Greenville, SC Things to Do and Attractions
Located at the corner of North Main Street, the American Legion War Museum delves into Greenville and South Carolina's rich military history with a treasure trove of war relics. Guests can peruse artifacts from the American Civil War,
Located at the corner of North Main Street, the American Legion War Museum delves into Greenville and South Carolina's rich military history with a treasure trove of war relics. Guests can peruse artifacts from the American Civil War, Spanish-American War and both World Wars, among others. Recent exhibits have also showcased the service of the Merchant Marines in World War II and Major Rudolf Anderson of Greenville, whose U-2 plane was shot down over Cuba in the midst of the Cuban missile crisis.
The American Legion War Museum is open Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM and Sunday from 1 to 5 PM. Tours for groups can be arranged by appointment. Admission is free.
The Bob Jones University Museum & Gallery is a treasure trove of Spanish, French, English, Flemish, Dutch, German and Italian sacred art collection named as one of America's finest. At the museum's Old Masters Collection, visitors can see works
The Bob Jones University Museum & Gallery is a treasure trove of Spanish, French, English, Flemish, Dutch, German and Italian sacred art collection named as one of America's finest. At the museum's Old Masters Collection, visitors can see works by noted European artists such as Tintoretto, Veronese, Murillo, Ribera, van Dyck and Dor. The Russian Icons Collection displays artifacts from the Novgorod School, the Suzdal and Moscow Schools, and the Stroganov family, while the Bowen Collection of Antiquities displays a variety of objects from Babylon, Egypt, Palestine and Rome.
The Bob Jones University Museum & Gallery is open Tuesday through Sunday from 2 to 5 PM. It is closed Thanksgiving, December 20 to December 25, New Year's Day, BJU Commencement Day and July 4. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for students. Group tours are available.
Noted as Greenville's birthplace, Falls Parks has undergone 40 years of development and restoration thanks to the Carolina Foothills Garden Club and the city of Greenville. Today, this attraction is home to one-of-a-kind art, nature trails, numerous
Noted as Greenville's birthplace, Falls Parks has undergone 40 years of development and restoration thanks to the Carolina Foothills Garden Club and the city of Greenville. Today, this attraction is home to one-of-a-kind art, nature trails, numerous public gardens and the impressive rushing falls of the Reedy River.
The Falls Park highlight is undoubtedly the wondrous Liberty Bridge. A focal point of the park, the $4.5 million suspension bridge boasts a unique design. At 345 feet long and 12 feet wide, the bridge is supported by a single suspension cable, affording unobstructed views of the Reedy River Falls. The award-winning bridge stands over the spot where Greenville's first European settler established a trading post in 1768.
Various venues within the park are available for private events. The River Lodge, Old Mill Garden and Main Street Plaza each accommodate 100 people, while the Bowater Amphitheater can host up to 200 guests. Falls Park is open daily from 7 AM to 9 PM. Entrance is free. The Garden Manager offers history and horticulture tours for $35. Tour reservations are required.
Located in the heart of downtown Greenville, the Greenville County Museum of Art presents the best of American art in its various collections and rotating exhibitions. At the renowned Southern Collection, visitors explore American artistry from
Located in the heart of downtown Greenville, the Greenville County Museum of Art presents the best of American art in its various collections and rotating exhibitions. At the renowned Southern Collection, visitors explore American artistry from colonial times to modern day, especially as it relates to the American South. Featured artists include Thomas Sully, Georgia O'Keefe and Andy Warhol.
Also of note is the museum's Greenville Collection, permanently on display and recently expanded to encompass 32 paintings spanning the artist's entire career. The newest addition to the museum is a historic set of landscapes by artist Joshua Shaw, including a painting depicting the site on the Reedy River from which the town grew.
The Greenville County Museum of Art is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 AM to 6 PM and Sunday from 1 to 5 PM. Admission is free, as are guided tours for groups of 10 or more people. Tours must be reserved two weeks in advance.
From fashionistas to antique enthusiasts, Greenville's abundant retail options are sure to please any avid shopper. Guests can begin downtown at Main Street, a walkable, landscaped expanse crowded with shops, galleries and restaurants. The August
From fashionistas to antique enthusiasts, Greenville's abundant retail options are sure to please any avid shopper. Guests can begin downtown at Main Street, a walkable, landscaped expanse crowded with shops, galleries and restaurants. The August Road Shopping District, less than a mile away from Greenville's center, is a den of eclectic delights, from flower shops and clothing stores to food markets and cafes.
The West End Historic District offers not just a variety of boutiques, but also classy restaurants and numerous arts and entertainment venues. For a more traditional route, the Haywood Road Shopping District has over 100 places to shop, including five department stores.
