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.

Although I knew its exact location, I nearly drove right past it! It looks more like a shed in the…read morewoods than a bridge since the surrounding area is overgrown with brush and the creek is not immediately noticeable from the road. ~~~~~~~~~~ Please note this bridge is on private property, a little factoid I didn't discover until after my visit. Glad I didn't get shot! ~~~~~~~~~~ The bridge itself was actually in very good condition. While preparing to write this review I discovered an article about the bridge on GainesvilleTimes.com that said students from the local high school took part in a restoration project around 2007. The bridge was restored to look like the oldest historic picture they could find of the bridge. Other online pictures appear to show the bridge covered in cedar shingles and looking rather unattractive. The current look is far more appealing and in line with ALL the other covered historic bridges in the state. The students participation won them 2nd place for Future Business Leaders of America in their county... pretty awesome! The article also states there were plans in the works that included making the bridge public for all to enjoy. A portion of land was to be donated by the two properties that are divided by the creek just below the bridge. Problems arose when the county commissioner changed and support for the project seemingly dried up. ---------- HAUNTED The bridge is also said to be haunted by a blind women by the name of Suzie who used to make moonshine, rock out on her porch, and sell her goods (on occasion) by this bridge. It has been argued this is the wrong bridge, but someone thought it would be good to attach the name of Blind Suzie to this bridge as a ghost story and it seems to have stuck. Get the full details of the article about this bridge here: http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/archives/24836/ ---------- BRIDGE FACTS * Also known as Hyder Bridge and Lula Covered Bridge. * Closed to vehicular Traffic in 1969 when it was bypassed * Originally built in 1915 about a mile upriver and was relocated. * Only remaining authentic historic covered bridge in Banks County. * Shortest of the remaining Georgia Covered bridges. * TOTAL LENGTH: 34' long * TRUSS: single-span modified Kingpost truss (the only covered bridge remaining in Georgia with this truss system). ---------- FINAL THOUGHTS Whether Blind Suzie actually haunts this bridge or not, it is a valuable surviving piece of history that I hope doesn't get caught up on silly bureaucracy that results in its demise. This bridge is officially 100 years old and deserves to be preserved for 100 years more for future generations to remember and enjoy. I hope they do eventually make this bridge accessible to the public. I would think this could be a project the entire state would get behind and take pride in like Indiana and Ohio, two fine examples of states who have made restoring their historic bridges a priority. Each has created driving tours and festivals celebrating their bridges that are enjoyed by locals statewide and bridge lovers from all over... like me. Seems to me it would be a no brainer that this sort of tourism would add valuable dollars to the local economies... just sayin'

Located in front of what's now a factory office building, this marker points out what used to be an…read moreimportant Native American trading ground. Thee is limited parking here - I was able to briefly park across the road and no one said anything. The marker has the same text on both sides. It reads, "This was Ah-Yeh-Li A-Lo-Hee, the Center of the World, to the Cherokee Indians. To this assembly ground, from which trails radiate in many directions, they came to hold their councils, to dance and worship which were to them related functions, and to barter their hides, furs and blankets for the trade goods of the white men from Augusta and other settlements. At one time there was a move to establish here the Hart County seat. This site was also a noted roost in the days when the now extinct passenger pigeons migrated here in the autumn in such numbers that "their weight broke the tree limbs."" It is marker number 073-3 and it was erected in 1954 by the Georgia Historical Commission. [Review 215 of 2025 - 785 in Georgia - 23779 overall]

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

Along US Highway 441 (which goes from Miami Florida, across all of Georgia and into eastern…read moreTennessee), this marker points out some of the Colonial History of the area. It's at an otherwise unassuming intersection so there is room to pull over to read the marker. It has the same text on both sides, reading "The boundary between the State of Georgia and the Cherokee Nation established by the Treaty of Augusta, May 31, 1783, ran along here. The line ran "from the top of Currahee mountain to the head, or source, of the most southern branch of the Oconee river, including all waters of the same. This boundary line was re-affirmed by the Treaty of Hopewell, Nov. 28, 1785. It was originally marked by a line of felled trees at least twenty feet wide, which became a sort of No Man's Land." The marker was erected in 1953 by the 1953 by Georgia Historical Commission and is marker number 006-1. The immediate area around it is overgrown but you can still read it here. [Review 21130 overall - 701 in Georgia - 93 of 2024.]

