Family Friendly

Looking for fun family friendly activities in Greenville, SC? Look no further as Greenville.com has a comprehensive listing of family friendly events!

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Thursday, May 16, 2024
BRING ON SPRING w/ Nantahala Outdoor Center
May 16 all-day
Nantahala Outdoor Center

 
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Categories: Family Fun Outdoors Sports
Memorial Day Weekend Outdoor Adventures
May 16 all-day
Nantahala Outdoor Center
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Categories: Family Fun Holiday Outdoors
Mile High Swinging Bridge
May 16 all-day
Grandfather Mountain

One of the top highlights and memories of visits to Grandfather Mountain nature park is walking across the famous Mile High Swinging Bridge. Since 1952, visitors have “oohed” and “aahed” at the bridge’s 360-degree panoramic views. America’s highest suspension footbridge gives easy access to the spectacular views atop Grandfather Mountain’s Linville Peak, elevation 5,305 feet.

The 228-foot suspension bridge spans an 80-foot chasm at more than one mile in elevation (hence the name!). To reach the Mile High Swinging Bridge, drive the two-mile, winding scenic road up the mountain to the summit parking area by the Top Shop. Climb 50 stairs adjacent to the parking area or inside the Top Shop to reach the short pathway to the bridge. Also, an elevator in the Top Shop takes you to the third floor for a level walk to the bridge.

Top Shop

Located adjacent to the Bridge, the Top Shop features a gift shop, snacks, restrooms, elevator and second-floor exhibition area. Also get the latest park information and trail maps. Read more.

Accessibility

Inside the Top Shop, an elevator makes the Mile High Swinging Bridge accessible to people with mobility challenges, including those in wheelchairs. From the Top Shop, there is a paved 50-yard path to the bridge. Read more about our accessibility.

Tickets & Hours

Walking across the Mile High Swinging Bridge is included in your Grandfather Mountain admission ticket that includes many other things to do in our nature park. Buy tickets online and book a reservation time to enter the park. You do not need a separate reservation for the bridge. It’s open, weather permitting, every day of the year except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. See hours.

More to Explore

Before or after visiting the Mile High Swinging Bridge, allow time to enjoy other parts of the mountain: wildlife habitats, Wilson Center for Nature Discovery, restaurant, hiking trails, roadside overlooks, picnic areas and more. See more Things to Do.

Nearby Hiking Trails

Trailheads to many of the Grandfather Mountain hiking trails are located near the Swinging Bridge. In fact, the 0.4 mile Bridge Trail takes you beneath the bridge, starting from the Black Rock parking area just below the summit. For details on our nearby trails, go to our Hiking Guide.

Bridge Tips & Tidbits

  • Does it really swing? Very little — unlike the original one. Today’s bridge is made of steel and reinforced with cables and springs. It has railings on the sides to ensure safety.
  • We suggest you wear rubber-soled shoes and walk with care when crossing the rocks on the far side of the bridge.
  • If heights give you pause, you can still enjoy Blue Ridge Mountain views from the ground before you reach the bridge and even from the parking area.
  • Due to periodic extreme weather conditions at the bridge, it closes when there is area lightning, high wind or icy conditions.
  • The official U.S. Weather Service Reporting Station atop the Mile High Swinging Bridge has provided daily weather observations since 1955. The temperature is usually 10 to 20 degrees cooler than in the flatlands you see below. It’s also one of the windiest locations in North Carolina, with a 124-mph record set in winter 2019. Learn more about our weather.
  • Pets are allowed on the bridge if well behaved and on a leash.
  • Photographs and videos to remember your visit are encouraged. Be mindful of sharp drop-offs along the Linville Peak ridge. Drones are not allowed. See our photography policies.
  • The Singing Bridge? When the wind blows, the Mile High Swinging Bridge “sings” in the same way as a harmonica.
  • In April through October, join Grandfather’s expert naturalists by the Bridge for Interpretive Talks about the our unique weather, climate, flora and fauna. Read more.
  • Need driving directions? The address for Grandfather Mountain’s entrance gate is 2050 Blowing Rock Highway, Linville, NC 28646 (click link for Google Maps). There are no shuttles, so you must have your own vehicle to explore our nature park. No RVs longer than 28 feet in length or hinged vehicles are allowed through the Entrance Gate. See detailed directions.
  • To see much more info, see our Plan Your Visit section.

Mile High Swinging Bridge History

Former North Carolina Tourism Director Charles J. Parker coined the name “Mile High Swinging Bridge” at the Bridge’s dedication in 1952. The term “mile high” refers to the structure’s elevation above sea level (5,280 feet). The term “swinging” refers to the fact that suspension bridges are free to sway.

