Are you working to fill your 2026 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 2026 a year full of fun and adventure.
I absolutely love this quote by A.B. Guthrie because it is very much how I live my life with my kids: “If you must be regretful, regret what you didn’t do, not what you did. A man lets too many smiling opportunities pass him by.” High five to that guy. Say “yes” more this year!
So here it is – your fun New Years adventures bucket list for 2026. Print it out and start crossing them off!
2026 Bucket List
1. Ice skate in downtown Greenville
Ice skating in the heart of our beautiful downtown is a magical experience. But you have to go before they close on January 19, 2026. Ice on Main has several promotions throughout their season where you can score discounted tickets so follow them on Facebook to learn more. A one-hour skate costs around $12 and includes skate rental. Buy tickets in advance online.
2. Ski or slide down a mountain
While Greenville doesn’t get a ton of snow, we are surrounded by mountains, which do get some of the white stuff. There are places to go both near and far – check out our list of places to ski or snow tube near Greenville, SC. I don’t ski but pretty much anyone can use a snow tube (or so I hope).
3. Chase some waterfalls
I find waterfalls to be magical and I know it’s not just me who feels that way. I think they are just amazing and I have a whole list of waterfalls near Greenville, SC I want to go to (and some to swim in).
4. Pick berries in the spring, blueberries in the summer, and apples in the fall
This is a favorite activity of my family and an awesome way to learn how to eat seasonally (and cheaper). Plus, it’s fun to pick your own yummy fruit. Check out our lists of places to pick berries and pick apples.
5. Go day (or weekend) trippin’
There are so many neat day trips and weekend trips to take from Greenville that it’s hard to choose. I explored North Georgia, more of Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg, Western NC and I really want to not only go back to every single one of these in 2026 but to try new places as well.
Among our Kidding Around staff, our 2026 wish list includes (but is not limited to) visiting wild ponies at Grayson Highlands, being swept away to a whimsical world at Magical Mountain Resorts or Mountainshire in Pigeon Forge, panning for gold at Gold River Camp, riding the Alpine Coaster in Banner Elk, sleeping in a treehouse, seeing Roan Mountain in the snow, relaxing in a salt cave in Asheville, staying in a covered wagon in Travelers Rest, and taking a dip at Hot Springs, North Carolina. If you need further inspiration, reference our well-populated Travel page or our Day Trip Guide.
6. Become a Wild Child
I did the Jocassee Family Camp with Jocassee Wild Child over the summer and it was easily one of the best days of the year – we jumped off the boat into the lake and swam under waterfalls. It was amazing. Read my Jocassee Wild Child review on why this experience is a must-do for families.
7. See an outdoor movie
Summer is an awesome season here in Greenville, and there are lots of great places to see outdoor movies. I finally made it to Moonlight Movies in downtown Greenville in 2025 and it was awesome! Bonus is that this option is free and works great for working parents. And, don’t forget the drive-in movie theater about an hour away in Greenwood.
8. Splatter paint some canvases
We loved Color Me Greenville, where you can throw paint on canvases. It was so much fun and such a unique thing to do.
9. Teach the kids where food comes from
There are lots of farms in the area and the farm-to-table movement hasn’t slowed down. Taking my kids on farm tours is not only fun but it’s educational. Since I love baby goats, we did a self-guided farm tour of Split Creek Farm and it was amazing because #babygoats.
We also started our participation in the SC Agritourism Passport Program this past year so I hope to continue that. If you visit a participating farm, grab a passport and collect stamps to earn Certified South Carolina swag. As I check out other local farms, stay tuned to our website for more cuddly-farm-animal-cuteness because you know I’m writing about it.
10. Go on dates
In Greenville, crafting fun and memorable dates doesn’t take much. You can go on a cheap ice cream date and stroll around downtown. Or spend a little more for an Escape Artist date or a food culinary tour. I also want to take time to take each of my children on dates (ideas for dates with kids here).
11. Ride Crazy Roller Coasters
I rode the famous steel coaster Fury 325 at Carowinds in 2025 several times and questioned my life decisions every single time. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
12. Give to others
Whether it’s time or talent, I want to take the opportunity to volunteer with my kids and help the community, especially given the aftermath of Helene in Western NC. Supporting our community while demonstrating the importance of compassion and empathy has taken on added significance given the hardships that so many have faced recently. Here are some ideas for volunteering in Greenville.
