TOURS AND EXCURSIONS

Cradle of Forestry in America -- On US 276 north of Brevard, NC in Pisgah National Forest. Exhibits and guided walking tour from May to late October. Call (704) 877-3130.

Oconee Station/Richards House -- Walhalla, SC. Call (864) 638-0079. Oldest building in Oconee County, built in 1792. Walking trails through forest. Approx. 1 mile from 60 foot (two-tiered) Station Cove Water Fall. Call for information on tour of this unique area.

Great Smoky Mt. Railway Scenic Excursion -- Dillsboro, NC. Call (800) 872-4681 or (828) 586-8811 (especially in October!) www.gsmr.com

World of Energy Tour -- Duke Power Station, Rte 130 north of Seneca. Visitors center with exhibits on the history of energy. Call (864) 885-4600.

Walhalla Fish Hatchery -- Call (864) 638-2866 for group tours. Can tour on own, but don’t get to see the egg incubation or get the guided tour with expert descriptions. Federal land adjoining the hatchery is great for having a picnic. Numerous tables and camp stoves as well as a covered pavilion.

Biltmore House Tour -- Asheville, NC. Call (800) 543-2961. Acres of landscaped gardens and walking trails, the country’s most visited winery as well as the 150-room mansion on this estate. www.biltmore.com

Chimney Rock Park -- Chimney Rock, NC. Call (800) 277-9611 (75-mile view).

Jones Gap State Park -- Marietta, SC. Call (864) 836-3647 Middle Saluda River Tour.

Boat Ride on Lake Jocassee at Devil's Fork State Park -- Salem, SC. Call (864) 944-9292 for boat guide and tour, James Couch of Fish, Inc.

Carl Sandburg Home -- Flat Rock, NC. Call (800) 828-4244,

Perception Inc. -- Easley SC. Call (864) 859-7518. Kayak manufacturing plant. See the new types and styles as well at the manufacturing process. Very interesting tour.

BMW Zentrum Plant Tour -- On route 1-85 near Greer/Spartanburg. Call (864) 968-6000. Very popular. Make arrangements well in advance.

Fort Hill -- Calhoun House -- Clemson University, Clemson, SC. Call (864) 656-2475. For the group tour, call the visitor's center at (864) 656-4789.

Tour of the World of Coca-Cola -- Downtown Atlanta, GA. Call (404) 676-5151. Have lunch at the nearby Underground of shops and restaurants.

Guided Tour of Historic Abbeville -- Abbeville, SC. Antebellum Mansion and buildings. Contact Greater Abbeville Chamber of Commerce. Call (803) 459-4600 for tour.

Dahlonega Gold Mine -- Dahlonega, GA. Call (706) 886-2132 Chamber of Commerce (Toccoa, GA) regarding the historic gold mine village. It was the largest gold mining operation this side of the Mississippi. Museum, historical buildings and great eating places.

Channel 7 Spartanburg/Greenville (CBS) Tour (off 1-85)

Chateau Elan -- Braselton, GA. Winery Tour and Brunch. Call (800) 233-9463.

Ashtabula & Woodburn Plantations -- Pendelton, SC. Call (800) 646-7249.

Hagood Mill -- Pickens, SC. Restored 1845 grist mill. Open third Saturday of every month for demonstrations. Call (864) 898-5963.

SPORTING EVENTS

Clemson University Athletics -- Clemson University, Clemson SC. Call (864) 656-2114. Experience NCAA/ACC sports with Clemson Athletes. Volleyball, Baseball, Football, Basketball, Swimming, Track & Field, Soccer, Golf, Tennis, etc.

Greenville Braves Baseball Club -- Greenville, SC. Call (864) 277-7369. Professional Double A Minor League Baseball team of the Atlanta Braves. 70 home games from April - August.

Greenville Growl -- Greenville SC. Professional soccer games.

SPORTS ACTIVITIES

White Water Rafting at Chattooga -- Call 647-0365 or Nantahalla (800) 232-7238 out of Mountain Rest, SC, or Wildwater (800) 451-9972, Long Creek, SC.

