Wondering where to get your car seat installed or checked? With so many different car seats currently on the market, it is often tricky for even a seasoned parent to properly install a car seat. This contributes to the fact that approximately eighty percent of car seats installed right now are improper. You can call several places to make an appointment to have your car seat installation inspected, so you don’t have to risk the safety of your most precious cargo.
Did you know you can get free trees in Greenville, SC to plant in your yard? Is your yard lacking trees? Or is your energy bill a little higher than you’d like? Did you know that by planting trees, you can help reduce energy costs while improving air and water quality AND reducing air pollution? You can reduce energy consumption by up to 20% per year just by planting the right tree in the right place. And sometimes, purchasing trees may be a little out of your budget.
Learn how you can get your hands on a free tree for your yard!
Looking for more resources? We’ve got your ultimate guide to available resources and services near Greenville, SC.
Need to buy eggs? Greenville, SC, and the Upstate have several local farms, small grocery stores, and markets that have local eggs for sale. If you’re looking for “farm fresh eggs near me”, or the best farm fresh eggs in Greenville, you’ve come to the right spot. Here are some shops and farms in Greenville, SC, and across the Upstate where you can purchase local eggs.
Looking for more local food? Here’s a list of farms and stores where you can find local produce in Greenville, SC, and local meat in Upstate, SC!
Remember that availability may be limited. You may want to call ahead to check availability and arrange to pick up, especially for the smaller farms.
A Thrasher’s Farm in Pelzer raises farm animals, chickens, and goats plus grows vegetables, and offers local eggs for sale. You can order online, or call them to make sure someone is there since their farm store is not yet completed.
727 Garrison Road, Pelzer
864.201.3172
Bellews Market is a local market that carries the produce of over 40 farms. You’ll find farm-fresh eggs, jam, jellies, produce, baked goods, and more.
230 Garner Road, Spartanburg
864.585.7726
Bethel Trails Farm sells eggs, pork, beef, lamb, and poultry. They sometimes offer Farm Days on Saturdays from 9 am to Noon and Tuesday afternoons from 3 pm to 6 pm where customers can purchase their products. They also sell products from local vendors with produce, soaps, dairy items, and more so follow their social media to get current info. Beginning in May, they are usually at the Simpsonville Farmers Market.
2302 Friendship Church Road, Gray Court
864.915.6064
Egg Well Farm sells laying chickens and fertile eggs for hatching, but they also sell farm-fresh eggs from their pastured chickens. They will reopen for the season in early Spring.
713 Ruhamah Road, Liberty
864.304.0086
Grazers: Famoda Farm to Table sells lots of local goodies in their farm store, including eggs, meat, cheese, and other dairy products. They also have adorable animals to interact with.
7410 Mountain View Road, Taylors
919.607.0523
Spend the day at Famoda Farm before or after you pick up those farm fresh eggs!
In addition to vendor space and farmer stalls full on the weekends, the Greenville State Farmers Market is open Monday-Saturday with local produce, specialty items, dairy, and farm fresh eggs.
1354 Rutherford Road, Greenville
864.244.4023
In addition to berries, Happy Berry also offers pastured eggs.
510 Gap Hill Road, Six Mile
864.350.9345
Most people know Happy Cow Creamery as a great place to get milk, cheese, and other dairy products. But they also carry farm fresh eggs, in addition to some produce and local meats!
332 McKelvey Road, Pelzer
864.243.9699
High Valley Farm offers farm-fresh eggs as well as spring-raised trout and produce. You can pre-order and pick them up at their farm or find their products at Swamp Rabbit Cafe and Grocery and Farmacy in Easley.
516 Hidden Valley Road, Pickens
864.878.3766
Kaland Farms offers eggs, plus turkey, chicken, and produce.
Saluda Dam Road, Easley
864.631.8418
You’ll find eggs for sale, as well as a selection of local meat, dairy products, and an assortment of jams, jellies, and specialty products at Willow Whole Health Market in Greer.
2339 Locust Hill Road, Greer
864.877.9434
They raise grass-fed beef and pork but also sell eggs. Providence Farm is located in Anderson.
110 Walker Road, Anderson
864.444.6568
Red Gap Farm has organically raised poultry and eggs, in addition to blueberries and flowers.
864.608.2249
redgapfarm@gmail.com
Revival Butchery is mainly a purveyor of local and specialty meat but they do offer farm fresh eggs. They are located in the West Village in Greenville.
1296 Pendleton St, Greenville
912.777.8000
Skyland Farms has farm-raised meat, produce, local mushrooms, and eggs.
4124 North Hwy 14, Greer
864.616.0050
AM-PM Butchery and Market sells local eggs, produce, 100% pasture-raised meat, and dairy products. They also offer butcher boxes and sell half and whole cows. You can order online and pick up at either of their locations
3085 Allen Bridge Road, Fountain Inn
Opening Soon: 1907 Laurens Road, Greenville
864.349.6460
Winslett’s Market sells local eggs, produce, milk and you’ll also find local meat. They also carry plants and gardening supplies.
401 Powdersville Road, Easley
864.855.1176
Swamp Rabbit Cafe and Grocery offers a wide variety of local products including eggs from several local farms. You’ll also find local meats, local dairy, and produce at Swamp Rabbit Cafe and Grocery. You can order online and pick up outside Swamp Rabbit Cafe or enter the grocery store side and shop for yourself.
205 Cedar Lane Road, Greenville
864.255.3385
The Swamp Rabbit Cafe and Grocery is a wonderful place to gather local goods and a delicious meal!
Where do you buy farm fresh eggs in Upstate, SC?
Are you looking for Christmas tree disposal? Greenville, SC has several options, including donating to environmental causes! We’ve researched where you can take those once majestic trees in Greenville and Spartanburg to live out a second purpose, instead of hauling them to the curb.
Are you searching for “Santa mailboxes near me”? Or a place where you can drop off your letter to Santa in Greenville, SC? We’ve gathered up the information for all of Santa’s mailbox locations near Greenville.
