Inside: Local parents share inexpensive things to do during Spring Break in the Upstate, SC.
Searching for cheap things to do for spring break? Spring Break fun doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. There are plenty of things to do in the area and at home that will quickly fill up the downtime during the break and even better, don’t require a ton of energy or planning. Plus, they won’t break the bank or require a road trip.
Read on to discover ten cheap things to do for an affordable spring break.
Inside: A curated list of excellent playgrounds in Greenville, SC written by area parents.
If you are looking for a fun park day, then here are the best parks with playgrounds in Greenville, SC! They are free, offer kids a chance to run and play, and also provide great lunch or play-date locations.
We have tried to visit as many playgrounds in the Greater Greenville area as possible, and these are our Top park playgrounds in Greenville. These park playgrounds are based on unique play structures, imaginative themes, and scenic surroundings.
❗Have you seen our Park Guide? If your family loves parks you do not want to miss our Ultimate Guide to Parks in the Upstate. In this guide, you can look up parks by location and desired amenities, like swings, basketball courts, and more.
Best Playgrounds: Greenville, SC
1. Century Park: Kids Planet
Century Park and its accompanying playground, known as Kids Planet is often listed as a local favorite.
There are some amazing play features at the new playground like a zip line, hillside slides, and ground-level trampoline. Parents will love the two age-appropriate play areas that are enclosed with a fence.
Kids of all ages will enjoy the musical instrument station between the playgrounds and a butterfly misting station that I can not keep my kids out of in the summertime.
IMPORTANT: The playground will be closed for maintenance every Wednesday from 7 am – Noon.
Learn why Kids Planet is one of the best parks in the Greenville Area in our review!
Kids’ Planet at Century Park – 3605 Brushy Creek Road, Greer
2. Herdklotz Park
Herdklotz has two playgrounds separated by a fence and a walking path. The smaller playground is one of the best playgrounds in our area for young children with not just a fun set of play equipment but also an overlook with a sidewalk area perfect for chalk drawings. This playground area also contains a small picnic shelter within the fencing making it easy to eat lunch while watching your child.
The larger playground is one of the largest play structures in Greenville with tall slides and climbing structures.
Perhaps my favorite reason to list Herdklotz is the play area is shady and cool. The elevation is also a little bit higher than most of Greenville allowing you to have a great view of the city. The shaded benches and natural-styled landscaping also add to the natural beauty of this park.
Nearby to the playground are also a volleyball court, horseshoe court, open walking trail, and large fields.
If you have both older children and young children, note that it is difficult to see the upper playground from the lower one. You may want to go with a friend, or prepare your children ahead of time to split times on the two playgrounds.
And, by the way, did you know that Herdklotz is also known for being a historic ghost-sighting spot?
Cleveland Park is not just one of Greenville’s best playgrounds but also is conveniently located downtown beside the Greenville Zoo. The playground is hot in the summertime with its black soft surface but has two shade tents that help deflect the heat.
My kids love the unique play structures that incorporate balance, arm strength, and climbing skills, into play.
This playground does a great job of encouraging active hard-working play and is advanced enough for older children while still providing plenty of fun for younger kids.
Also, Cleveland Park adjoins several nice sections of the Swamp Rabbit Trail. You can walk just a little bit down the trail to see an additional small train replica playground and the Vietnam War Memorial. The trail also connects to the scenic area of downtown Greenville, making this park a great starting place for an afternoon walk or bike ride. You will also find tennis courts near the park and other park features that you can explore by bike or walking.
Cleveland Park –East Washington and Cleveland Park Drive, Greenville
We’ve watched this park grow into a popular play space, known for being one of the most unusual and fun playgrounds in Greenville.
Located right beside the Greenville Downtown Airport, kids love watching the planes fly in and out while playing on aviation-themed equipment. My kids also love running down the small runway in the center of the park while pretending to be planes.
Currently, the park has two playgrounds inside a fenced-in area with play spaces for both small and older children. A plane-hanger-styled picnic shelter sits to the side, and a real Cessna 310 aircraft flies over the park positioned on a pole to the side.
