8 FREE Toddler Activities in Greenville, SC You’re Going to Love

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Searching for “things to do with toddlers near me”? Working with a tight budget and looking for free things to do with your toddler in Greenville? We get it. You and your toddler can have a blast all around Greenville…and you can do it all for FREE! Whether you want to go downtown, play outside, or visit a local bookstore, we can help you find something free to do!

Free things to do with toddlers in Greenville, SC

Kidding Around Main Street: Find the Mice

Mice on Main, Greenville, SC

Be sure to read our tips on Mice on Main for even more help.

Toddlers will love finding all the mice hidden on Main Street in downtown Greenville. Keep your toddler interested by having a plan before you go; I suggest already knowing where all the mice are. Read about the history and find some clues on the Mice on Main website.

Take digital pictures of your findings so you can retell the experience with your toddler. My little one loves to see herself in pictures and talk about what we did. Print these pictures at home or look out for free print codes at drugstores and you can create a book of your adventures.

You can purchase a fun picture book about the Mice on Main at the Mast General Store downtown Greenville or you can also find Mice on Main at the Greenville County Library. 

downtown Greenville Mice on Main free things to do

Kidding Around Outside: Find a Park

When I first moved to Greenville, we found a new park every week to try out. Now, we have our amazing Guide to Greenville Parks! You can sort through our guide by location or desired amenity, like swings or shaded play space.

It is hard to just pick one that we love, but we’ve been visiting Heritage Park in Simpsonville every weekend lately. It is very shaded and has various physical levels of play.

Kidding Around in Nature: Take a Hike

Ready to hit the trails with your family? The Upstate and, if you’re willing to go a little further, western North Carolina offer oodles of free outdoor options for beginners and expert hikers alike.

Good intro hikes for my youngest child have been the Learning Loops at Lake Conestee Nature Preserve.

Hiking with toddlers and young children near Greenville, SC

We’re also using this list of places that are perfect for hiking with toddlers and young children as a hiking bucket list.

If you’ve got more adventurous or older children, we’ve got you covered with our more comprehensive Guide to Hiking.

Kidding Around the Water: Splash Pads & Swimming Holes

Get your toddlers out to play in the water while the weather is still warm. Greenville is home to numerous splash pads, swimming holes, and stomp-able creeks.

One of my family’s favorite swimming holes is Wildcat Wayside, which features a pool at the foot of a 10-foot waterfall. Just park along the road and this fun spot is just a stone’s throw from the road.

Kidding Around on the Go: Scavenger Hunts

Check out Kidding Around Greenville’s Runway Park Scavenger Hunt. This online photo hunt for Runway Park is designed for young children 2-3.

Kidding Around The Swamp Rabbit Trail: Take a stroll

The Swamp Rabbit Trail is a 22-mile trail that begins in downtown Greenville and runs all the way into Travelers Rest. The Swamp Rabbit Trail website provides an interactive map that will allow you to find a place to begin with parking and where restrooms are located (did your toddler just say they needed a potty break?)

Swamp Rabbit Trail in Greenville, SC

Find the perfect portion of the Swamp Rabbit Trail for your family with our Swamp Rabbit Trail Family Guide.

Our first time on the trail we began at the Swamp Rabbit Café and Grocery. The mile and a half that we did was both shaded and sunny and was full of people. I felt very safe and my toddler enjoyed seeing all the other people walking, running, and riding bikes.

We had a stroller and I’m very glad we did!  Be on the lookout for some serious bicyclists. Most will announce (shout) that they are coming up behind you. Just be aware if you have a toddler that likes to “explore” and not stick right by your side.

Swamp Rabbit Trail free things to do in Greenville

Kidding Around Downtown: Ride the Trolley

Take your toddler on a Trolley ride all around downtown! The trolley runs from 6 – 11 pm on Thursdays and Fridays, 10 am -11 pm on Saturdays, and from 10 am – 8 pm on Sundays.  The trolley makes approximately 20 stops on its route through downtown.

Check out the Downtown Trolley website for more details about the route. There’s even a trolley tracker app you can download to find the real-time location of the trolleys!

free things to do downtown Greenville trolley

Kidding Around Playgroups: Meet New Friends

Being the parent of a toddler can be trying and we could all use some extra support sometimes. Maybe you are looking for advice, a shoulder to cry on, someone to share your prayers or joys with or some extra socialization for your toddler.

Facebook and websites like MeetUp are great resources for meeting other parents in the area that are looking to get together for some playtime fun! There are a variety of groups based on the area of Greenville you may live in or whether you stay at home, work, etc.

For some ideas of what groups our readers recommend, see our reader’s recommendations for best Mom Groups in Greenville.

Bonus: The Kidding Around Greenville Mailing List

And, of course, don’t forget to subscribe to the Kidding Around Greenville mailing list! Our weekly e-mails include news and info about events for families and a weekend planner that features top-notch events.

What free activities for toddlers would you add to my list?

Looking for more resources for raising a toddler in Greenville?

We’ve got your Ultimate Guide to Raising Babies and Toddlers near Greenville, SC.

Free Things to Do in Greenville, SC

Looking for more FREE things to do?

Here’s our HUGE list of Free things to do in Greenville, SC.

This article was originally written by Lauren Lochel, and has been updated by the Kidding Around Team.

About the Author
Lauren and her family moved to Greenville in 2013 and have loved exploring all that the Upstate has to offer. Lauren taught Kindergarten and 1st grade for 9 years in Fort Mill, SC before becoming a stay-at-home mom.

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Sharon
7 years ago

Very active 5yrs old granddaughter who loves to sing/dance/acting.

Also , I have teen daughter, 13. Very talented in playing piano drums, interior decor, and artist-drawing.Career plan of Vet.

Kathy Young
4 years ago

Gymboree let’s you attend the first class free too! Wonderful staff and great classes designed for each age!