Inside: Local parents share the best educational things to do in Greenville, SC, across the Upstate, and in nearby North Carolina.
Looking for educational things to do near Greenville, SC? Families in the Upstate have plenty of ways to combine learning and adventure close to home.
From historic mill sites and battlefield hikes to nature observations and scientific discoveries, Greenville offers so many opportunities to learn while having fun. So, get out of the books and out for a family learning adventure! Even better, many of these adventures are free or very low-cost.
Best Educational Fun: Who Has KABOOM?
The KABOOM Awards are Kidding Around’s annual best of contest. Readers say these are the TOP 5 Educational Places to Visit in Greenville, SC
Educational Things to Do In Greenville, SC That You Don’t Want to Miss
Book a Happy Hive Bee Co Hive experience. You’ll get to suit up like a beekeeper and get an up-close tour of the inside of a beehive. Hold a bee frame and watch the Happy Hive beekeepers do some maintenance tasks on the hive to keep the bees happy, healthy, and producing lots of yummy honey.
See Hundreds of Raptors in the Air at Caesars Head: In the fall, Caesars Head State Park is the place to be to see hundreds of raptors as they migrate.
Exploring Flight: Downtown Greenville Airport Park: Watch airplanes take off and learn about the amazing science behind flight.
Butterflies at the Roper Mountain Science Center Butterfly Garden: Enjoy a morning at the butterfly garden at Roper Mountain Science Center. Learn about the butterfly life cycle. Take some photos, count the butterflies, sort them, and make a chart or some artwork!
Historical Textile Mill Sites You Can Visit: Visit these textile sites to learn about the Upstate’s unique local history of textile mills.
Watch The Trains Inbound From Charleston: Head to the Inland Port and see how cargo is moved across the country.
Head to Model Train Station at Taylors Mill to learn about the hobby of model trains and a little about the trains that run on the tracks right behind the mill.
Explore Space! Inspire your future astronaut or engineer. Find a dark spot in the sky to hunt for the International Space Station.
You can also learn more about the universe at the planetarium during Friday Starry Nights at Roper Mountain Science Center!
Read our Kidding Around Review of Friday Starry Nights at Roper Mountain Science Center to find out all you need to know about this fun event!
Birdwatch at Lake Conestee Nature Preserve: See how many different kinds of birds you can spot along the trails of Lake Conestee Nature Preserve.
Learn about electricity and how lights stay powered on at Duke Energy’s World of Energy near Lake Keowee.
Enjoy Shakespeare for free in the summer at Falls Park with Summer Shakespeare.
Educational Venues in Greenville
These facilities and venues near Greenville are wonderful places for families to learn together.
- The Children’s Museum of the Upstate
- The Greenville Zoo
- The Upcountry History Museum
- Roper Mountain Science Center
- Greenville Museum of Art
- Greer Heritage Museum
- Spartanburg Science Museum
Educational Sites and Things to Do Outside of Greenville
Day Trips to See Dinosaurs! Check out dinosaurs at Roper Mountain Science Center in Greenville or plan a trip to one of these fabulous places to see dinos in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.
Hagood Mill Is A Free Historial Site In Pickens County: Check out an old grist mill, cotton gin, moonshine distillery, petroglyph site, and more at Hagood Mill.
Visit Stumphouse Tunnel for a look at a pre-Civil War tunnel intended to link Charleston, SC, with cities in the Midwest by train.
Learn about alpaca at Lucky Acres Farm.
SC Botanical Gardens: Check out a huge variety of plants, nature trails, and more at the 300-acre SC Botanical Garden. You’ll also find the Campbell Geology Museum on site. Admission is free to both the garden and the geology museum.
Visiting Columbia? Make your trip fun and educational! Check out EdVenture, the city’s wonder-filled children’s museum. You can also check out the Woodrow Wilson Family Home before making a stop at the Riverbank Zoo or the South Carolina State Museum.
Head to Atlanta to explore black history at these historic sites and museums.
Check out our Kidding Around Review of Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia, SC!
