Are you looking for fun or adventurous hiking for teens in Greenville, SC? Here’s our list of great hikes for teens in or near Upstate, SC! Some are challenging and some a bit more relaxed, perfect for a day with friends or family. Plus, there are plenty of trails with gorgeous views that are perfect for the ‘gram. For even more hiking ideas see our list of our favorite local hiking trails.
There are so many great hiking trails in the Upstate or nearby, it’s truly hard to choose where to go. Luckily, the weather here can lend itself to hiking all year round for the most part, which means lots of weekends to take the teens out on adventures.
Are you looking for a fun day trip with teens? Need a way to spend a day with your teen near Upstate, SC? These are a great way to spend some quality time exploring together or just having fun. Here’s our list of the 15 best day trips for teens & tweens near Greenville!
Are you wondering how to find free or cheap prom dresses in Greenville, SC? Do you know someone planning to attend prom this spring? Prom season is coming up but for some girls, while the prospect of going to the prom would be great, affording a dress is a challenge. The good news is that there is a fairy godmother-like organization in our area that is willing and ready to help out these would-be princesses for their big night.
Think bowling in Spartanburg sounds like a good family fun night? Perhaps you’ve been blessed with a rare night away from the kids and have no idea where to head once the babysitter takes over.
There’s a cool place in downtown Spartanburg that is perfect for both occasions, Underpin Lanes ‘N Lounge.
Spartanburg’s downtown is coming into its own and we couldn’t be more excited. Until recently, to spend time in an upscale bowling alley you’d have to travel to a larger city like Atlanta. Several years ago Greenville got their own boutique bowling alley in the form of Stone Pin Company.
Now one of the Co-owners of Stone Pin has been brought on board to bring that same kind of entertainment to the people of Spartanburg.
Not your typical bowling alley, UnderPin is intimately sized with just 8 lanes. This is good a good thing in my opinion because it keeps the noise level down. This can be helpful when you’re enjoying a date night or if you have a child with sensory issues. Even though the alley itself is small, the lanes are regulation size.
The other feature that sets them apart from a typical alley is their menu. Don’t worry; they have all the things you might expect at a bowling alley in the way of food. Things like nachos and quesadillas are elevated to a whole new level with the use of ingredients like brisket and pork belly. The menu includes burgers, wraps, salads, and a kids menu.
What Readers Are Saying About Underpin
Everybody who visits the alley seems to love it!
We’ve been, great food and atmosphere. Can’t wait to go back.
Karen M.
Super Friendly staff and really cute décor. It is pretty small inside and I’m not sure how I felt about the pins being in wires butttt overall I had a really great experience there.
Morgan W.
Things to Know When You Visit Underpin
If you are planning on heading out, here’s the info you’ll
need to know to snag a lane.
Reservations are only allowed for large parties and private events. If you are thinking of having a large group of friends join you, the alley has a nice semi-private area where your group can hang out with their own lanes. All other guests are first-come, first-serve access to the lanes.
Lanes are rented out by the hour and those super chic shoes will cost you $4 to borrow. A lane accommodates up to 6 players. Playing on a Friday or Saturday night from 5 pm – 10 pm will cost you more than any other time of the week. The peak rate for those times is $40 per hour on a lane, the rest of the time lanes are $24 an hour.
Initial Q: Social Bar & Smokehouse is open above UnderPin and you can enjoy a sit-down dinner upstairs, then head downstairs to bowl. The menu at Initial Q is the same type of elevated fare you see at Underpin. It’s not the typical BBQ meal you find in most places.
Looking for service hours for teens? So you have a child in high school and it’s time to start thinking about volunteer hours. While most public schools do not require volunteer hours, most private and charter schools do have a quarterly requirement. Whether your child attends public school, private school, or is homeschooled, volunteering looks very good on college and job applications, demonstrating a well-rounded and outward-looking individual. Ultimately though, we volunteer because there are people who need us, and it’s a wonderful way to give back when we have been given so much.
Be sure your teen keeps a notebook dedicated just about volunteering. Make sure to document hours and even have supervisors sign off on their hours. I have looked into local opportunities and have put these ideas together for you. If you have anything to add, please let us know and we’ll incorporate it into our list!
