FAMILY FUN IN GREENVILLE, SC: A LIST OF ACTIVITIES THE WHOLE FAMILY WILL ENJOY

You’ve managed to line up everyone’s schedules so that you have the whole family together in the same room, and you can’t wait to have some quality family time. There’s only one problem. You need an activity that everyone (even your tweens and teens) will love. We’ve got you covered. In this massive article, we’re listing ideas for all sorts of family fun in Greenville, from sports games to arcades and waterparks. Use the table below to navigate to the type of activities you’re interested in and start making those family memories you’ve been looking forward to.

• Arcades, Amusement Parks, & Bowling
• Escape Rooms & Immersive Experiences
• Food & Desserts
• Museums
• Parks and Trails
• Physical Activities
• Shows and Performances
• Spectator Sports
• Trampoline Parks
• Water Activities

Arcades, Amusement Parks, & Bowling

Whether you want to knock down pins or play the latest arcade games, these entertaining ideas will score points with the whole family. Dave & Buster’s Greenville Located on Woodruff Road in Greenville, Dave & Buster’s has arcade games and virtual reality for the kids and sports and food for the parents. Their menu is pretty extensive, so kids and parents can find food they like. Frankie’s Fun Park Mini golf, rides, a batting cage, and an indoor arcade make Frankie’s a great place to bring the family to relax for a few hours. The café offers all the great junk foods, from pizza to burgers and wings. Check out prices here.

Upstate Pinball & Arcade Museum This arcade in downtown Simpsonville (located in Warehouse at Vaughns) has a large collection of retro arcade games the entire family will enjoy. While the kids will have fun with the pinball and video games, parents will love the nostalgia and fantastic pricing (you pay for all day access to all games). Treetop Quest Adventure Park Want a zipline and treetop course that the entire family can do? During the warmer months, head over to Treetop Quest for a family experience that will test your balance and strength. Don’t worry – there are different course levels so everyone in your family can participate. Check out Treetop’s homepage for ticket prices. Golden Lanes & Golden Skate In case bowling wasn’t already enough, Golden Lanes in Simpsonville decided to get rollerblading involved. Bring the family to take a skate around the rink, bowl a few games, and enjoy the pool tables and concessions. Spare Time Entertainment Located on Congaree Road in Greenville, Spare Time has an upbeat yet relaxed environment that’s perfect for families. Arcade games, bowling, and laser tag make sure there’s room for a little family rivalry, then there’s a restaurant to finish off the day.

Stone Pin Company This boutique bowling alley is located near downtown Greenville on Stone Avenue (right down the street from Escape Artist!). It’s retro decor and cozy vibe make it a great place to bring teens. Click here for bowling lane rates. Wade Hampton Lanes This smoke-free bowling alley is located in Taylors, SC. With plenty of lanes and enough room to spread out, it will quickly become a family favorite.

Escape Rooms & Immersive Experiences

Challenge your brains and your teamwork with these intriguing escape rooms and immersive experiences in the Upstate.

Escape Artist Greenville Whether you want to escape from a creepy psychologist’s cabin in the woods or start your first day of work at a lucid dream travel agency, Escape Artist’s Greenville SC escape rooms offer experiences you won’t find anywhere else. That’s because all of our rooms are built from scratch, right from the inventive ideas of owners Will and Kim. We offer experiences ranging from traditional lock escape rooms to immersive storytelling experiences complete with live actors. If your family likes sweet and creative themes, save the world from evil cats in our Classified room or get the family Christmas party ready in Yuletide Magic. If spooky or downright scary themes are more the family’s style, we’ve got chilling escape rooms like the Starlight Motel and Dark Lullaby for families with older kids. Whatever adventure you choose, our rooms have creative puzzles and hilarious plotlines to entertain the whole family. Book your escape room adventure with us today for an activity all family members will approve of (even teens!). Trapped in the Upstate Trapped in the Upstate is located in Greer and offers great family escape rooms. While some of their rooms are scary (like Asylum and The Legend of Lizzie), they also have lighthearted and fun rooms like Master Illusionist’s Parlor. For a complete outing, take the family to enjoy one of Trapped’s escape rooms, then head to downtown Greer for dinner at Cartwright Food Hall. Breakout Games Just a few minutes down the street from Escape Artist in downtown Greenville, Breakout is a national chain that offers solid escape room experiences with fun themes like Museum Heist and Wild West. See the list of Breakout’s current Greenville rooms here. Madworld Haunted Attractions If you are one of those brave families that loves watching horror movies and going to haunts, Madworld is the place for you. Filled to the brim with gory sets and terrifying actors, Madworld is a great family activity for those with older teens. It has been ranked one of the top ten scariest haunted houses in the nation. Warning: This is not for the faint of heart. See ticket prices here.