We’ve noticed on visits that kids also walk and ride more at this park due to the runway-themed walkways being positioned inside the fence where parents can easily watch from a distance. At the edge of the fence, kids can sit at a small amphitheater where they can get a front-row view of the planes taking off and landing.
The park has a restroom and benches with a little shade, but don’t forget the sunscreen as the play spaces of this park are not shaded.
You’ll find the Runway Cafe and Takeoff Mini Golf course in the vicinity, so you can make a day of it!
Note: While the entrance to the park is a super neat fuselage of an actual plane, the gate doesn’t latch and opens directly to a parking lot. Your kiddos might require an extra level of supervision to ensure they don’t run out into the parking lot.
Runway Park – 21 Airport Road Extension, Greenville
The Runway Park (is our favorite) because it is fenced in and has a younger and an older section. It also has a track and a case next to it. And of course you get to watch the airplanes!
Sarah A.
It’s a battle every time we need to leave. They love it there
We love the playground at Conestee Park. But, if you have never been to the adjacent Lake Conestee Nature Park then you are really missing out. Its nature walk trails are amazing and perfect for the whole family. Plus, the park is known for its wide variety of wildlife, especially birds.
Beyond the amazing nature trails and large ball fields, Conestee Park also has one of the best outdoor-themed playgrounds, featuring imaginative elements such as “trees” to climb and a toadstool table and benches. The playgrounds are hot with little shade but do provide large safe spaces for running and play.
I love this playground for its scenic location and wide-open spaces. If you are looking for the perfect place to enjoy both a view of the blue sky and a shady exploration of nature, this is the park for you.
The City of Simpsonville spent around $200,000 of dedicated recreation funds to revamp the playground, and it has become a reader favorite. The new city park is now called Graceley Park.
There are several climbing structures and balancing equipment, which lend themselves to kids who are practicing to be little ninja warriors.
The brand-new park currently offers a great shade/sun playground that features woodland themes throughout. You’ll have a blast exploring and finding hidden forest creatures built into the play structures.
One of the newest parks in Greenville, SC, Unity Park is situated just outside of the downtown Greenville skyline. It is considered one of the best parks in Greenville County! It is connected to the Swamp Rabbit Trail, making it an excellent choice when looking for an extended plan for the day.
You can ride your bikes from Falls Park through downtown to Unity, and then enjoy the vast playground. There is a humongous green space for kite flying or lazing in the sun, bridges over rivers to explore, a wetland preserve, an awesome splash pad in the warmer months, and playgrounds for both little kids and big kids to enjoy.
The park is designed with a nature theme in mind, so there are tall hills connected with wood structures that remind me of exploring a winter forest. There are swings, climbing structures, slides, and something for kids of all ages to enjoy.
Unity Park- 320 S Hudson Street, Greenville
Learn why we love Unity Park in our Kidding Around review!
8. Trailblazer Park
Nestled on the outskirts of the Swamp Rabbit Trail in Downtown Travelers Rest is Trailblazer Park. The park has a lot of open space to play, but the playground is a gem! It is compact but has a lot to offer, including a large rope web to climb, zip lines, a merry-go-round, and an adorable play structure that younger kids will love. Don’t worry, the Park has swings too for when your toddler inevitably wants to spend 90% of your visit in them. There is a lot a long paved walking trail to enjoy.
We loved the uniqueness of the ropes course, it isn’t found very often in most parks, and makes a great challenge for kids to accomplish! The park is only a 10-15 minute walk from the restaurants on Main Street, which is what we did after a visit to TReehouse Cafe.
Are you looking for free things to do in Spartanburg, SC? Do you have an idea in your head that doing something fun with your kids in Spartanburg is going to cost money (and probably a lot of it)? We are setting the record correct today once and for all: Spartanburg has tons of fun free things to do and even more that are really cheap.
Looking for Free Things to Do in Greenville, SC? We have some great ideas on this extremely packed list. This list is an ode to that song, “The Best Things in Life Are Free.” Make memories and take advantage of all the great things around Greenville. Enjoy!
Do you want to keep tabs on all the things to do in the Upstate? Don’t skip our giant list of Things to Do Near Greenville, SC, full of fabulous family fun any time of the year.
Are you in search for a unique local park with imaginative play spaces? We recommend Century Park’s Kids Planet in Greer. This park has multiple playgrounds with a castle, bridge, zip line and accessible playground.
