Hey, RAL. GVLtoday Editor Ana here. Our team got to spend last Friday exploring the beautiful 418-acre sustainable living community in the Upstate of SC that is Riverstead. And let us be the first to say, this entire experience was the G.O.A.T. But seriously. It really was, because we got to hold baby goats. (And we had to share our experience with our sister brand RALtoday.)

GVLtoday Editor Grace holding a baby goat named Lil’ Debbie at Riverstead

All *kidding* aside, Riverstead (about 4 hours from Raleigh) is conveniently located 30 minutes from downtown Greenville, SC, and the community has so much to offer residents of all ages. Here’s how our tour went and how you can #TryThis.

Experience:

Tour of Riverstead

What we tried:

We barely dipped our toes in all there is to do at this resilient living community, but we quite literally dipped them in the refreshing Saluda River, which borders Riverstead’s property to both the north + east and is perfect for fishing, canoeing, kayaking, and swimming. The water in the river is super clean as it flows downstream from the Table Rock Watershed + all homesites come with a private well.

On the shore of Riverstead’s beach on the Saluda River

We also got to explore some of the 6+ miles of multi-sport trails the property boasts for hiking, mountain biking, foraging, and jogging. All of these trails are accessible by emergency vehicles (just in case) + most residents in the community can access these trails right from their own backyards.

Don't miss:

Riverstead has multiple different farming initiatives that create a Community Supported Agricultural program, providing farm-to-table food for the neighborhood all while using sustainable, regenerative agriculture methods.

From beehives and a custom strain of heirloom tomato, to farm fresh eggs for all residents, we spent a lot of time learning about the many small scale farming practices at Riverstead.

We also got to feed some of the Riverstead chickens on our tour

Riverstead plans to add some greenhouses + potentially bring in some critters to their grazing field in the near future. They also will be using pine wood harvested from the property to build a barn very soon.

What we’re still talking about:

The views. Especially this one.

Riverstead is a resilient home community built into nature in Marietta, SC with 418 acres and views of the Blue Ridge Mountains | Photo by GVLtoday

From the property, you can catch some unparalleled views of Caesar’s Head, Table Rock, and the Blue Ridge Mountains. This shot specifically was taken from homesite #29.

We also loved all the amenities planned for this growing community, including 3-4 campsites on the property, treehouses for kiddos, fire pits, a pool, and educational classes for both residents and the community.

See even more of our tour on GVLtoday's#TryThis Instagram Story Highlight.

How you can experience this:

Want to learn more about this community that’s interested in preserving + protecting wildlife and cultivating an appreciation for nature in the next generation? Contact Riverstead to get more information about the different 1-5 acres homesites still available for purchase. The neighborhood is already over 50% full.

Things to know if you go:

Experience: Tour of Riverstead
Website: https://www.riverstead.com/
Address: 310 Freeman Bridge Rd., Marietta, SC 29661
Social: Instagram | Facebook

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