Battlefield Sites Near Upstate, SC
There are several battlefield sites near Greenville for you to explore.
Musgrove Mill State Historic Site: Learn about the Revolutionary War battle at Musgrove Mill State Historic Site. Be sure to check out Blackstock Battlefield hike while you’re there!
Kings Mountain State Park: Hike through a Revolutionary War battlefield and living history farm.
Cowpens National Battlefield: Another Revolutionary War battle occurred nearby in Gaffney.
⭐Bonus: If you like battlefield hikes and tours, take a day trip to Greensboro, NC to see where the Battle of Guilford Courthouse occurred. You can drive through the large battlefield and learn via signage at each stop. It was one of my family’s favorite Revolutionary War sites.
Nearby North Carolina Educational Adventures
The Schiele Museum of Natural History offers guests a look at prehistoric creatures and living. There is a lot to see and do in Gastonia, NC where the museum is located.
Visit Anne Springs Close Greenway for nature and historical hikes, plus events, water sports, creek stomping, and more.
Western North Carolina Nature Center– Check out animals native to Western North Carolina at the WNC Nature Center.
Carolina Raptor Center– See all kinds of hawks, Eagles, owls, and more at the Carolina Raptor Center.
Carl Sandburg Home: The home of Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and writer Carl Sandburg. Connemara is located in nearby Flat Rock, North Carolina.
Immerse yourself in the educational lessons found in nature at the Holmes Educational State Forest in Hendersonville, SC.
While in the Western North Carolina area, check out the Cradle of Forestry in Pisgah National Forest in Brevard, NC to learn about forestry.
Educational Events Near Greenville, SC
Join us for a relaxing, uplifting, and creative Beading Workshop! This beginner friendly workshop is open to children of all ages, and parents too!
Learn how to make beaded jewelry with high quality materials and techniques. Express yourself and collaborate with others. Make and take home as much as you like in the 1-hour workshop.
A weekday mid-day time workshop is perfect for Homeschoolers or Preschoolers! Parents who are not creating are welcome to stay in the workshop area or may shop/ browse around Gather (outdoor food court). Younger children may need parent presence during the workshop. Class size up to 7 people, additional seating available for other family members.
$30 per person. See more details and register through the Etsy link provided. Contact Kristina 240-793-7123 for questions or details.
Create colorful collages for fall. Ages 6-12.
Bring your littles to the front steps of M. Judson for our twice-weekly story time! Enjoy some wonderful picture books read aloud to the crowd by our very own booksellers, and children will even get a sweet treat to go. If you catch them on a rainy day or cold day, storytime is held inside in the children’s section toward the back of the store. Keep up with changes to the schedule here> Book Store & Coffee Shop in Downtown Greenville Check out our Review of Storytime on the Steps at M. Judson Booksellers!
Hands-on Cheese Making 101 class on the farm at Whispering Pines Farm (also known as Whispering Pines Dairy), 681 Campbell Bridge Road, Seneca, SC 29678. Family and adults welcome. Tickets on Eventbrite.
Morning hands-on farm class for home schoolers with the sheep at Whispering Pines Farm (also known as Whispering Pines Dairy), 681 Campbell Bridge Road, Seneca, SC 29678. Parents stay with their children (not a drop-off). $10 per child; adults free. Wear closed-toe shoes and clothes that can get dirty; bring water. Tickets on Eventbrite.
Bring your kids out to meet the sheep at Whispering Pines Farm in Seneca. This Little Shepherds morning is for homeschool families, with a hands-on visit with the sheep for kids while parents stay and enjoy it right alongside them. It’s $10 per child, and adults are free. Wear closed-toe shoes and clothes you don’t mind getting a little dirty, and bring water. Tickets are on Eventbrite.