Black Mountain Trout Farm -- Westminster, SC. Call Peg Bayless at (864) 647-9700 for group reservations. Fish Fry! Catch your own trout! Best times to go - fall and spring.

BOTANICAL GARDENS AND MUSEUMS

Currahee Military Museum -- 160 N. Alexander St.,Toccoa GA, phone (706) 282-5055.

South Carolina Botanical Garden -- Clemson, SC (Clemson University). 270 acres of botanical displays including one of the South’s finest camellia, native wildflowers and daffodil collections as well as an incredible diversity of trees. Call (864) 656-3405

Hanover House Museum -- Clemson SC (Clemson University). Colonial House (c.1716) is a historic house museum located at the South Carolina Botanical Gardens. Call (864) 656-4789 for information on group tours.

Georgia State Botanical Gardens -- Athens GA. Guided tour.  Eat lunch at the Garden Room Cafe in the Conservatory. Call (706) 542-6359 for reservations.

Greenville County Museum of Art -- Call for guided tour (864) 271-7570 (closed on Mondays). Have lunch at "858 Restaurant" (valet parking).

Schoolhouse Antiques and Museum -- Liberty, SC. Call (864) 843-6827. Largest privately-owned antique collection in the Southeast. Everything from pre-WWI autos to a general store, barber shop, dentist’s office and thousands of other items are displayed.

Gallery of Scared Art -- guided tour at Bob Jones University, Greenville, SC. Call (864) 242-5100 for tour and lunch reservation at the Student Cafeteria. Works by such Masters as Botticelli, Tintoretto, Rubens, Rembrandt, etc. (an important collection).

Foxfire Museum -- Dillard, GA. Call (706) 746-5828 www.foxfire.org. Dine at The Dillard House (800) 541-0671 http://www.dillardhouse.com/

Callaway Gardens -- Pine Mountain, GA www.callawaygardens.com

Pickens County Musuem -- Pickens, SC. Call (864) 898-5963 http://www.co.pickens.sc.us/culturalcommission

Antiquers Heaven -- Liberty, SC. Call (864) 843-6827. Largest varied antique collection in the southeast. Many rare antique cars.

LOCAL AREA Playhouses, Theaters and Concerts

The Peace Center -- Greenville, SC. Attend any concert, musical, ballet, etc. Reserve group tickets – (864) 467-3000 www.peacecenter.org

"Living Christmas Tree" -- Berea First Baptist Church, 529 Farrs Bridge Rd., Berea, SC near Greenville. Performances in December. This show is a “must see.” It’s fantastic. Call (864) 246-1921 for tickets.

Flat Rock Playhouse  -- Flat Rock, NC. Seasonal May-October. For matinees and evenings call (828) 693-0731 www.flatrockplayhouse.org. One of the 10 best summer stock theaters in the U.S.

Summer Outdoor Pops Concert -- (June-August) at Furman University, Greenville, SC. Picnic on the lawn at the lakeside location.

Newberry Opera House -- Newberry, SC. Call (803) 276-6264 www.newberryoperahouse.com

Walhalla Civic Auditorium -- Walhalla, SC. www.walhallacivicauditorium.com

Toccoa Symphony Orchestra -- All concerts held at Georgia Baptist Assembly at 4 PM on Sundays. Call Toccoa Chamber of Commerce (706) 886-2132 for information. Be sure to visit Toccoa Falls.

Brevard Summer Music Festival -- Brevard, NC. June-August. Call (888) 384-8682 www.brevardmusic.org

Oconee Community Theater -- Seneca, SC. Call (864) 882-7700 www.oconeetheatre.com

Abbeville Opera House -- Abbeville,SC. Call (803) 459-2157.

Warehouse Theater -- Greenville, SC. Call (864) 322-1321.

Electric City Playhouse -- Anderson, SC. Call (864) 224-4248.

Easley Foothills Playhouse -- Easley. SC. Call (864) 855-1817.

