Girls Guide to Greenville, South Carolina
In the last month, each of us said goodbye to one of our children as we sent them into the world to live their best adult life. It can be sad, and we all needed a distraction. It must be time to take a girl’s trip! In fact, according to articles in Healthy Women and Southern Living, a girl’s trip can be beneficial to your health. Being with our girlfriends can release oxytocin (the happy hormone), ward off dementia, and extend our lifespan! Keep reading to get the girls guide to Greenville, South Caroilna!
Food
Greenville can officially be considered a foodie paradise and some even consider it the next big food city in the South. Watch out Charleston and Nashville! Helpful hint: wear you stretchy pants!
drinks
Whether you are looking for a good cup of coffee or a fun cocktail, Greenville has you covered! With 5 downtown breweries and numerous rooftop bars you can drink in style.
Fun
From shopping one of a kind boutiques to outdoor adventure, there is something for everyone in Greenville! The Swamp Rabbit Trail, a 22 mile path along the Reedy River is not to be missed!
We only had two full days to fit everything in, so these are just the highlights. The best thing about a girls trip, is having no schedule you have to stick to. We had some dinner reservations, but otherwise decided to just be spontaneous. Always remember that the journey is just as fun as the destination. If you are travelling from Charlotte to Greenville there is a stop you don’t want to miss- The Flockshop in Spartanburg! It’s a converted 1950’s gas station with a big outdoor patio and Instagram worthy mural in the back. Plus who doesn’t want to eat at a restaurant that has “sammiches” on the menu?
What to order
Fried chicken tenders "kinda hot" with the Alabama white sauce. For sides order the pimento mac n cheese and simple slaw.
Girls guide to Places to food in greenville, sC
The Anchorage
The Anchorage, located in West Greenville is a little off the beaten path but well worth the Uber fare! Make sure you make reservations. Reviews recommend the "tasting menu" but it's $65 a person (before drinks), so unless you want to try EVERYTHING on the menu, it's not necessary. The good news is that the wait staff is extremely knowledgeable, so we went with her suggestions and ordered several things to share. I will admit that this is the kind of menu where I had to google several items, but by the end of dinner we learned about everything from compressed melons to South Carolina swordfish!
Camp
Camp Modern American Eatery has a very cool vibe. Surprisingly, we got a table without a reservation and the meal was amazing! We went with the small plate shareables again so we could try a little bit of everything. Camp is known for its "whimsical, comfort food menu with a touch of global flair". They use seasonal ingredients sourced directly from local farms. Do not leave there without ordering the steam buns! Other great choices were the potato gnocchi, the Xilli dumplings, and even the mini corn dogs.
girls guide to drinks in greenville, sC
Paloma
The Paloma, a bar and restaurant located in the AC Hotel is known for it's mix of Southern and European. The menu looks amazing, but since we had a reservation for dinner at The Anchorage, we just had drinks. This is where I discovered my new favorite cocktail- The Paloma. The Paloma is a fun pink cocktail consisting of tequila, lime juice, and grapefruit soda.
Up on the Roof
Up on the Roof is located on the 8th floor of the Embassy Suites Hotel and as promised, offers some views. They offer "bottled cocktails" which is kind of fun and different. They come premixed with a straw and a little tag. I ordered the "night moves".
Girls guide to hot coffee spots in greenville,SC
Methodical Coffee
Steps away from our hotel, Methodical Coffee, sources their coffee from Africa and Latin America. The coffee and tea menu is extensive but I went with Tres Leches and a piece of the blackberry almond loaf. YUM! My only wish was that my coffee cup was 3 times bigger!
Underground Coffee
Underground Coffee, located right off of the main street, is exactly that, down some stairs and underground. Don’t let the dim lighting fool you- the coffee is amazing and I am still dreaming about my bagel with peanut butter, honey, and bananas!
Girls guide to finding fun in greenville, SC
The swamp rabbit trail
I’m sure by now you are wondering if we do anything other than eat and drink. We also ride bikes and decided to check out the much talked about Swamp Rabbit Trail. The trail from beginning to end is 22 miles and runs along the Reedy River. I’m happy to report we got on at the 10 mile mark and rode it all the way to Traveler’s Rest. It’s an easy mostly flat ride, but be aware when you hear the bell chime and the “on your left” shout, you need to GET OVER.
Stops along the way
There are a couple of fun places to stop along the way. The Swamp Rabbit Cafe and Grocery is a cute store supporting local artisans and farmers. You can buy groceries, t shirts, or have a full meal at the cafe and bakery. They even have a mini beer garden. It’s crazy to think that this was once an abandoned building!
Seven miles in you hit Furman University which has a pretty lake and iconic clock tower. It also just
happens to be the place where my mom and dad met! I’ve been to Furman many times including college tours for both of my boys, but never realized what a fun destination spot was right outside the gate.
Finally in Traveler's Rest
Farmhouse Tacos
I can say that we were all very excited when we finally reached our destination- Traveler’s Rest! We were starving and Farmhouse Tacos did not disappoint. It has an eclectic farmhouse feel and of course has a wide array of TACOS! Everything is locally sourced and they offer a wide selection of local beers.
What to order
The Alabama Street Taco and the Hawaiian Shrimp Taco. The guac is also pretty good.
Swamp Rabbit Brewery and taproom
Swamp Rabbit Brewery and Taproom is the obvious destination after a 10 mile bike ride and who doesn’t want to try a flight of beers before that long ride back? The merchandise here was great and of course we had to buy our guys back home t shirts. The local beer selection offers everything from a IPA to a black Lager. Don’t like beer? They offer wine and hard seltzer as well.
And that's a wrap
After two days of eating and drinking our way through Greenville, it was time to head back to reality and the gym! Girl’s trips are just good for the soul and I love that my face actually hurts from laughing so hard. It’s a chance to recharge without worrying about your role as mom and wife. It’s a chance to destress and talk about everything from kids to work to future plans with people who don’t judge you even with all your flaws. It’s a chance to be inspired… we share tips about hair and skin products and lately even about what vitamins we’re taking! Finally, it’s a chance to support and celebrate each other; the highs, the lows, and everything in between.
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