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If you live in anywhere in the midwest and you’re headed to Myrtle Beach or Charleston you will most undoubtedly drive right through our beautiful town. Spartanburg, SC is the first county you come to when you cross the NC/SC border.
This post picks the best of the best to see & do here in our beautiful county. When you head south from Asheville on Interstate 26 (from Interstate 40) you drive right down the middle of Spartanburg County. First stop is exit 1 and the first SC exit you come to obviously. Landrum, SC is a beautiful place to stop and do some shopping. Antiques, clothing, and even furniture can be had at the collection of small boutiques that line Main Street.
This from the city of Landrum, SC website:
Landrum is full of exciting attractions, beautiful scenery, historically significant sites, and friendly people. Whether you’re coming here on vacation or business, just passing through, or are a lifelong resident of this great City, we welcome your interest in this wonderful area we call home.
Just down the road in Inman, SC you’ll find one of the best seafood restaurants anywhere around. One of the things I had to learn as a South Carolina resident was what a “fish camp” was. It’s basically a mom & pop seafood restaurant that specializes in fresh fish or other seafood.
Lake Bowen Fishcamp on the beautiful Lake Bowen is probably some of the best fish you’ll ever eat. Don’t worry if you don’t like fish they serve other things as well but fish is the specialty. We eat here quite a bit when we’re wanting fish it’s the best choice. Ask for the salt & pepper breading it is life changing!
Remember being in school (or maybe prison) and receiving your lunch on a tray? Well, welcome to nostalgia because all meals come served on your very own vintage metal tray. They are open from Tuesday to Sunday (for brunch only on Sunday) from 4 to 9 pm. Don’t bring your credit card though, they only take cash and local checks, but definitely worth the stop at an ATM (or they have one right on site for a small fee).
After lunch, head on down to the main attraction. Our county seat, Spartanburg aka Sparkle City, Hub City and probably a few others I’m not familiar with is part small town & part urban revitalization. It’s a little town with a big city vibe. Whether it’s shopping, dining, or local culture Spartanburg has it in spades!
Looking for a place to stay? Check out the Marriott or the brand new ACH Hotel both owned by Marriott. The Marriott is more for families & the ACH is a destination hotel that caters to the young professional or couple. Right across the street from the ACH you’ll find R. J. Rockers Brewery & Cribbs Kitchen both must-see stops for this city.
Other places that I know you’ll love to visit:
Looking for a fun crowd for cocktails? Fr8Yard a fun outdoor beer garden. Whether it’s trivia or catching your favorite team on the big screen this place will keep the whole family smiling!
Delaney’s Irish Pub is the classic neighborhood Irish pub in the middle of the south! Known for its amazing drinks and out of this world food. This has couples date night written all over it!
Renatos’ Italian Cuisine is fine Italian dining at it’s best! Whether it’s a quiet date night or a family celebration Renatos’ will feed you like family (but you won’t have to do the dishes I promise)!
Beacon Drive-In has been a famous southern landmark since 1946! This is the mascot of Spartanburg and has been featured on Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-ins & Dives. You’ll find billboards in California for this place!
Krispy Kreme Donuts is the place for donuts in Spartanburg (hell, anywhere actually) but in Spartanburg, we take our love of donuts to a whole new level! People love to joke about police & donuts but here in our town politicians love to hang out here. Owned by our own State Senator Glenn Reese who is often found sitting in the lobby shooting the breeze with his constituents!
Wofford College is home of the Carolina Panthers Spring Training and boast such alums as Craig Melvin from the Today Show, Jerry Richardson former NFL player and former owner of the Carolina Panthers, & Wendy Nix ESPN news reporter and anchor.
Check Trip Advisor for great recommendations and other chain-type eateries in case you’re not feeling inspired!
Have you ever stopped in Spartanburg on your way to the beach? What’s your favorite spot?
I'm a wanderer, website manager, and storyteller. I live in sunny SC with my husband of 30 years and our goldfish, "Please Survive"(long story!). When I'm not untangling CSS or wrangling PHP you'll find me writing my next tale, planning my next road trip, or just hanging out with the grandkids.
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What a cool place. I wouldn’t mind visiting here. I know we’d stop in and get some Italian food!
Sold! One thing I love almost as much as the beach (almost), is shopping!
We haven’t been… but I’d love to go!
I’ve never been, I would love to visit with my family though. It looks like a great place to visit.
It looks like a great area to visit or live in! I wish I was closer to the beach. I love the beaches in North and South Carolina.
I bet years ago I drove on past! What a mistake. My mouth is watering. I crave fish and need to eat it at least once a week. I would love a fish camp. In New England we call them shacks, as in crab shack or lobster shack. In Oregon we don’t call them anything but a fish restaurant, so boring in comparison!
Looks like a great place to visit for Vacation and some fun this Summer. Adding it to our travel bucket list
It really sounds like there are a lot of things to do and see there. I just needed to hear about the beach and then I was sold. I would love to go there asap!
I have never been to Spartanburg but now I want to go. It looks beautiful and I definitely want to have lunch off of an old-school lunch tray. You are a great ambassador for your town.
🙂
Traci
This looks like an awesome place. I would stop by if it is on my way too.
Beach is my life and that looks like a perfect place for me to visit or at least for me to live, so beautiful!
That looks like an awesome place to be. I bet my family would love it there as well. Sounds like a lot of stuff to do there too.
This looks like a lovely town that could be used in movies. I wouldn’t mind stopping there.
That looks like a beautiful place to visit! I would love to check that out someday.
This looks like a great little city to stop in on your way to the beach if you drive that way. I have a little city I always stop in when I drive to the beach that I LOVE!!
This looks like a great place to visit! Can’t wait to put this on my travel list!