66º | Heavy thunderstorms | 90% chance of rain
Sunrise 7:30 a.m. | Sunset 5:32 p.m.
Travel and Outdoors
Greenville: The ultimate outdoor destination
Presented by a COLAtoday Partner
From mild to active adventures, there’s plenty of outdoors to explore in Greenville, SC. | Photo provided by VisitGreenvilleSC
Ready for outdoor adventures this summer? All signs point to Greenville, SC, known for gorgeous mountain trails and waterfalls. In honor of National Get Outdoors Day this Saturday, we’re taking it outside. Here’s our roundup of must-visit scenic spots in Greenville:
Caesars Head State Park
Caesars Head State Park gives hikers an accessible, panoramic view of a natural wonder and the 13,000 acres of pristine mountain woodland that is the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area. Spend the day hiking, enjoying waterfall views, fishing, and more.
With views like this, you’ll definitely want to stay for a while.
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Photo provided by VisitGreenvilleSC
Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail
The Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail is a 23-mile multi-use trail system that runs along the Reedy River connecting restaurants, schools, parks, and other local businesses. Guests can enjoy fun, non-motorized recreation and transportation opportunities.
Looking for adventure? This is the perfect place to try geocaching, a real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices. There are 60+ active geocaches located within approximately two-tenths of a mile from the trail with more being hidden every day.
Falls Park on the Reedy
Be at the center of it all.Falls Park is home to the iconic Liberty Bridge and located right in the middle of downtown Greenville, making it a convenient compromise between spending time in the city and in the great outdoors.
Unity Park
Welcome to Greenville’s newest park. Unity Park features four state-of-the-art playgrounds, a 4,100-square-foot splash pad, two expansive green spaces, covered picnic tables, and a welcome center with restrooms + flexible event space.
The 60-acre park also offers basketball courts, a historic baseball field, and three pedestrian bridges spanning the Reedy River.
Paris Mountain State Park
Enjoy 15 miles of trails for hiking and mountain biking and an 8-acre lake to swim, paddle, and fish at Paris Mountain State Park. Hit the water via kayak, canoe, or pedal-boat with rentals are available on weekends. Bonus: Visitors can stay overnight at one of the park’s 39 paved camp sites (includes individual water and electrical hookups).
Yoga in the Galleries | Monday, June 5 | 6-7 p.m. | Columbia Museum of Art, 1515 Main St., Columbia | $15 | Begin your week with a restorative beginner’s yoga practice appropriate for all skill levels.
Tuesday, June 6
Kevin Hart: Reality Check | Tuesday, June 6 | 7 p.m. | The Township Auditorium, 1703 Taylor St., Columbia | $107.50-$247.50 | See this Emmy and Grammy-nominated comedian on his standup tour.
Titos Tuesday at Boku | Tuesday, June 6 | 4-11 p.m. | Boku Kitchen + Saloon, 916 Gervais St., Columbia | Free entry | Every Tuesday Boku will have $5 Titos cocktails open to close on top of its happy hour which includes $4 Sake Bombs, $5 appetizers, $6 wine and $7 cocktails from 4 to 7 p.m.
Wednesday, June 7
The Market at Richland Library | Wednesday, June 7 | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | Richland Library Main, 1431 Assembly St., Columbia | Shop your community to get fresh produce, meet your new favorite author or pick out an interesting piece of art.
Thursday, June 8
Storytime in the Garden at the Hampton-Preston Gardens | Thursday, June 8 | 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. | Hampton-Preston Mansion & Gardens, 1615 Blanding St., Columbia | Free | Enjoy stories, songs and activities — a quilt will be provided, but bring your own snacks and sunscreen.
Friday, June 9
Live Music by Sam & Illia | Friday, June 9 | 5-8 p.m. | Gardener’s Outpost, 1211 Franklin St., Columbia | Free | Make plans to shop a new spring plant inventory while listening to local musical duo, Sam and Illa.
Saturday, June 17
Daddy and Me 5K and Fun Run | Saturday, June 17 | 7:30 a.m. | Saluda Shoals Park, 6071 St Andrews Rd., Columbia | $30.00 - $35.00 | Families and runners/walkers of all levels are welcome — race day registration starts at 7 a.m., race kicks off at 8 a.m.*
Open a new Membership Savings account with a new Freedom or Interest Checking account with AllSouth through July 31 to automatically enter the giveaway. | Photo provided by AllSouth Federal Credit Union
Need extra cash to fuel your summer plans? Enter: AllSouth’s $1,000 Giveaway, giving new members a chance to win $1,000 each month this summer.
Here’s how it works:
Open a new Membership Savings account with a new Freedom or Interest Checking account online or at your local AllSouth now through July 31, 2023.
Monthly drawings will be held June-August, with one winner randomly selected from all eligible entries.
Break Point Cola — a tennis and pickleball shop — is set to open in Five Points. The shop will be located at at 719 Saluda Ave. (next to Scoopy Doo) and will offer apparel + equipment like paddles and rackets. Pick up a paddle and check out our guide to playing pickleball in the Soda City. (The State)
Outdoors
Have you gotten your alligator hunting license yet? You heard us right — the SC Department of Natural Resources will accept applications for the alligator hunting lottery until 5 p.m. on July 15. The fee is $10 and you can apply online. (WLTX)
Number
$6 million. That’s the amount the state Department of Transportation and the town of Lexington invested in road work (either underway or planned) for Old Cherokee Road. The goal is to increase flow at North Lake Drive. (The State)
Biz
The next installment of United Way of the Midlands Young Leaders Society’s “Learning with Leaders” series will be at All Good Books on Wednesday, June 7 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The panel discussion will feature small business owners from the Five Points. Tickets are $10-$15 and include hors d’oeuvres + a drink ticket.
Try This
To celebrate Pride, the SC chapter of Free Mom Hugs will screen the documentary “Mama Bears” at The Nick on Wednesday, June 14. This free event will also feature a panel discussion afterward. Register online.
Eat
Five words: Cinnamon Toast Crunch French Toast. Bookmark the recipe and thank us later.*
Giveaway
Get ready to sip + savor during the best weekend in Greenville. We’ve partnered with euphoria Greenville to giveaway one euphoric experience including two tickets to the sold out Seeing Stars: A Michelin-starred Dinner + two nights at one of euphoria’s partner hotels in downtown Greenville. Get the details + enter to win.*
Drink
Summer is here, which means so too is aperol spritz season. Enjoy as many as you’d like (without regretting it the next day) when you make yours with Ritual Zero Proof’s aperitif alternative — an alcohol-free take on the Italian classic. Bonus: Use it to make the summery aperitif sour.*
Shop
It’s Pet Appreciation Week, and it’s a great time to celebrate your furry friends. From stylish collars and leashes by Major Darling to healthy treats by Botanical Bones, our online shop (Six & Main) features the perfect products for your pets.
What’s up, Soda City? Like Sam mentioned last week, I’m filling in for her while she explores Europe. I work for COLAtoday’s parent company 6AM City and write for newsletters like GVLtoday and CHStoday.
But my claim to Columbia goes back all the way to the 70s — my dad grew up here. He used to love riding his bike to the Joyful Alternative bookstore in Five Points. Sadly, the shop closed in 2003, making this the 20th year Cola has gone without it.
Have a good memory at the Joyful Alternative? Let us know.
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