The Premier Guide to Indoor Fun Near Greenville, SC: 60+ Things to Do Inside

---

2023 KABOOM Family Favorites 1st Place: Indoor Family Fun
2023 KABOOM Family Favorites 1st Place: Best Birthday Party

2023 KABOOM Family Favorites Finalist: Educational Family Fun

2023 KABOOM Family Favorites Finalist: Summer Camps
2023 KABOOM Family Favorites Finalist: Field Trip
2023 KABOOM Family Favorites Finalist: Baby/Toddler Programs

The Children’s Museum of the Upstate, with locations in both Greenville and Spartanburg, is THE go-to family destination for indoor exploration! TCMU-Greenville offers 23 unique exhibits focused on programming areas such as arts, humanities, sciences, health, nutrition, the environment and community engagement. TCMU’s downtown Spartanburg location houses 6,000 square feet of exhibits designed to support children ages birth to 6, with a focus on early childhood development and Kindergarten readiness. 

Free weekly programming, such as Story Time & More, steamWORKS, and and Open Art Studios, provide opportunities for families to further learn and discover together. Annual memberships offer unlimited visits to both TCMU locations in Greenville and Spartanburg. Advance timed entry tickets can be purchased at www.tcmupstate.org. 

Thrilling one-hour adventures that will challenge and entertain your family!  Have you always wanted to solve a mystery or live out an adventure just like in your favorite movie?  Our immersive escape games allow you and your team to do just that!  To “escape” before time runs out, you’ll need to solve puzzles, crack codes, find hidden items and more.  These experiences are designed for groups of 4-8 so they’re perfect for small groups of friends and families who are looking for a fun activity in downtown Greenville away from the crowds.

Is your family overdue for an adventure?  Bring your entire family and see how well you can work together to solve the mysteries of the room!  While portions of our challenges do require adult minds, you’ll be amazed at what your kids will solve and how excited and engaged they’ll be.

Prefer to have a night out with only your adult friends?  Leave the kids at home and book a private adventure with us.  You’ll have a blast laughing together as you solve your way through our interactive challenges.

Now with two locations in Greenville!  Adventures run Thursday-Monday, and you can check availability at Escape Artist.

2023 KABOOM Family Favorites 1st Place: Family Theatre & Performing Arts
2023 KABOOM Family Favorites 1st Place: Theater Program

2023 KABOOM Family Favorites Finalist: Indoor Family Fun
2023 KABOOM Family Favorites Finalist: Youth Organization

Now celebrating its 35^th year, SCCT is the largest children’s theatre in South Carolina and serves over 30,000 children and their families annually through performances and special events, theatre classes, on-site residencies, school tours, and outreach programs. SCCT recently opened its brand-new theatre facility in downtown Greenville, and envisions a community where ALL children experience the transformational impact of theatre, which nourishes creativity, grows empathy, and inspires confidence.

We hope you and your family will join us in the fun!

SCCT produces five (5) MainStage productions per year. Join us for our 22-23 season! This year’s productions are:

• Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical! (Sept 23 – Oct 9, 2022) (Ages K5-3rd)
• Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Nov 18 – Dec 11, 2022) (All ages)
• The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane (Jan 27, 2023 – Feb 5, 2023) (Ages 3rd-8th grade)
• The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show (March 3 – 12, 2023) (Ages Pre-K-3rd grade)
• Once on This Island (May 5 – 21, 2023) (Ages 3rd-adult)

SCCT also offers FREE Tell-Me-A-Story Theatre performances for little ones (pre-K to early elementary) in our lobby throughout the year. At these lobby shows, favorite children’s books are acted out for our youngest audiences, and we encourage audience participation! Check our website for dates. 

SCCT’s Theatre Arts Conservatory offers year-round drama classes for students ages 3-18. Theatre classes develop skills that help students academically and socially while also providing students with a positive place to belong, develop friendships, and discover their potential and abilities. Click here to learn about our Theatre Arts Conservatory and be sure to check our website throughout the year for current class listings!

