Following is a list of just of a few of the many attractions that make the Upstate & Western North Carolina Area one of the Southeast's leading tourist destinations. The Upstate is home to three symphony orchestras, several professional ballet companies, more than a dozen community theaters, numerous art galleries and a progressive arts community. There are also many exciting nightclubs in the region!

Spartanburg County Parks and Recreation strives to promote healthy lifestyle choices and individual development for all citizens; encourage volunteerism and citizen involvement; build professional credibility and public trust; provide well-designed and maintained facilities; identify and manage natural resources; and create a quality workplace for its employees.

Hollywild Animal Park is located near Inman in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, one of the most scenic and culturally diverse areas of South Carolina's Upcountry. Nestled on over 100 acres, Hollywild is home to one of the largest collections of rare and exotic animals in the Southeast. Many of our animals are "ZooperStars" of movies and commercials.

2005 Marks the 225th Anniversary of the Battle of Kings Mountain. Kings Mountain National Military Park, in Youkr and Cherokee Counties, SC, commemorates a pivotal and significant victory by American Patriots over American Loyalists during the Southern Campaign of the Revolutionary War, which destroyed the left wing of Cornwallis' army and effectively ended Loyalist ascendance in the Carolinas.

Hampton Heights was founded in the 1880's and '90's on a tract of farmland about a mile south of the center of Spartanburg. The first residents were upper middle-class business and professional people who built large Victorian homes, including a number in the style that became known as Queen Anne. In the early decades of the twentieth century, these Victorian houses gave way to an explosion of Arts and Crafts bungalows. This was a comfortable neighborhood filled with children who played ball in the empty lots and skated up and down sidewalks lined with oak trees.

Fast forward to the late twentieth century. Hampton Heights, now considered an inner-city neighborhood, was struggling with blight and neglect. Then in the early 1980's, refusing to accept pronouncements that the neighborhood was dead, a new generation of homeowners joined with long-time residents to begin the process of renewal

The twenty-first century Hampton Heights is a wonderfully diverse and lively neighborhood with a core of strong minded residents who love their homes and who have worked hard to preserve the spirit of this exciting community—and whose children skate up and down the tree lined sidewalks

Peachoid Water Tower is the 1-million-gallon water tank built by the Gaffney Commission of Public Works to honor the state's (and particularly Cherokee County's) fresh peach industry. The giant peach is easily seen from I-85, but you can take the exit for S.C. Highway 11, Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway, for a closer look

The Regional Museum was established in 1961 with a grant from the Spartanburg County Foundation. In 1999, the Museum moved to the "old Belk" building on Main Street in Spartanburg.

Believed to be the oldest house still standing in Spartanburg, the Jammie Seay House is built, in part, with hand-hewn logs on a field stone foundation. The furnishings are either original, or of the period.

Spartanburg's grand old lady, the Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium, reopened after an extensive $10.5 million renovation, and is a great venue for entertainment. The new renovations include a new lobby, complete with custom carpeting, a specialty coffee bar, copper chandeliers, and arched skylights. The concession stand has rich oak cabinets behind the counter, and just around the corner is a new souvenir booth.

With the romance and mystique of an era gone by, guests on board the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad will enjoy year-round scenic train journeys across fertile valleys, through tunnels and across river gorges in the Great Smoky Mountains. Tuckasegee River Excursion (3½ hour round trip), Nantahala Gorge Excursion (4½ hour round trip) and the Gourmet Dinner Train (2½ hours) are just a few of the wonderful excursion trips available to passengers.

Step on board these luxurious boats and visit the blockbuster hit Dirty Dancing film site, delight in mountain legends and breathtaking views. Suitable for all ages. Hourly tours, twilight and dinner cruises. Private and group charters. U.S. Hwy. 64/74A in scenic Hickory Nut Gorge, 35 miles north of Spartanburg. Lake Lure is ranked by National Geographic Magazine as one of the top scenic lakes in the world