The 10-acre Greenville Zoo in Cleveland Park houses a range of wildlife, from towering giraffes to flamboyant flamingos. Often noted as one of South Carolina's best tourist attractions, the zoo offers educational programs and is close to all the
The 10-acre Greenville Zoo in Cleveland Park houses a range of wildlife, from towering giraffes to flamboyant flamingos. Often noted as one of South Carolina's best tourist attractions, the zoo offers educational programs and is close to all the other attractions of Cleveland Park, including playgrounds, picnic areas and walking paths. At the Reptile Building, guests can get up close and personal with lizards, frogs, turtles, snakes and more, while the newborn Bob at the orangutan habitat is always a crowd pleaser.
Shelters inside the zoo can accommodate private parties. Two larger shelters just outside the zoo may be rented through the Greenville Parks and Recreation Department. The zoo's admission booth is open daily from 10 AM to 4:30 PM. It is closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Tickets cost $3 for children ages 3-15 and $6 for adults. Tickets for children under 3 are free.
Constructed in 1838 by Josiah Kilgore as a wedding gift for his daughter Mary, the Kilgore-Lewis House overlooks a sloping yard with a restored spring, pond and gardens active with wildlife. Since it was moved to its current home on North Academy
Constructed in 1838 by Josiah Kilgore as a wedding gift for his daughter Mary, the Kilgore-Lewis House overlooks a sloping yard with a restored spring, pond and gardens active with wildlife. Since it was moved to its current home on North Academy Street in 1974, the house has served as headquarters for the Greenville Council of Garden Clubs and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Complete with reproduction 1950s furniture, includings the first harp ever to grace a Greenville sitting room, the house offers a unique glimpse into the city's history.
The Kilgore-Lewis House and grounds, which boast a beautiful gazebo, are available for private events. The house is open Monday through Friday from 10 AM to 2 PM. Admission to the house and guided tours are free.
The arts are alive in the heart of Greenville, thanks to venues such as the Peace Center for the Performing Arts. Set on the Reedy River, this multi-venue facility is comprised of the 2,100-seat Peace Center Hall, 400-seat Gunter Theatre, 1,100-seat
The arts are alive in the heart of Greenville, thanks to venues such as the Peace Center for the Performing Arts. Set on the Reedy River, this multi-venue facility is comprised of the 2,100-seat Peace Center Hall, 400-seat Gunter Theatre, 1,100-seat Dow Brand Amphitheatre, and the open air Wyche Pavilion, capable of holding 200 people. Hosting an impressive 300 performances each year, the center features five resident companies: the Greenville Symphony, Greenville Chorale, Carolina Ballet Theatre, South Carolina Children's Theatre and International Ballet. From Broadway musicals to comedy shows, the Peace Center is sure to have something for everyone's taste.
The center offers a range of spaces for private events, including all its theaters and lobbies, as well as the David L. Freeman Conference Center and the Sakas Rehearsal Room. The center's Thomas Roe Founders' Room, Shirley Roe Cabaret and Wyche Pavilion, all managed by the steakhouse Larkin's on the River, are also available.
The box office is open weekdays from 10 AM to 6 PM, Saturday from 9 AM to 2 PM, and two hours prior to each performance. Performance schedules and ticket prices vary based on event.
The Upcountry History Museum aims "to promote, present and preserve the history of Upcountry South Carolina through education, research and service." Opened in September 2007, the museum offers exhibits, presentations and programs that showcase the
The Upcountry History Museum aims "to promote, present and preserve the history of Upcountry South Carolina through education, research and service." Opened in September 2007, the museum offers exhibits, presentations and programs that showcase the history of the region. The state-of-the-art exhibits are interactive and engaging, incorporating touch-screen computer technology and video, sound, light and movement-oriented elements.
The entire two-story museum is available for private events. The museum lobby can accommodate 200 guests standing and 120 guests seated. The capacity of the full museum is 400 to 500 guests standing and 300 guests seated. Other venues available include the 1,400-square-foot F. W. Symmes Resource Center for up to 130 people; the audio-visual-equipped First National Bank/Carolina First Theater, which seats 65 people; and a 360-square-foot conference room with a boardroom table that can seat 10 to 12 people.
The Upcountry History Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM and Sunday from 1 to 5 PM. The museum is closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Admission is $3 for children ages 4-12 and $5 for adults.
After developing a taste for the rich, homemade brews and cozy atmospheres of brewpubs in the Pacific Northwest, restaurateur Bob Hiller decided to bring this concept to Greenville. At the time, such production and sale of alcohol on a single premise
After developing a taste for the rich, homemade brews and cozy atmospheres of brewpubs in the Pacific Northwest, restaurateur Bob Hiller decided to bring this concept to Greenville. At the time, such production and sale of alcohol on a single premise was prohibited, so Hiller and others lobbied to make his brewpub a reality.