The original 1952 bridge was designed by Charles Hartmann Jr. of Greensboro, N.C. It was fabricated in Greensboro and then reassembled on top of the Mountain. Erecting the bridge took three weeks, a process slowed by inclement weather created by a hurricane off the North Carolina coast. Cost was $15,000. It was dedicated on Sept. 2, 1952 by North Carolina Gov. William B. Umstead.

The bridge was rebuilt in 1999 using the original towers. The cables, floor boards and side rails were all replaced using galvanized steel. One of the main advantages of the modern building materials is that they do not have to be painted. Now, Grandfather Mountain employees will not have to hang out over the gorge to paint the span. It was redesigned by Sutton, Kennerly & Associates Engineering of Asheville, N.C., and rebuilt by Taylor & Murphy Construction Company of Asheville. The cost of rebuilding was $300,000.

Read more
Categories: Family Fun Outdoors
Summer Zoo Camp registration open
May 16 all-day
Greenville Zoo
Zoo Camp: Nature's Canvas - Ages 5-14 - Beginning June 3

Site Tools

Join us for a fun-filled summer where art and nature collide at the Greenville Zoo! Conservation is explored through activities, crafts, games, animal encounters, keeper chats, and more! Campers ages 5 – 14 are invited to use nature as their canvas to paint a picture of the animal world right here in Greenville.

 

5-6 year old Camps

Colorful Creatures

Embark on a whimsical journey through the zoo, where each animal showcases the incredible pallet of the animal world.

  • June 3rd – 7th 
  • June 17th – 21st 
  • July 8th – 12th 
  • July 22nd – 26th

Nature Explorers

Calling all little explorers! Join us to find a place where friendships blossom, imaginations run wild, and a love of the natural world begins.

  • June 10th – 14th 
  • June 24th – 28th 
  • July 15th – 19th 
  • July 29th – August 2nd 

7-8 year old Camps

Paws & Paintbrushes 

Immerse your child in a week-long adventure where creativity and curiosity come together to capture the imagination.

  • June 3rd – 7th 
  • June 17th – 21st
  • July 8th – 12th 

Jr. Naturalist

Join us for a week of laughter, discovery, and wild fun as we explore the incredible world of animals and embark on a mission to keep them thriving in their natural habitats. 

  • June 10th – 14th  
  • July 15th – 19th
  • July 29th – August 2nd 

9-11 year old Camps

Animal Artists

Unleash your inner artist and ignite your passion for wildlife as we dive into the animal kingdom through the lens of creativity and art.

  • July 22nd – 26th

Eco Enthusiasts

This is no ordinary summer camp; it’s a steppingstone for the next generation of conservationists as they become stewards of the wild!

  • June 24th – 28th 

12 – 14 year old Camp

Jr. Zookeeper 

Join the Greenville Zoo crew as you get an exclusive peek at what a day in the life of a zookeeper is all about! (Full-day Camp)

  • July 1st – 2nd 

Check out our FAQ page here:

  1. Zoo Camp 2024 FAQ
Read more
Categories: Family Fun
Friday, May 17, 2024
BRING ON SPRING w/ Nantahala Outdoor Center
May 17 all-day
Nantahala Outdoor Center

 
Read more
Categories: Family Fun Outdoors Sports
Memorial Day Weekend Outdoor Adventures
May 17 all-day
Nantahala Outdoor Center
Read more
Categories: Family Fun Holiday Outdoors
Mile High Swinging Bridge
May 17 all-day
Grandfather Mountain

One of the top highlights and memories of visits to Grandfather Mountain nature park is walking across the famous Mile High Swinging Bridge. Since 1952, visitors have “oohed” and “aahed” at the bridge’s 360-degree panoramic views. America’s highest suspension footbridge gives easy access to the spectacular views atop Grandfather Mountain’s Linville Peak, elevation 5,305 feet.

The 228-foot suspension bridge spans an 80-foot chasm at more than one mile in elevation (hence the name!). To reach the Mile High Swinging Bridge, drive the two-mile, winding scenic road up the mountain to the summit parking area by the Top Shop. Climb 50 stairs adjacent to the parking area or inside the Top Shop to reach the short pathway to the bridge. Also, an elevator in the Top Shop takes you to the third floor for a level walk to the bridge.

Top Shop

Located adjacent to the Bridge, the Top Shop features a gift shop, snacks, restrooms, elevator and second-floor exhibition area. Also get the latest park information and trail maps. Read more.

