For those of you still needing to pencil it in to your planners – Greenville County schools are out Nov. 27-29 for Thanksgiving and Dec. 23-Jan. 3 for winter break.
So, to get the most out of your coveted time off, we created a list of 20 outdoor activities – both near + far – that will let you feel the freedom of the world around you (before you have to go back to the confines of your educational institutions).
For those with a shorter time to explore (under an hour away):
Go geocaching
Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail
- View the trail map to find the nearest access point
- Cost: Free
Geocaching is a “real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices.” Participants navigate to a specific set of GPS coordinates and then attempt to find the geocache (container) hidden at that location. The 22-mile Swamp Rabbit Trail is one of the best local spots to give it a try, with 60+ active geocaches located within ~0.2 miles from the trail. I feel like Ben Gates in National Treasure…
Slip on some ice skates
Ice on Main, Village Green in front of Courtyard Marriott
Now’s your chance to practice that triple axel. The open-air ice skating rink is open now through January. If you’re a regular, you can buy a season pass for $50 (allowing up to 10 visits). There’s also a Bring Your Own Skates discount + group discounts for parties of 15+. Walk over to Spill the Beans for a hot chocolate or coffee after you’re done.
Spend the day with some exotic animals
The Greenville Zoo, 150 Cleveland Park Dr.
- 5 min. away
- Cost: $9.75/adult, $6.50 children ages 3-12, children 2 and under free (Military and Senior discounts available)
If you’ve never been to The Greenville Zoo, you’re missing out. We’re lucky to have an impressive range of animals like African lions, Masai giraffes (including baby Kellan), a farm exhibit + reptile house – right in our backyard. A typical visit will last you ~1-2 hours, so if you’re looking to make it a full day trip – you can take advantage of neighboring Cleveland Park.
Picnic in Paris… Mountain State Park
Paris Mountain State Park, 2401 State Park Rd.
Pack a picnic to take along 15 miles of hiking + biking trails – we recommend the Lake Placid Loop. You can also rent a picnic shelter for a group gathering.
Try the fastest zip line in the country
The Gorge Zipline, 166 Honey Bee Dr., Saluda, N.C.
- ~50 min. away
- Cost: $97
Fastest, yep – but also America’s steepest zipline tour. Participants will ride down 11 zip lines that stretch through the tree canopy + travel down 1,100 vertical ft. This is a family friendly activity, but the suggested minimum age is 10 years old (kids must meet the minimum weight requirement).
Explore a park with history
Croft State Park, 450 Croft State Park Rd., Spartanburg
- ~1 hour away
- Cost: $95/person (minimum of 3 people)
The 7,054 acres of parkland make this one of the largest in the S.C. State Park Service. You can bike, go horseback riding, or go fishing. The Croft State Park land was once several homesteads + was later a WWII Army training camp.
Hike a waterfall trail featured in The Hunger Games
DuPont State Recreational Forest, 89 Buck Forest Rd., Cedar Mountain, N.C.
- ~1 hour away
- Cost: Free
See Triple Falls, High Falls + Hooker Falls, all within a 3-mile hike (and there are ~90 more miles of trails to explore).
Take a scenic drive
Pretty Place, 100 YMCA Camp Rd., Cleveland
- ~1 hour away
- Cost: Free
Roll the windows down, bring your camera, and soak in the mountain views (just make sure to check the calendar to see if there’s an event scheduled that day). DYK Pretty Place has been around since 1912 + covers 1,400 acres?
For those who are in it for the long haul (~1+ hours away):
Learn how to fly fish
Hunter Banks, 29 Montford Ave., Asheville, N.C.
Wade or float WNC’s streams and fly fish for anglers on a half- or full-day guided trip.
Ice climb
Fox Mountain Guides & Climbing School, 234-A S. Broad St., Brevard, N.C.
This one requires the perfect timing, so check the Ice Climbing Facebook page to see when the snow hits + give Fox Mountain a call for a half- or full-day trip.
See amazing views at Chimney Rock
Chimney Rock State Park, 742 Chimney Rock Park Rd, Chimney Rock, N.C.
The scenic spot every hiking (and photography) enthusiast needs to visit. We’d recommend seeing a 404-ft. high waterfall (which was in The Last of the Mohicans) on the Hickory Nut Falls Trail – an easy 1.5-mile round-trip hike is perfect for beginners.
Forage for your own food in the AVL wilderness
No Taste Like Home, 20-45 min. from Asheville, N.C.
A three-hour tour will take you into nature with guided foraging + cooking demos. You’ll find and gather over a dozen wild edibles, then create snacks made with what you’ve collected.
Two mountain trails for experienced hikers
Crowders Mountain State Park, 522 Park Office Ln., Kings Mountain, N.C.
- ~1 hour and 20 min. away
- Cost: Free
Crowders Mountain (2.8 miles one way) and King’s Pinnacle (2 miles one way) are both strenuous hikes, but worth it for both views from the summits.
Take an RTV tour through the mountains
Navitat, 242 Poverty Branch Rd., Asheville, N.C.
- ~1 hour and 30 min. away
- Cost: $49.95
See the Blue Ridge Mountains’ best vantage points from a high-speed RTV on a 1.5-hour guided tour. The trip will take you 1,250 ft. up to the highest point of Moody Cove. (Minimum age for this activity is five.)
