We came in 30 mins after their opened and surprisingly they weren't that busy. The lady at the…read morefront desk was very friendly. We made a mistake with our paperwork and had to go back home and do it again. We came back 20 mins later and there was a different lady at the front desk. This 2nd lady was super rude. My husband was there to get a few titles transferred over since his dad passed away. He asked the lady a question about the titles and she stared at him and asked back "You seriously don't know the answer to that question??" Really? Do you not have any compassion? No, we don't know the answer to that question. We wouldn't bother you if we did. She didn't even answer us.Probably because she didn't even know what the answer was. We just got our ticket and sat down. The lady who called up with our number was super friendly and went above and beyond for us. She answered all our questions and was really sweet. Overall, everything was good except for that mean 2nd lady who really needs to consider a different field in work.

Just moved from Minnesota and had to get new everything. There were a lot of people but it moved…read morequickly and efficiently. The staff that helped me were very genuine and worked hard to help me. As long as you have your paperwork and ID, they'll help you out

We were driving from Georgia to NC and stopped by this rest area / welcome center . This spot was…read morereally good , but only the restrooms were open . The main hall wasn't open . Restrooms were clean and easily accessible . Lots of parking outside . No food or drink sold in this service area . It's just for refreshment. There were tables around .. if you get your own food , there are lots of spots to sit and eat . Don't miss a photo opportunity with "welcome to South Carolina" signboard. 4 stars ..

The South Carolina welcome center is a great place for a break if you're doing a lot of driving…read more Clean, open, comfortable seating and clean bathrooms. It does not offer anything for sale, but does give lots of tourist information.

I don't know if it's just that warm & fuzzy time of the year or if my soul is sensing a coming…read morechange in my life seasons, but something has my nostalgic side all stirred up! . | THE GROUP HIKE | As promised in my previous review, part of my solo hiking intentions (besides the mind-calming quietness), is to scout out new locations suitable for our group hikes. I thoroughly enjoyed this particular hike because so many people joined us based on pictures they'd seen of previous hikes. Two ladies show up we'd never met before because they saw it under "events" on yelp. A coworkers from a job I haven't worked at for more than 18 years joined us with her family as well as a good friends daughter & her pre-teen son. Also joining us were a few teens and two families from our church + my wife's childhood best friend and her husband... who drove down from Ohio just for the hike. It was a day filled with joyful moments and laughs as everyone got along so well it almost felt like one family. The beauty of a large group is the group itself seems to separate into hiking styles. Some lead, some trail further behind and some are always right in the middle, each faction taking care of its own members. What I love about bringing new hikers that don't get out into nature often is the FRESHNESS & EXCITEMENT they bring to the hike. More than half the group were not regular hikers and EVERYTHING seems to awe them with wonder. Take the Chattooga River for example. We arrived @ the river about 2.25 miles from the parking area and about .25 miles before we turn upstream to Opossum Falls. After showing the group where to cross over the creek to a small sand island, they were so in love with the big river views that I had a hard time getting them to continue to the falls! This was the first waterfall of the day, and the first waterfall ever for many of them. They were so overjoyed with the flow, sound and beauty of Opossum Creek Falls that we stayed way past our allotted time and had to cancel visiting one of the other 4 waterfalls on the hiking schedule. But no matter, this waterfall is truly worth it! . | THE TRAIL | While Opossum creek is super easy to reach because the 2.5 mile trail is mostly all downhill to the falls, the return trip is a beast. The section closest to the Chattooga River is the steepest, so it manages to take your legs reserve power early into the return trip back to the parking area. Trust me when I say you will feel this trail the next day! 5 miles round trip total. Video link to trail experience: https://www.hdcarolina.com/episode/opossum-creek-falls . | PRO TIPS | * The road to the falls is wide, so you don't feel the anxiety of slipping off the road if a car approaches from the opposite direction. Although it is gravel, it's very smooth and easy on cars. * Parking area can handle over a dozen cars. * Beautiful picture opportunities when the trail meets the Chattooga River. Must cross downed logs to get to the island for best pics. * Once trail meets the river, keep straight through the camping area until you see the sign for the falls. It can be a little confusing since the trail seems to disappear. * Plenty of places for a group to sit near the falls. * Once past the camp area, must cross two small creeks to reach the falls. * NO RESTROOMS * NO PARKING FEES . | FINAL THOUGHTS | The area between Eastern Tennessee, the Western sections of the Carolinas and Northern Georgia is known as the land of 1,000 falls. Oconee County, SC all by itself has some spectacular monsters in its closet. While researching hikes I found well over 30 in this area alone, some with maintained trails, others you have to create your own trail. It would take several weeks of all day hikes to see all of them! Fortunately, Opossum Creek Falls is a beautiful and well maintained trail with a decent parking area. Although the fall is listed as only 50 feet, it certainly looks and feels much larger. Good for families with older children, but toddlers and 5 & 6 year olds may need assistance/carrying on the return. As for me, my heart was filled with the sight of people of all walks and ages enjoying the human experience together in nature. I thought several times during our hike "What a wonderful world it would be if we could ALL come together like this." Enjoy!!! 2019 / 135th review