The Benson Automotive Kid’s Planet playground is one of our favorite places to play. And kids LOVE this fun, thoughtful, and excellently designed playground.
IMPORTANT: The playground closes for maintenance every Wednesday from 7 am – Noon.
What We Love About The Benson Automotive Kid’s Planet
Fenced In Play Areas
Each of the playgrounds at Century Park’s Kid’s Planet have a perimeter fence and gates which help keep kids safe and within the play area. When you have kids like mine that both like to spontaneously run in opposite directions, this is helpful.
Inclusive Playground Equipment
Differently-abled kids want to have fun, just like any other. There are special needs swings for those who need them. There’s even a special needs seat for the zipline… I love that children with special needs can also enjoy the coolest part of the playground! A tandem swing in the small children’s area allows a small child and adult to sit facing each other and swing.
Multiple Ziplines
Speaking of ziplines, other Upstate parks have just one, if any at all. That causes long lines and other issues when I’m sure you can imagine that this is one of the most popular spots on a playground! The playground at Kid’s Planet has two separate zipline structures that offer kids a total of four ziplines to enjoy! That means more fun for more kids!
Fun Misting Area
It gets surprisingly hot in the Upstate, so kids (and the occasional adult) will be glad to have a misting area to run through. This isn’t a splash pad, so you don’t have to worry about bathing suits and towels. It’s just a fine mist of H2O to cool off sweaty kids while they have fun!
The Hillside Slides
This is one of my favorite parts of the park! These hillside slides offer a fun and safe way to pick up speed while sliding down the hillside. The slide is embedded in the ground’s natural slope, so there’s nothing to fall off of! It’s as close to rollercoaster stomach-flipping fun as you are going to find in Greer, and it’s even fun to see grownups going down them.
Shaded Benches
Good news for those hot days – there is plenty of shade at Kid’s Planet playground! Between the picnic shelters and benches with shade umbrellas, you’ll be able to enjoy some cooler shade while still having a good view of your kid’s play area. There are also trees in the playground area with plenty of shade.
The Fairytale Theme
My son just pointed out that there’s a mythical friend waiting for you in the tower!
The castle isn’t hard to miss, but there are so many subtle features around the playground that tie together the fairytale theme! The rubber ground cover looks like a more, and there are cattails, mushrooms, frogs, and I’ve not confirmed this with Greer, but if you ask me, that trampoline looks like a little tar pit for anyone looking to harm the magical kingdom.
How many fairytale features can you find in the new Kid’s Planet Playground?
Musical Creativity Station
The music station was a popular feature from the old playground and one of the first my kids ran to at the new one. The area is large enough that your whole family can get in on the action and have an impromptu show for other guests at the playground!
It’s Got A Trampoline!
At first glance, I thought this was a water feature on the playground. I was surprised to learn that it’s a trampoline! One day I might work up the courage to hop on and not care what I look like, bouncing up and down like Tigger!
Centrally Located Restrooms
This is one of the first things I look for when considering a park for my own personal preferences. When the bathrooms are clear across the park, and your children can’t time their needs to be synchronized, it’s a hassle to be running back and forth to the restroom. The facilities at Kid’s Planet are positioned right in the middle of the two playgrounds. This makes it so convenient!.
Pet Policy
No pets are allowed on or inside the playground.
Bonus Things We Love About Century Park in Greer
The Sno Hut
The concession stand will is occupied by the popular Greer shaved ice purveyors, Sno Hut. They’ve been keeping kids and grownups cooled off since 1987.
We are excited to be part of this great park!
Amanda Grainger / Sno Hut
The Perfect Spot For Parties & Playdates
The picnic shelters make a perfect place to plan a party right next to the built-in entertainment of the playgrounds. You can reserve a shelter for your special event through the City of Greer. The rentals start at $20 for a two-hour slot.
Getting Some Laps In On At Kid’s Planet
If you are training for that 5k, or just trying to shed some lbs, the playground is a perfect spot to close the circles on your apple watch!
