12 Free Things to do in Greenville, South Carolina

Greenville is located in the heart of the region of South Carolina known as “The Upstate,” I knew little about this city before moving here, but quickly learned that it is an emerging foodie destination thanks to a revitalized Main Street. Food aside, the mild climate and close proximity to the Blue Ridge mountains draws many nature lovers to the region. As a long time hiker, I enjoyed taking daytrips to all the wonderful waterfalls and state parks.

The city continues to grow rapidly. During my short time living here, I have seen so many new restaurants and hotels sprouting up in basically every direction. Unfortunately, with more popularity comes increased pricing. To help keep your trip costs down, I have compiled a list of what I believe are the best free things to do.

With nature and art based attractions taking center stage, many of the best things to do in the region are naturally free. Those looking to keep their trip budget-friendly will be happy to hear that free fun is abundant throughout the entire Upstate, not just Greenville. It’s a great weekend getaway for the budget minded, especially if you live in nearby city like Atlanta, Charlotte, or Columbia. Note: I have included a few wonderful natural attractions within a 20-30 minute drive).

1. Take a stroll around Falls Park on the Reedy

The beautiful centerpiece of downtown Greenville, which draws tourists from all over, is Reedy River Falls. The waterfall is just 28 feet but it’s really stunning. The best view of the waterfall can be enjoyed via a walk across Liberty Bridge, a 355 foot long suspension bridge.

Falls Park is the place to be. During my time living here, it was my place to relax, picnic, enjoy a nature walk around lovely gardens, and simply de-stress. It’s the best place in the city for nature lovers. For those seeking more action, the park is also home to numerous free events including a popular Moonlight Movies series, taking place Wednesday nights in May and September. There is pretty much always some festival going on during the fall and summer season.

There are 2 charming restaurants overlooking the falls: Mary’s and Passerelle Bistro. Passerelle is a quaint French bistro with a nice leafy shaded patio. I like visiting for brunch where prices are cheaper and the temps are beautiful before the afternoon heat and humidity hit.

Location: 601 S. Main St.

Tip: Free 2 hr parking can be found on Main Street and on nights & weekends in the Richardson St. garage.

2. Explore the Greenville County Museum of Art

The GCMA is a small facility focused on spotlighting the works of American artists, including renowned painters Andrew Wyeth and Jasper Johns. For such a small town, the museum is quite impressive, considering that they feature the largest public collection of watercolors by Wyeth. I never heard of Wyeth before visiting this museum, but now I notice his works throughout other museums I visit all over the country. We visited this museum many times while living here. Our usual routine was to enjoy brunch or a coffee date beforehand. I recommend Methodical (rated one of the best roasters in the US) or Tupelo Honey, both conveniently located downtown.

If you are an art lover, or just seeking a relaxing thing to do in the city, consider a stroll around one of the south’s largest and most impressive art museums. Special exhibits mean there is something new to see on every visit. Most recently, the museum showcased works from Roland Poska and the Bob Jones Museum.

Location: 420 S. College St.

Tip: Sundays at 2, the museum offers a free family art event.

3. Take a leisurely bike ride along the Swamp Rabbit Trail

If you are the fitness type, you will definitely want to check out the Swamp Rabbit trail while in town. This multi-use path is enjoyed by walkers, joggers, skaters, and cyclists. It’s a 28 mile ride, so you can enjoy a quick outing or make it an hours long adventure. I use this path most for biking, but occasionally for race training. It’s so beautiful with many tree-lined sections. It’s definitely one of the nicest urban paths I’ve come across in my years traveling.

Although the path is quite bumpy in spots and sections are often closed for repairs, it’s the best recreational path in the Upstate area, and therefore worthy of a visit if you are looking to take your workout outdoors. The most scenic sections of the trail begin at Furman University and Lake Conestee Nature Park (free parking available). My favorite place to start for a quick ride is behind the Swamp Rabbit Cafe, a fantastic local co-op which serves great coffee and pastries (I love their outdoor patio).

A large section of the path conveniently runs downtown through Cleveland Park. Cleveland Park offers a number of amenities including tennis courts, fitness stations, and volleyball courts. If you want to keep all your activities near the downtown region, this is the best place to start your ride!

Take a look at this handy SRT map to plan your route. If you need a bike rental, Reedy River Rides offers half day rentals for 20 bucks if you don’t have your own bike.

4. Swing by the Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum

American baseball player Joseph Jackson, better known as “Shoeless Joe Jackson,” lived in Greenville for many years and even returned homesick after being banned from baseball. His childhood home was moved from its’ original location and turned into a museum across from Flour Field (home to the Greenville Drive, an affiliate of the Boston Red Sox).

Anyone who follows baseball regularly or has seen the fantastic Field of Dreams movie knows the Shoeless Joe Jackson story. He was banned from baseball during the 1919 Chicago Black Sox scandal. If you are unfamiliar with baseball, the scandal involved the team fixing the game.

An interesting side note on the history of the “Shoeless Joe Jackson” nickname. During a game, Joe threw his cleats off as blisters from his new shoes were hurting his feet. You will learn this and more on a self-guided tour.

Free tours are available, or you can simply browse around the house Joe actually lived in and view the various memorabilia now adorning the walls.

Also, you can visit the baseball field where he actually played for most of his childhood. It is located at: 406 West Ave.

Location: 356 Field St.

Tip: If your visit falls during the spring/summer months, consider attending a Greenville Drive game at Fluor Field just across the street. Games begin in April and tickets start at just 5 bucks.

5. Get back to nature at Lake Conestee Preserve

Lake Conestee is one of the few places to hike within the city limits. Most of the big state parks and gorgeous waterfalls are located at least a half hour drive outside of the city. This is the place I go when I want to soak in a bit of nature in a quiet setting without a long drive. It’s located just 6 miles outside of downtown, and thus, is easy to access anytime of day.

There are 6 miles of trails here to enjoy (although they need some better signage for sure), featuring views of diverse habitat including wetlands and hardwood & evergreen forests. You may see various small mammals along the way including deer, beaver, fox, river otter. As I mentioned above, a small section of the Swamp Rabbit trail runs through the park if you prefer to cycle. This is one of my favorite places to cycle because it is so lush, green, and quiet.

Overall, this preserve is a great place to take a break for an hour or so. I love that I can enjoy beautiful natural surroundings minus the heavy tourist crowds (most visitors seem to stick downtown). You will see lots of local families having picnics here over the summer months.

Location: 601 Fork Shoals Rd.

Tip: There are no trail maps available at the entrance. I recommend printing one off the website/downloading it to your phone.

Lake Conestee trail map

6. Explore Poinsett Bridge

Poinsett Bridge is a beautiful historic stone bridge with a 14 foot Gothic arch. The bridge was built in 1820 as part of a road which ran between Greenville and Asheville, NC. I find this bridge very otherworldly as it almost appears to be a portal to another world. Not surprisingly, many paranormal sounds have been heard here. In addition, ghost hunting groups report strange occurrences via their EVP monitors. Being a fan of anything supernatural, I would love to take a ghost tour here if offered.

The drive over from Greenville is quite beautiful. Along the way, you will pass through quaint countryside with numerous opportunities for detours along the way. You will notice many stands selling the SC specialty – hot boiled peanuts – be sure to try some!

Location: 580 Callahan Mountain Rd, Landrum, SC 29356