For places to see Santa, don’t miss our Santa Sightings List full of places to see Santa this year.
Writing letters to Santa is such a joy for kids and their parents. The innocence they have at those ages is precious, isn’t it? After they are done writing out their letter, there are places here in the Greenville, SC area where kids can drop their finished masterpiece and send it on to the North Pole.
If he’s able, Santa will respond to these letters as long as they have a legible return address on them so don’t forget that important part!
Bass Pro Shops (Formerly Cabela’s) in Greenville
Head to Cabela’s where you can visit with Santa and get a free photo (reservation required). You will also find a letterbox at Santa’s Wonderland to send your list. You can pop in any time the store is open to mail your letter.
Letters to Santa in Easley SC
You’ll find four different drop-off locations for Letters to Santa in Easley this year!
Lilies on Main
100 N Main Street, Fountain Inn
This mailbox is in front of Lilies on Main in Fountain Inn. The mailbox is up starting November 20th and all letters will receive a reply within three business days (this is a pretty efficient Santa we must say). Be sure to put your child’s name on the letter and you can pick it up at the flower shop through December 14th, 2024.
The Farmhouse Easley
105 Gettys Lane, Easley, SC
The Letterbox is located at Apartment 1211 in Building 125
The Farmhouse will have a letter box where you can submit your letter to Santa to, and receive a reply! Letters must be received by December 15th.
Dickens of a Christmas in Spartanburg
This one-night event has a Santa’s mailbox for letters. It happens on December 3rd, 2024 from 6-9 pm.
Anthony’s Family Lights
902 Whitemarsh Ave, Simpsonville (34.6944731, -82.2951430)
This is the big Anthony’s Family Lights annual home display. They have a Santa mailbox and a big holiday light display.
Courtyard by Marriott- Downtown Greenville
50 W Broad St, Greenville, SC
While you are out and about taking a look at the Festival of Trees in Downtown Greenville, you can drop off your Santa letter at the Courtyard Marriott on Broad Street.
Looking for the coolest shops in Greenville, SC to buy your next gift? While the holiday season is the prime shopping season, it’s not enough just to focus on shopping locally. We love to support our local businesses all year because special occasions happen every month – birthdays, anniversaries, and other holidays.
But, how in the world do you sort through the many local businesses to find that perfect gift? We have put together for you this list of over 75 local businesses, many of them being gift shops Greenville, SC residents love. Have fun and shop locally!
You should also check out our Upstate, SC Gift Guide to help you find the perfect gift!
Locally-Owned Bookshops Near Greenville, SC: Try these locally-owned bookstores when you want to add to your home library or are looking for a great gift idea.
Great Local Plant Shops Near Greenville, SC: Looking for house plants? Plants make great gifts for the hard-to-buy-for person on your list or even for yourself!
Local Shops in Spartanburg, SC: Want to shop locally in Spartanburg, SC? Here’s a list of great locally-owned shops from clothing and books to plants and soaps.
Local Candy Stores in the Upstate: Shop local and fill those stockings with sweet treats and candy.
Locally Owned Toy Stores Around Greenville, SC: Find the cutest new toys and unique games at these locally owned toy stores!
Want to really shop local? Support makers, vendors, and small businesses at a holiday market, vendor fair, or shopping event. There are a lot of options almost every weekend this time of year. Visit this list of Holiday Shopping Events in Upstate, SC!
Most of these businesses were suggested by readers, a couple of these are advertisers and partners, and a few were submitted for the list by the business owners. Please help us add to our list by adding your favorite place in the comments.
Under the Carolina Moon – Boutique specializing in Southern items and monogramming. Located at 5424 Calhoun Memorial Highway, Easley, and also has an online store.
Southern Sisters Boutique – Located in Greer, Southern Sisters specializes in women’s clothing, jewelry, accessories, and gift items.
Cottage Grove Gifts – This boutique in Greenville curates a variety of gifts from home decor to kitchen items to candles to purses and everything in between.
TR Makers Co – This shop located at 3 S. Main Street in Travelers Rest is packed with locally made artisan products, and also offers an art bar and classes.
Urban Digs – This local boutique (215 Wade Hampton Blvd, Greenville) is just packed with cool home decor and art. Plus there is a play area for the kids. I know that’s a selling point for me if I have to drag my kids out shopping.
Dapper Ink – With the motto “Making the World More Beautiful,” this shop sells unique screenprints and designs.
Urban Petals – This lifestyle boutique in downtown Greer features items curated for the home, gifts, plants, and Grab-N-Go bouquets.
Shoppes on Trade – This boutique in Greer is filled with local vendors, including not just decor but also confections and other gifts. They have a ton of really cute stuff for gifting. Sign me up!
Kate Carlyle – This shop on Augusta Street sells jewelry, unique home decor, stationery, and more.
The Nested Fig – This “one-of-a-kind” home decor store offers everything you need to put the finishing touches on that room.
Inside Out – Find everything you need for decorating, hostessing, and more (2131 Woodruff Rd, # 2200).
Get the budding artist in your life classes to any one of these Places to Create Art in Greenville.
The Butter Bath – I was lucky enough to meet the founder of The Butter Bath Company, and after learning the story behind these natural body and skincare items I’m planning on trying them myself to ward off dry skin this winter. My Pick: The Butter-Up Body Butter.
The soy candles from Greenville Soy Candle Company in downtown Greenville are divine, with scents like Vanilla Lavender and Caribbean Teakwood.
Literally anything from Twin Creeks Lavender (I love, love, love the linen spray) or Elf Leaf Farms (the lavender syrup is divine in coffee).
If you have a vegan in your life (or just someone who wants more natural options) then lipglosses by TT Flair Lip Gloss would make an excellent gift. Plus, you’re supporting local and a young entrepreneur!
Cannizzaro Famiglia – Locally-made Italian sauces made with locally sourced fresh vegetables, herbs, and no sugar added. The 3-pack is a perfect hostess gift. Find them at www.cannizzarofamiglia.com.
