I have 4 kids aged 12-17 and they really enjoyed the grounds. The house tour is an addition that added a lot of context. They have numerous guided tours on the grounds themselves including a garden tour and a stable tour. Beautiful place and worth the trip.
Andrew Jameson — Google review
Magnificent! You could spend all day here and still want to come back for more. The volunteers there are very knowledgeable and helpful, you can tell they love being there. A ton of history to absorb there. Animals are friendly and there is no shortage of picture opportunities. Restaurant on site is good but a little pricey.
Katie Ishee — Google review
Beautiful ❤️ and Natural Surroundings. Please check Flower Blossoms season and you will enjoy it.
Yes, live alligator 🐊 all around the place.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens is a historic plantation dating back to the early 1700s, with gardens which are popular with visitors for their lovely natural surroundings and fascinating history. Besides the garden itself, there are attractions such as an animal zoo and nature center. There's also a train that takes visitors around the grounds, as well as boat tours.
This was our first plantation tour. We had a great time. We did not tour inside the big house, but went on the tram tour and the From Slave to Freedom cabin tour. I recommend both very highly. After the tours we went though some of the gardens and around the ponds. Great scenery and views. We were surprised to come upon two large alligators near a walking path alongside one of the ponds. We were told there were many alligators on the property, but did not expect this encounter and left expediently. They made no aggressive moves, but we did not hang around. The rest of our walk was very nice and relaxing.
Daniel Brown — Google review
My family had a lovely visit to Magnolia Plantation. We came early on a Wednesday, and were able to quickly purchase tickets and get started with exploring the grounds.
The plantation’s massive Live Oak trees are picturesque, and the house itself is well maintained. While waiting for our tour, we visited the conservatory which was lovely. We ended our tour in the gift shop which had a wide assortment of lovely items.
We chose to pay for the Nature Tram since we had folks in our group who couldn’t walk far. It was a great choice since we were able to see the grounds and gain some historical perspective without walking a lot. On the tram we were able to see the slave houses, several rice fields, and many wild animals including alligators, birds, and turtles!
Although we didn’t go into the house or take the From Slavery to Freedom tour, I imagine these are as well done as the Nature Tram and well worth their money!
Dana B (WI - MN - TN) — Google review
What a beautiful place! So glad we went to visit. The grounds were gorgeous! There was a wedding there yesterday, so the various vendors were there tearing down their set ups. Other than that, all areas were open. We spotted many gators, so be mindful when walking near ponds and waterways. Lots of turtles too. The magnolias were so fragrant while we were walking around. We just did the house tour, but they had other tours available too. Those can be booked ahead of time right online. Lovely visit.
Lynne L — Google review
Magnolia was one of the best experiences we had while visiting Charleston. The tour guides were all very knowledgeable about the plantation. We did the house tour, train tour, and the Slavery to Freedom tour. The tour guide for Slavery to Freedom was Vanessa and she was absolutely amazing. I would recommend more then 4 hours for the entirety of the plantation. We only were able to do our tours and visit the gift shop in the four hours we were there. We wish we would have had more time to explore the gardens because this place is absolutely amazing. They also have an app that was extremely helpful for navigating the grounds and location the tours and restrooms.
Kierra Thiry — Google review
The plantation is absolutely gorgeous. The scenery and flowers were breathtaking and the farm animals made the experience so much fun for the kids. When walking the different gardens, the signs leading there could have been more clear. Most importantly, be prepared to be completely devoured by herds of mosquitos, so prepare accordingly. Otherwise, the experience was top notch! Highly recommended.
Hussein Fayad — Google review
Such a nice way to spend the day. The house is smaller than you’d guess, but the tour was one of my favorites. Full of history and interesting facts. The Slavery to Freedom tour literally made my eyes tear up with emotion, the guide couldn’t have been more perfect, it is clear that she loves her job and takes the history seriously. The grounds are beautiful. And my favorite part - the wild gators were all out and sunbathing, not at all phased by the visitors.
