Nestled among the rolling foothills of the dramatic Blue Ridge Mountains, at a point in the South Carolina landscape where its pristine streams and rivers give way to picturesque waterfalls, Greenville is a city known for its scenic beauty and Southern hospitality.
While its panoramic mountain views and natural attractions are enough to keep visitors occupied, the city is also home to top-notch restaurants, outdoor activities and cultural attractions that — when you add its laid-back and welcoming atmosphere — will captivate visitors. Here is how to spend 48 hours exploring this hidden gem in Upstate South Carolina.
In the morning: Begin your stay in Greenville by visiting the Upcountry History Museum, which chronicles the cultural heritage of this northwestern corner of South Carolina. Spanning two floors, the galleries include permanent and changing exhibits that delve into the history, art, science and culture of the region. Its semi-permanent offerings include the geography of the Upcountry and its early inhabitants, a closer look at the architectural building styles you will encounter during your stay, and a look at the city’s heyday as the textile capital of the world.
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Once you have a better appreciation for the region, head next door to the Greenville County Museum of Art. Considered the southern U.S.’s premier art museum, it includes works by American artists, including Georgia O’Keeffe, Horace Day, Jasper Johns and Andy Warhol.
Shop along Main Street.
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Around noon: Food trucks are a big part of the culinary scene in Greenville and can be found at several spots around the city, including at parks, festivals and special events, or just street-side during an average day. Among the popular offerings are the plant-based vegan menu at We Got the Beets Food Truck, the Just a Smile Caribbean Food Truck and the sandwiches filled with local meats from Thoroughfare — which is also the area’s longest-operating food truck.
In the afternoon: Burn off your filling food truck fare by discovering some of the more than 125 original pieces — from the stunning to the whimsical — that make up Art in Public Places. Spanning murals to statues and structures, the public art offerings include the bright pink “Rose Crystal Tower” by internationally renowned artists Dale Chihuly, and “Maya,” a mural on the grounds of a Greenville Housing Authority site depicting author Maya Angelou, by Adam Schrimmer and the Blank Canvas Mural Co.
The Angelou mural is also part of the Black History Art Tour, one of several opportunities where you can learn more about African American culture and history in and around Greenville. There are 13 African-American cultural sites in the area, including an information marker recognizing the historic community of Brutontown, which was founded by the formerly enslaved Benjamin Bruton in 1874, and the 1887-constructed Mattoon Presbyterian Church in the Hampton-Pinckney Historic District, one of Greenville’s oldest neighbourhoods.
In the evening: Whether you prefer staying at an inn, bed-and-breakfast or hotel, there is no shortage of options when it comes to accommodations in Greenville. Several hotel chains — including Hilton, Marriott, Hyatt and Holiday Inn — operate hotels in the city, but for some added Southern hospitality, try The Westin Poinsett, Greenville. Located in the historic city centre, the four-diamond property features 200 contemporary guest rooms, an on-site restaurant and bar, and a fitness centre.
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Or check into the Grand Bohemian Lodge Greenville, Autograph Collection. The 87-guest-room property is located next to Reedy River Falls, features a curated art collection, the Poseidon Spa, a fitness centre and is the starting point for several hiking trails waiting to be explored during your stay.
For dinner, try one of the farm-to-fork restaurants in the city that highlight locally produced and seasonally grown ingredients. Among your choices are Topsoil Kitchen & Market, led by Chef Adam Cooke, a 2020 James Beard regional semi-finalist, and CAMP: Modern American Eatery featuring dishes by Executive Chef Drew Erickson, formerly of the famous French Laundry in California’s Napa Valley.
DAY TWO
In the morning: Fuel up for your day with a healthy breakfast featuring a build-your-own omelet, fried green tomato benedict or bananas foster French toast at local, family-owned favourite Stax Omega Diner and Bakery. Or check out the brunch offerings of biscuits and gravy or shrimp and grits at food-forward hot spot Nose Dive.
Once your stomach is full, it’s time to experience some of the area’s natural wonders. Greenville is ideally located a short drive to several nature preserves, including Table Rock State Park, Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area and Sumter National Forest — all of which are full of amazing hiking trails and other outdoor activities.
You also have the option of enjoying nature while staying inside city limits. For example, Greenville is home to the Swamp Rabbit Trail, a 32-kilometre walking and biking greenway that runs next to the Reedy River, through city parks and an old railway corridor that connects it to the nearby city of Travelers Rest.
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Take in the scenery while dining al fresco in Downtown Greenville.
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Around noon: Enjoy lunch while trying some of the locally made ales at a brew-pub. There are more than 20 craft brewers in the city, with several — including Carolina Bauernhaus Greenville, Southernside Brewing Company and The Eighth State Brewing Company — located in or near downtown.
If you go to The Eighth State, be sure to visit the statue of early-1900s baseball player Shoeless Joe Jackson, located nearby at Fluor Field. It is a 6,700-seat baseball stadium that is home to the Greenville Drive baseball team, an affiliate of the Boston Red Sox (be sure to take in a game if they are playing).
In the afternoon: Play a round or two at one of Greenville and the Upstate’s many golf courses. There are more than 30 links in or near the city for you to try, including the Furman University Golf Club — where LPGA stars Beth Daniel, Betsy King and Dottie Pepper started their careers — that features plenty of water hazards and wooded areas, and Cherokee Valley Golf Club, with its mountain layout designed by P.B. Dye. The Greenville Country Club’s two courses, Riverside and The Chanticleer, are also considered among the best in South Carolina. For more golf offerings, visit SouthCarolinaGolf.ca.
While you are out enjoying the countryside, be sure to stop at one of the area’s vineyards to sample some locally made wines. A short drive from downtown, City Scape Winery in Pelzer is family-run and produces several high-quality innovative vintages. A little further out is Wellborn Winery, which cultivates French-American hybrid grapes in the Blue Ridge Foothills, and Eagle Mountain Vineyards & Winery, which is growing Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc grapes. Both vineyards are in Travelers Rest.
In the evening: Discover Greenville’s international flavours by dining at one of its world-class restaurants. Trio - A Brick Oven Café is a popular local family-friendly restaurant that has been specializing in Italian fare for more than two decades, while Keipi Restaurant is known for serving wines and traditional and experiential dishes from the Republic of Georgia — think cheese bread with salmon, minced meat sausages with pomegranate and marinated lamb covered in a dill and garlic cream sauce.
