The Best of Travelers Rest

Raves, rants and randomness from Kirby Bridwell

Lake Pinnacle is the smaller of two lakes located in Table Rock State Park.
By Bryce Bridwell December 15, 2024
Discover the charm of Pickens County, SC, with breathtaking mountain views, outdoor adventures, and premier homes by Distinguished Design. Learn more about this serene and scenic area!
By Kirby Bridwell November 23, 2024
Many that love Greenville, choose to call Travelers Rest, Campobello or Pickens, SC Home.
By Kirby Bridwell January 20, 2024
Dreaming of a home that perfectly encapsulates your style, needs, and aspirations? Kirby+Co. invites you to explore the liberating experience of building your dream home on your own land. Away from the constraints of a neighborhood with a Homeowners' Association (HOA), this option offers unparalleled freedom and personalization. Whether you already own a piece of land or are in the process of finding that ideal homesite, Kirby+Co. is here to guide you every step of the way. Freedom of Design Building on your own land means you can bring to life any of Kirby+Co .'s diverse house plans without the limitations often imposed by HOAs. This freedom allows for full creative expression - whether it’s a sprawling ranch-style home or a modern, eco-friendly abode. Your home will be a true reflection of your personality and lifestyle. No HOA Restrictions Without the oversight of an HOA, you enjoy greater autonomy. You can paint your house in the colors of your choice, landscape creatively, and even install solar panels or other eco-friendly features without needing approval from a committee. Enhanced Privacy and Space Homes built on private land often enjoy more space and privacy. This means room for larger gardens, outdoor living areas, and even amenities like a private pool or a spacious workshop. Your home becomes your sanctuary, unencumbered by close neighbors. Tailored to Your Lifestyle Whether you're an avid gardener needing expansive outdoor space or a car enthusiast dreaming of a custom garage, building on your own land allows for these personalized touches. Kirby+Co . understands that every homeowner is unique and we're dedicated to making your vision a reality. Investment in Your Future Owning land is a valuable investment. Building your dream home on this land adds to its value, creating a significant asset for your future. Additionally, without HOA fees, you can invest more in your home and land. Kirby+Co. - Your Partner in This Journey If you haven’t found the perfect land yet, don’t worry. Kirby Co. offers assistance in locating the ideal property in Travelers Rest, SC, a region known for its scenic beauty and small town, community spirit. Our expertise in the local real estate market of Upstate, SC ensures that you find land or a homesite that meets all your criteria.
By Kirby Bridwell March 24, 2023
For walkers, hikers or trail runners, there's not many places that can top Travelers Rest.
By Kirby Bridwell March 24, 2023
There's a pretty good chance that if "I ain't working, I've gone fishing."
By Kirby Bridwell March 24, 2023
Have you considered the benefits of His and Hers Garages when building your new home?
By Kirby Bridwell December 29, 2022
The secret is out about Greenville, South Carolina. About 20 minutes north of Downtown Greenville, the small foothills town of Travelers Rest is now gaining acclaim of its ownOne of the USA Today’s “Best Small Southern Towns,” Travelers Rest offers a relaxed atmosphere with southern charm. With a population of around 8,000, the city is small but growing, and is an enticing place for small businesses and families due to its location, natural beauty, and quaint atmosphere. Aptly named for being the point at which travelers would stop and rest before heading across the neighboring Blue Ridge mountains, “T.R.” is home to a variety of scenic views. Whether you’re looking to explore nature or just trying to find a bite to eat, here are some places you should visit in Travelers Rest. Swamp Rabbit Trail One of Greenville County’s most popular nature spaces, the Swamp Rabbit Trail provides 22 miles of bike-friendly trails to run and walk on, beginning in Travelers Rest and ending in the heart of downtown Greenville. Safe and secluded from traffic, this trail that crosses the Reedy River and several Greenville County parks, including the recently opened Unity Park, is an excellent place for cyclists, walkers and runners to exercise safely. The trail, which opened in 2010, has quickly become a staple for locals and tourists alike. Just as interesting as what’s on the trail is what is seen off of it. Locally owned shops and restaurants provide riders and runners with places to rest along their way, while also grabbing a bite to eat. If you’re one of the many people in the Upstate looking for a place to exercise or just to take in some natural views, you can’t go wrong with the Swamp Rabbit Trail. Visit Downtown TR One of the stops along the Swamp Rabbit Trail, the downtown area of Travelers Rest offers a variety of restaurants, stores, and places for social gatherings. The star of the show is the food selection, with just about any type of restaurant