We give a lot of love to downtown dining and the views in Falls Park, but there’s another Main Street about thirty minutes southeast of Greenville with plenty of history and culture of its own.

Meet Fountain Inn. Population: 8,513. Small-town charm: Endless.

Kendall here, a lifelong Fountain Inn resident and GVLtoday intern. I could go on and on about my hometown, but for now, I’ll start with my recommendations on how to spend 24 hours.

8 a.m. (9 a.m. if you love sleep) ☀️: Start out with plenty of caffeine to boost your day at the new Steam Coffee & Cream. Try a build-your-own breakfast sandwich and maybe strike up conversation with a stranger at the community table or browse local art for purchase (including gorgeous wood art by GVL artist Jordan Bunce).

10 or 11 a.m. (no one is rushing ya): Shop around at consignment stores + boutiques alike. Lining Main St. you’ll find Consignment Showcase for antique treasures, Black Tulip for curated fashion, and Inn Season for home decor (a.k.a. deck your house out for fall + Halloween).

Lunchtime: If you’re in town on a weekday, Sweet Catherine’s (open Mon. – Fri.) is popular for its Southern classics like fried green tomatoes + shrimp and grits (when almost every Facebook review calls a restaurant a “gem”, you know it’s Southern-approved).

For Saturday lunch, you can’t go wrong with a hearty plate of pulled pork, mac and cheese + cucumber salad at Bucky’s Bar-B-Q (open Tues – Sat.)

Spend the day: Follows the city from the days of arrowheads to cotton looms at the Fountain Inn History Museum. (If you like what you see, buy a ticket for the museum’s fundraising gala on Oct. 19).

Horseback ride on trails sprawling through 45 acres of scenic land at Black Horse Run. Guides + training are provided so even beginners can find their inner horse-whisperer. Rides start at $30, reserve before you go.

Hike, bike, or catching a view of the waterfall at Cedar Falls Park – which happens to be a 5-minute drive from City Scape Winery. 😉

Dinner (don’t forget to make a reservation): Cucina 100 has an atmosphere that’s almost as warm and comforting as its italian fare. Pro Tip: Try the shaved ribeye + cajun white pizza.

If Italian isn’t calling your name, walk down to J. Peters for some classic steak, potatoes + wine.

Finish off the night (nightcap, anyone?): Growler Haus in Fountain Inn is your go-to for craft beers. There’s always live music (catch Alex Hunnicutt on Oct. 20) + even if you just ate, you won’t be able to resist the nachos.

See a show at the Younts Center – Catch the musical Smokey Joe’s Cafe starting at the end of the month for just $10 or catch the Fountain Inn Chorale Autumn Light show on Nov. 14.

Fountain Inn has come a long way since stagecoach drivers named it after – well, you can guess. It’s grown into a cozy community where everyone is welcome, city and country-dwellers alike. Questions on recommendations or want to add your own? Reply to this email + drop us a line.

One of my favorite things about living in Fountain Inn is the balance between my small hometown and the energy of downtown 30 minutes away. I’m excited for more Greenvillians to get a broader view of what’s outside Main St. and explore the smaller cities right next door. Maybe we’ll bump into each other at Steam 👋.

– Kendall