In southern Greenville County, the Reedy River at Cedar Falls Park widens to more than 200 feet and cascades over rocks and gravel. This river landscape offers a tangible way to experience the destination’s natural side. Other highlights include a viewpoint above a high waterfall, fishing waters, and a growing trail network; museums, art, and baseball history offer different points of interest. When looking for accommodations, you can shape your trip around whether you mainly want to be active outdoors or explore culture.

Water, Trails, and Fishing Waters

Paris Mountain State Park and Caesars Head State Park are among Greenville County’s three state parks. In addition to Lake Placid in Paris Mountain State Park, self-service kayak rentals are available. Availability may vary seasonally, so check before your outing. The Raven Cliff Falls Trail in Caesars Head State Park is a four-mile loop leading to a viewpoint overlooking the 420-foot-high Raven Cliff Falls.

Jones Gap State Park offers opportunities to fish for brook, rainbow, and brown trout in the Middle Saluda, Matthews Creek, and Julian Creek. The outdoor experiences differ mainly in the activities they offer: kayaking on a lake, a loop trail with a viewpoint as its destination, or fishing in named waters. This lets you choose your outing based on the experience that interests you most.

Since its opening in 2009, the Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail system has grown into a 32-mile network of trails and continues to expand. It runs through Fountain Inn, Greenville, and Travelers Rest and provides community transportation options throughout Greenville County. Unlike the single Raven Cliff Falls Trail, it is a growing network that passes through several named places while also serving a community transportation role.

Art, History, and Baseball

Campbell’s Covered Bridge is the only surviving covered bridge in the state of South Carolina. The contrast with a museum collection is clear: here, a single structure takes center stage. The Greenville County Museum of Art houses the world’s largest public collection of watercolors by American artist Andrew Wyeth. Together, a piece of architectural heritage and a collection focused on a clearly identified artist and medium offer two distinct cultural themes.

The Upcountry History Museum – Greenville County tells the story of South Carolina’s Upcountry across two floors of permanent and changing exhibition galleries. Its regional perspective differs from that of the single bridge and the collection devoted to one artist: the focus is on the history of a region in South Carolina, presented through permanent and changing galleries.

Baseball history also takes different forms. The Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum is located in the house Joe and Katie built in 1940. An 8-acre park behind Brandon Mill features a baseball field as its main attraction, where Shoeless Joe played in the Textile League. The history of a home and the game itself offer two different points of connection to this subject.

The Greenville Zoo offers rotating free educational programs at certain exhibits. Program details may change, so check which programs are currently scheduled before your visit.

Discover more destinations: Greenville, Simpsonville, Batesville, Greer, Travelers Rest, Mauldin, Judson, Fountain Inn, Taylors, Welcome

For the main travel overview: South Carolina.