Scouting/Vacation Trip to Greenville (Spartanburg, Simpsonville: hotel, home, neighborhoods)

[mrstinye]

Mr. TinyE and I will be taking our first trip to Greenville in a month or so. We have two goals in mind:

(1) We really want to get a realistic resident's feel of the city and the outlying areas. We are thinking about moving to the area in 1-2 years.

(2) At the same time, we are vacationing. We do need to stay at a hotel. A bed and breakfast is an option too.

Suggested itineraries for a 4-5 day trip?


Our end goal: It'll be good to experience and/or know of the best of the best (please suggest away there), but at the same time it'll also help to a feel of the area (e.g., different areas or neighborhoods) and daily life. We are both in our mid-30's and find the downtown area appealing but are also easily charmed by older areas with character.

[Abraxxas]

Hi, and welcome to South Carolina! I moved here from West Palm Beach, FL about three years ago. I currently live in Spartanburg and will be moving to Greenville in May. My reason for moving? Spartanburg is o.k., but as far as activities, places to go, dining, sports - not much going for it. Greenville, on the other hand, is as close as you can get to fun and excitement in the Upstate, especially after experiencing South Florida.

Of course Greenville has a lot less crime, definently less expensive, and just enough southern charm so that you don't feel "home sick" for your previous location whether it be Florida, New Jersey (my original home) or California.

Just like any big city it has it's not-so-good areas. Driving around on a weekend they are easy to spot. I am moving closer to the Simpsonville area - just a short drive from downtown Greenville. My goal is to be able to enjoy the city on my own terms. Unlike West Palm Beach, I won't be constantly bombarded by the noise and activity of city life.

Because of it's vast educational institutions Greenville is full of young people. And being at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains (ant hills compared to the Rockies) makes for some great scenery if you just want to daydream the hours away. The city has more places to spend your money then any other area in the Upstate.

I hope this helps just a little bit. Like you, I am in the learning mode. I'm sure you'll enjoy it here once you find your niche.

Good luck!

[PickedTN]

Before we moved here, we spent a day with a realtor and he showed us all around. It was very confusing and tiring, even though I had a map. At least you'll have a few days.

I think staying downtown would be fun and fulfill the "vacation" part of the trip. If you have any special interests, you'll want to check those out. You mentioned that you like older areas, so be sure to drive into the subdivisions off North Main. If you know where your job will be, you can concentrate on nearby residential areas, unless you don't mind a long commute. If you think you'll be into hiking or boating, you might want to spend some time at Paris Mountain or one of the lakes.

We've been here a year and are enjoying it very much. Our favorite things to do (away from the house) are walking/eating downtown, hiking Paris Mtn and going to cultural events. At home we enjoy bird-watching, walking, hobbies, etc. What don't we like? The traffic on Woodruff Rd, the large overall size of the metro area, and for me the winters are a bit cold even though I'm from MI (and have lived in LA, AZ and CA).

Good luck!

[flgargoyle]

In town, I recommend the Pettigru Place B&B. It's a lovely place, and an easy walk to Main Street. It makes a good base of operations for exploring the city. To enjoy the country aspects, try Sunrise Farms B&B, in Salem. Although it's an hour+ from Greenville, it's near the mountains and the lakes. That corner of SC has an unusual number of waterfalls to check out. If nothing else, drive along Hwy 11, which runs right at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and there are a number of beautiful parks all along the way. We stayed at both of those B&B's last April, and had a great time. Spring is unusual in the mountains, as the season 'changes' with altitude. It can be late spring in Columbus, but still early spring at 3000'. Have a great trip, and report back to us!