10 things to do this winter in Upstate South Carolina

While the Upstate South Carolina region generally sees a much milder winter than much of the country, the temps are usually still cold enough to limit most outdoor activity. During my time living here, most of the time I was bundled up with a decent size coat, hat, and gloves. Occasional light snowstorms are not all that uncommon and I even enjoyed seeing a few inches of snowfall fall down during an early December snowstorm. I am originally from Chicago so I love to see a little snow around the holidays! And no winter season is complete without ice skating!

With daily highs hovering in the low 30’s-upper 50’s on average, and lots of dreary rainy days on the forecast, this is not the best time of the year to enjoy the beautiful natural surroundings which makes the area an excellent outdoor destination. That being said, I do really do love the winter season here. There is a gorgeous real ice rink in Greenville (the hub of the region), lots of festive holiday events, and a surprising variety of museums for a city so small.

There are a number of benefits of planning your vacation outside of the peak summer season. First off, this is the slow season, so if you do venture off to explore the beautiful waterfalls or hiking trails in the Blue Ridge mountains, you will basically have the entire trail to yourself. As long as it is not snowing or raining, temps are usual ok for a hike.

Second, hotels tend to be cheapest this time of year. Most importantly, the very popular Main Street in downtown Greenville, is low-key (I find parking easily this time of year). After spending 2 winters in the region, I have organized a guide of some of my favorite things to do this time of year.

1. Check out a museum

There are numerous small museums throughout the region, nothing too spectacular, however, good enough to kill a few hours on a cold day. My favorite is the Greenville County Museum of Art. This small, yet impressive art gallery houses the largest collection of watercolors by renowned American artist, Andrew Wyeth. I had never heard of Wyeth before moving here, and now I notice his artwork in museums I visit all over the country.

Admission is free, although there is a small $1-2 parking fee. Mike and I love visiting a local coffeeshop and then browsing around – it’s the perfect affordable date choice. This is actually a pretty great city for coffee lovers. Special exhibits change throughout the year so you can always look forward to seeing the works of a new artist. Location: 420 College Street.

The Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum

This is a must-see for baseball/Field of Dreams movie fans. You can see the home where Shoeless Joe Jackson lived, browse through various memorabilia, and learn more about the history of the infamous Chicago Black Sox scandal.

I like baseball enough (I am not a die hard fan), although Field of Dreams is one of my favorite 80’s movies, so this was a fun experience. Tours are self-guided although you can arrange for a guided tour if you are interested in a more in depth history lesson. Location: 356 Field Street. Parking and admission are free.

Zentrum museum

Here you can learn more about the history of the classic luxury car at the only BMW museum in North America. Admission is free! Location: 1400 SC – 101 Greer

Upcountry History Museum

Not a great value in my opinion, however, if you are a history buff and interested in learning more about this region, you may want to consider a quick stop here. Location: 540 Buncombe St. Price: $14 adults, $13 seniors, $10 kids.

Spartanburg Art Museum

A small free museum spotlighting contemporary works of art. Not as impressive at the Greenville museum, but worth a quick look if you are in the vicinity. Spartanburg is a decent trip. There is a nice nature preserve here and a lot of local businesses to support. Location: 200 E. John St. Spartanburg.

2. Explore Greenville’s foodie scene

Since your outdoor recreational opportunities will be extremely limited this time of year, now is a great time to explore the unique restaurant scene. I was surprised by how great the local dining scene was for such a small city.

Last year, People magazine ranked Greenville “one of the top 10 foodie cities in America.” Never a weekend went by where there wasn’t something new I wanted to try. I also had my favorites that I came back to time and time again. You will find lots of tourists from nearby cities like Atlanta, Columbus, and Asheville coming in droves each weekend to enjoy the local dining on Main Street. It’s one of the better downtowns I’ve visited in my years traveling.

Downtown Travelers Rest, Spartanburg, and Simpsonville are currently getting into the trendy foodie scene as well. Tandem Creperie in Travelers Rest is a popular breakfast spot which serves great coffee and delicious crepes. As a bonus, it is conveniently located en route to many natural attractions in the Blue Ridge mountains.

For now, I recommend focusing on downtown Greenville where you will find more than 100 unique local coffee houses, restaurants, and breweries.

A few of my personal favorites

Kitchen Sync: This trendy American restaurant serves foodie fare in a hip setting. I absolutely love their tomato pie (pictured above) and their Shrimp Scampi.

Sully Steamers: Serves steamed bagel sandwiches in the breakfast, meat heavy, and vegetarian category. They are very messy but so worth it! I recommend the delicious vegetarian Green Vegas.

