Why You Should Go
To See What Everyone is Talking About
Greenville has made onto Top 25 lists for best downtowns, foodie destinations, and cities on the rise by Southern Living, Forbes, Travel + Leisure, and Money magazine to name a few. And they are not wrong. With its charming downtown centered on the Reedy River, Greenville has taken advantage of its natural beauty and built a charming downtown full of restaurants, local shops, and cultural offerings in a compact, walkable area. There’s even a lovely waterfall smack in the middle of downtown that the city has encircled with a showpiece park.
The Awesome Swamp Rabbit Trail
Besides its foodie reputation and lively downtown ready for easy exploration, Greenville is also known for its Swamp Rabbit Trail, a spectacular rails-to-trails project that follows along the Reedy River for 22 miles. When the weather is nice, join the locals on a 2-wheeled excursion 10 miles up the trail to Travelers Rest, a quaint small town with a burgeoning food reputation of its own. You’ll see families and college kids, hard core cyclists and seniors, all out enjoying a days ride on this scenic trail.
Scenes from Downtown Greenville
Where You Should Stay
Heads Up: We do participate in affiliate marketing with some of the companies that we personally use. They don’t pay us to write, we simply get a commission if you enter those sites through our “gate” as opposed to say a Google search. We never accept free gifts or comped stays. Full Disclosure Statement
The family-friendly Swamp Rabbit Inn is a comfortable, clean, and awesomely quirky inn just two blocks from Main Street but in a quiet area. Bike rentals are available, so grab a bite to eat from the fully stocked kitchen and head out on the trail. It is a unique stay in a lovely home with all of the amenities of a modern hotel but with a far more personal touch.
If you would like to be in the thick of things, try the Hampton Inn & Suites at RiverPlace. As the name implies, the hotel is situated overlooking the Reedy River. The location which is just steps from the heart of downtown and the Swamp Rabbit Trail can’t be beat. Adjacent to the hotel is The Lazy Goat, one of the many delicious restaurants giving credence to Greenville’s reputation as a food destination.
Walking across the Reedy River on the pedestrian bridge back to the Hampton Inn & Suites
Maybe you are needing a bit more room for your family? Check out the Stylish Downtown House near Fluor Field Suite B. The upstairs unit in a beautifully remodeled house, this apartment has 2 BR/ 1 BA and a large living room/ kitchen area. It is walking distance to everything downtown and even comes with a washer/ dryer. If you are needing even more room (perhaps a weekend getaway with family friends?), look at renting the downstairs unit, Stylish Downtown House near Fluor Field Suite A. It has 2 BR/ 2.5 BA and is also recently remodeled with a fun and modern decor.
Other Accommodation Options
We recommend staying as close to Falls Park on the Reedy as you can
Where You Should Eat
This could be a list for the ages as Greenville is quite the foodie town but we have endeavored to pick a few must-do places.
Caviar and Bananas A gourmet grocery store and a fancy cafe that serves amazing sandwiches and very good coffee. A great bet for breakfast, picnic supplies, or a small something with a glass of wine to finish your day. The kids will ogle the pastries while you try to decide between the duck confit sandwich or design your own gourmet salad. Or maybe you just go for the homemade soup of the day. Whatever you decide, it will all be delicious. Next door to the Aloft Hotel in One City Plaza just off of Main Street.
Methodical Coffee Locals swear by this coffee and also by the cinnamon rolls. Opens at 7am during the week and 8am on weekends. In One City Plaza.
Tintin comics covering the walls of the bathroom in the Trappe Door
The Trappe Door is a basement bar and restaurant (underneath Barley's on Washington Street, half a block off of Main Street) that specializes in all things Belgian. The grownups will love the extensive collection of Belgian beers and their housemade mixers while the kids will love the bathrooms covered in Tintin comics. Only open for dinner and has a kids menu. Tends to get very busy so reserve a table online (link on their website).
The waterfall in downtown Greenville. You’ll find a lovely park and pedestrian bridge surrounding it.
Greenville is loaded with attractions that the whole family will enjoy-- between the parks, the Swamp Rabbit Trail, the proximity to the Blue Ridge Mountains, and the charming downtown that invites exploration, you won’t have any trouble filling your weekend getaway with good times. So load up the minivan, unplug those devices, and go have yourself a weekend of fun and family togetherness!
