Visiting Furman University - Greenville SC Fall Weekend Getaway

Photo by Joe Hiltabidel - https://hiltabidel.com/products/furman-lake-sun-glow

As first time empty nesters, we have been pacing the halls of much quieter home for weeks. So, when it came time to visit our son at Furman University in Greenville SC where he is a freshman, we were beyond excited! The Lacrosse team was holding their Alumni Weekend and this was a great opportunity to enjoy all the planned events for families and...get a hug in from our boy!!

The alumni event was held the last weekend of October, which couldn’t be a more scenic time to set out on a road trip to South Carloina. Our drive to Furman would take us from Maryland west through West Virginia, Tennessee and North Carolina, and then to the western mountains of South Carolina. The drive is 8 hours, but is gorgeous.

Now before my son looked at Furman, I didn’t know much about Furman or Greenville. But, let me tell you, they are both gems!  Furman is one of the most beautiful campuses I have laid eyes on, in fact Southern Living and Forbes ranked it as one of the South’s prettiest Colleges.  And to top off the amazing campus, outside its gates is Greenville, the most charming and stunning southern city I have ever been to.  

As I get the wonderful opportunity to explore this town over the next couple years, I want to share some of the experiences we have in this little slice of the south. For this visit, I put together a weekend itinerary perfect for the fall.

If you have questions or have a child considering Furman, let me know!

Fall Weekend Itinerary - Furman and Greenville SC

Friday Night Arrival

Grab a bite of some awesome southern bbq at Smoke on the Water. Located at 1 Augusta Street, this restaurant serves up big portions of southern comfort food. They are known for their smoked meats, so our crowd went with the combo plates which offered a selection of ribs, chicken, brisket, and pulled pork. They also deliver to each table four bottles of bbq sauces to experiment with and they are amazing!

http://www.saucytavern.com/kitchen.html

Saturday

Wake up early and head down to Main Street at McBee Avenue for Greenville’s Farmers Market called the Saturday Market. Grab a sandwich and coffee from one of the local vendors and don’t forget to grab a loaf of banana bread or an artisan bread to take back home.

http://www.saturdaymarketlive.com

Check out all the great vendors at the market, then head down to picturesque Falls Park. A sprawling park with amazing landscaping and winding paths. Walk some of the Swamp Rabbit Trail which can actually take you into Furman University.

After the walk, clean up and head over to visit Furman’s campus to cheer on the Palladins Football team and take in all the school spirit and lots of purple.

http://www.furman.edu/Pages/default.aspx

When your done cheering on the team, head back into town and start the night at Passerelle Bistro, a French inspired restaurant offering small bites and an amazing view of the Liberty Bridge and falls of Falls Park.

From the menu, we recommend the Today’s Cheese Tasting and the Charcuterie Assortment. Pair it with a bottle of Belllula Cabernet Sauvignon. And don’t forget to purchase some blueberry jam on your way out to take home.

http://passerelleinthepark.com

Sunday

Start the morning early again. Grab a granola bar, throw on your hiking boots, pack a light backpack with water and head over to Paris Mountain State Park.

We hiked the Sulphur Springs Trail which is a 3.6 mile loop. The terrain goes up hill and is a bit rocky at parts, so you get a bit of a workout. This trail is listed as strenuous, so if your looking for something a little less difficult, check out the website where they list a variety of easier trails.

https://southcarolinaparks.com/paris-mountain/trails

Wrap up your workout and visit with breakfast at Tupelo Honey back downtown.  Try the Appalachian Breakfast and feast on the biscuits and jam that come with every order.

https://tupelohoneycafe.com/location/greenville/