We took a tour of the Moore Plantation today and loved it. Our guide, Kevin, was very informative…read more The house isn't big and some parts you can't go into due to safety issues, but it was well worth the time and money to see it. Not all out buildings are original, but they are reproductions to what the originals were. This is a pleasant hidden gem and a part of American history. We would go back and bring friends and family with us so they can see what people went through back in the late 1700's.

A National Treasure and a South Carolina gem, this 1765 plantation is set in an idyllic location…read moreminutes from Spartanburg. I planned my visit there, but most of the visitors seemed to have stopped in spur-of-the-moment while traveling through the area. Most plantations available for tours are mid-1800s and grand, but this modest home dates back to 1765, its inhabitants playing key roles in the Revolutionary War. The guided tour takes close to an hour, and the guide went in depth and detail describing the implements used on a daily basis during colonial times on the plantation. Most of the outbuildings on the property are replicas, but at least two of them are vintage. The furniture and decor in the house is made up of a combination of period pieces and very well-made replicas. The up-close detail you can view on the home reveals just how amazing it is that the structure is still there! A nice trail takes you to the family cemetery about a quarter mile from the house. The grounds are picturesque and the outbuildings are in close proximity to the house.

When seeing similar 19th century monuments across the South, my first thought is that it's another…read moreConfederate memorial. But it's good news that's not so today! Located in downtown Spartanburg, the Daniel Morgan Monument was erected in 1881 and commemorates the centennial of the victory at the Revolutionary War Battle of Cowpens South Carolina and its hero, General Daniel Morgan. Morgan (1736-1802) was one of the most respected battlefield tacticians of the American Revolutionary War. The Battle of Cowpens took place on January 17, 1781 where some 2000 Colonial militia and regulars faced 1000 British troops under Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton. The American victory was the worst loss suffered by British units since General John Burgoyne surrendered to General Horatio Gates at the Saratoga in 1777 and helped raise the spirits of the Colonials that the British could be defeated. Atop a 21 foot tall octagonal Doric column made from granite, it stands 30 feet tall and was modeled by John Quinch Adams Ward who said at the time, "I represented him with a drawn sword, advancing with his troops, his attention for a moment attracted by some movement of the enemy on the left." Morgan does not face in any direction that makes sense until it's pointed out that he's facing exactly towards the battlefield at Cowpens. The first plaque reads, "To the American Soldiers who on the field of Cowpens, January 17th, 1781, fought victoriously for The Right of Self Government and Civil Liberty. We enjoy the Result of their toil and sacrifice, let us emulate their fortitude and virtue. This Column is erected by the States of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, and South Carolina. The Old Thirteen States, and The State of Tennessee 1881." There are others. Check out https://evendo.com/locations/south-carolina/spartanburg/landmark/daniel-morgan-monument for more information. [Review 2242 of 2024 - 1205 in South Carolina - 23260 overall]

Beautiful example of a southern plantation house. The house and grounds have a rich history. Our…read moretour guide was very knowledgeable and gave interesting details as we went through each room. Pictures are not allowed inside the house. Some families that once lived here donated furniture that was in the house at the time. The pieces of furniture and accents are gorgeous! The design of some of the tables and even some door hinges was ingenious. This is well worth the stop if you're nearby!

Big thanks to Richard R. for adding this one that did not come up in the usual searches and yet, it…read morewas the main reason I passed through the DuPont Forest. I love bridges and I love covered bridges even more! And wow, thanks for the amazing writeup of all the drama on this property that was an eye-opener. I parked the van at the High Falls Trailhead (there are restrooms and even a wifi here!) and made my way along the trail to the bridge. It's about 0.75 of a mile on a path through the woods. I am apparently not as delicious as usual as I earned zero mosquito bites despite sweating a lot in the humidity. I'd call this walk "easy plus." The bridge itself is impressive and quite modern. And I would suggest not missing the nearby Falls though I was simply too tired and it was getting too late for me. I'll need to plan better next time! The walk back was much easier as I opted to take the gravel road that is easy and smooth, but only open for emergency vehicles and the forest rangers. I would rate the hike as "easy" for 0.6 miles though not wheelchairable. You can ask the rangers for access by vehicle for handicapped but they're only open regular hours. [Review 20030 overall - 3463 in North Carolina - 1005 of 2023.]

High Falls Covered Bridge (also known as Buck Forest Covered Bridge) is one of my favorite bridges…read morein the Southern United States. It is a modern structure that has an interesting history. It is an example of the power of the people versus the dollar power of a developer. HISTORY In 1999, Sterling Diagnostic Imaging decided to sell their interest in the land that holds Triple Falls and High Falls, two of the most gorgeous waterfalls you will ever visit this side of the Mississippi. For reasons still unknown, the company decided to use an unusual bidding method by choosing to keep the bidding private and secretive. The State offered up a bid in efforts to save the land for public use, but Sterling announced a developer by the name of Jim Anthony won with a bid of 6.35 million. The developer initially announced in the Hendersonville Times News that he had no plans to develop the land, but instead wanted to use it as a private retreat. However, it soon became apparent Anthony was indeed planning a massive upscale gated community. The fact that the deed he purchased from Sterling Diagnostics stating the land could not be used for residential purposes at the Transylvania Courthouse did not seem to matter. It was later discovered the complex legal agreement between the two was unenforceable and the battle began between the state and Anthony. Anthony proceeded to begin building the roads and this gorgeous covered bridge as part of his planned community, but thankfully he was ultimately defeated. On October 23, 2000 Governor Jim Hunt and the Council of State unanimously voted to invoke eminent domain on the tract of land owned by developer Anthony. In many ways Anthony still won big, because the State paid him 24.5 million dollars in an out of court settlement. WOW! The Falls opened to the public on December 17, 2000. Since then, the entire 2200 acres has been integrated into Dupont State Forest. [History Reference: Romantic Asheville - "How Dupont State Forest was saved"] FINAL THOUGHTS Aside from being one of the most beautiful covered bridges you will ever see, it also is part of a trail system that includes arguably the most beautiful waterfalls in the South. If that is not enough of a reason to come here, let me give you movie fans one more reason. Many scenes from the 1st Hunger Games were filmed right here in this forest. The scene were Katniss finds Peeta camouflaged in the ground at the waterfall is located on the second tier of Triple Falls... just a half mile downstream of High Falls Covered Bridge. Movie scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxvyMiwhJWw Year Built: 2000 Obvious materials: Wood, stone, concrete Spans over: Little River at the top of High Falls Location: Dupont State Forest @ Buck Forest Road

