Are you looking for things to do in York, SC? We recently spent a few days exploring all that York County, South Carolina has to offer visitors and we found a lot! There’s something there no matter what your family enjoys doing. We discovered orchards, outdoor activities, and delicious food that we know you will enjoy. So, let us help you get ready for your next day trip to York, South Carolina!
We were the guests of VisitYorkCounty.com for the purpose of this guide to York County, SC. However, the words and opinions of our team member are honest and genuine.
One of the things I love about living in the Upstate is that I feel like there’s an infinite supply of things to explore not far from home. York County, South Carolina has proven to be a wealth of adventure opportunities, and I feel like we barely scratched the surface. During our two day visit, we found fun on a farm, a park full of butterflies, delicious food, and more! I’m so glad that all of this is just about 90 minutes from home, so I can go back whenever I want. Oh, and do I want to!
Since it’s so close, I’m going to list the things to see, do, and eat grouped so you can decide if you want to make a day or a weekend of a trip there! Hop in the car and head east to find adventure. The kids can keep busy in the car with these cute coloring sheets from places around York County.
Looking for more places to spend the day with your family? Here’s our list of Day Trip Towns, just a short drive from the Upstate.
Things to Do in York, SC: Outdoor Adventures!
Draper Wildlife Area
1080 Draper Road, McConnells | 864.427.5140
The Draper Wildlife Area is most popular with the general public for its summer sunflower display during the month of July. Our trip to see the spectacle of acres of sunflowers was our introduction to York County this summer! You can read all about our visit to the huge field of sunflowers.
The Draper Wildlife Area also offers fishing from stocked lakes, and a special area for kids to fish from. Sign-up for the SCDR emails to be notified of fishing clinics hosted on the property for children.
Anne Springs Close Greenway
2573 Lake Haigler Drive, Fort Mill | 803.547.4575
This is probably one of the most beautiful things to do in York, SC, because the Greenway is nearly three times the size of New York City’s Central Park! The Springs milling family donated and maintains this land. A portion of which was purchased generations ago from the Catawba Indians. There is so much to see and do there! You can even go horseback riding here! You can learn all about our day at the Anne Springs Close Greenway, and how you can make a day of exploring this beautiful park.
SouthTown Wake Park
255 East Rambo Road, Rock Hill | 803.324.3020
If you are a thrill seeker looking for a new adventure to be had on the water, this is the place you’ll find it! Southtown Wake Park offers several different water sports for visitors to try out. First-timers can practice on the smaller lake before heading to the larger course. If wakeboarding isn’t for you, there’s also a floating obstacle course, kayaking & paddleboarding available. If you really want to try wakeboarding, but you’re intimidated, try kneeboarding first. It’s the same kind of excitement as wakeboarding, with less to have to control.
Kings Mountain State Park
1277 Park Road, Blacksburg | 864.936.7921
Have you ever noticed that large mountain to the right of I85 as you’re traveling to Charlotte?
If you’ve never heard of Kings Mountain State Park and you want to learn more, we’ve got all the details on why this park is a history-lovers paradise that also has lakes, hiking trails, and equestrian trails. Read Kristina’s review of her trip to the historical site of Kings Mountain.
Farms & Orchards: Fun Things to Do in York, SC
South Carolina Agritourism Passport
448 Different South Carolina Agritourism Farm Locations
We discovered a fun activity while visiting York County. The South Carolina Department of Agriculture offers this free passport program to encourage people to explore their local food suppliers. With over 448 different locations throughout the state, it won’t be hard to collect enough to earn the prizes offered!
You can get four stamps just by visiting the locations included in this article! There are a bunch in the Greenville area too! Just ask for your passport at the first place you visit on the list of participating SC Agritourism locations.
Black’s Peaches
1800 Black Highway, York | 803.684.2333
Most people think that Georgia is the peach capital of the South. Well, they’re wrong, it’s actually South Carolina. We produce more peaches here than our neighbors to the west. Black’s Peaches is where it all started, nearly 100 years ago in 1923.
While you’re visiting the oldest peach farm in the state, have a seat, and enjoy lunch. If you enjoy a big juicy cheeseburger, this is the spot! It’s not often I make note of how fresh a burger tastes, and while I don’t know how to explain what that tastes like – I found it here. You can get Pimento cheese sandwiches, tomato sandwiches, fries, and more.
