Easy trips from Greenville, SC

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YMCA Camp Greenville

There’s many things that make Greenville so great, and one of them is its proximity to so many other cool spots. The options for a fun day trip could be endless, so we put together a few more unique ideas for you for when you’re ready to start venturing out again.

Disclaimer: Note that many of these places may not currently be open. Be sure to check websites before considering a visit.

Only an afternoon free? Explore these close-to-home spots off the beaten path.

Pretty Place aka Symmes Chapel, 100 YMCA Camp Rd., Cleveland, SC 29635

Travel Time: 1 hour + 10 minutes

Ages: All ages

Cost: Free

#ProTip: Get some friends together and watch the sunrise.

Lake Conestee Nature Preserve, 601 Fork Shoals Rd., Greenville, SC 29605

Travel Time: 20 minutes

Roads: Back roads

Ages: All ages

Cost: Free

Hang by the river and look out for river otters, beavers, foxes, and more. Trails and walking paths are available as well.

Not afraid of a long drive? Strap the kids in and put on a movie, you’re going on a road trip.

Stumphouse Tunnel Park, Stumphouse Tunnel Rd., Walhalla, SC 29691

Travel Time: 1 hour + 15 minutes

Roads: Highway

Ages: All ages

Built in the 1800s, construction was halted because of the Civil War.

The Button Museum, 55 Joe Dority Rd., Bishopville, SC, 29010

Travel Time: 2 hours + 10 minutes

Roads: Highways

Ages: All ages

A car covered with buttons, a banjo covered with buttons, the doors covered with buttons… you get the picture.

Pearl Fryar’s Topiary Garden, 145 Broad Acres Rd., Bishopville, SC 29010

Travel Time: 2 hours + 12 minutes

Roads: Highway

Ages: All ages

The fantastical topiary garden contains over 300 plants, mostly rescued from compost piles and meticulously cared for by Pearl himself. You can read a recent article from the Post & Courier about Pearl here.

UFO Welcome Center, 4004 Homestead Rd., Bowman, SC 29018

Travel Time: 2 hours + 23 minutes

Roads: Interstates to back roads

Ages: All ages

Builder Jody Pendarvis lives inside his homemade UFO, which he built to welcome the coming aliens to make them feel at home.

*If you don’t feel like making the trip, check out the video Vice made.

Going on vacation? Ditch the tourist hot spots and explore these places.

The Angel Oak Tree, 3688 Angel Oak Rd., Johns Island, SC 29455

Travel Time: 3 hours + 33 minutes

Roads: Interstates and back roads

Ages: All ages

At almost 500 years old, the sprawling oak tree is South Carolina’s oldest living organism. Its longest branch is 187 feet long.

Morgan Island, Morgan Island, Beaufort County, SC, 29920

Travel Time: 4 hours + 11 minutes

Roads: Interstates to roads to a ferry

Ages: All ages

The no-humans-allowed island (but you can grab a boat ride around the island) is home to thousands of medical research monkeys. Interested in reading up on the history behind this monkey island? Click the link here.

Dafuskie Island, Depart from 18 Simmons Rd., Hilton Head, SC 29926

Travel Time: 4 hours + 20 minutes

Roads: Interstates to roads to a ferry (golf carts are available to rent on the island to explore)

Ages: All ages

Only accessible by boat, the island is home to descendants of freed slaves and inspired Pat Conroy’s iconic novel The Water is Wide.

Edisto Serpentarium, 1374 Highway 174 Edisto Island, SC 29438

Travel Time: 3 hours + 39 minutes

Roads: Interstates and roads

Ages: All ages

Alligators, African tortoises, and venomous snakes are just a few of the species housed at Edisto’s serpentarium.

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