Accessibility

Inside the Top Shop, an elevator makes the Mile High Swinging Bridge accessible to people with mobility challenges, including those in wheelchairs. From the Top Shop, there is a paved 50-yard path to the bridge. Read more about our accessibility.

Tickets & Hours

Walking across the Mile High Swinging Bridge is included in your Grandfather Mountain admission ticket that includes many other things to do in our nature park. Buy tickets online and book a reservation time to enter the park. You do not need a separate reservation for the bridge. It’s open, weather permitting, every day of the year except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. See hours.

More to Explore

Before or after visiting the Mile High Swinging Bridge, allow time to enjoy other parts of the mountain: wildlife habitats, Wilson Center for Nature Discovery, restaurant, hiking trails, roadside overlooks, picnic areas and more. See more Things to Do.

Nearby Hiking Trails

Trailheads to many of the Grandfather Mountain hiking trails are located near the Swinging Bridge. In fact, the 0.4 mile Bridge Trail takes you beneath the bridge, starting from the Black Rock parking area just below the summit. For details on our nearby trails, go to our Hiking Guide.

Bridge Tips & Tidbits

  • Does it really swing? Very little — unlike the original one. Today’s bridge is made of steel and reinforced with cables and springs. It has railings on the sides to ensure safety.
  • We suggest you wear rubber-soled shoes and walk with care when crossing the rocks on the far side of the bridge.
  • If heights give you pause, you can still enjoy Blue Ridge Mountain views from the ground before you reach the bridge and even from the parking area.
  • Due to periodic extreme weather conditions at the bridge, it closes when there is area lightning, high wind or icy conditions.
  • The official U.S. Weather Service Reporting Station atop the Mile High Swinging Bridge has provided daily weather observations since 1955. The temperature is usually 10 to 20 degrees cooler than in the flatlands you see below. It’s also one of the windiest locations in North Carolina, with a 124-mph record set in winter 2019. Learn more about our weather.
  • Pets are allowed on the bridge if well behaved and on a leash.
  • Photographs and videos to remember your visit are encouraged. Be mindful of sharp drop-offs along the Linville Peak ridge. Drones are not allowed. See our photography policies.
  • The Singing Bridge? When the wind blows, the Mile High Swinging Bridge “sings” in the same way as a harmonica.
  • In April through October, join Grandfather’s expert naturalists by the Bridge for Interpretive Talks about the our unique weather, climate, flora and fauna. Read more.
  • Need driving directions? The address for Grandfather Mountain’s entrance gate is 2050 Blowing Rock Highway, Linville, NC 28646 (click link for Google Maps). There are no shuttles, so you must have your own vehicle to explore our nature park. No RVs longer than 28 feet in length or hinged vehicles are allowed through the Entrance Gate. See detailed directions.
  • To see much more info, see our Plan Your Visit section.

Mile High Swinging Bridge History

Former North Carolina Tourism Director Charles J. Parker coined the name “Mile High Swinging Bridge” at the Bridge’s dedication in 1952. The term “mile high” refers to the structure’s elevation above sea level (5,280 feet). The term “swinging” refers to the fact that suspension bridges are free to sway.

The original 1952 bridge was designed by Charles Hartmann Jr. of Greensboro, N.C. It was fabricated in Greensboro and then reassembled on top of the Mountain. Erecting the bridge took three weeks, a process slowed by inclement weather created by a hurricane off the North Carolina coast. Cost was $15,000. It was dedicated on Sept. 2, 1952 by North Carolina Gov. William B. Umstead.

The bridge was rebuilt in 1999 using the original towers. The cables, floor boards and side rails were all replaced using galvanized steel. One of the main advantages of the modern building materials is that they do not have to be painted. Now, Grandfather Mountain employees will not have to hang out over the gorge to paint the span. It was redesigned by Sutton, Kennerly & Associates Engineering of Asheville, N.C., and rebuilt by Taylor & Murphy Construction Company of Asheville. The cost of rebuilding was $300,000.

Read more
Categories: Family Fun Outdoors
Raft + Rail A Fully Guided Experience
May 17 all-day
The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad

The original Raft & Rail© since 1988: enjoy the two best adventures in the region in one day, great for families. Southern Living Magazine calls this “an ideal adventure for families, first-timers, young or old.” This full-day guided adventure starts with a Wildwater staff member greeting you at the train depot, followed by a scenic train trip, deli lunch with all the fixings, and a Nantahala River whitewater trip with a guide in every boat. Hot showers and a photo show follow immediately after your 8-mile Nantahala River trip. All transportation is included to and from the Bryson City Train Depot. Available April–October with the morning departure of the Nantahala Gorge Excursion departing Bryson City, NC. Train seating in Open Air Gondola. 2024 bookings starting soon!