Kirsten C — Google review
This is a truly special place. We visited on a Thursday in late March. We took the train around the gardens and walked around some of the trails. There are many benches to sit on if you get tired easily. Bikes are allowed on some of the trails. There are so many great photo ops, so definitely bring a camera. There's plenty of parking and a bathhouse by the ticket booth. There's also a cafe that serves breakfast, lunch, snacks and drinks. You download the Magnolia app on your phone and it has a map and info on events. There's a "From Slavery to Freedom" talk and a guided tour of the house. There's a very nice gift shop in the ground floor of the house. I bought an art print, Gullah seagrass basket and a cool candy on a stick for my son.
Amber Connell — Google review
Extensive gardens and large tracks of natural habitat. The Ashley river runs along the edge of the property providing beautiful views from the gardens. There are interesting trees to be found including redwood. There is a biblical garden as well as a conservatory. There are places with picnic tables and benches to rest at. There is a petting zoo. And children's garden. We did see little blue herons, great egrets, alligators and turtles. There is an excellent presentation "from slave to freedom" that takes about 30 minutes. Takes place at the remaining original slave quarters on the plantation. Gives a good snapshot of what life was through the decades from 1850s to 1990, they were still in use by the grounds people. All these can make for an entertaining and informative day.
JMcCoy McCoy — Google review
Had a nice afternoon here with the family. It wasn't peak bloom for anything in late September but there were still plenty of flowers and the overall scenery with the Spanish moss draped trees was stunning.
We did the rice field boat tour, which was very informative. The rice fields were given back to nature and are now just wetlands with a few remnants of the old farm. We saw tons of beautiful birds and alligators. The pontoon boat had a roof, so we were out of the sun.
Definitely should be on your Charleston list. If you are a local, call ahead to learn about what's in bloom and what time of year is best to visit.
M B — Google review
Beautiful grounds and rich in history. Great stop on way to Charleston for a bit of a walk and some lovely pictures! Bring bug spray and pack a lunch. Bit pricey but if you have more time it is well worth the money.
Waterfall Yoga Therapy — Google review
It's definitely a beautiful place filled with lovely flowers, plants and trees. The slavery to freedom tour and petting zoo are included in admission. Personally, I think for the price, everything should be included. There shouldn't be "add ons."
The guide for the freedom tour was exceptional and he deserves a raise. He told the raw history which needs to be said.
Alexa Wallbrown — Google review
A beautiful old world plantation garden. The many acres of the gardens offer many photo opportunities, including the long white bridge and the bamboo garden. There is also a little zoo area with several cool animals to visit with.
Evan Bair — Google review
Unfortunately for me it was a big disappointment. I love flowering plants but the azaleas and camellias had 95% finished blooming. So little to no color except for the plantings at the entrance. Pretty much if you miss the spring blooms you are just strolling through the woods.
There were multiple bus loads of people being dropped off. I felt sorry for those standing in long lines to get food at the small cafe.
There were miles of trails, most of which were not well marked, so we wondered aimlessly until we found our way back.
There were several small ponds and bridges with a couple of alligators floating around.
The entry fee seemed very high at $35. We did not take the house tour or tram tour. Overall disappointing.
Cathie Bales — Google review
I had an amazing time here, it was super beautiful and a really enjoyable experience overall. The "train" tour is nice because you're able to see a lot of the area with a lot of wildlife. The boat ride is also fun and you see a lot of gators. There are also many birds throughout the plantation along with flowers along various paths.
Jawand S. — Google review
Our family had a great time here! It was so nice to get up close to so many animals. We enjoyed our train tour and learned a lot! I only wish it was easier to take pictures during the tour. The cafe had great options for food. The gardens were lovely! We didn’t have time to do the silvery to freedom tour, but we will definitely be back to do it.
Jess W — Google review
Beautiful Plantation with so much to see and do! We loved going over to the “look out platform” and seeing over the whole area! We also saw SO MANY alligators in the ponds! SO cool!