Biscuit Head: Bakes up the most delicious giant cathead biscuits, which you can pair with a gravy flight or top with flavorful jams of your choice from the unique 10+ flavor self-service bar. I love this place! It originally started in Asheville but has since spread to a number of southern towns.

Roost: Excellent restaurant inside the Hyatt Regency on Main. The focus is on organic and local ingredients. I love the selection of healthy salads and wraps, as well as the all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet. I also love the healthy Harvest lunch buffet which includes unlimited fresh salad and soup.

Greektown Grille: Delicious homemade Greek food which you can enjoy in a unique, colorful space. I love the pita lunch specials and the spanakopita appetizer. Best French fries in town too!

3. Explore the independent coffee scene

Like many bustling cities today, Greenville’s indie coffee scene continues to expand. I love supporting eclectic coffeehouses over common chains as I feel like they put more emphasis on quality products, customer service, and creating an enjoyable ambiance. I have found no shortage of great local coffeeshops to hang out at nearly every weekend I’m not traveling.

My favorite local hangouts

Methodical: Highest quality beans in the area. This beautiful local shop has won numerous awards over the years. I love the beautiful 2 story layout and amazing handcrafted espresso drinks. This is where I go when my main goal is a quality cup of joe. Location: 101 N. Main

Coffee Underground: Long running local favorite located in a dark cozy space. I hide in here from the sun after too many hot and humid southern summer days. This shop offers the perfect laid-back ambiance for working or meeting up with friends. I love the veggie quiche and the coffee is nice and strong and smooth. Location: 1 E. Coffee St

Spill the Beans: Decent coffee and delicious gelato, nice views of the falls, cozy setting for a rainy/cold day. Location: 531 S. Main

Swamp Rabbit Cafe: Local coop and coffeehouse which serves local coffee and the best homemade pastries in town. This is the place to go for anytype of pastry/dessert whether it be chocolate croissants, vegan donuts, and scones. I always pick up a loaf of their Stecca bread. Location: 205 Cedar Lane Rd

And, if you prefer hot chocolate, you really cannot beat the decadent housemade hot cocoa at Methodical. It’s a bit pricey at $3+ a mug, but an indulgence well worth the splurge! Conveniently, it’s located just steps away from the ice rink. I love to stop here for a cozy drink after ice skating.

4. Lace up your skates and hit the rink

Ice skating is a great way to burn tons of calories, get into the holiday spirit, and feel youthful again. Ice on Main opens in late November, right in the center of bustling Main Street. As downtown Greenville is home to the only real outdoor rink in the state, it’s basically your only option if ice skating is on your list of holiday must-do’s.

As a skater (although not a very good one) of 15+ years, it’s always on my list and I was so happy to find out that the city had a real rink. I love the festive lights and music – the ambiance is really fun for a night on the town. Also, they do a great job maintaining the rink (I can’t say the same for most small city rinks I’ve skated at). The setting is so festive and you can walk to all the local Main St. businesses before/after.

Spartanburg’s Skating on the Square is also quite popular, although Greenville’s rink is much more festive. If indoor skating is more your thing, I recommend looking into Skating on theBig Ice. This popular event is held on various weekends in January and February at the Bon Secours Wellness Center. Obviously, the rink is much bigger and the ice smoother (although the downtown rink is pretty well maintained in comparison to other rinks in small towns I’ve skated on).

Location: 206 S. Main St. Pricing is $10 during the week and $12 on the weekends. Skating on the Square is $8 per adults, children are $6, and skate rentals are $3.

5. Take a brisk walk around Falls Park

Winter is a great time to enjoy Greenville’s number one attraction, Falls Park on the Reedy. This downtown gem is home to a pedestrian suspension bridge, quaint nature trails, and a beautiful waterfall. The tourists all congregate here during the summer, so a stroll on a quiet cold day is a change of scenery and pace. Really, I love walking around this park anytime of year. It’s so gorgeous and super convenient to all the restaurants and shops on Main Street.

Contrary to most, I love seeing snow especially in areas which don’t normally set a lot. The ambiance is so low-key following a snowstorm. Snowstorms are rare, but not totally out of question. I was lucky enough to experience a 4 inch snowstorm while living here (quite high for one day as the yearly average is just a few inches). Mike and I ran right over to the park to snap a few photos as the snow melts quickly. Here’s an article detailing the 4 biggest snowstorms in the city.

While winter temps are often quite cold (I recommend bundling up with a cocoa in hand), crowds are basically non existent. And thus, you will basically get to enjoy the entire park to yourself. I love the greenery and flowers in the summertime, but it really gets busy. After your walk, I recommend treating yourself to a nice brunch at Passerelle, a French bistro which was recently ranked as one of the most romantic restaurants in the world.

Location: 601 S. Main St