Ever so many directions to wander to experience a botanical wonderland representing flora from…read moreSouth Carolina's coastal region to the high hill Piedmont area. The best part of it all is when you find personally enamored rare plants, native or exotic, many appear annually at the SCBG Fall & Spring plant sales.

Tucked away off the campus of Clemson on a vast plot of land is the South Carolina Botanical…read moreGardens. Like some other college-affiliated gardens, this one is free of charge to all visitors. It's a bit tough to get your bearings at first since the property is really spread out, and requires quite a bit of driving to get from place to place, where first time visitors (like me) are sure to get lost along the way, even with a map of the property. I recommend starting your visit with the visitors center, carriage house, and geology museum, which are adjacent to the desert and Jurassic gardens. I tried to get intel on best places to see blooms at the visitors center, but staff weren't overly helpful in assisting where to explore, so I basically grabbed the map and drove off meandering around the back roads, winding up at the Hanover House (super friendly staff here) and the Caboose and President's gardens (some blooms in this area). Despite feeling a bit lost while exploring and encountering very few blooms, I did overall enjoy my visit to the South Carolina Botanical Gardens. I would rate it as a 3.5 out of 5 experience overall, as much of the land on property seemed not to serve much of a purpose, and you really have to spend time exploring (and getting lost) to find interesting blooms.

I just wanted to update my 3/15/20 review below to add I've now done this hike several times, but…read moreTHIS time I had the chance to hike it with a friend who is directly related to the namesake of the waterfall... Riley Moore. Sandie is a church friend of mine and Riley Moore was her Great Great Uncle (I believe that's right). He once upon a time operated a grist mill here at the top of the falls. She's been trying to get here to see the waterfall, but couldn't find it and wanted to join us (along with her family) since I knew the way. Upon further research I discovered there are actually still remnants of the mill including visible drill holes, spikes and bolts. Thought that was pretty cool info to share! [ [ [ PREVIOUS REVIEW ] ] ] Riley Moore Falls is small in height but HUGE in personality. It's located off State Road S37-748, which is a nicely maintained gravel road where cars and trucks alike can comfortably traverse. ~~~ DIRECTIONS From Westminster, SC - DO NOT turn onto Cobb Bridge Road from Long Creek Hwy (Hwy 76) where you will see the brown & white sign pointing you in the direction of Riley Moore Falls. Our GPS had us go this way, then left onto State Road S37-748, but the road was CLOSED during our visit! INSTEAD, turn onto PU-32 also known as Rocky Fork Road. Turn left onto a gravel road near Rocky Fork Baptist Church and follow that until it dead ends @ State Road S37-748 (also known as Spy Rock Road). Turn right and drive approx. 1.4 miles (4 minutes) to 748c (aka Riley Moore Shoals Road). Park at the intersection of State Road S37-748 and 748c. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE 748c in a car or minivan. Low clearance vehicles will find the terrain on this road to be VERY difficult to navigate without bottoming out or getting stuck. I'd also recommend 4x4 capability on wet days! There can be several deep-pocketed muddy areas after heavy rains. ~~~ THE TRAIL Once you reach the intersection of Spy Rock Rd (S37-748) and 748c, park roadside on Spy Rock, secure your vehicle and begin your hike approx. 1/2 mile down the "primitive road." IF you have a high ground clearance SUV or truck, you can drive the primitive road another half mile or so to a second parking area near the trailhead. The primitive road is VERY BUMPY  and can be muddy in spots after heavy rains, so a 4x4 is best. After reaching the second parking area, follow the marked trail on the left!!! The trail is a little over a 1/2 mile to the falls from here. The trail is fairly straightforward and easy to follow. ~~~ THE FALLS Once you reach the Chauga River, you will notice a large sandy area with plenty of room for an entire horde of hikers!!! Riley Moore Falls is not very tall (only about 12 feet), but it is very wide and has a deep base pool. PRO TIP - Bring swimwear, towels and a picnic, but be sure to pack it in and pack it out. ~~~ THINGS TO KNOW Hiking Distance: 2 miles (round trip to falls from S37-748) Difficulty of hiking 748c: All downhill to trailhead (moderate return) Difficulty of hiking trail to falls: EASY Creek Crossings: NO Elevation Gain: 357 feet Waterfall Height: Approx 12 feet Access to top of falls: NO - not without getting wet Access to base of falls: YES Pool of water @ base of Falls: YES Sitting areas @ base: YES + sandy beach RESTROOMS: NO PARKING: YES (along road) + secondary parking area closer to trailhead for trucks and high ground clearance vehicles with room for about 6 cars. ~~~ [ FINAL THOUGHTS ] A lovely waterfall in any season, but also a great spot for a summer swim. While we had the waterfall practically to ourselves during our Mid-March expedition, be advised other trail website reviews say it gets trashy & crowded in summer months. What a shame if that is true because it truly is a treasure. ENJOY! 2022 / 74 #UPDATE 178