We also LOVED the zoo! It had the coolest animals and was so fun to walk around and see them all up close!
We visited the last week of May and noticed that none of the flowers in the gardens were blooming (could’ve just been an off and cold year for the flowers).
RECOMMENDATIONS:
- Bring Bug spray! We were a little unprepared and got EATEN ALIVE
- Look up the tour times! The grounds are beautiful, but each segment (ex: house, garden, train tour etc) costs money and most of the segments have specific your hours! Look up your times to get the most out of your experience
Hannah Upham — Google review
This tour provided real and accurate information about slavery. No sugar coating, Gone With The Wind, it wasn't that bad narrative. Beautiful and breathtaking gardens, swamp and scenery. We did the big house, train and "From Slavery to Freedom" tours. We spent 3.5 hours and could have walked the garden more but, the 🦟 🦟 🦟 were hungry so we left 😂 A great tour and educational experience!
Margra Ferrier — Google review
Beautiful gardens and worth the visit on fresh day, with a chance to see alligators during train ride.
From slavery to freedom tour was
disappointing by our opinion. It was mostly self tour with 20 minutes story while you have to sit in the pavilion.
Guide was rude with kids (not mine but it felt wrong), taking into account that even our kids were bored and didn’t want to sit calmly who are big fun’s of any kid of excursion.
Olga Stryia — Google review
On the west side of the Ashley river are three plantations all within close proximity to one another and around a 20 minutes drive from historic Charleston, one of them being Magnolia. While originally a working rice plantation, Magnolia has now evolved into more of a naturalistic park with a large number of pathways and various types of foliage on display. Like other plantations there is a manor home which tours are offered for (at an additional cost) as well as a complimentary tram ride around the property that is quite pleasant and offers a nice respite from all the walking you would do. A worth stop if visiting the area. Enjoy!
Craig Bromberg — Google review
Terrific gardens!
Lots to see. Excellent variety of azaleas and camellias.
Lots of trails. Enjoy the birds and alligators and snakes.
Swamp boardwalk a huge plus.
So many photo ops.
Can't wait to return!
Mark Shuford — Google review
As a nature lover this was my favorite thing I did while visiting Charleston. Absolutely beautiful grounds with lots of wildlife and flowers to see. I also enjoyed the Slavery to Freedom Tour as it was informative and gave me a better understanding of the property and the hardships slaves faced. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. I would recommend going in the morning as it started to get more crowded during the day. Bathrooms are easily accessible and very clean. They have a nice cafe as well.
Morgan — Google review
I have never seen anything like this. It’s so beautiful, it looks unreal. The gardens and trails are absolutely breathtaking. We toured the house and the guide was so pleasant.
I still can’t get over how beautiful everything is!
Debbie Collins — Google review
Very enjoyable experience! We took the train through the swamp area and later returned on foot to hike the trail through the swamp. We saw many birds, alligators, and turtles. Very unique atmosphere with an almost mystical quality
Ann Telma — Google review
Visited on a Tuesday afternoon, and there were quite a lot of guests during that time.
It was $38/person to access the gardens, Wildlife Center, Slavery to Freedom Tour, Wildlife Tour, and swamps.
We enjoyed walking through the swamps - alligators, turtles, birds.
Wildlife Tour - very squeaky tram to where we could barely hear the tour guide and definitely couldn't enjoy the sounds of nature.
Slavery to Freedom Tour - very quick history from the guide + Q&A. Didn't get very deep into it and have had better experiences in other cities.
Wildlife Center - small sanctuary with several species (alligator, peacock, goat, deer, owls, racoons, reptiles, fox, turtles, and more)
Gardens - decent views and nice walking paths.
Overall, we enjoyed our day but felt it was overpriced for the experience and offerings.
