Things to Do in Spartanburg
Spartanburg is located in the “Upstate” portion of South Carolina and is home to around 37,000 residents. It is currently considered a major city in the state and is home to quite a few colleges including Wofford College. Spartanburg has many things to do and is a great place to take your family for a quiet weekend away. Spartanburg’s surrounding area has many state parks, outdoor activities, and other exciting attractions. Below is our list of the best things to do in Spartanburg.
Visit the Spartanburg Science Center
Image: Spartanburg Science Center Website
The Spartanburg Science Center is a spot for both students and adults to gain interactive education through hands-on exhibits and community outreach. Visiting the science center can be the perfect way to get the whole family engaged if the weather is chilly or rainy. Head to their website to figure out the perfect program. You’ll be able to coordinate when your visit and enjoy an awesome experience with science and nature.
Head to Cowpens National Battlefield
Image: Cowpens National Battlefield Facebook
If you’re looking for things to do in Spartanburg, consider taking in some art! The Greenville County Museum of Art houses the world’s largest public collection of watercolors by American artist Andrew Wyeth. Jasper Johns is also prominently featured in the museum with a variety of contemporary paintings and prints. The museum aims to provide a wide range of pieces that all tie back to the American art history and the South. The museum is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM and Sunday from 1 PM to 5 PM. Furthermore, guided tours are free to groups of ten or more if you schedule in advance. Visit their website for more information on tours as well as the items you’re allowed to bring into the museum itself.
Visit the Greenville County Museum of Art
Image: Greenville County Museum of Art Website
If you’re looking for things to do in Spartanburg, consider taking in some art! The Greenville County Museum of Art houses the world’s largest public collection of watercolors by American artist Andrew Wyeth. Jasper Johns is also prominently featured in the museum with a variety of contemporary paintings and prints. The museum aims to provide a wide range of pieces that all tie back to the American art history and the South. The museum is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM and Sunday from 1 PM to 5 PM. Furthermore, guided tours are free to groups of ten or more if you schedule in advance. Visit their website for more information on tours as well as the items you’re allowed to bring into the museum itself.
Take the kids to the Hub City Railroad Museum
Image: Hub City Museum Website
All aboard! Head to the Hub City Railroad Museum for a morning or afternoon of fun in Spartanburg. The kids will love this museum in the former Southern Railways Depot. This museum features all of the histories of the city’s railroads and two major industries, peaches and textiles. Admission is completely free, so this spot is incredibly friendly for large groups. If you enjoy your time, they always welcome donations. The hours of the museum are Wednesday from 10 AM to 2 PM and Saturday from 10 AM to 2 PM. This museum is perfect for anyone who loves history or is fascinated with trains. Be sure to check it out while you’re in town!
Visit Kings Mountain National Military Park
This park commemorates the Battle of King’s Mountain which was significant in the Revolutionary War. It has become famous as the “The turn of the tide of success,” for the war according to the third president of the United States, Thomas Jefferson. The battle was fought in 1780 and the park was established in 1931. Nearby, there are areas to camp, picnic, and visit a “living history” farm. The park is accessible to both North and South Carolina. A visit to the Kings Mountain National Military Park is perfect if you or your family loves history. A one-and-a-half-mile historic paved trail begins at the visitors’ center and follows the base of the mountain. It provides a history of the area as well as the various events that took place there.
Get active at the Glendale Outdoor Leadership School
Image: Glendale Outdoor Leadership School Facebook
The Glendale Outdoor Leadership School aims to foster learning and personal growth in order to contribute to society overall. Thus, individuals all of ages can go to the school to participate in individual sports such as mountain biking, indoor rock climbing, and kayaking. You can also do a course for first responders, wilderness first aid, outdoor leadership, and team building. For short visits, be sure to check out those individual sports for your kids. Prices range from $15 to $120 dollars. For 5 to 10 people, you can also check out at group paddle trip. For 2 hours, it’s $25 per person. For 3 hours, it’s $35 per person. For 4 hours, it’s $45 per person. This is an awesome and inventive way to get the entire family active and get to know the surrounding area of Spartanburg.
Visit the Walnut Grove Plantation
The Walnut Grove Plantation is a popular spot for tourists in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The home was built in 1765 on a land grant from King George III. The main house is still renovated and preserved, and if you find yourself with a free afternoon you may want to take a tour while you’re in the area. One story has brought the home particular attention. There is a stain on the floor in the upstairs bedroom that is believed to though to belong to a patriot. To hear the full story, you’ll have to go and visit the house and inquire about the story yourself. Even just a pleasant walk around the plantation grounds can make this trip well worth it. Be sure to visit next time you’re in Spartanburg!
Go fishing
If you love fishing, Spartanburg is the perfect place to do it. There’s a variety of lakes and rivers that you can head to and enjoy Mother Nature. These include Berry’s Pond, Camp Croft/Croft State Park, Glendale Shoals Preserve, Lake Blalock, Lake Bowen, Lake Cooley, Lake Craig, Lake Edwin Johnson, Lake Lyman, Lawson’s Fork Creek, Municipal Reservoir #1, Pacolet Reservoir, and Tyger 10 Park. Regardless of what you love, Spartanburg has some of the best fishing spots in South Carolina. If you’re looking for things to do, take the rest of the family or go and enjoy some peace and quiet on your own.
Hatcher Garden and Woodland Preserve
Image: Hatcher Garden and Woodland Preserve Facebook
Hatcher Garden and Woodland Preserve is a public botanical garden and woodland where you can go to relax, picnic, and enjoy the great outdoors. The park is open all year round and there are a variety of plants and flowers that make it worth visiting no matter the seasons. While you’re there, group tours are available upon request. You can also do a self-guided tour if you prefer with the information posted along the trails in the garden. The park is a great way to get active, have your wedding, and even better admission is entirely free! Just make sure you leave your pets at home so that the existent wildlife is entirely comfortable in their natural habitat.
BMW Zentrum Museum
Image: BMW Spartanburg Plant Website
Are you a car lover? We’ve got the spot for you! Spartanburg is the home of the BMW Spartanburg factory which is a whopping 28,000 square foot facility. The automobile manufacturing company allows individuals to witness the evolution of their brand inside, and you can experience the history of BMW’s past just by stepping through the doors. While it’s a little outside of Spartanburg, it’s certainly worth stopping by when you’re there. The facility is opened all year round on weekdays during business houses from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM.
