5 Best Sights in Greenville, The Midlands and Upstate

In this urban outdoor oasis, sloping green hills, giant boulders, and winding walkways offer great views of the Reedy River, but the best views of the waterfalls are along the architecturally ingenious Liberty Bridge. The Peace Center amphitheater hosts moonlight movies, Shakespeare plays, and open-air concerts during the summer.

This rails-to-trails masterpiece runs 22 miles from downtown Greenville to Travelers Rest, with ample waypoints and scenic views along the way. Reedy Rides rents modern cruisers for $30 per half day. Three miles out of town, the backyard seating at Swamp Rabbit Cafe & Grocery fills up on weekends with bikers grabbing gourmet sandwiches after a morning workout. If you push all the way to Travelers Rest, walk the charming downtown strip and fuel up for the return trip with a chili-rubbed tuna or cowboy rib-eye taco from Farmhouse Tacos.

Part of the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area and best known for the Raven Cliff Falls here, Caesars Head is about 30 miles north of Greenville. The trail leading to the 420-foot-tall falls can be reached a mile north of the park's main entrance; along the way there are spectacular views of river gorges and pine-covered mountains. Cross Matthews Creek on a suspension bridge; the view of the falls is worth the terror of knowing you're held in the air by nothing but wire.

At this park on Lake Jocassee, known for its hiking, boating, and fishing, Lower Whitewater Falls plunges more than 200 feet over huge boulders to splash into the lake waters. You can view the falls from an overlook or from a boat on the lake. The park has accommodations, including both comfortable villas and camping facilities.

Famous for its trout fishing and the Rim of the Gap Trail, which has views of Rainbow Falls, Jones Gap is 6 miles east of U.S. 276 and is part of the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area. Pick up a trail map and register before venturing into the wilderness; some of the trails are long and strenuous.