#FlyWashington Magazine Fall 2018 | Page 44

1 reasons to visit The Reedy River that flows through the heart of Greenville once nourished its Cherokee population, Colonial settlers, and textile mills; now it feeds the spirits of all, especially at the waterfall on Main Street. Suspended above, on the 345-foot long suspension Liberty Bridge, visitors can look directly down into the falls before strolling the surrounding 32-acre Falls Park on the river with the sound of its rushing waters in their ears. 2 BY MIKE DUNPHY There are many reasons why Greenville, South Carolina has become the fourth fastest growing city in the country. Much like Asheville, North Carolina — an hour to the north — Greenville is attracting a new generation of young, hip, tech-savvy, and forward-thinking citizens, who are transforming the former industrial mill town into the dynamic, energetic hub of upstate South Carolina. Tourists and travelers alike have taken notice, as have publications like The New York Times, Lonely Planet, Travel & Leisure, and Men’s Journal — all of whom have heaped awards and accolades on the city. Indeed, 2017 saw record numbers of visitors, revenue, and hotel occupancy and 2018 looks to exceed that. Here are six reasons why there is much to love about Greenville, South Carolina. FLYWASHINGTON.COM 42 AUTUMN 2018 A Waterfall in the Middle of Downtown Greenville Chefs Sizzle in Greenville If you forget to pack anything for a trip to Greenville, make it your diet. Award-winning chefs in Greenville — including James Beard award winning and nominated ones like Chef Michael Kramer at Jianna, Greg McPhee at The Anchorage, and “Best Chef Southeast”, Chef Sean Brock at Husk — have turned this city into a culinary heaven. It’s Southern cuisine 4.0, with dishes like sassafras-glazed pork ribs with pickled peaches and house-cured country ham with acorn griddle cakes. Taste them all together during the annual four-day “Euphoria” food festival in September, which combines multi-course dinners, cooking demonstrations, and wine seminars with live music concerts. 3 Public Art Shimmers in Greenville The best art exhibitions in Greenville are outside the galleries and in the streets and parks. It all starts with the famous nine bronze mice, inspired by Margaret Wise Brown’s book, Goodnight Moon, hidden along the five blocks of Main Street. Continue south from there and discover the dozens upon dozens more statues, sculptures, murals, fountains, and memorials — some paying tribute to historical figures, like Revolutionary War Hero Nathanial Greene (who is said to have inspired the city’s name) and native son, and infamous baseballer, “Shoeless” Joe Jackson. Abstract work also bounds, including the eight-foot tall Rose Crystal Tower in Falls Park by famed glass sculptor Dale Chihuly. Falls Park on the Reedy Credit: Andrew Huang/VisitGreenvilleSC