Things to Do in Anderson
How can one not make a stop at the “Friendliest City in South Carolina”? A charming city of nearly 30,000 people, Anderson is a tight-knit community that is warm and welcoming to visitors and travelers alike. There’s a lot to see and explore in this vibrant city. From historic sites to outdoor activities, let’s count down ten of the best things to do in Anderson, SC.
Anderson Sports & Entertainment Center
Image: Anderson Sports & Entertainment Center Website
Spanning 337 acres of land, the Anderson Sports & Entertainment Center (ASEC) hosts various events that bring together locals and visitors to the city of Anderson. The ASEC complex is home to the William A. Floyd Amphitheater, one of the largest outdoor concert venues in South Carolina. Some of the biggest names in the music scene have performed on stage in front of a 12,000-strong crowd.
With baseball and soccer fields, tennis courts, pickleball courts, and disc golf courses, the sports center is packed with activities. Tournaments and other athletic events are held regularly in the 64-acre sports center.
A two-mile paved walking trail is open to the public, so you can walk or jog when you’re in the area. The paths along the balloon launch field have bicycle lanes so you can bike in peace around designated areas.
Kids will be thrilled to know that they have the Kid Venture playground to themselves. It was built for the community children with all the cool playground amenities. For a quieter activity, the public park within the complex has picnic grounds. With all these facilities, Anderson Sports & Entertainment Center (ASEC) is indeed the “Center of it All.”
Palmetto Distillery
Image: Palmetto Distillery Facebook
Legal moonshine is hard to come by, but at Palmetto Distillery, moonshine is sold by the truckload. This just goes to show how popular it is among the locals and visitors alike. Located at the heart of Anderson, this micro-distillery produces the Palmetto Moonshine, South Carolina’s first legal moonshine, and the Palmetto Whiskey, the state’s most awarded craft whiskey.
Visitors can have a free tour of the facility to learn about the distilling process and taste some of the finest craft liquor in the South. Every jar of moonshine undergoes the traditional process using age-old recipes and 100% copper still, similar to the ones used by moonshiners of old (but bigger). Being descendants of moonshiners, the Boggs brothers want to preserve the traditional moonshine and whiskey-making process, so you’re guaranteed that all their liquor products are historically accurate.
Moonshine enthusiasts can buy one (or all) of several moonshine flavors that give a strong kick but are amazingly smooth. If you’re a spirit connoisseur, this is the distillery to visit.
Carolina Wren Park
Image: Carolina Wren Park Facebook
The City of Anderson has some of the best parks in South Carolina and one that attracts a lot of locals and travelers alike is the Carolina Wren Park located at E. Whitner Street. It’s a great place to just kick back and relax outside of your own home and in the company of strangers who are also doing their own thing. Even with people around, the park doesn’t feel crowded.
The park is perfectly designed for concerts, plays, performances, and movies. So, whether you’re into music, films, or Shakespeare, you’ll have a great time in the park. Movie nights are a community affair where everyone can enjoy a good movie outdoors with popcorn and all. Kids (and doggos) can have tons of fun frolicking on the floor fountains. At night, the wall waterfall lights up, providing a beautiful light show. It also serves as a wonderful backdrop for plays and stage performances.
Golf
Some people will travel to the ends of the Earth to find the best golf courses. If golfing is life and you’re heading to Anderson, SC, three excellent golf courses await your arrival.
Cobb’s Glen Country Club is a 7,002-yard championship golf course with lush fairways. With four tee boxes on each hole, you can choose the degree of difficulty based on your skill and game style. Whether you want a challenging or forgiving fairways, Cobb’s has it. The country club is complete with amenities, including a Z-shaped, junior Olympic size swimming pool.
The Club at Brookstone is a sprawling 18-hole golf course perfect for practice and tournament level play. Its golf practice facility is one of the best in Anderson, complete with large golf putting green, chipping green, a practice bunker, and a driving range that will test your golf mettle.