Do you need gifts for teens this year? If you have a teen on your gift list this year, you know that teens are not the easiest to please. They aren’t quite adults, and they are no longer children. This makes gift-giving times extraordinarily difficult if you are trying to be creative. That’s why we set out to discover what teens wish for this holiday season. The result is this list full of teen-approved gift ideas so you’ll know exactly what to gift teens in your life this year!
When you think of gift ideas for teens, the first thing that probably pops into your mind is something like a gift card. Let them pick out what they want or need. And that’s all well and good. But, teens like opening presents, too. And what if you want to surprise them with a gift and not a card? What do you buy that a teen will love?
We went straight to the teens and asked for their Christmas wish lists. Then, we offered some suggestions for their approval to round out the list! The result is a teen approved wish list for gift shopping, with items for a wide variety of budgets.
Sometimes an experience is a better gift than a “thing.” So, that leaves the question, “What do teens want to go do?” We asked and here’s what they said.
Take them to an Escape Room!
I’m sure at one time or another, we’ve thought about locking our kids up in a room and grabbing some peace while they navigated an escape route. So, a visit to an escape room near you could be the ultimate teen experience gift. These interactive escape rooms will challenge guests with their creative puzzles and talented actors.
In Greenville, SC try Escape Artist Greenville. You can read all about several of our experiences with the different rooms at Escape Artist.
Selfie Museum
A selfie museum, like The Pixel Experience in Greenville, is a unique spot to take selfie photos in a variety of themed rooms and walls. It will have your resident TikTok’r thinking you’re the best gift-giver ever! With 20+ backgrounds to take advantage of, the aspiring Instagram influencer in your family will have months of content to post!
Ax Throwing
We know what you are thinking. Handing an angst-ridden teen a hatchet or an ax and asking them to throw it at something might not be the first thing that comes to mind. It also probably doesn’t sound like the best idea. But trust me when I tell you, they will love it! Try Blue Ox Hatchet House in Greenville, SC.
Ziplining
Creating memories with your teenager while still being seen in public with you is a great gift to give them. But, sometimes, that needs to be disguised as an extreme activity, and you’ll need to step out of your comfort zone. Zip-lining is the perfect blend of that and safety. Plus, it won’t clutter up their bedroom.
Try The Gorge Zipline. If you feel even more adventurous, you can hop over to their sister site for some water-related adventures. Green River Adventures offers white water rafting, kayak, SUP, waterfall hikes, and rappelling.
Gifts for Music-Loving Teens
This section includes affiliate links.
Teenagers will always love music; this will never change. So giving them away to enjoy it quickly is a great gift that they can appreciate over and over! So here are some teen-approved ways to get those tunes to them.
Spotify Premium This popular music streaming service provides premium members with ad-free enjoyment of millions of songs. Plans range from $4.99 a month for college students to $14.99 for family plans that include six accounts.
Ad free music streaming, plus the ability to download your favorites to listen to when you’re offline. The first month is free and then $9.99 per month.
AirPods These slight wireless ear-bud-style headphones were super popular with the teens we polled. They work in companion with Apple brand products and can sense when they are in your ears! Prices range from $100-$200 depending on the model you select.
Bluetooth Beanie Hat I was shocked that the kids I spoke with had never heard of this! These knit beanie hats make a great gift not only for teens but for any age child (or adult). They look like your typical beanie hat, but tucked inside are wireless, Bluetooth headphones. They will work with any Bluetooth-enabled device and are great because there are no wires to damage younger kids! Prices range from $13 to $30.
iTunes Gift Cards I was surprised to find that my go-to teen gift idea was still trendy in this age range. Not only can they use the funds for music purchases but video games, movies, and more. Card values start at $25.
Jackson B. explained to me why he likes getting these as a gift – “iTunes gift cards because we use phones a lot and we can choose what we want to spend it on”
Apple Products If you have the budget for it, of the hundred or so teens I spoke to, nearly all of them mentioned some Apple brand devices – iPhones, iPods, Apple watches, Mac Books. It seems you can’t go wrong with a gift from the Apple store.
Concert Tickets A set of tickets to a concert for their favorite performer might be the perfect gift! Sporting event tickets also make a great gift, and there’s no shortage of sports teams locally to support!