Reader Carlin says, “Jars of sauce from Cannizzaro sauces would be great hostess gifts and gifts for neighbors! It is made in Charlotte by some awesome people, but you can buy it locally in Greenville at Swamp Rabbit Cafe and Grocery and in Spartanburg at Bellews Market. All three flavors (Marinara, Mushroom Marinara, and Arrabiatta) are amazing!!”
The Chubby Cupcake – Purchase homemade (and delicious) bakery products.
Gourmet Pecan Man – Oh my! I had one of his White Chocolate Caramel Pecan Pies the other day. It was so good that I had to sneak into the kitchen for just a little bit more.
The Ice Man Dips– My husband was in heaven trying out these dips at the Greer Arts & Eats festival, so we bought several as gifts! They offer spice blends to make outstanding dips for parties or marinades.
Split Creek Farm – Once you try Split Creek goat cheese, which has beat out cheeses from France and Italy in international competitions, and their fudge, there’s no going back. They have gift baskets you can order or pick up at the farm in Anderson.
Due South Coffee – And for the coffee-lover, Due South Coffee has amazing options. Located at Hampton Station in Greenville.
Tandem – Every type of crepe that you can imagine from sweet to savory is made at this Travelers Rest restaurant.
Cosmic Rabbits– provides a wide tea selection (131 E McBee Avenue).
LaRue Fine Chocolate– Give the gift of delicious, handmade chocolate from this local shop in West Greenville.
Poppington’s Gourmet Popcorn– Popcorn is a holiday tradition in my family, and receiving a big bucket of delicious popcorn covered in caramel will make someone love you forever!
Tickets to the “At the Chef’s Table” Tour, which has several tour types to choose from. Read our review of At the Chef’s Table here.
Kate Furman Jewelry – Kate Furman’s jewelry collections are works of art, designed through the inspiration of Earth and rivers, and formed as a delicate homage to natural beauty. Find her online or at her studio downtown.
Urban Digs – @AnnesmithSC on Instagram says, “@urbandigs on Wade Hampton near Stone is a favorite of ours!“
Indigo Roots Textiles – We’ve featured this handmade clothing before. She makes all sorts of unique and cool clothing and accessories for babies and children.
Lily Noelle offers some lovely jewelry. A couple of years ago I purchased the “Earring of the Month” club for a couple of relatives as a fun way to give them a gift that lasted past Christmas.
Traveling Chic Boutique sells clothing, vintage cowboy boots, jewelry, and more with a selection that’s almost entirely under $100 (122 Main Street, Greenville).
If you know a highly fashionable mom, then they definitely need a gorgeous ring sling from LoveHeld to carry around their baby!
Llyn Strong Fine Art Jewelry has some exceptional pieces of jewelry you can gift someone special!
The oldest retail shop in downtown Greenville, Ayers Leather Shop has fashionista written all over it with their premium leather goods.
A Polished Man is a wonderful place to find something snazzy for the dads in your life.
Pencil Portraits by Ashley – Ashley Brickner owns Open Art Studios downtown and is an artist herself – a talented one at that, whose exceptional skill lies in pencil portraits. Her most popular ones are those of pets!
Alberta Pottery – Having exhibited pieces from their collections at several Artisphere, the Alberta Pottery team of Jason and Erin Hall are pros are creating beautiful and unique pottery that doubles as art. Their bowls, mugs, plates, and vases are unique and captivating, each one its own creation.
Paw Paw USA– If you have a dog lover, then gift them something for their dog, they will love it!
Skyland Farms– Give the gift of grass-fed, pasture-raised local meats this season! Skyland Farms (Greer, SC) also has a store that sells other local goods.
Nyla Beans– You will find some pretty groovy and unique gifts at Nyla Beans off Pleasantburg Drive in Greenville. Most of their merchandise is hippy and free-spirited, so you can find that unique friend something to help them shine.
Farquhar & Sons Woodshop– This shop makes beautiful wooden cutting boards and other wood products.
Swamp Rabbit Cafe – Everything is delicious from the Swamp Rabbit Cafe. They also have a great selection of handmade soaps, tea towels, pottery, and other great gift ideas.
Carolina Olive Oil carries gourmet food options which of course includes olive oil. Reader Elizabeth says, “Fabulous Gift Baskets, I’m on my second.”
Sunrift Adventures- This store in Travelers Rest calls itself “the unique outdoor shop.” You’ll find all kinds of things for the outdoor adventurer on your list.
Appalachian Outfitters– You can shop online or at their storefront off Halton Road for lots of outdoor equipment.
Calyx Outdoor Sports– Located in Piedmont, this shop has everything you need for the outdoorsy lover, for fishing, hunting, and more!
There’s pretty much nothing as cozy as a local bookstore. A gift certificate to one would provide more than just a new book but also give that bookworm an excuse to tuck themselves away in the stacks to browse.
M. Judson Books – This bookstore (130 Main Street, Greenville) specializes in literature and is located in the South.
Mr. K’s Used Books – With over 10,000 square feet of inventory, Mr. K’s has a used or new book for everyone on your list.
My kids always get a real kick out of reading a book that features Greenville. Here’s a couple of our favorite local books.
Hey Blue! and Oh, Beautiful! are two books written by local author and illustrator Stephanie Morgan. They tell the stories of a rabbit named Blue and his adventures on the Swamp Rabbit Trail. I have read these books and they are excellent choices for your library.
Mice on Main is a classic for our area and you could include a bonus “voucher” for your kids promising to take them downtown to look for the mice.
Goodnight Greenville! follows the familiar pattern of the classic Goodnight Moon but with images and a story that takes place in Greenville. As a bonus, this book’s proceeds go straight into local charity.
Forget the packages and buy a gift that doesn’t take up space or need batteries! The following recommendations came from both our readers and our staff!
The More to Explore Store at The Children’s Museum Upstate – Find apparel, educational toys, books, logo gear and much more for all ages at this local museum shop. No admission is required.
The Grey Goose – This local children’s store (17 Conestee Avenue) has been around for 28 years!
