10 Things to do this Autumn in Upstate South Carolina
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6. Visit a real haunted attraction
Skip the overpriced haunted houses in exchange for a look at a real piece of the state’s haunted history. The historic Poinsett Bridge, built in 1820, is the oldest bridge in the state. This beautiful stone bridge features a 14 foot Gothic archway and almost looks like a portal to another world.
Poinsett is reportedly a hotspot of paranormal activity. Numerous visitors have reported eerie ghostly events including hearing screaming sounds at night! Ghost hunting groups flock to the area, and it has even been featured in the book Ghosts of Upstate South Carolina. I am a big fan of exploring anything with a ghostly history. I like to visit around the Halloween season as the ambiance is just a bit spookier.
Regardless of the haunted nature, the bridge itself is exotic and fascinating and a great place to take a few photos and enjoy nature. The drive over from Greenville is quite beautiful in the fall, with colorful hues lining the forest on both sides of the road. To avoid any spooky encounters, limit your adventure to a daytime visit!
7. Take a bike ride or stroll along the Swamp Rabbit trail
The Swamp Rabbit trail is a 22 mile long trail which runs through a large portion of Greenville and Travelers Rest, a tiny town just north of the city. This multi-use trail is popular with joggers, cyclists, and dog walkers. Early fall is a perfect time to plan your ride as the colors are beautiful and the afternoon temps (60’s-70’s) usually perfect for a refreshing ride. This was my go-to path for cycling while living in the city. I have biked a lot of trails around the country and I really love the leafy scenery, the easy access to the downtown, and the flat nature of the trail.
Whether you simply choose to go out a few miles for a rejuvenating workout or challenge yourself to the entire trek, the SRT is your best bet for urban recreation in this area. Be aware that portions of the trail are often closed for construction.
My favorite starting points are the sections beginning at Furman University and Lake Conestee Nature Park. Another one of my favorite routes is The Swamp Rabbit Cafe to downtown. This is a great little coop where you can fuel up with a coffee and pastry, conveniently park, and then hop on your bike and cruise all the way into to downtown.
8. Dine alfresco in downtown Greenville
Fall is one of the better months for taking advantage of all the beautiful restaurants patios in downtown Greenville, the biggest city in the Upstate and an emerging foodie destination. The streets of downtown are lined with tons of sidewalk cafes and leafy deciduous trees. This is a great city if you love to dine outside as almost every restaurant has a patio.
There are more than 100 independent local restaurants to choose amongst, whether you are in the mood for Italian, Japanese, Mexican, Indian, or Southern style BBQ. I’ve had a great time exploring the local scene here and really it’s great for a small city (better than some big metros I’ve lived in).
A few of the best outdoor patios can be found at: Paserelle Bistro (great French food and beautiful views of the falls), Port City Java (great coffee and baked goods and a beautiful tree covered courtyard), and Roost (excellent lunch buffet and a covered patio). Update: Port City Java unfortunately closed (too bad – it was one of my favorites!).
I love the local dining options here. Even as a vegetarian, I found so many interesting choices across the culinary board. From biscuits and gravy flights at Biscuit Head, to steamed bagel sandwiches, to delicious Indian and Mediterranean fare, the foodie scene definitely does not disappoint!
9. Attend a fall festival
Fall is the best time to attend any event as the heat and humidity have finally tapered off a bit. And there is a lot going on. Fall for Greenville, the area’s premier event, draws huge crowds as tourists sample cuisine from diverse local restaurants. This is one of my favorite events which I recommend adding to your bucket list.
Another great event is the TD Saturday’s Market, where you can shop for local produce from nearby farms, raw milk products, artisan bread, and other specialty goods. I basically planned every weekend around this fabulous farmer’s market. It’s a great way to get out of the house, enjoy the fresh air, and support local businesses.
Other notable fall events include: Octoberfest, Artoberfest, and the Blues & Jazz festival.
