Smarties, you’ll never guess where our family spent a long weekend over spring break. OK, maybe you’ll guess since it’s in the headline: it was Greenville, South Carolina. Yes, that Greenville! Several people I know have mentioned visiting Greenville for a family trip, so when my sister had a free weekend to go with us over spring break, we decided to give it a try!
We hit the road around 11 a.m. and with a well-timed visit to QT halfway down I-85, we were in downtown Greenville by early afternoon. So easy! After acquainting ourselves with the area, our first stop was Falls River Park to see the iconic and scenic Greenville waterfalls. We walked the loop around the falls and over two bridges, making plenty of stops to admire the view along the way.
After checking into our Airbnb (more on our accommodations below!) we headed out for dinner at Gather Greenville– a super cool venue with multiple food vendors, live music, places for the kids to play, and all kinds of seating options. I could have stayed and hung out for much longer, but the kids were starting to turn into pumpkins so it was time to head home for bed.
Day two our weather was overcast and a little rainy so we started our day at The Children’s Museum of Upstate. We arrived right when they opened, so parking was a breeze and we were able to see most of the museum before the crowds and school groups arrived. Highlights for the kids included the fully stocked kid’s Publix, the water tables, the book nook, and Grandma Betty’s Farmyard. As the crowds thickened we made our way out of the museum but still had energy and time for one more adventure. Instead of packing everyone up and driving somewhere, we decided on a whim to check out the public library just a few doors down from the museum. We were thoroughly surprised. Besides the massive kid’s section, interactive toys and books, there was also a playroom!
We divided our group up after lunch and some stayed home for naps while others had the chance to check out Swamp Rabbit Cafe and Grocery nestled right next to the aptly named Swamp Rabbit Trail. After a cinnamon roll the size of my kid’s face, we made the short drive to Unity Park which gave us vibes of Ballantyne’s Backyard in Charlotte but on a much bigger scale. It was awesome! We regrouped with the rest of our crew for some backyard hang out time and dinner. While the youngest of our family got ready for bed, the oldest kids got to have a special treat at The Crazy Mason for a pre-bedtime milkshake.
OK there’s no way you guys could have more on your list after all that, right? WRONG! Day three was Zoo day! We packed up the car, said goodbye to our Airbnb, and spent the morning admiring all the animals. The Greenville Zoo is on the smaller side, which means you can take your time. Don’t forget to pack lunch! This zoo lets you bring your own food which makes it a really easy and affordable family adventure.
Greenville is the kind of city that beckons families to find adventure. There’s so much we weren’t able to do and that we would do again. Our quick 48 hours was full of fun but just barely scratched the surface of all that this city has to offer. Go ahead, check it out!
If you’re looking for a place to stay when you visit Greenville, be sure to consider staying where we did at Bridge City Bungalow. Conveniently located to all the attractions we visited, sparkling clean, kid-friendly, and owned by a very kind family, we were so pleased with where we stayed. We actually had to delay our originally scheduled visit by a week because of illness in our house and our hosts graciously helped rearrange our dates so we could still come once feeling better.
What do you think?! Ready for a trip to Greenville?