After you’ve eaten – don’t forget to grab some fresh produce!
Bush-N-Vine
1650 Filbert Highway, York | 803.684.2732
Here in South Carolina, the strawberry season usually only lasts a few weeks. Here at Bush-N-Vine, they use greenhouses and other farming tricks to offer fresh strawberries most of the year! In addition to the berries, they offer other seasonal fruits and vegetables. If you visit Bush-N-Vine you have to try the fresh fruit slushies they make. We had blackberry and it was just perfect on a hot summer day.
Watch their social media account for when the PYO sunflower field is ready in the fall.
Windy Hill Orchard & Cider Mill
1860 Black Highway, York | 803.684.0690
If you like all things apple and apple cider, then this is the place you need to put on your end-of-summer bucket list. Windy Hill offers the standard orchard offerings of PYO apples, cider slushies, cider donuts, and apple cider; they make their own Hard Apple Cider. Folks, it doesn’t get fresher than that. You can sit among the apple trees sipping from a flight of Windy Hill’s Hard cider offerings while listening to live music on the weekends.
Delicious Restaurants to Enjoy in York, SC
Las Americas Supermarket
1906 Cherry Road, Rock Hill | 803.980.8151
Las Americas Supermarket not only has super awesome authentic tacos, they almost give them away weekly in celebration of Taco Tuesday. They are fifty cents apiece.
You heard me.
5 dimes, 2 quarters, or 10 nickels will buy you a warm scoop of meat wrapped in two corn tortillas and topped with cilantro and onion. My mouth is watering right now thinking about it. But if you plan on partaking in the Taco Tuesday offer, you need to plan (and order) ahead. As I’m sure you can imagine the locals in Rock Hill order these up by the tray full, and once they’re all booked up, no hay más (there’s no more).
While you’re waiting on those delicious tacos, check out the murals wrapped around the side and rear of the building. There are Mexican legends adorning the wall, larger than life.
Spice Asian Kitchen
251 Textile Way, Fort Mill | 803.548.6868
Located in the Kingsley Town Center, Spice Asian Kitchen offers fusion cuisine convenient to the hotel on the same property where we stayed. We ordered up a feast of taking out and brought it back to the Courtyard by Marriott. The portions were huge; my kids split the Spicy Chicken Fried Rice and still only ate half.
We also ordered Chicken Pad Thai, Szechuan Dumplings, and the Roti Canai. Luckily the hotel has a mini-fridge, and we enjoyed our takeout again the next night for dinner!
Courtyard By Marriott – Kingsley
1385 Broadcloth St, Fort Mill | 855.516.1090
Marriott offers some of the most family-friendly brands in hotels. That’s what makes it one of our family’s favorites. Whether you travel a lot as we do, or just once in a while, become a Marriott Bonvoy member. It gives you contactless check-in; you can use your phone as the door key, late check-in, and other member benefits. Plus, it’s free!
I especially appreciated the nesting tables in the room that we could pull out and use as a dining table for our meals. Breakfast is served along with Starbucks coffee downstairs every morning, or you can enjoy breakfast at one of the restaurants right outside of the hotel.
More Things to Do in York, SC
There are so many things we want to do on future trips to York County! If we left something off, that you think we should know about, be sure to tell us in the comments. We’d love to know!
- Canaan Zipline Canopy Tour is located on a 100-acre island in the middle of the Catawba River.
- Enjoy some drinks on the YoCo Brew Trail. Visiting 6 of the 8 locations on the trail will earn you a souvenir shirt.
- Floating down the Catawba River takes a bit of planning and two cars, but it’s a great adventure for two families to do on a weekend trip to York County!
- Historic Brattonsville is an 800-acre living history site. If you’ve seen the movie “The Patriot” with Mel Gibson, then you’ve seen Historic Brattonsville!
- Papa Doc’s Shore Club is located on Lake Wylie, and we hear they have some incredible milkshakes!
- Head to Tatanka Bison Ranch, where you can tour the farm and see the American Bison up close and personal!
So, it’s time to start planning your next day trip to York, SC! What do you have planned?
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