Weekend in Greenville, S.C.
April 6, 2023 | BestLifeGlenn
We headed to Greenville, S.C. for the weekend to kick off Spring Break 2023 on Saturday, April 1. We mapped out our itinerary during the two-hour drive from Atlanta. Seriously. We have never been on Spring Break without any kids.
So, we drove around when we arrived. The hotel we wanted on the golf course was filled. Our second choice was booked. We were finally able to find accomodations at the Holiday Inn Greenville-Woodruff Road.
Vibe: modern, on-site restaurant, indoor pool, fitness and business centers and in-room mini fridge and coffee maker. Perfect.
We made dinner reservations for Firebirds Woodside Grill and Bar on Woodruff Road, which was not far from the hotel. This was our first time dining with this national chain. The first available reservation was 8:30 p.m. So we chilled in our hotel room for a bit, refreshed, changed clothes and headed out around 8:15 p.m. When we arrived, we were seated promptly. As we looked over the menu, we watched food arrive at nearby tables. The entrees looked so delicious.
We selected the Lobster Fondue Salmon (grilled salmon topped with lobster and spinach fondue) served with grilled veggies, recommended by our waitress.
We also ordered the Red Snapper wood-grilled with shrimp, key lime butter sauce, rice pilaf and asparagus. Everything was good!
Firebirds had just the right ambience—bustling and lively—but not too noisy for an enjoyable first night on the town.
Took selfies back at the hotel before turning in for the night.
Day 2: Brunch at Up on the Roof , 250 River Place, near downtown Greenville.
Vibe: Sophisticated, casual, beautiful views of the city’s skyline.
We didn’t have a reservation. The host said it was o.k. He said we could go left or right. We found a table on the left side of the restaurant. We ordered a bacon and pimento cheese omelette with micro greens salad and a side of braised collard greens. We also ordered steak, scrambled eggs with cheese, potatoes, and braised collard greens.
After eating, we sat around one of the firepits and sipped our iced teas. We also visited the right side of the restaurant, where there was a bar and additional seating.
We headed to River Walk, ranked by Fodor’s as one of the best scenic destinations in the country. River Walk offers an array of restaurants—from patio dining to upscale— entertainment, shopping and hotels.
After River Walk, we went to Main Street in downtown Greenville, which is filled with restaurants, ice cream shops, specialty stores, an old-fashioned general store and picture-perfect canopies of trees.
We drove back to explore Woodruff Road while we still had some daylight. We spotted Yard House Gastro Pub, a movie theater, day spa, Dave & Buster’s, and Another Broken Egg, which would serve as our breakfast spot on our last day. For Sunday’s dinner, we had soul food at Tasty’s on Augusta Street.
Day 3: After breakfast, we headed to M. Judson Booksellers, 130 S. Main St., located in the former historic courthouse building. 864-603-2412
Vibe: Wonderful place to relax, read, sip. The aroma of coffee and baked goods fills the air.
Staff said along with coffee and cookies, there’s a changing lunch menu, herbal teas, ice cream, scones, hot chocolate, and even beer and wine offered by Camilla Kitchen, the café located inside the bookstore.
We wanted to check out this independent bookstore to find a special gift for our 7-year-old granddaughter, Luna, (@bestlifeLuna). Val loved the cozy chairs and coffee tables throughout the bookstore. She oohed and awwed over all of the shelves and shelves of books and delighted over the fact that the bookstore hosts special events including a subscription for a Monday Night Supper Club, where the meal is prepared with Chef Teryl of Camilla Kitchen. The bookstore’s calendar also includes visiting authors and speakers as well as a Saturday storytime for kids. Hey, parents and grandparents, this is your stop.
The visit to M. Judson Bookstores was a sweet ending to our weekend in Greenville. We’ll return to explore more of Greenville—maybe bring along Luna. Post a comment to let us know what you think about our Greenville, S.C. weekend. And don’t forget to subscribe below to receive more inspo from Best Life Glenn.
