For Recreation links click here.
If you enjoy an active lifestyle, you will feel right at home in the Upstate. There are many wonderful activities, events, parks and sights to see that you will have trouble fitting them all in, so plan accordingly! The following are just a few of the many exciting things to do in the area.
In Greenville, take in a Greenville Drive baseball game at West End Field. The Drive is an affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, and West End Field is an award-winning replica of Boston’s venerable Fenway Park. The Drive completed its inaugural season in 2006, bringing baseball to downtown Greenville for the first time in more than 30 years. Check www.greenvilledrive.com for more information.
In July and August, football and sports fans can catch the Carolina Panthers getting ready for the NFL season at their training camp at Wofford College. Fans will also enjoy college football, basketball, and other NCAA sports at Clemson, Furman and Anderson universities. Clemson is the quintessential college football town, while Furman is an up-and-comer in the NCAA sports world. Division II Anderson fields competitive sports teams in the CVAC Conference.
Paris Mountain State Park is one Greenville’s most popular attractions. This gorgeous, 2,000-foot mountain and park has a lake, picnic areas, campsites, and hiking/mountain biking trails. The park sponsors events for children such as nature walks, crafts, and forest ecology programs.
In Spartanburg, history buffs can learn about the Revolutionary War on a trip to Cowpens National Battlefield. Or, they can take a walking tour of the historical town starting at the Spartanburg County Regional Museum. Visitors should be sure to drop by the Inn on Main, winner of the 2004 Governor’s Heritage Tourism Award, a historic preservation award. For family fun in Spartanburg, visit Hollywild Animal Park, take the train around Cleveland Park, or spend the afternoon at Hatcher Garden & Woodland Preserve.
Shoppers will delight in the offerings at WestGate Mall and WestGate Crossing, as well as the quaint boutiques that dot downtown Spartanburg.
Car enthusiasts will love the exhibition and tour at the BMW Zentrum, BMW’s first plant located outside of Germany. Science lovers should visit the Roper Mountain Science Center. Also, Falls Park on the Reedy, a downtown public garden, features the only curved, cantilevered pedestrian suspension bridge in the United States.
For the kids, the Upstate has a plethora of activities to keep them busy year round. You can feed the ducks at Furman University’s picturesque lake or play “Mice on Main” in downtown Greenville. This is based on the popular book, Goodnight Moon. A bronze sculpture of the book and mouse are mounted on the fountain in front of the Hyatt Regency on Main Street. Eight other mice are installed along a nine-block stretch of Main Street between College and Court Streets. The goal is to find all those mice! A hint sheet is available at the visitor’s center at 206 S. Main St. for those who need a little help. This is a fun activity of discovery for both kids and adults (and a great way to do some window shopping while your kids are looking for mice).
The libraries (all branches!) are a treasure trove of activities in Greenville. From Traveler’s Rest to Simpsonville, Greenville County libraries offer programs for kids and adults of all ages. Starting with the tiniest infants, kids can enjoy Bouncing Babies, Small Wonders and Storytime. For older kids there are crafts and other activities offered on a regular basis. Go to www.greenvillelibrary.org for more information.
The Greenville Zoo is a great place for pre-schoolers and elementary school kids. It’s a manageable size and has a terrific tot playground within the zoo as well as the larger playground space found in Cleveland Park. The family memberships are downright cheap and give you free access not only to our zoo, but to others around the country, including Riverside Zoo in Columbia. Zoo programs are offered on a regular basis for tots and school-age kids, including zoo camps; members are given advance notice via a newsletter and first dibs on sign ups for these programs.
A favorite among kids throughout the Greenville area is Kid’s Planet/Century Park. Nestled in Century Park between Hwy. 14 and Buncombe Road, Kids Planet is a wonderful recreation spot for all ages. It has two awesome play structures, surrounded by wooden picnic areas, pavilions and a paved walking track. It was built through a huge outpouring of love by the community of Greer for the children of Greer and the Upstate.
As you will soon discover, the natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains is always on display in the Upstate, so be sure to take in the breathtaking scenery of the pristine lakes and scenic forest trails, along with all the sights and activities that the surrounding towns have to offer. Be prepared when you get here; it will take a while to take it all in.
For Recreation links click here.