3 Laps / 1 Mile – Walking from the Sno-hut to the Hillside slides
4.75 Laps / 1 Mile – Walking around the big kid’s playground and ziplines
10 laps / 1 Mile – Walking around the big kid’s playground perimeter walkway
Are you looking for the perfect Easter Egg hunt in Greenville, Spartanburg, or Upstate, SC? We have an amazing list of egg hunts, Easter bunny photos, Easter farm events, crafts, and all sorts of kid-friendly 2025 Easter events in the Upstate SC area. Bookmark this list!
Looking for fun and inexpensive ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day as a family? We’ve got you covered with these cheap family Valentine’s ideas that won’t break the bank. Whether you’re looking to stay in or head out on an adventure, these affordable activities will help you create lasting memories without spending a lot.
Inspired by my 4-year-old, we’re going all in this year. My husband and I are planning a simple, fun celebration with cupcakes, balloons, and plenty of music. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy to be a hit—just gather your family, add a few decorations, and enjoy a low-key yet special time together. Whether it’s playing games, dancing, or just enjoying some sweet treats, hosting your own family Valentine’s Day party is a perfect way to make the day memorable without the fuss!
#2 Make Valentine’s cards
Skip the generic store-bought cards and get creative this year! Homemade cards are a fun way to show love, and you can go wild with all the glitter, glue, and markers. The kids will have a blast making personalized cards for their grandparents, classmates, and other special people in their lives. Not only does it make the cards extra meaningful, but it’s a great opportunity for the whole family to get crafty together!
#3 Have a Family Movie Night
Cozy up on the couch with blankets and pillows. Pop popcorn and watch a classic movie like, A Charlie Brown Valentine, or a family favorite. We will definitely have Lady & the Tramp in our rotation.
Include the kids in your dinner plans! Dress everyone in their Sunday best and head out to an amazing restaurant. Just make sure your children are old enough to conduct themselves accordingly in a “fine dining” establishment. If not, dine at a kid-friendly eatery.
Groupon offers a list of local restaurants that currently have discount deals that would be perfect for a family on Valentine’s Day!
#5 Bake Valentine’s Day Treats Together
Bake heart-shaped cookies, cupcakes, or even a Valentine’s Day cake as a family. This is a fun, affordable way to celebrate, and the best part is enjoying your creations afterward!
#6 DIY Valentine’s Day Crafts
Get creative with a DIY craft session! Gather some basic supplies and make fun Valentine’s Day crafts with your kids. From homemade cards to heart-shaped decorations, the possibilities are endless. For inspiration, check out our list of where kids can make art in Greenville to make this Valentine’s Day extra special.
#7 Picnic at a Local Park
Nothing beats a good old-fashioned picnic, and it’s one of the cheapest ways to enjoy Valentine’s Day together as a family. Pack a simple meal and head to one of Greenville’s lovely parks, such as Falls Park on the Reedy, where you can enjoy each other’s company and the beautiful surroundings. It’s a great way to spend quality time while being outdoors. Need other picnic spots? Here are the best places to have a picnic in Greenville.
#8 Family Game Night with a Valentine’s Twist
Who says Valentine’s Day has to be just for couples? Turn your game night into a festive Valentine’s celebration with themed games. You can create your own “Valentine’s Bingo” or “Cupid’s Scavenger Hunt” with simple materials from around the house. Want more family fun ideas? Check out our ultimate guide to the best family board games.
#9 Go on a Family Hike
For a fun and free adventure, why not head out for a family hike? Hiking is a perfect way to enjoy nature and spend quality time together, and Greenville has some fantastic trails to explore. Whether it’s a winter hike to see the peaceful beauty of the season or a stroll through one of the area’s scenic parks, it’s a great way to bond as a family. Check out our list of winter hikes around Greenville for some great options to enjoy the outdoors this Valentine’s Day.
Finally, make this a month of love. Find creative and fun was to share love with your family all month long. Whatever you decide to do, have fun!
Have you been thinking about checking out Campbell’s Covered Bridge? This bridge is the last remaining covered bridge in South Carolina. At this Greenville County property, you can explore the bridge, enjoy a picnic by the creek, and even get in a short hike. Personally, this is one of my favorite destinations for a quick nature reset in the Greenville area.
