October, November and December are my favorite months to live in Greenville, South Carolina. By early November, the leaves are changing colors and the air is finally crisp – perfect for bike rides, strolls downtown, and hiking. Nighttime is chilly enough for s’mores around a backyard fire pit or campfire.
If we’re in a stay-cation mode, here are some activities that definitely put us in a light and festive spirit.
Swamp Rabbit Trail: Any Sunny Day. A bike ride on the 20-mile Swamp Rabbit Trail with rewarding pit stops is an easy half-day adventure. Begin either in Traveler’s Rest or in downtown Greenville around Cleveland or Falls Park. If you’re a few miles from the Swamp Rabbit Café, call in an order for a wood-oven seasonal pizza, pick it up, then bike a few blocks off the trail to Birds Fly South Brewery for a fresh, farmhouse style beer.
Typically, we like to start our ride in Greenville, rest a little while in Traveler’s Rest (beer at Swamp Rabbit Brewery and a meal at one of the town’s many locally-owned restaurants), then enjoy the slight downhill ride all the way back in to town.
Open Studios: November 11-12, 2017. Nearly 150 artists across the Greenville area open their studios throughout this weekend to share and sell their artwork. Not sure where to start? The Village of West Greenville is a hip, walk-able neighborhood to visit several studios at once.
Holiday Flea!: December 2 & 16, 2017. Consider buying handmade this holiday season. Swamp Rabbit Café & Grocery’s holiday market features over 40 local artists and craftspeople. Find unique gifts - and of course, enjoy the tasty samples! In addition, Indie Craft Parade’s Holiday Pop Up Shop is open around the block at Methodical Coffee’s roasting facility for several days in December.
Roper Mountain Holiday Lights: November 23-December 30, 2017. Pack a thermos of cider and pile into your minivan for a drive and walk through this twinkling wonderland at the Roper Mountain Science Center. A Greenville tradition for more than 25 years, the holiday lights display has raised more than $2.4 million in funding for education and other local non-profits. Consider joining in the fun as a guest or volunteer as this will be the event’s final season.
Now that we’ve filled our calendars with enough Sunday Fundays to carry us into 2018, see you out on the trail of art, beer, or lights!
