Are you planning some Valentine’s Day celebrations in the Upstate for your family? Whether you’re planning a date with your spouse, organizing a Galentine’s Day outing, planning a special date with your child, or scheduling a day out with the guys, there are a lot of ways you can celebrate love and friendship this Valentine’s Day.
Looking for a special event happening just for Valentine’s Day near Greenville, SC? Check out these fun events! You’ll find Valentine’s Day crafts, cooking events, nature things to do, date-night events, family fun, and a lot more things to do all celebrating Valentine’s Day!
Do you have a young one with an inquisitive mind? Bring them to the Duke World of Energy where they can learn how the electricity that keeps the lights on at home is generated and brought to local houses and businesses.
Did we mention this exhibit is FREE?
We know our readers love free things to do near Greenville so we visited the Duke World of Energy and we’re bringing you all the information you need to plan your own visit soon!
Located on the southern shore of beautiful Lake Keowee, The Oconee Nuclear Station provides energy to nearly 2 million homes via nuclear power. There is a multitude of steps that go into producing so much energy, and families can learn all about it at the power plant’s educational center.
Inside the Duke World of Energy
The Duke World of Energy is a free hands-on exhibit. Visitors will learn how electricity is generated at the plant and how the surrounding lakes contribute. You’ll start off with a short film, followed by a variety of interactive educational displays about energy production at the plant. The experience takes about 30-45 minutes.
As you enter each exhibit room, the presentation is started by an interactive touchpad. As you move from room to room you will learn about the process the plant uses to create the power that flows into homes. The way the exhibit is set up, in multiple rooms will keep kids from toddler to school-age entertained. About halfway through, you’ll find a huge picture window overlooking the power plant – a perfect photo opportunity. I was surprised to learn that this is the fifth-largest nuclear plant in the country.
The exhibits towards the end seemed to be the stars of the show for my children. My son loved the security display which features half of a car and the mirrored tool they use to check underneath cars entering the facility. The last two rooms – my daughter’s favorite – feature a simulated outdoor space, complete with taxidermy animals and an adjoining room that looks like a home. She loved looking out the window back into the “outdoor” room and waving to us.
The topography map is really neat – you can see the entire Jocassee Gorges, the Foothills Trail, the SC State Parks near there, and Lake Jocassee and Lake Keowee. These kinds of maps are always fascinating!
Nature Trail and More at Duke Energy: World of Energy
After visiting the World of Energy exhibit, head outside to the quarter-mile nature trail by the lake. You’ll find a covered picnic shelter, a fishing pier, and even a butterfly garden that’s open during the warmer months. Unfortunately, there is a shortage of dining options nearby, so it’s a good idea to plan ahead and bring a picnic.
We sat on the dock to eat lunch and finish our homeschool work and it was very relaxing. There’s a path that winds its way down to a small beach as well where you can hang out and enjoy the beautiful view. Stay off the helipad though, as the signs say!
You can also fish on the pier if you like. This is such a great way to spend a leisurely afternoon and a fun field trip. The view is breathtaking, and you just might learn something while you’re there.
FREE Special Events at Duke World of Energy
Don’t forget to check the Duke Energy website for events. In the past, The World of Energy has hosted several community events, including a National Hunting, an Orchid event (currently scheduled for February 15-17, 2024), a Fishing Day event, and a home school day.
Did you know you can visit the Greenville County Museum of Art completely for free? This Greenville gem features permanent art exhibits as well as traveling exhibitions. Plus, they offer excellent free programming including family art workshops, Sunday afternoon tours, activities or concerts, and so much more!
Are you working to fill your 2024 bucket list with the very best things to do in and near Greenville, SC? Kidding Around is here with some fabulous ideas to get your started, including outdoor adventures, free things to do, and things everyone in Greenville should do at least once. Make 2024 a year full of fun and adventure.
I am always looking for the next adventure and best things to do in and near Greenville, SC and really, there aren’t any shortage of them. I’ve done several of these but I plan to do lots more in 2024 and make wonderful memories with my family this year!
Are you ready for the first Restaurant Week in Greenville, SC of 2024? There will never be a better time to support your Greenville restaurants than right now! The whole state of South Carolina will holds its annual Restaurant Week in January, and Greenville also holds a mini-Restaurant Week in August. The South Carolina Restaurant Week provides diners with the perfect opportunity to support locals and try something new.