Afternoon Explorations- September 17, 2026 – May 7, 2027
Begin your visit in the Environmental Science and Sustainability Building, where you’ll find The Water Story and Sustainable Future exhibits as well as the highly popular Nature Exchange
Explore Harrison Hall of Natural Science, where you’ll discover a wide variety of plants, animals, and invertebrates in the Indoor Rain Forest and Rainforest Classroom, have the chance to pet stingrays, sea stars, and horseshoe crabs in the Marine Lab, and learn about South Carolina’s major ecosystems in the Ecology Lab
- Step back in time on the Living History Farm and discover what it was like to live in the Backcountry of 19th-century South Carolina.
- Have a larger-than-life adventure as you search for young and adult dinosaurs on our ever-popular Dinosaur Adventure Trail
- Tap into the power of imagination through creative play at the Pirate Adventure and Dinosaur Playgrounds
- Immerse yourself in the beauty of nature as you stroll through the Butterfly Garden
👉PURCHASE TICKETS HERE> Afternoon Explorations
And don’t miss our themed Special Event Days held throughout the year that include:
- October 16 – Science Magic
- November 20 – Fall on the Farm
- December 11 – Grinchy Christmas
- January 15 – Winterfest
- February 19 – Future Engineers
- March 12 – Dinosaur Adventure
- April 23 – A Pirate’s Life for Me
Click Here to Learn more about Roper Mountain Science Center and all of its fantastic programming!
Elementary-age students can explore Conestee Nature Preserve as young naturalists in this twice-monthly, drop-off after-school program! Through nature hikes, hands-on investigation, and playful discovery, kids will dig into a new nature topic each session. Join for one session or come throughout the semester to build on each adventure.
Time: 3–4:30 pm, 1st & 3rd Thursdays
Fall 2026 Dates & Themes
Sept. 3 – Don’t Bug Me! (Ants & Insects)
Sept. 17 – Rolling Down the Reedy (The Reedy River)
Oct. 1 – Bye, Bye Blackbird! (Birds & Migration)
Oct. 15 – Treerific! (Trees & the Environment)
Nov. 5 – Doe, a Deer… (Deer & State Animals)
Nov. 19 – Freezing, Frigid, Frosty (Animals in Winter)
Cost: $10 per session or $50 for all 6 sessions.
Location: Meeting locations vary throughout Conestee Nature Preserve. Registered participants will receive location details by email before each session.
Registration Deadline: Midnight on the Tuesday before class. If a class is full or you miss the deadline, contact the Preserve to ask about availability or a waitlist.
Bring: A water bottle and weather-appropriate clothing. Apply sunscreen and bug spray before class as needed. Sessions are entirely outdoors.
Ages 9-12 are invited to explore conservation and the history of the National Parks.
🎟️ Cost: Free.
📍 Location: 25 Heritage Green Place, Greenville, SC 29601
👉 Read more
🧒 Ages: Ages 9-12
If your child has read A Long Walk to Water, this is a remarkable opportunity to meet the man whose true story is at the heart of the book.
Salva Dut is coming to South Carolina for the first time, and Prince of Peace Catholic Church & School is opening his evening visit to the entire Upstate community.
For the past three years, Prince of Peace middle school students have read Salva’s story and turned what they learned into action, raising money for clean-water projects in South Sudan through Water for South Sudan’s Iron Giraffe Challenge. Their efforts earned Prince of Peace the Grand Prize—a visit from Salva himself.
Families, students, teachers, homeschoolers and readers of A Long Walk to Water are warmly invited to join us on Thursday, October 15, 2026.
5:30 pm — Book Signing
Bring your copy of A Long Walk to Water and have it signed by Salva Dut.
6:00 pm — Presentation + Q&A
Hear Salva share his extraordinary story and the work it inspired through Water for South Sudan.
The event is free and open to the community.
During select school holidays, TCMU is offering Kid’s Day Out! From 9am-4pm, kids will enjoy a completely play-based experience that includes team games, museum exploration, snack time, and more. Space is extremely limited.
Mom and Dad don’t get a break even though school does? Come play at South Carolina Children’s Theatre! This Workday Workshop is full of games and activities exploring group problem solving, character development and performing in front of an audience, and may include craft time.
