Hamrick’s Essentials for Seamless Summer Adventures 
June 4th is National Trails Day! Are you ready to get up and enjoy the great outdoors? It’s good for the soul! Whether you’re walking, biking, running, hiking, birding, photographing nature, or just exploring, we hope you enjoy the opportunity to get outside! However you take to the trails, we’re here to prepare you with the essentials.
First things first: Preparation. Gathering your gear is the first step to having fun and staying comfortable while you spend the day exploring. Here’s what we recommend to get you started…
Supportive Footwear – Trail Trekkers
You don’t have to sacrifice giant chunks of change to keep your feet safe and comfortable during your adventures. Our shoe department is full of incredible deals on brands you love, from Avia to Fila to Ryka to Skechers. Find a pair you can count on to keep you moving painlessly all day long!
Reusable Water Bottle – Eco-friendly Refreshment
It’s so important to stay hydrated throughout your outdoor activities. Plus, when you choose a reusable bottle with you, you’re saving money, reducing your carbon footprint, and preventing plastic from ending up in the oceans! Check out our home goods section to pick out a tumbler you love! With so many different colors, designs, and patterns, there’s something for everyone.
Cooling Towel – Sweat Less
Stop by to pick up a Sideline cooling towel before your trek begins. Soak it in water, squeeze it out, and let the cooling begin! These towels, made from advanced PVA material, slowly evaporate water over time to keep you cool as you get your hike on!
The Basics – Elements Defense
Sunglasses, Sun Bum sunscreen, and bug spray. Summertime essentials are in stock at Hamrick’s! Don’t skimp on these items that will keep you safe and comfortable in the summer sun.
Activewear – Survival Gear
Feeling soggy and sweaty while you’re trying to enjoy nature is not fun. Luckily, we have a great selection of sweat-wicking activewear to keep you feeling fresh. From leggings and bike shorts to tanks and sun-shirts to hats and other gear, there are styles for men, women, and children that will serve as the perfect outfit for your day of exploration.
Now that you have what you need for the perfect park day or hiking adventure, check out these beautiful spots to see which is closest to your go-to Hamrick’s location…
Rocky River Nature Park
Park address: 1311 Old Williamston Road – Anderson, SC 29621
Near: Hamrick’s of Anderson (11 mins away)
This park features trail walking, bird watching, and kayaking as well as K-12 outdoor education, a discovery center, and an outdoor ecological research laboratory!
Bull Mountain
Mountain location: Bull Mountain Road – Asheville, NC 28805
Near: Hamrick’s of Asheville (9 mins away)
This 1.5-mile trail is moderately challenging and takes approximately 40 minutes to complete. Leashed dogs are welcome, too!
Saluda Shoals Park
Park address: 5605 Bush River Road – Columbia, SC 29212
Near: Hamrick’s of Columbia (11 mins away)
This versatile park is full of options! Picnic shelters, a dog park, and a drone zone are just a few of the experiences you can explore!
Table Rock State Park
Park address: 158 E. Ellison Lane – Pickens, SC 29671
Near Hamrick’s of Easley (32 mins away)
Aside from an extensive trail system that ranges from easy to very strenuous, this park also offers fishing, boating, canoe, kayak and pedal boat rentals, swimming, playgrounds, and picnic shelters.
Nalley Brown Nature Park
Park address: 380 Adger Road – Easley, SC 29642
Near Hamrick’s of Easley (11 mins away)
Take your pick of three trails among wetlands and beautiful, mature hardwoods. This park offers a 1-mile ADA accessible trail as well as a natural playground and a shelter.
Clark Park Nature Center
Nature Center address: 631 Sherman Drive – Fayetteville, NC 28301
Near Hamrick’s of Fayetteville (13 mins away)
Clark Park Nature Center has a museum that offers viewings of live animals and hosts many presentations, classes, tours, and other fun learning opportunities. An incredible waterfall is tucked away in this park and is visible from the picnic overlook!
Carvers Creek State Park
Park address: 2505 Long Valley Road – Spring Lake, NC 28390
Near Hamrick’s of Fayetteville (17 mins away)
From biking to horseback riding and fishing and 9 easy trails, there is something for everyone here!
