Greenville
is located in the Piedmont region of South Carolina in the foothills of the
Blue Ridge Mountains. The area, commonly referred to as the Upstate,
includes Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson, Pickens and Cherokee counties
and the cities of Anderson, Clemson, Greenville, Simpsonville, Greer and
Spartanburg. The city represents 56,000 residents of the roughly
350,000 who make up the region. Greenville's moderate climate offers a
full change of seasons. The average annual temperature is 59 degrees F with
an average rainfall of 50.45 inches and an average snowfall of 1.20 inches
per year.
One
of the city’s main attractions of Greenville is its award winning
downtown. Falls Park on the Reedy is a must visit in downtown. This
city park showcases the scenic Reedy River Falls. The feature attraction is
a one-of-a-kind pedestrian suspension bridge, offering beautiful view of the
Falls and surrounding park. Downtown is also the arts and
entertainment epicenter for the Upstate South with live entertainment
ranging from ballet and symphony to hockey and indoor football. Local
theater companies provide intimate settings for performances, while the
Peace Center for the Performing Arts hosts major productions on three
performance stages including an outdoor amphitheater. The Bi-Lo seats 17,000
and hosts athletic events as well as major concerts and family
entertainment. The Bob Jones University Museum and Gallery offers one of the
most recognized collections of religious artwork in the nation, including
works by such artists as Dolci, Rembrandt, Rubens, Titan and Van Dyck. The
nationally recognized Greenville County Art Museum has an exquisite
collection as well.
Greenville
also holds the honor of being the home of Shoeless Joe Jackson. Homegrown
legend Joe Jackson began his baseball career in the local textile league at
the age of thirteen. He earned his nickname by playing gin one game
without his shoes that were hurting his feet. After getting a
hit and rounding the bases in his stocking feet, a fan of the opposing team
shouted, “You shoeless son-of-a-gun!” A local sportswriter heard
the remark and tagged Jackson with the nickname “Shoeless Joe”. In
his honor, visitors can enjoy a visit to Shoeless Joe Jackson Memorial Park
as well as visit the Shoeless Joe Jackson Plaza Statue & Fountain in the
historic West End of the city.
For
a little outdoor adventure as well as a beautiful experience, visitors
should plan on spending time exploring some of the magnificent areas.
Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area, located on the border of North and South
Carolina offers a breath-taking view of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Another
beautiful site is the Campbell Covered Bridge. Built in 1909, this is the
only remaining covered bridge in South Carolina.
For
a taste of Civil War History, the South Carolina Confederate Museum
shouldn’t be missed.
It is operated & owned by the 16th Regiment, SC Volunteers, sons of
Confederate Veterans, Camp 36, in memory of the 250,000 gallant Confederate
soldiers who answered the call of duty. The museum features a large
collection of artifacts and memorabilia from the war.
Also
located in Greenville is the Palmetto Expo Center, one of the largest
exposition facilities in the southeast with 368,000 square feet of exhibit
space in four halls. The Palmetto Expo Center is a popular regional
destination for corporate meetings, tradeshows, banquets, and many special
events held throughout the year. The city is also known for its
outdoor entertainment which includes Jazz Concerts, Farmer’s Markets, and
Moonlight Movies along the River.
Within
the City of Greenville are 39 parks, playgrounds and recreation centers
which include bike/jogging trails, miniature golf course, shuffleboard
courts, tennis courts, playground structures, picnic shelters and ball
fields for a total of 452 acres of park space, making any day a day of fun.
And, after a day of fun in the city, there is nothing better than a
meal at one of the city’s many fine restaurants.
This
remarkable, historic city, so conveniently located to major interstate
highways truly offers its visitors year-round entertainment. No matter
what the reason for a visit or the time of year, this tranquil South
Carolina city has something for everyone.
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