A seasonal escape is just ~1+ away in Jackson County, NC | Photo provided by Jackson County TDA
How does a front row seat to frost-covered mountains, frozen waterfall hikes, and the best seats at award-winning restaurants sound? Some may say it sounds like a dream, but it’s actually the charming reality of Jackson County, NC’s Secret Season — the time of year when thecrowds thin out in January to March.
In addition to offering great lodging specials(read: a very affordable time to visit), Secret Season transforms the North Carolina county into the perfect place for a winter getaway with family, a significant other, or friends.
Here’s what there is to see and do:
🛍️ Hit the Town
Less crowds in the mountain towns of Cashiers, Cherokee, Dillsboro, and Sylva mean more time to freely explore all that the picturesque streets have to offer, including:
Shopping experiences that abound, with everything from clothing boutiques to upscale antiques to one-of-a-kindmountain goods, like pottery by local artisans and Appalachian-inspired handmade crafts.
World-class, luxury spa options for those needing some R+R.
Restaurants with little to no wait times. (Read: Trying the local eats just got better.)
🏔️ Experience the great (winter) outdoors
See the scenic views open up as the leaves fall from trees and reveal the landscapes around them. Some must-see natural wonders + winter activities include:
The beautiful spectacle of frozen waterfalls.
A naturally-occurring phenomenon known as Shadow of the Bear, which will return mid-February to March.
Outdoor sports for tubing-loving families and beginner skiers and snowboarders, who will love hitting the slopes at Sapphire Valley Ski Resort.
Winter fly fishing, which is oft considered to be the best time to go fly fishing.
Ready to escape the crowds and take in the clean mountain air and long-range mountain views? Get more travel tips below (and start planning).*
Redistricting Public Meeting | Monday, Dec. 5 | 6-7:30 p.m. | Prisma Health Welcome Center at Unity Park, 111 Welborn St., Greenville | Offer public comment on the City’s proposed redistricting plan.
Upstate Holiday Light Show | Monday, Dec. 5-Saturday, Dec. 31 | 6-10 p.m. | Greenville Pickens Speedway, 3800 Calhoun Memorial Hwy., Easley | $35-$120 | Drive through a nighttime Christmas wonderland featuring 32 million colored lights synchronized to music.
Tuesday, Dec. 6
Furman Men’s Basketball Toy Drive | Tuesday, Dec. 6, Saturday, Dec. 10, Monday, Dec. 19 | 7 p.m. | Timmons Arena, 3300 Poinsett Hwy, Greenville | Donate to the Paladin Toy Drive and get specially priced tickets to Furman Basketball games this holiday season.
“The Gilded Age Christmas” | Wednesday, Dec. 7-Sunday, Dec. 18 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Kilgore Lewis House, 560 N. Academy St., Greenville | Free | Tour the Historic Kilgore Lewis House with every room of this historic home decked out in gilded holiday finery.
Thursday, Dec. 8
Miracle on 34th Street: A Live Radio Play | Thursday, Dec. 8-Sunday, Dec. 18 | 3 p.m. | Centre Stage, Greenville | $35 | With new and familiar holiday music and a tale of faith and hope, “Miracle on 34th Street” will melt even the most cynical of hearts during the Christmas season.
A Child’s Haven 2022 Holiday Benefit Bash | Thursday, Dec. 8 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Huguenot Mill and Loft, 101 W. Broad St., Greenville | $150 | Enjoy an evening of live music from Steven Galloway and food from Table 301 while supporting A Child’s Haven.
Holiday Market in Downtown Simpsonville | Thursday, Dec. 8 | 5-8 p.m. | Burdette Central Parking Lot, 1885 Taproom / E. Curtis St., Simpsonville | Free | Enjoy local holiday shopping and live music.*
Friday, Dec. 9
Indie Craft Parade Holiday Pop-Up Shop | Friday, Dec. 9-Sunday, Dec. 18 | 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | Makers Collective, 2909 Old Buncombe Rd., Greenville | Free | Shop a mix of handmade art, home goods, jewelry, and children’s items from 25+ makers.
Kringle Holiday Village | Friday, Dec. 9-Sunday, Dec. 11 | 5-9 p.m. | Fluor Field, 945 S. Main St., Greenville | $0-$12 | Savor the season with a warm mug of glühwein or tasty beer and enjoy live holiday music from Upstate musicians, crafted goods from local artisans, kids activities and more. 🎅
Saturday, Dec. 10
World WONDERland | Saturday, Dec. 10 | 9 a.m.-5 p.m. | The Children’s Museum of the Upstate, 300 College St., Greenville | $0-$15 | Join TCMU in celebrating the holiday season around the world with activities, crafts, learning opportunities, and a visit from Santa.