Ready for a challenge?! Arena X is the all-new competitive ninja tag concept from Big Air. It’s the first and only business in SC to offer this style of technology and gameplay.

Arena X is a high energy, multiplayer indoor arena where players of ALL AGES challenge their opponents to reach the highest score. In this timed experience, players search for and tag glowing beacons located throughout the arena by scanning their unique wristband. The objective is to collect as many points as possible. There are 25 unique challenges to navigate and 125+ beacons to scan in this 2-story arena. Who will YOU challenge?

Check it out: Arena X Memberships now available starting at $25/month.

Boutique bowling alley located near downtown Greenville, offers six bowling alleys, dining and bar,
If requesting reservations, a 3-lane minimum is required.
Rates are $24 – $40/hr depending on the time of day/day of the week.

Birthday Parties: Private or semi-private party rentals are available. Contact the venue for specific rates.

The facility offers a variety of activities, including specialized exercise classes, sports, and aquatics. Affordable memberships and day passes are available. You can locate the recreation center event calendar, pricing, and reservations on their website.

CCRC offers after-school care for children aged kindergarten – 5th grade from 3:00 – 5:30 PM. Offers pick up from Central Elementary and Clemson Elementary.

The facility offers 3 birthday party packages that include:
1. the dining hall with pool party, 2. the dining hall with basketball, or 3. basketball with a pool party.
Membership discounts available.

Bloc Haven is an indoor climbing facility for all ages

Video arcade games for all ages, including a dining space.
Kid’s birthday parties for all ages with kid-friendly food.

Interactive exhibits, live animals and an extensive collection of fossils, bones, rocks and minerals will encourage a love of science.

Indoor go-karting facility

Greenville Location: 1524 Roper Mountain Road, Greenville, SC
Spartanburg Location: 130 East Daniel Morgan Ave, Spartanburg, SC

Offers: Roller skating with toddler rink

An art and pottery studio

Offers: Chick-fil-A food with an indoor play space for younger children

Find your location on the information Chic fil A map to confirm their playground is still available

Locations with an indoor play area:

5175 Calhoun Memorial Highway, Easley
1225 Woodruff Rd, Greenville
1379 W. Wade Hampton Boulevard, Greer
3420 Highway 153, Piedmont
135 W. Butler Road, Mauldin
659 Fairview Road, Simpsonville
22 Benton Road, Travelers Rest

Virtual Reality video game arcade that offers multiple gameplay options, including a VR arena, Raceroom, VR escape rooms, arvi VR full-immersion games, and more.
The venue also has snack food items for purchase.

2023 KABOOM Awards Family Favorites Finalist: Indoor Family Fun
2023 KABOOM Awards Family Favorites Finalist: Birthday Party
2023 KABOOM Awards Family Favorites Finalist: Field Trips
2023 KABOOM Family Favorites Finalist: Sports Programs

Located in Simpsonville, Palmetto Gymnastics offers a Play Time for kids up to the age of 10. Cost is $5 per hour on Wednesdays and Friday from 10-11 am and 11 am – 12 pm. Families must pre-register by calling the gym. They also offer gymnastics & ninja classes, birthday parties, field trips, and summer camps.

Birthday Parties: Parties at Palmetto Gymnastics include gym time and time for refreshments. Various packages are available for both structured gym time and non-structured gym time, ninja course, tumble track, and more, depending on your preferences.

Offers: Visit local artist gallery exhibits Tuesday through Saturday. Each first Friday (6-9 pm), a free art activity is available for children.

Located at Taylors Mill, this video arcade offers pinball machines, dozens of games and consoles, and a bar.

Trapped in the Upstate offers a variety of escape rooms, with something for all ages.

Kangaroo Jax is a bounce house facility located in Greenville, SC. They offer unlimited play with admission pricing, including the indoor carousel and kiddie Ferris wheel!

With a Lego® table and kids’ reading nooks, Barnes and Noble is a great place to stop on a rainy day. Plus, you can enjoy a coffee at the indoor Starbucks while your kids play.

Bonus: Free Story Time most Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 am.

Creative play with inflatables indoors for ages 10 and under. $10/child, $8/sibling.

