- Kilburnie, the Inn at Craig Farm
- Historic Liberty Hill
- 40-Acre Rock
- Landsford Canal
Dates
April 2 – 4, 2025
Highlights
- Spend two nights at Kilburnie, the Inn at Craig Farm - a fantastic story of historic preservation
- Delicious dining, from sumptuous breakfasts to a private French chef providing dinner with wine at Kilburnie
- Exploration and walks with local experts: Liberty Hill; the Revolutionary War battlefield of Hanging Rock; 40 Acre Rock and its wildflowers
- Lancaster’s state-of-the-art Native American Studies Center
- Beautiful backroads driving routes
Trip Description
Welcome back to Lancaster County, South Carolina, and one of Explore Up Close’s favorite exploration experiences!
This three-day trip in the Palmetto State is built around community-spirited, preservation-minded “citizen-history buffs” who clearly thrive in the local soil. Add in one French chef who brings his culinary act on the road, and we’ve got a great cast of characters to host our group!
Itinerary
-
- 40 Acre Rock
-
- Lancaster, SC
-
- Landsford Canal
The trip is timed to coincide with one of South Carolina’s great natural spectacles: the wildflower bloom on 40 Acre Rock, a one-of-a-kind place in the state. Delightful walking options abound! For those who like to walk, we’ll explore lovely springtime sites: stunning and rare wildflowers on 40-Acre Rock; the wooded trail highlighting the Revolutionary War skirmish at Hanging Rock; and the historic Lansford Canal (c. 1830).
In addition to these three planned group walks (ranging about .75 to 1.5 miles, and you can always opt out or customize your own distance), there are other delightful opportunities to explore on the grounds of Craig Farm and the trail system at Kilburnie – where we’ll spend both nights.
Of course, no Explore Up Close trip would be complete without excellent local dining! We’ll enjoy one inspiring group dinner event at our inn at Kilburnie & the Craig Farm, prepared for us by a French chef who is traveling to Kilburnie just for our group, and the other dinner overlooking Lake Wateree.
This is the perfect springtime trip to discover South Carolina’s “Olde English District,” a region rich in charming small towns, and stories about Native American culture, the Revolutionary War, and historic preservation triumphs.
Featured Experiences
The Inn at Craig Farm
Now in its 12th year of operations, the Inn is a luxurious, beautifully maintained Bed and Breakfast Inn with the aura of a small private boutique hotel. This 182-year old antebellum “Grand Dame” was moved in 1999 to 400-acre historic Craig Farm and completely restored to her former Greek revival grandeur. Featured in Southern Living Magazine, Kilburnie is known for its friendly European-laced hospitality and its gourmet breakfasts. There are nature trails to explore, gardens with seating benches, and three large piazzas with rocking chairs for quiet solitude or socializing. The Dutch-American innkeeper, Johannes Tromp, is the former General Manager of Windows on the World restaurant in New York, and he brings his great spirit of impeccable hospitality to his guests!
What's Included
Comfortable van transportation
Accommodation for 2 nights
Breakfast, 3 lunches, and 2 dinners
All touring per the itinerary
Guide and concierge service throughout the trip
Trip Price
$2,045 / person (double occupancy; single supplement, $245)
What's Not Included
Price does not include alcohol, other meals, or optional trip insurance.
..well-planned, from interesting and fun excursions planned each day, to comfortable lodging and transportation. Our trip leaders, Chumley and Khal, were impressive with their knowledge of each area we explored and gracious in their planning of every aspect of our trips.
Trip insurance safeguards your travel investment, your belongings, and most importantly, you. Though trip insurance is optional, we strongly encourage travelers to purchase trip insurance in the event you have to cancel or leave a trip for any reason. Please note, all trip participants should wait for confirmation from Explore Up Close that the trip has the minimum sign-up required to be a “go” before purchasing travel insurance. Please confirm with Explore Up Close before making any additional travel arrangements.
Once you have received confirmation from Explore Up Close, we recommend contacting a travel insurance provider directly to request a quote and compare pricing and features. You can find other providers that may fit your needs at www.insuremytrip.com, or we can gladly connect you with our travel agent.
This trip departs from Greenville / Spartanburg, South Carolina and Asheville, North Carolina. If you live elsewhere, please contact us to discuss travel arrangements, and we will look forward to assisting you!
