Making Summer vacation plans? Here is an update on my all to discover in Greenwood SC post -now with video and more pics! While 1-2 week excursions might be fun, sometimes a 3 day weekend is all you need.
As you start to make travel plans and read on, you’ll find that Greenwood SC holds a host of
“unexpected wonders” for you to discover and enjoy!
Why take the Yellow Brick Road, when you can drive to South Carolina’s Emerald City?
No need to walk the yellow brick road to this Emerald City. Just hop in the car and head south on I-85. Plan your Greenwood SC road trip soon, as there are lots of summer festivals on the horizon. I’ll be sharing them all in a two post series, this month and next.
If you go from now till July 15, 2019, in addition to the food, shopping and all the history the area offers, you can still take in all there is to see at the annual SC Festival of Flowers.
Greenwood SC Road Trip details on Charlotte Today
It’s always so much fun to share all sorts of local places to go and things to do on regular weekday segments of Charlotte Today, The show is broadcast live everyday. Show hosts are Colleen Odegaard and Eugene Robinson.
Of course, as luck would have it they stumped me with the first question. I’m still working on finding the answer and the history behind the name and will let you know as soon as I have it in hand. For now, watch the video; and then, read on for more detail.
Did you enjoy the video but feel sad you missed this original post that gave a heads up on seeing the video live? I’ve got a sure fire way for you to make sure you don’t miss the next one.
Simply subscribe to the blog on the upper right hand column of the home page. That way, as soon as any post goes live, you’ll get it right in your inbox. Wouldn’t want you to miss another bite of all the deliciousness I have to share.
Click your heels three times.
Its always interesting to me that major national and international companies open headquarters in small Southern towns? It’s the quality of life small city living offers and Greenwood SC has that and more.
You won’t believe who is calling this Emerald City home. Park Seed, one of America’s oldest and largest mail-order seed companies is headquartered in Greenwood, South Carolina. Used to be you could visit the Park Seed facility, but no longer. However, if you are inspired by all you see here and at Greenwood’s SC Festival of Flowers, you can order seeds for flowers and veggies from Park Seed via the web. – they have an incredible website with a help line for those of us with a not-so-green-thumb.
Also calling Greenwood SC home, the manufacturing division of Fuji Film; and a company called Capsugel, one of the largest designers, developers and manufacturers of pharmaceutical capsules in the world.
Visit South Carolina’s Freshwater Coast
Greenwood is located halfway between August GA and Greenville, SC, minutes away South Carolina’s Fresh Water Coast. Surrounding the city, visitors will find state parks, national forests and 110,000 acres of fresh water lakes where you can enjoy fishing, sailing and all sorts of flora and fauna.
Enjoy hiking the many trails on the Freshwater Coast just outside of Greenwood. South Carolina State Parks services has a great book available of all of the SC state parks and hiking trails – you can get a copy here and get your Greenwood SC adventure started.
Inn On the Square – 104 Court Ave E, Greenwood, SC
There is tons to do and see in Greenwood. Or, use the city as a wonderful home base to visit all the surrounding five-county area offers.
Looking for lodging? I recommend staying smack dab in the middle of it all. Make your reservations at the historic full service, boutique hotel, Inn on the Square. Located on Main Street at Court Ave, you’ll be the perfect walking distance from shopping, pampering and wonderful places to eat.
Enjoy the Fox and Hound lounge and the Carriage House restaurant where guests will enjoy a complimentary breakfast each morning and an incredible brunch buffet on Sunday mornings.
Greenwood SC Annual Festival of Flowers – June 1-July 15, 2019
From now until July 15, 2019, spend a morning or afternoon strolling down Main street taking in the 42 different Giant Topiaries maintained by the City of Greenwood horticultural department, all a part of the city’s annual SC Festival of Flowers.
You will love each one more than the next. Join all the city’s other visitors taking photos and being amazed at the time and talent that goes into this giant floral landscapes.
Here are a few of my favorites. You can see I jumped right into tourist-mode and had to take tons of photos myself!
Shave and a Haircut
It’s truly amazing work, and the city’s horticultural department is quick to keep them all regularly maintained. After all these are live plants and they grow through the course of the month they are on display. So every so often they need a little trim and haircut to tidy up for guests.