Watch! Our Visit to Campbell’s Covered Bridge
Campbell’s Covered Bridge was built in 1909 by Charles Willis Irwin. Signage in the park says the bridge was named for Lafayette Campbell who owned the land at the time of its construction. Today, it is owned by Greenville County and the property has been turned into a small but lovely park.
While the bridge address is in Landrum, it is really quite close to northern Greer and Taylors. As you pull into the main entrance of the park off Pleasant Hill Road (114) you’ll pull directly into a gravel parking lot. My GPS wanted me to turn onto a private road before I was quite to the parking lot for Campbell’s Covered Bridge. I just had to continue driving a few seconds before I saw the well-marked entrance.
As soon as you open your car door you’ll hear Beaverdam Creek and feel like you are off relaxing by a mountain creek somewhere much, much farther away. We’d had a rough morning and opening that door was like instant calm. You’ll see Campbell’s Covered Bridge from the parking lot, as it crosses the creek.
What can you do at Campbell’s Covered Bridge?
Hike the Trail
This park has a beautiful half-mile nature trail. It is unpaved and not suitable for strollers. While it is a bit hilly it is definitely walkable for little ones. You’ll walk along the creek and turn up a hill and around to a clearing on a hill with a pretty view of the bridge and some benches. The path continues on through the woods and exits at the parking lot.
Explore the Bridge and Creek
The bridge is open to walk on and you can get down to the creek from either side of the bridge. The creek is shallow and fairly wide with lots of flat rocks to sit on while you look at the water. This area is all shaded by trees making it quite cool.
Have a Picnic!
Off to the side of the bridge along the creek is the foundation from the grist mill that was located on this property. It’s fun to explore and quite picturesque. There’s a picnic table in the center of this foundation, which we thought was a pretty spectacular place for a picnic.
You’ll find other picnic tables spread around the property, as well as benches throughout the park, both in the shade by the creek and up on the hill in the sun. While there are lots of great picnic spots here, there are no restrooms, so you’ll want to plan ahead for that.
This park also doesn’t have a playground. But the kids will be entertained hunting around the banks of the creek, examining the bridge, and walking on the trail. There are also some great spots with the perfect scenery for family photos at this park.
Tip From A Reader: About 6 miles from the covered bridge, is David Jackson Park. You’ll find bathrooms and a playground at David Jackson Park. Swing by before or after your visit to the covered bridge for some playtime and a restroom!
Campbell’s Covered Bridge: Quick Review
Favorites:
Covered Bridge
Creek to explore
½ Mile Nature Trail
Sunny spots and shady spots
Drawbacks:
No playground
No restrooms
This park is a great stop to enjoy the outdoors for an hour
or so. Sure it doesn’t have a playground, but the other unique features add
some variety to a typical park day. We love this one for its woodsy feel and of
course the bridge and the creek. So check it out and let us know what you love
about Campbell’s Covered Bridge!
Bullfrog by the creek at Campbells Covered Bridge
Discover More Outdoor Thigns to Do Near Greenville, SC
Are you looking for places to enjoy live music at restaurants in Greenville, SC? Here you will find several spots where you can sit back, relax, and enjoy music. We can thank our contributor Andrea Beam and additions by local Kidding Around Team members for this great list of places in Greenville and nearby communities that offer live music while you dine!
One of my favorite things to do is to enjoy live music… it doesn’t matter if I’m eating out or shopping, the whole experience is made better with live music in the background. And when the temperatures pick back up, there’s nothing quite like enjoying local, live music outside. Here’s a list of my favorite local places to sip on a drink and eat delicious food while listening to live music. Take out your pen and pad: You’ll want to write these down!
Thomas Creek offers both indoor and outdoor seating spaces with a wide variety of brews on tap, plus a few wine and cider options as well. They have live music on select dates in the brewery.
The dates and times will vary, but follow Thomas Creek on Facebook to see what’s happening and when. Then head to the brewery to enjoy some wings and small plate bites with locally-crafted beer with a side of live music.
Fireforge Crafted Beer
Located in downtown Greenville, Fireforge Crafted Beer’s events calendar features live music on various nights throughout the week, usually starting around 7 pm (with some daytime shows during the weekend). Grab a bite to eat and enjoy their locally-brewed beer while tapping your toes!
