Greenville, SC
For several years, we hosted a small group in our home. Two of the members of that group now live in South Carolina, so we made a point to schedule a trip to see them on our way south.
We had previously made plans to have dinner with them a few days after our arrival in Greenville, SC, but were pleasantly surprised when they reached out and invited us to go to a BBQ cook-off. South Carolina BBQ? We couldn’t possibly say no to that!!
When arriving to the cook-off we purchased our tasting tickets which allowed us 10 samples each, although we may have sampled each other’s in addition to our own. Our generous tastings gave us pulled pork samples of light tomato, peppery, vinegar, and mustard-based sauces that the Carolinas are known for. Although it was a very warm afternoon, we sacrificed our discomfort and made it through all but two vendors.
Our friend was then very anxious to take us to his favorite ice cream stop for sundaes but we decided first to walk off the BBQ at Greenville’s well-known Falls Park on the Reedy.
On our way to the park we took a stroll through downtown Greenville. It was extremely quaint, with numerous shops and restaurants, quaint neighborhoods and an open airy feeling. We later understood the city had gone a downtown revitalization some 40 years ago. Certainly a place to benchmark! As we walked we took a moment to browse around a store. It was refreshing to come upon a spot in the store asking “how can we pray for you today”? It’s the simple acts, isn’t it?
Greenville itself is a beautiful city, but to see nature on such a grand scale in the heart of the city was amazing. It is a place of beauty and tranquility.
Originally occupied by Cherokee Indians, the area housed villages, churches, and industry from the 1800’s through the 1950’s. Those industries, particularly textile mills and cotton warehouses, contributed to the pollution of the Reedy River. In 1967, the Carolina Foothills Garden Club reclaimed the area and spent the next 40 years, with support from the city of Greenville and others, restoring and cleaning up the area. A design plan by landscape architect Andrea Mains, created what is now a regional attraction.
We finished our day visiting with our friends and enjoying sundaes at the Simpsonville Ice Cream Station. I had the Scotcharoo; a waffle bowl, drizzled in chocolate and butterscotch, butterscotch chips, with whip cream and a cherry. Jim had the Hot Cobbler sundae. This particular day it was blueberry cobbler in a waffle bowl, with vanilla ice cream, and whip cream. I know, they sounds delicious, and they were!
The only regret we had from our visit was that we didn’t stay long enough. We will definitely return to Greenville in the future and spend more time visiting this city and our dear friends.