Vann and Liv – This Greenville boutique on Augusta Street sells children’s clothes at their store and online. You should check out their new holiday collections. They would make the perfect outfits for photos with Santa.
Boardwalk – Games are really for more than just kids. My husband and I count on this local store (1175 Woods Crossing Road) to help us find new and fun strategy games.
Elephant’s Trunk – A toy store on Augusta that specializes in educational toys (2222 Augusta Street #8).
OP Taylors – And, of course, we really couldn’t write this list without mentioning OP Taylors on Main Street in Greenville. I know that my kids always beg to go in there when we walk by.
ReCraft Greenville– Located on Laurens Road, you can buy so many repurposed and recycled crafting supplies to build a wonderful gift for the crafter in your life!
Sometimes a person you love really just needs a break. Purchasing a service to free up their time is the perfect way to do that.
Cuddly-Critters – This locally based pet-sitting service would make the perfect spot to get a gift card to for a local pet owner.
McClain Landscaping was recommended by our readers as a great yard-service company.
Simply Organized in Greenville has been a favorite of our readers.
Surprise a teen who wants to get that license with a set of lessons from Auto Safe Driving School.
The Garage Authority – Surprise your spouse with a transformed garage or basement space for Christmas! Enjoy a coated floor and get your cars inside for the cold winter!
Where is your favorite place to shop locally? Let us know in the comments!
You have found our giant list of experience gifts! Greenville, SC and Spartanburg, SC offer a lot of ideas. If your closet, toy boxes, and toy shelves are a little full, we get it. So, we’ve created a list of experience gifts available in Greenville, Spartanburg, and surrounding areas that families will love. You’ll make memories, learn new things, and they won’t take up any space in the toy box, either!
Being a mom, I hang out with lots of moms and one topic of conversation comes up pretty frequently, the massive amounts of “stuff” that our kids accumulate. Over Christmas, there is one solution that I think is brilliant: buy a gift that doesn’t take up space. Creating a memory is priceless. Spending time as a family is essential. These are experiences that will bring smiles, build up families, and won’t end up in a donation bin. You’ll also find some great ideas (Culinary Tour, anyone?) for the grown-ups in your life too!
Disclaimer: This list does include advertisers, partners, in addition to other businesses that we recommend. This list contains affiliate links at no cost to you.
Find the perfect gift with our Ultimate Gift Guide!
We have some pretty amazing membership options in the Upstate. Many memberships provide unlimited visits during the year. Trust me. Parents love these as gifts for their kids! Remember, this list is just for informational purposes, and we can’t guarantee pricing. We have provided links to the original sources where you can find the most current information.
Play passes – Lots of local, indoor play places have some version of a play pass, where you get either a certain number of entries or unlimited play. Try Village Play, Kids Play & Cafe, Judson Mill Play Cafe, SkyZone Fall Pass, or Big Air PLAYer Pass,
The Children’s Museum of the Upstate – TCMU is a favorite among many Upstate families and offers so many kid and family activities throughout the year that a membership would be a great gift. Also, don’t forget that in addition to their Greenville campus, they also have a campus in Spartanburg that is designed for children aged 5 and under!
Greenville Zoo – Greenville Zoo memberships include extra perks such as guest tickets and it’s a reciprocal membership which means that you can use your membership to get into other participating zoos at a discounted or free price.
Roper Mountain Science Center – RMSC memberships include admission to weekly planetarium shows, Summer Adventure, Afternoon Explorations, and discounts on other services. Memberships for a family are $125 (homeschool families can take advantage of the teacher price of $120). This membership is also reciprocal. You can read about how my family saved over $100 on vacation one year by using ours.
Greenville Water Parks Season Passes – These memberships include Greenville’s water parks. Individual memberships for parks start at $65 and go up to $99 per person. The Rec ‘N Crew pass, priced at $160, gets the pass holder admission to all three water parks plus year-round admission to The Pavilion’s Ice Rink and Bounce House.
Flying Rabbit Adventures Gift Cards – They offer a variety of gift card packages so your giftee can play on the big aerial course for 2.5 hours a day when the adventure course is open. Super fun!
Family memberships to local gyms and recreational facilities offer not just access to exercise equipment and swimming pools but also discounted prices on classes, sports, and more. Joining fees and monthly fees vary on the specific facility in Greenville.
Upcountry History Museum – A membership at the Upcountry History Museum not only includes unlimited visits but also access to their Family Fun Days, UHM Kids Book Club, and more! A family membership is $105 for the year.
Back to the top: Experience Gift Guide
If you live in Spartanburg or don’t mind driving 30 minutes from Greenville, Hub City has plenty of family fun to offer!
The Children’s Museum of the Upstate – While this museum’s Spartanburg location is geared for younger children (5 years and under), the membership is reciprocal and can be used at both the Greenville museum and the Spartanburg museum.
The YMCA of Greater Spartanburg – Any kid and their parents will be thrilled with a YMCA membership because it means they have access to all the YMCA fun!
Big Air Trampoline Park – The indoor trampoline park in Greenville and Spartanburg is a super fun place to visit, but it can add up quickly. That’s why families love the monthly membership packages that include daily two-hour jump sessions.
Shipwreck Cove – Go ahead and purchase a season pass to Shipwreck Cove waterpark in Duncan and parents and kids will be thanking you for making summer wet and wild.
Back to the top: Experience Gift Guide
I don’t know about you but my kids absolutely love being spectators. Sometimes I catch them in a state of wonder or amazement when I take them to sporting events, plays, music performances, and even monster truck rallies. Not only do event tickets make a great gift for children but they can also be a great way to treat a whole family or plan for a special date for the grandparents and kids.
Swamp Rabbits Hockey – My kids absolutely love hockey. It’s a fun, family-friendly environment. Check the schedule for fun promotional night events.
Furman University basketball tickets – Grab tickets to the local university’s basketball games.
Clemson Tigers – Clemson football fans would love tickets to a home game.
Greenville Theatre – The Greenville Theatre features musicals, dramas, comedies, and more throughout the year.
