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If you’re like me, you’re always looking at your calendar to plan the next trip. You’re looking up travel blogs on Pinterest and searching location tags on Instagram, trying to figure out the must-dos in all the cities you want to travel to this year. You may even be rearranging your budget to make sure you can get coffee in that new city rather than your hometown.
We get it. We at Lifeway Women are almost always ready to toss our travel necessities into our suitcases and head to the next destination! Since we’re all working out our travel for the year, we wanted to go ahead and invite you and your group of gal pals to join us in Greenville, South Carolina, this August for Lifeway Women Live.
Greenville really is a great destination for a nice girls’ weekend. It has a charming small town feel, but it also has an airport for easy access. Nestled near the Appalachian Mountains, you get the beauty of the outdoors without needing to train for a backwoods hike (though you certainly can, if that’s your thing!).
Below are some of our recommendations for eating, shopping, and entertainment while in Greenville this August.
Places to Eat
- Spill the Beans: This shop is right along the river in downtown Greenville, the perfect stop any time of day for a refreshment! It has something for everyone—coffee, ice cream, and yogurt! What more do you need?
- Methodical Coffee: For the coffee connoisseur in your group, the beans here are ethically sourced, and the shops are perfect for Instagram.
- Tupelo Honey Cafe: Now with locations sprinkled throughout the United States, Tupelo Honey got its start in the Carolina mountains. Great for any meal, but we especially like its breakfast/brunch options.
- Coffee Underground: A coffee shop tucked away downstairs, CU often features live music, as well as good food and coffee.
- Biscuit Head: A great place to stop in for breakfast or lunch for some fun Southern fare.
- Funnel Delicious: Full disclosure: I’ve never been to this restaurant, but an entire shop dedicated to funnel cakes? I’m in.
- Bobby’s: Barbecue is a can’t-miss in Greenville, and Bobby’s comes highly recommended.
- Smoke on the Water: Another great place for barbecue, with a more upscale feel.
- The Lazy Goat: Mediterranean-themed food, with influences from Spain, Morocco, Italy, France, Greece, Africa, and the Middle East. Lingering and sharing are encouraged, so it’s an excellent choice for a group meal to debrief what you learned throughout the day!
- Soby’s: This restaurant is perfect for a girls’ night out, with its “new South cuisine.”
- Husk: Similarly, Husk creates delicious, ingredient-driven Southern dishes.
- Pomegranate on Main: For those looking to try something different, check out Pomegranate, a Persian restaurant.
Things to Do
- Falls Park on the Reedy: This park along the river is right off of downtown Greenville. The perfect place to dip your toes in the water, explore nature, and eat an ice cream cone.
- Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail: Speaking of nature, if you’re looking to take advantage of Greenville’s beautiful outdoor scene, check out Swamp Rabbit Trail. You can rent bikes or simply explore on foot.
- Mast General Store: This fun shop is located in the heart of downtown Greenville. Browse its outdoor gear, candies from the past, and Greenville maps and books. Several fun boutiques and gift shops are found in the surrounding streets—too many to list, but definitely worth checking out.
- Downtown Alive: Free outdoor concerts each Thursday in the summer! Bring a blanket and sit on the lawn together, and check out some incredible food trucks.
- Greenville Drive game: What says summer like baseball?
- Greenville County Museum of Art: If you’re into a quiet, indoor activity, check out the art museum. Featuring a variety of styles and genres of art, there’s bound to be an exhibit that will interest everyone in your group!
For the ‘Gram
- Campbell’s Covered Bridge: Located outside of Greenville, this red covered bridge is perfect for your Instagram feed. Be sure to bring your selfie stick to get the entire group in the shot!
- Mice on Main: Don’t worry; these mice are bronze. Hidden throughout the downtown area, look for little bronze mice statues inspired by the book Goodnight Moon. The Mast General store has a map and book pointing to all of them. You could have a little competition among your group to see who finds all of them first.
- Pretty Place (Fred W. Symmes Chapel): Part of YMCA Camp Greenville, this popular wedding venue has incredible views of the mountains and is worth stopping by if there’s not a wedding. Take in the scenery and get a group picture with the mountains in the background.
For even more ideas on restaurants, activities, and more, check out Greenville’s website and even download a free visitor’s guide.
Also, be sure to register for Lifeway Women Live with your group so you can explore this fun city together!
Elizabeth Hyndman reads, writes, and tweets. Officially, she’s a social media strategist at Lifeway. Elizabeth grew up in Nashville, sips chai lattes every chance she can get, and believes everyone should have a “funny picture” pose at the ready. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram.
