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Greenville, South Carolina made a strong impression on my heart when we visited two months ago. I’d been to the outskirts of town for a few visits when I was younger but had never had the chance to explore the beauty of the downtown setting.
From the moment we stepped foot on our hotel’s rooftop and saw the amazing scene before us, I wanted to stay. That feeling only increased as we walked around downtown and took in the beautiful blend of architecture, nature, and art along every street. It actually led to a very serious conversation about moving there one day–we loved it that much.
So as you can imagine, I am so excited to share the highlights of our short but sweet trip with you so that you, too, can experience this amazing city.
Today’s post is all about what you should do if you only have a day in Greenville. There is so much to see and experience, but we found these were our favorite parts. Enjoy!
Watch our Adventure on YouTube for Fun Video Footage!
Start with the Perfect Hotel in Greenville
For the perfect trip, you need to have a perfect hotel. We absolutely loved our stay in the Aloft Greenville Downtown. Despite some closed activities for COVID-19, it was among the top hotels I’ve ever been to.
Normally, the Aloft offers live music, great food, a beautiful pool, and even rooftop fireside seating! But what we loved were the cozy room, gorgeous rooftop views of the city, and the incredibly convenient access to downtown.
The rooftop garage also offers a couple of fun photo ops, including a vibrant pink wall and eye-level views of church steeples, so be sure to step out for a peek.
View from our room at the Aloft 
Take some photos at the rooftop parking
If you’re going to stay overnight in Greenville, I highly recommend booking a room here to act as a home base for your adventures. You can find the best prices listed together at Google and get a discount if you’re a AAA member.
If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option, you can also check out these rooms from OYO Hotels.
Take a Trip to the Greenville Zoo
If you’ve been following my adventures, you know I loved Greenville’s adorable zoo! Make sure this gem is on your list of things to do. While small, the zoo has a great variety of animals to discover from giant anteaters to lions.
We particularly enjoyed watching the leopard cubs and listening to the gibbons conversing loudly (Check out our YouTube Video to hear them!).
You can tour the entire zoo in about an hour but plan on some extra time if you have kids (or walk through twice as we did!)
Tickets are $9.75 for adults and $6.50 for kids! Be sure to check the website to see if they still require advanced bookings to help with limited capacity when you visit.
What to Expect from the Greenville Zoo During COVID-19
Walk and Shop Downtown
Greenville’s downtown vibe is absolutely superb. Bright red and blue trolleys meander down the streets past vibrant collaborations of brick and concrete buildings. Elegant statues and fountains dot the street corners, while beautiful trees stand proudly along the sidewalks and in the centers of sprawling plazas.
Hop on the trolley for a tour! 
Fountains and statues fill the street corners
I highly recommend traversing Mills Avenue to Church Street and branching out to the shops and restaurants packed along the way. These streets are filled with incredible things to do and see, so leave time to explore plenty!
Besides shopping, you can tour the Wilkins House, take the trolley around town, walk through the Sue Simpson Garden and the Rock Quarry Garden, or visit the Carolina Music Museum or Greenville County Museum of Art.
There is so much to do, and it’s all within walking distance!
Explore Falls Park on the Reedy
My favorite activity in Greenville was exploring Falls Park. This stunning series of waterfalls sits majestically against a backdrop of sleek towers in the middle of downtown.
At one point, the falls were covered by a bypass, and no one could really enjoy them. So the city relocated the bypass and turned the area into a gorgeous park, complete with a suspension bridge that offers amazing views of the waterfalls.
The park around the falls is beautiful 
The Liberty Suspension Bridge
Be sure to carve out a good bit of time to meander around this park and the Reedy River. If you’re careful, you can even climb onto the falls (or down–depending on how brave you are!). And don’t forget to cross the Liberty Suspension Bridge to get the ultimate view of the falls.
Enjoy Swamp Rabbit Trail
While this sounds like a wilderness excursion, Swamp Rabbit Trail runs right through town! It’s actually a rather extensive trail that goes around Falls Park, up to the Linky Stone Park Children’s Garden, back through town and all the way up to the zoo! The whole trail follows the Reedy River and offers prime shopping and dining access and beautiful river views.
It’s a highly-traversed pathway that’s perfect for jogging, biking, and walking, so be prepared to encounter many exercising pedestrians on the way. If you want to book a local segway or bike rental to cover more ground, it’s definitely worth your time to explore.
If you time it right, you’ll get beautiful sunset views of the town and river.
Dine at Up on the Roof
Staying in such an incredible town demands that you try a unique local eating experience. While many of the local restaurants we passed caught our eye, Daniel and I couldn’t resist finishing our evening with a dinner that included rooftop views of Greenville.
The outdoor balcony of Up on the Roof was absolutely perfect for enjoying the warm southern air and gazing out onto the brightly lit nightscape. The restaurant is situated at the very top of the Embassy Suites, which sits right along the Reedy River. From the balcony, we could see the water winding through town, and it was so lovely with the lights reflecting on the water.
Besides the swoon-worthy views, the food here was some of the best I have ever had. We enjoyed Muffaletta Sliders, the Prime Rooftop Burger, and an amazing Blood Orange Panna Cotta that left us with full stomachs and longing tastebuds.
After dinner, we enjoyed a perfectly peaceful moonlight stroll back to our hotel, wrapping up a memorable day.
Greenville, SC has so much to see and do! You may do quite a bit of walking on this tour, but it’s worth every step to see the beautiful blend of nature and city working together in such a unique way.
Again, you can break up your tour with a trolley ride, bike rentals, and Segway tours if you want to give your feet a rest. However you choose to explore, I’m sure you’ll have a blast!
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Thanks for reading, and I hope you come back next week to read the latest adventure. Happy travels!
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