Opened in 2005, the Blue Ridge Brewing Company offers four brews year-round and a number of specialty seasonal brews throughout the year. Guests can sip the light, fresh Kurli Blonde Ale or enjoy the flavorful, dark Total Eclipse Stout. Any of its brews make a great complement to the hearty selection of pub fare, which includes shrimp and grits and applewood bacon-wrapped pork loin.
The restaurant offers off-site catering. The Blue Ridge Brewing Company is open Monday through Sunday from 11 to 2 AM. Entrees range from $8 to $16.
Devereaux's, a world-class restaurant located in a 100-year-old former cigar factory in downtown Greenville, is rapidly making a name for itself as one of the region's best culinary establishments. The "no boundaries" menu designed by Chef Steven
Devereaux's, a world-class restaurant located in a 100-year-old former cigar factory in downtown Greenville, is rapidly making a name for itself as one of the region's best culinary establishments. The "no boundaries" menu designed by Chef Steven Devereaux Greene features such nouveau-Southern dishes as BBQ-glazed pork loin with creamed corn and Muscovy duck breast with vanilla spiced rutabaga puree. The desserts are equally enticing; the goat cheese cheesecake with organic honey, candied walnuts and lavender ice cream is a favorite. The restaurant's "lounge menu" offers light fare and desserts to enjoy with wine or cocktails.
Devereaux's makes private events its specialty. The Vintage Room, with arched windows, a stately wine cellar, and a plasma television for presentations, can accommodate up to 28 people seated or 50 people standing. Full restaurant buyouts are also available for 125 guests for dinner or 300 people for a reception. Devereaux's serves dinner Sunday and Tuesday through Thursday from 6 to 9 PM and Friday and Saturday from 6 to 10 PM. Entrees range from $19 to $38.
Overlooking the Reedy River in Falls Park, High Cotton promises "Lowcountry magic served daily." In a beautiful setting rich with light from wall-to-wall windows, diners enjoy hearty, classic Southern dishes. The spiced yellow fin tuna with okra saut
Overlooking the Reedy River in Falls Park, High Cotton promises "Lowcountry magic served daily." In a beautiful setting rich with light from wall-to-wall windows, diners enjoy hearty, classic Southern dishes. The spiced yellow fin tuna with okra saut and jumbo lump crab, Carolina rabbit with warm potato salad, and bourbon-glazed pork chops with jalapeo cheddar grits are specialties. The popular Sunday brunch features such mouth-watering options including Southern French toast with fresh peach compote.
High Cotton's dining rooms are available for private events. Overlooking the Reedy River, the Board Room can seat up to 22 guests; the Falls Park Room, up to 66 guests; and the Reedy River Room, up to 30 guests. High Cotton serves dinner daily from 5:30 PM to close. Sunday brunch is served from 10 AM to 2 PM. Entrees range from $21 to $38.
In Greenville's fashionable West End, Smoke on the Water offers self-described "Southern hospitality with a kick." Its authentic regional fare includes salads, sandwiches and burgers, but the house specialty is undoubtedly its smoked meats. Guests
In Greenville's fashionable West End, Smoke on the Water offers self-described "Southern hospitality with a kick." Its authentic regional fare includes salads, sandwiches and burgers, but the house specialty is undoubtedly its smoked meats. Guests can sample from prime rib, beef brisket, baby back ribs and pulled pork. To cap of the hearty Southern meal, a selection of wine and beer plus desserts such as fried bourbon bread pudding are on the menu.
Smoke on the Water's private room can seat 35 guests; its outdoor patio is also available for larger parties. Chefs offer both in-house and off-site catering. Smoke on the Water is open Sunday through Wednesday from 11:30 AM to 9 PM, Thursday from 11:30 to 1 AM and Friday and Saturday from 11:30 AM to 10 PM. Entrees range from $8 to $20.
With a friendly staff, open kitchen and communal tables seating 80 guests, this snug bistro has secured a place in the hearts of Greenville locals. While dining on inventive Mediterranean fare, guests at the Lazy Goat are encouraged to take their
With a friendly staff, open kitchen and communal tables seating 80 guests, this snug bistro has secured a place in the hearts of Greenville locals. While dining on inventive Mediterranean fare, guests at the Lazy Goat are encouraged to take their time, enjoy every flavor and share great stories and conversations with their neighbors. Light fare from the "Graze & Nibble" portion of the menu includes such treats as trout spanakopita and fried goat cheese, while entrees such as lemon and zhatar chicken and pancetta-wrapped grouper are big enough to share.
The Lazy Goat serves lunch Monday through Saturday from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM and dinner from 5 PM to close. Entrees range from $11 to $20.