Florence Rail Trail Connection Trailhead
Trailhead address: 2521 W. Palmetto Street – Florence, SC 29501
Near Hamrick’s of Florence (6 mins away)
Dogs are welcome to join you on this beautiful trail… so are bikes! This residential trail is paved for a mile and a half before turning off into a series of unpaved trails through the woods.
Rock City Gardens
Garden address: 1400 Patten Road – Lookout Mountain, GA 30750
Near Hamrick’s of Ft. Oglethorpe (29 mins away)
This unique spot is located at the top of Lookout Mountain and is full of rich history and Cherokee legend. Don’t miss out on Fairyland Caverns, Sing-a-Long Bridge, and the garden’s art installations.
Audubon Acres
Audubon address: 900 N. Sanctuary Road – Chattanooga, TN 37421
Near Hamrick’s of Ft. Oglethorpe (21 mins away)
Spend a sunny Summer day strolling through the Audubon’s nature sanctuaries, home to diverse plants and animals. Be sure to check their event schedule to learn about all kinds of fun learning opportunities, and keep an eye out for the many bird species that call this place home!
Lake Whelchel Trail
Trail address: 198 Concord Road – Gaffney, SC 29341
Near Hamrick’s of Gaffney (10 mins away)
This 7.9-mile, moderately challenging trail takes about 3 hours to complete. Bring your leashed pup for company on this less-populated route!
South Fork River Park
Park address: 4185 Mountain View Street – Gastonia, NC 28056
Near Hamrick’s of Gastonia (16 mins away)
After you explore a mile of natural trail walking or running, enjoy an access area for canoeing, kayaking, and fishing along 800 feet of river front. It’s a peaceful bit of fresh air that will leave you feeling in-touch with nature.
Crowders Mountain State Park
Park address: 522 Park Office Lane – Kings Mountain, NC 28086
Near Hamrick’s of Gastonia (16 mins away)
If views are what you’re seeking, this park will do the trick! A hike here will reward you with 25-mile views of your surroundings. Camping, rock climbing, and bouldering are available as well as curated exhibits at the visitor center.
Gibson Park
Park address: 5207 W. Wendover Avenue – Jamestown, NC 27282
Near Hamrick’s of Greensboro (8 mins away)
This 200-acre park has deep historic ties to the Civil War era. It boasts of 3 miles of natural trails, and baseball, softball, and soccer fields.
Conestee Nature Preserve
Nature Preserve address: 840 Mauldin Road – Greenville, SC 29607
Near Hamrick’s of Greenville (14 mins away)
Give yourself a retreat in the fresh air at this gorgeous nature preserve, enjoy its trails and observation decks, and explore its variety of ecosystems. Field trips, meetings, parties, and weddings are also options at this beautiful location.
Paris Mountain State Park
Park address: 2401 State Park Road – Greenville, SC 29609
Near Hamrick’s of Greenville (30 mins away)
From exhibits to fishing to scavenger hunts… adventure awaits! This park has designated swimming areas, too, so don’t forget your bathing suit!
Jacob Fork Outdoor Center
Outdoor Center address: 4625 NC-127 – Hickory, NC 28602
Near Hamrick’s of Hickory (15 mins away)
The riverfront awaits! Head to Jacob Fork Outdoor Center for a fun-filled tubing experience to stay cool in the Summer sun, floating down the river for 2-3 hours!
Warriors’ Path State Park
Park address: 490 Hemlock Road – Kingsport, TN 37663
Near Hamrick’s of Kingsport (14 mins away)
This lush land offers a lake, incredible bird life, a top-of-the-line disc golf course, golfing, camping, pedal boat rentals, mountain bike trails, and more! There is no shortage of adventures to be had here.
Virginia Creeper National Recreation Trail
Trail address: 331 Douglas Drive – Damascus, VA 24236
Near Hamrick’s of Kingsport (56 mins away)
A very unique experience, the Virginia Creeper Trail offers visitors the chance to shuttle up to the top of the mountain and leisurely bike downhill through towering forests for 17 miles, with streams, waterfalls, fields, bridges, and birds along the way. If you’re up for a challenge, there are an additional 34 miles you can bike, too!
