We at Mast General Store feel so lucky that many of our stores are located right in the middle of vibrant urban settings.  There’s so much to do and see outside the doors of our stores. We’re excited to share a small selection of our favorites with you! This year, we’re offering a series that features a day’s worth of places to enjoy within walking distance of each of our urban Mast Store locations. First up is Greenville, South Carolina. Won’t you join us?

Reedy River Park and the Liberty Bridge
We began our 24 hours in Greenville in the city’s historic West End. Reedy River Park and the Liberty Bridge are two of the most stunning features of the downtown area. It’s quite unusual to be able to enjoy expansive natural beauty in the middle of an urban area. And the park is situated only a few hundred yards from dining, shopping, and world-class entertainment available throughout the city center.

The Reedy River falls were the birthplace of Greenville.  In 1768, Virginia native, Richard Pearis, settled along the falls where he build his grist mill and established a trading post with the Cherokee natives. In recent decades, community planners invested over 25 years into the revitalization of this area. The former bridge over the falls was solely used for vehicular travel. Ten years ago it was demolished and replaced with the pedestrian-only Liberty Bridge, offering incredible never-before-seen overhead views of the falls. The suspension bridge is a work of art all unto itself. You can linger at any point along the bridge, take in the view, and let the sound of the Reedy River wash over you. The surrounding park is a peaceful place to picnic, throw a Frisbee, feed the ducks, or stroll through a rotating collection of public art. Check out this LINK for more details.

M. Judson Bookstore
Follow Main Street just a handful of blocks from the Liberty Bridge to M. Judson Bookstore. In the summer of 2015, Greenville celebrated the opening of this beautifully designed and thoughtfully curated downtown bookstore. M. Judson offers bestsellers and also features Southern literature by local and regional authors in a renovated courthouse. At the heart of the bookstore is a cafe that lends itself to a full schedule of community events and cultural gatherings. There's even an airy, light-filled room with cozy sitting areas at the back of the store that serves as a meeting space for book clubs, writing classes, and other small gatherings. Other noteworthy features of this eclectic bookstore are the chandelier made entirely of brass spoons that greets you at the entrance of the store as well as the opening hallway with walls made entirely of hardback books! For their full schedule of events, click HERE.

Methodical Coffee
If you step outside the doors leading to the courtyard behind Mast Store Greenville and take a right, you’ll run right into a lovely two-story glass-walled coffee shop with tables to lounge around outside and lots of room to sit and sip inside. Methodical Coffee prides itself on their meticulous and artful approach to coffee as well as welcoming and equally knowledgeable baristas. If you’re looking for a cup of delicious and expertly-made coffee, pure and simple, this is the place for you. It’ll prove helpful fuel for the remainder of your journey around Downtown Greenville. If you’re not a caffeine-fiend, they also offer fresh sodas (like strawberry-basil) and tasty pastries. For hours and more info, click HERE.

Sidewalk Art & Mice On Main
A fun way to get children involved in your urban adventure is by looking for the Mice On Main. The local children’s book of the same name is based on the timeless classic Goodnight Moon. Bronze sculptures of eight mice can be found along a 5-block stretch of Main Street between the Westin Poinsett hotels and the Hyatt Regency hotel. A bronzed sculpture of the book accompanies the mouse at on the fountain outside the Hyatt. HERE are few hunt hints to get you started.

In addition to the Mice On Main, you’ll discover many inspirational quotes written in concrete like the one by Maya Angelou pictured above. Brick sculptures, historical guideposts, and other public art displays tell the story of Greenville’s rich past and its ever-growing community of dedicated people that assure the city’s bright future.

From ice skating at Ice on Main in the winter to free live concerts at Downtown Alive in the spring and summer, there's something for everyone to enjoy every season of the year in Greenville. For a full calendar of events, click HERE.

And just outside of town, be sure not to miss…  Tandem Creperie in Travelers Rest, SC
If you choose to take Highway 25 from Greenville as you head back up north toward Western North Carolina, we recommend a wonderful spot to sit and dine about 15 minutes outside of the city. Pair fresh ground coffee with sweet or savory crepes and enjoy the cheerful and brightly sunlit dining area. Or, you can take your meal to the covered outside patio and dine al fresco. The folks at Tandem are exceptionally friendly and, from the warm and familiar manner they greet many of their guests, they have a large following of loyal customers. It’s easy to see (and taste) why! Check them out HERE.