13. Ride in a Greenville Pedicab
We had such a blast taking a ride with Greenville Bike Taxi during our holiday bike tour but you can ride them any time of year!
14. Check out a festival
We have an abundance of amazing festivals in Greenville to check out all year round. If you haven’t gone to any or want to try a new one, definitely don’t miss out! Some of our favorites are the Duck Derby, Artisphere, Fall for Greenville, the Greenville Greek Festival, SOOIE! BBQ Festival, and Spartanburg Soaring.
15. Take a trail ride at Eden Farms
My daughters and I love horses and so completely enjoyed our trail ride at Eden Farms in Marietta. The farm does wonderful horse therapy work and their public programs all help to support that.
16. Enjoy the Roper Mountain Science Center
The Roper Mountain Science Center is one of the jewels of Greenville and I’m convinced not enough people know this fun fact. I first bought a membership years ago and let me tell you, I took my kids almost every week we were in town during the summer to walk the dinosaur trail, watch a cockroach race, enjoy the new environmental building and exhibits, and bring treasures to the Nature Exchange.
We’ve gone to their special events and planetarium shows also and I have no plans to stop in 2026. I can’t wait to see what they will have in store for the new year (We’ve heard tales of a live sloth coming to campus in the summer time).
17. Do the free summer reading program at the Greenville Library
The Greenville Library Summer Reading Program is on my bucket list every year because it’s such a great thing to do with my kids. They got a card for a free pastry at Swamp Rabbit Cafe, a medal, and other prizes. You know I’m doing it again this year with my kids.
18. Become one with the outdoors
Getting outdoors has always been a part of my life, but it took on added importance this year as my family sought out even more adventures like using our stand up paddleboarding at beautiful lakes in the Upstate, going camping, and tubing in rivers. I really need to try my hand at fishing as well.
For those who are really all-in on their dedication to outdoor experiences, you can take on the task of becoming an SC State Park Ultimate Outsider. You do this by visiting each of South Carolina’s 47 state parks and collecting stamps in an Ultimate Outsider guidebook. Mission accomplished? You’ll earn a commemorative T-shirt and major bragging rights.
19. Ride a zipline over Lake Keowee
Upstate Zipline is such a fun and unique experience. They are located at Keowee-Toxaway State Park and have some really long ziplines, including one over the lake!
20. Stay in a tiny river house
I’ve stayed at Saluda Tiny in Easley twice and oh my gosh, it was awesome! We went tubing along the river there and had such fun. They also have really cute river tiny camping A-frames that I’d love to try.
21. Foster environmental stewardship
Because the great outdoors gave us so much this past year, my family will put our gratitude for the great outdoors into action: We will make a more intentional effort to take care of Mother Nature. Some ways to pitch in are simply doing things like minimizing use of single-use plastics or starting a compost pile.
You could also do things like sign up with Upstate Forever to participate in local cleanups, or create a Palmetto Pride Clean Team that is charged with monitoring and cleaning up an area at least four times a year. Plus, we practice the Leave No Trace principles and bring trash bags and gloves for collecting trash that we spot along trails.
22. Go tubing during the summer
We have tried to hit as many tubing places as possible – so far, we’ve gone to Helen, Georgia, Bryson City, NC, Cherokee, NC the Green River in NC, and the Saluda River in Easley. All were awesome! We will surely go tubing again this summer at any of these places to tube near Greenville.
23. Do a scavenger hunt or play mini-golf at Runway Park
This is perfect for toddlers and preschoolers – let them find a bunch of stuff at Runway Park while watching small planes land. It makes for a great afternoon of fun. If you like minigolf, you must try Takeoff Minigolf, located right there at Runway Park. It’s an aviation-themed minigolf course!
24. Get my family (or myself) a cool experience gift
While toys and books and games are pretty common gifts in my household, I’d love to give the gift of experiences to my family and loved ones. A bonus is that a lot of these experiences can address the creative flair that the last year may have sparked in you or your kids.
And, confession – taking a pottery class has been on my mind for decades after seeing the movie Ghost. There, I said it. I’m thinking to try a class at Hollowed Earth Pottery because they look awesome and I really want to learn how to make something pretty from clay. Or, if you or your family want to pick up some other skills, check out some of the offerings in our comprehensive class and activity guide.