Very cool urban "archaeological" find...nobody but locals "in the know" seem to be aware it's even…read morethere! Found out about it from the very nice & informative bartender at Dust Off Brewing (check out doing to the YoCo Brew Trail; check into 6 breweries on the app & get a t-shirt). He couldn't quite remember how to get to it, but after some intensive research, found the geo coordinates. That was honestly the only way to find this place, plus a little guts & guesswork. You can quasi see some portion of the rockwork of the ruinous remains from the paved Riverwalk trail. The "easiest" way to get to the ruins is to follow the Riverwalk Piedmont Medical Center Trail to just before mile marker 1.25; you will see this steep wooden thing with awkwardly placed planks. You basically have to rock-wall climb your way up. From there you are on a mountain biking trail. Follow the arrows for just over a quarter mile and you will see some indicators of the ruins before they open up in front of you. You will most likely have the place to yourself. Really cool to wander around and take it all in. Just be careful with holes and don't walk on or within the actual ruins as they are pretty sketch & unsteady. There are spiders, snakes, and flying insects galore, so put on repellent and stay vigilant cuz it is deep woods! You can either get back down the way you came; I found this gray rock slope that I found easier to navigate than sliding down the wood thing I climbed up. Either way, really neat find and I'm so glad I explored to find it! The paved walkway along the Catawba is also a nice walk to and from!

This is a fairly remote site, and the roads were not in good condition when I arrived, with a…read morebridge out to the north that would require a major detour. The site itself had a history that wasn't quite what I expected; after its days as a working plantation, it was rented to sharecroppers for many years before the area was bought by the National Forest Service and a large number of trees were planted with the intent to create a new forest (a success, by the looks of things), and the site of this mansion was later made into a park. Wandering around the site was free; a guided tour of the mansion itself did cost some money. The site was the home of a governor shortly before the Civil War, so the focus is on Civil War history. I had the run of the place given the frigid weather, and I found the historical context interesting, though there seemed to be a lot of gaps in recorded history and a lot of speculation in the responses I got. Nonetheless, you'd still get an interesting and nuanced picture even with the uncertainty. There were some small trails, but I didn't quite make it to the river. Without the tour, there wasn't really enough to be worth driving an hour or more to get here (and I was puzzled that some people apparently left without seeing the mansion). It wasn't the best SC park I've been to, but they've all been interesting.

Got a tour of the mansion from Nate - he was a great guide. Very knowledgeable, eager to answer my…read morequestions. This site is on the smaller side of other plantations I've visited. With the tour, you could walk and see the whole of the grounds within 1.5, 2hrs. I've never been disappointed with a SC Parks employee-led tour. It's worth buying the state parks annual pass if you're into history, want to support the parks, and take advantage of all the tours included in the annual pass.

Rhonda was our tour guide. So friendly and helpful. The house was very interesting to walk through,…read moreand so much we could actually see up close and personal. We also got to see Mr. Calhoun's office, which is not attached to the house. We enjoyed our time here and didn't feel rushed at all. And it was FREE!

From the owner: Thomas Green Clemson's bequest led to the creation of Clemson University and the establishment of…read moreFort Hill, the antebellum plantation of American politician John C. Calhoun, as an historic house museum first opened to the public in 1893. In accordance with T. G. Clemson's will, Fort Hill dwelling house "shall always be open for the inspection of visitors" with official hours of operation seven days a week, with the exception of University holidays and home football games. Fort Hill interprets the history of all who lived here from the Calhoun and Clemson families to the enslaved African-Americans whose sheer determination, resilience, and resistance are much of our story. Prior to the American Revolution, the land that now makes up Clemson University's campus was part of the Cherokee's Lower Town of Esseneca.

Cedar Falls Park has two entrances. One side has a playground and an event area, the other side is…read morethe falls and a partially paved hiking trail. We didn't realize the two sides of this park until we had started walking. We started out on the playground side. So, It worked out well there's a nice riverside trail between the park and the falls. It's not a difficult walk, but it can be hazardous if it's recently rained.

Great place for a family hike, or a peaceful stroll! This…read morecounty park is on the site of a 19th century mill and you can enjoy the ruins, the remnants of the dam and the waterfalls. Great picnic or family spot too! My small kids had no problem making it through. There are multiple spots to access the trails and two playgrounds, bench swings, picnic tables, park benches all along the trail and restrooms. You can take the nature trail and enjoy the shaded hike. The only issue I had is that you can lose the trail near the edge of the park. If you hit the power lines, you've gone too far! Great place!

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.