Seniors Enjoy Spartanburg

Spartanburg, the county seat of Spartanburg County, with a population right at 38,000 residents, has lots of offer senior visitors.

This region of the Carolina Piedmont was for centuries a cherished hunting ground of the Catawba and Cherokee tribes, which occupied land east and west of this area, respectively.

This distant heritage can be glimpsed in some of the natural features. A treaty with the Cherokee Indian nation in 1753 opened up the area for settlers. The county formed in 1785 and got its name from the Spartan Regiment, a local militia unit that fought in the Revolutionary War.

Walnut Grove Plantation is a major attraction along with the Hampton Heights Historic District. Senior visitors with an interest in older homes, will enjoy the many attractions in town.

Spartanburg is nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, between Atlanta, GA and Charlotte, NC and less than an hour from Asheville, NC.

Seniors Discover This Hub City

Spartanburg is known as the Hub City, being a connecting point to other destinations. The city is not only a place connecting travelers, but it’s home to an eclectic mixture of activities and points of interest that provide a rich atmosphere for anyone. Outdoor enthusiasts, history buffs, business moguls, college students, or artistic bohemians, the Hub City offers places and experiences to fit the travel style of seniors.

Bring along your bike and good hiking shoes and investigate the several hiking and biking trails, such as the Palmetto Trail and Cottonwood Trail in the Blue Ridge Mountains.  If you enjoy automobiles, the BMW Zentrum awaits visitors who wish to explore the center and museum, the location BMW’s  only North American facility.

Spartanburg is also known as a college town with eight diverse higher education institutions in its area including Converse and Wofford colleges and the U of South Carolina Upstate. The arts abound with a plethora of museums, musical events, and indoor and outdoor facilities.

 Gardens, Preserves, Plantations and Museums

TripAdvisor has Spartanburg on its map and has a listing of 21 things not to be missed. Me, being a Master Gardener, I’d head off to the Hatcher Garden and Woodland Preserve with my wife. She would enjoy the Walnut Grove Plantation.

My brother-in-law is a train enthusiast and he would head off to the Hub City Railroad Museum.

The local Science Center offers programs in natural history and science to schools, scout troops, summer camps, parks and recreations centers, and other interested groups. It also has a portable Star lab planetarium available for programs for those of us who enjoy looking up at stars overhead.

The locals find that it is one great place to call home and many senior citizens have decided to make Spartanburg their new retirement center.  So set your GPS for South Carolina, the Blue Ridge Mountains and spend some quality time enjoying Spartanburg. -jeb