Anne Springs Close Greenway Nature Preserve is the Perfect Day Trip from Charlotte, NC

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Fort Mill, South Carolina is just a short drive from the greater Charlotte, NC area. The Anne Springs Close Greenway Dairy Barn Entrance has tons to offer for the ultimate Sunday afternoon outside. While the Greenway is packed with other activities, this post focuses on on the Dairy Barn Entrance.

Anne Springs Close Greenway for Animal Lovers

From the moment of parking the car, beautiful horses are visible in the surrounding pastures. Take the Blue Star Trail from the Dairy Farm on the hiking path to the Swinging Bridge to see donkeys and horses up close. You can even bring your own horse on certain trails!

Anne Springs Close Greenway for Dog Owners

This nature preserve is one of the only places I can think of that allows dogs around other farm animals. I just love that!! Most places with any type of animal encounter ban dogs but not here! My dogs got to chat with donkeys and walk beside horses, only separated by fence.

Anne Springs Close Greenway for Nature Lovers

Keep your eyes peeled for more than 100 species of wildflowers. Cross paths with lizards and have a picnic under beautiful trees. Also worth mentioning, there is a really cool swinging bridge over Steele Creek on the Blue Star trail. So much fun and tons of great photo ops.

Know before you go:

• Entrance is $5 per person or $49 per year for membership. Proceeds go toward keeping up the Greenway.
• The greenway is 40 miles long so make sure to put in this address to get to the trails mentioned in this post: 288 Dairy Barn Lane, Fort Mill, SC 29715

Traveling in the fall?

If you are a pumpkin lover, stop by the Springs Farms Market just a mile from the Dairy Farm. They have homemade soft serve Pumpkin, Apple Pie and Chocolate ice cream. You can also get Pumpkin and Apple Pie Swirled…YUM! Sadly, the Apple Pie flavor was sold out when I went but I didn’t arrive until the end of the day. Other flavors appear to be offered seasonally so you may want to call before making a special trip if you want a certain flavor to make sure they have it in stock.

Belmont, NC is just 20 minutes from Charlotte and offers these unique acivities…