Lake Greenwood State Park is the epitome of a nature preserve: vast unspoiled spaces, gentle…read morewinding trails, generous lake fronts and easy boating access. It's all here. And I love it. We have camped here twice, once in the fall and this time in late March. Both were unique in their own way with the fall trip taking the cake. On both trips the morning sun greeted us ablaze with colors only to be rivaled by its sunset as the long day closed upon us. Beautiful. Serene. The camping reservations are easy through the SC website and the prices very reasonable. Most sites have a view of the lake and several are right on it. We did notice this time (spring) that several locals booked their family vacation here during spring break. Sadly, several lugged all their crap from home with them: refrigerators, large grills, full-size kitchen ovens, awnings, boats, golf carts, bikes, dogs, and kids. The center of the campground looked like a hillbilly hoedown. People were kind and respectful, but damn, it's camping people! Overall, we like it here and we will return. Got the campfire just a smokin' on my "Give 'em a whirl" meter. Camp here (just leave your sh*t at home).

We took a slight detour on our way to Greenville SC to stop here. Incredibly happy we did. It was…read moreearly afternoon on a Thursday, and we immediately found a little cove where our two pups ( Senior Labrador Retrievers) could swim. No one else was around and the breeze coming off the water was refreshing and cooling. The bottom of the lake was mostly sand. It was clean, quiet and the boys had a blast! Perfect stop in a great place!

Off season camping always has its challenges, but as a full time RV guy, it's a necessary evil. I…read moreappreciate state parks that are open year round with facilities like Sadlers Creek. The bathhouse is older, but very well maintained and clean. Good water pressure and it was nice and heated, which is welcomed on a rainy, cold, December stay. The friendly ranger added to a positive experience.

The family played volleyball and enjoyed the beautiful scenery view. We went Christmas Day, the…read moreweather was perfect.

Tiny little Asian garden tucked away in Newberry. A quiet place, wonderful reflection ponds &…read moreJapanese inspired structures. I was in town for a conference and asked a local what one thing they would suggest and this was the first thing that was suggested. They did warn me it was small- and it is, but also just magically lovely. I walked the small loop and took photos, breathed in fresh air, grateful for a brief break from the rain, although I would have still enjoyed this park int he rain. The locals love it, if you are visiting- take a few minutes to reflect and enjoy!

Super cute well maintained Japanese garden hidden in the middle of town! I was visiting Newberry…read morefor a Spartan Race weekend and had some time to kill before my flight so I decided to pop on google maps to explore the local attractions. I'm so glad I found this hidden gem. I did a photoshoot with my best travel buddy, Stitch!

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!

Walking through Falls Park was an amazing experience. The sweet sounds of the waterfalls was very…read morenice especially right in the heart down town Greenville. I enjoyed walking on the suspension bridge overlooking sites.

Quaint little small town park with a big town feel. Nice new wAlking and biking trails loop…read morethrough. A good, level gravel path loops the pond. There are 2 nice fenced areas- one for big and one for small- dog to run and ply offleash. An interesting "sensory garden" for kids. Nice clean bathrooms. And they are soon to add more trail mileage. For a small town, it's a big park.

One of the much larger parks operated by Mecklenburg County, Ballantyne District Park weighs in at…read morea full 91 acres. The park includes a soccer field, four lighted baseball/soccer fields and a picnic shelter. When I stopped in today, there was some sort of mountain biking trail thing going on, so they clearly have a ton of that. Not much for playground or basketball, but there are other parks nearby that do have them. The park is set back from Johnston Road so it's quite secluded as far as traffic goes. It is operated in partnership with the Morrison YMCA. [Review 11567 overall, 1347 of 2019.]

beautiful trail with pine sections that are amazing, great challenge for biking, while still safe…read morefor peds.

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!

Highly recommend visiting!! It's so much more beautiful in person. The trails are accurate and well…read moremaintained.

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!

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

Beautiful and historic. The shoals are so much fun to slide and play in the water. Once a year in…read morethe fall they have a festival called Art in the Park! Believe me, you do not want to miss it! Be sure to save a lot of time for the awesome Village of historical buildings that have been moved to the site and restored. It's well worth many visits!!!!

park is nice but unstaffed most of the time and the area is bare bones. parking isn't convenient…read morefor the pavilions and having to cross the street to large hills with no stairs to access them from the parking areas is difficult for handicapped or limited mobility individuals. The river is fun for the kids but a lack of even a single park employee leads to many insatnces of crowds of loud violent groups taking over and running families out.

Driving up to this park takes one through downtown Orangeburg, which was virtually abandoned when I…read morepassed through. The park was no less eerie. A parking lot overlooked the green space, which had a road running through the center of it before one gets to the water. A boardwalk yielded some decent riverside nature, but also a broken water wheel. The parking lot had a handful of people who were simply sitting in their cars for reasons I could not discern. I found the design of the park strange, as a memorial space was immediately facing the parking lot and did not seem like a peaceful place of remembrance. The rose gardens were well manicured, and it seemed like whatever money the city has they put into maintaining them, but signs warned to stay away due to pesticides. There were a number of facilities as far as bathrooms and gathering places, and perhaps the park is more lively at some times, but I would not go out of my way to visit the place on its own merits.

Went to visit the Garden sometime ago when the roses were still in bloom. Not far from I-95 the…read moreEdisto gardens are in Orangeburg with an impressive amount of rose plants, something like 4800 with over four hundred varieties. Best time to go the weekend before Mother's Day. We were there the day before