Quick Stop in Greenville, SC

After hearing some rave reviews, we decided to add an impromptu visit to Greenville, SC.  It's not a place on our relocation list, but we decided to check it out because of the buzz.  We left Savannah Wednesday morning and stopped for lunch with my mom's sister in Columbia en route.  From there, we headed north to Greenville.  I've never associated South Carolina with anything besides flat land, but as we neared Greenville, the flat roads slowly turned to rolling hills, and once we got to the city, we realized it was aptly named.  Not only does South Carolina have it's share of elevation changes, Greenville's main street is lined with rows of lush trees, and a giant park with a river runs through its center.  We were amazed at how cool and green it was!  About 30 years ago, the city started a downtown renovation project, and it really shows.  The area is polished and inviting and is very easy for tourists to navigate.

We walked down main street for about 10 blocks before we came to Reedy River and Falls Park.  This area is incredibly cool - it's too bad Raleigh isn't this far along in their downtown makeover (there are tentative plans to introduce a "central park" to downtown Raleigh in the next 10 years).   Falls Park has natural and man-made water features and a suspension bridge in the middle.

After we explored downtown for a few hours, we checked into the nicest and cheapest Quality Inn I have ever seen.  $46/night - with taxes included!?!?!  Amazing.  We may just be able to complete this trip without exhausting our savings...

There were threats of major thunderstorms just southeast of us that night, but the skies in Greenville didn't look too menacing, so we decided to catch a minor league baseball game.  The Greenville Drive is a farm team of the Red Sox, so Tom was happy.  They have a super-nice stadium that is modeled after Fenway Park, and we got first row seats behind home plate for $9 each.  Can't beat that.  The Drive was playing the Greensboro Grasshoppers and won by four runs.

Up next: Asheville, NC