Looking for a Home by Guest Blogger Lee Ann Carter

Wendy and I would like to thank Lee Ann Carter for guest blogging for us this week.  Lee Ann is a big fan of our beautiful Greenville area, and she writes about her search for a new home in this article. — Martha Winebarger

LOOKING FOR A HOME

About 25 years ago I had an opportunity to relocate to Greenville and didn’t even think twice about saying no. I was raised in a small town very similar and so when the offer was made I immediately turned it down. I based my decision on thinking why I want to go back to what I already know? That, combined with a bit of wanderlust led me to call many different places home over last quarter century.

Then several years ago I had an opportunity to re-visit Greenville. What a pleasant surprise! Greenville’s downtown had been revitalized around the gorgeous Reedy River, offering walking trails, a park, restaurants with outdoor seating, coffee shops and quaint stores.

Lining Main Street in both directions, from the newly renovated Hyatt hotel, all the way to Fluor Field, home of the Greenville Drive baseball team are beautiful trees draped with thousands of twinkling lights. Pedestrian-friendly sidewalks lead to unique locally owned businesses and eateries. There is plenty of street-side parking along with conveniently located parking garages.

But Greenville doesn’t end at Main Street. Only a short 15 minute drive from downtown is Woodruff Road where there you have a plethora of shopping and dining choices again from locally owned to a wide variety of nationally recognized chains and big box stores.

But it’s not all about the shopping and the restaurants. Greenville has not one but two outstanding community theaters, The Warehouse Theatre and Center Stage. The Swamp Rabbit Trail is a great draw for folks that want to get outside and enjoy biking and hiking. Add to the mix a thriving Farmer’s Market and I was beginning to think Greenville could easily become my new home.

One of Lee Ann’s favorite places in Greenville is the Reedy River at Falls Park.

I moved here permanently in July of 2010 and have never regretted my decision. The seasonal weather is a joy after many years of living in tropical climates. The crime rate is low. No traffic problems as far as I’m concerned…there is always several routes to any one destination and very seldom does it ever take more than 15 minutes to get there.

Couple all that with a reasonable cost of living, an outstanding health care system and residents who both care about their town and embrace newcomers rather than close them out, and Greenville might just be the place where I finally decide to settle down and grow roots.

About Lee Ann Carter: Lee Ann Carter recently returned to land after ten years of living on and sailing the blue waters of the Atlantic on her 36’ Bayfield sailboat Nisus. As a professional freelance writer, she has been featured in national, regional and local publications including Southwinds Sailing, Charleston (SC) City Paper, South Carolina Homes & Gardens, Living Aboard Magazine, Charleston Magazine and Carolina Architecture and Design and is a travel correspondent for the Forbes Travel website, www.startle.com.

Presently residing in the upstate of South Carolina, Lee Ann now specializes in web based articles and blog posts for businesses across the United States. She is also a featured monthly columnist for www.fetegreenville.com, Greenville’s only on-line digital magazine.

Contact information and previous print articles can be found www.leeanncarter.net

Lee Ann Carter is an avid writer and her works can be found in Fete Greenville, and other great reads.

About Greenville Marketing Lab:  Greenville Marketing Lab works with local businesses to bring online and offline face-to-face with integrated marketing solutions. We are passionate about helping local businesses develop successful and innovative strategies to help build their brand, improve their sales and meet their objectives.  Martha and Wendy enjoy the many diverse aspects about their adopted city of Greenville, SC…a favorite activity for both is cycling on The Swamp Rabbit Trail.