15 Rainy Day Activities in Greenville, South Carolina
Disclaimer: We are not paid to promote any restaurant, hotel, activity, product, or attraction. All opinions are subjective and based on our personal experience. Your experience may be different.
For the most part, Greenville sees an abundance of sunny, mild days throughout the year. However, like every other region in the Southeast, heavy rain is a common occurrence. The city sees 51 inches per year, which is well above the US average of 38 inches. Summer and winter are typically the rainiest times of the year, so if you are visiting at this time, you will want to have a few backup indoor activities lined up on your itinerary. Fortunately, there are more than enough activities to keep you busy on a rainy day in Greenville. As a resident of the city for the past 2 years, I always have a backup plan just in case. Of course, exploring the beautiful Upstate is always number 1 if skies are clear.
Hopefully, you luck out and the skies are clear so you can enjoy the many beautiful hikes and waterfalls in the Blue Ridge region. However, a little bit of rain does not necessarily have to put a damper on your trip plans. There is plenty enough to do and see to keep you busy for the weekend, most notably exploring the city’s charming, old-fashioned Main Street. My guide will cover some of my favorite rainy day activities.
1. Explore the collection at the Greenville Museum of Art
The Greenville Museum of Art is pretty small, yet still an interesting place to kill an hour or so. A rainy day is the perfect setting for a relaxing stroll around an art museum. While limited, the collection does include many beautiful paintings by renowned artist Jasper Johns. Additionally, the museum houses the largest collection of watercolors by Andrew Wyeth. This museum is always quiet and well-maintained. Best of all, admission is free all the time! A small parking fee applies.
Location: 420 S. College Street. Hours: 10am-5pm (Wed-Sat), 1pm-5pm (Sun), Closed on Mon & Tues.
2. Plan a coffee date
While there are more than a few Starbucks lining Main Street, you will also find a number of great independent coffee shops. A few fantastic options include: Methodical (rated one of the best roasters in the country), Old Europe (specializes in decadent European pastries), and Coffee Underground (a long running favorite housed in a dark cozy space). Pictured above is the beautiful Blue Willow China used by Methodical. Not only do they win the award for best coffee presentation in town, but they also serve the highest quality drinks.
My Greenville local coffee guide
3. Treat yourself to an amazing breakfast
Nothing really brightens a glum morning more than a nice filling breakfast. No need to resort to a chain as Greenville is well known for its’ thriving foodie scene. If you are craving something sweet, head downtown for a sweet or savory crepe at Bonjour. Looking for something more traditional? You really cannot go wrong with Stax Omega Diner, a classic family restaurant voted one of the best diners in the South. For foodie fare, grab a steamed bagel sandwich at Sully’s or a cathead biscuit with a gravy flight at Biscuit Head.
My favorite local breakfast diners
4. Take a drive out to a roadside waterfall
While rainy days are not ideal for any type of outdoor recreation, this does not mean that nature is necessarily off limits. Assuming it is not raining too hard, you can at least drive out to one of the wonderful roadside waterfalls. The Upstate is home to dozens of gorgeous waterfalls including numerous easy access roadside options. Wildcat Branch Falls is the closest to Greenville (just 20 min north of the city). And although short on the distance, definitely not short on the views! There are several to enjoy in North Carolina, most notably Looking Glass Falls which is a bit farther out, although definitely one of the most magnificent in the region!
5. Treat yourself to a sweet
Main St. is home to a lot of ice cream, gelato, frozen yogurt, and other treat shops. I have found that many small downtowns like their treats. I am not huge on sweets (I would rather indulge in fried foods as a comfort splurge), although I sometimes make an exception. Spill the Beans serves a great selection of ice cream. Blueberry Frog is a great choice if you prefer frozen yogurt which you can customize with your own toppings. I also occasionally indulge in a pastry at Old Europe (I like the chocolate croissants), and the hot chocolate at Methodical is simply amazing, even more so on a cold rainy day!