Food & Desserts

Nothing screams family time like ice cream, donuts, and everything sugary under the sun. Add a little food to the mix and you’ve got a masterplan for one happy fam. The Commons This food hall is right next to Unity Park, which makes it a perfect place to spend an afternoon. Grab some creative tacos from Automatic Taco or juicy burgers from Golden Brown & Delicious, then take a family walk around the park. Ding Tea Boba is fast becoming a new favorite add in for drinks. For boba teas (and macarons!) right off of Haywood road, check out Ding Tea. Their shop has seating and games if you want to stay put, or you could take the family outside (Unity or Legacy Park, anyone?). Gather Greenville Gather Greenville downtown is an outdoor venue with all sorts of food and drink options, from açai bowls to fried chicken and donuts. Gather hosts events like music bingo and live music frequently, so keep an eye out for the latest plans. Plus, you can bring your pet Tuesday through Friday. There’s nothing like a family event with everyone involved. Ice Cream Station This ice cream hut in downtown Simpsonville has milkshakes, floats, and more flavors of Sundaes than you’ve seen in one place before. Top it off with great mix-in options and outdoor seating, and you’ve got a winner. Plus, the prices are fantastic. Kung Fu Tea Referred to by The Washington Post as “the Starbucks of bubble tea,” Kung Fu Tea near Haywood Mall has countless ways to mix and match flavors for a custom boba creation. Whether your kids want a milkshake or a slush, they’ll be excited by the possibilities of boba.

Magnetic South Brewery With locations in both Greenville and Anderson (and arcade games to boot), Magnetic South is a great place for a family meal. Keep an eye on their Instagram for upcoming events – Magnetic South always has something going on. Pink Mama’s Ice Cream For fresh-baked waffle cones and extreme Sundaes, Pink Mama’s is the place to go. Locations are in Easley, Traveler’s Rest, and Pickwick. (The Pickwick location is a soda shop, too!)

The Silos of Easley This food venue in Easley has so many delicious restaurant options, but the highlight may be the homemade donut shop, You Drive Me Glazy. Bring the family for some live music (on weekdays, you can bring your puppy too!) and enjoy the outdoor seating and fire tables. Swamp Rabbit Café Located along the Swamp Rabbit Trail in downtown Greenville, Swamp Rabbit Café is a café and grocery store. The store is inside, while the café has a white tent outside for ordering and a pickup window at the side of the building for getting your food. Besides picnic tables and a play area for littles, there is an additional building with seating, games, foosball, and pingpong. This is a great place to bring the family to relax for a bit. Waffle Drop Waffle Drop is a bubble waffle ice cream shop at Hampton Station in downtown Greenville. What are bubble waffles? They’re like waffles, but they have bubbles of air that make them almost like a pancake. Waffle Drop lets you mix ice cream, fruit, and candy in any amount and order that you want to create a delectable concoction of your own. Bring the kids and enjoy some ice cream, then plan to visit us at Escape Artist a couple doors down or do some ax throwing at Craft Axe.

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Warehouse at Vaughns This multiple-restaurant venue in downtown Simpsonville has enough restaurants that kids and adults will all find favorites. Pizza and burgers, meet tap beer and seafood.

Museums

What better way to spend quality family time than by learning something new? These museums in the Upstate will help you do just that. Greenville Center for Creative Arts Greenville Center for Creative Arts (GCCA) is located in the Village of West Greenville and showcases both local and international artists. Introduce the family to a wide range of compelling art with this free, public art center. GCCA offers First Friday gallery crawls that let you meet the artists of the exhibitions and even do a family art project. Bring the fam to check it out! Greenville County Museum of Art  The Greenville County Museum of Art boasts a large collection of historical and contemporary art, from watercolors by modern painter Andrew Wyeth to pottery by enslaved artist David Drake. This museum is free to the public and ties art into southern history, so bring the family for an intriguing and affordable afternoon. Roper Mountain Science Center Designed specifically for kids, Roper Mountain Science Center has a variety of things the family can enjoy. You can pet stingrays, walk through a butterfly garden, and go on a dinosaur trail to see lifesize replicas of just how big dinosaurs really were. September through May, you’ll want to purchase an Afternoon Explorations ticket. During the summer, you’ll need the Summer Adventures ticket for access to the exhibits and buildings. Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum This one is for the sports lovers in your family. Located in downtown Greenville, the Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum is just a three minute drive from crowd pleasers like Spill the Beans (which offers coffee and ice cream) and Falls Park on the Reedy. Since the museum is only open on Saturdays, why not make a day of it?