Smiley’s On The Roxx
Looking for live music 7 nights per week? Then you have to check out Smiley’s on the Roxx in Downtown Greenville! The music lineup regularly features local artists you may notice in the Greenville music scene, plus they have a have a decent menu of small plate options and entrees to choose from.
Blues Boulevard Jazz
To really amp up the romance on a romantic date night, Blues Boulevard Jazz should be on your radar. The jazz club in Downtown Greenville regularly features some of the best jazz and blues musicians in the area.
Plus, they have a food menu to choose from, so you can sip a cocktail and enjoy a meal while listening to some smooth music. Ladies, they also have a night just for you every Thursday is you are looking for a girls night out.
Rocky’s Hot Chicken Shack
You can enjoy delicious Nashville-style hot chicken along with acoustic musical performances at Rocky’s Hot Chicken Shack. The shop is located at 420 Laurens Road in Greenville near Pleasantburg Drive, and will have music during the spring and summer months with their Wings and Strings series.
Music usually happens Wednesday night from 6:30 – 8:30 pm. Keep up with what bands are playing through the Rocky’s Wings and Strings website.
Gather GVL
Located near Fluor Field, Gather GVL is an outdoor food hall built out of shipping containers. The food and beverage vendors at Gather GVL promise something yummy for everyone, especially frozen drinks from Juice Box Wine Bar. At the heart of this colorful and kid-friendly outdoor space is a stage on which you can regularly find a local troubadour doing their thing.
Their event calendar regularly features live music, especially on Saturdays and Sundays. Be sure to read our review of Gather GVL before you pop over there.
13 Stripes Brewery
Located at the Taylors Mill, 13 Stripes Brewery always has something fun going on. The brewery regularly has live music, so you will want to follow their Facebook to see special live music events.
Chicora Alley
Chicora Alley has delicious food, and often pairs the meal with live music. Musicians that frequent Chicora offer funk, rock, acoustic, jam band, jazz, Caribbean fusion, and just excellent music that you can dance to! Chicora has two locations, one in Downtown Greenville near Falls Park, and one in Travelers Rest.
The Radio Room
The Radio Room may be known to many as a small, local music venue, but their menu features yummy sandwiches, hot dogs, burgers, appetizers, and signature drinks. The venue is an excellent choice is you’re looking to see live music, but also maybe need a little bite to eat during the concert.
Their event calendar is loaded with live music coming to Greenville in addition to special events and trivia nights.
Fountain Inn Taproom at The Mill
The Fountain Inn Taproom offers a variety of events throughout the year, including live music. They have a wide selection of beer and wine to go along with your food, which includes snacking items like paninis, bratwurst, pretzels, and nachos.
Vaughn’s Food Hall
Located in Simpsonville, Vaughn’s Food Hall has it all! Not only can you grab delicious food from a variety of cuisines, but they regularly host bands for live music nights. You’ll find their upcoming music schedule on their Facebook page.
The Taphouse also has great brews if you want to grab a drink before heading out to the large open space to hang out. Check out our full review of Vaughn’s Food Hall to see everything they have to offer.
Backyard of the Vaughn’s Food Hall
The Whistle Stop
It’s no secret The Whistle Stop at The American Cafe is is one of my favorite destinations, but what’s even better than their menu is the rooftop dining area. Yes, you heard that right – eating dinner on the roof! Throw in a live band and you have the perfect spring evening. Check their website and/or Facebook page to see if they have anyone hitting the stage!
Also in downtown Spartanburg, Fr8yard is an outdoor biergarten built from repurposed shipping containers. They regularly welcome regional acts to their stage. Their master calendar has a full list of upcoming live music acts. Bonus: Their menu sounds like the perfect pairing to live music and tasty beverages!
New Groove Artisan Brewery
Just 30 minutes from Greenville, Boiling Spring’s New Groove Artisan Brewery serves pub fare and includes a menu “for the groovy kids.” Beverages include their beer, as well as specialty crafted sodas. To keep up with their live music schedule, follow their Facebook or Instagram pages.
With the continued growth of the restaurant, bar, and brewery scene in the Upstate, I’ve brushed the surface of places around town to enjoy live music while grabbing a bite to eat or perusing the stacks. However, my son would probably like to eat dinner so I had to stop at some point. As always, we’d love to hear from you if you have anything to add.
