We love living in South Carolina for so many reasons — it’s a beautiful state full of friendly people and some of the best barbecue in the country (although we might be a little biased, there.) While the state itself is wonderful, it’s living in the Upstate where things truly shine, thanks to the many events put on by our local communities, helping turn a ho-hum summer into a great time for those young and young-at-heart. Here are a few of our suggestions for getting out and enjoying what Upstate South Carolina has to offer:

In April, take a drive up to Pickens to enjoy their annual Azalea Festival! You won’t find a small-town festival more fun than this. Pickens has been going through a revitalization, and the Azalea Festival is a great time to head on up and see what’s new. You’ll have food vendors to pick from, the Appalachian Ale House to visit for craft beer, an ongoing music festival that day at Hagood Mill (shuttle service provided!), live musical entertainment at the Pickens amphitheater… and you can walk off all that delicious festival food by checking out the newly-opened Doodle Trail, great for a brisk walk, a good run, or a bike ride with the family.

In May, brush up on your art appreciation skills by visiting one of Greenville’s best events, Artisphere! If you’ve never headed downtown to check Artisphere out, make sure you pencil it in for this year! You’ll see over a hundred exhibiting artists in every conceivable medium. Make sure to support an artist by picking up your favorite piece and taking it home with you! You’ll be able to enjoy Greenville’s celebrated restaurant scene, visit M. Judson to pick up some singularly southern literary classics, and once you’re totally worn out, take time to relax in Greenville’s famous Falls Park.

Cool off with a trip up to the mountains to enjoy Movie in the Meadows and Family Animal Encounters in June. June can be as sweltering in South Carolina as July or August — take a day to escape and head up to Chimney Rock State Park. Take a picnic and bring the whole family! Kids can meet local wildlife, where a park ranger will introduce them safely to a groundhog and even possibly local birds of prey, explaining their place in the eco-system and letting your child get to know nature on a new level. If you visit on June 11th, you can celebrate National Get Outdoors Day by taking in The Last of the Mohicans, a true movie classic, and enjoy a beautiful mountain sunset.

There’s no shortage of ways to have fun in Upstate South Carolina, and we hope you and your family are able to get out and enjoy them all! Five Star Construction, based out of Greenville, SC, helps individuals and families to design and build their custom dream home, start to finish. From those initial floor plans (or designs on paper or a napkin) all the way through move-in day and beyond, you can trust Five Star to work with you to ensure your home is everything you’d dreamed it would be. Reach us by phone at (864) 303-9143 or contact us online at any time!