Calling all American Girl fans, history lovers, and bookworms of all ages! Greater Greenville is about to welcome a literal literary legend.
Whether you grew up reading about Felicity’s revolutionary adventures, Samantha’s Victorian escapades, Molly’s wartime resilience, or Josefina’s southwestern heritage, you know the magic these characters brought into our lives. Now is your chance to meet the brilliant mind who brought them to life: beloved American Girl author Valerie Tripp is coming to The Logos Theatre for a special community meet-and-greet! Bring your favorite childhood book or doll, snap a photo, and share your favorite American Girl memories with the author who shaped a generation of readers.
But the magic doesn’t stop at nostalgia. This very special event is hosted by a remarkable organization you need to know about: Joy Doll Hospital.
Founded in 2019 by an inspiring 12-year-old girl, Joy Doll Hospital is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit that takes pre-loved, American Girl dolls and meticulously restores them to look brand new. These “Joy Dolls” are gifted to comfort children facing trauma and crisis both nationally and internationally, and this specific event is focused on giving back right here at home in the Upstate.
To celebrate Valerie’s visit, Joy Doll Hospital is launching an epic 24-Hour Joy Doll Restoration Challenge right at the theater! Starting the day before the event, an amazing team of community volunteers will be working around the clock with a massive goal: completely restoring 24 dolls in 24 hours to be gifted to 24 children in crisis throughout the surrounding Greenville area, distributed via local partner organizations.
Joy Doll Hospital hopes it is a truly inspiring experience. To ensure Valerie has dedicated time to chat, sign books, and take photos with every single guest, space is limited. A suggested donation of $15 secures your reservation and directly funds the restoration of dolls for children in crisis. Come witness the transformation live, cheer on our local volunteers, support a spectacular cause, and meet the author who proved that every doll—and every child—has a powerful story to tell.
Highlights include:
-
- Meet & Greet with Valerie Tripp: Book signing and photo op following a brief talk 1030-11am.
- Live Restoration Viewing: See the community volunteers in action at The Logos Theatre during the final hours of their 24-hour marathon challenge.
- Give Back: Learn how you can donate pre-loved dolls or support this youth-founded mission to bring hope & joy to children in crisis.
**Whether you are 8 or 80, dust off your favorite doll and join us for a day of pure nostalgia, craftsmanship, and community joy!
- Meet & Greet with Valerie Tripp: Book signing and photo opportunities with dedicated time for each guest.
- Live Restoration Viewing: See the community volunteers in action at The Logos Theatre during the final hours of their 24-hour marathon challenge.
-
Give Back: Learn how you can donate pre-loved dolls or support this youth-founded mission to bring hope & joy to children in crisis.
Even if you cannot attend our Valerie Tripp meet-and-greet in person, you can become a critical part of our 24-Hour Restoration Challenge by helping us cross the finish line by sponsoring one of our 24 chosen dolls. Sponsorship entirely funds a doll’s full transformation journey. This includes the meticulous volunteer restoration process, extra accessories, specialized transportation, and the gorgeous, customized unboxing packages—designed right here in the Upstate in tandem with our inspiring young founder, with the initial printing run proudly sponsored by a local Greenville family.
Join Spartanburg County Historical Association (SCHA) for a Lunch & Learn on the 4th Friday of every month, January-September (except May & October, when it is planned for the 3rd Friday). Bring your own lunch, and plan to meet in the Chapman Cultural Center Conference Room.
Advance registration is required, and refunds are not offered.
- $5/person
- FREE for SCHA members
This event is recommended for ages 13 & older, not for young children.
Confirm details and register on the Lunch & Learn event page.
Afternoon Explorations- September 17, 2026 – May 7, 2027
Begin your visit in the Environmental Science and Sustainability Building, where you’ll find The Water Story and Sustainable Future exhibits as well as the highly popular Nature Exchange
Explore Harrison Hall of Natural Science, where you’ll discover a wide variety of plants, animals, and invertebrates in the Indoor Rain Forest and Rainforest Classroom, have the chance to pet stingrays, sea stars, and horseshoe crabs in the Marine Lab, and learn about South Carolina’s major ecosystems in the Ecology Lab
- Step back in time on the Living History Farm and discover what it was like to live in the Backcountry of 19th-century South Carolina.
