13 Things (at least!) to Do This Fall Around Greenville

Make new memories around the region.

Furman on Main at M. Judson Booksellers

Whether you’ve been away for just a few months or countless years, Greenville offers a lot of fun to catch up on as you return to the places you love. From visiting your favorite haunts to discovering what’s new, here are some ways to embrace the vibrant character of Furman’s home.

Downtown Greenville

Just 6 miles from Furman, downtown Greenville is the obvious choice to enjoy arts, shopping and dining for all palates. One stop should be M. Judson Booksellers, named after Mary Camilla Judson, a teacher and principal at the Greenville Woman’s College, which later merged with Furman.

“She was a force to be reckoned with for women in Greenville,” says Ashley Warlick, one of the store’s owners. “Her connection to books and teaching made her a perfect patron saint for the store.”

If that weren’t reason enough to visit, the booksellers’ Furman on Main section carries unique Furman-themed clothing, memorabilia, gifts and books by Furman alumni, professors and staff.

One of the nine Mice on Main statues

“Furman is a pillar of the Greenville community and has been forever,” says Warlick. “We love having this common thread.”

While wandering along Main Street –after all, downtown Greenville is famously walkable –watch out for the mice –Mice on Main, that is. The Mice on Main are nine tiny statues that make up what may be the most iconic of Greenville’s 90-plus public art pieces.

Keep walking to arrive at one of the city’s most beloved places: You may remember crossing the Liberty Bridge when you were a student at Furman. Retrace those steps –and memories –with a stroll through Falls Park.

If performing arts is your scene, check out the Peace Center for the Performing Arts, where Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit will perform on November 28, and Old Crow Medicine Show will play on December 27. If they’re still needed, the Peace Center will have a variety of measures in place to keep those in attendance safe. For a smaller venue, the New South Comedy Festival, presented by the Alchemy Comedy Theater, will be the first two weekends of November at Coffee Underground.

The Peace Center for the Performing Arts

Be sure to enjoy signature spots on the perimeter of the central business district, such as the Village of West Greenville and The Commons, which Drew Parker ’00 and two business partners brought to life. Hampton Station also offers plenty of ways to enjoy an afternoon, including classes at Hollowed Earth Pottery, where you can “throw” your own creations on a pottery wheel.

Meanwhile, the Greenville area has plenty of places to spread out a little.

Cyclists on the Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail in Travelers Rest, South Carolina

Take a hike (or bike, swim or paddle)

One of Greenville’s most popular attractions is the Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail. The 22-mile walking and biking trail is accessible from the Furman campus.

Lake Conestee Nature Preserve, encompassing 400 acres, is situated 6 miles south of downtown – an unexpected proximity, considering the preserve is both a designated wildlife sanctuary and Audubon Society Important Bird Area of Global Significance. The preserve features 14 miles of trails that wind through hardwood and evergreen forest and extensive wetlands. Forty interpretive signs guide visitors throughout the park.

A hiker at Paris Mountain State Park

Paris Mountain State Park – close to both downtown Greenville and Furman – has 15 miles of hiking and biking trails. At this time of year, enjoy the red, gold and orange splashed across elevations of 2,000 feet and below.

For more ideas – categorized for paddlers, hikers, bikers and swimmers – consult the digital field guide that Nataley Williams ’21 created as a Communications and Outdoor Fellow with the Shi Institute for Sustainable Communities.