Myrtle Beach State Park
Park address: 4401 S. Kings Hwy – Myrtle Beach, SC 29575
Near Hamrick’s of Myrtle Beach (16 mins away)
Sand, waves, and sun sound like fun? Enjoy time on the coast surf fishing, camping, searching for shells, or just soaking up some rays! There is also a nature center, scavenger hunt, and a maritime forest – Sculptured Oak Nature Trail – to explore.
Phinizy Swamp Nature Park
Park address: 1858 Lock and Dam Road – Augusta, GA 30906
Near Hamrick’s of North Augusta (18 mins away)
This park has it all… Creeks, woods, floodplains, Bald Cypress, a fishing hole, trails, a boardwalk, a pavilion, and a windshear tower! Where are you headed first?
Robertson Millpond Preserve
Preserve address: 6333 Robertson Pond Road – Wendell, NC 27591
Near Hamrick’s of Raleigh (18 mins away)
This 85-acre preserve is for paddlers. That’s right… This trail is in the water! But don’t worry, there are paved paths for walkers, too. Located on Buffalo Creek, the millpond, a blackwater cypress-gum swamp, has intriguing historical connections to Native American hunters and has been considered a significant natural area since 1983.
McAfee Knob TrailHead
Trailhead address: Catawba Valley Drive – Catawba, VA 24070
Near Hamrick’s of Roanoke (26 mins away)
McAfee Knob is a bucket list-worthy destination on the Appalachian Trail, complete with hikes, camping, and 270-degree views. The knob sits 4 miles up at a 3,197-foot elevation on Catawba Mountain.
Happy Hollow Gardens Park
Park address: 6697 Mt. Chestnut Road – Roanoke, VA 24018
Near Hamrick’s of Roanoke (13 mins away)
This park boasts of an amphitheater, grill, picnic shelters, and trails. In April and May, this place is covered in gorgeous blooms – an Azalea paradise! Their Big Oak Trail delivers just that… one of the region’s largest Oak trees. There are 4 other trails to choose from depending on your desired level of difficulty.
Seven Islands Birding State Park
Park address: 2809 Kelly Lane – Kodak, TN 37764
Near Hamrick’s of Sevierville (21 mins away)
For the birders, this spot will not disappoint! With more than 190 species of birds sighted in this park, it is a prime destination. These 416 acres along the French Broad River are filled with various terrains, views of the Smoky Mountains, and trails.
Laurel Falls Trailhead
Trailhead address: Old State Hwy 73 Scenic – Sevierville, TN 37862
Near Hamrick’s of Sevierville (42 mins away)
An 80-foot waterfall awaits you down this trail. This 2.6-mile hike takes about 2 hours from start to finish. This steep trail is not suitable for pets, or strollers, but is a gorgeous and rewarding one nonetheless.
Cleveland Park
Park address: 141 N. Cleveland Park Drive – Spartanburg, SC 29303
Near Hamrick’s of Spartanburg (11 mins away)
Amenities abound at Cleveland Park from grills and an amphitheater to a lake, outdoor fitness equipment, and swings! Want to relax while your little ones play? Check out the playground!
Hatcher Garden and Woodland Preserve
Preserve address: 832 John B. White St. Blvd. – Spartanburg, SC 29306
Near Hamrick’s of Spartanburg (8 mins away)
Tucked away in the city of Spartanburg, this lush piece of land is full of natural charm. Surrounded by ponds, waterfalls, and wildlife, this is a fantastic place to relax and recharge.
Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden
Garden address: 215 S. Main Street – Kernersville, NC 27284
Near Hamrick’s of Winston-Salem (16 mins away)
Open from dawn to dusk, this little slice of botany heaven invites artists to come indulge in nature’s inspiration. If your adventuring style is more lowkey, stop by this beautifully curated garden.
Pilot Mountain State Park
Park address: 1792 Pilot Knob Park Road – Pinnacle, NC 27043
Near Hamrick’s of Winston-Salem (30 mins away)
Geologists, unite! An iconic geologic knob serves as the namesake of this park and as a memorable hike! Rock climbing, rappelling, tent and trailer camping, and even paddle-in campsites are available to visitors.
What are your favorite ways to explore the trails? Tag us in pictures of your adventures and how you used your Hamrick’s gear outside! Enjoy the trails, and remember… leave no trace!