We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
Students learn from anonymous cases from Upstate hospitals. | Photo by the GVLtoday team
Greenvillians, when you go to the doctor for lab work, do you ever wonder who’s handling your samples? There’s a chance it’s a medical lab technician who learned everything they need to know at Greenville Technical College.
City Editor Danielle here. I got a chance to tour Greenville Technical College’s teaching lab and see the hands-on experience students get in the classroom — which, upon graduation, helps your doctors treat you.
What we tried:
Students study six main areas:
Hematology: The study of blood cells
Coagulation: The study of the blood’s ability to clot
Urinalysis: The study of urine
Microbiology: The study of pathogenic microorganisms and related diseases (think: strep throat)
Immunohematology: The study of blood types + transfusion testing
Clinical chemistry: The study of dissolved substances in the blood and related diseases (think: glucose + diabetes)
I learned how to test a blood sample for its blood type, how to test a urine sample and what the results mean + we looked under a microscope to see how technicians help identify blood-related diseases, like sickle cell anemia + leukemia.
Interested in a new career? Right now, Greenville Technical college is offering $0 tuition for Spring 2023.*
Cowboy Up (701 Easley Bridge Rd., Unit 6030) announced it will rebrand as The Foundry at Judson Mill. The venue hopes to bring in artists from different musical genres. It will reopen Friday, Jan. 6, 2023.
Sports
The Tigers + Gamecocks are going bowlingon Friday, Dec. 30. No. 7 Clemson will face the Tennessee Volunteers in the Capital One Orange Bowl in Miami Gardens, FL at 8 p.m. and No. 19 Carolina will face the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl at 3:30 p.m. in Jacksonville, FL. 🏈
The Tigers are ACC Champions once again. Clemson beat UNC 39-10 Saturday night for its seventh conference championship in the past eight yearsand became the first program to win 21 ACC titles. 🐅
Development
The Greenville Planning Commissionapproved the “Woven” project in West Greenville (along Pendleton Street between Saco and Traction streets). The mixed-use development with 214 residential units, a public plaza and park, andfive commercial spaces that will be leased below market rate to provide affordable commercial opportunities for local entrepreneurs and artists. (The Greenville News)
The hotel and housing development (319 Rhett St.) proposed in the West End is going back to the planning stages to address concerns from City leaders about pedestrian traffic flow on the surrounding sidewalks, lack of clarity on the aesthetic quality of building materials, and building height and setback from the street. (Upstate Business Journal)
Biz
BMWstarted production at Plant Spartanburg on its first-ever M series car featuring an electric drive system. The BMW XM has a plug-in hybrid system with a V8 gasoline engine and an electric motor and will be built on the same assembly lines as the X5, X6, and X7. 🚙
Number
$6.7 million. That’s the record-breaking sale recently made at The Cliffs, marking the highest-selling property ever in the group of seven luxury communities across the Upstate and Western NC. Peek inside the 7-110-sqft home known as “The Perch.”
History
Raise a glass to freedom. The Upcountry History Museum (540 Buncombe St.) will host “The Role of Alcohol in the Revolutionary War” Wednesday, Dec. 7 at 5:30p.m. The program will explore the day-to-day life of soldiers in the Revolution and how spirits influenced the birth of our nation.
Health
Open enrollment for individual and family health insurance is now. Enrollment events are happening this week at The Insurance Source at 114 Trade St. in Greer and HealthMarkets at 409 Mills Ave. in Greenville on Friday, Dec. 9 from 12 p.m.-7 p.m.*
Shop
Holiday shopping tip: Protect yourself from fraud. When shopping online, there are steps you can take to ensure your personal information is secure. Read them here.*
Our readers have some eagle eyes. We asked you to find the sweet twists to your favorite Greenville landmarks in this new mural by Matteo Miles in Camperdown Plaza.
Editor’s pick:I can’t be the only one who saw that Upcountry History Museum event and had “two pints of Sam Adams but I’m working on three” run through their head. While the Sam Adams we know today didn’t start brewing until the 1980’s, I hope to learn more about Sam Adams the founding father, who inherited his family’s malthouse on Purchase Street (hey, BOStoday 🍻), making malted barley and supplying it to brewers. Want to see it all in person? On your next trip to Boston, walk the Freedom Trail celebrating some of the most iconic landmarks from the American Revolution and stop at some of our nation’s oldest bars for a brew like our founding fathers did.
Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Meet Augusta Road’s newest business: Westside Market.
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