Strolling through downtown Greenville, South Carolina, it’s easy to see why the city ranks high among the best places to live in the
United States: Shops, restaurants and coffee bars line the streets; there are also performance venues, hotels and outdoor plazas. But what really sets this upstate city of just more than 78,000 residents apart are the easily accessible parks and walking trails encouraging both residents and visitors to explore the city by foot or cycle (both handcycles and adaptive bikes are available to rent). Even better, as Greenville continues to grow, city planners and major employers work together to expand these opportunities. When Greenville’s Swamp Rabbit Trail, for instance, opened in 2009, the paved, multiuse pathway ran about 9 miles from the heart of Greenville to the town of Traveler’s Rest.

Today it’s a 28-mile-long trail connecting Greenville to surrounding neighborhoods as well as to the city of Mauldin, where construction of a fully walkable urban village called BridgeWay Station is underway.In 2022 Greenville added 60-acre Unity Park to its system of green spaces; it joins 36 existing parks including Falls Park on the Reedy, a 32-acre oasis complete with a natural
waterfall and a remarkable curved suspension bridge looking out over the scene. Later in 2025, Greenville will see the opening of Brooks Playground, created to meet the needs of kids with a diverse range of disabilities. Greenville’s outdoor spaces aren’t the only ones promoting health and wellness. Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport has been named not only North America’s top small airport but also the continent’s cleanest.

Liberty Bridge in Falls Park on the Reedy © Visit Greenville SC

GSP continues to make Greenville more accessible, too, with seasonal service to Los Angeles (LAX), Sarasota (SRQ), Fort Myers (RSW) and other destinations taking off in 2025. Greenville also boasts South Carolina’s first WELL-certified building, which recognizes spaces that enhance the health and wellbeing of those who work there. The seven-story structure, home to United
Community Bank’s headquarters, features a gathering space with a coffee bar, quiet zones with seating areas to encourage collaboration, multiple mothers’ rooms and a café break room on each floor.

Additionally, it includes access to the Swamp Rabbit Trail and two outdoor terraces for employees. Many of Greenville’s lodging options also create health-centric environments with spas, plenty of room to roam and access to lots of outdoor activities. Guests at Grand Bohemian Lodge, for instance, have direct access to the Swamp Rabbit Trail; bikes can be rented on site. Just outside of town, WYLDSTAY glamping resort offers kayaking, fishing, pond swimming and the chance to hang out with the resort’s resident herd of friendly cows. At Hotel Hartness, a luxury boutique hotel just east of the city, guests can jog, walk or cycle the network of trails within the resort’s 180-acre nature preserve. Cyclists flock to Hotel Domestique, established by world-renowned cyclist George Hincapie and offering guided rides on roadways and mountain trails.

Recovery options including Hypervolt massagers, cold plunge baths, compression boots and an infrared sauna get riders ready to go at it day after day.

© Visit Greenville SC

“Health happens in the community,” said Clarence Sevillian, executive vice president and COO, Prisma Health, the city’s largest employer. “Here in Greenville, we are fortunate to have access to many parks and walking/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 so many new businesses, residents and visitors.”

SCENIC DRIVES
Located in South Carolina’s upstate region, Greenville makes a perfect jumping-off point to explore the Blue Ridge Mountains. From downtown Greenville it’s under an hour to Caesars Head State Park, where a massive granite outcropping looks out over the Blue Ridge Escarpment. The roadway, SC 276, turns like a corkscrew as it makes its way up the mountain, where there’s parking for the overlook as well asrestrooms and access to a number of hiking trails including the Raven Cliff Falls trail, a 4.4-mile out-and-back that leads to South Carolina’s tallest waterfall.

From Caesars Head it’s an easy trip down the mountain to Brevard, a small mountain town with a lively downtown filled with galleries, shops and restaurants. Each summer the Brevard Music Center hosts a world-renowned summer music festival; the city’s Parker Concert Hall hosts a variety of performances all year long. Spend the afternoon in Brevard or continue further into the mountains to Asheville, about an hour away. Devastated by Hurricane Helene in October 2024, the city is now open for business and welcomes visitors.