Greenville

Greenville is located in the Piedmont region of South Carolina in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains . The area, commonly referred to as the Upstate, includes Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson, Pickens and Cherokee counties and the cities of Anderson, Clemson, Greenville, Simpsonville, Greer and Spartanburg.

Housing

Greenville has a rich history of diverse living environments and neighborhood identity, and offers housing options within traditional older neighborhoods, historic districts, suburban areas or the heart of a bustling downtown. In the past ten years (1992-2002), Greenville experienced over $160 million in new residential construction and an additional $100 million in renovations in the City's older neighborhoods. The city's downtown is experiencing a boom in new housing development as the demand increases for urban living. New housing construction in the downtown area is now averaging more than $200 per square foot. Currently planned residential development projects offer price points ranging from $65,000 to over $500,000 for individuals and families of all income levels. The average sales price of an Existing Single Family Home (August 2005) is $171,960.

Entertainment & Culture

Downtown is the arts and entertainment epicenter for the Upstate South with live entertainment ranging from ballet and symphony to hockey and indoor football. Local theater companies provide intimate settings for performances, while the Peace Center for the Performing Arts hosts major productions on three performance stages including an outdoor amphitheater. The BI-LO CENTER seats 17,000 and hosts athletic events as well as major concerts and family entertainment. The Bob Jones University and Gallery offers one of the most recognized collections of religious artwork in the nation, including works by such artists as Dolci, Rembrandt, Rubens, Titan and Van Dyck. The nationally recognized Greenville County Art Museum has an exquisite collection as well.

      Carolina First Center, one of the largest exposition facilities in the southeast with 368,000 square feet of exhibit space in four halls. The Carolina First Center is a popular regional destination for corporate meetings, tradeshows, banquets, and special events.

      Greenville is known for its outdoore entertainment which include Jazz Concerts, Farmer's Markets, and Moonlight Movies along the River.

Within the City of Greenville are 39 parks, playgrounds and recreation centers which include bike/jogging trails, miniature golf course, shuffleboard courts, tennis courts, playground structures, picnic shelters and ball fields for a total of 452 acres of park space. For additional information on things to do and see in Greenville.

Pawleys IslandVacation

      Pawleys Island, South Carolina, located 70 miles north of Charleston and 25 miles south of Myrtle Beach, is known as one of the oldest summer resorts on the East Coast.

     The families of rice planters who owned plantations on the nearby rivers first settled Pawleys Island in the early 1700's. The planters knew that it was unhealthy for their families to remain on the rivers during the summer and that the seashore was much healthier. Even though they didn't know about malaria in the 1700's, they knew enough to get away! They moved their families, horses, cows, bedding, provisions and furniture to Pawleys in May of each year, where they remained until the first frost in November!

     From this leisurely existence has developed the charm of Pawleys that still remains. Also still remaining are 12 residences in the historic district, which date from the late 1700's to the mid 1800's. Pawleys continues to be known for its shoeless, carefree, laid-back life style, which includes crabbing in the adjacent creeks, fishing, the stories of ghosts, the rope hammocks and the unspoiled, unsophisticated, casual, delightful stretch of wide beach and sand dunes.

What’s Doing

     The beach is mostly private and pristine, and renowned for its surf. Within five miles there are approximately ten first-rate golf courses and a large tennis complex. Fishing is available both in the surf and from our two marsh bridges. On the island are two fine launch boat ramps. Pawleys is a family beach where you can enjoy crabbing off a crab dock, shelling, biking and canoeing or kayaking. The ambiance is laid back. Our town speed limit is 25 mph, making it as safe as possible for the many users of the road. During high tide explore the salt marsh with your own kayak or rent one.

      Pawleys Island family fun being enjoyed in the Annual 4th of July Parade and the Annual Kayak Race is shown in the following links to the local weekly newspaper, The Coastal Observer:
www.coastalobserver.com/photos/pawleysparade/
www.coastalobserver.com/photos/kayakrace/

Tybee Island Vacation

     Tybee means "salt" to Native Americans, but the name of this low-key seaside resort now brings to mind words such as "sun", "surf" and "fun". Located 18 miles east of Savannah, this small barrier island boasts a wide, 3-mile long beach that's backed by sea oat-covered sand dunes and is perfect for sunbathing, people-watching and frolicking in the waves of the Atlantic Ocean. The island's south-end pier and pavilion is a splendid venue for strolling above the ocean, people watching and fishing.

     Although vacationers are lured to Tybee beach mainly because of what it provides in the way of recreation and relaxation, those with a love of history won't be disappointed. Tybee offers: Fort Screven, The Tybee Island Lighthouse (dated 1773), an intriguing museum, and Fort Pulaski National Monument which is just west of the island on Hwy 80.

     While Tybee Island is a resort town complete with a full range of restaurants, modern hotels and motels, luxurious condominiums, and quaint inns and cottages, it's also a residential area stocked with its share of colorful characters. It's an atmosphere considerably more laid-back than that of glitzier, larger beach towns to the north and south.