Clemson Little Theater – Pendleton, SC. Call (864) 646-8100 www.clemsonlittletheatre.com

Greenville Symphony -- Greenville, SC. Call (864) 232-0344 www.greenvillesymphony.org

Bob Jones U. Concerts, Operas -- Call (864) 242-5100 ext. 5750. Greenville & Art Museum

Brooks Center -- Clemson University. Call (864) 656-7787 www.clemson.edu/brooks

Unto These Hills -- Cherokee, NC. Call (866) 554-4557 www.untothesehills.com

Highlands Playhouse -- Highlands, NC. Call (828) 526-2695 www.highlandsplayhouse.com

PLAN YOUR OWN ACTIVITY

New Year's Day Game or Super Bowl -- Pot luck dinner at Host's home.

Organize a Pontoon Boat Flotilla on Lake Keowee -- Have a picnic at the Leisure Trail Shelter, Keowee Key. (To reserve the shelter, call (864) 944-1267, Maintenance Dept.) Also reserve shuffleboard courts nearby.

Have a Pumpkin Carving Party -- Pot luck dinner at host's home. Great for October.

Some of the area’s Annual Events

March

Professional Rodeo -- Garrison Arena (Clemson University)

April

Historic Pendelton Spring Jubilee -- Always 1st weekend of April. Arts, Crafts, Entertainment, Historic Tours, and Food.

Anderson Spring Fair and Hot Air Balloon Festival -- Anderson County Fair Grounds
Competition, Rides, Music, Games, and Special Entertainment.

Spring Celebration: South Carolina Botanical Gardens -- Clemson, SC. Mid-April Music, Crafts, Dance, Etc. (864) 656-3405

Pickens Azalea Festival -- Mid-April. Arts, Crafts, classic car show & entertainment.

Soiree Downtown -- Anderson. Last weekend of month. Two-day food, entertainment and arts festival.

May

Spring Heritage Festival -- Seneca, First part of month. Arts, crafts, music & entertainment. (864) 885-0467.

Old Farm Days -- First weekend in May. Pendleton. Antique farm engines & equipment in Veterans Park. (864) 646-7601.

Liberty Fest -- Mothers Day Saturday, Liberty, SC. Entertainment, food, arts & crafts.

June

Civil War Re-enactment -- 1st weekend of June, between Central & Norris. Battle of Sunken Road at Sharpsburg. Historical displays, Circle M BBQ, Civil war music concert. Call (864) 859-0847.

Flower Festival -- Greenwood, SC (usually the 4th weekend in June). Park Seed Company open to the public; private home garden tours; music and more. <http://www.scfestivalofflowers.org/>

July

Hillbilly Days July 4th -- Mountain Rest, SC. One of the oldest festivals in the state. Clogging, square dancing, country and bluegrass music, crafts, food & old-time games. Call (864) 638-7191 or (864) 638-2681.

Clemson Fest July 4th -- Clemson, SC on Lake Hartwell at YMCA. Fireworks, arts, crafts, games, food and live entertainment.

July 4th Celebration -- Easley, SC. July 1- 4. Fireworks, entertainment, concessions and more. Call (864) 859-9819.

September

Dacusville Farm Days -- Labor Day weekend. Dacusville, SC. Steam engines, tractors, antique cars, bluegrass music, wagon rides, plowing contest, arts & crafts, country food, wheat threshing. Call (864) 846-6893.

Anderson County Fair -- Late September. Anderson County Fairgrounds. Nine-day event.

Railroad Festival -- Central, SC. Parade, train exhibition, etc. Call (864) 639-6381.

South Carolina Apple Festival -- Week long starting Labor Day Monday, Westminster, SC and Long Creek, SC. Classic road race, golf tournament, river float, bridge tournament, street dance, apple baking contest, etc.

October

Oktoberfest -- Helen, Georgia. Call (800) 858-8027. Oktoberfest in Helen may have started out small in the ‘70s, but over the years, it has grown into the biggest party in the Southeast. And this, is not one of those one-week festivals; this celebration lasts 2 months!  <http://www.helenchamber.com/oktoberfest.htm>

Oktoberfest -- Walhalla, SC (mid-October) German & American food, carnival rides, German music and dancers, sky divers, clowns and magicians. Call (864) 639-2727.

November

Professional Rodeo – Garrison Arena (Clemson University)

Other useful websites

www.upcountry-sc.org

www.discoversouthcarolina.com