Because we know our beautiful region and State has so much to offer, we’ve suggested some pre-Conference and post-Conference destinations you may wish to consider, including:

• Chattooga River Rafting (approximately 2 hours from Greenville to the SC section of river) - The Chattooga River, located in the corner of Northeast Georgia & Northwest South Carolina, is designated a National Wild and Scenic River, offering an abundance of wildlife, amazing scenery, and thrilling rapids. Divided into five sections so as to meet everyone’s desires, the Chattooga River provides an excellent experience for all whitewater adventurers, with rapids ranging from Class II to Class IV. For more information, click on: http://www.fs.fed.us/conf/rec/rafting.htm
  
  
• Biltmore House, Asheville, NC (approximately 1 hour from Greenville) - In 1895 in Asheville, North Carolina, George Vanderbilt engaged two of the most distinguished designers of the 19th century, architect Richard Morris Hunt and landscape designer Frederick Law Olmsted, to design a country retreat where he could pursue his passion for art, literature, and horticulture. The centerpiece of the estate was a four-story stone house with a 780-foot façade—a monument that would rival the surrounding mountains in grandeur. Hunt modeled the architecture on the richly ornamented style of the French Renaissance and adapted elements, such as the stair tower and the steeply pitched roof, from three famous early-16th-century châteaux in the Loire Valley: Blois, Chenonceau, and Chambord. The construction of the estate was, at the time, one of the largest undertakings in the history of American residential architecture. Over a six-year period, an entire community of craftsmen worked to build the country's premier home. The estate boasted its own brick factory, woodworking shop, and a three-mile railway spur for transporting materials to the site. The completed Biltmore Estate features four acres of floor space, 250 rooms, 34 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, and 65 fireplaces. The basement alone would house a swimming pool, gymnasium and changing rooms, bowling alley, servants' quarters, kitchens, and more. The Estate is still known as America’s largest private residence. The grounds of the 125,000-acre estate were designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the creator of New York's Central Park and the father of American landscape architecture. He not only developed acres of gardens and parkland, but in his efforts to protect the environment and reclaim over-farmed land, Olmsted established America's first managed forest. Fore more information, click on: http://www.biltmore.com. To learn more about Asheville, NC, click on: http://www.exploreasheville.com/index.aspx
  
  
• Myrtle Beach, S.C. (approximately 5 hours from Greenville) - As one of the top domestic tourist destinations in the continental United States, with nearly 14 million visitors a year, over 60 miles of warm, sandy beaches, and hotels ranging from economy to extravagant, the Myrtle Beach is a vacationers’ dream. From outlet shopping to five-star dining to live entertainment to some of the best golf courses in the South, Myrtle Beach provides limitless opportunities for relaxation and fun. For more information, click on:
  
  http://www.mbchamber.com or http://www.myrtlebeach.com.
  
  
• Charleston, S.C. (approximately 4 hours from Greenville) – Charleston’s Historic Downtown District has stood throughout Charleston’s history as the cultural capital of the South and is considered by many to be a living museum, with a wonderful variety of things to do and see. In this beautifully preserved city you can experience tours through historic landmarks, including 18th century homes and plantations, the Battery, museums, churches and the city market. The number of historic sites in Charleston South Carolina is astonishing. Charleston also boasts numerous art galleries that display the city’s impressive appreciation for the visual arts. There are many historic Charleston South Carolina accommodations to choose from when planning your visit. Charleston maintains all the ingredients necessary for a great vacation. For more information, click on: http://www.charleston.com or http://www.charlestoncvb.com.
  
  
• Hilton Head Island, SC (approximately 5 hours from Greenville) - Renowned as one of America’s most family-friendly destinations, Hilton Head Island offers unlimited opportunities for vacation memories and was recently named one of the top ten family beaches in the country. As an intimate getaway for two or an idyllic backdrop for a family reunion, the Island extends a variety of outdoor and indoor recreational activities. From luxurious exclusivity to affordable conveniences, from small and serene to full-service and first-class, guests can select the ideal setting for their Hilton Head Island vacation – from marina to golf view to oceanfront. For more information, click on: http://www.hiltonheadisland.org/vacation-visitors-guide or http://www.hhisland.com.
  
  
• Kiawah Island, SC (approximately 5 hours from Greenville, near historic Charleston) - On the Coast of South Carolina, nestled between the surf of the Atlantic Ocean and the sweeping marshes of the mainland, lies a rare vacation paradise called Kiawah Island. Home of internationally televised Ryder Cup and PGA Golf Championships, Kiawah Island has 10 miles of pristine, sun-swept beach and was voted "most romantic spot and best spot to walk the beach" by Southern Living Magazine’s editorial staff. Just minutes away, historic Charleston, South Carolina offers 300 years of history, art and culture. So a vacation at Kiawah includes an award winning beach plus all the attractions, and shopping and dining found in this truly world-class city. For more information, click on: http://www.kiawah.com or http://www.kiawahresort.com.
  
  
• Atlanta, GA (approximately 3 hours from Greenville) - Atlanta is the Capital city of the southeast, a city of the future with strong ties to its past. The old in new Atlanta is the soul of the city, the heritage that enhances the quality of life in a contemporary city. In the past two decades Atlanta has experienced unprecedented growth -- the official city population remains steady, at about 420,000, but the metro population has grown in the past decade by nearly 40%, from 2.9 million to 4.1 million people. A good measure of this growth is the ever-changing downtown skyline, along with skyscrapers constructed in the Midtown, Buckhead, and outer perimeter (fringing I-285) business districts. Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport is one of the nation's busiest in daily passenger flights. Direct flights to Europe, South America, and Asia have made metro Atlanta easily accessible to the more than 1,000 international businesses that operate here and the more than 50 countries that have representation in the city through consulates, trade offices, and chambers of commerce. The city has emerged as a banking center and is the world headquarters for 13 Fortune 500 companies. For more information, click on: http://www.atlantaga.gov. Some things to do and see in Atlanta include: Atlanta Braves. Click on: http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com. The High Museum of Art. Click on: http://www.high.org. The Georgia Aquarium. Click on: www.georgiaaquarium.org.
  
  
• Charlotte, NC (approximately 1 ½ hours from Greenville) - The Charlotte region is composed of 16 counties, including two counties in South Carolina, with the city of Charlotte serving as the hub. Located in the heart of the Southeast, Charlotte lies within the southern Piedmont of North Carolina along the state's border with South Carolina. Charlotte is the largest and most accessible city between Washington, D.C. and Dallas, TX. Owing to its mid-Atlantic location, getting to Charlotte is easy from anywhere in the country or world, garnering its nickname the "International Gateway to the South".
  For more information, click on: http://www.visitcharlotte.com.
  
  Things to see and do in Charlotte include:
  Discovery Place. Click on http://www.discoveryplace.org.
  Carowinds. Click on: http://www.carowinds.com.
  NASCAR racing. Click on: http://www.lowesmotorspeedway.com. Charlotte Knights baseball. Click on: http://www.charlotteknights.com.