Guide to Getting Away from the Sunnyside Traveler

2019 Hiking week 20 This time of year is the best time to visit Landsford Canal State Park . The park is known as a prime location to view Rocky Shoals Spider Lilies. There are only a few places where these flowers grow in the Southeast. There are three locations in South Carolina - Columbia, McCormick County, and the Catawba River near Landsford Park. These flowers like to grow in the rocks in rivers and begin blooming around mid-May.  Last year, I was able to visit the park with my mom in May. They have a short trail that leads from the parking area along the river to a viewing spot for the lilies. When we were walking along the trail, we kept looking for the flowers but didn't see them. We were worried that we were too early but once we got too the viewing deck, we were able to see tons of them. It was really surprising. It ended up raining on us but we had a good time checking out the park and the trails. The park is actually a historical site of the

2019 Hiking Week 19 Many of you may have already heard about the Swamp Rabbit Trail in the Greenville area. The trail is said to be 22 miles long, with other side trails and extensions either completed or planned. The Swamp Rabbit was one of the first "rails-to-trails" I had been on but I now like to use it as much as possible. Currently, the trail runs from the south end of Greenville all the way to Travelers Rest. There is another small section of the trail south of I-85 around Lake Conestee. I like the Swamp Rabbit Trail because it is mostly flat and you can bike, walk, or run quite a few miles. I have used it in the past when training for half marathons. It's so helpful that they have mile markers along the way. Also, there are usually other people on the trail, even in the middle of winter. It can get pretty busy during the warmer months with families and groups out biking and walking. I recommend getting an early start if you want to avoid the crowds. Yea

2019 Hiking week 18 This weekend was pretty busy so I didn't get a chance to go hike anywhere. But last weekend, besides walking the Three Rivers Greenway , we also visited the Lake Wateree State Park . We had never been to this state park and I had never been to Lake Wateree (that I remember). The lake is about 40 miles north of downtown Columbia. It's a popular place for people in the area to boat and cool off in the summer. Some also have lake homes in the area. Lake Wateree State Park is primarily a place for people to camp and be on the lake. There's a small nature trail and a playground area but not much else. Admission is $2.00 per person which is paid at a collection post. There is a nice drive to the park which cuts across the lake. It was a pretty view and we even spotted a turtle trying to cross the road. Or maybe he was just warming up in the sunshine. But it's a nice park that I imagine gets pretty busy during peak boating times. It would be nice to