OLLI at Clemson Class March 2015

1. G E R A L D S W E I T Z E R
C O - A U T H O R : T H E 5 0 B E S T S M A L L
S O U T H E R N T O W N S
Where Should We Go This
Weekend?
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2. Destinations Organized By:
Distance From Easley/Clemson—20
miles to 250 miles—Up to 4.5 hours
S.C. N.C. Ga.
 Big Cities
 Small Towns
 Adventure Destinations & Activities
 Grand Kids
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3. Resources
 See handout for websites for most destinations.
 Brochures in folders by state, cities, towns. Some
folder on adventure destinations. Write down
source for brochures to order. Last day of class see
brochures, but leave one in folder.
 Visit the state Welcome Centers on I-85
 S.C. at Lake Hartwell coming north, Ga about 3 miles south of
state line, NC about 5 miles past state line going north on I-85
 See this PowerPoint presentation on Slideshare.net.
Enter Where Should We Go This Weekend course
title in search box.
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4. Getting to Know A New City, or Town
 See the Visitor & Convention Bureau Website for
your Destination. Download Brochures & Booklets.
 Visit the Visitor & Convention Bureau, or Chamber
of Commerce for Maps, Brochures, and Information.
 Large Cities have Visitor Center with Videos, Tour
Information, etc.
 Take a Trolley, Horse Carriage, Bus or Boat Tour of
the City Before Venturing Out On Your Own in Large
Cities.
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5. Destinations Within One Hour
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6. Towns Within One Hour
 S.C.
 Pickens County
 Pickens—Pickens County Museum & Hagood Mill
 Abbeville & Greenwood
 Abbeville—Home of John Calhoun, Abbeville Opera House
 Greenwood—Park Seed Company
 N.C.
 Hendersonville & Flat Rock
 Hendersonville—One of The 50 Best Small Southern Towns, 2,200
ft. elevation, picturesque, thriving downtown
 Flat Rock—Home of the Flat Rock Playhouse, and Carl Sandburg
Historic Site
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7. Close By: Duke Energy World of Energy
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 Exhibit area “More than three-million people have visited the World of Energy, and
we’d love for you to be our next guest! We can easily accommodate small families or
large groups; and, once here, there are plenty of fun and exciting things to see and
learn. We are open six days a week and close for just a few holidays each year”
 Hours
 Monday – Friday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday: Noon to 5 p.m.
Sunday: Closed
 Nice to Know
 Free Parking, Including Bus Area
 Free Admission
 Handicap Accessible
 Address
 7812 Rochester Highway
Seneca, South Carolina 29672
 Call for Directions
 (800) 777-1004

8. Stumphouse Mountain Tunnel & Issaquena Falls in Oconee
County
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9. Stumphouse Mountain Tunnel History
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 Located about 7 miles northwest of Walhalla on Hyw 28,
the 1,617 foot long Stumphouse Tunnel is an oddity.
Started in 1852 to connect Charleston to Knoxville and
eventually on to Cincinnati, the Civil War—and lack of
funds—brought construction to a halt. While there were
various efforts by the Blue Ridge Railroad to revive the
tunnel, none of them came to pass and it stands today as
a monument to the efforts of pre-Civil War engineering.
 Take flashlights, and water resistant light jacket & shoes
to go into tunnel.