The 2024 restaurant week lineup includes over two dozen restaurants in Greenville for you to try between January 11-21, 2024.
That’s a lot to choose from, so we will pick a few Upstate favorites and explain how to best take advantage of this special week for lovers of local restaurants.
Looking for things to do when you’re stuck at home? Whether you’re home because of illness in the family, school closings, or because gas is too expensive, you need ideas to help you not lose your sanity and entertain your kids. If you’re looking for things to do at home with kids, we have lots of ideas (because that’s what we do here). This may be the perfect time to cross off some of your bucket list items.
It’s a Greenville tradition of 50+ years to pick up a Pepsi birthday Party Pack! Have a little one turning 6 this year? One thing that I love about raising my family in the same city that I grew up in is the shared experiences that my kids and I have from our childhoods.
The free Pepsi Party Pack is one of those special experiences that crosses both of our generations. I remember our excitement as kids when each of us received our Pepsi Party Pack at age 6. Watching my own 6-year-old experience the same excitement was double fun!
Pepsi of Greenville is a Kidding Around Greenville Sponsor.
What is the Pepsi Party Pack?
When a child turns 6 in Greenville or Laurens counties, the Pepsi Plant in Greenville awards that child with a FREE Pepsi birthday party pack, which comes in a cool box and includes:
12 Pepsi Cans
12 Pepsi Balloons (not inflated)
12 Pepsi Pencils
12 Pepsi Tattoos
A Pepsi party birthday certificate
These items could be used for a party or just a fun treat for your kids!
How do you get your Party Pack?
It’s easy to pick up your Pepsi Party Pack in Greenville, SC. Just bring your child’s birth certificate to the office located at 751 State Park Road, Greenville, SC 29609.
Pepsi Party Packs are available the month of or the month after your child’s 6th birthday.
The Party Packs are available during the first full week of the month between 1–5 pm, M-F.
Park in front of the building and enter through the front office.
Dates for 2024 Pepsi Party Pack: Greenville, SC Location
January 2nd-5th, 2024
February 5th-9th, 2024
March 4th-8th, 2024
April 1st-5th, 2024
May 6th-10th, 2024
June 3rd-7th, 2024
July 1st-5th, 2024(Closed Independence Day, July 4th)
August 5th-9th, 2024
September 3rd-6th, 2024
October 7th-11th, 2024
November 4th-8th, 2024
December 2nd-6th, 2024
If you have any questions, call the Pepsi Bottling Plant at 864.242.6041.
Have your kids picked up a Pepsi Birthday Party Pack? What did you think?!
Looking for a farm-to-table restaurant in Greenville, SC or the Upstate? Believe it or not, Greenville County has more than one thousand restaurants! If your family aims to support local businesses and farms, consider visiting a farm-to-table restaurant that relies on locally-sourced ingredients. There are now so many in the area that making a choice can be a bit overwhelming. We’ve compiled a list of farm-to-table restaurants in Greenville, SC for you.
While chain and fast-food restaurants offer convenience and prices that can be hard to beat, an increasing number of families have an interest in enjoying locally-grown foods. The reasons for doing so are many.
It supports local farms.
Food is farmed at its peak and has a shorter travel time from farm to table, ensuring freshness of ingredients.
It can also be fun to eat foods that are grown seasonally and reveal a chef’s creative flair.
The popularity of local farmers markets tells us that support for local farms is here to stay and an increasing number of Upstate restaurants understand the appeal. In turn, the number of restaurants that celebrate the farm-to-table ethos continues to increase in the Upstate.
So, if you’re curious to see which to choose first, we have a list of places for you!
The Anchorage
586 Perry Ave, Greenville, SC 29611 | 864.219.3082 Located in the village of West Greenville, The Anchorage is committed to serving small plates, craft cocktails & beer, and wine. They pride themselves on offering a “unique dining experience.” In 2018, The James Beard Foundation recognized them as a Semi-Finalist for Best New Restaurant! Choose from dishes like Rock Shrimp, Slow Cooked Short Rib, Tahini Hummus, and more!