Ticket fares subject to 7% Historic Preservation Fee and 7% North Carolina sales tax. Schedules, fares, motive power, equipment, seat selection, and meals are subject to change without notice. We guarantee the class of service you select. You will be notified if a change in schedule or motive power affects your reservation. Payment in full at booking by major credit card is required to finalize a reservation. You may cancel your reservation in full or in part and receive a refund less a $14.00 fee per adult ticket and $7.00 fee per child ticket as late as 5 days before departure, except The Polar Express Train Ride; The Polar Express Train Ride is as late as 60 days before departure. Within 5 days of the departure, or 60 days in the case of the Polar Express Train Ride, the reservation becomes nonrefundable. You may reschedule any time prior to your originally scheduled departure with a $7.00 fee per ticket for another date within the same calendar year. You may not reschedule a reservation after the scheduled departure.

Read more
Categories: Family Fun Outdoors
Summer Zoo Camp registration open
May 17 all-day
Greenville Zoo
Zoo Camp: Nature's Canvas - Ages 5-14 - Beginning June 3

Site Tools

Join us for a fun-filled summer where art and nature collide at the Greenville Zoo! Conservation is explored through activities, crafts, games, animal encounters, keeper chats, and more! Campers ages 5 – 14 are invited to use nature as their canvas to paint a picture of the animal world right here in Greenville.

 

5-6 year old Camps

Colorful Creatures

Embark on a whimsical journey through the zoo, where each animal showcases the incredible pallet of the animal world.

  • June 3rd – 7th 
  • June 17th – 21st 
  • July 8th – 12th 
  • July 22nd – 26th

Nature Explorers

Calling all little explorers! Join us to find a place where friendships blossom, imaginations run wild, and a love of the natural world begins.

  • June 10th – 14th 
  • June 24th – 28th 
  • July 15th – 19th 
  • July 29th – August 2nd 

7-8 year old Camps

Paws & Paintbrushes 

Immerse your child in a week-long adventure where creativity and curiosity come together to capture the imagination.

  • June 3rd – 7th 
  • June 17th – 21st
  • July 8th – 12th 

Jr. Naturalist

Join us for a week of laughter, discovery, and wild fun as we explore the incredible world of animals and embark on a mission to keep them thriving in their natural habitats. 

  • June 10th – 14th  
  • July 15th – 19th
  • July 29th – August 2nd 

9-11 year old Camps

Animal Artists

Unleash your inner artist and ignite your passion for wildlife as we dive into the animal kingdom through the lens of creativity and art.

  • July 22nd – 26th

Eco Enthusiasts

This is no ordinary summer camp; it’s a steppingstone for the next generation of conservationists as they become stewards of the wild!

  • June 24th – 28th 

12 – 14 year old Camp

Jr. Zookeeper 

Join the Greenville Zoo crew as you get an exclusive peek at what a day in the life of a zookeeper is all about! (Full-day Camp)

  • July 1st – 2nd 

Check out our FAQ page here:

  1. Zoo Camp 2024 FAQ
Read more
Categories: Family Fun
GCCA Summer Art Camp registration open
May 17 @ 9:00 am
online w/ GCCA

Weekly art camps at GCCA are designed to let kids ages 5-12 explore their creativity through a range of materials and concepts. Each week features a different engaging theme for children to explore through multiple mediums and includes professional guest artists who demonstrate technique and discuss what makes their work unique.

Monday-Friday
9am-12pm

Multi-Color Magic, June 3-7
Animation and Creation, June 10-14
Dive into (Water)color, June 17-21
Homegrown Art, June 24-28
ARTcycling, July 8-12
Out of this World Art!, July 15-19
Jurassic ART, July 22-26
Back to School is COOL!, July 29-August 2

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Categories: Art & Craft Family Fun
NC Arboretum Hiking Trails
May 17 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
NC Arboretum

Located within the wildly-popular and botanically beautiful Southern Appalachian Mountains, The North Carolina Arboretum offers more than 10 miles of hiking trails that connect to many other area attractions such as Lake Powhatan, the Pisgah National Forest and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Visitors of all ages and abilities can enjoy their hiking experience at the Arboretum as trail options include easy, moderate, and difficult challenge levels. All trails are dog-friendly and visitors are asked to adhere to the proper waste disposing procedures for pets.

Part of a running group that would like to use the Arboretum as a starting point or parking location? Please review our Running Group Guidance and email [email protected] with any questions.

