Fun Outdoor Things to Do with Kids in Greenville, SC

Are you looking for some fun outdoor things to do with kids in Greenville, South Carolina? Our family recently took a trip to Greenville, and we had a fantastic time! We chose to do mostly outdoor activities, so I thought I would bring you along to some of the highlights of our trip. I hope this list of the best things helps you and your family plan your next trip to Greenville, South Carolina, a perfect place to have a little getaway in the United States!

Walking Trails and State Parks as a Fun, Outdoor Activity in Greenville, South Carolina

Paris Mountain State Park

There are plenty of nice hiking trails and state parks for a fun outdoor thing to do with kids in Greenville, SC. Upstate South Carolina is nestled at the foothills of the Blue Ride Mountains, close to the border of North Carolina, so the scenery is beautiful. Hiking was the perfect option for us along with our four young kids, ages 1.5 to 11. The City of Greenville offers plenty of easier trails that we selected since we had our toddler in tow.

Our first hike was at Paris Mountain State Park. (Paris Mountain State Park, 2401 State Park Rd, Greenville, SC). There are several trail options to choose from, and we chose the simple loop around the lake, called the Lake Placid Trail. It was a fairly simple trail, however, it will require your little ones to navigate some slight hills, roots, and uneven terrain. It was a fun way for our whole family to experience the outdoors.

I did opt to carry our youngest on my back, and she was content. We met a few snake friends on the route – harmless, but keep your eyes open! There is a suggested donation for visitors, so bring some cash along for the donation box. There are plenty of parking spaces, picnic areas, benches and restrooms throughout the park.

You could also print a scavenger hunt as you look for natural wonders of your walk with the entire family. You are guaranteed to spot lots of fun things!

Riverbend Equestrian Park

A great, simple trail to explore with kids is Riverbend Equestrian Park (175 Riverbend Rd, Greenville, SC). It’s very close to Furman University, so we combined a trip to the park with a drive through Furman to show our kids the college. If you love botanical gardens, you may also want to stop by the Janie Earle Furman Rose Garden at Furman. Featuring more than 700 rose bushes, beautiful paths, fountains, and gazebos, it is the perfect spot for some family pictures.

Riverbend Equestrian Park offers a simple trail that loops through the woods that run to the right of the stables near the back of the park. We completed the loop and then watched the riders on their horses. It was the perfect, easy hike for an early morning adventure. Combining live animals and an outdoor stroll is a perfect way to spend time with your young children in Greenville, South Carolina.

More hiking options in Greenville, SC with kids

There are so many great hiking with kids options near the heart of Greenville, South Carolina. Some other fun ideas include:

• Wildcat Wayside, US 276/Hwy 11, Cleveland, SC
• Lake Conestee Nature Park, 840 Mauldin Rd, Greenville, SC
• Table Rock State Park, Lakeside Trail
• Kings Mountain National Park, Battlefield Trail – great historical trail to teach kids about the Revolutionary War battle that took place there in 1780.
• Jones Gap State Park
• Caesars Head State Park

Treetop Quest Ropes Course

If you have older or more adventurous kids, they will love the Treetop Quest Ropes course. There are over 60 obstacles and courses in Treetop Quest, and kids ages 4 and above will be able to find an adventure that fits their abilities. Advanced reservations are required, so make sure to schedule your preferred date. Treetop Quest is located in Westside Park, about five minutes from downtown Greenville. For more info, check out their website. The entire family will have so much fun!

Playgrounds: the perfect fun, outdoor thing to do with kids in Greenville, SC

Greenville is home to so many great playgrounds for kids. On our last visit, we explored Century Park in Greer which has undergone an extensive renovation which includes a Kids Planet playground. Our kids loved exploring the toddler and big kid playgrounds, along with zip lines throughout the park. There are plenty of picnic areas throughout, along with a frisbee golf area and baseball fields.

Our toddler enjoyed the playground for younger children with its padded pavement. She also loved the musical instrument section. Don’t all kids love interactive exhibits? Our older kids enjoyed the zip lines, the in ground trampoline feature and the big kid play area.

There are also multiple bathroom areas throughout the park and shady spots, enabling families to stay for the day, if you like! We spied a snow cone shack there as well, though it wasn’t open yet. Hopefully, that will open soon for the season – my kids would love it!

If you are looking more great playgrounds in Greenville, SC, check out this post!

Downtown Greenville: Fun, Outdoor Things to Do with Kids in Greenville, SC

Downtown Greenville offers so much for families! This area has continued to grow and revitalize in the past several years, and I was so impressed by all of the improvements. The Falls Park on the Reedy area is especially nice, and located right in downtown Greenville. You can hardly believe you are so close to Main Street! Our kids loved walking over the huge Liberty Bridge and exploring the falls. Our toddler enjoyed smelling all of the flowers, and a saxophonist was playing tunes the whole time.

The Falls Park on the Reedy area hosts plenty of special events with live music and performers, so be sure to check their calendar to see what is happening! It is the perfect place to meet up with friends, have a picnic and explore.

Since the park is so close to the downtown area, we just ordered a pizza from nearby Blaze Pizza and ate outside in the beautiful park. There are tons of great restaurants in the Greenville area. Check out this link for a more complete list of great dining options.

Fluor Field

Home to the Greenville Drive team, Fluor Field is a High-A East affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. It is a 6,700 seat baseball only stadium. It replicates the dimensions of Fenway Park and even has its own “green monster” and a manual scoreboard. There are references to Shoeless Joe Jackson throughout the park, as he lived and died in the Greenville area. The Shoeless Joe Jackson museum is located nearby and would be a great place to explore with the kids! It is a lovely ballpark, and we can’t wait to get back for a game!

Peace Center

The Peace Center is another great place to visit while in Greenville, SC with kids (or without!) There are so many amazing performances here, and during non Covid times, it is the perfect entertainment venue.

Colleges and Universities for Fun Outdoor Things to Do with Your Kids in Greenville, SC

The Greenville-Spartanburg area is home to many colleges and universities. Consider planning a trip to one of the universities to enjoy a sporting event, a fine arts performance or just take a tour around! Our seven year old enjoyed a baseball game with his dad and our friends at Anderson University while we were visiting. Some colleges and universities in the area include:

• Anderson University
• Clemson University
• Bob Jones University
• Converse College
• Furman University
• Limestone College
• North Greenville University
• Presbyterian College
• Wofford College

I hope this list gives you several ideas for fun outdoor things to do with your kids in Greenville, SC. Remember if you are heading out with your toddler on a road trip or plane flight soon, check out my other post on traveling with little ones here.