10. Cities: Greenville & Spartanburg
 Greenville area—Download, or Pickup the
Downtown Greenville Visitors Guide & the Michelin
Greenville & Upstate Guide Available at the Visitor &
Convention Center in the Lobby of City Hall Between
the Marriott Courtyard & the Poinsett Hotel on Main
Street
 Spartanburg—Convention & Visitors Bureau @105
N. Pine St. You Can Download the Visitor Guide
from their Website @www.VisitSpartanburg.com
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11. Greenville-Falls Park & the Liberty Bridge
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12. Greenville Festivals
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13. Mice on Main & Thoughts on the Walk
Nine bronze mice on Main St between the Hyatt Regency Hotel & The Greenville
News building (It’s going to be demolished in 2015)
See the 28 famous quotes located on the sidewalk in front of TD Bank & Poinsett
Plaza on Main St.
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14. Fluor Field—Home of the Greenville Drive
5,000 seat baseball stadium modeled after Fenway Park with manual score board
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15. Greenville Artisphere & Streetscape Painting & The Village of
West Greenville
30+ artisans in galleries & studios
@ Pendleton & Lois Ave &
Traction St.
Streetscape painting on Riverwalk
along Reedy River
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16. Mast General Store on Main Street
Old fashion general store atmosphere with mix of merchandise for active lifestyle
Visit the wonderful toy store with 2 nutcracker statues next door
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17. Upcountry History Museum, Art Museum,
& Children’s Museum
All three are within two blocks of each
other
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18. Children’s Garden at Entrance to Swamp Rabbit Trail Under
Viaduct
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19. Ice on Main
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 Ice on Main is located on Village Green, in front of the Courtyard
Marriott in downtown Greenville, adjacent to City Hall. Check website
for dates

20. Bob Jones University Museum & Gallery
Bob Jones University Campus in Greenville
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21. Pickens County
Pickens County Museum in Pickens
Haygood Mill--One of the finest
regional examples of nineteenth
century technology can be found just
three miles north of Pickens. Located
just off Highway 178, this 1845
gristmill is still working today
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22. Pickens County Flea Market
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 Pickens County Flea Market and Bargain Exchange
1449 Walhalla Hwy., Pickens
Open year-round. 4 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday, 6 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday,
Saturday and Sunday. For more information, call 864-878-9646.
 So here’s the thing about Pickens: It has two flea markets that are right next
to each other. One is “old” and the other is “new,” though the new one has
been around for at least 30 years. They’re both open on Wednesday
mornings. It’s probably better not to question it and instead just show up
for the market that was voted best in America by the Small Business
Association. The Pickens County Flea Market and Bargain Exchange opens
at 4 a.m.., and people in the know recommend getting there at 4 to get the
best deals. Sure you’ll be tired, but by 4:30 a.m. you might also be the
proud owner of a beagle puppy and a ceramic bust of Elvis. Be sure to check
out the bluegrass band jamming throughout the morning.

23. Happy Berry Farm—Pick Your Own Berries
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24. Table Rock State Park
Hwy 11 in Pickens County
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25. Table Rock State Park
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1930’s era CCC constructed lodge for meetings, events

26. Waterfalls—22 in Oconee County, 2 in Pickens
County, 7 in Greenville County
Twin Falls in the Estatoe Valley off Hwy 178 in Pickens Co. Viewing platform
& easy walk
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27. Tryon N.C.
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 Tryon is an upscale 1,800 pop. town with multiple
galleries, bed-and-breakfasts, wine bar, bookstore,
Architectural Warehouse for grand home antiques,
& fine arts center. Plenty of places to eat, drink. The
Blockhouse Steeplechase is held at nearby FENCE

28. Saluda N.C.
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 Take in Tryon & Saluda on the same trip. See sights
listed in handout. Unique shops, and waterfalls.

29. Hendersonville, N.C.
Two good Irish pubs serve excellent
food
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30. Hendersonville N.C.
23 Places to Eat, Unique Shops, and Popular
Festivals30

31. Flat Rock N.C.
Flat Rock Playhouse, The State Theater of North Carolina Seats 500 & hosts
80,000 annually during eight month season
Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site
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32. 32
Lake Lure Inn and boat tour of lake Lure

