Day 3

The Swamp Rabbit trail in downtown Greenville, South Carolina
A portion of the Swamp Rabbit trail crossing through downtown Greenville.

7:00am: Get up early once again to beat the heat. Fortunately, Sunday mornings are much quieter. On the downside, many businesses are closed. Coffee Underground is a long running coffeehouse, which is one of my personal favorites. The ambiance is dark and cozy with plenty of cozy couches.

Veggie quiche at Coffee Underground in Greenville, SC
I love their veggie quiche
Bagel at Coffee Underground in Greenville, SC
Delicious bagels and unlimited drip

8:00am: Take a ride on the beautiful Swamp Rabbit trail. This was my go-to for jogging and biking while living in the area. If you are willing to drive, the nicest portion runs near Furman University. Another great natural attraction nearby is Lake Conestee Nature Park. This small preserve offers a variety of short trails and is a great place to get in light exercise which looking out for small forms of wildlife.

Swamp Rabbit bike trail in Greenville, South Carolina
Swamp Rabbit trail at Cleveland Park
Nature walk at Lake Conestee
Lake Conestee is a wonderful place for easy hiking

Check out the Swamp Rabbit trail map to plan your ride. Also, bike rentals are various businesses throughout town. Reedy Rides offers half day rentals for just 20 bucks.

10:00am: Treat yourself to a quick meal before checking out. Biscuit Head is a popular choice. Here you can try a homemade biscuit, served with a gravy flight or pick and choose your own jam toppings from a self-service jam bar.

Biscuit and Fried Chicken Gravy at Biscuit Head
Biscuits with fried chicken gravy
Jam bar at Biscuit Head
The iconic jam bar: so many options!

Note: The Hyatt Regency holds luggage, so if you have extra time before your flight, I recommend checking out one of the beautiful state parks in the region. Caesar’s Head, Jones Gap, Dupont, Table Rock State Park, and Pleasant Ridge Run Park are a few of the best options within an easy hour drive.

Gorgeous panoramic views of the Blue Ridge mountains from Caesar's Head State Park in South Carolina
Stunning views from the Caesars overlook
High Falls in the Dupont State Forest in North Carolina
High falls in the Dupont State Forest
Small waterfall along the Carrick Creek Nature trail at Table Rock State Park in Upstate South Carolina
Carrick Creek nature trail at Table Rock
Small waterfall at Pleasant Ridge County Park in Upstate South Carolina
Small waterfall at Pleasant Ridge Park

This itinerary is based on a summer visit. Obviously, activities will need to be adjusted based on the time of year you visit. You can check out my Greenville winter guide for seasonal based activities like ice skating.

Tips for a great Greenville visit!

  • Book your hotel in advance. Rooms typically fill up fast during the busy summer season.
  • If you have the availability, the spring and fall season are much more pleasant, both in terms of crowd levels and weather. If you really want to avoid crowds, you cannot beat the calm winter season. You will likely have Falls Park completely to yourself!
  • Take the free trolley downtown if you wish to avoid lengthy walking. Hours are 6-11pm on Friday, 10am-11pm on Saturdays, and 1-8pm on Sundays.
  • You do not need a car if you do not plan on venturing outside of downtown. The downtown is small and easily walkable. Bike rentals are also available.