This is a beautiful trail that leads to two stunning waterfalls. The trail can be challenging in…read moresome areas due to rocky terrain and roots on the path. However, overall it's a pleasant trail with several creek crossings and rhododendron tunnels. The first falls, Panther Falls, is a sight to behold and you can even walk in the pool at the base of the falls. As you proceed from Panther Falls, the trail becomes harder as you go up the side of the falls, and there are handrails due to steep drop-offs. The trail is an in and out and takes you through lush rhododendron forests, alongside a scenic Creek. The effort is well worth it, though, as the falls themselves are magnificent, with cascading waters that make for an incredible photo opportunity. Angel Falls at the end of the trail can be harder to see due to plants growing over it partially. The Angel Fall Trailhead is located in Loop 2, area 2 of the Rabun Beach Campground. This is mostly an easy trail with a couple of short, steep runs. The payoff is reaching the observation deck where you can enjoy Angel Falls. Here you will see dogs on leash, kid-friendly, forests, rivers, and hiking. Great, short, easy "Moderate" hike. Parking is enough for a few cars only, but nearby there is a campground with a lot of parking. The hike itself is pretty easy. The peaceful surroundings and the sound of rushing water create a serene atmosphere, making it a must-visit for nature enthusiasts.

Angel Falls was tough to find with Google providing the wrong location, but the trailhead is off…read moreRabun Rd. about 4 miles down from where Google says it is! Happy we continued the beautiful drive around the lake to find it. The parking area is small, but we also were the only car there for our visit. It's a short, easy walk (just watch out for the roots!) to the falls, but it was a little more advanced after the bridge at the falls. We had lots of rain so the mud was slippery. Must-do hike if you're near!

Set on the grounds of the Oconee County Courthouse, this historical marker confronts a grim chapter…read morefrom our past - one that unfolded less than a century ago. The front of the marker reads, "In 1930, over 100 white men and boys broke into Oconee County Jail to lynch Allen Green, a prominent local African American. Born in 1879, Green lived a few blocks east of here with his wife, Corrie Green. On April 20, he was arrested on likely false charges of raping a white woman. He was then brought to the jail which stood near this site. For several nights, groups met at the mill baseball field planning his lynching." The reverse, "On April 23, the mob came to the jail, attacked the sheriff, and forced Green from his cell. They took him to a location outside West Union, tied him to a tree and shot him repeatedly. One S.C. newspaper described it as 'among the most barbarous crimes ever committed' in the state. Seventeen people, including the mayor of Walhalla, were indicted for murder and other charges. None were convicted. Green is buried outside of town." This marker does more than recount a tragedy - it demands remembrance, reflection, and reckoning. It belongs here on the courthouse grounds as a reminder. It is marker number 37-26 and it was sponsored by Oconee County Arts and Historical Commission. It was erected in 2022. [Review 1246 of 2025 - 1303 in South Carolina - 24798 overall]

Cobb Bridge sits where Cobb Bridge Road crosses the Chauga River west of Westminster, a quiet…read morecorner of Oconee County surrounded by hardwood forest and bordered by the edge of Sumter National Forest. The approach along the narrow pavement reinforces that tucked‑away Upstate feeling, and the posted clearance of 14 feet 7 inches makes it a true two-lane bridge even if it feels tighter than that when you're rolling across. My Sprinter van fit without issue, but I was still glad there was no oncoming traffic on a gray afternoon. The bridge itself is a modern concrete structure rather than a historic iron span, built to replace earlier crossings that once served this rural stretch of the county. Its importance comes less from architectural character and more from function, anchoring one of the most reliable access points to the Chauga River, a waterway known for trout fishing, small rapids, and quiet pools. The river moves over rock shelves just downstream, and even from the deck you can hear the steady rush of water beneath the tree canopy, a sound that defines this part of the Upstate as much as the landscape itself. Because the area remains lightly developed, the bridge works as both a crossing and a gateway to the outdoors. Locals use the pull offs and shoulders to reach the river, and the corridor stays peaceful even on weekends, with only the occasional angler or paddler slipping down to the water. [Review 255 of 2026 - 1392 in South Carolina - 25444 overall]