10. Take a stroll around Falls Park
Falls Park is the main draw which brings in tourists from around the Southeast. When I first moved here, I was stunned by the beautiful of this centrally located park. Visitors from all over come to stroll across historic Liberty Bridge to view the beautiful Reedy River Falls (I saw tourists from Atlanta and Charlotte nearly every weekend). This 355 foot suspension bridge is the best place for a prime view of the waterfall.
It’s an oasis where you can take a nature stroll, photograph the waterfall, have a picnic, and enjoy the fall foliage. It’s a peaceful place to escape the city congestion for a bit. Best of all, it’s located in the heart of downtown Greenville within walking distance of Main street.
My usual routine was a coffee at a local shop or breakfast (or a stroll around the Farmers Market) and then a nature stroll around this park (it never gets old!). I recommend Tupelo Honey (excellent southern style food & amazing biscuits!) or Sully’s Steamers (amazing creative bagel sandwiches!) before your visit.
More of my favorite leafy parks to check out. This city is home to so many beautiful parks and preserves for nature lovers. And the weather is perfect almost year round for enjoying the outdoors (it gets cold in the winter but not too cold).
More fall fun!
*Halloween events! Unfortunately, this area does not do much for Halloween (too bad, I love festive events!). Boo at the Zoo is popular with families, although they do not offer much in the way of lights like most other zoos. Update: The zoo has added a festive light tunnel to the lineup of events. If you wanted to be scared silly, Nightmare Dungeon is the scariest haunted house in the area.
*Attend a home Clemson game. Fall is the perfect time for college football. Southern towns are crazy about their football which is a change for me being from Chicago (Go Bears!).
*Take a stroll around a lake. There are numerous small lakes within close proximity to the city. At Paris Mountain State Park, you can hike various trails, picnic, and rent a kayak along serene Lake Placid. It’s the best lake within close proximity of Greenville.
*Get your seasonal pumpkin fix. Various local restaurants offer specialty pumpkin dishes this time of year. Stax Omega offers a Pumpkin Belgian Waffle. Other specials around town include Pumpkin Spice Lattes at Swamp Rabbit and Coffee Underground, Pumpkin poundcake at Strossner’s, and Pumpkin doughnuts at Swamp Rabbit Cafe. Of course, you can also head over to Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts for their seasonal specials.
Fall daytrips
*Take a scenic drive. Hwy 11, 25, and especially, Hwy 276 near Caesars Head are all gorgeous in the fall. The perfect alternative for non hikers to enjoy the foliage.
*Go apple picking. There are numerous u-pick orchards within a short drive of Greenville. I recommend Grandad’s Apples in Hendersonville, NC, located just 30 min north of Travelers Rest. Do treat yourself to a delicious apple cider donut! Definitely stop in downtown Hendersonville too. There is a cute Main street with antique shops and local businesses (I love Black Bear coffee), and even a pinball museum.
*Plan a daytrip to the Asheville area. Asheville, a charming mountain town in Western North Carolina, is known for its’ foodie scene, eclectic and funky vibe, and the historic Biltmore Estate. There’s lots to do both in and around the city. Highlights include: the North Carolina Arboretum, the beautiful Botanical Gardens at UNC, trolley and food tours downtown, and tons of fall events. And of course, it’s a great starting point for exploring endless hikes and waterfalls. Plus, the leaf peeping is amazing! Way too much to list, so take a look at my WNC tourist guide for full details – what an amazing region of the country is all I can say!
*Drive up to NC to see the waterfalls. While South Carolina offers no shortage of spectacular waterfalls, those in NC are even more spectacular. I’ve found that the hikes to get to these waterfalls are usually less congested than those found in SC. There are numerous NC waterfall hotspots within an hour or so.
I recommend adding the Triple Falls trailhead at Dupont State Forest (3 waterfalls within a 1 mile hike and also a Hunger Games filming location!), Tom’s Creek (a hidden gem off the Parkway), and Looking Glass Falls near Brevard (a wonderful roadside beauty).
*Take a cruise along the Blue Ridge Parkway. It’s quite a far drive from Greenville, but really beautiful this time of the year. It’s also jam packed with traffic so a weekday visit would be idea. You will find plenty of hikes, waterfalls, and scenic overlooks to keep you busy all day.
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