33. BMW Zentrum & Plant Tours—Stop By on
the Way to Spartanburg
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34. Tour the Modern BMW Plant
Tours by reservation only, costs $7.00 Takes one hour Wear fully enclosed
comfortable walking shoes. Not open during model changeover or new model
introduction. This is the largest by number of employees auto plant in the U.S.
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35. Spartanburg
Attractive Downtown, with public parks, & the Chapman Cultural Center
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36. Chapman Cultural Center
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37. Abbeville—Birthplace of John Calhoun
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38. Greenwood Flower Festival (Spring)
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39. Hodges, Just Outside Greenwood is Home to
Park Seed Company(No longer in Flower Show)
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40. Adventure Stuff
Hot Air Balloon Flights in
Anderson
Canopy Tours on a Zipline at Long Creek S.C.
More Zipline facilities in Western NC, including in
downtown Asheville
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41. Within Two-Three Hours
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42. Georgia
 BIG City—”Hotatlanta” is 2.5 hrs from Clemson-Easley on I-85
 Atlanta is: Entertainment, Major Sports, Transportation, &
International
o Attractions of Possible Interest
o Centennial Olympic Park area (downtown)
o The World of Coca Cola (great for kids also)
o The Georgia Aquarium (largest in the world)
o CNN Center & tour
o Top of the Peachtree Plaza (highest hotel in the Western
Hemisphere) with revolving lounge & restaurant & 360 degree
view of Atlanta
o Atlanta Botanical Garden (one of the ten best in the U.S.)
o Jimmy Carter Presidential Library
o Stone Mountain Park (good for kids)
o Fernbank Museum of Natural History & IMAX Theater
o Atlanta Cyclorama
o
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43. Getting Around in Atlanta Tips
 Take MARTA (subway & rail) to Downtown from
Major Stations Outside of I-285. Parking available at
several Marta stations.
 Traffic Accelerates to 75+ mph on the Freeways
 There are Over 60 Streets with Peachtree as Part of
the Name. Know Which One you Want—A GPS
Highly Recommended
 Get Out of Dodge (Atlanta) Heading North on I-85
by 4 pm on Weekdays
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44. Downtown Atlanta
Start with Centennial Olympic Park
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45. 45

46. Looking Down on Centennial Park From 73 Story
Revolving Lounge Atop Peachtree Plaza Hotel
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47. Attractions Around Centennial Park
Coca Cola Museum
Georgia Aquarium—the world’s largest
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48. Worthwhile Attractions in Metro Atlanta
OLLI Visit-Fall 2015
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49. The Fuqua Conservatory—One of the Top 5
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50. Dale Chihuly Glass Sculpture
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51. The Canopy Walk—600 ft. Long Reverse
Suspension Bridge 40’ Above the Storza Woods.A

52. Jimmy Carter Presidential Library
The Oval Office
Carter’s Nobel Peace
Prize
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53. Fernbank Museum of Natural History & IMAX
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54. IMAX Presentations at Fernbank & Exhibits
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55. Small Towns in Ga. Within 2-3 hours
Dahlonega-Site of First Gold Rush in the U.S.
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56. Dahlonega & Helen
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 Several Wineries in the area
 The largest gold mine east of the Mississippi &
several where you can pan for gold & gemstones
 30 min. between Dahlonega & Helen, a Bavarian
mountain town with a Alpine look now attracting
over 2 million visitors annually

57. Madison—2nd Largest Historic District in Ga.
With Nearly 100 Restored Antebellum Homes
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58. North Carolina
 Big City: Charlotte
 Charlotte is: Culture, Arts, & walkable
 Attractions of Possible Interest
 Levine Museum of the New South
 Discovery Place
 The Mint Museum
 The Billy Graham Library
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59. Downtown Charlotte NC
Get Around on Foot, & Light Rail
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Take grandkids on the light rail for fun &
ride to the East West Station, within 1
block of Pike’s Old Fashion Soda Shop

60. Charlotte—Walk to Many Attractions
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61. Charlotte, N.C.
Levine Museum of the New South
about Post Civil War Southern
History
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62. More Charlotte Attractions
NASCAR Hall of Fame
Fashion Collection at Mint Museum
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63. Asheville, N.C.
The Grove Arcade The Grove Park Inn—fireplace as
tall as a man
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64. Asheville, N.C.
Downtown filled with unique shops
Biltmore Village
Collection of shops & eating places
Across the street from the entrance
to Biltmore House
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65. Asheville, N.C.
22 downtown galleries. Learn more at Asheville website
Woolworth Walk Soda Fountain &
gallery with 150 artists & craftsmen
located in former Woolworth store
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66. New Brewery’s Near Asheville
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67. Biltmore House The largest home in the U.S.
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68. N.C. Towns
Bryson City –The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad is the main attraction
Expensive but enjoyable with grand kids
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69. Model Train Museum in Bryson City
Admission to the largest
collection of Lionel
trains in the U.S.
included in Smoky
Mountain Railroad
ticket price.
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70. Nantahala Outdoor Center Near Bryson City
Safe Whitewater Rafting for Active Seniors70