Pine Lake Golf Club is a par-70 golf course that spans across 150 acres of green. Carved out of the western South Carolina pine forest, the golf course fits the Broadway Lake’s natural landscape seamlessly. It’s open to the public and golfers of all skill levels are welcome to the challenging tree-lined 18-hole course with 43 bunkers.
Anderson County Museum
Image: Anderson County Museum Website
The rich history of Anderson County and South Carolina is encapsulated in this 12,000 square foot museum. The Anderson County Museum follows an artifact-driven approach to storytelling by holding exhibits and events which make learning the history of the place more immersive and engaging.
With more than 25,000 artifacts in their galleries, you can have a more profound appreciation of the history of Anderson. Exhibits are always changing as the museum continues to collect, preserve, and interpret artifacts that hold the key to understanding the past, the present, and the future of the city, county, and state.
Growler Haus
Image: Growler Haus Facebook
If you have a sophisticated palate for beer, the Growler Haus will satisfy your thirst for craft beer and microbeer. The Growler Haus is not your ordinary pub crawl stop. It’s the ultimate destination for freshly crafted beer on tap.
Growler Haus goes for a rustic club-style atmosphere that matches the beer creations of their esteemed brewmaster.
Although smaller in size, compared to other locations, the pub has a long list of beer and wine offerings that you’d end up drunk out of your mind if you try them all. To enjoy them all, it warrants multiple visits. It’s guaranteed that every visit is an unforgettable beer tasting experience.
Denver Downs Farm
Image: Denver Downs Farm Website
Denver Downs Farm is a cotton farm turned dairy farm that is now used as part of South Carolina’s agri-tourism efforts. If you’re looking for a fun and unique outdoor activity for the family, there’s nothing more wholesome than a trip to Denver Downs Farm.
There’s a lot of things to explore and experience on the farm. From pumpkin picking to cow milking to ziplining to wall climbing, there’s an activity for everyone. Kids will surely have a grand time with all the unique activities that can only be done on a farm.
Activities are immersive, interactive, engaging, and fun. It’s a great way to get them off the internet and actually interact with real people and animals. For adults, it’s a great way to take a break from hectic city life.
C & C Ice Cream and Arcade
Image: C & C Ice Cream and Arcade Facebook
Two things that will never fade from memory are ice cream and vintage arcade games. It doesn’t matter how old you are, these two things will always put a smile on your face.
Enjoy a scoop or two of your favorite ice cream flavor while you beat the high score in an arcade game at C & C Ice Cream and Arcade. Challenge your kid in a game of pinball and the loser pays for the sundae.
Enjoy the wild ice cream creations and beat everyone in your arcade game of choice to get into the C & C Wall of Fame. New vintage games and new ice cream concoctions are added so there’s always a reason to keep coming back.
Lake Hartwell
Lake Hartwell is one of the top fishing lakes in the United States. It has played host to a number of professional bass fishing tournaments over the years.
Fishing enthusiasts and professional anglers are lured to Lake Hartwell because of the variety of fish in the lake. It has become a habitat for bream, catfish, walleye, trout, and smallmouth and largemouth bass. Who knows, maybe you can snag a 20-pound fish on your next visit.
But Lake Hartwell is not just a fishing spot, it’s also a complete outdoor recreation destination. It has numerous facilities, including campsites, playgrounds, boat ramps, swimming areas, and hiking spots. It’s a great destination for wholesome outdoor activities.
Boulevard Lanes
Image: Boulevard Lanes Website
If you’re looking for a low-impact indoor sport with food and drinks, Boulevard Lanes bowling alley in Anderson, SC is a top choice. Bowling is easy on the knees and back, so you can have maximum enjoyment without the pain.
Play with your family and friends or compete in tournaments and win prizes. House music fills the alley, which makes everyone all pumped up and raring to go get their first strike. For every strike, the bowling alley screen lights up with fun animation to cheer you on.
Boulevard Lanes is a great pit stop when on a road trip to stretch those legs, get some food, and have a great bowling experience if you have time to spare.
