The best hikes from bus stations around Sans Souci

Monaghan Mill, now the Lofts of Greenville, is a former textile mill (1900–2001) in Greenville, South Carolina, which was converted into loft apartments in the early 21st century. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Monaghan was successful from the start, producing printed fabrics, suits and shirts, and shade cloth. By 1907, Monaghan had increased his spindles to 60,000, and his stock alone had risen to $700,000. The boom in textile production attracted workers from other states and Europe to Greenville. For example, Monaghan employed fifty Belgian immigrants who lived in one of the mill's boarding houses. In 1911, the Parker cousins merged the Victor and Whaley Mills they already owned with the Olympia, Richland, Granby, and Capital City Mills in Columbia, as well as the Appalache Mills in Greer, to form the Parker Cotton Mills Company. The company had $15 million in capital and operated over one million spindles—more than any other contemporary US textile company. The company collapsed in 1914 due to a lack of capital during a cotton panic at the beginning of World War I. Lewis resigned as president of the company and practiced law until his death from cancer in 1916. Thomas eventually retired. The first successful merger of cotton mills lasted twenty years. In 1917, the former Parker mills were reorganized into the Victor Monaghan Group and sold to J. P. Stevens and Company in 1946. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monaghan_Mill

It's a lovely trail but at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday morning it starts getting crowded and by 11:00 there were lots of people. The most annoying part is the speed bicycle riders. They fly down the trail through crowds of pedestrians. I saw several near crashes. I would recommend this trail but only on weekday mornings when there's not as much humanity about.

Furman Lake, adjacent to Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina, is a scenic reservoir enhancing the campus landscape. Surrounded by lush greenery, the lake offers a peaceful retreat for cyclists.

Opened in May 2022, Greenville's Unity Park, located along the Rabbit Swamp Trail, features cutting-edge playgrounds, a 4,100-square-foot splash pad, green spaces, covered picnic tables, and a 10,000-square-foot welcome center. The 60-acre park includes basketball courts, a historic baseball field from 1925, and three bridges spanning the Reedy River. Visit unityparkgreenville.com/1843/Unity-Park.

The Swamp Rabbit Trail, once a railroad, now a beloved biking route, winds through Upstate South Carolina. Rich in history, this converted rail corridor offers cyclists a scenic journey past woodlands, parks, and the Reedy River. Its transformation into a trail has revitalized communities, fostering recreation and cultural connections.

Frank's Corner is where the Lakeview Link and the Swamp Rabbit Trail meet, south of Berea. Frank's Corner is marked by a bronze statue of a toddler riding a bike, representing joy of getting outside on the Swap Rabbit Trail.

Cone Mill Pond is just off the Swamp Rabbit Trail. This is a nice spot to be on the lookout for birds and animals as you ride along the path.

In 1889, the Swamp Rabbit railway began its operations. The rail car featuring Berea's Swamp Rabbit Trail Station today dates back to 1947. It served as a “Heater Car” with two large furnaces providing heat to other freight and passenger cars. In 2007, began as salvage operations of the rails, the rail car was pushed to this location in preparation to be moved via road to a museum in Indiana. Nevertheless, the transport costs including reinforcing a number of bridges proved too great. As a result, the railcar is still in its place. It was renovated in the course of opening the Rabbit Swamp Trail and features the resting place at Berea.