71. Mt. Airy N.C.
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 Home of Any Griffith (deceased) and setting for his
TV show about life in Mayberry.

72. Columbia S.C.
Riverbanks Zoo & Garden. Kid friendly & just right size
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73. State Capital Attractions-- Governor’s Mansion &
State House
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74. Aiken, S.C.
Downtown Aiken & Wilcox Inn (B&B) lower
right
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75. Aiken, an Equestrian Friendly City
Statues downtown & Polo matches
See the Thoroughbred Racing Hall of
Fame & Museum
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76. Newberry, S.C.
Known for their Restored Opera House.
Features full schedule of excellent
music, theater, & other performances
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77. Three-Five Hours (270 miles)From
Easley/Clemson
Furthest Destination is Beaufort @4.5 hours77

78. Old Salem Village, Winston-Salem N.C.
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 80 building restored historic Moravian community
depicting early American life. Small version of
Williamsburg.

79. S.C. Cities—Charleston
 Ranked in the top 5 tourist destinations in North
America by several reliable sources.
 Visit to the Official Visitors Center essential. Hot &
humid in the summer. Spring best time to visit, with fall
next.
 The America's premier international performing arts
festival, Spoleto Festival USA fills historic Charleston’s
theaters, churches and outdoor spaces with 17 days and
nights of over 120 performances of the world's best
opera, theater, dance and chamber, symphonic and
choral music. Late May until mid-June
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80. Charleston, S.C.
The Battery waterfront area—beautiful, large, & expensive homes.
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81. Battery homes
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82. Fountain in White Point Gardens--Battery Park
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83. Arthur Ravenel Jr Bridge Between Charleston &
Mt. Pleasant
Longest cable-stayed bridge in the Western Hemisphere. Includes popular
running, walking, bike lane
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84. Charleston Area Attractions
Boone Hall Plantation
Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum—
home of the USS Yorktown aircraft carrier
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85. Magnolia Plantation &
Gardens
Charleston Tea Plantation
 Listed on the National Register of Historic
Places, and only plantation in SC still under
original family ownership, since 1676. 500
acres
America’s only tea plantation, was started in
Summerville in the late 1880’s. Tour & purchase
American Classic Tea. Bigelow Tea of London is now
a part owner.
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Charleston Area Attractions

86. Sullivan Island
Poe’s Tavern—Edger Allen Poe
lived here 1827-1828. His “The
Gold Bug” was set here
$1 million houses here, along with
Lighthouse close to beach. Great public
Beaches
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87. Sullivan Island—Ft. Moultrie
Ft. Moultrie has guarded the Charleston Harbor through the Revolutionary War,
Civil War, & WWII .
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88. Place To Eat Seafood in Charleston Area
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 On causeway going to Mt. Pleasant
 Shem Creek Bar & Grill, & R B’s
 Low County specialty---Shrimp & Grits at both

89. SC Towns—Beaufort
Known as the Hamptons of the South Beaufort Museum
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90. Beaufort, S.C.
Waterfront Park on Left
Bridge connect Beaufort to
Hunting Island. You may
want to see Hunting Island
Lighthouse.
Downtown Beaufort has
attractive art shops
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91. NC towns:
Southern Pines, Pinehurst, & Aberdeen N.C.
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 Home to some of the best golf courses in the U.S.—
43 within 15 miles of each other
 N.C. Equine Park in nearby Raeford
 N.C. Pottery Center in nearby Seagrove

92. Questions & Comments
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 What are some of your favorites?