The ranger was full of information. We enjoyed his history of story telling. There is also a clean…read morerestroom near by

The history of this place is very interesting and provides a glimpse into post Colonial life in the…read moreUpcountry. In the late 1700s, this area was truly the wilderness and the two structures provide an interesting look into important historic events and culture. The settlement was originally an encampment and fort to protect against Indian attacks in 1760. The fort provided some protection to the settlers and served as a trading post. The site marks the furthest west point of Colonial settlement in South Carolina. By 1799, the Soldiers left and Cherokee Indians used the blockhouse to store furs and to trade. An 1805 brick house is also on site. The area served as a stagecoach stop throughout the 1800s. The park itself is quite beautiful. You can tour the buildings on Saturday when they open them up, or you can visit them anytime the park is open. There are two trails that lead to the Palmetto Trail. A 1.5 mile hike from the station or a .6 mile hike from the parking area just up the road leads to Falls, a 60 foot waterfall that is easy and kid friendly. It's also quite stunning. There are restrooms and picnic tables at the site. The Ranger is very nice and helpful. There is no fee, but donations are accepted (and I recommend people donate).

This small park near the center of Anderson gives some context to the city's electrification with a…read moremassive generator and several plaques providing history. It's interesting to see and learn some more contemporary history. The marker has the same text on both sides. It reads, "Half mile West on Seneca River, the Portman Shoals Power Plant, built by William C. Whitner, began in 1897 the transmission of high-voltage electricity over the longest lines then in use for that purpose in the United States. The success of this plant, now owned by Duke Power Company, caused Anderson to be called "The Electric City."" There are also markers with some more text. In 1895, engineer William Church Whitner successfully transmitted electricity six miles from High Shoals to Anderson, marking the South's first long-distance power transmission. This breakthrough led to the construction of the Portman Shoals Power Plant in 1897, which generated high-voltage hydroelectric power without step-up transformers--possibly the first of its kind globally. The plant powered Anderson's water system, streetlights, homes, and notably the Anderson Cotton Mill. Though the original generators were lost to flooding and fire, one 1911 Westinghouse unit remains preserved near Generator Park as a tribute to Whitner's legacy. The marker was erected in 1956 by the Anderson County Historical Association. It is number 4-1. [Review 1372 of 2025 - 1328 in South Carolina - 24924 overall]

This marker is at the intersection on SR-81 that is closest to the cemetery. The cemetery itself is…read moreabout an hour to the east. The marker has the same text on both sides. It reads, "Located 1.09 miles northwest, this cemetery marks the original site of Hopewell Baptist Church which was constituted in 1803. The cemetery contains graves of Revolutionary and Confederate veterans. Some graves are marked by field stones with hand-chiseled initials." This is marker number 4-14 and it was erected in 1975 by the Hopewell Baptist Church Congregation. There is room to stop to read the marker while you're waiting at the light. [Review 2268 of 2024 - 1222 in South Carolina - 23285 overall]

This marker is located just off the interstate, where I had stopped for fuel. There is a Love's…read morehere and a 7-Eleven. It is next to a vacant lot so there's room to stop and read the marker which is in very good condition. On the front, "Previously housed in a log cabin 1/2 mi. E, White Plains School moved to this site by 1890. At least sixty pupils attended the one-room frame school, which served white families from the White Plains community. The first teacher at this location was Rev. David Ivey Spearman. Several additions were made to the school until 1916, when it was replaced by a white two-story frame building." And on the reverse, "White Plains High School was first accredited in 1925-26, when a brick building was added to the campus. The WPA funded a new gymnasium-auditorium in 1938. A potato-curing house and cannery were built around the same time. The school hosted performances, dinners, and meetings and was the educational and social center of the community. The high school closed in 1957 and elementary school in 1958." This is marker number 4-47 and it was erected in 2021. It is sponsored by the White Plains Baptist Church. [Review 2266 of 2024 - 1220 in South Carolina - 23283 overall]