The retirement search continues in Upstate SC (Greenville, Simpsonville: home, living in)

[Greenville]

Originally Posted by gsupstate

Corgimatt/Columbiadata, the article was about the Greenville metro and the mountains of the Upstate area.

LMAO! Cover. Blown.

[g-man430]

I finally figured out who Krazeeboi was. LOL.

[BoundtoRetire]

Do you folks have any more suggestions of places to see and do in and around Greenville? We've seen the AARP article and the recent Chicago article about your fair city and are really looking forward to checking it out.

[BoundtoRetire]

Just a quick update regarding our stay in Greenville... we loved your downtown. I think I could easily spend many days sitting on a bench in Falls Park just people watching and meditating on the beautiful scenery. It's just gorgeous!

We liked the surrounding area also. There are certainly all the ammenities that we are looking for and we met a lot of friendly people.

It's safe to say that we'll be back to spend more time next year when we finally have our house on the market to pinpoint where we are going to live.

Thanks for all your input and suggestions!

[OconeeMountains]

I would throw in Walhalla, SC in Oconee County as a suggestion. Although a bit further out from Greenville (about 45 minutes) it matches some of your important criteria. The area around Walhalla is gorgeous as the blue ridge mountains rise just West of Main St. (In fact, if you continue up main street [Hwy 28] you will go right up the mountain and can visit a park with a large, beautiful waterfall that the town of Walhalla operates) and some of the most fantastic lakes in the Southeast in Jocassee and Keowee are found just to the North and East. Whitewater rivers, hiking trails, horseback riding, trout fishing and more than 20 significant waterfalls add to the amazing Natural resources in the greater Oconee County area.

Antiquing is huge in Walhalla. Since the town was founded in the 1800s by a group of hardy Germans, there is plenty of historical homes and furniture in the area. Mainstreet Walhalla is dotted with many antiquing stores which are quite popular with both locals and Upstaters who swoop in for the weekends.

The town is small, to be sure (just less than 4000 residents) and a bit rustic; but the entire area really amounts to a very affordable, livable and beautiful community which supports good schools, a vibrant history (you've got to visit the Oconee Heritage Center Museum in Walhalla - www.OconeeHeritageCenter.org) and the arts (The Walhalla Civic Auditorium now regularly hosts concerts, plays and other performances - www.WalhallaCivic.com). Further, the larger towns of Seneca and Clemson (with a world class college) are 10 & 20 minutes away while Metropolitan Greenville is a 45 minute-1 hour commute.

Just thought I'd mention this special town as it seemed to match at least some of your criteria. I wish you all the best in your ongoing retirement search. Blessings -

[BoundtoRetire]

OconeeMountains, yes, Walhalla is on our radar. I have an old friend who lives in Seneca (of course, she's on vacation while we're in the area). We may stop up that way when we head back north from Columbia. Otherwise, we'll be checking it out next year when we make a return trip.

Thanks so much for your suggestion and providing more information and those links!!
Blessings back to you!

[Mark Brian]

I also suggest checking out Honea Path, Belton, Anderson, and Liberty. All are nice. Really there are many more great areas. All of the smaller towns close by all have distinct advantages and every one is different in feel and atmosphere.

My family lives in Greenville, I live in Anderson. I like to visit Greenville, but live in Anderson.

[BoundtoRetire]

Mark Brian, thanks for your suggestions also. We will check out those areas. Perhaps you can tell me if there is there much public access to Lake Hartwell? My husband and I liked the accessibility to Lake Murray when we were in Columbia and wondered about Keowee and Hartwell -- we know we can't afford the gated communities, but would like living near a lake that is accessible by the public.

We're already looking forward to returning to SC.

[Mark Brian]

Lake Hartwell has more public access than Keowee. It is also easier to find reasonably priced properties on Hartwell because it is just so much bigger than Keowee.

[OconeeMountains]

Both lakes have ample public access. There are at least 4 access points on Lake Keowee in Oconee County, some of them with nice parks and beaches. I believe there are more on the Pickens County side of Keowee. So, with either lake, Public Access is not difficult nor expensive. Easy for everyone to enjoy.