Nuts & Bolts
Travel Time : A little over two hours . How to Get There : Take a direct flight from T . F . Green to Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport with Breeze Airways . Bucket List for Next TIme : Another speakeasy stop at Vault & Vator for a private cocktail class . Worth a Detour : You ’ re just an hour or so south of what many would say is another underrated gem of a city : Asheville , North Carolina .
CLOCKWISE FROM FAR LEFT , TOP : Greenville ’ s downtown has many walkable restaurants and shops ; shrimp and grits from Soby ’ s New South Cuisine ; the Swamp Rabbit Trail ; Yee-Haw Brewing Co .; NOMA Square ’ s Saturday morning outdoor market ; Hampton Inn & Suites Greenville Downtown ; Foothill Foodie ’ s Just Desserts Tour ; feeding the giraffe at Greenville Zoo .
kicks off the weekend with live music and dancing while a large swath of Main Street closes down on Saturday mornings to host more than seventy-five local purveyors selling artisanal goods and produce till noon .
If you want an even more in-depth look , though , you can ’ t go wrong with a tour . Foothill Foodie ’ s Just Desserts Tour ( foothillfoodietours . com ) is rich in sweets and history — how else would we have gotten the chance to learn Einstein ’ s ties to the town over peanut butter cake and a chocolate martini ? You can later work off any extra calories with Reedy Rides ’ Swamp Rabbit Trail Tour ( reedyrides . com ). The two-hour guided bike ride takes you through a few of Greenville ’ s picturesque parks plus a yummy pit stop at the women-owned Swamp Rabbit Cafe and Grocery ( swamprabbitcafe . com ). A more relaxed substitute is a stroll over Liberty Bridge at Falls Park on the Reedy . Whether you go at sunrise or sunset , the 345-foot-long structure is prime for waterfall viewing and selfie taking .
Greenville may have initially seemed like a random destination , but now it will go down as one of my top vacations , and I ’ m sure I will be back again . — Kaitlyn Murray 🆁
LOCAL CONNECTIONS It ’ s hard to believe that a landlocked Southern city has so much in common with our neck of the woods , but the following made us feel right at home .
Jones Oyster Co .
There may be no ocean in sight , but these guys know what they ’ re shucking doing . Look to the oyster menu for familiar variations from our very own Narragansett Bay — or if you ’ re new to the flavors , use the key to determine how sweet or brackish you want to go — and then watch as the shellfish is shucked on site at the raw bar . Follow up with the lobster roll of your choice ( Connecticut- or Maine-style ) and snag some saltwater taffy on the way out to complete the experience . thejonesoysterco . com
Greenville Zoo
Much like our own zoo , Greenville Zoo is a small , Association of Zoos & Aquariumsaccredited institution surrounded by beautiful grounds and home to monkeys , reptiles , big cats and more . But the biggest connection lies with Miles and Autumn , parents to none other than Roger Williams Park Zoo ’ s giraffe , Providence . And what ’ s more , you can tell them their son says hi while handfeeding them a treat when you book a giraffe encounter . greenvillezoo . com
Greenville Drive
Take yourself out to the ballgame at Fluor Field , home to the Greenville Drive , the High-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox . Here you ’ ll get all the perks of a Sox game on a more intimate scale with talented players hitting homeruns over a Green Monster in left field , a recognizable mascot running through the stands and a “ Sweet Caroline ” sing-along during the seventh inning stretch , plus fun additions like themed jersey nights and Friday night fireworks on the field . milb . com / greenville — K . M .
Fluor Field .
PHOTOGRAPHY : COURTESY OF VISIT GREENVILLE SC AND KAITLYN MURRAY .
RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l SEPTEMBER 2024 61