On the road - Greenville

Tree Root System, Greenville, SC

I  was looking forward to visiting this amazing tree root system on the path just up the hill from Reedy Park in Greenville. It is a wonderful sight. I could have stayed there all day offering to take pictures of happy visitors posing in front of it. 

On the road - Poinsett Bridge

Poinsett Bridge, Greenville, SC 

The Poinsett Bridge has been on my list for awhile and it was a worthwhile detour on the last day in the Greenville area. It was about half an hour from Greenville. What a sweet and cool spot on a record breaking hot day. There is a lively creek flowing under the bridge and we took our shoes off to soak our tootsies in the cool water. 

Poinsett Bridge is the oldest bridge in South Carolina and perhaps in the entire southeastern United States. Named for Joel Roberts Poinsett, it was built in 1820 as part of a road from Columbia, South Carolina to Saluda Mountain. The stone bridge, which includes a 14-foot Gothic arch and stretches 130 feet over Little Gap Creek, may have been designed by Robert Mills, architect of the Washington Monument. Though no longer in use, the bridge remains largely intact and is part of the 120-acre Poinsett Bridge Heritage Preserve. There is a nature trail a few hundred yards from the bridge.The bridge was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.

On the road - Campbell's Bridge

Campbell's Bridge, Greenville, SC 

I've had such a lovely weekend. I made a beeline out of town Friday afternoon heading upstate to Greenville and we made the most of our time. More to follow but this scene was one of our last stops this morning as we detoured on our way back.

CAMPBELL’S COVERED BRIDGE HISTORY

Constructed in 1909 Campbell’s Covered Bridge is the only remaining covered bridge in the State of South Carolina. The 38 foot long, 12 foot wide pine structure that spans Beaverdam Creek was built by Charles Irwin Willis. Locals believe that the bridge was named for Lafayette Campbell, who at the time of the bridge’s construction owned 194 acres in the immediate area. The bridge and surrounding acreage is presently owned by Greenville County and has been transformed into a passive park where visitors can picnic, explore the foundations of the old grist mill and home site, wet their feet on a hot summer day in Beaverdam Creek, and learn about the area through interpretive signage.

On the road - Greenville, SC

Reedy Falls, Greenville, SC   

Who gets a wonderful waterfalls right in the center of town? Seriously, what a gift the Reedy Falls park is to Greenville, SC. Right smack dab in the middle of town. Family picnics, romantic couples, kids hopping from boulder to boulder, fathers and sons swimming (signs say "Swimming Discouraged" but not forbidden) and live theater in the park. I ate fresh trout and sipped French wine at the cafe overlooking the park and it all seemed like a perfect fantasy town.

I read a quote from the mayor saying that they concentrated on improving the lives of their citizens and thought, oooops, perhaps Charleston has concentrated a too much on the experience of our tourists rather than our own citizens.