Driving Distance: 1 Hours 34 minutes from Columbia

At first glance, you will see that Spartanburg is a beautiful community with more than just southern charm. Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, our moderate climate encourages year- round tourism.

History buffs enjoy Cowpens National Battlefield, which marks the site where General Daniel Morgan's troops defeated the British. We are home to international businesses like BMW Manufacturing Corp., Milliken & Co., QS/I, Extended Stay America, and Denny's Corporation. And our new Chapman Cultural Center is just one of many performing arts venues.

Spartanburg is known as a "College Town" with six colleges bringing in 12,000 students each year. Six colleges mean a constant bustle of activities from sporting events to art performances.

Spartanburg is also the state's only Bicycle Friendly Community. It is among only seven other U.S. communities to receive this distinctive honor. Cyclists can find bike racks and bike lanes throughout the city.

Spartanburg is the state's only Bicycle Friendly Community and Spartanburg County is the home of the BMW manufacturing plant. Spartanburg is an active living city.

With nearly 400 special events going on throughout the year and the seasonal Hub- City Farmers' Market, you'll always find something to do. Recent events in Spartanburg include Shamrocks on the Square, International Festival, the Spartanburg Classic Denny's Pro- Bowlers Association Tour, and the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas.

The Carolina Panthers Training Camp also calls Spartanburg home each summer. With so many events going on, sometimes it is hard to keep up!

Now you can visit Spartanburg's own MySpace page (www.my- space.com/spartan- burgsc) and see a complete calendar of events or check out our Web site at www.visitspartanburg. com.

Facts about Spartanburg:

• Spartanburg takes its name from "the Spartan Regiment," Patriot militia who fought against the British and the Loyalist allies during the American Revolution.

• In the 1870s, Spartanburg became a railroad "hub city," with mainline railroads extending from Magnolia Street depot in all directions, taking passengers and freight to Charleston, Augusta, Atlanta, Asheville, Charlotte, and points beyond. As many as 90 trains per day could be seen and heard operating in Spartanburg during the golden age of the American railroad, 1900- 20.

Carolina Panthers' All- Pro receiver Steve Smith at training camp • During the 1920s, Spartanburg built South Carolina's first municipal airport and claimed the state's first commercial radio station (WSPA). Its leadership in the state was reflected by the election of several residents as governor.

• Thousands of U.S. soldiers bound for overseas service in World Wars I and II trained at camps in Spartanburg. The post headquarters for Camp Wadsworth (1917- 19) was located at the present site of WestGate Mall, and the Camp Croft (1940- 45) was located south of the city. Much of that military reservation has become Croft State Park.

• After World War II, Spartanburg made a concerted effort to promote its location at the junction of Interstate highways 85 and 26 ("the crossroads of the New South") to international business. One of the greatest successes of this campaign was the development of the BMW manufacturing center in western Spartanburg County, near the Greenville- Spartanburg Airport (GSP).

The reinactment of the Battle of Cowpens at Cowpens National Battlefield •Spartanburg's downtown, which always has been anchored by the campuses of Wofford and Converse Colleges, has been undergoing a major revival since the mid- 1990s.

• In addition to the corporate headquarters for Denny's, Advance America, QS- 1 and several other companies, the city has acquired a magnificent public library, the Marriott Hotel at Renaissance Park, and, most recently, the Chapman Arts Center. The area surrounding Morgan Square gradually is redeveloping with a variety of interesting restaurants and urban apartment- style housing.

• Throughout the 20th century, textile manufacturing companies formed the backbone of the Spartanburg economy. The most significant of these companies still in operation is internationally respected Milliken & Company, which has its headquarters and research center on a campus just north of downtown Spartanburg, only minutes from Wofford.

Spartanburg Philharmonic • Blessed by geography, climate and energetic and well- educated citizenry, Spartanburg is emerging as one of the centers of a 21st century metroplex that extends along the South Carolina portion of the I- 85 corridor. The future for its millennial generation is not only promising, it is enormously exciting.

Peacock at Hollywild Animal Park Next Week: Edgefield