Greenville is a charming South Carolina city with a vibrant arts and culture scene, great restaurants and plenty of sightseeing destinations to choose from. Whether you want to visit historical, natural or recreational sites, these day-trips are easy to fit in your vacation plan.
Start at the Greenville County Museum of Art, which features a collection of paintings by Jasper Johns and Andrew Wyeth. Also, the Upcountry History Museum tells the story of Greenville’s unique heritage.
The Greenville County Museum of Art
GCMA is one of the premier regional American art museums. Located on Heritage Green in downtown Greenville, it has an acclaimed Southern Collection that focuses on American art with ties to the South.
Its collections include works by two of America’s greatest artists, Andrew Wyeth and Jasper Johns. Its collection of contemporary art is unparalleled in South Carolina.
Besides the impressive collections, the Museum offers a variety of programs that make it a fun and educational place for visitors of all ages. You can join a sketching or art class, check out Music in the Galleries or even attend summer art camps.
Falls Park
Falls Park on the Reedy is one of our city’s most beautiful attractions and has helped to revitalize downtown Greenville. Founded in 1967, when the Carolina Foothills Garden Club reclaimed 26 acres of land that previously held textile mills, this stunning greenspace has become a major attraction for locals and visitors alike.
Take in the scenic beauty of this 32-acre park and walk through its lush gardens and pathways to the iconic suspension bridge and dramatic waterfall. You can also savor a delicious meal at Larkin’s on the River, one of Greenville’s most popular restaurants.
The Upcountry History Museum
The Upcountry History Museum is an exciting interactive museum that explores the regional history of fifteen Upcountry South Carolina counties. Located in Heritage Green, the museum boasts award-winning in-house collections and one-of-a-kind traveling exhibitions.
The Museum is a non-profit that seeks to connect people, history and culture. It is not afraid to explore controversial issues such as white settler land greed and the civil rights movement for African Americans.
The Museum also hosts community events such as Toddler Time on Saturday, special discussion cafes, homeschool days and youth book clubs. It also features several educational exhibits for kids, a Catawba Indian pottery collection and an extensive gift shop.
Children’s Museum of the Upstate
One of the largest children’s museums in the world, TCMU is the perfect place to teach kids about the world around them. It features 30 diverse exhibits that will keep kids busy for hours!
TCMU is located in the heart of downtown Greenville and is an educational destination that offers fun-filled play and learning. The museum features 21 unique exhibit galleries with programming in arts, humanities, sciences, health and nutrition, environment and community engagement.
The exhibits at TCMU are all fully interactive, so they are geared toward different age groups. They include a construction zone, a farm, and more.
The Greenville Downtown Theater
The Greenville Downtown Theater is located in close proximity to restaurants and shopping. It is a comfortable and convenient location for families to enjoy a night out.
The theater is also an easy place to find parking and has a variety of amenities including digital projection, 3-D movies and stadium seating. It also offers mobile tickets, print-at-home tickets and a kiosk in the lobby.
The museum is free to visit and houses a collection of American art, including paintings by Andrew Wyeth. There are also seasonal exhibits and free children’s activities.
The Greenville Arboretum
When the Greenville Garden Club decided that an arboretum was needed in town, they found a site above the Reedy River waterfall near Vardry Mill. Thanks to WPA work and help from Furman botanist Sumner Ives, the arboretum opened in 1932.
With a forest setting, mountain views, gardens and a bonsai exhibit, the Arboretum is a must-visit while in Western North Carolina. It also has hiking and biking trails.