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Categories: Family Fun Hike Hiking Outdoors
TCMU Tots
May 17 @ 9:30 am – 11:30 am
TCMU Spartanburg

Skill-building and community-building for toddlers and their caregivers! Little ones ages 2-5 will explore role-playing, storytelling, and interactive activities, fostering early social skills and a world of make-believe adventures that could include an ice cream shop, car wash or post office!

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Categories: Family Fun
Story Time + More
May 17 @ 12:30 pm – 1:00 pm
TCMU Spartanburg

Listen, respond and imagine during Story Time & More! Young learners can listen and respond to a story and participate in enrichment activities designed to ignite fun, discovery and learning.

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Categories: Family Fun
Starry Nights – Perfect Little Planet
May 17 @ 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Roper Mountain Science Center

Imagine the ultimate space vacation. Discover our solar system through a different set of eyes – a family from another star system seeking the perfect vacation spot. Fly over the surface of Pluto, our best known Dwarf Planet. Dive over the ice cliffs of Miranda.

Sail through the rings of Saturn. Feel the lightning storms at Jupiter. And walk on the surface of Mars. Which destination would you choose? This is the solar system journey for space travelers of all ages.

Recommended for age 4 and above.

Buy Tickets

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Categories: Family Fun
George I. Theisen Family YMCA PB + J Kids Fun Run
May 17 @ 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
George I. Theisen Family YMCA

The Peanut Butter and Jelly Kids Fun Run is back for a 7th year! Organized by YMCA of Greenville volunteers as a part of the Y’s Togetherhood Initiative, this initiative allows Y members to collectively give back to the Travelers Rest community.

This event will support the North Greenville Crisis Ministry. Each summer, hundreds of kids are not in school for lunch and there is a huge need for easily prepared meals for these children. One large need is for jars of peanut butter and jelly.

One jar of peanut butter and one jar of jelly per participant OR any two items of the following: canned soup, spaghetti sauce, condiments, toiletries.

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Categories: Community Donations Family Fun Fundraisers
Greenville Heritage Main Street Fridays
May 17 @ 5:30 pm – 9:30 pm
NOMA Square

Wind up the work week at Greenville Heritage Main Street Fridays presented by Pepsi, listening and dancing to the best in musical entertainment.

FREE ADMISSION

This weekly music series on Main Street at NOMA Square opens at 5:30 p.m. and closes at 9:30 p.m., with bands playing two sets at 5:50 p.m. and 7:40 p.m. NOMA Square chairs go fast, so bring a tailgating chair if you are not arriving early.

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Categories: Community Family Fun Music Outdoors
Starry Nights – Two Small Pieces of Glass
May 17 @ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Roper Mountain Science Center

Two Small Pieces of Glass – The Amazing Telescope fulldome show follows two students as they interact with a female astronomer at a local star party.

Along the way, the students learn the history of the telescope from Galileo’s modifications to a child’s spyglass — using two small pieces of glass — to the launch of the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope and the future of astronomy.

Aiming to engage and appeal to audiences of all ages, the show explores the wonder and discovery made by astronomers throughout the last 400 years.

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Categories: Family Fun
Greenville Drive vs. Winston-Salem
May 17 @ 7:05 pm
Fluor Field

Greenville Drive vs. Winston-Salem

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Categories: Family Fun Sports
Disney’s The Little Mermaid
May 17 @ 7:30 pm
Mauldin Cultural Center

Based on one of Hans Christian Andersen’s most beloved stories and the classic animated film, Disney’s The Little Mermaid is a hauntingly beautiful love story for the ages. Ariel, King Triton’s youngest daughter, wishes to pursue the human Prince Eric in the world above, bargaining with the evil sea witch, Ursula, to trade her tail for legs. But the bargain is not what it seems, and Ariel needs the help of her colorful friends, Flounder the fish, Scuttle the seagull and Sebastian the crab to restore order under the sea.

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Categories: Family Fun Music Theatre
Starry Nights – Chasing the Ghost Particle
May 17 @ 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Roper Mountain Science Center

Deep in the ice at the heart of Antarctica, the biggest and strangest detector in the world waits for mysterious messengers from the cosmos. The detector is IceCube! The messengers are neutrinos–ghostly particles that give us tantalizing looks into world of exploding stars and black holes.

This show tells the incredible story of how an international team of scientists and engineers transformed one billion tons of Antarctic ice into a telescope. Building IceCube was a titanic endeavor driven by our human passion for discovery.

Your audiences will witness stunning views of the South Pole, captivating animations of the IceCube detectors capturing a neutrino collision–and eye-catching views of the cosmos. Chasing the Ghost Particle: From the South Pole to the Edge of the Universe will take you on a journey you will never forget.

Buy Tickets

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Categories: Family Fun