South Carolina Children’s Theatre – The SCCT has performances for everyone. They also offer programming for younger audiences via their Tell-Me-A-Story Theatre. During the summer months, kids can take advantage of their classes and summer camps. And it all takes part in their bright and shiny theatre on Augusta Street!
Greer Cultural Arts Council – In addition to productions by the Greer Children’s Theatre, the Greer Cultural Arts Council also offers courses in the arts, dance, drama, literature, and music.
Peace Center – The Peace Center has many offerings including Broadway shows and music performances.
The Well also has a fun round-up of family-friendly events.
The Well is home to Monster Jam! You can grab tickets now for Monster Jam on January 4th and 5th, 2025. Monster Jam is always a family favorite. Here’s our Kidding Around Review of Monster Jam.
Greenville Drive – Baseball games are always fun, especially at the family-friendly Fluor Field, where they even have a playground on site.
Greenville Triumph or Greenville Liberty– The Greenville Triumph soccer team wows fans young and old.
Back to the top: Experience Gift Guide
Spartanburg Little Theatre – Local theatre company that performs shows for various age groups
Spartanburg Youth Theatre – Local youth theatre that performs shows for kids by kids
Ballet Spartanburg – Performs beautiful ballet at Chapman Cultural Center
Greer Cultural Center – Venue for music concerts and Greer Children’s Theatre performances. It also hosts classes in a range of arts, dance, drama, literature, and music.
College Sports Tickets – Cheer on a hometown team with tickets to a local college’s sporting events. Local schools include Clemson, USC Upstate, Wofford, and Converse.
Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium – Hosts a variety of live events such as Charlie Brown Christmas and Disney Junior Live
Back to the top: Experience Gift Guide
Purchasing a class is a great way to have fun learning. While this list is not comprehensive it includes several of our favorite options.
Dance Without Limits– Dance Without Limits offers dance classes beginning as young as 18 months in their Mommy and Me Dance Class all the way through advanced dance classes. Ballet, tap, lyrical, and tumbling classes are available as well as summer camps. Dance is for everyone at Dance Without Limits.
Kindermusik with Piano Central Studios – Kindermusik is a great way to introduce music to a baby or toddler.
Yellowbobbypins Art– This amazing art studio at Hampton Station offers virtual gift cards, so you can gift the kids in your life art classes and lessons!
Color Clay Cafe – This pottery studio offers painting and other art designs for both adults and children. You can also enjoy Open Studio times outside of classes.
I9 Sports – This youth sports league offers a range of different sports options for children.
Sylvan Learning – For kids who enjoy an extra challenge, Sylvan Learning provides a full range of interesting classes including classes on robotics and coding.
The Little Gym – This local children’s gym is a favorite of our readers!
Daily Bread Baking Class – Take a baking class at Bluebird Homestead or give as a gift.
Also, you can purchase certificates for Art Workshops through the Greenville Center for Creative Arts, Spartanburg Art Museum, and more. Many of these workshops are excellent parent and child bonding experiences.
Acrosmith Gymnastics, Airborne Athletics, and Greenville Gymnastics all offer classes year-round. If you’ve got a budding gymnast, buying them classes for a month is a great gift.
Roller Time Skating Academy offers roller skating lessons and summer camps for beginners through advanced skaters.
Goldfish Swim School offers a holiday package deal for a gift of swim! They have gift bundles with 3 months of lessons, 2 months of lessons, or $100 gift cards.
Climb @ Blue Ridge has gift cards in just about any amount, so the climber in your family can learn how to excel at the sport.
Vino & Van Gogh has gift cards available for 2-hour classes (adult and children), summer camp, after-school camps, couples painting classes, and parent/child painting classes!
Back to the top: Experience Gift Guide
Spartanburg Youth Theatre – Offers theatre classes for kids preschool – high school
Sylvan Learning Center – In addition to tutoring, Sylvan Learning Center also offers Robotics for Kids.
Spartanburg Science Center Lego Robotics Club – Offers after-school Lego robotics clubs for kids 6-12 years old
Musikgarten at Lawson Academy for the Arts – Offers music classes for kids 0-7 years old at Converse College
Spartanburg Art Museum – Offers art classes from preschool through adult classes at Chapman Cultural Center
For even more ideas, see our giant Activity & Classes Guide which will help you find:
Back to the top: Experience Gift Guide
Making memories through shared experiences and new adventures is always a win! Whether for yourself, you and your significant other, or the whole family, the Upstate has plenty of neat experiences to explore. Nothing is easier than handing over a gift voucher to something exciting!
Greenville Culinary Tours – I was invited to experience the Greenville Culinary Tour myself and hands down, it’s an absolutely awesome gift idea. The price is an excellent value and I would definitely do it again. Tickets include food and a drink at each location.
Escape Artist Greenville – Our team here at Kidding Around has done three of the escape rooms and had a blast. This is a perfect date night activity or just for fun with friends.
Wine & Design – This art studio offers canvas painting classes for adults and even has an Art Buzz kids line of classes for children.
Trapped in the Upstate – This escape room in Greer will test your problem-solving skills while delivering a fun night of entertainment.
Ice on Main – Ice skating on Main Street would make the perfect treat for the kids (or a special someone).
Once Upon a Dream Parties – Did you know that you hire a princess for as little as $50?
Topgolf Greenville – Take a few swings and have a great meal together. Fun for the whole family (they even have kid clubs available).
Mad Smash Rage Room – Get out your frustrations by smashing a whole bunch of stuff in a smash room. Kids ages 8+ can participate.
Moo Cow Farm – Enjoy cuddles with cows at this farm in Simpsonville. It’s a great gift for the animal lover.
Flying Rabbit Adventures – They’ve got two huge ropes and obstacle courses with zip lines plus a pump track. This is a really fun experience for the whole family.
Denver Downs Farm – Get your family Denver Downs tickets for an awesome fall experience!
The Pavilion– You can get a 10-visit pass for the bounce house at The Pavilion in Taylors, SC for just $85. You can also get a youth ice skating 10-visit pass for only $65 and an adult one for $85!
