Recognized as a best place to live, Greenville, South Carolina, is also a great spot to visit for the weekend. The city offers its own brand of Southern charm, paired with a robust, local food scene and plenty of arts and culture, making it perfect for solo travelers, couples, and families. Here are eight must-do’s for any visitor.
As always, check for travel guidelines and closures before planning your trip.
Enjoy Classic Southern Eats
Smoky Dreams BBQ
You can’t go wrong with a beautifully charred brisket and ribs with traditional Carolina vinegar sauce at Smoky Dreams’ red barn. Don’t miss the peanut butter pie for dessert.
Spoonbread
Sundays are for brunch in Greenville, and Spoonbread (located at The Westin Poinsett, Greenville) is a worthy spot. The classic Southern restaurant pairs traditional dishes with ingredients sourced from local farms — everything is served under 25-foot-tall coffered ceilings and vintage-style fixtures.
Sample Arts and Culture
Fall for Greenville Festival
Some 60 restaurants and six music stages take over Main Street every October for Fall for Greenville, the city’s biggest weekend festival. You’ll have to choose among dozens of signature dishes, so bring an appetite.
Greenville County Museum of Art
Highlights of the Greenville County Museum of Art include the world’s biggest collection of watercolors by Andrew Wyeth, as well as its Southern Collection, which features works ranging from Federal-era portraits to contemporary pieces. Feeling inspired? The museum also regularly holds creative workshops, like copperplate calligraphy for beginners.
Time for Family Fun
The Children’s Museum of the Upstate
Let your kids get lost in one of the biggest children’s museums in the country. At The Children’s Museum of the Upstate, a Smithsonian affiliate, kids can learn the science of speed in a race car driving simulator, traverse a three-story climbing gym, or explore their creativity in an art studio.
Sky Top Orchard
Head half an hour north of Greenville to this working orchard, where you and the family can pick your own apples, peaches, pears, pumpkins, and grapes, depending on the season. The icing on the cake (doughnut): made-while-you-watch apple cider doughnuts.
Connect with the Outdoors
Greenville Health System Swamp Rabbit Trail
The nearly 30-mile Swamp Rabbit Trail connects Greenville with the city of Travelers Rest, making for a great spot to walk, run, or bike. Follow the Reedy River for panoramic views, and plan to pop across Liberty Bridge for a picnic in Falls Park.
Caesars Head State Park
Caesars Head State Park connects to the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area for some of the most picturesque — and soaring — views across South Carolina into North Carolina and Georgia. This is bound to the pinnacle of your Greenville experience.
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