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.