Upcountry History Museum Upcountry does a great job of giving an overview of the history of South Carolina without being overwhelming. Plus, they offer lots of events (including family fun days). Upcountry changes out exhibits all the time, so keep an eye out for upcoming exhibitions.

Parks and Trails

When the weather gets nice, there’s no better way to have fun as a family than by heading outside. These parks and trails will help you find great destinations.

Conestee Park With a walking trail, a dog park, a playground, baseball fields, and restrooms, could you ask for anything more in a park? Conestee is located off Mauldin Road in Greenville, making it easily accessible from almost anywhere in Greenville.

Falls Park on the Reedy Falls Park on the Reedy is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Greenville, and for good reason. The beautiful falls and cable bridge, the lovely walking paths through well-tended landscaping, and the easy access to downtown make this a crowd-pleaser. Bring the family for a fun day in Greenville.

Legacy Park Legacy has a paved walking trail around the park, lots of green space to play or bring the dog, and a playground/pavilion area to set up shop for lunch. If you want to try your hand at a family volleyball match, they’ve got a sand court there, too. Mice on Main Mice on Main is an adorable scavenger hunt throughout downtown Greenville that takes you to some iconic Greenville spots. Head to the website to see the clues, and enjoy exploring the city as a family. Paris Mountain State Park Just north of downtown Greenville, Paris Mountain is a beautiful park for hikes, bike rides, and picnics. They also have a swimming area if you’re looking for summer water activities. Admission is usually $6 for adults and $3.50 for kids. Swamp Rabbit Trail The Swamp Rabbit Trail is 22 miles long and goes from Travelers Rest all the way to Greenville. You can pick a spot to start along the way (or plan it so that you end up at the Swamp Rabbit Café along the trail). To get an idea of the path, check out the interactive map online. This is a great place to let the kids bring skates or scooters or to do a family bikeride.

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Unity Park If you haven’t taken the family to Unity Park, you’re missing out. The gorgeous paths, pedestrian bridges, and play area make it a fantastic place for families to spend time. The Commons is right next to the park, so you can stop and get some food after burning all those calories. Waterfall Hikes If your family likes to hike, why not set out for a view? This article by Lake Hartwell Country lists seven beautiful South Carolina waterfalls that are easily accessible with short, family-friendly hikes.

Physical Activities

BlocHaven Rock Climbing Gym If your kids love to climb and try new things, take the family to BlocHaven, a family-friendly rock climbing gym in Greenville. BlocHaven is great for beginners, and you can rent climbing shoes, chalk, and even harnesses. The kids will have a blast, and you just might get hooked, too. Normally day passes cost $20 per person, and you can rent gear for $5 per person. If it’s your first time, make sure to get there a little early to watch the welcome video, sign the waivers, and get your shoes fitting just right.

Craft Axe Ax throwing has quickly become a beloved group activity because it’s both fun and laid back. Bring the kids, grab a beer, and enjoy an hour of throwing. Craft Axe is located in Hampton Station, so why not make a day of it? Plan to do an escape room after (we’re just a couple of doors down) or grab some tacos at White Duck Taco. Mad Smash Have you heard of rage rooms? You get to suit up, grab the weapon of your choice, and break old items like glass plates or picture frames. If your family enjoys a little chaos now and then, this might be just the thing. The Pavillion Take the family ice skating at the Greenville County Rec Pavillion. The center has great amenities – clean bathrooms, a concession stand, and even a bounce house. Admission for ice skating is under $15 per person and comes with rental skates. Just check the public skating schedule before you go. Not feeling ready to skate? The tennis courts are another great way to go. Bring your rackets and have a little friendly competition. Reedy Rides Rent bikes so the family can explore the Swamp Rabbit Trail in style. Reedy Rides offers a variety of bike styles so everyone can be comfortable. Saluda River Archery Test your archery skills at Saluda River Archery, or learn about shooting for the first time. They are happy to teach beginners, and you can rent gear when you go. Just call to schedule a time to rent the range.

