Sauna House was founded in Asheville. | Photo by GVLtoday
Greenville’s wellness scene is heating up (sometimes literally). Whether you’re looking to feel stronger, sleep better, or simply slow down, here’s what’s trending in the wellness space and where you can try it.
Contrast therapy
What it is: Alternating between heat (like a sauna) and cold (like a plunge) exposures to stimulate circulation, reduce inflammation, and enhance recovery
Why it’s trending: Enhances athletic performance + helps with pain relief and overall wellness
Sauna House’s salt room is a “silent space.” | Photo by GVLtoday
Where to find it:
Sauna House | Opening this month, this wellness bathhouse offers a guided Hot-Cold-Relax circuit with saunas, cold plunges, and heated lounges — all in a phone-free, community-focused space that encourages connection and digital detox. Scroll to The Wrap for a sneak peek of the private experiences.
Evolve | Opening soon at The Commons, this wellness studio will offer contrast therapy, sauna, red light, massage, and fitness.
Drift | Try contrast therapy in this spa’s Fire & Ice suite.
Click the button below to learn about red light therapy, NAD+, retreats, and other local wellness trends.
Identifying and Managing Weeds | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | Greenville County Library System’s W. Jack Greer Branch, Mauldin | Free | Learn to identify weeds, how they spread, and how to manage them from a Greater Greenville Master Gardener — registration required.
Babajanian and Brahms | 7:30-9 p.m. | Fine Arts Center | $13 | Violinist Amy Schwartz Moretti and cellist Edward Arron join pianist Andrew Armstrong for piano trios.
Wednesday, May 21
Lunchbox Learning | 12-1 p.m. | Upcountry History Museum | $10+ | Learn about Matilda Evans, the first Black woman licensed to practice medicine in SC.
Wiffle Ball Tournament | 1:30-4:30 p.m. | Conestee Park | $24 | All ages are welcome to play in this fundraising tournament to send the Shoeless Joe’s 12U baseball team to Cooperstown, NY this summer.
Piano Unveiling | 5:30-6:30 p.m. | BridgeWay Station, Simpsonville | Free | Artist Marc Evan will unveil his Please Play Me Piano, featuring a performance by Josh Acree, during this week’s farmers market.
Upstate Shakespeare Festival’s “King Lear” | Thursday, May 22-Sunday, June 15 | 7-9 p.m. | Falls Park | Free | Enjoy a picnic in the park as you enjoy Shakespeare under the stars.
The community features 89 spacious lots, each averaging over an acre. | Photos by GVLtoday
Prioritizing personal wellness is easier said than done. But what if you lived in a community designed to make healthy lifestyle choices easy? We recently visited Longview Carolina, a new “agrihood” in Easley, SC designed to do just that.
Here’s what we learned during our private tour of the gated community:
It’s intentional: Longview was developed with Blue Zone principles in mind and is building on the region’s sustainability efforts. There’s an onsite working farm where residents can grow their own food and harvest eggs.
It’s convenient: The community is just 20 minutes from Greenville and Clemson, and minutes from downtown Easley — but the serene neighborhood couldn’t feel farther away from the hustle and bustle.
It’s scenic: It’s hard to describe the natural beauty of this area. We enjoyed taking in the panoramic mountain views of the Upstate from the community’s peak and walking along the wooded trails.
Prisma Health broke ground on its $138 million behavioral health hospital yesterday. Opening in 2027, the facility on Old Easley Bridge Road in Easley will be a three-story building with 112 beds, almost doubling Prisma’s inpatient behavioral health capacity and quadrupling the number of beds available to serve kids and teens. (Greenville Journal)
Traffic
Greenville County Schools’ graduation ceremonies are taking over Bon Secours Wellness Arena from tomorrow, May 20, until Friday, May 23, so you may experience traffic around the arena. Congratulations graduates.
Opening
Scoop, there it is. Dumont Creamery & Cafewill celebrate its grand opening this Friday, May 23, on Woodruff Road, serving ice cream, boba, and coffee. The India-based ice cream brand is expanding to the US and tapped Greenville for one of its first stores.
Ranked
No. 7. That’s where Spinx landed on USA Today’s 10Best list of the best gas stations for food. It even beat Buc-ee’s. Of course, the list shouted out this local spot’s renowned fried chicken. Speaking of, have you tried the new Spinx Sauce?
Seasonal
Summer crop boxes are back at Feed & Seed Co. starting Thursday, June 5. You can get six weeks of Upstate-grown produce by signing up for the full subscription by Wednesday, May 29. If commitment isn’t your thing, you can also order each box by Friday at 1 p.m.
Community
Exotics in the Courtyard is taking over Hotel Hartness this Thursday, May 22, from 6 to 8 p.m. Enjoy live music, a cigar lounge, and bar service. More dates for this new, free event will be announced soon.
Announced
Bon voyage, Blossom the giraffe. The Masai giraffe said “farewell” to the Greenville Zoo this weekend, heading to her new home as part of the Special Survival Plan — an effort among zoos to ensure threatened and endangered animals experience long-term survival.
Sports
USC women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley’s book “Uncommon Favor” drops today, and M. Judson is throwing a release party. Celebrate from 4 to 7 p.m. with a special drink, “fun surprises,” and a chance to mingle with other Gamecock fans.
Kids
Is this the coolest playground in Greenville? We explored the new nature playscape at Conestee Nature Preserve. Are you looking for other places to play as school winds down and summer starts up? Bookmark our City Guide to 30+ parks around Greenville.
Now Open
The largest immersive dino lights festival in the USis just a road trip away. LuminoCity’s Dino Safari, featuring larger-than-life dinosaur animatronics, innovative light sculptures, and interactive dino-themed attractions, is open now through Sunday, June 15 at the Mall of Georgia (less than two hours from Greenville). Plan your visit.*
Calling all business owners and hiring managers — we’re growing our GVLtoday Job Board, which means you can post unlimited job listings for free. No tricks or gimmicks — simply create an account and start posting.
We lost the name game. In Saturday’s newsletter, we told you Noah and Charlotte are the top baby names in the US. They are actually the top names in SC, and Liam + Olivia are the top in the US. Either way, let your Liam, Olivia, or any other little one enjoy a fun, kid-friendly activity.
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After 10 years of lululemon’s iconic yoga pant, meet the new version
Presented by The Buy
Graphic by 6AM City
Fun fact: It’s been 10 years since the Align™ pant was released — lululemon’s buttery-soft, functional yoga pant that’s amassed many a devoted fan.
Extra fun fact: In honor of the anniversary, lululemon just dropped lululemon Align No Line™, which has everything great about the original, just no front-rise seam.
One of our favorite trends of the summer: textured handbags. From straw to beaded, these are our top five picks:
🌟 This standout wood bead bracelet handle bag is the perfect accessory for your beach vacation.
🌟 This versatile braided tote made with 70% recycled plastic is available in 35+ colors.
🌟 MANGO’s woven canvas crossbody with smooth faux leather detailing offers fun textural interplay.
🌟 This crescent straw bag with an adjustable shoulder strap will be our go-to all summer long.
🌟 An elegant rope clutch is a must for summertime weddings and cocktail parties.
I responded to today’s “Asked” with “No — but I want to,” and I’m excited to take the plunge(literally) when it opens soon.
I have a feeling Sauna House is about to be a hotspot(pun intended), and I’m looking forward to renting out the party room, as seen above. For $400, you get the space — which features your own sauna and plunge pool for up to 10 people — for two hours.
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