Spots to stay cool this summer…
While summer sizzles in Greenville, we’ve discovered ways to beat the heat. If you don’t have a pool or access to a lake, we’d like to introduce you to some nearby swimming holes. With over two months of no school, a little imagination needs to go a long way.
Smack-dab in the middle of downtown, you’ll find fun for all ages. The splash pad in Falls Park, City Plaza Water Jets, offers endless entertainment and is a great place to cool off. Obviously, this is an option for families with children. I mean, I guess you could get in without kids, but people might look at you funny. A few feet away, under the Main Street bridge, is one of my favorite spots to enjoy a picnic. The temperature drops considerably in the concrete shade.
If you’re not into splash pads, or maybe being surrounded by tiny wet humans is not your thing, hit the road for a (very) short drive North to Campbell’s Covered Bridge. Beaverdam Creek runs beneath the only remaining covered bridge in South Carolina. I realize this is not a post about the history of our state, but it’s a pretty big deal. Mountain creeks and rivers are famous for their cold water. This is no exception. One toe in the water is enough to cause your heart to stop. This small park has plenty of shade, picnic tables, and open fields, but no restroom facilities. I repeat, no restroom facilities.
Wildcat Branch Falls can be seen from the road when traveling Highway 276, Geer Highway. This ten foot waterfall forms a choice swimming hole at its bottom. The spot is not part of a park, so you won’t find picnic tables or anything except a huge pool of cool mountain water. Make sure to “hike” up the very short incline to the top of the falls. In fact, if you’re due for your weekly shower, there’s almost always a bar of soap and a travel size shampoo waiting there?? Go figure. No bathrooms here either.
Last, but not least, allow me to introduce you to Long Shoals Wayside Park. I’m going to be a little more dramatic in my introduction of this one, because it is my all-time favorite destination on a sweltering summer day. Located on the Cherokee Foothills National Scenic Highway (that sounds further away than it is – it’s less than forty-five minutes from my house), this park is part of the Poe Creek State Forest. Adventurers of all skill levels enjoy sliding down Mother Nature’s waterslide into clear creek water. Water Parks may boast of ultimate waterslides, but they just don’t compare to this mountain rock slide.
These are the four that land on JP and Preston’s list of favorites.
All of the water fun described above is FREE. If you decide to rob a bank or take out a second mortgage on your house, you can Google public pools and water parks in Greenville (or click here) for other ways to not die in the Southern heat.
Want more things to do around Greenville? Check out our events calendar here.