Each of the festival’s 40 plus topiaries has a theme. Many of them are done in honor of South Carolina’s college sports teams. Here, the giant gamecock hovers large and in charge.
Greenwood SC Hidden Gems
In a recent What I Eight Post, here at HeidiBillottoFood.com, I included two of these hidden gems as a tease leading up to the post.
While you are in town plan to eat lunch and dinner at two of my new SC favorite hidden gems.
Kickers Restaurant where self taught Chef / Owner Abdel Dimiati is cooking up a storm. Abdel came to Greenwood from Zimbabwe, years ago. He married, settled down to raise a family and then realized his dream of opening a restaurant. The menu is an international mix of flavor and the onion rings are all that! With just two guys on the line and one person expediting service, the staff at Kickers knows how to keep things moving and customers happy.
As I mentioned in my earlier post, you can order off the menu or the list of specials and you won’t go wrong. But, instead, do yourself a favor. Act like a local and ask what’s on the secret menu as well! You can thank me later!
Then, there is the authentically Cuban BuenaVista Latin Cafe. Cocktails, sandwiches, traditional entrees and desserts – all Cuban family recipes for sweet and savory dishes and cocktails too!
But first, a photo op!
Here I am enjoying lunch at the counter bar and doing what food writers always do.
Chef Niria, chef and owner of Buenavista Cuban Cafe works hard to insure all of her recipes and ingredients deliver authentic Cuban flavor. Her staff knows the menu and service here is top notch!
Smile and say cheers with the best mojito or a tall glass of homemade sangria – you are gonna love this little place!
At least one morning of your stay as you discover Greenwood SC, you must do what the locals do and stop in for a real made-from-scratch country breakfast at West End Cafe.
Everything is homemade here including the homemade jams and their delicious grilled biscuits!
Greenwood SC’s own Emerald Farm
Be sure to plan a trip to Emerald Farm. You can visit the goats and the peacocks and see how local goat soap is made.
While you are there – don’t miss the to-scale railroad room, its a hands-on display any train enthusiast will love.
This is a working farm with something for everyone. Visit the goats, say hello to the farm’s family of peacocks; shop for antiques and treasures and buy the farm’s hand crafted goat milk soaps.
You can rent for your next event -wedding, baby shower, birthday parties and more. It’s a destination experience for folks of all ages.
Retail Therapy in Greenwood SC
Aside from the flowers, the farms, the history and the restaurants, there are also lots of great places to shop in Greenwood.
Some of my fast favorites included a local art gallery called Main & Maxwell, located at 201 Main Street in Greenwood SC.
And, shopping at Sugar Boutique on 334 Main Street, Greenwood SC. I loved the clothes and the earrings as much as I loved the pink packaging and the gold animal print tissue!
Then when all is said and done, take time to treat yourself. Enjoy a pedicure at a cool a home marketplace and salon combo called Vintage Vault at 331 Main Street. Or make an appointment for a terrific massage at The Spa on Maxwell, located at 128 Maxwell Ave.
Whatever you do, where ever you go on your 3-Day weekend or weekday adventure of Greenwood, SC, be sure to #TellThemHeidiSentYou !
With Thanks…
Many thanks to Director Barbara Ware and her team at Old 96 Tourism for all of their warm Southern Hospitality as they showed me around Greenwood SC and the five surrounding county area.
Abbeville, Edgefield, Greenwood, Laurens and McCormickcounties make up this small corner of the Palmetto state, and everywhere you turn the area is packed with history.
The town of Ninety Six was the site of the first Southern land battle of the Revolutionary War. The Burt-Stark Mansion in Abbeville contains original furnishings in the room where Confederate President Jefferson Davis met with his generals and decided to end the Civil War. And in Greenwood itself, you’ll find The Benjamin E. Mays Historical Preservation Site.
Benjamin Mays was one of the nation’s most influential Civil Rights leaders and a mentor to Martin Luther King and several US presidents This museum and memorial built in his honor is a must see as you plan your next South Carolina adventure.
In between you’ll find more history, arts, agriculture, retail and restaurants to enjoy…I can’t wait to share the story.
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