Greenville Gemstone Mine offers a place for children and adults to mine for gemstones in Greenville, as well as a unique shop selling jewelry and home decor items.

Two Locations in Greenville: 

205 N Main Street
700 Haywood Rd. #2008

Read our Kidding Around review of Greenville Gemstone Mine.

Offers: Paint your own pottery with drop-in times, story time and other events, group events and camps.

Offers: Trampoline Park with ropes courses, foam pits, and special Little Leapers toddler times.

Upstate Pinball & Arcade Museum in Simpsonville has some of the best games from the 80s and 90s. With over 50 games including pinball, Pac-man, and ice hockey foosball, you’re sure to have a blast. They also have birthday party options!

Boutique bowling alley in Downtown Spartanburg with 8 lanes, bar, food, and more. The space is 21 and over after 9pm.
Lanes are first come, first serve.

Birthday party packages are available.

Chapman Cultural Center is home to several local museums, Ballet Spartanburg, and the Spartanburg Little Theatre.

2023 KABOOM Awards Family Favorites Finalist: Art Program

Offers:The Treehouse Cafe and Studio offers sandwiches, sides, coffee and treats with toys, coloring, painting and crafts for children and families. An art teacher is available to work with your child on crafts and painting projects you can purchase at the studio.

See our review of the TReehouse Cafe and Studio.

2023 Family Favorites Finalist: Indoor Family Fun

You can find free events for kids almost every day at the Greenville Library system, just don’t forget to grab a couple of bucks for parking if you head downtown. These events are not just fun, but also help your children develop literacy skills. We list most of the Greenville Library events for kids on our Greenville Calendar, but you can also check the calendar on the Greenville Library website or grab one of their free bi-monthly magazines.

In addition to the daily programming, the Greenville Main Library has a PAL Learning Center full of educational toys for children. The individual branches also have hands-on learning stations and computers for children.

Anderson Road Branch – 2625 Anderson Road, Greenville
Augusta Road Branch – 100 Lydia Street, Greenville
Berea Branch – 111 N Hwy 25 Bypass, Greenville
Five Forks Library Branch – 104 Sunnydale Drive, Simpsonville
Fountain Inn Library Branch – 311 N Main Street, Fountain Inn
Greer Branch – 505 Pennsylvania Avenue, Greer (currently closed for expansion/renovation – should reopen fall 2019)
Hughes Main Branch – 25 Heritage Green Place, Greenville
Mauldin Branch – 800 W Butler Road, Greenville
Pelham Road Branch – 1508 Pelham Road, Greenville
Simpsonville Branch – 626 NE Main Street, Simpsonville
Taylors Branch – 316 W Main Street, Taylors
Travelers Rest Branch – 17 Center Street, Travelers Rest

Learn more about the Greenville Library’s digital and streaming collection, free and accessible from your own home, in our KA article! 

Offers: Video & Arcade Games and pizza

Spartanburg Location
660 Spartan Boulevard, Suite 250
864.574.4748

Greenville Location
253 Congaree Road
864.297.6400

The Anderson County Library system offers special events, storytime, a seed library, Book-a-Librarian (for that much-needed help with literally anything), and so much more! Branch information can be found below:

Anderson County Main Library – 300 N. McDuffie St, Anderson
Belton Branch Library – 91 Breazeale Street, Belton
Iva Branch Library – 203 W. Cruette Street, Iva
Jennie Erwin Branch Library – 318 N. Shirley Avenue, Honea Path
Lander Memorial Branch Library – 925 Greenville Drive, Williamston
Pendleton Branch Library – 650 S. Mechanic Street, Pendleton
Piedmont Branch Library – 1407 S. Carolina 86, Piedmont
Powdersville Branch Library – 4 Civic Court, Powdersville
Westside Community Center Branch Library – 1100 West Franklin Street, Anderson

Offers: Playground and pub with an 18-hole wacky mini golf course, ice curling, ping pong, axe throwing, and tons of backyard games. After 7 is 21+ only, before 8 is all ages.