25. Family Day at Denver Downs
This is on my bucket list every year because it is so awesome. This is truly one of my favorite activities to do as a family and we look forward to it every single year. We pack a lunch, show up right when they open on a Saturday in the fall, and stay and play all day long. Don’t miss it in 2026. Read our Mom review of Denver Downs. Also, look for special Spring break events and the SC Sunflower Festival so you can experience the farm twice a year.
26. Support local restaurants
Supporting our local restaurants is a wonderful goal for any year. Check out our Kids Eat Free list and find your favorite joint with outdoor dining.
27. Splash around in Fountain Inn & Unity Park
If you haven’t been to the splash pad in Fountain Inn and Unity Park, put it on your 2026 bucket list. They are both free & fun!
28. Hit up a waterpark
I got to go to Soaky Mountain near Gatlinburg, TN this past summer and tried their new speed watercoaster and oh my gosh, how fun! I’d love to go back and try out their new water coasters. Splash Country at Dollywood is another favorite and hopefully, I will get the chance to visit that amazing waterpark again in 2026.
Also, I loved visiting Fins Up Waterpark at Margaritaville at Lanier Islands – it’s really fun! And if I’m super lucky and convince my family to have a reunion in the Gatlinburg area, I want to stay at the Go Lodge game mansion again.
If you want to stay closer to home, Greenville County actually boasts three waterparks that have more than you might expect! Here are our reviews of each one: Discovery Island, 7th Inning Splash, Otter Creek.
29. Go on a Christmas light driving tour
We always love putting together these Christmas light driving tours for the Upstate area for families who want a little Christmas spirit for free and I like to do as many as possible with my family.
30. Enjoy a ballet at the Peace Center
I got to see The Nutcracker at the Peace Center the past two years performed by the International Ballet with the Greenville Symphony Orchestra and oh my gosh, I had no idea what I was missing out on having never seen this before! It was so incredible, and I’d love to see it again in 2026.
31. Find some Blue Ghosts
The Blue Ghost tour at the Cradle of Forestry in Pisgah Forest remains one of my all-time coolest experiences ever in our region. The Blue Ghosts are a special kind of firefly and you get to see them light up the night at the Cradle of Forestry while learning about them and the environment where they live. Tickets go very fast and typically go on sale April 1.
32. Enjoy the Sunflower Festival
The annual South Carolina Sunflower Festival at Denver Downs is absolutely amazing. There are acres of gorgeous sunflowers in late June & early July, plus admission gets you access to all the fun, outdoor games they have!
33. Pick lavender
I had never picked lavender until a couple summers ago, and I was immediately hooked. The beauty of the lavender fields combined with the intoxicating scent (my favorite!) made for a beautiful experience. Twin Creeks Lavender and Elf Leaf Farm are the two places in the Upstate where you can pick-your-own lavender in late June.
34. Try a new family-friendly brewery
There are some pretty amazing breweries in our area that are great for families and have things everyone will be interested in. We’ve got a list of family-friendly breweries right here.
35. Take up a new hobby or sport with your kids
I took up Tae Kwon Do in 2025 with my daughters and it has been such a blast! I’m hoping to go all the way to a black belt with them. We take classes at Master Kim’s World Class Tae Kwon Do in Greenville and I’ve been writing about how it’s been going.
36. Be enchanted in a Hallmark Christmas movie town
Dillsboro, NC hosts an annual Lights & Luminaries Festival the first two weekends of December. This town is a beautiful, small Hallmark-esque Christmas town with local businesses, hot chocolate, carriage rides, and lights illuminating downtown. Put this on your 2026 list.
37. Take Control of Your Health
As a mom, I put everyone’s needs ahead of my own. Even when I’m not feeling great or feel like something is off, I kick the can down the road and figure I’ll get to it soon enough. I was offered the opportunity to have a full biomarker blood test panel done through a company called Superpower. The lab draw was super easy and the results were presented in a way that even someone who knows nothing about healthcare could understand. It helped me to see why I’ve feeling the way I have and to gave me a good kick to go call my primary care doctor and get the further testing I need done. The company was great to work with and it’s an excellent starting point to see where you may have some gaps in vitamins and minerals in your body or hormone issues. They give recommendations on supplements as well based on your results.
38. Sit in the Open Air Chapel at Pretty Place
A gorgeous open-air chapel awaits at Pretty Place in northern Greenville County. It’s on the property of YMCA Camp Greenville and often has private events, which means you need to check the schedule before you go to make sure it’s open, but wow, what a view. Sunrise views are the best.
What’s on your 2026 bucket list?