you can think of being available. The quaint downtown area is filled with plenty of southern charm. Local events with live music and summer movies provide entertainment throughout the year, and can be found at the next place on our list… Trailblazer Park Located near Furman University, Trailblazer Park is the place to be for live music and downtown entertainment in Travelers Rest. The park has a covered amphitheater that hosts local concerts and movies, which are mostly provided free of charge. The park is open year-round and is home to the city’s Fall Harvest Market, as well, where food trucks and local farmers sell their food every Thursday in October. Travelers Rest Farmers Market A staple of Trailblazer Park, The Travelers Rest Farmers Market is Greenville County’s largest open-air market, featuring over 60 independent farmers and artisans. The market is open every Saturday from May to September and every Thursday in October, and is a great place to find unique food and uniquely crafted items. You can also enjoy a variety of live music that is performed at the market. Events are held in the market to celebrate occasions such as apple season and the end of the current market season, or for their annual Folk Craft Day. Whether you’re grabbing a bite at one of the many food trucks or stocking up on fresh produce, there’s always something new to find at the Travelers Rest Farmers Market. Foodie’s Favorites The dining scene in Travelers Rest spans food trucks, family-style, farm fresh and almost everything in between. With new places opening regularly, here’s a few of my favorites right now. Topsoil Topsoil prides itself on locally grown foods and a farm-fresh menu. Their mission is to “connect guests with food grown in our community in a more meaningful way.” Tandem Tandem specializes in quality crepes and coffee, all located on the historic corner intersection with the yellow VW bus outside for ordering and indoor/outdoor dining all in quaint coffeehouse setting. Farmhouse Tacos “Hand crafted. Locally Sourced. Made with Love.” Farm House Tacos’ tagline is straightforward and genuine. This restaurant provides a great local spot to grab some Tex-Mex. Shortfields From burgers to pasta, Shortfields offers a wide variety of foods, along with 10 televisions to watch sporting events on. Chiroca Alley Chicora Alley is a Southern restaurant with live music and a wide selection of foods all with a tex-mex flare. Whether it’s their Shrimp and Grits, street tacos, or one of their many custom burgers, there’s a lot I love about Chiroca Alley. Odds are pretty good, you may just see me there. Monkey Wrench Smokehouse Monkey Wrench is the place to go for quality wood-smoked barbecue and indoor/outdoor dining. This restaurant has homemade sauces to go along with their varied meat selections, including ribs, brisket, and pulled pork in an open air setting with expansive grass lawn for kids and families Sidewall Pizza Sidewall is a local favorite for their signature brick oven pizzas, salads, and homemade ice cream. The line may be long, but there’s a reason. You can often grab a seat at the bar and grab a beer on tap or a glass of wine while you wait. The Cherokee Valley Golf Club South Carolina is renowned for its deep golf history, and Travelers Rest is no different. The Cherokee Valley Club boasts one of Greenville County’s best public courses, with gorgeous mountain views along its 18-hole mountain course. The Club also offers a full-service restaurant and golf lessons from professional instructors for those who are new to the game or are looking to improve their skills on the course. Upstate SC’s State Parks The Upstate is home to many great state parks, including Paris Mountain, Table Rock, Caesar’s head, and Devils Fork, which are all within an hour of the Travelers Rest area. These state parks are great places to hike, bike, fish, go out on the lake, and explore nature. Most state parks, including those listed above offer camping areas, as well. Paris Mountain State Park and Pleasant Ridge County Park are two of the closest parks to TR. Paris Mountain is great for hiking, and both offer great places to mountain bike. While county parks are free, the admission fee to state parks is $8 for adults, $4 for kids 6-15, and free for kids 5 and under. Sunrift Adventures Looking to enjoy the great outdoors but don’t know where to start? Sunrift Adventures is the state’s oldest independently-owned outdoor outfitters in the state, providing a wide selection of kayaks, canoes, paddle boards, bikes, and climbing gear, as well as boots and shoes and just about anything else you could need to get outside and stay outside.  