If you’re thinking about buying or selling a home in the Greenville area, you know that the housing market in the Upstate is HOT! It’s no wonder! Greenville and its surrounding bedroom communities have hit the headlines in popular publications like the New York Times, Forbes, Travel & Leisure, and Southern Living—to name a few.
With a cost of living below the national average, relatively moderate weather (except late summer… let’s not kid ourselves), plenty of family-friendly activities, easy work commutes, and many quality schools, Greenville is a bit of a no-brainer. In this guest post by real estate agent Elizabeth Faulkner, learn about the features that make Greenville and its surrounding communities shine. Not sure where your family should be settling? Take the brief quiz at the bottom of the article to give you some ideas!
So you’re considering making a move to the Greenville area and unsure where to begin. Maybe you have a few days to visit the area and decide if it could possibly be your next home. Awesome! With only a short time to check out a large area, you’ll want to schedule your time wisely. In Greenville County there are many different areas to consider as you begin to explore. So here is a snapshot of some of the towns located within Greenville County that you will likely want to consider if you are thinking about moving to the Upstate.
Downtown Greenville
Downtown Greenville is a pretty special place. Locals and visitors to the area all love it. Often found on a list of best downtowns in America, it won’t take long to see why it is such a popular area. Downtown Greenville offers lots of shopping, great places to eat, sports venues, lots of events and markets, a huge and amazing park, easy access to the Swamp Rabbit Trail and is surrounded by charming neighborhoods! Seeing downtown Greenville is a must-do if you’re planning your first trip to the area!
What to Do
- walk through Falls Park & across Liberty Bridge
- shop the art galleries along the Reedy River
- shop Mast General Store
- enjoy some live music – including Main Street Fridays going on until Friday evenings from July through September
- visit the TD Saturday Market – open every Saturday from May through October
- rent bikes and ride the Swamp Rabbit Trail
- check out a Greenville Drive baseball game
- take a Greenville history tour with John Nolan
Where to Eat
You’ll find everything from a pizza place where you can grab a slice to go, all the way to fine dining overlooking the city in downtown. Here are just a few options, depending on what you’re in the mood for!
- have a nice dinner at Sassafras, Larkins or Jianna
- grab a burger and milkshake at Grill Marks
- enjoy an amazing brunch at Tupelo Honey
Travelers Rest
I often refer to Travelers Rest as the quintessential small town of Greenville County. With what may just be one of the cutest downtowns you’ll ever see it is easy to see why Travelers Rest is so beloved here in the Upstate. Located in northern Greenville County, TR is practically in the mountains, which is super convenient for folks who love to hike, mountain bike, or do any of the other activities outdoor enthusiasts hold so dear. And the Swamp Rabbit Trail runs right through downtown TR so its super easy to go for a run or a bike ride!
What To Do
- stroll along Main Street and check out the cute shops
- enjoy one of the local festivals & markets in downtown, such as the monthly Browse & Stroll Art Market
- visit the farmers market (every Saturday morning April – September, every Thursday evening in October)
- check out some live music (see event calendar)
- go for a walk or a bike ride on the Swamp Rabbit Trail
Where to Eat
Whether you’ve spent the day biking the Swamp Rabbit Trail or hitting the shops along Main Street you’ll have no problem finding a great meal in TR. Here are just a few of the local restaurants you’ll find.
- Sidewall Pizza
- Farmhouse Tacos
- Shortfield’s.
- Monkey Wrench Smokehouse
- Chicora Alley
- After dinner or as a break from a ride on the Swamp Rabbit Trail, you can get dessert or at Pink Mama’s Ice Cream.
Greer
Greer is one of the larger and more popular suburbs in Greenville County. Greer stretches from the border of Simpsonville, where you will see a farm or two, to northern Greenville County, where you are able to view the mountains. Many families flock to Greer for the schools, the parks and the conveniences of everything you need being close by. Downtown Greer also hosts a variety of local events that promote a real sense of community!
Things to Do
- walk along the quaint streets of downtown Greer and check out the local boutiques
- let the kids get their wiggles out at one of the many great parks in Greer including Greer City Park or Century Park
- go to one of the big events held annually in Greer like the Easter Event or the Christmas Tree Lighting
- visit Campbell’s Covered Bridge, the last remaining covered bridge in the state
Where to Eat
Spend the day visiting parks or shopping in downtown Greer then grab dinner! You’ll find quite a selection of restaurants to choose from in downtown Greer.
- The Great Bay Oyster House
- L’INCANTO
- The Strip Club 104 Steakhouse
- Wild Ace Pizza and Pub
Simpsonville
Simpsonville is another large and popular suburb of Greenville, often very appealing to families. Stretching from the Five Forks area all the way to Fountain Inn, Simpsonville offers all the shopping conveniences people need, lots of school options, some fantastic parks and a sweet little downtown. For folks looking for a little privacy and maybe some acreage, Simpsonville could be worth a look. In addition to all the neighborhoods in Simpsonville, you’ll find that there are still some undeveloped areas, larger lots, and farmland too, especially in the south portions of town.
Things to Do
- Explore downtown. Check out the local shops, venture over to City Park or maybe enjoy some ice cream.
- Take a walk, ride the train, play on the playgrounds, or even catch a concert at Heritage Park.
- Take a drive out of town a bit and enjoy the beautiful countryside.
- Spend a day or evening at Warehouse at Vaughn’s. Play some video games, enjoy some live music, have a great meal. The options are endless!
Where to Eat
Downtown Simpsonville has lots of great dining choices, and more outside of downtown. Here are just a few:
- Shortfields
- Henry’s Smokehouse
- Slice of Brooklyn Pizza
- Papa’s & Beer
- Head a little out of downtown to my personal favorite, Stella’s Southern Bistro.
Even More to Explore
While you’re exploring Greenville County here are a few more suggestions on other areas to visit and things to do.
Mauldin is a booming city with lots of parks, plenty of green space and a thriving senior center. Maybe take a walk along the Public Art Trail .
Taylors sits between Greer and Greenville and is home to many residences and businesses. If you’re passing through maybe check out Taylors Mill. Stop by to have some fun (axe throwing anyone?) or grab a bite!
Greenville County is vast and offers some great options for living and playing! Spend some time in our towns and see what feels right to you! I hope this piece is helpful as you learn more about the area and begin your search for the perfect place to live!
Thinking of buying or selling your home? Check out 10 Tips to Help You Buy or Sell a Home in 2021
New to Greenville? Springtime in Greenville is spectacular and you’ll need this list of 10 Things You Must Do This Spring if You’re New to Greenville!
What’s your favorite part of Greenville County? Why?
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