This is the best waterfall we got to visit in SC this far. After we left Reedy Branch Falls we…read moredrove here. Well, as close as we could get. I didn't realize that we couldn't drive all the way to the trailhead so we had a long hike in store due to me having to carry my toddler most of the time. I should have re-read the previous reviews before coming. My friend did help me carry her as well and for that I was very thankful. So definitely don't recommend this hike with a little one unless strapped in a carrier. Also, I don't recommend it for the elderly either. It's definitely a wilderness hike deal with roots and elevation change. In fact, it's mostly downhill on the way to the falls, but on the way back it's pretty much all uphill, which was not fun with aforementioned young child. It's about a half mile to the actual trailhead and then another 0.7 mile to the falls. That's about 2.4 miles round trip. The reason of course that my boys absolutely became enamored with this place is the large swimming hole. It is wonderful and has plenty of space. The waterfall itself is beautiful and although it's not as tall as others, its width is quite impressive. I was trying to get as close as I could and even noticed a hidden part of the falls inside of the rock structure. That was so cool!! The sand at the base and shore give it a beachy vibe. We definitely packed it in and out making sure not to leave anything behind as to preserve the area as best as possible. Needless to say we were wiped by the time we made it back to our vehicles, but we're still glad we decided to venture here. Coming back with my hubby and boys in the very near future. Happy yelping!

Nice little playground for getting our kids' energy out on a long car trip. There's a shaded…read morepavilion in the back of the park, which is a nice respite from the otherwise unshaded playground. Well maintained bathrooms.

I love this place! It is my favorite county park! The trails are well kept, and there are a few…read moreto choose from depending on how ambitious you feel. Or sometimes it's nice to just sit on the giant rock and look at the beautiful waterfall. There is a very nice little playground that my grandkids had a blast playing on. As well as a couple of nice adult swings for the grownups to sit on and watch the kids. There are also places for the kids, and adults too, to get in the water. . As a bonus, the bathrooms are kept very clean and are nicer than any park bathroom I have ever been in. If you haven't been here yet, just do it!

I've been wanting to go to Chau Ram County Park for a few years. When I wanted to go, it rained…read more Then I forgot about it. This time, I made sure to come. I dragged my husband with me since it was a nice day. It was a 2-hour drive. The GA-SC border has lots of gorgeous waterfalls. $2 parking Interesting enough, we arrived and saw another group of familiar faces! Coincidentally, we saw Richard and his family there! He was there with another group of hikers. This is an easy "hike" - all you had to do was walk behind the visitor's center and the waterfall is there. However, we went on the trail to go behind on top of the rock where the waterfall is. You can tell there's still lots of renovating. It has beautiful scenery. 17/2020

Beautiful small pocket garden near Cleveland Park in Greenville. Popular spot for small weddings…read moreand events and photographers taking graduation and family photos. Professional photographers are asked to reserve the spot by calling the city (photo attached for contact info) Events are required to be pre-booked with the city as well. Pretty any time of year, but especially in spring and summer with flowers blooming. One of the many beautiful green spaces in Greenville!

We circled the entire garden from the outside once to try to find an access point without stairs…read moreand found none. Hence, 4 stars. I ended up leaving the stroller on top and climbed down the stairs with my toddler. It is a beautiful, quaint place. I'm sure it can be very peaceful when coming at the right time. I visited in the evening, but with children, so not exactly peaceful and quiet. I can see why this location has so many photo sessions. It can also be rented for weddings, although I wouldn't know where the guests would park since there is no actual parking area. Happy yelping!

A beautiful park with Reedy River waterfalls, right in downtown Greenville South Carolina. There is…read morealot of walking areas:quiet green natural areas to sit and relax. Plenty of photographic areas for memories. There is many eating places near by if you want to grab lunch or dinner. Overall a very tranquil vibe in the center city.

Spending time along the Reedy River in Greenville is such a special experience. There are several…read morebeautiful spots to sit and relax, especially near the Grand Bohemian Lodge Greenville, and the bridge is a wonderful place to stroll while enjoying the soothing sound of the river and waterfall. What makes it even more meaningful is the history behind it. Beginning in the late 1700s, water-powered industries clustered along the Reedy River, including trading posts, grist and corn mills, a sawmill, an ironworks, the Gower, Cox and Markley Coach Factory, a paper-making factory, and an armory. A century later, textile and apparel mills were established along its banks. Unfortunately, the mills discharged waste and excess dyes into the river, and the Reedy began to suffer from the spoils of progress. By the mid-20th century, downtown Greenville's stretch of the river was so severely polluted by upstream textile mills that the once pristine and popular falls became desolate and unsafe. Seeing how beautiful and vibrant the area is today makes you truly appreciate the restoration and revitalization efforts. It's peaceful, scenic, and rich with history -- definitely a must-visit when you're in Greenville. Cheers!