Topgolf Greenville If you’d like to find a family activity that appeals to both kids and adults, go to Topgolf in Greenville. They have a restaurant, climate-controlled hitting bays, HDTVs in each bay, and pool tables to enjoy while you wait.

Shows & Performances

These family-friendly theaters in Greenville are always putting on fantastic productions.

Mauldin Cultural Center There’s nothing to say for this community center in Mauldin except that it puts on excellent shows at great prices. Take the family for a pre-show snack at the ice cream shack outside, then enjoy the show. Click here to see upcoming productions. Peace Center While the Peace Center is one of the more expensive routes when it comes to taking the family to a show, the productions they put on will blow your family’s minds. Take a look at upcoming shows here.

South Carolina Children’s Theatre If you want to introduce the family to theater, why not bring your kids to see a show where the main stars are kids? You can see a list of upcoming SCCT performances on their website.

Trampoline Parks

Trampoline parks are fun for kids, but what about for tweens, teens, and the parents that bring them? These trampoline parks are great for the whole family, fostering competition and providing challenges that even older teens and adults might like.

ArenaX ArenaX is a branch off of Big Air Trampoline Park, but this one is an arena-style competition. At this Spartanburg trampoline center, players compete to win the most points by scanning their wrist bands at different challenge points in a timed race. Get the whole family involved to see who can get the highest score. DEFY Greenville Priding themselves on providing an extreme air sport experience, DEFY has all sorts of trampoline activities, from basketball and dodgeball to stunt falls. Bring the family to see if you can stand up to the sport.

Spectator Sports

Spend some quality family time and support local teams with this list of fun teams to cheer on.

Greenville Swamp Rabbits There’s nothing like a rowdy hockey game to get the family having fun. Hockey season begins in the late fall and goes until April. Grab tickets here. Greenville Drive Baseball, the quintessential American sport, is a great family activity. Bring the family to a Greenville Drive game in the spring or summer and enjoy concessions like nachos and hotdogs. (After all, aren’t concessions the whole point of going to a baseball game?) Greenville Triumph and Greenville Liberty If you’d like to take the family to a soccer game, Greenville Triumph and Greenville Liberty (the men’s and women’s leagues for Greenville) are always a good time. Plus, there is food sold inside the stadium. Who can say no to pizza and drinks?

Water Activities

“Summertime and the living is easy” as the tune goes. During the warmer months, check out these fantastic waterparks and other water activities for the entire family.

Discovery Island Waterpark Located in Simpsonville, this Greenville Rec water park has water slides, a lazy river, a splash pad, a wave pool, and concessions. Kids will love the water, and adults will love the affordable price. Otter Creek Waterpark Otter Creek Waterpark in Greenville offers tons of fun slides and a splash pad. Adults will enjoy the sundeck and concessions while the kids enjoy the pool. Check ticket prices here. 7th Inning Splash Waterpark This waterpark run by Greenville Rec boasts a funnel slide and a baseball diamond splash pad. At under $10 a person, 7th Inning is the cheapest of the three Greenville Rec waterparks in the area. You can bring the whole family and still feel good about your budget. Unity Park Splashpad Head over to Unity Park with the family to enjoy their walking trails, playground, and of course, the splashpad. As long as the sun is shining, the splashpad operates throughout the summer whenever the park is open. Saluda Outdoor Center Tubing Take the whole family for a float down the Saluda river with the Saluda Outdoor Center in Easley. You can book your tubing experience for Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in the summer. Click here to book online. Lake Jocassee Whether you want to kayak, rent a pontoon boat, or just take the kids to the sandy lakeside to enjoy a swim, Lake Jocassee in Oconee is a fantastic day trip destination. If you want to know more about activities and rentals for the lake, Kidding Around Greenville has an in-depth article with tons of tips and ideas. To get to the lake, you’ll need to pay the small admission fee for Devil’s Fork State Park, but trust us – the pristine water and lovely mountain views are worth it. Paris Mountain State Park Only a few minutes from downtown Greenville, Paris Mountain is a great option for summer splashing. Tickets to the park are affordable, and the lake is great for both kayaking and swimming. There is a designated swimming area, but the park also rents paddle boats if you’d like to go out farther. Want even more places to explore for water activities? Check out the South Carolina State Parks’ webpage listing all the lakes in South Carolina. It’s an excellent resource.

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We hope this list of activities gave you some ideas for your next day of family fun in Greenville. Did we miss something? Send us an email at info@escapeartistgreenville.com to let us know!