Kid-tested adventures in Greenville
Experiencing Greenville, South Carolina like a kid is a fantastic way to take in all the area has to offer. Whether you are new in town, just visiting, or looking for something fun to do with your children or grandchildren, here are some of our favorite kid-tested adventures in and around the city.
Entertainment
The Children's Museum of the Upstate
A favorite of locals and visitors alike, this downtown educational spot has exhibits, story times, play spaces and so much more. Your ticket is for the full day, so plan to spend several hours. You can leave for lunch and return or just eat in the on-site cafe. Be sure to check their calendar before your visit to get the most out of their programming. If you’ve already been to the Greenville museum, try the Spartanburg location, which is designed for younger kids. The newly opened kid-sized Publix market will inspire any budding chef. A museum membership includes both locations. tcmupstate.org
Upcountry History Museum
Do you have a history buff in your family? Or just want to learn more about the area? The Upcountry History Museum’s exhibits range from local history to learning about Star Wars. Check out their website to see what is on exhibit before you go. upcountryhistory.org
Roper Mountain Science Center
This educational center has something for kids of all ages – even Swifties. Check out the Butterfly Garden, the outdoor Dinosaur Adventure Trail and Friday Starry Nights with laser shows in the planetarium set to music ranging from Taylor Swift to the Beatles to Metallica. Hours and offerings depend on the school calendar, so check before you go. ropermountain.org
Greenville Zoo
Greenville’s beloved zoo is small, walkable and not at all overwhelming. There are always new exhibits and improvements, so wandering around looking at the animals is the perfect way to spend an afternoon. If the kids still need to expend some energy, stop at the Cleveland Park playground on the way out. greenvillezoo.com and greenvillesc.gov/1581/Cleveland-Park
Downtown
Greenville's downtown has made just about every top 10 list you could hope for, so there are plenty of ways to spend a day. If you’ve already found all the cute critters in the Mice on Main Scavenger Hunt, try taking a self-guided public art tour. From murals, sculptures to Black History art, there is so much to see. greenvillesc.gov/1114/Arts-in-Public-Places
BMW Plant
If you have a car aficionado, visit the BMW plant. While tours aren’t available until the fall of 2024 due to construction, you can still visit the Zentrum Museum and check out all the high-performance vehicles. bmwgroup-werke.com/spartanburg/en/plant-tours-zentrum-museum.html
ReCraft Greenville Makerspace
Perfect for a rainy day, the makerspace is a crafter's dream. Spend hours cutting paper, gluing things together and creating until your heart’s content. With hundreds of different donated materials, your imagination is the only limit on what you can make in this creative reuse center. recraftgvl.org
Parks
If you really need to tire your kids out, head to one of Greenville’s great parks.
Unity Park has huge greenspaces and four play areas, so there is no shortage of slides, climbing structures, swings. In the summer, don't forget the swimsuits. The splash pad is open from May to October. unityparkgreenville.com
Runway Park is perfect for watching the planes take off at the Greenville Downtown Airport while playing on the aviation-themed playground. You can easily make a full day of it with lunch at The Runway Cafe and mini golf at Takeoff Mini Golf.
greenvilledowntownairport.com/runway-park
Conestee Nature Preserve is a wonderful place to get into nature. From exploring streams to strolling in the woods, families can get away for an hour (or longer) without having to go very far. conesteepreserve.org
Kid-friendly eats
Breakfast
Maverick Biscuit is a low-key spot with huge, homemade biscuits and other comfort breakfast foods made with locally sourced ingredients. maverickbiscuit.com
Lunch
Sunflower is the perfect casual place for a gourmet sandwich. Even the kids’ sandwiches are served on delicious brioche. Check out their bakery items, and grab a coffee while you are there. sunflowergvl.com
Dinner
If you aren’t full from breakfast and lunch, Windy City Burgers will definitely fix that. Their half-pound burgers will blow you away – pun intended. Don’t miss the garlic parmesan fries and kids’ chicken tenders either. The place has limited seating, so go on a nice day, order your burger to go, and find a place to sit in beautiful downtown Greenville. windycityburgers.com
Dessert
While there are a ton of dessert options in Greenville, your kids won’t forget a trip to The Crazy Mason Milkshake Bar, where they can devour shakes larger than their heads. thecrazymason.com
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: A Kid’s Guide to Greenville