Drayton Hall is a well-preserved, renowned antebellum plantation situated on the Ashley River in South Carolina. The estate showcases Palladian architecture and holds the distinction of being the sole plantation house to survive both the Revolutionary and Civil wars fully intact. As a National Historic Landmark, Drayton Hall offers visitors tranquil grounds to explore and an African-American cemetery to reflect upon.
BEAUTIFUL place. Way better than the plantation up the street that costs $80 to do everything. Super quiet during the week, especially in the morning. Beautiful and well preserved place. Self guided audio tour is awesome! They did a great job of preserving and showing the area.
Jeff M — Google review
One of very few surviving plantation homes in the area post civil war period. Took the audio tour rather than a guided one which was great as you can wander at your own pace and listen to the guide, pausing her when you want to stay in one area a little longer. Having some info is a must though, to understand what went on in and around the estate and the architecture of the building. Staff were very friendly and informative too.
Kevin Blackley — Google review
We went for a Sip & Stroll that included an audio tour of the grounds, the museum, short film, the caretakers cottage museum, and gift shop plus two drinks tickets per person - so fun and relaxing. No more than 25-30 people and we were all spaced out to where it felt like you were the only ones there on the whole plantation! Would definitely recommend and do it again next spring!
Jennie Meetze — Google review
A wonderful experience, seeing Drayton Hall is like a step back in time. The house is preserved instead of restored, the tour includes information on slaves and tenants post-Civil War, and the guides are friendly and knowledgeable. Part of the house is off limits for now due to ongoing preservation work.
Mac McCormick III — Google review
Exceptionally interesting and well-preserved area offering fascinating insights into the world of a southern plantation. Unlike similar sites, the focus here is on preservation rather than restoration, meaning the old buildings, including the main house, have had minimal work done on them since the 1800s.
The guided audio tours were informative and well-paced, guiding you both through the main house and the grounds. The only downside to an audio tour vs a guided tour would be the inability to visit the top floor of the house, although I don't think one is missing too much there.
On the Sunday I went in September, there were hardly any other people on the grounds, so crowds weren't an issue. There were two historians on site in the main house available to answer additional questions, which was a great feature. Moreover, despite much of what we know about the location coming from the former owner's diaries, I appreciated how the audio tour did what it could to speak from the perspective of the enslaved peoples forced to work the plantation, as well.
For $26 per person, I thought this was a very worthwhile place to visit.
Lance G — Google review
There has been some great improvements at Drayton Hall over the last few years. New gift shop visitor Center and bathrooms. Very friendly and knowledgeable staff
Kathy Woolsey — Google review
I visited Drayton Hall on 1/12 and I absolutely loved it as I love history and appreciate historical structures. They have a very clear introductory video and a very nice display of furniture and other historical pieces in their museum before you head to the house. My tour guide was very informative and I am just sorry that I forgot his name, but he was so knowledgeable on the history of the estate and in general the history of America at that time. The estate itself is beautiful and I can just imagine how this place looked in its prime. I enjoyed reading the map that captured the changes of the land now vs then near the enslaved cemetery and can only imagine where their houses were as there are no standing structures left. I enjoyed listening to the archaeological finds when they were doing some renovations in the basement and on the grounds, tons of history on this land even before the Draytons.
Tiffany Galvan — Google review
Beautiful plantation home with interesting history. We did not do the audio tour but explored the space on our own. The details on the home are amazing. The craftsmanship can’t be found today. It was interesting to see the graffiti from 1874. The staff is very attentive and helpful. They are currently working to put supports in so there is construction equipment on the ground floor.
Tiffany Harmer — Google review
Spent a fascinating afternoon with my son at the Plantation. Very informative audio tour, plus knowledgeable historians were on-site to answer questions. Excellent presentation, a very thorough explanation of this period in American history. We really learned a lot! Gorgeous grounds, trees, and landscape. Very friendly and helpful staff, super clean everywhere. Highly recommend a visit 👌
Wendy Graham — Google review
Tour of the house was great, plus tour guide was knowledgable and friendly! Beautiful home, and an amazing amount of history there and on the grounds. We also purchased Sip & Stroll event. The self guided tour on the phone was ok but the landmark number markers were not as clear, and overall was little lack luster. Could have easy had same experience without the small glasses of wine included and saved some money. However super cute signature wine glass souvenir was nice and everyone from gate check-in, sip and stroll check-in, gift shop gentleman, and tour guide were great. Recommend to anyone to do the house tour for a serious dose of history!
