For more than 300 years, Travelers Rest, South Carolina, has provided exactly what the name suggests — a place for travelers to stop and take a breath.
Settled at the foothills of the southernmost Blue Ridge Mountains, Travelers Rest was where livestock drivers and family stagecoaches rested on their way to the Lowcountry or the coast. Hundreds of years later, it remains an idyllic pitstop, blending the edges of the small town with beautiful wilderness. And if you visit in the fall, you get to see it in a pop of vivid color, trees all over the mountainside shedding their leaves — and bearing fruit, too!
So if you’re looking for a place to vacation this fall, look no further than Travelers Rest and the greater Greenville area. We’ll outline options for what to do, what to eat, and even where to sleep. With a small-town feel, the area sure does offer some big opportunities!
Things to do
MacGregor Orchard
For more than 20 acres in the shade of the Blue Ridge Mountains, rows and rows of fruit trees and tangles of vines stretch toward the sun. And it’s all owned by Stephens and Julia Gregory, the husband-wife team behind MacGregor Orchard, who grow 11 different fruits in more than 100 varieties.
The orchard opens in June each year with peaches, plums, prunes, and more, but the fall months (September and October) are prime apple season. You can roam across the mountainous property, picking apples by hand along with other fall fruits like figs, grapes, and Asian pears. And of particular note: if someone in your party has limited mobility, the team at MacGregor will be happy to give you a lift in a wagon pulled by their tractor.
A visit is about more than just buying or picking your fruit because the Gregorys love to educate their guests about the orchard’s operations. Take some time to learn how apples or other fruits are grown and processed or how they protect and successfully harvest honey – even though local bears try their best to interfere!
For your visit in the fall, you’ll also find seasonal items like pumpkins and muscadines – plus a photo opportunity complete with hay bales and pumpkins. MacGregor Orchard is usually open every day except Monday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Visit their website or Facebook page to learn more.
Wellborn Winery
Known as the “Winery in the Woods,” Wellborn Winery is a small-scale craft vintner with a unique approach.
Winemakers Tony Beninati and Deborah Sikora started by producing varietals (single-grape wines) using grapes grown in California and Chile — which won them a double gold medal at the Florida State Fair in 2014. But over time, the duo decided to shift to “Vine to Wine” production, and they knew that these grapes wouldn’t grow in the upstate South Carolina climate and soil.
Instead, the duo decided to embrace blended wines made from French-American hybrid grapes (like Seyval Blanc, Traminette, Chardonel, Chambourcin, and Leon Millot) grown in one of three onsite vineyards and native Concord, Catawba, Lenoir, and Muscadine grapes. Today you’ll find options like:
- Primitive: a spicy dry red made from West Coast Old Vine Zinfandel and zesty upstate SC Lenoir grapes
- Mountain Mosaic: a dry red blend using Léon Millot and Cab Franc (the parent grape of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon)
- Woodsy White: a light off-dry (in between dry and sweet) blend of Seyval Blanc and Traminette — and gold winner at the Palmetto Wine Competition
- Red Clay Rosé: An off-dry blend of Catawba, Concord, Noble Muscadine, and Zinfandel grapes
- And many more!
In the mood for something sweeter? Wellborn also offers dessert wines and blends made from locally-grown blackberries, peaches, strawberries, and blueberries. Better yet – try a few of their specialties! Wellborn offers a tasting of 6 wines for $8, and you can choose any combination of white, rosé, red, fruit, or dessert wines!
Wellborn is open to the public on Fridays and Saturdays; visit their website to learn more.
Restaurants to try
Chicora Alley Fire House
Have you ever listened to live music while enjoying a meal in a rehabilitated firehouse? Probably not. But you can at Chicora Alley Fire House.Chicora Alley Fire House offers lunch and dinner every day except Monday. The menu is a blend of traditional southern fixin's, seafood, and Mexican cuisine, offering Firehouse Wings and Mile High Loaded Nachos right next to each other. The entrees range from fish and chips to a jerk tofu plate or soups, burgers, and salads. It even serves brunch on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with its unique menu of Southern-fried crab cake benedict, jerk shrimp and grits, and more.
Various performance bands come with their eclectic menu, setting the right mood for your meal. Rockabilly, country, jazz, and more come to life weekly on Chicora Alley’s stage. And the restaurant offers community events, too, like themed Wednesday trivia nights. You can even bring your dog with you!
Visit Chicora Alley Fire House’s website to see its menus, and follow it on Facebook to check out upcoming events.
Soby’s
For casual elegance and farm-to-table offerings, Soby’s on Main Street has been a fixture in the heart of Greenville for more than 20 years. Their menu is based on locally sourced, traditional southern ingredients to create classic dishes with a contemporary twist.Known for dishes like Fried Green Tomatoes with Pimento Cheese Fondue, Fried Chicken with Hot Honey, or Crab Cakes Remoulade, Soby’s menu is just one part of the appeal. Locals and visitors love the restaurant's story, which began when restaurant partners Carl Sobocinski and David Williams purchased the building based on a vision many others couldn't see.
Open seven days a week for dinner, as well as Saturday and Sunday brunch, Soby’s has a reputation for warm service and thoughtfully prepared cuisine. Visit their website to learn more.
Where to stay
Pettigru Place Bed & Breakfast
Imagine the most picturesque bed and breakfast — a renovated century-old brick house shaded by tall trees and hedged in green gardens, complete with creaky wood floors and crown molding. That’s Pettigru Place Bed & Breakfast, in the heart of downtown Greenville.
The inn’s cookies are well-known and loved by guests, though their claim to fame is their complimentary breakfast. How do a baked sausage and egg souffle sound? Or Cajun eggs with cornbread, avocado relish, and hollandaise sauce? While staying at the Pettigru Place Bed & Breakfast, you can choose from over one dozen delicious breakfast items catered to your taste buds and dietary needs. You can even enjoy breakfast in the inn’s outdoor English garden, complete with a fire pit and porch swing.
Your stay at Pettigru Place in the charming historic district of Greenville means that you’re close to area restaurants, theaters, and more. Fall is also an excellent time to check out the 22-mile greenway, known as the Swamp Rabbit Trail, that welcomes walkers and bicyclists along the Reedy River; make sure to check out the Reedy River Falls – a waterfall in the heart of downtown, and about a mile away from Pettigru Place.
If you want to feel at home, Pettigru Place Bed & Breakfast is for you. Check out the inn’s website to learn more about its rooms and prices.
Hotel Domestique
Look no further than Hotel Domestique in Traveler's Rest for a luxurious stay in a European-inspired hotel. Established by world-renowned cyclist George Hincapie, the boutique hotel has one goal in mind: to deliver the same unforgettable hospitality, cuisine, rest, and adventure that he discovered during his travels abroad.At Hotel Domestique, old-world materials like hand-hewn beams and exposed stone walls are joined by luxurious designer upholstery and accessories and a rare collection of contemporary regional art to create an exceptional getaway. Beyond the grand architecture and chic décor, the beautiful Blue Ridge mountains and local vineyards offer an incredible all-season view you won’t soon forget.
Adding to the old-world feel of Hotel Domestique, there's Restaurant 17, the onsite option that combines a European bistro vibe with elevated local cuisine. Get the best of both worlds with choices like Southern Fried Chicken Padano with Handmade Pasta or Summer Peach and Carolina Burrata Salas with Duck Prosciutto.
Hotel Domestique is “close to town but a world away.” Learn more about a unique, luxurious getaway by visiting their website.