Explore the Carolinas: In the two states to our south, you’ll find beaches, cities, and mountain towns that make for idyllic vacation spots. Before you pack the car and head down I-95 this summer, get the lowdown on some new-to-you locations in North and South Carolina — and find out what’s new this year at your old favorites.
Drive Time from Dulles: 8 hours
There’s much to love about this small city situated equidistant from Charlotte and Atlanta. It boasts an easily walkable and charming downtown area, a lively food scene, outdoor activities aplenty, and ample opportunities to get your art on. Did we mention it’s also unbelievably clean and friendly, with a free trolley (and trolley tracking app) that makes it effortless to explore? It’s truly one of those places that’s equally able to pleasantly surprise newcomers and stir those in the know to return.
A former Cherokee hunting ground, Greenville was named to commemorate Maj. Gen. Nathanael Greene, the hero of the American campaign that ended British occupation of the South during the Revolutionary War. But the city’s moniker is also reflective of its lush landscape and surrounding area that inspire locals and visitors to get outside.
A one-of-a-kind pedestrian bridge in the 32-acre Falls Park on the Reedy — considered the birthplace of Greenville — wraps around a waterfall on the Reedy River, while the 22-mile multi-use Swamp Rabbit Trail meanders along the water and an old railroad corridor. Among the five state parks in the region are Jones Gap State Park, nestled in a deep mountain cove, and Caesars Head State Park, which affords views of Georgia and North and South Carolina. And though the Blue Ridge Mountains are a few hours away, you don’t need to go nearly that far for the ultimate vista: The open-air Fred W. Symmes Chapel, aptly dubbed “Pretty Place,” frames the sunset in the most spectacular way.
If artistic rather than outdoor pursuits are more your style, Greenville has a strong arts community. Four independent theaters produce several plays each year. The Peace Center for the Performing Arts, built by the river on the former site of a textile manufacturing industrial complex, welcomes Broadway shows and a concert series. And the Greenville Symphony Orchestra is celebrating its 75th anniversary. You’ll find works by Andrew Wyeth, Georgia O’Keeffe, and William H. Johnson at the Greenville County Museum of Art, considered the South’s premier American art museum, and thanks to the longstanding Arts in Public Places initiative, creativity spills out beyond the four walls, with 120 public sculptures, statues, murals, and more peppered around the city.
WHERE TO EAT
Scoundrel. Chef Joe Cash returns to his hometown to whip up French bistro classics.
Lewis Barbecue. Pitmaster John Lewis opens a follow-up outpost to his Charleston barbecue joint.
Sofrito Latin Restaurant & Bar. Nosh on mofongo, empanadas, ceviche, and pastelón by Dominican Republic natives Ana and Hector Batista.
Jones Oyster Co. Slurp chilled and grilled bivalves in a building that dates back to the Civil War.
WHERE TO STAY
With a design inspired by the home of the city’s prominent namesake family, the new Hotel Hartness on the east side has 73 suites designed in a muted, contemporary style, a regionally focused dining concept along a tree-lined pond, and a tempting spa. The Grand Bohemian Lodge, a luxury boutique hotel that opened last September, overlooks Reedy River Falls. Imagined with natural elements, including dark woods and a double-sided stone hearth in the lobby, the 187-room hotel has an art gallery, spa with water-focused treatments, restaurant featuring locally sourced fish and cheeses, and a bourbon bar.
WHAT’S NEW
Whiskey Bar COS, which stocks more than 120 bourbons and other whiskeys, is an acronym for the space’s former concept, Coffee on Stone. Would-be ghost hunters can throw back a little liquid courage, then join certified paranormal investigator Gabe Mathews to look for apparitions during a walking tour or haunted bar crawl through Greenville Ghost Tours. Ricotta cookies, tiramisu, and a Thin Mint martini are a few of the indulgent sugar fixes at Italian-style Carmella’s Café and Dessert Bar. Work them off with a stroll around Unity Park, a green space with four playgrounds, a 4,100-square-foot splash pad, and covered picnic tables.
Feature image courtesy Visit Greenville SC
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This story originally ran in our May issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine.