- Have a larger-than-life adventure as you search for young and adult dinosaurs on our ever-popular Dinosaur Adventure Trail
- Tap into the power of imagination through creative play at the Pirate Adventure and Dinosaur Playgrounds
- Immerse yourself in the beauty of nature as you stroll through the Butterfly Garden
👉PURCHASE TICKETS HERE> Afternoon Explorations
And don’t miss our themed Special Event Days held throughout the year that include:
- October 16 – Science Magic
- November 20 – Fall on the Farm
- December 11 – Grinchy Christmas
- January 15 – Winterfest
- February 19 – Future Engineers
- March 12 – Dinosaur Adventure
- April 23 – A Pirate’s Life for Me
Click Here to Learn more about Roper Mountain Science Center and all of its fantastic programming!
★ FeaturedSpecial Science Magic programming during Afternoon Explorations! View additional special event days below.
September 17 – May 7
Thursdays and Fridays
1:30-5:00 pm
Continue your learning adventures on Thursday and Friday throughout the school year in some of your favorite spaces at Roper Mountain as part of our Afternoon Explorations program:
- Begin your visit in the Environmental Science and Sustainability Building where you’ll find Our Water Story and Sustainable Future exhibits as well as the highly popular Nature Exchange
- Explore Harrison Hall of Natural Science where you’ll discover a wide variety of plants, animals and invertebrates in our Indoor Rain Forest and Rainforest Classroom, have the chance to pet stingrays, sea stars, and horseshoe crabs in the Marine Lab, and learn about South Carolina’s major ecosystems in the Ecology Lab
- Step back in time on the Living History Farm and discover what it was like to live in the Backcountry of 19th Century South Carolina.
- Have a larger-than-life adventure as you search for young and adult dinosaurs on our ever-popular Dinosaur Adventure Trail
- Tap into the power of imagination through creative play at our Pirate Adventure and Dinosaur Playgrounds
- Immerse yourself in the beauty of nature as you stroll through our Butterfly Garden
- Gift Shop open Fridays
And don’t miss our themed Special Event Days held throughout the year that include:
- November 20 – Fall on the Farm
- December 11 – Grinchy Christmas
- January 15 – Winterfest
- February 19 – Future Engineers
- March 12 – Dinosaur Adventure
- April 23 – A Pirate’s Life for Me
Friday nights are for space exploration at Roper Mountain Science Center. Friday Starry Nights invite families to relax under the stars inside the planetarium and enjoy immersive astronomy shows that change throughout the evening. It’s an easy, engaging way to spark curiosity about the night sky, whether it’s your first visit or a returning favorite. On clear nights, be sure to head over after your show to the Charles E. Daniel Observatory refractor to see through the telescope!
👉Get your tickets here > Roper Mountain Science Center
Friday Nights in August
4:30 PM- Magic Treehouse
6:00 PM – Astronut
7:30 PM – James Webb Space Telescope: The Story Unfolds
Friday Nights in September
4:30pm – Starry Nights – Cosmic Adventure
6:00pm – Starry Nights – Solar Superstorms
7:30pm – Starry Nights – A Race Through Space
Friday Nights in October
4:30pm – Starry Nights – Spooky Science
6:00pm – Starry Nights- Solar Superstorm
7:30pm – Starry Nights – A Race Through Space
Location:
T.C. Hooper Planetarium
Roper Mountain Science Center, Greenville, SC
Find out more about Friday Starry Nights and why we LOVE this planetarium in our review of RMSC!
Looking for More Adventures?
Check out Kidding Around’s
Guide to Educational Travel and Day Trips!
Are you looking for more fun things to do in Greenville, SC? Check out our Kidding Around Guide To Things To Do in Greenville!
Did we miss a fabulous educational experience near Greenville? Let us know in the comments!
