The Swamp Rabbit: More than Just a Trail

Today I will be highlighting the Swamp Rabbit Trail. It runs through the heart of downtown Greenville to Travelers Rest, which is a small town just a few miles north of Furman. In total it is about 22 miles of paved trail and we are incredibly lucky to have an access point on campus located on the other side of the lake from Trone Student Center. The Swamp Rabbit Trail is also dog friendly, meaning that people can bring their dogs to the trail on a leash! So, if you love dogs, this is a great way to see some. Biking is probably the most popular activity on the trail, and if you don’t have a bike, don’t worry. There are a couple of different options for students to get one. If you think that biking on the Swamp Rabbit is something that you would like to do regularly, The Shi Center for Sustainability has bikes that students can rent for $60 a year. However, if you only plan on biking a few times throughout the year, there are also bikes that you can borrow free of charge from the PAC– they just have to be returned by the end of the day. Also, There is a half marathon on the trail put on each spring that many Furman students partake in. If that is something that interests you great! If not, it is still really fun to cheer on your friends. 

While that Swamp Rabbit Trail is beautiful and a great way to get some exercise, there are also so many fun things along the way that are easily accessible via the trail. Some of my favorites are:

Swamp Rabbit Cafe

This place is awesome! It is not only a restaurant, but on the other half of the building is a grocery store as well. The grocery section has all the healthy and local food you could want, and is a great alternative to chain grocery stores for those who want one. On the restaurant side, the Swamp Rabbit Cafe is breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They serve great soups, salads, and sandwiches along with pizza and baked goods. One of my personal favorites is their cinnamon rolls. The atmosphere is cute and quaint; there is an outside seating area to enjoy the sun while you eat as well!

Tandem Creperie & Coffeehouse

The name is pretty self-explanatory for this one. Tandem pretty much only serves crepes and coffee but they do not disappoint! Both are amazing and it is one of Furman student’s favorite hang out spots. If you have a sweet tooth or love coffee this is the place for you. I have biked here many times on the weekend to get breakfast with friends and it is the closest place on my list to Furman, with it being just two miles from campus. With that, it is an easy ride, run, or walk for students.

White Duck Taco 

While White Duck is not directly next to the Swamp Rabbit, it is only a few blocks away from the trail. More importantly, the road to it is a side street so it is perfectly safe to bike on. This is definitely one of those hidden gems that takes a while to find when you first get on campus, which might be the case because it is kind of tucked away and not really close to many other popular places that Furman students go. However, once you find it, White Duck becomes a favorite. Their menu has all the essentials that go hand in hand with tacos such as chips and salsa, queso, and even some sweets for dessert. White Duck is super affordable and is only around $10 for a couple of tacos and a drink. My personal favorite is the fish taco but all of their tacos are delicious. 

Craft Axe Throwing

This is probably my favorite place to stop when I go out on my bike! This place is awesome! Located right next to White Duck, this is a really fun place to stop by when you are out with a couple of friends. While axe throwing can sound pretty intimidating at first, it is so much fun and anyone can do it. Craft has 14 different lanes that you can rent and there are also trained instructors available if you are a newbie wanting a little assistance your first time. If you want to have a friendly competition between the people you go with, you can keep score or you can just throw for fun. Points are gained by throwing axes at a giant dartboard-like target. The closer you get to the bullseye, the more points you earn. 

Falls Park 

Falls Park is a favorite of locals, students, and tourists. Located in downtown Greenville’s Historic West End, the park features beautiful stonework, walking trails, waterfalls, lush gardens, and public art installations, complemented by the graceful architecture of the Liberty Bridge. The two-acre Pedrick’s Garden, which serves as the park’s main entrance, honors a former community leader instrumental in the establishment of Falls Park. There are also two eateries located within the park: enjoy salads, sandwiches and Southern favorites at Mary’s Restaurant at Falls Cottage, one of my favorite brunch spots in Greenville (and is great for parents weekend), or French fare at Passerelle Bistro, which is really cute and serves great food as well. Falls Park is a popular place for families and pet lovers. It is also quite common to see people enjoying a picnic while taking in the beauty of the backdrop that the garden, bridge, and waterfall provides.  

I hope this was helpful and I highly recommend taking advantage of the Swamp Rabbit Trail and all that it has to offer.

Josh