In less than 2 months I leave for my first ever missions trip to the continent of Africa. I…read morerecently experienced a mission trip to Haiti this past July (as detailed in my 410 Bridge review) and I was asked to join the Kenya team shortly after. I've had a great deal of time to reflect on that trip, because it honestly didn't meet my expectations. So this time I've decided to begin preparing myself mentally & spiritually well in advance of departing. I want this trip to be ALL that God intends for it to be and I don't want any of ME in the way. I purposely plan to use my time these coming weeks reflecting on all aspects of life. Daily areas where I miss simple truths that could teach me small valuable lessons. I know this may sound corny to some, but I would feel irresponsible if I didn't begin building my mental strength now, knowing that my last trip was probably not as fruitful as it could have been had I done the same prior. So, until I depart for my "big trip" I wanted to take the opportunity to use some of my reviews to reflect on the experience of places I visit. A mental way for me to decompress and prepare. First up, Sunset Rock. --- THE SCENE It was my first visit to Highlands, North Carolina. Admittedly I drove through the town a few years prior as my wife and I took a long detour home from a weekend in Asheville, but we paid little to no attention to the charm of this tiny mountain hamlet. I'd completed my mission of visiting nearby Dry Falls and Bridal Veil Falls, so my only goal at the time was dinner @ the Dillard House before hitting the road for our final 2 hour leg home. It could have been an amazing parade going on in the middle of town and it would not have deterred me from my plans. * REFLECTION - What is is about some of us that completing the goal is more important than experiencing the journey? I think in my life, and especially in my last mission trip, my desire to complete certain goals often outweighs the journey that I was sent to be on. During my visit to Highlands THIS time, I had no plans to actually walk around the city. There was a mountain I wanted to climb, a shadow in a valley I wanted to experience, a covered bridge I needed to photograph and a waterfall I missed on my last pass through town. I can be very scheduled and regimented, especially when it comes to travel because I don't know when/if I will be back that way again. So as I drove through this beautiful village, the thought occurred to me to slow down and enjoy the journey. I decided to park my car and walk. I had several wonderful conversations with locals. One lead me to an amazing burger at a local grocery store. While I was sitting enjoying my burger, another conversation lead me to Sunset Rock. I honestly didn't have time to visit, but what really peak my interest was the fact it seems to be more of a local secret than common visitor knowledge. So, instead of hiking to the waterfall I originally planned to visit, I drove directly here. --- THE EXPERIENCE I was told by locals I could take my car up the gravel driveway to the top, and apparently others were told the same as there were three other cars at the top. However, after returning home I discovered several sites saying the trail is meant to be for hiking only. One site mentioned signage at the beginning of the driveway, but was so focused on the goal that IF there was signage saying don't drive, I didn't notice. I called local authorities and it is indeed okay to drive to the top, but in retrospect I wouldn't advise it. The road is EXTREMELY narrow most of the way up and there is no room for error! Also, hikers have to really hug the roadside to allow you to pass as you kick up gravel dust in your wake. I'm sure that can be uncomfortable and unnerving, especially for those with small animals and children. * REFLECTION - Others truths are not always your reality. Even when something is okay, it's not always advisable. At the top is a small gravel turn around where I parked. A small stone with 'Ravenel Park' sits off to the right. Take the short trail near the information board. As you walk, an opening in the trees comes into view. Once you reach the granite outcrop and begin up the slight incline, the glory of sunset rock unfolds! The granite surface, although extremely bumpy and other worldly, is expansive and open like a stone dome. It is said to be thee spot you want to experience a sunset in the Highlands and I believe it! Hopefully my next visit will give me opportunity to experience it with my wife and kids. --- FINAL THOUGHTS Undoubtedly a gorgeous hidden gem! Yes, you are allowed to drive to the top, but honestly it is a short hike and the trail barely has room enough for one car, let alone if two cars are passing. My advice - enjoy the journey and walk. The hike is short and the view is sweet, plus the exercise is good for you! What more could you ask for :-) 2016/122

Dangerous road to the top of Sunset Rock by vehicle but only a ten minute walking hike with a few…read morespaces to the right of the road to park your car. Single lane dirt road with huge wet rocks blocking the way up and we got stuck mid-way. Met some hikers on the road and chatted briefly. No bears found but hikers be on the lookout. Sunset Rock is also known as Ravenel Park. I DO NOT RECOMMEND DRIVING ON THIS ROAD...EVER.