The Cook’s Station
515 Buncombe Street, Greenville, 29601 | 864.250.0091 The Cook Station includes a cafe, wine bar, and market, in addition to an education kitchen, retail space, and appliance showroom. The cafe’s menu includes breakfast items, baked goods, sandwiches, and salads. In addition to pantry items, the market area offers several grab-and-go items. You can also build your own charcuterie board from a selection of locally-sourced meats and cheeses.
Golden Brown & Delicious (GB&D)
147 Welborn St Suite B1, Greenville, SC 29601 | 864.608.9513 Don’t get me started about the fries & chicken sandwich at GB&D! They’re both crispy & taste fresh. Well, actually, everything is fresh. Their noodles are handmade & they serve local beef! They source many of their ingredients locally, so their menu is ever-changing. Try their Shrimp & Grits, Tomato & Avocado sandwich, Fish Burger or even their Just Beet Salad! To keep up with their latest offerings, be sure to follow them on Instagram. GB&D is located in The Commons, along with other local favorites like Automatic Taco, The Community Tap, SC Bakeroom, and Methodical Coffee.
Farm Fresh Fast
860 S. Church Street, Greenville, SC 29601 | 864.518.1978 The folks at Farm Fresh Fast pride themselves on the relationships they’ve built with the farms they source their food from. They’re part of the growth movement “farm to table.” They offer vegan, vegetarian as well as options for carnivores. Some of their dishes include Vegan “Chicken Bacon” Ranch Wrap, Apple Harvest Salad, Toasted Chicken Bacon Ranch Wrap, and so much more!
Farmhouse Tacos
164 S. Main Street, Travelers Rest, 29690 | 864.610.0586 Farmhouse Tacos is proud of the dozens of local farms from which it sources its ingredients and a chalkboard at the restaurant proudly tells you where your meal’s ingredients comes from. Their menu includes a stunning array of tacos. My mind is on their Alabama Street taco, the Smokehouse Brisket taco, and the Nashville Hot Chicken taco.
Fireforge Crafted Beer
311 E. Washington Street, Greenville, 29601 | 864.300.4809 Located in downtown Greenville, Fireforge Crafted Beer‘s kitchen churns out small bites, shareable snacks, meals and even desserts that rely on locally-sourced ingredients as much as possible. Right now, I really want to order the Where’s Waldorf? sammie. I will follow it with the Cheesecake of the Week. Cheesecake is my love language.
Fork and Plough
1629 E. North Street, Greenville, 29607 | 864.609.4249 Located in the historic Overbrook neighborhood, Fork and Plough is what happens when two farmers and a chef collaborate. Plus it’s not just a restaurant: If you need a quick yummy meal their market and butcher counter has everything you need! Just last week, I nabbed a Shepherd’s Pie, a few slices of sweet potato cake, and a pack of adult beverages to go–all of which were delicious! Each time I go to Fork and Plough, I find some of my favorite comfort foods. My first time there involved a particularly good experience with a soft-shelled crab. Right now, their Baked Lobster Savannah is calling my name!
The Kennedy
221 E. Kennedy Street, Spartanburg, 29306 | 864.586.5554 The Kennedy keeps popping up on my radar and, after looking over their menu, I need to treat myself and make this happen. Duck Confit and Pork Shank aren’t often on the menu in my home and I’d delight in someone else making this for me! In addition to large plates like these, The Kennedy offers plates for sharing, sandwiches, salads, several sides, and desserts. The Kennedy is in downtown Spartanburg, about 30 minutes from Greenville.
The Lazy Goat
170 River Place, Greenville, 29601 | 864.679.5299 The Lazy Goat is an old favorite of mine. Visions of their fried goat cheese and Moroccan Lamb dance in my head. The globally-inspired menu includes small plates, pizzas, large plates, and family-style meals. With desserts like Orange Blossom Ice Cream and apple bread pudding on the menu, you should leave room for dessert!
Southside Smokehouse
726 S. Howard Avenue, Landrum, 29356 | 864.457.4581 Located about 40 minutes from Greenville, Southside Smokehouse‘s menu is all about Southern comfort food, such as barbecue and several Cajun and Creole dishes. And, y’all, their daily specials make me want to get in the car right now and include things like Chicken & Waffle Fries and Smoked Pork Nachos. The chef relies on vegetables from farms around Landrum, Tryon, and Columbus whenever possible.
