Justin Winter's Carolina Lake and Mountain Blog

Unforgettable Independence Day Events in the Upstate

Get ready to celebrate Independence Day in full swing! From Lake Keowee, Lake Hartwell, and throughout the greater Upstate area, this year’s festivities are bigger and better than ever, offering something for everyone in the family. We’ve picked our top July 4th events for 2024 that you won’t want to miss. Let’s kick off our… Read more »

South Carolina 58th Annual Apple Festival

Get ready for the 58th Annual Apple Festival in Downtown Westminster! Beginning September 3rd and extending through the weekend, mark your calendars with an event that has something for everyone. The South Carolina Apple Festival kicks off the beginning of the apple harvest in Oconee County. Since the first appearance in 1961, this event has… Read more »

Travel to a Rainforest!

Many people have a list of places they have or would like to travel to. The vibrant blue waters of the Pacific Ocean; the snowcapped mountains of the Swiss Alps; perhaps a rainforest rich in flora and fauna. Well, thankfully for residents of the upstate in South Carolina, the last request is an easy one!… Read more »

Native Americans of Pickens and Oconee Counties

No one can doubt the influence of the Native Americans as you explore the area surrounding Lake Keowee and Lake Jocassee. Both lake names are Cherokee in origin! Pickens and Oconee counties’ history is full of the brave Cherokee Indians.  Historians believe that over 4,000 years ago the ancestors of the Cherokee migrated away from… Read more »

Old Pickens Presbyterian Church

  The Old Pickens Presbyterian Church was built around 1850 and is in excellent condition.  It serves as a wonderful example of mid-nineteenth century churches that were built in the “meeting-style”. The cemetery that is adjacent to the building has over 200 graves, many which date back to the Revolutionary War! Today, you can see… Read more »