A family-owned bowling center with 20 lanes, offering affordable standard rates, group rates, and party packages. The facility also houses an arcade, billiards, and air hockey along with a snack bar and grill. 

Offers: Roller skating, an arcade and a three story indoor playground

Offers: Inflatables and Pre-K only jump time on school day mornings

RELATED: Mom Review: Pump It Up

The museum offers a beautiful display of fossils, minerals, and rocks. Located at Clemson University, the museum houses both geological and paleontological exhibits. In addition, a display of fluorescent rocks that seems like magic will thrill the entire family!

*note: The Bob Campbell Geology Museum is currently closed due to damage sustained in December 2022. 

Offers: Golden Lanes and Skate offers 32 lanes for bowling, as well as a roller skating rink, Tiki Bar, and pool tables.

Kroc Greenville’s vision is to ensure everyone has access to excellent and affordable youth and adult wellness and community programs. Kick start your membership to our 74,000 square foot facility, and enjoy access to aquatics, fitness, sports, and more!

The Pickens County Library System offers a variety of free programming, events, and classes at four branches throughout Pickens County. Educational computer games for children, an extensive collection of literature and audio, and a unique “Library of Things” rental program of games and toys are available. 

Hampton Memorial Library- 304 Biltmore Road, Easley, SC 29640

Village Library- 124 N Catherine St., Pickens, SC 29671

Sarlin Library-15 S Palmetto St., Liberty, SC 29657

Central-Clemson Library- 105 Commons Way, Central, SC 29630

Offers: Roller skating, an arcade and an indoor playground

Offers drop in classes for crafting, art, and more. Priority is given to those who make a reservation ahead of time, though walk-ins are accepted if space is available.

Open Studio days are Friday and Saturday.

The skate center offers roller skate sessions, private parties, and special events the entire family will enjoy. Open skate sessions are available Friday and Saturday. Sundays are currently reserved for private parties.

Indoor rock climbing facility in Easley that offers lead climbing, bouldering, and more for all ages.

The Spartanburg Art Museum also offers family programming, public art exhibits, and more. Free admission (donations accepted)

PurrPoseful Art Studio offers a wide array of art classes for children between the ages of 8 and 18 who have a love for animals and a passion for art! Summer Camp Registration Now Open!

Game Kastle offers a fresh new alternative for gamers to shop for the latest titles and accessories, play casual games together, or compete in tournaments. They hold classes on building or painting game miniatures and terrain, as well as learn-to-play new games.

Offers: Roller skating and an arcade

Offers: Indoor Play and Party Center located in Asheville, NC! Ideal for children aged 10 and younger. They are a sock facility, meaning no shoes or bare feet are permitted in the play area.

Check out the Kidding Around Review of Mountain Play Lodge

Offers: 32 Bowling Lanes, shoe rental, birthdays, arcade

Offers: Greenville Rec’s Pavilion Recreation Complex offers an indoor ice skating rink and a bounce house facility with a number of bouncing house style equipment for kids to jump.

Offers: An indoor play space for kids aged 0-6 plus cafe.

At the Sigal Music Museum, explore the exciting world of music through exhibitions, concerts, and music classes for both children & adults.

Offers: 32 lanes of bowling, birthdays, and special event pricing and weekly specials

2023 KABOOM Family Favorites Finalist: Educational Family Fun

Learn about the history of the Upstate area and enjoy traveling exhibits. There’s usually one traveling exhibit that’s perfect for kids, and the rest of the museum has lots of audio, video, and hands-on sections of exhibits that the whole family will enjoy. You can find a list of their family-friendly events and fantastic exhibits on their website.

Lee’s Indoor Playhouse offers indoor bounce houses and tiny towns to explore. They offer unlimited playtime with admission tickets, birthday parties, parents’ nights out, toddler times, and more.

A large, safe indoor play place for children with slides, climbing towers, soft play spaces, and more.
The space also has wifi, coffee, and snacks available for parents.

Learn more in our Kidding Around review of Kids Play & Cafe!

Birthday party packages are available, and include  75 minutes of play and 45 minutes of festivities in a private party room.