It looks like I’ve planned quite a few weekends for you!
You can thank me later.
What live music venue would you like to add to our list?
This article was originally written by Andrea Beam and has been updated by the Kidding Around Team.
Are you looking for inexpensive date night ideas or cheap dates near Greenville, SC? Don’t worry. You don’t have to spend a ton of money to enjoy time with your loved one. Here is a list of inexpensive dates in Greenville.
Spending time together and planning fun dates don’t need to just happen around the biggest love Hallmark holiday. Dates nights can get pricey fast with dinner, a babysitter, and entertainment. But date nights don’t always have to be expensive or fancy. We can still keep the grown-up date night high on the priority list with creative and inexpensive date ideas.
Date ideas that won’t break the bank
There are tons of things that couples can do around the area that won’t wipe out the entire entertainment budget for the month, yet are great opportunities to spend quality time with your loved one and even try something new together.
Falls Park
Falls Park is the gem of downtown Greenville. A walk around this beautiful park, over the Liberty Bridge and along the river is romantic and the perfect opportunity to talk and hold hands and enjoy each other. Grab an ice cream or coffee from Spill the Beans near the bridge or pack a picnic, bundle up, and enjoy the treasured park.
Bike Ride on the Swamp Rabbit Trail
Either rent bikes or bring your own for a ride along the Swamp Rabbit Trail. Stop at the Swamp Rabbit Cafe for incredible baked goods, coffee or hot chocolate, or a tasty pizza made with all local ingredients.
Hatcher Gardens in Spartanburg
Take a Hike
No, not that kind of hike – this is supposed to be a day to have fun with your partner. The Greenville and Spartanburg areas have numerous natural parks with dozens of hiking trails ranging from easy to intermediate to difficult. Pack a lunch and make your escape.
Or, check out Hatcher Gardens in Spartanburg. It’s totally free to visit and a fabulous place for a couple to walk and chat.
See a Planetarium Show
Tickets to Friday’s Starry Nights at the Roper Mountain Science Center are just $8/adult (or free if you’re a member!). This is a lot of fun to do together. Be sure to see the night sky at the Observatory afterwards.
Take a Stroll Downtown
If hiking isn’t your thing, consider a walk with more urban scenery. Downtown Greer is a fabulous place to take a walk, do a little window shopping, visit the park or grab a coffee.
GVLtoday put together this great list of places to have lunch under $10 in Greenville. Plus, lunch is usually cheaper than dinner at most places.
See the Swamp Rabbits or Greenville Drive in Action
Taking in a live sporting event is always entertaining and a fun way to spend quality time together. Tickets to see the Greenville Swamp Rabbits play hockey or the Greenville Drive play baseball are pretty cheap and a great way to do date night.
Coffee/Hot Chocolate Date
Instead of going out for a pricey dinner, consider taking a couple of hours in the morning to relax with a great cup of coffee. Here is a list of some great coffee shops in the area (or go with hot chocolate if that’s your thing). A breakfast date is also a cheaper alternative to a dinner night out. Try Tandem Creperie in Travelers Rest for the best crepes ever.
The sunrises at Pretty Place at YMCA Camp Greenville are incredible. Get up early and go see for yourself. Bring hot coffee and muffins to make it extra special. Be sure to check the chapel’s calendar before you go to make sure there aren’t any private events.
Go Get a Drink
Grabbing your favorite drink with your significant other in a cozy setting can be reminiscent of those first months of dating. Southern Growl in Greer has an extensive craft beer list and incredible food.
First Fridays
The art scene for First Friday events is vibrant in downtown Greenville, the Village of West Greenville, and Taylors Mill, where patrons can roam from gallery to gallery for free and enjoy the art.
Check out Some Art
The Greenville County Museum of Art is always free. They are open Wednesday-Sunday. They also have special events that are often free so check their website before heading out.
Try Discount Ticket Sites
Groupon and Living Social are great sites for finding inexpensive tickets to area attractions. There are tons of restaurants, events, and activities that are offered for discounted prices on these types of sites that could make for inexpensive date nights.
