Greenville — Fall in Love with Falls Park

by Kim Henry

Once known as ‘The Queen City on the Tar’ due to its location along the Tar River, Greenville remains one of South Carolina’s many multi-faceted treasures.

From historic downtown, to an international feast of culinary delights, to the natural beauty of Falls Park, Greenville has something special for everyone.

Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Greenville may have a thriving business and convention center district, but it’s also home to a staggering 600 restaurants, putting itself firmly on every foodies’ must-visit radar. Among the mix of locally-sourced, traditional Southern cuisine you can also find German, Iranian, French, Italian and Greek options. In addition, numerous sushi joints share downtown with Vietnamese, Indian and Japanese establishments, earning Greenville its cosmopolitan reputation.

From a revitalized downtown ranked among “America’s Ten Best” by Forbes Magazine, to its one-of-a-kind Liberty Bridge,
quaint shops, boutiques and fabulous restaurants, to a world-class collection of museums, galleries and theaters,
to someof the most beautiful lakes, rivers and mountains in the world,
Greenville, SC, is everything they say it is and more.

Visitors can even take a food tour by trolley to ensure that the full range of culinary experiences are relished to the max. Other tour options include cycling, whitewater adventures, historic downtown, Smoky Mountain exploration or how about an environmentally-friendly rickshaw ride as a way to view the sights? Year round festivals are also alive and well in Greenville, celebrating both local and national artists and reenacting historical events. But it is Falls Park on the bank of the Reedy River that truly shines as Greenville’s special gem.

The park underwent a complete renovation during the mid-1980s, thanks to the Carolina Foothills Garden Club and the City of Greenville that revived the area to create an oasis of natural beauty right in the heart of the city. In addition to this initial rejuvenation, 2002 saw the old
Camperdown Bridge being removed and replaced by the purely pedestrian Liberty Bridge. This award winning, 355-foot-long, 12-foot-wide, curved suspension bridge was designed by the world-renowned architect Miguel Rosales. It opened up dramatic views of both the beautiful 28-foot upper waterfalls and 32 acres of gardens.

So after taking in a museum and dining on the food of your choice, you can stroll through the beauty of Falls Park to soak up the last sun rays of the day. No wonder Greenville is fast becoming one of South Carolina’s most loved destinations.

Top Things To Do

• Greenville County Museum of Art A great collection of local artists and a number of traveling exhibits can be found at what’s considered to be the premier American art museum in the South.
• Greenville Zoo There are hundreds of residents enclosed in habitats that mimic each animal’s natural environment.
• Paris Mountain State Park Discover beautiful trails for every level of fitness in this 1,275-acre park that has various swimming options.
• Peace Center for the Performing Arts Greenville’s premier destination for theater and the arts, the Peace Center hosts numerous headline events all year round.
• Poinsett Bridge With its moss-covered stones and Gothic arch, this dirt-paved bridge built in 1820 is very atmospheric.
• Upcountry History Museum Learn about what makes South Carolina’s Upstate region unique at this impressive museum, full of unique exhibits.
• Victoria Valley Vineyards As you pull through the gates, you peer at the winery styled after a French “chateau,” complete with a tasting room, gift shop and a small deli.