Most Southern towns were founded by British, French or Spanish settlers. Walhalla, S.C., is an exception. It was founded in 1850 by the German Colonization Society. Today little remains of Walhalla’s German roots, but tradition is upheld with Oktoberfest every fall. For three days, the town celebrates with German bands, carnival rides, children’s activities, lederhosen, wurst and, of course, a beer tent.

Other times of the year, Walhalla’s charms are quieter. Its scenic and historic setting affords visitors outdoor activities, as well as antique shopping on Main Street. Lake Hartwell, Lake Keowee and the Chattooga River aren’t far away. 

» Oconee Heritage Center is a jam-packed with interesting exhibits of everyday items from the past. The museum’s gem is a 250-year-old dugout canoe, found in the nearby Chattooga River. Another fascinating exhibit is a one-room, Depression-era tenant farmer’s house. Inside are a bed, stove, sink, ironing board and other objects from the times. Donations accepted. Noon- 5 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays-Fridays; 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays. 123 Brown Square Drive, Walhalla, S.C. 864-638-2224, www.oconeeheritagecenter.org.

» Downtown Walhalla is full of lovely old homes and buildings. St. John’s Lutheran Church (301 W. Main Street) was founded by German settlers in 1853. The sanctuary was dedicated in 1861. Built in 1915, the Civic Auditorium (101 E. North Broad St., www.walhallacivic.com) was once the auditorium for the Walhalla Graded School, established in 1903. Restored in 2003, it is used for shows, conferences and seminars.

» Thistle Ridge Ltd. is a great spot to pick up handmade soaps and toiletries. The scented and unscented soaps are all made in-house with a cold-process method. Owner Jamie Estes promises no synthetic fragrance oils, dyes, petroleum products, or animal fats are used in these natural soaps. 124B E. Main St., Walhalla, S.C. www.thistleridgeltd.com.

» Issaqueena Falls and Stumphouse Tunnel is a recreation area with picnic facilities, hiking trails and one of the most-visited waterfalls in Upcountry South Carolina with a drop of 100 feet. It is easily reached by a 15-minute hike. Stumphouse Tunnel was supposed to be a railroad tunnel, linking the South with the Midwest. Begun in the early 1850s, the tunnel’s construction was halted by the Civil War. Years later the 1,600-foot tunnel was used to age blue cheese made by Clemson University. Today the cheese is aged elsewhere, and the tunnel is open to visitors. Free admission. Open daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m. S.C. 28, Walhalla, S.C. 864- 638-4343, www.oconeecountry.com/stumphouse.html.

» Duke Energy: World of Energy is a kid-friendly museum devoted to educating visitors on natural sources of energy and methods for harnessing it. Free. 7812 Rochester Highway, Seneca, S.C. 1-800-777-1004, www.duke-energy.com/visitor-centers/world-of-energy.asp.

» Oconee Station State Historic Site was a military compound on the edge of South Carolina’s frontier in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. In 1792 a stone blockhouse fort was built here, and in 1805, Irish immigrant William Richards built a trading post. Today these buildings are preserved in a 210-acre park that also includes a fishing pond, a 1.5-mile nature trail and a 2-mile trail to Station Cove Falls. Free admission. Daily 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Historic structures open 1-5 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays. 500 Oconee Station Road, Walhalla, S.C. 864-638-0079, www.southcarolinaparks.com/park-finder/state-park/1887.aspx.

Lisa Lowe Stauffer is the author of Sweet Tea Travels, an online travel guide to the Southeast.