Charity D — Google review
Recent trip to Charleston and Drayton Hall was on our list. Very interesting history. Our guide was informative and was able to answer questions. Not sure if they ever intend to add gardens but I think it would enhance the visit to the property. There is a black cemetery on the grounds that is easy to miss. Our guide mentioned it and I asked for the location.
Joanne Shedrick — Google review
Our tour guide Florence provided many details and painted a realistic picture using their historic knowledge of the estate. Would recommend the house tour and to walk the grounds using the audio tour. Would go again anytime we visit, very interesting US history!
Dan Smith — Google review
the tour of Drayton Hall was my one of my favorite parts of our trip to Charleston! Florence was our tour guide and WOW. amazing! the best tour my fiancé and i have ever taken! Florence made it the best! So knowledgeable and passionate about the history of charleston
Kimmy Harker — Google review
A very historic and picturesque place by the Ashley River. The rooms of the house are empty of pieces of furniture that can be seen in a separate exhibit, but they are full of memories of the souls who throughout time spent their life here.
Alex L — Google review
I had visited Drayton Hall over 50 years ago, around the time of National Trust start for this preservation and restoration. Back then I felt I stumbled on to a hidden treasure. Now the grounds are pristine, the public entry, parking welcome center are appreciated improvements. When I found that Drayton Hall is now open with guided tours and encouraging archaeological digs in progress, I knew this tasks of preservation there were going to be immense. I've sought out Villa La Rotonda in Vincenza, Italy and even London's La Rotonda. To Palladio: you've made a big impression!
Greg Hargus — Google review
Great experience. We did the tour and our interpreter Makayla really brought the history to life. Her passion for Drayton Hall's stories was evident. The fact that the home has stood since the mid 1700s is amazing. If you are into history, Drayton is a must see.
Ken Wolf — Google review
One of the best plantations we've seen! The beauty was the original works were still in place and magnificently maintained. Our guide, Morgan, did a phenomenal job on the tour! The trees are gorgeous and the small garden was very pretty. Large grounds to tour, just watch out for the gators! So glad we visited Drayton Hall.
Lynne L — Google review
An amazing historic plantation just outside of Charleston. We enjoyed our tour with a knowledgable guide. The grounds are beautiful and the staff is incredibly friendly. Would definitely come here again!
Peter Reckling — Google review
The staff was friendly and informative! The museum and video were interesting. The buildings up front are fresh and done well!
The grounds were beautiful! The audio tour was a nice addition. There are great photo opportunities!!! We did see alligators as well! The ones we saw were little ones!
FYI
**I did not realize you could not tour the whole house without an extra fee and specific tour time. The upstairs was roped off with a sign saying it was for a specific tour only. That was disappointing, we found that out while on the self guided tour of the house. We were able to see the cellar and the first floor**
We were told the upstairs is the same as the first floor. There is no furniture in the house. They are all empty rooms. No AC but they did have fans going. It was in the 70’s when we went, the house temperature was comfortable. In the summer, I am not sure how hot it will be inside!
We really enjoyed walking around!
C U — Google review
February $10 rate for locals was a great deal. Drayton Hall was a wonderful experience. Archeological dig was very interesting, as was all the treasures found. The tour guide was unbelievable, giving an extensive history of the site, the owners, and the architecture. Every question guests had was answered in detail. Watched a brief movie, visited the archeological lab, and shopped in the fabulous gift store. It is one of the best historic sites in Charleston. Thoroughly enjoyed my visit.