I always love visiting the South. I was excited to check off another city when I headed to Greenville, South Carolina. Greenville is continuing to make several “Best Of” and “Must See” lists and rightly so. No matter who is exploring, Greenville will have something to keep everyone happy. It’s also an ideal area for road trips and checking out multiple towns nearby like Asheville. I kept thinking how fun it would be to rent a car and take my girl on an adventure through the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Museums
Spend a morning at Heritage Green. This urban campus combines arts and culture to bring visitors a diverse lineup of centers. It’s home to the Upcountry History Museum, Children’s Museum of the Upstate, Hughes Library, Signal Music Museum, and Greenville County Museum of Art.
All museums are very family-friendly. Each has a lot to offer so plan on spending at least two hours at Heritage Green. The Children’s Museum is ideal for visitors 12 and under. Signal Music is located inside an old Coca-Cola bottling plant and is a great stop for music enthusiasts. If a few moments of solitude are needed, the Hughes Library is an ideal place to refresh and sit back. They also have an impressive children’s department.
Take a Greenville History Tour
Join Greenville local, John Nolan, on one of his award-winning city tours. John has a wide variety of tours ranging from historical to culinary. He brings a passion for knowledge with a laid-back attitude as visitors get an up close and personal tour of Greenville.
The tours have earned John accolades across the country. Including the third best in the USA Today Readers’ Choice Awards. The culinary tours are a perfect way to get acquainted with some southern foods. Before my breakfast tour, I had no idea what a cat head biscuit was. Do you? If not, it’s reason enough to book a tour.
Try to “Escape” in an Escape Room
Another award-winning attraction is Escape Artist, Greenville’s #1 escape room. They have a multitude of escape room adventures to choose from. I got to experience Yuletide Magic and cannot recommend it enough especially if younger children are in tow. If you’re asking, but it’s Christmas-themed?? Yes, they do have a holiday room available year-round. Given Greenville is known to love Christmas, it’s rather fitting they keep this going.
Other adventures include thrill-seeking, suspense, and mind exercises. Escape Artist was chosen the #1 Fun Thing to do in Greenville and a Top 10 in the USA Today’s Reader Choice Awards among many others.
Shop and Play in Downtown Greenville
There are over 200 shops and restaurants in downtown Greenville. I encourage everyone to eat, browse, and shop as much as possible. It’s a tough job but someone’s gotta do it. Am I right? Being a mom in South Carolina, of course, I loved the main drag’s toy store appropriately titled Opie Taylor’s.
Other favorites were Poppington’s, Vintage Now Modern, Mast General Store, and M. Judson Booksellers. Anyone in the family have a sweet tooth? Go into oblivion with decadent chocolates, pralines, and more at River Street Sweets and Kilwins.
Greenville is also great to see by bike. Grab one (or several depending on how many bikers are in tow) for the day at Reedy Rides. Cruise along the Swamp Rabbit trail. It’s a fun 22-mile loop that will have everyone feeling like a real local.
Eat
With the plethora of food options in town, it’s hard to go wrong. There’s elegant and fine dining, casual, grab and go, you name it. For breakfast how about a steamed bagel sandwich? It’s the specialty at Sully’s Steamers and incredible. I had never had a steamed bagel, but Sully’s sold me. Another laid-back gem is Biscuit Head. Their biscuits are an experience for breakfast or lunch. A multitude of jams are all made in-house. It’s sure to impress the kids.
Southernside Brewing Co. is a terrific choice for the entire family. It’s extremely kid-friendly and parent approved. They have diner favorite foods, drinks for those under and over 21, and a great lineup of beers. Feeling like a taste of home with tacos? The best in town is often said to be Papi’s Tacos. I felt like I was back home in a beloved Ventura hole-in-the-wall. Papi’s makes authentic Mexican tacos that will remind you of our California Coast.
Stay
I did nearly all of these activities by foot from the Westin Poinsett Hotel. This stunning skyscraper hotel is ideal for seeing all Downtown Greenville has. Guests are in the center of the action and the various suites make it easy to select the ideal room size for a family stay.
Learn more about this exciting city HERE and have Greenville on the radar for Spring break. You know it’s around the corner.
