After spending a couple of summer months in Mexico while Diana rehabbed her broken hip, we were ready to venture forth once more. We set out for the Carolinas to enjoy some early fall weather and activities. First stop – Greenville, South Carolina.
Getting There
I may have found a loophole in American Airlines’ pricing engine, allowing me to score a great price for our 3-stop fall US tour. Our itinerary went from Cancun to Charlotte to San Francisco to Phoenix and back to Cancun. I chose to fly AA because we could go non-stop on AA between all these cities, making for nicer travel.
When I finally priced out our tickets, I was quite surprised. I got first class seats for all 4 flights for a total of $980! Damn, that’s good. Further inspection of the ticket may reveal the trick: the ticket priced out as a roundtrip first class from Cancun to San Francisco for $980 with 600+ and 300+ hour layovers in the AA hub cities of Charlotte and Phoenix, respectively. Very interesting, no?
So, after our first nonstop to Charlotte, we grabbed a car and headed to Greenville, South Carolina, for 5 nights, where we had a couple of events pre-arranged.
BMW X Factory
Our first activity was in the nearby town of Spartanburg, home to the BMW X Car factory. The ‘X’ signifies their Four Wheel Drive vehicles. If you have a BMW with X in the name, it was probably produced here.
That day, we went on a tour of the production line for the X5. In particular, we saw the part of the process where BMW produces the frame. The tour was a nice complement to the Maserati factory in Modena, where we saw the assembly of the engine, interiors, windows, etc. In Spartanburg, large, imposing, stationary robots placed, glued, and welded the three-part chassis. It was impressive, if a bit intimidating in a dystopian, rise-of-the-machines kind of way.
It’s definitely worth a visit. Tours sell out days in advance, so plan ahead. There is also a driving school to put your BMW X vehicle through its paces if you are so inclined and financially able. Pictures were not allowed on the BMW or Maserati tours. So, below, I present some snaps of BMWs from the museum in the tour waiting area.
Clemson Football Game
Another reason to visit the area in the fall was to take up a friend on an offer to see a Clemson home football game. Being from out of town, my friends Joe and Jane usually stay in Greenville on game weekends. I enjoy watching football in person, especially with friends who are true fans of the home team.
We had a really nice time tailgating beforehand and then a short walk into the game. It was Parents’ Weekend, so the game was supposed to be against an easy-to-beat team. In this case, nobody told the Syracuse Orangemen they should lose. Their opening touchdown was followed by a successful surprise onside kick, so Clemson started out in a big hole. Syracuse was having their way with Clemson on both sides of the ball. Then, at the half, a 2-hour lighting delay occurred. We rode out some of it by the car, but we eventually gave up waiting for the game to continue.
When the game resumed, things didn’t improve much for Clemson, going on to lose against the powder puff opponent, 34-21. This was my 2nd time seeing Clemson in person, and they disappointed me both times. The first time was when they beat Alabama (my son’s alma mater) for the national championship in Santa Clara. I’m very glad and thankful to Joe and Jane. I was able to attend this game, but I think it might be better to find a friend with extra seats for some other college.
All About Greenville, South Carolina
Greenville, South Carolina (not to be confused with Greeneville, North Carolina), is an up-and-coming little burg in the eastern part of the state. It’s experiencing a rise in interest for tourists and residents seeking out that small town, artsy vibe. There is a pleasant, walkable riverfront area and a lot of development happening around the river rapids in the town center. We enjoyed hanging out there a couple of nights while we were in the area.
Surprise Golf
It happened that we were staying at an Embassy Suites Golf Resort in Greenville. I swear, I had no influence on that decision. I did influence events, however, when I wandered across the parking lot to the pro shop at the Greenville Golf Course and determined we could play this nice, challenging 18-hole course, including a cart, for only $55! On a Sunday morning, no less. So we jumped on it.
Unfortunately, the rental clubs were $75, and they played like rental clubs. But it was a nice treat to get in an unexpected round. Note to self, travel with clubs in the fall going forward. Ya never know…
Columbia, South Carolina – The State Capital
Heading southeast from Greenville, we chose to overnight in Columbia, the state capital. It wasn’t a long drive there, so we had plenty of time to wander downtown, tour the Capitol building, and grab a bite.
While the town was a bit less appealing than cozy Greenville, there was a lot of history to discover in the area. Reading various plaques around town, it was clear the locals hadn’t forgotten General Sherman razing the town in his March To The Sea in the Civil War. It took decades for the Capitol building to be rebuilt. Worth a stop if history is your jam, like me.
Food Of The Region
The Eastern Carolinas are swimming in great BBQ, and the Greenville/Spartanburg area was no slouch. I especially enjoyed dining at The Smokin’ Pig in Clemson and Nic & Normans in Greenville.
Which college home football game would you like to attend?
