Lake Hartnell Country in the South Carolina Upstate is home to waterfalls, pristine rivers and lakes and loads of history. Anderson, Oconee and Pickens counties offer visitors an opportunity to slow down and enjoy the changing leaves, maybe put a paddle or a line in the water, listen to some homegrown music and taste the local fare. If you're coming this way, here are five bed and breakfast locations you just gotta try.
The Bleckley Inn offers so much luxury, you might never want to leave the inn, but its central location puts all of downtown Anderson within walking distance. Rooms and suites range from $125-200 a night. You can enjoy all the modern conveniences of televisions, refrigerators and wireless Internet access or you can unplug and enjoy the fireplace available in some rooms and complimentary milk and cookies each night. The inn also offers two apartment-style suites down the street from the Bleckley for families or longer-term stays. 151 East Church St., Anderson. 864.225.7203.
Sunrise Farm Bed & Breakfast, a beautifully restored 1890s Victorian farmhouse, sits on 10 acres of what used to be a large cotton plantation. The inn offers bedrooms and individual cottages, and guests may relax on the large wrap-around porch of meander around the farm to meet the animals. The house and its guest rooms and suites are filled with antiques. Each room has a private bath. Free WiFi and beautiful mountain or pastoral views are included. Breakfast is all-natural and features local ingredients. Sunrise also certified as a wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. 325 Sunrise Drive, Salem. 864.944.0121
Walhalla Liberty Lodge was a wedding gift from Judge John Norton to his daughter in 1884. The Victorian-era home is run by sisters Betty Jean Dowell and Patsy Dowell Sims. Five rooms are available, but only three have private bath; about $100 a night on weekends includes full breakfast. During the week, rooms are less expensive but come with coffee only. The lodge has an outdoor pool. The restaurant is open 5-8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for Sunday buffet. 105 Liberty Lane, Walhalla. 864.638.8239.
Magnolia Manor Bed & Breakfast has four second-floor rooms and a third-floor suite. Rates at this Greek revival-style mansion start at $90 during the week and go up to $125 on the weekends. Magnolia Manor specializes in wedding packages. 207 Westminster Highway, Westminster. 864.647.8559.