Greenville, SC

Falls Park on the Reedy is an exquisite natural oasis in the heart of the city that is one of Greenville's greatest treasures. Located in downtown Greenville's Historic West End, this well-maintained city park offers a green urban space for both locals and visitors to enjoy.

It provides an opportunity for people of all ages and interests to participate in a wide variety of outdoor and recreational activities (video). The park is home to a selection of public art and sculptures, appealing stonework, and the Liberty Bridge, an architecturally aesthetic walkway above the park offering splendid views.

Visitors can enjoy 360-degree virtual tours of the park, walk along the Swamp Rabbit Trail that leads from Falls Park to Cleveland Park, or relax with a picnic basket on the lawns or at the sheltered River Lodge.

The Roper Mountain Science Center is a learning center dedicated to encouraging and inspiring an interest in science, from life and natural sciences to space and physical sciences.

Home to a number of faculties and buildings, including a planetarium, an arboretum, a living history farm, a butterfly world, and an observatory, the Roper Mountain Science Center offers a range of educational programs throughout the year, including Starry Nights, Science on Wheels, and Summer Adventures.

A mile-long nature trail winds through the pine forests on the mountain side of the center, where visitors can explore a beautiful butterfly garden and a pond filled with aquatic and insect life, as well as enjoy picnics along the way.

402 Roper Mountain Road, Greenville, SC, Phone: 864-355-8900

The Greenville County Museum of Art (GCMA) is considered to be one of the top art museums in the country and is one of the best things to see in Greenville, South Carolina. It mainly features American art, with a particular focus on Southern American and South Carolina-based artists.

Located at 420 College Street on Heritage Green in downtown Greenville, the museum houses the world’s largest public collection of watercolors by world-renowned American artist Andrew Wyeth, as well as an extensive collection of works by contemporary artist Jasper Johns. The museum’s respected Southern Collection takes an introspective look at American art from colonial times to the present, showcasing particularly rare works, including 1726 pastel portraits and Civil War vistas.

The museum offers a broad range of programs on Sunday afternoons, including gallery talks, musical performances, and hands-on demonstrations.

420 College Street, Greenville, South Carolina, Phone: 864-271-7570

If you are traveling with kids:

The Children's Museum of the Upstate was founded as a place to inspire hands-on and interactive learning in a safe and comfortable environment for children of all ages.

The museum aims to provide children with opportunities for exploring, questioning, discovering, and inspiring curiosity through a range of exhibitions, displays, programs, and workshops. Interactive exhibits at the museum include the Reedy River Bed, which features an intricate system of waterways, pipes, and fountains and Start Your Engines, an exhibit that explores the science of speed, sound, and aerodynamics.

The museum also features Construction Zone, a hands-on building and construction-focused display. Finally, the museum offers a range of arts and early education programs, after-school classes, and fall break camps.

300 College Street, Greenville, South Carolina, Phone: 864-233-7755

Activities and Attractions for Couples:

Situated next to Falls Park in the heart of Greenville, The Peace Center is a renowned cultural center and hub for the performing arts. Featuring a 2,100-seat concert hall, a 400-seat theater, and a state-of-the-art amphitheater, the Peace Center plays host to more than 300 events each year, from nationally-acclaimed Broadway shows to classical music concerts and international ballets.

Built on a six-acre campus, the center is also home to the Greenville Symphony Orchestra, the Greenville Chorale, the Carolina Ballet Theater, the South Carolina Children's Theater, and the International Ballet, and it boasts a modern patrons’ lounge and a range of rehearsal and event spaces.

300 South Main Street, Greenville, South Carolina, Phone: 864-467-3000

Greenville Glides offers a unique and fun way to explore the city of Greenville – on a Segway. Segway tours are offered year round seven days a week, and they explore several different parts of the city. The Historic West End and Falls Park Tour allows you to explore the bustling energy of Greenville as you cruise through downtown Greenville to the historic West End and wind along the Swamp Rabbit Trail and Falls Park.

The Haunted Segway Tour of Greenville, on the other hand, provides you with a more eerie persepctive of the city as you meander through the haunted paths of the Springwood Cemetery and the buildings, hotels, and mills along the banks of the Reedy River. Greenville Glides also offers bicycle tours and rentals, which need to be booked in advance.

233 North Main St., Greenville, South Carolina, Phone: 864-214-0119

Artisphere is an annual signature event that takes place in Greenville each year to celebrate the arts and the region’s rich international and multi-cultural flair. The hugely popular event showcases local and international talent through a range of live performances, demonstrations, displays, and exhibits, and it attracts thousands of visitors each year.

Aiming to entertain, educate, enrich, and inspire audiences through the beauty and diversity of art, the festival features various attractions, including University demonstrations, wine and craft beer exhibitions, science, technology, and engineering displays, culinary arts demos, and a special exhibition center for children called Kidsphere. The Artisphere Festival will take place from May 13th to Sunday 15th in 2016.

B, 101 Augusta St, Greenville, SC 29601, Phone: 864-271-9398

Downtown Greenville’s Main Street comes alive on Saturday mornings between May and October with the bustling and vibrant TD Saturday Market. Featuring over 75 vendors selling the season’s freshest produce, from colorful fruit and vegetable, aromatic herbs and spices, to handcrafted jewelry, clothing and arts and crafts, the market prides itself on only selling products that have been grown or produced in the Greenville region.

Market-goers can enjoy live music, cooking demonstrations, and tastings of delicious freshly prepared foods and baked goods. Naturally, they can also purchase their fresh produce for the following week. The TD Saturday Market is open every Saturday from the beginning of May until the end of October.

Main Street at McBee Avenue, Greenville, South Carolina, Phone: 864-467-4494

Where to Eat

Located in a renovated 1800s historic cotton mill in downtown Greenville, Soby's is one of Greenville’s favorite restaurants, whether for a family dinner of an office celebration. Brick walls, gleaming wood, and a beautifully restored stone fireplace create a warm and unique atmosphere, while the spacious outdoor patio is a great spot for people watching. Soby’s offers New South Cuisine, an imaginative blend of American traditional food blended with Southern ingredients and flavors. Soby’s award-winning wine list contains over 500 bottles, something for every taste and pocket. Sunday brunch at Soby’s is one of Greenville’s favorite traditions, with a large selection of the restaurant’s favorites offered buffet style and $3 Bloody Marys and mimosas.

207 South Main Street, Greenville, SC 29601, Phone: 864-232-7007

Located on the banks of the Reedy River in a historic pre-civil war building with exposed brick walls and open ceilings, Larkin's on the River is an award-winning restaurant owned and managed by Mark and Larkin Hammond.

Teaming up with Executive Director of Cuisine Alex Castro, the Hammonds have transformed the once old steakhouse into one of Greenville’s premier dining destinations, famed for their premium cut steaks, super-fresh seafood, fine boutique wines, and outstanding service.

The restaurant boasts a casual ambiance, stylish décor, and warm lighting, and the impressive wine list features a selection of local and internationally renowned labels that serve as a perfect accompaniment to any dish on the menu.

32 E Broad St, Greenville, SC 29601, Phone: 864-467-9777