10 Things to do in Downtown Greenville for Under 10 Bucks
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.
6. Pick up a fresh coffee to go at and take a stroll around Falls Park
Falls Park on the Reedy, a quaint 32 acre oasis in the city featuring a gorgeous waterfall, is the centerpiece of this bustling downtown district. It’s definitely one of the prettiest Main Streets I’ve come across in a long time. So many tourists are drawn to this beautiful urban oasis, with many repeat visitors claiming this park as the main reason they return time and time again. Out of all the things I did while living in the city, strolling around Falls Park is what I did most. Take a walk across Liberty Bridge to get a really great view of the falls or opt for a peaceful stroll along the tree-lined trails.
Before your walk, I recommend supporting a local coffeehouse (Spill the Beans, Joel’s Java, Old Europe) for a fresh cup of coffee to-go. Or, if you prefer, take a seat by the window at Spill the Beans and enjoy lovely views of the waterfall. This tourist favorite is well known for their gelato and specialty coffee drinks. Other options nearby including Old Europe which specializes in decadent pastries and Joel’s Java, an affordable choice located inside the Westin Poinsett hotel.
A beautiful mild morning, a walk around a peaceful park, and a great cup of coffee – in my opinion, there really is no better way to spend a morning in this beautiful southern city.
Estimated cost: $3-6 for your drink of choice and a few extra bucks for a pastry
Location: 601 S. Main Street
7. Stroll around the Mast General Store and pick up a local southern specialty
Mast General Store is a wonderful old-fashioned shop with several locations throughout the Carolinas. The store is packed with people all year-round due to the abundance of specialty goods jam packed into the small space. Here you will find outdoor gear, nostalgic toys and games, books, Southern style food and gift sets, beautiful seasonal decor around the holidays, as well as an old-time candy counter. I shopped for many birthday and Christmas gifts here and even bought a few souvenirs for my own place.
Treat yourself to a homemade jar of jam, fresh locally made honey, or a package of Southern style grits. They have a huge candy department with all the old-time favorites on the lineup like A & W rootbeer barrels, NECCO wafers, and candy necklaces to name just a few. I saw so many of my favorites from my childhood here even those cute flying saucer wafers.
Overall, it’s a fun place to browse around, whether or not you plan on buying anything. I’ve strolled around too many times to count and I always find something interesting. It’s hard to walk out without at least one treat or cute little knick knack for your house.
Estimated cost: Varies, although there are plenty of treats and cute knick knacks priced under 10 bucks.
Location: 111 N. Main Street
8. Stroll around the Greenville County Museum of Art
The Greenville County Museum of Art, although quite small, is impressive enough to warrant a visit. Featuring the largest collection of watercolors by renowned artist Andrew Wyeth and rotating special exhibits throughout the year, this little gem is a must-see for any art lovers visiting the area. Admission is free and parking just a buck or so. Mike and I visited regularly on weekends as a budget friendly date destination. Pair your visit with a restaurant for an affordable morning out.
Before your visit, I recommend heading over to Biscuit Head to enjoy a cathead biscuit with gravy, honey, or jam. Choose from a gravy flight or mix and match jams from the self service bar.
Estimated cost: Free-$1 for museum parking, a biscuit with one side runs about 7 bucks
Location: 20 S. Main (Bonjour), 420 College St (Museum of Art)
9. Enjoy a homemade pastry & take a healthy ride along the Swamp Rabbit trail
The Swamp Rabbit trail is a 28 mile long bike trail shared amongst runners, dog walkers, rollerbladers, and cyclists. I really love this bike path – we enjoyed casual bike rides, walks, and runs here several times per month for 3 quarters of the year.
There is a convenient starting point right behind the Swamp Rabbit Cafe. This is one of my favorite places to enjoy a great cup of coffee and delicious pastry. They offer an sorts of enticing pastries. I usually opt for the croissant, but I’ve tried everything from a strawberry vegan donut to a blueberry slab pie. The coffee is excellent too. From here, you can take the bike trail all the way downtown if you choose to.
Estimated cost: Free for the bike ride, $10 for a coffee and pastry at Swamp Rabbit. Tip: Bring your own bike if your traveling via a road trip to save on the insane bike rental fees.
Location: 205 Cedar Lane Rd (Swamp Rabbit starting point)
10. Relax with a refreshing cup of tea at Crafty Cats
Update: Crafty cats closed in 2022. However, they plan to reopen in a new location.
Crafty Cats is a unique tea/coffee/craft brewery on the quieter West end of Main Street. This place really did a great job decorating their space. As a cat lover with 2 cats (an orange tabby & Siamese) of my own, I loved the design. The adorable cat themed decor really sets it apart from most other coffeeshops in the region. The vibe is super relaxed being that it is located far away from the main touristy section of downtown. A tea bar, coffee, specialty espresso drinks, and a variety of food items are available.
The highlight here is the blooming tea which is served in a beautiful glass teapot. It’s fun to watch the tea open up as you wait for it to brew. The cute tea cups are an extra bonus. Overall, a great place to take a relaxing break away from the action!
Estimated cost: $6 for a pot of Blooming Tea, $4-5 for specialty drinks
Location: 1021 S. Main Street
Budget friendly tips for enjoying Main St.
Budget friendly lodging: Most hotels downtown are quite pricey. Embassy Suites typically offers lower rates than other comparable hotels in the vicinity and also offers a great free breakfast and complimentary happy hour. Book your room in advance and plan your visit on a weekday if possible.
Budget friendly dining: Affordable and tasty breakfast options downtown include: Sully’ Steamers (delicious bagels) and Biscuit Head (best biscuits in town). Affordable lunch options include: Greektown Grill (great lunch pita wrap specials) and Roost (delicious soup and salad lunch buffet for just 16 bucks). The best cheap coffee shop is Joel’s Java inside the Westin Poinsett (under 2 bucks for a small cup).
Free parking: Free parking is available on most side streets for a 2 hour max. Additionally, the Richardson Street garage (66 Richardson St) is free on weekends. This garage is centrally located to most attractions and dining.
Budget daytrips
There are lots of free things to do in the gorgeous Upstate region including hiking at fantastic parks, scenic drives, and waterfall viewing. I find that most tourist tend to stick to the downtown only which is a shame. I recommend any hiker or nature lover to check out at least a waterfall or 2 (here are some of my favorite easy waterfall hikes of the Upstate). Fortunately, most of the best options are located no more than an hour or so away.
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