Topsoil Kitchen & Market
13 S. Main Street, Travelers Rest, 29690 | 864.400.5424 Topsoil Kitchen & Market is located in Travelers Rest, and uses local ingredients while serving homemade bread, which is made in house every day. They offer plenty of vegan and vegetarian dishes as well as dishes for omnivores. With dishes such as Ramen, Fried Rice Bowl, Local Grass-fed, it will not disappoint!
Roost
220 North Main Street, Greenville | 864.298.2424 Roost is no newbie to Greenville, SC. It’s been here for a while and is known for its Southern, farm-to-table food. Roost is located on Noma Plaza in downtown Greenville and uses fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. They serve a breakfast buffet, lunch, and dinner. They also have good happy hour deals and this is a great place to gather with your friends and family, especially when you’re able to hear the sounds from live music events happening in the plaza.
Swamp Rabbit Cafe & Grocery
205 Cedar Lane Road, Greenville | 864.255.3385 Located right off the Swamp Rabbit Trail, the Swamp Rabbit Cafe & Grocery is another local favorite farm-to-table restaurant and market in one. At least half of their food offerings are sourced from within 150 miles of Greenville. It’s a great place to bring kids, too. Over the years they’ve expanded their building and land to include more indoor and outdoor spaces. Be sure to read our full guide to visiting the little world of food perfection that is the Swamp Rabbit Cafe & Grocery.
Have you been to Grill Marks in Greenville, SC? If you’re looking for a delicious meal with the promise of a monumental dessert at the end, then you need to look no further than Grill Marks! This local burger place has milkshakes that steal the show.
At Grill Marks, you can: Get an Oreo Shake Get Some Whipped Cream On The Top Too Two Straws One Check Girl, They Got You!
The popular country song “Fancy Like” has everyone running out to grab an Oreo shake! So why not grab a yummy meal at the same time? You and your whole family can do just that at one of two different locations in Greenville, South Carolina.
Looking for something fun to do inside in downtown Greenville? KAG Contributor Andrea Beam is sharing a family favorite with us today, the Greenville Gemstone Mine, located right along Downtown Greenville’s Main Street across from the Hyatt. This shop offers unique gifts and a place where kids can do a little gem mining for themselves.
We have an amazing time every time we hang out in downtown Greenville. However, if you ask my son to name his favorite activity, he would tell you it is “finding treasure” at Greenville Gemstone Mine on Main Street.
While I can’t say I share his love for “treasure,” I do appreciate the tables full of unique jewelry and cases of sparkly stones. The prices are just as appealing as the merchandise. It is definitely worth a visit (or two), even without little ones in tow!
I’ve never been in the store when it wasn’t packed. If there is one thing I am not completely crazy about, it’s the size of the place. It’s rather small. Having said that, we always manage to make our way through the crowd to the back (where the fun begins) with ease.
Now to our mining adventure! The first thing you’ll do is choose your bucket of rocks. They have many sizes, but the $9 kiddie bucket suits my budget just fine. If you happen to have extra cash burning a hole through your wallet, you can pay as much as $55 for a family bucket. Once you’ve made your choice, the (extra friendly) associates will give you a ziplock bag, a Gemstone identification chart and turn you loose! My son likes to take his time in the magical waters and smiles as each stone turns into something shiny and new. This is the part where you, as the parent, can stand back and check your Facebook page – I mean, take pictures.
When you’re done, you’ll leave with a slightly damp bag of treasure and one happy customer!
Want to visit Greenville Gemstone Mine?
Greenville Gemstone Mine is open 7 days a week: Monday-Wednesday 10 am – 6 pm Thursday 10 am – 7 pm Friday-Saturday 10 am – 8 pm Sunday 11 am – 6 pm
Go ahead and plan your visit. Show up around 10 and you’ll be out in time for an early lunch!
Just a side note: walk out the door, turn left and walk a short distance to the Subway on the same side of the street. If the weather is nice, we like to take our sandwiches across the street and eat at the neon green tables in the Hyatt courtyard.
A second Greenville location is open in Haywood Mall near Macy’s. Hours for the mall location are Monday-Thursday 10 am – 8 pm Friday-Saturday 10 am – 9 pm Sunday 12 pm – 7 pm
Have you ever taken your kids to Greenville’s Gemstone Mine?