Speed Factory Indoor Karting– With locations in Greenville, SC and Spartanburg, SC, this indoor karting place offers gift cards starting at $5.
Upstate Archery Academy– Offers gift cards for range time at the center or lessons with the instructors.
Back to the top: Experience Gift Guide
Big E Gaffney – Movies, putt-putt, bowling, ropes course, and more
East Main Arts – Offers a variety of adult paint and wine parties, as well as family arts and costumed character appearances
Hearts of Clay – A Spartanburg local favorite. This is a spot to make personalized art and pottery.
Spartanburg County Historical Association – Support your local historical association by purchasing a membership, which will provide you with free or discounted admission to properties and special events
Trapped in the Upstate – Trapped in the Upstate also has a Spartanburg location with more puzzles to solve together, including Prison Break and Striking Gold.
Back to the top: Experience Gift Guide
While the Upstate has plenty to offer, there are plenty of good clutter-busting and memory-making gifts to be found in almost any community.
With Happy Hive Bee Co.’s Adopt-a-Hive Program, you can gift a year of bee-filled fun — no beekeeping gear required!
Each adoption includes:
It’s the perfect gift for nature-loving kids (and grown-ups too)!
South Carolina State Park Passport– State Park Passports are great for families who love the outdoors. The All Park Passport is $99 and gives you access to all 48 state parks, including some lighthouses. And if you’re shopping for someone who doesn’t live in South Carolina, there is surely a similar program for their home state’s park system!
Nail or Spa Gift Certificates – A spa gift certificate is another excellent choice – especially for busy moms. One of our local favorites is Drift Float! Buy a float for someone in your life who needs to relax (or yourself, no judgment here). We did it and it was awesome.
Pool Memberships – Even though it is too cold to swim right now, you can always plan ahead. Purchase a family pool membership so the kids can enjoy the pool all summer long.
Photography – Book a local photographer to capture photographs of your family – and don’t forget to print them out to give to the gift recipient!
Indoor Play Ideas (check our rainy day guide for a massive list of places that offer bouncing or play during the day)
Meal Delivery Services / Grocery Delivery – Help out a busy family by paying the fee for a meal delivery or grocery delivery service such as Shipt (for groceries) or Hello Fresh (for meals). Need inspiration? See how you can Get Those Groceries Delivered in Upstate, SC!
Gift cards to local restaurants – My family always loves receiving gift cards to local restaurants since we don’t eat out often. In addition to the many chain restaurant gift card options, most local Spartanburg restaurants offer gift cards as well.
Subscription Boxes – Subscription boxes are all the rage and there are a ton to choose from! Most subscription boxes allow you to choose the increment (monthly, bi-monthly, or quarterly). Plus, they offer them for kids (i.e., books, arts & crafts) and adults (i.e., coffee, adult beverages, to name a few). While I’ve never tried it, I’ve heard other parents say that they love Kiwi Crate and try Tinker Crate for older children. There are also local subscription boxes you can pick up directly, like Big Play in a Box.
Streaming Services Subscriptions (Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Sling) – Help a family cut the cord by paying for a subscription to a streaming TV service.
Summer Camp – Summer camp is an amazing gift. Many places will soon open their registrations. My child had a blast last summer at Conestee Camp with Greenville Rec and Space Camp at The Children’s Museum of the Upstate. If you need inspiration, check out our massive Summer Camp Guide!
Attractions Dining & Value Guide – One of my absolute favorite ideas is the Attractions Book. You can purchase them online and they are offered for Greenville, Spartanburg, and several other parts of South Carolina. It supports local businesses and the coupons are quite good. It would make an excellent stocking stuffer! Ask around as many schools and non-profits sell this book as a fundraiser.
Back to the top: Experience Gift Guide
One of the benefits of living in the Upstate is that we’re sandwiched in between several cities that offer plenty of family fun activities–many of which are easily worth an hour or so of driving!
The Georgia Aquarium – We took our child to the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta several years ago for his birthday and he still talks about it!
The Biltmore – An annual pass at the Biltmore includes not only admission to the house but also to the farm where kids can pet chickens and goats, the winery, and discounts on tickets to Dollywood and Tweetsie Railroad.
Dollywood – The beloved theme park is only three hours from Greenville and is fun for the whole family, especially during special holiday events like the nightly Christmas parade or the fall Pumpkinfest. Dollywood’s Splash Country is also amazing in the summer. Plus, preschoolers can get a free season pass! (Read our review!)
Anakeesta – Also in East Tennessee, this mountaintop village is just magical. The views are stunning and you can eat dinner or watch an outdoor movie overlooking the Smoky Mountains. They have seasonal events and offer year-round passes.
WNC Nature Center – Located in Asheville, the WNC Nature Center focuses on animals and plants in the southern Appalachian mountains. The center includes lots of shade, walkways, and natural playgrounds and is perfect for a day trip with little children. [CLOSED DUE TO HURRICANE DAMAGE]
Discovery Place – A hands-on science museum located in Charlotte
Ellaberry Llama Farm – This farm in Hendersonville is amazing. You can play with llamas! [CLOSED DUE TO HURRICANE DAMAGE]
Carowinds – A theme park located in Concord (Charlotte area) with tons of rides designed for their littlest visitors!
Hands On! Children’s Museum – A children’s museum located directly on Hendersonville’s charming Main Street, the Hands On! Children’s Museum has a target audience of children aged ten and under.
Mountain Play Lodge – An indoor play space for children in Arden that features two large climbing areas, complete with steps, multiple slides, and overhead tunnels with obstacles to climb over, around, and through.
Why not book an amazing overnight with your family or partner for an unforgettable experience gift? Here are some awesome places to do so.
Magical Mountain Resorts in Hayesville, NC – Stay in any number of themed cabins and buses! We loved the Alice’s White Bunny cabin.
The Ridge Outdoor Resort in Sevierville, TN – Stay in a glamping tent complete with a bathroom, bedrooms, kitchen, and living space.