There’s a bike shop, too. If you need to get your bike serviced after a long ride on the Swamp Rabbit Trail, or any of the other great places to bike around TR, they can help you out with that, too! If you’re looking for your next adventure spot, Sunrift has you covered, with a list of local places to visit and explore and consultation from staff that knows the area well. The Beer is Crafted Like most of the country, and specifically the Upstate of South Carolina. The local craft beer and distillery scene is alive and well in Downtown Travelers Rest. Where not picking favorites here, we’ll let you decide, but here’s my list to get you started: The Community Tap and Resident Diner (Brand New) If you’re looking for an interesting stop on the Swamp Rabbit Trail, look no further than the newly-opened third location for the Greenville-based craft beer and wine bar. Situated along the first stop of the trail, The Community Tap offers a curated selection of craft and by-the-glass beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages as well. Swamp Rabbit Brewery Another great option is the Swamp Rabbit Brewery, which has been a local hotspot since 2014. The Swamp Rabbit Brewery has won three “Best Local Brewery” awards in the Upstate. The Tasting Room of Travelers Rest Tasting Room of Travelers Rest is a boutique wine and craft beer shop that sets itself apart with its selection of small-production vineyard wines from all over the world. Copperhead Mountain Distillery (need a quick overview here) The Swamp Rabbit Brewery and Community Tap both have food trucks that you can grab a bite at. The Tasting Room and Swamp Rabbit also offer live music on certain nights. Travelers Rest provides a great location, no matter where you want to go. Whether it’s visiting the local mountains in Brevard and Hendersonville, traveling to Asheville to take a drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway, or even taking the three-and-a-half hour drive down to Charleston to visit the coast, there’s something for everyone. I know that there are more than nine great things to do in Travelers Rest. What would you add to the list?
By Kirby Bridwell December 28, 2022
Deciding whether to buy an existing home or build a new one from scratch is a significant decision for many homeowners. While purchasing a pre-existing home can be an attractive option, building a new construction home has its advantages. Here are the top five reasons to build a new construction home: Customization and Personalization Building a new home from the ground up provides the opportunity to customize every aspect of the home to suit your preferences and lifestyle. From the layout to the color scheme, everything can be tailored to your taste. You have the freedom to choose everything from the type of flooring, cabinets, countertops, and fixtures, to the size of the rooms and the placement of the windows. Customizing your home allows you to create a space that is uniquely yours and caters to your specific needs. Energy Efficiency New construction homes are built with energy efficiency in mind. They are designed to meet the latest energy codes and standards, which means they are more energy-efficient than older homes. New homes come with advanced insulation systems, high-efficiency heating and cooling systems, and energy-efficient windows and doors that help reduce energy costs. Additionally, many new homes feature smart technology, which allows for remote control of the home's systems, making it easier to manage energy usage and save on utility bills. Low Maintenance One of the main advantages of building a new construction home is that everything is brand new, which means there is no need for immediate repairs or renovations. Additionally, new homes are built with modern materials that require less maintenance than older homes. For example, new homes have low-maintenance vinyl siding, while older homes may require repainting every few years. Furthermore, newer homes often come with a warranty that covers any repairs or maintenance that may be needed during the first few years of homeownership. Latest Technology and Safety Features New construction homes come equipped with the latest technology and safety features. Modern homes are designed to be smarter, safer, and more secure. They come with advanced security systems, fire-resistant materials, and the latest home automation systems that allow homeowners to control their home's lighting, heating, and cooling systems from their smartphones or tablets. Additionally, new homes are built to meet the latest building codes, which means they are designed to be safer and more resilient in the face of natural disasters. Increased Resale Value Building a new construction home may also increase the resale value of the property. Newly constructed homes are highly sought after by buyers who are looking for a modern, energy-efficient, and low-maintenance property. As a result, new homes tend to sell faster and at a higher price than older homes. Additionally, customizing the home to suit your needs and preferences may make it more appealing to potential buyers when it's time to sell. In conclusion, building a new construction home offers many benefits over buying an existing home. Customization and personalization, energy efficiency, low maintenance, the latest technology and safety features, and increased resale value are just some of the reasons why building a new home is a great option for many homeowners. If you're considering building a new home, make sure to work with a reputable builder who can guide you through the process and help you create the home of your dreams.
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