Gift cards
Some of the more popular gift cards mentioned were for the following :
Coffee : Starbucks, Little River Coffee, Barista Alley, Bridge Coffee, and other local coffee shops
Makeup : Ulta, Sephora
Retailers : Target, American Eagle, Apple, Amazon
Shoes : Vans, Converse, Nike
Gaming Systems
Hefty price tag alert, but it probably comes as no surprise that gaming systems are popular among the teens also. Teens also said gaming chairs, curved gaming screens, gaming computers, desks, and headsets are also on their wishlists.
Subscription Box Gifts for Teens
Subscription services are a trend that offers everything from cooking to makeup, and teenagers want them! Some of the more popular mentioned were –
Fab Fit Fun these subscription boxes offer up to $300 worth of items for $54.99 quarterly. Items include room décor, health and beauty items, and more.
Sketch Box for $25-$35 a month, you will receive art supplies and a piece of art to inspire your creativity.
Escape The Crate If your teen likes escape room adventures, then this is the perfect gift! For $29.99 bi-monthly, they’ll receive a mystery along with challenges to decipher, tools to help, and exciting objects that serve as rewards as you advance through the puzzle.
Gifts For The Adventure Seeker
The most important item to a hydrated teen is a Hydroflask. They are a brand of insulated bottles, and they start at $30 for an 18oz bottle. Try Simple Modern brand bottles; they are less expensive, look the same, and have more color and accessory options. Plus, if a decal covers up that logo, no one will be the wiser—a 32oz Simple modern starts at $18.99.
Decal Stickers
Speaking of decals, they make a great gift! Check out locally owned shops for local decals, or look on for special interest decals on Etsy.
LadyBluByrd has decals with shoutouts to local places in Upstate, SC, famous characters, coffee, and more! These make an excellent stocking stuffer and are super easy to mail to a loved one.
Photo Credit: LadyBluByrd
Smells Like Teen Spirit
Depending on the teen you are shopping for, a sport-related gift might be perfect. Think about a gift for either a sport they play or a team they love! Think personalized collegiate flags, corn hole set with that same team décor, hoodies, even socks or slippers in their team’s colors.
Depending on the sport your child plays, new equipment is always a great idea. Skateboards and long-boards are still a popular thing, too.
Room Decor
Let teens dress up their space! These are a few room decor items teens asked for:
We are loving these room decor ideas because they are things teens will use all year long, and many of them are very budget-friendly. LED strips, fuzzy pillows, and lava lamps can all be found for under $25.
Teens Like to Eat: Food and Beverage gifts for teens
Growing teens seem to be able to eat and drink non-stop. The food doesn’t stay in the house long, the grocery list is endless, and bugging mom and dad for those special extra items is not always an option, which makes them a pretty perfect gift.
Soda Stream
A Soda Steam lets you make sodas and sparkling waters at home. While it’s one of the more expensive gifts for teens on this list, it’s definitely unique. And, it’ll let them make any flavors of sparkling beverages they’d like.
Do you know their favorite chips, cookies, or ice cream? If not, how about a care package-type box loaded with a huge variety of snacks?
Board Games for Teens
Escape the Room: Murder in the Mafia
ThinkFun’s Escape the Room games are essentially escape rooms in a box. They come cleverly assembled in the box in such a way that you only have to follow a few simple instructions to pop the room up before you’re ready to start looking for clues and playing the game.
Throughout the game the story booklet guides you through each chapter as you solve the clues, and see if you can determine who is the murderer. And if you get stuck you can go online for additional clues and assistance..
Another fun version of an escape room board games are EXIT games. You can spread these materials out and a larger group can work to solve these games. Clues are on cards, in booklets, and hidden in the strangest places. The card and solution wheel systems help you get hints if you’re stuck and also guide you from clue to clue. These games can only be played once as solving them often requires cutting or marking up game pieces, but they are worth it for a fun afternoon with family and friends.
Download a free app and use it to scan the cards and listen to the audio hints. Put them together in the right sequence to unlock each chapter with additional story clues. Finally, use the clues to put the story into the right order. This one is a great family teamwork game. The sounds are a little creepy, and the clues require listening carefully. But don’t worry if you get lost, the app can give you clues if you’re stuck!