Getaway Cabin at Lake Hartwell, SC – Experience the outdoors while staying cozy and comfortable in tiny cabins.
Saluda Outdoor Center in Greenville, SC – Either get a head start on booking a place where you can also go tubing over the summer or just get away at these nearby cabins, just five miles outside Greenville.
KOA in Travelers Rest, SC – You don’t need to go far for a unique overnight! Stay in a covered wagon at the KOA in Travelers Rest.
Emberglow Outdoor Resort in Mill Spring NC – Stay at any number of comfortable and pet-friendly glamping accommodations.
Sky Ridge Yurts in Bryson City, NC – This is one of our favorite places to stay in the region. The yurts are beautiful, comfortable, and have great views.
Buffalo Creek Vacations in Clyde, NC – Stay in a real caboose on a buffalo ranch. It’s as cool as it sounds.
Westgate Myrtle Beach in SC – The resort has pools, a splash pad, and is right on the ocean.
Wilderness at the Smokies in Sevierville, TN – With three waterparks open in the summer and the largest indoor waterpark in Tennessee, Wilderness is at the top of our travel list when planning a fun family getaway.
The Glamping Collective in Canton, NC – Stay in a luxury dome or glass cabin with views of the Smoky Mountains and your own hot tub. This is absolutely a bucket list trip.
Back to the top: Experience Gift Guide
Have a wonderful holiday with our List of Holiday and Winter Events and Things to Do.
Looking for teacher appreciation gifts for the favorite teachers in your life? Whether you’re looking for a holiday gift, something for teacher appreciation week, or an end-of-the-school-year celebration gift, our readers came through with some thoughtful gifts and great ideas.
Want to Buy Your Child’s Teacher an Awesome Gift and Skip the Reading? Choose from these gift ideas!
This post contains Amazon Associate links.
(more…)Western North Carolina and Asheville, NC have lost much of their tourist season due to the extensive damage from Helene. Small businesses count on this season to keep their doors open. This holiday season, we can help by doing our online shopping just a little bit differently. Instead of going to big box online stores, we can switch up our shopping websites and visit locally owned WNC businesses online.
How many gifts can you cross off your list while supporting these local shops that are missing their critical foot traffic this year?
We’re still building this list. Make sure to bookmark it and check back soon!
Black Mountain, NC
This locally-owned yarn shop offers all kinds of fiber items. From beautiful yarn to fabric, and even craft kits, you’ll find something here for the crafty folks in your life. Check out these fun sock kits!
Black Mountain Yarn Shop
Asheville, NC
Here’s another shop where you can purchase local yarn and hand-dyed yarn for your projects. We are loving all of this WNC local yarn.
Purl’s Yarn Website
Black Mountain, NC
You’ll find a wide variety of elevated spices and teas, plus related pots and kitchen items. This Capecod Cranberry tea sounds amazing.
Spice it Up
Weaverville, NC
In addition to bee hive supplies, this shop has honey, gifts, books, candles, and more! We’re looking at all this delicious local honey. Yum. Is there anyone who wouldn’t want a jar of that under the tree this year?
Honey and the Hive Website
Asheville, NC
French Broad Chocolates suffered flood damage. You can help them out by purchasing chocolate this year! And really, chocolate always makes a good gift right? Get hot chocolate mixes, gourmet bars of chocolate, and there’s even a Bon Bon of the Month club. Don’t forget the gift cards.
French Broad Chocolates
Asheville, NC
Honey and local bee and honey-themed gifts. The honey gift baskets are cute and very reasonably priced. Everyone in my family might be getting honey this year.
Asheville Bee Charmer
Asheville, NC
Purchase natural skincare products from this locally-owned Asheville business. We’re looking at those lavender sugar scrubs and soaps.
C and Co. Skincare Website
Asheville, NC
Vinyl records are in. This is actually one of my favorite gifts for my husband as we love to crack open a board game and put on a record for a date night in. Find used and new vinyl and other merchandise at Citizen Vinyl’s website.
Citizen Vinyl Website
Asheville, NC
If you’re looking to purchase a guitar as a gift this year, check out Heyday.
Heyday Musical Instruments
Asheville, NC
A unique boutique for women with a wide variety of clothing items and accessories from more formal dresses to band shirts.
Virtue Boutique
Asheville, NC
Boutique for women carrying clothing and accessories. We love this pretty pine tree pendant necklace and this color-block hooded cardigan.
Charmed Boutique
Asheville, NC
Handbags, scarves, jewelry, and cozy scarves; all the beautiful accessories in one online shop. These beaded feather earrings are super cool.
Embellish Asheville Website
Asheville, NC
You’ll find toys and lots of soft stuffies at Curio. This stuffie mushroom is adorable.
Curio Website
Asheville, NC
Dancing Bear has all the toys from puzzles and games, to figurines, Lego, Playmobile, trains, and lots more. Green Toys, like this ferry boat with cars, were always a favorite in our house!
Dancing Bear Website
Black Mountian and Waynesville, NC
Sassafras has a wide variety of books. Use staff picks lists for ideas and check out the kids tab of the website for great reads for kids.
Sassafras Bookstore
Asheville, NC
Wow! The pottery at Plays in the Mud is so fun! Take a look at these flower mugs. They would be fabulous under the tree. Plus, Plays in the Mud has pretty vases, travel mugs, and lots more!
Plays in the Mud
Black Mountain, NC
This gift shop offers American and European gifts including pottery, ornaments, and even ornate cuckoo clocks. We are looking at this adorable snowman mug.
Europa Fine Gifts Website
Black Mountain, NC
T-Shirts, hats, and other merchandise with a Blue Ridge Mountain theme out of Black Mountain.
CW Moose Trading Company Website
Asheville, NC
Mountain Made carries locally made art from pottery to wood crafts, blacksmith works, soaps, and lots more. Support a local business and a local artisan by purchasing your gifts here, like this berry pie pottery dish.
Mountain Made Website
Asheville, NC
Shirts and bags with funny sayings, candles, mugs, cups and more.
