Are you new to Greenville, SC and looking for things to do with your family this spring? Our guest contributor, REALTOR® Elizabeth Faulkner, has created this list of Greenville things to do in spring for those who are new to town, or moving to Greenville!
Thank you to Elizabeth Faulkner for sponsoring Kidding Around.
Riding Bikes on Greenville’s Swamp Rabbit Trail
Riding bikes on the Swamp Rabbit Trail is my ultimate favorite thing to do in spring. At over 19 miles in length our beloved SRT offers plenty of options on where to ride, parking and stops along the way. One option is to park at Cleveland Park and ride north to downtown. Or if you’re really ambitious, keep going to Furman or Travelers Rest. There are so many great places to explore along the SRT, it is easy to spend a day biking and playing! Linky Stone Park: The Children’s Garden, Swamp Rabbit Café and the lake at Furman University are some of my family’s favorites. Tip: bring bike locks so you can walk around downtown Greenville, Travelers Rest or Furman!
The Lake at Furman University and Furman’s Rose Garden
Speaking of Furman, another thing newcomers to the area need to put on their spring to-do list is to walk around the lake at Furman University and visit the Furman Rose Garden. Whether you love flowers or not you’re sure to enjoy the Rose Garden at Furman. Furman University is right along the Swamp Rabbit Trail, between downtown and Travelers Rest, and makes for a perfect (and pretty) break from your bike!
Greenville’s Spring Markets
Another springtime must-do is to visit one of the many spring markets in our area. There is a big one in downtown Greenville that is typically open each Saturday from May through October. Other options for a farmer’s market include Greer, Simpsonville, Spartanburg and Travelers Rest. (hit the one in TR when you’re biking the Swamp Rabbit Trail!) As much as I love farm fresh eggs and local produce, the local products and art is what I often end up taking home from the local farmers markets! Tip: be sure to “like” the Facebook pages for the various farmer’s markets as they often share which vendors will be on-site each week and special events, among other things!
Artisphere
Speaking of local art… Artisphere is always at the top of my spring to-do list! Artisphere is, hands down, my favorite downtown Greenville street festival. So many amazing artists displaying their works, a super fun interactive art studio for kids, lots of local food and drinks, shopping, live music and more. This event is so much fun – definitely put it on your list! Tip: Though Artisphere runs over a weekend, my family likes to go Friday afternoon because the crowds tend to be lighter!
Mice on Main Scavenger Hunt
Many things make Greenville fantastic but one thing that makes it unique are the mice in downtown. Hang on – no need to freak out as these mice don’t bite. The Mice on Main are small, bronze mice strategically placed throughout downtown, making one seriously fun scavenger hunt your kids (and YOU!) are sure to love. Be sure you check out the background on why the heck there are mice hidden in downtown – it’s a pretty cool story! Jimmy Ryan is now a Greenville doctor who I had the pleasure of meeting years ago at a friend’s house. I was told he was “that” Jimmy Ryan after he left. In retrospect this was probably for the best I didn’t realize who he was sooner; I definitely would’ve been star struck. You can even purchase the collectible Mice on Main book at Mast General Store in downtown! Tip: be sure to print the clues to finding the mice before you embark on your scavenger hunt.
Visit Falls Park
Spend a day in Falls Park. Have a picnic. Take a walk. Be sure to walk across Liberty Bridge. It’s pretty special! And when your family from wherever you moved here from visits, make sure to take them to Falls Park too. No one should visit our town without walking across Liberty Bridge! Tip: there are probably 3 dozen professional photo-worthy spots throughout Falls Park. Just in case you need a good venue for your next family photo shoot!
Enjoy Paris Mountain
Visit Paris Mountain. This state park is located just a few miles north of Greenville and offers something for just about everyone. You can go for a short (or long!) hike, take a dip in the lake, have a picnic, mountain bike or even camp! It won’t take long to see why locals love Paris Mountain as much as we do!
Pick Your Own Strawberries
Do you love fresh strawberries and the outdoors? Perfect! The upstate of South Carolina offers more than a few farms and patches where you can pick your own strawberries every spring. This is one activity that the whole family is sure to love! What to do with all the perfect strawberries once you get home? Make jam, make pie, put them in a summer salad or just eat them!
Hike at Table Rock State Park
If you’re up for a serious hike, consider Table Rock. While Table Rock State Park offers lots of options for activities, it’s the hike to the top of the huge granite dome that makes it famous among South Carolinians. The views from the top of Table Rock make the over 6 mile hike completely worth it! Even if you don’t hike to the top of Table Rock you can enjoy a shorter hike, go fishing, take a boat ride or just explore nature at Table Rock!
Elizabeth’s Clients Recommend:
The Greenville Zoo
I even asked a couple of my past clients, who moved to our area from somewhere far away, what their favorite thing to do has been so far. Here’s what they had to say.
Becky and her family recently moved to Travelers Rest from the Chicago area. They’ve only been here a short while but have done a ton of exploring already! They love Paris Mountain for many reasons but proximity to TR tops the list. Her kids’ favorite thing to do so far is visit the Greenville Zoo. Though the Greenville Zoo is pretty small and won’t take a full day it is a fun place to visit. And you can fill the rest of your day with Cleveland Park or the Swamp Rabbit Trail as both are just outside the zoo’s entrance! Tip: Have you seen the baby giraffe yet? I’m obsessed with the giraffe cam!
Day Trips
Liz and her family moved to Simpsonville from Texas over a year ago. Their ultimate favorite has been the apple orchards in the fall but since this piece is about spring that didn’t make the list! (sorry Liz!) She went on to add that while her kids also love the Greenville Zoo they really enjoy making the short trip to Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia. I’ll be sure to include that among the list of reasons we love living in the Greenville area so much – day trips to so many amazing places!
Looking for a new home? Contact Elizabeth at 864.414.2434 or check out her website.
To all of you who are new to the Upstate – Welcome! What do you think should be on the must-do list this spring for someone new to our area?