We hope this helps you navigate the gift-giving season a bit easier.
Needs more gift ideas? Don’t miss our Holiday Gift Guide to Greenville. It includes ideas for experience Gifts, local gifts, ideas for teacher gifts, and much more!
Do you have a teen in Greenville, SC? Are you looking for ways to get your teens involved in the community? Is your teen heading to college soon and looking for help as they prepare? Or are you trying to find fun new family activities with your teen kids? Our teen guide to Greenville has all the details about things to do with teens in Greenville, SC.
Do you know a teen looking for a summer job in Greenville, SC? Send them this list! We have tips for teens from a fellow teen about finding a summer job, plus a list of local businesses looking to hire teens for summer jobs in Greenville and the Upstate.
Is your business hiring teens for summer 2022? Email [email protected] to be included on our list.
Several years ago, some friends were visiting from out of town and wanted to meet up. When we asked them what they would like to do, they suggested that we meet up at one of Greenville’s newest attractions (at the time), Escape Artist Greenville. We are very glad that we said yes. In fact, we had such a great time we can’t stop recommending Escape Artist to all of our friends in Greenville.
We are excited to announce that Escape Artist is reopening on May 8th with special safety precautions!
All Escape Artist staff and customers will be required to wear face masks in the building at all times. As a customer, you will receive a complimentary cloth mask with your ticket purchase or you are welcome to bring your own. (Note: There is not an exception for small children, but this activity is one that is best for older children and adults.)
Your group will be private and groups will be limited to 6 people. Escape Artist encourages you to only participate with those that you are already in regular contact with.
Your group needs to enter the building together and no earlier than 15 minutes before your experience. This helps Escape Artist ensure that your group will not be likely to be near any other groups in the building.
Every space will be cleaned and sanitized between groups. If it’s touched, it’ll be cleaned.
Hand sanitizer will be provided in each room so that you can use it as needed in your escape experience.
Escape Artist is waiving their non-cancellation policy for illness. If you are sick, let them know and they will reschedule you.
From Escape Artist: “Right now every household in our community is making their own decisions on which activities they feel safe doing and when. We hope that our policies will help you feel safe to come visit us again. Hopefully as things improve we will be able to relax these policies in the future. Please check back to this page for policy updates.”
Photo Credit: Eli Warren, used by permission from Escape Artist Greenville
What is Escape Artist Like?
Upon arriving, we were energized immediately by owners Will and Kim Rutherford’s enthusiasm. It was impossible to not catch the excitement about trying to test our group’s wits against the locked room.
After a short explanation of rules such as “don’t tear apart the ceiling” followed by a creepy story intro we handed over our iPhones and headed into “Dr. Fratelli’s cabin”. Inside the mad scientist’s cabin, we quickly got to work looking inside and under the many objects in order to start finding clues. These clues then led to puzzles that had to be solved in order to find the special locked exit and escape the room where Dr. Fratelli had trapped us. Of course, the primary entrance remained unlocked so we weren’t actually physically locked in. It is just a game!
We were given just one hour to escape the room, but we the ability to ask for three clues during our hour. Will was watching us through his surveillance cameras and was quick to offer the exact help needed for each clue. The puzzles were challenging but still simple enough for a group to solve.
Did We Escape?
Of course, the first question everyone asks is “did you escape?” Actually, Will told us that only 20-25% of the groups that try the room “get out”. We made it though with only a couple minutes left to spare and we used all 3 hints.
Will greeted us after we finished and shared his own observations of how we solved the puzzle. We then were allowed to grab our phones again so that Kim could take a victory photo for us showcasing our time.
Photo Credit: Eli Warren, used by permission from Escape Artist Greenville
Is It Worth the Money?
Escape Artist is a little bit more expensive than most of attractions my husband and I visit at $30/person. It was worth every penny we spent. We had so much fun working together, laughing at our mistakes, and bragging over what we solved. The room was very well designed, all of the clues were clear and worked correctly, and Will & Kim executed everything wonderfully. It’s no wonder that they have received so many 5 star reviews.
Any hints?
Well, of course I can’t give any hints on how to solve the puzzle because that would ruin the fun, but here’s a couple tips to help you have the best chances of victory:
Don’t be afraid to ask for a clue when you are stuck. It’s better to use them up than not get out!
