How to Stay Fit and Healthy in Greenville, SC
Beyond its bustling downtown and vibrant neighborhoods, there’s something else that makes Greenville, SC, so appealing: Its commitment to encouraging healthy lifestyles. This value of staying fit and healthy in Greenville is woven into the fabric of the city, a connecting thread between retail, outdoor recreation and community events.
The proof of this intentionality is everywhere you turn – from the newly developed Unity Park to the ever-expanding Swamp Rabbit Trail (for walkers and bikers) to the farmers markets and retail stores that sell local goods. These places continue to grow and thrive, not just because the city throws support behind them, but because residents do, too.
Get Fit and Healthy in Greenville
There are so many ways to get moving and stay active in Greenville, and the most popular of which is probably the The Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail Network, a 28-mile paved path that’s ideal for runners, bikers and walkers. The trail winds through downtown, past parks and shops and all the way to the nearby city of Travelers Rest.
“The Swamp Rabbit Trail allows me to safely and efficiently move throughout Greenville – it’s scenic with a mixture of parks, art, restaurants and retail,” says Michelle Guevara, director of destination experiences for VisitGreenvilleSC. “I enjoy jumping on my bike and pedaling to The Commons at Unity Park, where it’s easy to relax outside during our beautiful weather and enjoy a bite or drink.”
Plenty of people bring their own bikes, but you can also rent some from stations and stores situated along the path, such as Pedego Electric Bikes.
Pedal Power
A recent and noteworthy addition to the Swamp Rabbit Trail is the Sliding Rock spur, which brings the mountains to the city with an intermediate level mountain bike trail that will get your heart pumping.
“My go-to stops along the trail are Furman University and the Swamp Rabbit Cafe & Grocery – you can never go wrong with their smoothies and stecca bread,” Guevara says. “And if you’re looking for something more chill, like tubing down the Saluda River, or something intense, like the Gran Fondo Hincapie, Greenville has a variety of outdoor adventures to meet every level and interest.”
For families, the newly opened Unity Park is perfect for park days, offering plenty of space for everyone to play and enjoy the sunshine. With a splash pad, multiple play areas, a picnic shelter, basketball courts and so much more, you couldn’t ask for a better place to enjoy the great Greenville weather.
Of course, we can’t forget the sports enthusiasts. In addition to the many county recreation centers, which have sports leagues you can join, you can also hop over to Gower Park, where there are tennis, basketball and even pickleball courts to enjoy.
How to Eat Well in Greenville
As far as finding local, healthy food, Greenville has a rich supply of options, from small, independent grocery stores to farmers markets to healthy restaurants. The Swamp Rabbit Cafe & Grocery is stocked almost exclusively with local produce, plants, pastries and more. If you prefer to meander and interact with local growers and makers, the Greenville Saturday Market has a great atmosphere and does a good job of connecting local farmers and their products to the community.
There are also many fantastic restaurants that offer healthy food options, many of which participate in the Swamp Rabbit Cafe & Grocery’s Food Hub program, which supplies over 80 restaurants with locally sourced ingredients.
“One restaurant I love is Farm Fresh Fast – it has a crowd-pleasing menu, and their vegan donuts are a must,” Guevara says. “I always leave satisfied and am constantly in awe of the chef’s creativity.”
If you want to learn about healthy foods and how to cook them, there are also several cooking classes that are regularly offered.
“Chef Veera Gaul at Oil & Vinegar offers tasting parties where she covers a variety of topics, including plant-based eating, the Mediterranean diet and more,” Guevara says. “She is amazing at showing easy ways to bring delicious, healthy recipes into your diet.”
No matter how you slice it, Greenville is ultimately serving up a healthy lifestyle to its residents on a silver platter – and they’re eating it up.
Get to Know Greenville
Want to learn more about living and working in Greenville, SC? Check out the latest edition of Livability Greenville: Live Here. Love Here. Career Here.