Offers: Indoor roller skating rink that offers homeschool skate times, open skate, birthday parties, fundraisers, and other special events.

2023 KABOOM Family Favorites Finalist: Indoor Family Fun
2023 KABOOM Family Favorites Finalist: Kids’ Birthday Party

This giant trampoline park, with a location in Greenville and in Spartanburg, includes a rock wall, jousting, a ninja course, a laser maze, a slam dunk basketball area, a foam pit, a zipline, a toddler area, and much more! They also offer special toddler times, birthday parties, and group events.

Birthday Parties: Choose from 60, 90, or 120 minute jump party packages to fit your party’s needs. From pizza & drinks, to dedicated party host & clean-up – it’s ALL INCLUDED! All you do is bring the cake and enjoy the party!

The Foothills Playhouse is a non-profit community theatre that offers wholesome, family-friendly classic and original productions.

Paint your own pottery studio offering pottery painting, canvas painting, and glass fusing. The studio offers specialized rates for birthday parties, groups, fundraisers, and after-hour events.

Birthday party prices start at $12 per child with a $30 party fee during normal hours
Parents can bring snacks, drinks, and dessert for the party.

Indoor playground with bounce houses and indoor playground equipment

The Greenville County Museum of Art also offers family-friendly Sunday programs at 2 pm as well as occasional children’s art workshops and camps. There is no admission fee to visit this museum!

Offers: Rock Springs Church Bowling Center offers 12 lanes of bowling, as well as bowling parties. Looking for more information? Check out our Kidding Around review of Rock Springs Church Bowling Center.

Spartanburg County Public Libraries offer a full line-up of free programming listed on their website. In addition to story times and other free programs, the Spartanburg libraries include a children’s area with activities and books. The Headquarters downtown branch is a popular location that offers a great interactive learning space in the children’s area.

Headquarters Library – 151 S Church Street, Spartanburg
Boiling Springs Library – 871 Double Bridge Road, Boiling Springs
Chesnee Library – 100 Pickens Avenue, Chesnee
Cowpens Library – 181 School Street, Cowpens
Cyrill-Westside Library – 525 Oak Grove Road, Spartanburg
Inman Library – 50 Mill Street, Inman
Landrum Library – 111 Asbury Drive, Landrum
Middle Tyger Library – 170 Groce Road, Lyman
Pacolet Library – 390 W. Main Street, Pacolet
Woodruff Library – 270 E. Hayne Street, Woodruff

Learn more in our KA article about the Spartanburg Library’s digital and streaming collection, which you can access free from home.

Offers: Mini golf, go-karts, indoor playground, laser tag, batting cage, arcade, bumper boats, and more. Priced per attraction.

Offers: Combine shopping with fun, by heading to the Haywood Mall. The playground is a great place to let kids get out their wiggles.

DEFY houses 30,000 square feet of connected, world-class trampolines, foam pits, a flying trapeze, aerial silks, trampoline basketball, dodgeball, launch ramps, and Greenville’s first aerial ninja course.

Offers: Bowling, video games and pool tables

Offers: Vino and Van Gogh offers art classes for adults and children as well as private parties and events.

Offers: An indoor play space, including a separate baby and toddler area, plus cafe and retail space.

Offers: Open play gym is the perfect opportunity for small children to get some exercise while having fun.
Read our review of Acrosmith Gymnastics!

The museum offers an extensive Heritage Collection. There are quarterly rotating exhibitions with artifacts and antiquities that allow visitors to examine the rich history of Pickens, South Carolina’s art and historical pieces. Admission is free. 

Offers: Bowling, Escape Rooms, Laser Tag, a Game Zone as well as a full restaurant!

Visit the Zentrum Museum and learn about the history of BMW and view examples of BMW’s vehicles throughout their history.

Zentrum museum hours are Monday through Friday, from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm

Guided plant tours are available and students will have the chance to see how the cars are built.

• Age: Plant Tours are limited to age 12 and up
• Subject: Science and Engineering, History
• Closed toe shoes must be worn on the plant tour