Get started quickly. Don’t be shy about looking around the room when you enter it. The sooner you find your first clues the better.
Don’t overthink your clues. None of the clues will require knowing weird facts and you won’t mess up your clues by touching or moving objects in the room.
Playing an escape room game on your tablet or phone ahead of time will help give you an idea of the types of puzzles you might encounter.
Have fun! Don’t get too stressed out. This activity is all about having a good time.
What About Kids?
I visited Escape Artist with 3 other adults and I thought that it was a great adult activity but older children and teens would definitely enjoy it as well. Children under 16 are allowed to attend with an adult, and Will told us that he had even recently hosted a party of 11-year-olds. Will did tell us that he adapts the clues as necessary for children and that the children who have come through really have enjoyed the puzzle. All of the content in the story and inside the room was appropriate for any age audience and there weren’t any thematic elements that would scare a child.
About The Escape Artist
Be sure to book your time ahead of time online. Due to the nature of the event, space is limited and 3 hours advanced reservation is required.
This attraction is completely unique to Greenville. While there are other “escape rooms” in Greenville and in other cities, Will & Kim specifically designed this room and story making it a one-of-a-kind adventure.
The attraction can fit 2-8 people at a time. Your group may get placed with another group if you don’t purchase the entire 8 tickets.
In addition to Dr. Fratelli’s Cabin, there are four other escape rooms including our current favorite Starlight Motel (a spooky, interactive room for adults). You can read about Starlight Motel in our review.
Have a few hours after school but unsure how to spend them? Local teen Brylan put together this list of school night outings that are perfect for teens. Whether you have one night without homework or many free evenings, you’ll find an idea or two that just might be exactly what you need this school year!
To all of our dismay, summer is coming to a close in a few weeks, or if your like me, summer has ended weeks ago. Pretty soon, we’re all going to be knee-deep in research papers, seemingly pointless projects, and sports that are going to wear us so thin we’ll feel like we don’t have any time for friends, family, or our favorite things. Though it will feel like our time is limited, school nights without homework or sports, as uncommon as they are, do occur.
I’m completely able to relate to the desire to get out of the house and do something, but have little to no options for reasonable activities that will have me back home and in bed so I can get a full eight hours of sleep. Believe it or not, there are indeed some fun things you can do with friends or alone on a school night instead of ponder the decision of dropping out of high school.
Swing Dancing at Upstate Swing
One of my personal favorites, every Wednesday night Upstate Swing hosts a swing dancing lesson from 7 pm – 8 pm and then has a night of dancing from 8 pm – 10 pm. It’s a great way to meet more people and such a fun way to set the tone for the rest of the week! Here’s the link with details.
Hit the mall
Haywood Mall closes at 9 pm, ensuring that you’ll be back at home at a reasonable time. Maybe it’s just me, but shopping helps me clear my head even if I don’t purchase anything.
Get some outdoor time at a local park
Having an hour or so of exercise in places like Cleveland Park will help you clear your mind and feel great before enduring school the next day. The Swamp Rabbit Trail runs through Cleveland Park to Downtown Greenville.
Get a part time job
If you find yourself nearly dying of boredom on a regular basis consider applying for a part-time job around town to fill up your schedule and make some extra money! See my article on part time jobs for teens in Greenville here.
Visit a school athletic event
Check the news for the upcoming sports events and support your school! Most school calendars include athletic games so check your school, or visit another school.
Spare Time Entertainment
This new arcade/bowling alley/laser tag/escape room haven is super fun for students! Grab some friends and visit! Keep in mind that you have to book an escape room ahead of time.
Take a class
Take an art class at Hobby Lobby with skilled artists! From crochet to painting, Hobby Lobby has all sorts of workshops where you can develop some art skills specific to students! Even if you don’t want to stay for the class, get some art supplies and use your free time to start a hobby! Here are some classes at their Woodruff Road location.
While the options for school night activities are few and far between, there are some reasonable mid-week activities that will help you get your mind off school for just long enough to feel refreshed and like you have a life outside of school and homework. If you find a night of freedom, take a step back from the chaos and enjoy an evening without stress. You never know when you’ll get another one.
Do you have a favorite weeknight activity? Share it with us in the comment!
