Tree Frog Trail

Despite the poor spelling, Tree Frog Trail is a really nice little mountain biking trail off the Swamp Rabbit Trail near Mauldin. You can reach it by parking on Parkins Mill Road near the bridge that goes under I-85 and then hopping on the SRT. Ride down past the treatment plant and you'll come to a split in the trail. To the left is the "Treefrog" Trail.

Table Rock and The Chimneys - Linville Gorge

The Chimneys are a grouping of rock formations located at the top of Linville Gorge, NC. They can be accessed easily via the Mountains to Sea Trail.

One of my sons, Lance.

  

Cave on the Mountains to Sea Trail

Close to the Chimneys is Table Rock Mountain which can be seen here from the parking area. From the parking area go right on the MST about a mile to reach the summit. Then go back the way you came past the parking area about another mile to reach the area known as the Chimneys. There are a number of camp sites near the parking lot but others along the trail as well, including in the cave seen above. 

Table Rock Parking Area

Summit of Table Rock, NC

Tiny Town

Tiny Town near Easley, SC is a treasure trove of holiday weirdness. I would refer to it as a celebration of Christmas but it's a bit of a stretch to call it that. Built over several decades, it features dolls and toys and other paraphernalia collected by the owners, some of which is Christmas related.  It's free of charge although donations are encouraged. It's supposedly open 5:30-9:30 nightly through the first of the year but when some friends and I went by this past Saturday (12/20/14) no one was around.  (It's even weirder in the dark though.)

It's definitely worth a stop. There's hot chocolate, a bonfire and even Santa on site.

Cedar Falls Park

Looking for another place to run recently, I decided to check out Cedar Falls Park.  It's a pretty nice little park located on the Reedy River in Fork Shoals. There are plenty of trails to run or walk on and nice waterfalls. It's located on the site of an old saw mill and contains on old damn as well. 

Get Out Greenville at Conestee Park

The next race in the Greenville Dirt Series occurs this Saturday at Conestee Nature Park.  It's a 10K but there is also a 50K, a 25K and 1.5 mile kid's race. 

Get out Greenville

Oktoberfests

The Greenville Oktoberfest kicks off this Wednesday at Noma Square and runs through Saturday. 

Schedule of Events: 

Opening Day Wednesday, Oct. 1st: 5pm-9pm – The ceremonial keg will be tapped! Entertainment by the Foothills Oompah Band.

• Oct. 2nd: 11am-9pm  Holzhackern Tyrolean Band will play from 5-9 p.m. and there will be a brats eating contest & a stein holding competition!

• Oct. 3rd: 11am-9pm  Channellheimmer Oompah Band plays from 5-9 p.m.

Oct. 4th: 11am-10p   Walhallah Bavarian Dancers will entertain from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Channellheimmer Oompah Band from 1:30-5:30 p.m.,  and Steubenville Tootlers from 6-10 p.m.

The Greer Oktoberfest also occurs this Saturday from 12-10 PM.

The Asheville Okbtoberfest runs from 1-4 this Saturday as well. 

The Walhalla Oktoberfest occurs October 17-18.

Parker-Binns Estates and Mountain Brook Vineyards

I've written previously about a number of different wineries nearby, including the Overmountain Vineyard and the Green Creek Winery. Near these two, there are two others that recently opened. The one closest to Overmountain is Mountain Brook Vineyard, a small winery (possibly the smallest you've ever seen) housed in an old two story house. Although it's small, they've won several awards in the short time they've been in business. 


Just a few miles from there is a really impressive winery called Parker-Binns Estates. It's a beautiful landscape with a small farm, flower garden and two wood fired ovens where the owners cook pizza for their guests. 

 

Wilkins House

So the Wilkins House has been saved and successfully moved to its new home on Elm St. 

Old location.

New Location. 

Mountain State Fair

The Mountain State Fair in Fletcher, NC is going on this week. Looks like it could be a lot of fun. From their website:

The NC Mountain State Fair celebrates the people, agriculture, art and tradition that make our region great.   Our mission is to create unique experiences at an exceptional value in a safe, clean environment that is accessible to all.September 5th - 14th, 2014

Half-Moon Outfitters Moonshiner Night Trail Race

Moonshiner Night Trail Race

Event Director Info:
Joel Koontz
Half-Moon Outfitters
1420 Laurens Road
Greenville, SC29607
864-233-4001
email address

Next Weekend - 09/12/14

The Moonshiner 5k Night Race is being hosted by Half-Moon Outfitters on Friday September 12th at 8pm at Paris Mountain State Park.  The Moonshiner 5k will cover trails in Paris Mountain State Park.

All of the proceeds from the race will be donated to Paris Mountain State Park.

More info: http://go-greenevents.com/event/id/1802