My family and I were in Greenville in the middle of April 2013. While I was at Barley's Taproom &…read morePizzeria (Great Place I will be reviewing as well) I asked the manager if there were any parks that actually had a playground for children. We had been to Falls Park, which was an awesome park, but it has no playground for kids. He directed me to Herdklotz Park. That was on a Saturday afternoon. Once the manager at Barley's gave me directions we headed towards the park. We were driving through an obviously older part of town. It had a lot of closed factories, run down houses etc... We even crossed the proverbial railroad tracks where it seemed to get worse. I was just saying to my wife that the directions had to be wrong, when all of a sudden you come up to this beautiful park. The place is absolutely great and I never would have expected it to exist in the location it does. But that's just it........it does! You can see from the pictures I posted that the park has a lot to offer. It has a decent size playground area for little ones that are under 4ish (no regulations are posted but just going off observation). It has a HUGE playground with slides, a rock climbing wall, tunnels, bridges and something that is similar to a zip line (but the kids feet are only a few feet off the ground so it is no problem if they lose their grip and fall, unless you have allowed your child to be a big wimp). There is a decent amount of shade with benches and large rocks that the parents can sit on to watch their kids play. The park also has two large, flat fields. I would call these all purpose fields because you could play football (although they do not have goal posts), soccer (they do have official soccer goals and field markings on one of the fields), frisbee etc. Heck, one guy even shot some sort of Rocket that had a parachute from the big soccer field. They also have a track going around most of the park which is 1/6 of a mile. So 6 laps is one mile. This is great for walkers, but the track was a bit too narrow so I did not really see any joggers or bikers. Off to the side of the bigger kids playground you will find 2 sand volleyball courts equipped with decent nets and sand. In front of the volleyball courts they also have 4 horseshoes pits. However, if you want to play horseshoes you have to bring your own because all they had was the stakes that you try throwing the horse shoes to. Near the entrance of the park there are 2 pavillions where you can have a picnic or gathering. I saw at least one grilling area but there may be more as I was not really looking for grills. One of the pavillions is located within a fenced area of the tiny tikes playground area and is small. They were having a small birthday party gathering for a toddler. The other pavillion is bigger and probably had about 10 tables or so. There are also at least two more picnic tables that are not under the cover of a pavillion. On the backside of the larger pavillion there are public restrooms. Whether you are local to Greenville or just visiting town, this place will provide a couple of hours of entertainment if you have kids 12 and under. And the fact that there is a nice amount of shady areas is a big plus as well. Especially for a pale white dude like myself who fries like bacon in the sun. I really loved this park and I guarantee you I will return to it the next time I go to Greenville. In fact, we loved it so much that we went back Sunday afternoon as well.

Love this park one of the top 5 I been to in the area . Big playground super safe bars all the way…read morearound the higher structure. A little kid gated area below, clean bathrooms and a huge playground to play on. A must go for the kids. They will have so much fun

Beautiful park and great for the whole family - Parking is on the side of the road, and there is a…read moreshort walk downhill to the water. There is a sandy area where kids can play and beach entrance. There is a sliding rock that is lots of fun - if you can bring a tube to ride down on, it's even better. If you follow the water, you can rock hop for a good way down which is really beautiful and great for an adventure. There is a high rock where some people jump, but please do not! The water below is less than 5 feet deep and serious injuries have happened there from jumping. Outhouses can be found in the parking area as well as trashcans, although they tend to be full and overflowing (only complaint). All in all, this is a great spot to have a nice down in the mountain water. Our kids love it!

Beautiful park with a decent size sliding rock and a small body of water to take a quick dip…read more Please don't jump from the rocks. If you miss the small patch of water that has some dept you will hurt yourself. And if you hurt yourself getting your butt up the hill to the parking lot will be extremely painful as there is no easy way to climb.

Definitely a unique experience! The Stumphaus Tunnel is an unfinished tunnel in Walhalla, SC, ,…read morecut through a portion of Stumphaus Mountain. It was started in 1853 and Irish miners dug using hand drills; however it was never finished due in part to the Civil War. All ages can easily walk the tunnel. There was even a dog in the group ahead of us. It is completely black inside so I suggest visiting with a group and bringing a flashlight. There was nothing scary......just total darkness! It's not super long......walking all the way to the end and back took less than 30 minutes. Admission to the park was $5 for a car of 5 of us and there was free parking right near the entrance. We also walked to the viewing area of Issaqueena Falls which is just a short trek away. Very cool experience overall!

The tunnel is cool, but very short. The trails make up for it and the waterfalls are a great sight…read more No wait time, no reservations recommended, price to entry $1-5. But make sure you have a flashlight with you to go into the tunnels and the waterfalls is so pretty. I recommend this to anyone who want to adventure.