Greenville Weekend Checklist: 8 Places to Eat, Visit, Explore

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:

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 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

Some 40 restaurants and six music stages take over Main Street every October for Greenville’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 museum 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 this 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

This nearly 20-mile 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

This 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.