Strolling through downtown Greenville, South Carolina, it’s easy to see why the city ranks among the best places to live in the United States. Lively streets are lined with shops, restaurants and coffee bars, and the downtown area also features performance venues, hotels and outdoor plazas. What truly distinguishes this upstate city of just over 78,000 residents, however, are the abundant parks and walking trails that invite both residents and visitors to explore by foot or by cycle—adaptive and handcycles are available to rent—making active transportation a natural part of daily life.
As Greenville grows, city planners and major employers collaborate to expand these outdoor opportunities. When the Swamp Rabbit Trail opened in 2009, the paved, multiuse path stretched roughly 9 miles from the heart of Greenville to Traveler’s Rest. Today it spans about 28 miles, connecting downtown to surrounding neighborhoods and to the city of Mauldin, where a fully walkable urban village called BridgeWay Station is under construction. In 2022 Greenville added the 60-acre Unity Park to its green-space system, joining 36 existing parks including Falls Park on the Reedy—a 32-acre oasis with a natural waterfall and the striking curved Liberty Bridge that frames the scene. In 2025 residents and visitors can also look forward to the opening of Brooks Playground, designed specifically to serve children with a wide range of disabilities.
Greenville’s commitment to health and wellbeing extends beyond outdoor spaces. Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP) has been recognized as both North America’s top small airport and the continent’s cleanest, and seasonal service to destinations such as Los Angeles, Sarasota and Fort Myers will expand in 2025, improving regional connectivity. The city is also home to South Carolina’s first WELL-certified building, which highlights spaces that intentionally support occupant health. The seven-story headquarters of United Community Bank features gathering areas with a coffee bar, quiet zones with seating to encourage collaboration, multiple mothers’ rooms, a café break room on each floor, direct access to the Swamp Rabbit Trail and two outdoor terraces for employees.
Liberty Bridge in Falls Park on the Reedy © Visit Greenville SC
Many of Greenville’s lodging options emphasize wellness and outdoor access. Guests at the Grand Bohemian Lodge enjoy direct access to the Swamp Rabbit Trail and on-site bike rentals. The WYLDSTAY glamping resort, located just outside of town, offers kayaking, fishing, pond swimming and the whimsical chance to meet the resort’s resident herd of friendly cows. Hotel Hartness, a luxury boutique property east of the city, sits within a 180-acre nature preserve where guests can jog, walk or cycle a network of trails. Hotel Domestique, founded by world-renowned cyclist George Hincapie, attracts riders with guided road and mountain rides as well as recovery amenities—Hypervolt massagers, cold plunge baths, compression boots and an infrared sauna—that help athletes recharge for the next day’s effort.
© Visit Greenville SC
“Health happens in the community,” said Clarence Sevillian, executive vice president and COO of Prisma Health, Greenville’s largest employer. “Here in Greenville, we are fortunate to have access to many parks and walking and biking trails that make it easy for our community to maintain an active lifestyle. It’s one of the many reasons we continue to attract new businesses, residents and visitors.”
SCENIC DRIVES
Greenville’s location in South Carolina’s upstate makes it an ideal starting point for exploring the Blue Ridge Mountains. From downtown it’s under an hour to Caesars Head State Park, where a massive granite outcropping overlooks the Blue Ridge Escarpment. SC 276 winds up the mountain with dramatic switchbacks and provides parking, restrooms and trail access for hikes such as the Raven Cliff Falls trail, a 4.4-mile out-and-back route that leads to South Carolina’s tallest waterfall.
From Caesars Head you can easily continue down to Brevard, a small mountain town known for a lively downtown full of galleries, shops and restaurants. The Brevard Music Center hosts a renowned summer music festival, and Parker Concert Hall offers year-round performances. Spend a leisurely afternoon in Brevard or drive on about an hour to Asheville for more cultural and outdoor attractions; after recovery from Hurricane Helene in October 2024, the city is welcoming visitors again.