Tourism
Accommodations and Amenities:
What the Clemson Area that encompasses Pickens County has to offer is a different array of attractions and amenities for all types of business-related activities, as well as a great destination for families to spend their summer vacation. Clemson and the surrounding area presents a plethora of services and facilities for meetings, seminars, workshops, and conferences in which organizations can complete and accomplish their main objectives. Clemson and the surrounding areas meeting facilities offer meeting rooms, executive boardrooms, training rooms, and seminar rooms in which event professionals can create the ideal setting for every group. The Clemson Area and Pickens County can also provide a variety of lodging facilities that include hotels, motels, cabins, bed and breakfasts, condominiums, cottages, and chalets. Not only does our area offer a wide variety of lodging facilities, the majority of our facilities are located within close proximity to area restaurants and attractions.
The Clemson Area is open to all business and personal travelers as well as corporate and social groups. The area is equipped to meet the needs of visiting executives not only as they work, but as they play. Clemson and the surrounding areas have more than fifteen golf courses, ten area parks, and seven South Carolina State Park recreational areas. What's more, the Clemson Area can provide some of the Southeast's most pristine and popular lakes: Lake Harwell, Lake Keowee, and Lake Jocassee. These lakes are wonderful for not only skiing, swimming, and boating; they are also fantastic for fishing. Lake Hartwell has 962 miles of shoreline and 56,000 acres of water, Lake Keowee covers over 18,000 acres of water with 300 miles of shoreline, and Lake Jocassee has 7,500 acres of deep water and 75 miles of shoreline. The mountains are less than an hour away for hiking, trout fishing, and mountain biking.
Dining and Nightlife:
Clemson and the surrounding areas have excellent restaurants both upscale and casual, as well as provides an array of popular nightlife spots that are within a short driving distance by either I-85 or U.S. 123. The selection for dining and entertainment in the Clemson Area have increased considerably in recent years to satisfy the needs of a diverse population. With 50 restaurants in Clemson alone there's something for most every taste and budget. What is considered Downtown Clemson, also called Main Street, is located in the heart of Clemson University and is abounding with restaurants including the famous Esso Club that has been in business since 1933 and have entertained sports fans and sports heroes for years. Native restaurants and late-night eats include Mexican, Italian, burgers, wings, sub sandwiches pizza, and sushi. Dining in the greater Carolina Foothills, menus range from ribs to rack of lamb.
Shopping:
Clemson and the surrounding areas provide an array of shopping choices. In downtown Clemson, you can find items that support Clemson University, men and women's boutiques, and souvenir shops. Historic Pendleton and Central provide an array of shops that carry antiques and art. Clemson and the surrounding areas feature antique districts, local food products such as orchards and farms, as well as specialty shops and local merchandise. Clemson and the surrounding areas offer a variety of specialty shops in each city and town to suit the antique collector, the interior designer, and those who are interested in art and history. The Clemson Area also has 200 factory outlets in the region, six large shopping malls, dozens of shopping plazas, as well as vintage clothing stores.
Activities for the Family:
Whether it is indoors or outdoors, shopping or dining, Clemson and the surrounding areas has so much to graciously offer each and every executive, as well as their family. The Clemson Botanical Gardens is open year round for visitors in the area, we have white water rafting on the Chattooga River, and we have numerous historical homes that are open for tours all year long. Clemson and the surrounding areas are thick with history that date back to Colonial times. We have Clemson University, which gives visitors football in the fall, basketball in the winter and baseball in the spring. In addition, we have the T. Ed Garrison Livestock Arena, which is a multiuse facility, but is mainly used for horse and cattle events. The T. Ed Garrison Arena has measures 140 by 260 feet and can accommodate 3000 people. T. Ed Garrison is also available for concerts, trade shows, exhibits, and social gatherings. With over twenty museums and art galleries, ten historic homes, and countless historical sites, Clemson and the surrounding areas can provide something to please everyone in the family. In the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Clemson and the surrounding areas thrive with lakes, scenic highways, and unspoiled mountain trails.