Ride horses through the water like a cowboy
Riverside Riding Stables, 1325 Freeman Town Rd, Lake Lure, N.C.
- ~1 hour and 30 min. away
- Cost: Call for rates + reservations
Try a two-hour river ride on horseback (14 and up) with a scenic ride up to Bald Mountain.
Climb through the trees like a monkey during a canopy tour
U.S. National Whitewater Center, 5000 Whitewater Center Pkwy, Charlotte, N.C.
- ~1 hour and 40 min. away
- Cost: $89
A 3-4 hour guided trip through the forest canopies with zip lines, sky bridges, net climbs + rappels.
A perfect hike for the whole family
Tom’s Creek Falls, 1250 Huskins Branch Rd., Marion, N.C.
- ~1 hour and 45 min. away
- Cost: Free
Waterfall views, streams to explore, and pools to wade in – all in less than a mile, so the kids won’t be exhausted and cranky afterward.
Explore 1,460 acres of wildlife and nature
Latta Plantation Nature Preserve, 6211 Sample Rd., Huntersville, N.C.
- ~1 hour and 50 min. away
- Cost: Free
A preserve for heritage + endangered species – bring your camera to snap shots of bald eagles, wild turkeys + red foxes (and birds at the Carolina Raptor Center), or spend the day hiking and horseback riding by Mountain Island Lake.
Learn how to outdoor rock climb
Thrifty Adventures, 1173 Whitson Branch Rd., Bakersville N.C.
A ~6 hour full introduction to rock climbing outdoors for anyone aged 5+, with tutorials in knot-tying, climbing techniques, lingo, and safety.
Hike the trails at Anne Springs Close Greenway
Anne Springs Close Greenway, 2573 Lake Haigler Dr., Fort Mill S.C.
- ~2 hours away
- Cost: $5
40+ miles of hiking, mountain biking + horseback riding trails in a nature preserve open 7 days a week, from 7 a.m. to sunset.
Save it for a sunny day:
These activities might not be great for this season, but bookmark them so you’re prepared once summer break rolls around.
Jet ski on lake Keowee
Endless Adventures, Sunset, S.C.
Rent a few jet skis and spend a day feeling the wind through your hair.
Stand up paddleboard through AVL’s River Arts District
Wai Mauna Asheville SUP Tours, 159 Riverside Dr., Asheville, N.C.
- ~1 hour away
- Cost: $80
A 4-mile paddle through the hub of breweries, art galleries, and top-notch restaurants Pro tip: Try it at sunset for extra ambiance. Looking for something new to do with your friends? Try their 6-person paddleboard ($170 for self-guided, $300 for guided tour).
Tandem kayak the French Broad River
Asheville Outdoor Center, 521 Amboy Rd, Asheville, N.C.
A 7-mile kayak trip (that you can also float or paddleboard), with views of the Biltmore, plenty of wildlife, and a perfect picnic stop at Hominy Creek Park.
Go to the beach (while being in the mountains)
Lake Lure Beach, 2724 Memorial Hwy, Lake Lure, N.C.
Take a day of fun under the sun (and under the mountain peaks) on the beach or cool off at the water park.
Whitewater rafting on the World’s Largest Man-Made Whitewater River
U.S. National Whitewater Center, 5000 Whitewater Center Pkwy, Charlotte, N.C.
- ~1 hour and 40 min. away
- Cost: $59/adult day pass (access to all land + water activities)
Choose between the more intense adventure rafting (for ages 11+) or family rafting for a more
chill experience (ages 8+).
Outdoor rock wall climbing without ropes (but there’s a pool to catch you)
U.S. National Whitewater Center, 5000 Whitewater Center Pkwy, Charlotte, N.C.
- ~1 hour and 40 min. away
- Cost: $59/adult day pass
Made for every level of climber, with walls ranging from 25 to 45-ft. tall – who needs a harness or ropes when a 20-foot deep pool is waiting to catch you?
Visit the butterflies at Butterfly Bungalow
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, 6500 South New Hope Rd., Belmont, N.C.
Visit the 380-acre garden’s butterfly exhibit, learn about their journey from caterpillars + see which butterflies are native to our area.
Swim in a natural spring-fed rock quarry
Carrigan Farms, 1213 Oak Ridge Farm Hwy., Mooresville, N.C.
- ~2 hours away
- Cost: $15 (cash or check only)
Cool down with a day of open swimming at the granite quarry or test your adventurous side and cliff jump into the water.
Sunset kayaking or paddleboarding on Lake Norman
Aloha Paddle Sports, 17505 W. Catawba Ave. Cornelius, N.C.
- ~2 hours away
- Cost: $35 for a 90 min. guided tour (and they’ll take pics of you at sunset for the ‘gram)
They also offer paddle board yoga on Wed.-Sat. at Lake Norman for $15 with your own board, $25 to rent.
Tube the Catawba River
Catawba River Outdoors, Dolphin Fish Camp, 2334 US-221 Business, Marion, N.C.
- ~2 hours away
- Cost: $20+
A scenic float down the Catawba River takes about 2 hours but you can spend as long as you like on the river. Pro tip: Rent a cooler float for $10.
Spider lily kayaking on the Catawba River
Thrifty Adventures, 1173 Whitson Branch Rd., Bakersville N.C.
- ~2 hours away
- Cost: $58
Kayak through the largest concentration of Rocky Shoals Spider Lilies in the world. Spider lily season runs May-June.