Moonlight Makers Website
Asheville, NC and Hendersonville, NC
Find gifts including unique clothing styles, bath and body gifts, scarves, and more at Razberry Threads. These hedgehog socks would be an adorable stocking stuffer. Free shipping on $100 or more.
Razberry Threads
Asheville, NC
Boutique-style clothing for men and women. Look at this pretty contrast pullover sweater.
Union His + Her Website
Asheville, NC
Instant Karma says they are Asheville’s one-stop hippie shop.
Instant Karma
Do you know of a local WNC business we should add to this shopping list? Let us know! Email Maria@kiddingaroundgreenville.com
Looking for more gifts?
We have lots of ideas!
Are you looking for a tree service? Greenville, SC is full of readers who have been asking about quality companies to call for help with their homes and property after the storm. We haven’t had the personal experience with many of these companies to develop a good list of quality tree services in Greenville, or great Upstate, SC roofers. So we reached out to The Boyd Team real estate team, and they helped us out. The list below is full of companies their clients have had good experiences with, and we so appreciate their recommendations!
Check out what The Boyd Team offers if you are looking to buy or sell a home.
Note from the author: The Boyd Team helped us sell and purchase our home several years ago. Since then we’ve recommended them to friends and family multiple times. They are great to work with.
The Boyd Team is not a Kidding Around sponsor.
Snyder Tree: 864.244.3088
David Ortiz: 864.428.2034
American Tree: Donnie- 864.444.8229
Kidding Around addition to the list: D&D Top Notch Tree Service 864.409.7053
Cornerstone: Trey – 877.787.3030
Carolina Roof Rescue – 864.356.9699
B&F Roofing – 864.232.7623
Crane Pressure Wash – 864.329.5123
So Clean Pressure Wash – 864.915.0159
A-1 Pro Services – 864.329.5810
The Olde Homestead – 864.235.8012
Banks Appliances – 864.233.1999
AS Technologies – 828.290.4767
Ken Lavertu – 864.616.9951
Pam Taylor – 864.430.0731
Dayna Gulla – 864.270.8488
Justin Patterson – 864.906.6643
HDH Concepts (D) – 864.607.4114
Brad Booth (D) – 864.399.0372
Zerorez- 864.558.7300
Stanley Steemer- 800.783.3637
ChemDry – 864.834.8123
Inside Out Concrete Concepts – 864.908.0199
Asphalt – Craig Banks- 864.303.1752
Bobby Joe Waters – 864.905.1226
Mainline Electric -Scott- 864.906.4450
Gosling Electric – 864.438.4655
I.D. Electric – 864.901.8229
Outdoor Fence & Deck – 864.444.9119
Jake McKown – 864.350.7359
Jason Croft – 864.938.5068
Cantey- 803.619.2647
Mt. Valley- 803.691.4400
Carolina Foundation – 864.527.7050
DG Builders (Reno) – 864.230.2613
Joe Nunley (Reno) – 864.380.0724
Casey English – 360.607.5699
Cornerstone – Trey – 877.787.3030
TK Renovations -Kenny- 864.962.8400
Lincoln Matson – 864.704.5890
Ben Zeller- 864.616.5614
Owners Choice – 864.252.4999
Monarch – Jay Burnett – 864.350.2763
Brian Hillman – 864.303.7591
Joines – Sammy – 864.360.3598
Kevin Williams- 864.303.0622
Brad Ridings – 864.505.3683
Hardscapes Unlimited – 864.616.0161
Land Art – 864.979.2842
Precision Landscaping – 864.421.7560
Blue Ridge Heat & Air – 864.485.6509
Cross Mechanical – 864.304.4306
Jason Martinez – 864.884.4394
Also, see Kidding Around KABOOM Winner: Best HVAC Services.
Eric Battisti – Carolinas Home & Auto 704.302.1000 ext. 1
Rudy Ables – State Farm 864.987.9900
Curtis Cleaners – 864.800.2016
Kasey Buchanan- 864.706.8120
The Charmed Nest- 864.403.5111
Also, see Kidding Around KABOOM Winners: Best Cleaning Services.
Birdhouse Design- 864.906.5399
Taylor Hill – 404.625.9396
Michaels Wholesale – 864.627.0000
All About Flooring- 864.241.3636
Refinish -Bram P.- 864.346.5475
J&L Cabinets- 864.877.2025
Mountain Creek – 864.244.4573
C&C Cabinets/Granite- 864.286.0838
Design – Pearce B – 864.275.4060
Kevin Wallice – 864.360.5110
Bauman Landscaping – 864.232.7778
Cope & Crew – 864.438.7480
Carolina Locksmiths- 864.268.0153
Greenville Locks- 864.641.3425
ServPro- 864.292.3495
BioPure (Brandon)- 864.246.7873
Green Earth- 864.879.7952
Grassroots Turf & Pest – 864.344.3022
Fairway Lawns- 864.626.3222
Lawn Doctor – 864.766.7809
Tiger Moving- 864.908.9028
Swamp Rabbit Movers – 864.643.2213
Jimmy Moore Moving- 864.230.9200
Gerardo Salinas – 864.386.5030
Randy Gomez- 864.569.6416
Dan Falcone- 864.478.3666
Stephen Banks – 864.275.5541
Rusty Greer- 864.735.7014
Joe Corvello- 864.351.9289
Also see: Kidding Around KABOOM Winner: Best Plumbers in the Upstate
B & B Pools- 864.243.9349
Aqua Blue- 864.268.7508
Splash Pools: 864.834.8611
Aquanut Pool Care – 864.877.4748
Clarity Pool Management -864.979.1154
Leslie’s Pool – 864.254.0009
Dennis Chastain- 864.296.4700
American Waste- 864.877.8703
Dr. Flush- 864.295.0232
Bruce Royal – 864.235.4425
Phillip Barr – 864.531.9879
Bryan Gaines – 864.228.0112
Tony Romo- 864.905.6052
Steve Donald – 864.590-.7846
Site Design- 864.271.0496
Find more Services & Resources in the Greenville area.
