It's hard not to be Jolly when you're greeted by this tall and colorful statue in front of the…read moreChildren's Museum of the Upstate. Standing about ten feet tall and on the lawn where I think the school bus would stop to unload the kids, this smiling "clown" looks ready to play. Unfortunately, I was not able to find any details on the artist or the statement along with the sculpture. [Review 2215 of 2024 - 1185 in South Carolina - 23233 overall]

"Chaser" was the official mascot of the Spartanburg Community College but this sculpture on Morgan…read moreSquare is to honor her as "The Smartest Dog in the World." Chaser (2004-2019) had the largest tested memory of any non-human animal with a vocabulary she could use to identify and retrieve more than 1000 toys by name. This statue shows her carrying one of those toys and looking up, perhaps at her owner, and looking eager to please. A female border collie, she was the result of a years-long research project by her owner, Wofford College Professor Emeritus of Psychology John W. Pilley (1928-2018). And she's on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/chaserthebc. This statue of Chaser includes a plaque, "Chaser was a Spartanburg native, a beloved member of the Pilley family and research assistant to Dr. John W. Pilley, Jr., Professor Emeritus of Psychology at Wofford College. Professor Pilley & Chaser gave the world scientific affirmation that dogs are not only smarter than we think, but capable of so much more with their groundbreaking research and her unprecedented language learning of over 1000 objects. Those objects were her toys. Chaser has the largest tested vocabulary of any animal on the planet which garnered her international fame and the title of "the smartest dog in the world." Stop by and spend a moment thinking about this incredible dog and what dogs do for us humans. [Round number review 1200 in South Carolina - 2233 of 2024 - 23251 overall]

Having been to the Chihuly museum in Seattle, I was so happy to see this monument erected at the…read moreend of my swamp rabbit trail walk. Walking up on it, it seemed like a huge rose-colored Rock sugar sucker. The base is surrounded with flowers and benches to sit near by. It's simple yet beautiful. The little ladies walking by had to stop and touch the glass. It's inviting. I love little artistic surprises that show up in cities and towns as you walk around. Greenville has so many wonderful qualities all over town. I've enjoyed my short visit and look forward to next time.

We saw this on a map while walking in the park and knew we had to check it out. A little…read moreunderwhelming in person but still very cool!

Why is there a pig in Greenville? Well this is a faithful bronze replica of Florence's beloved…read moreboar, offering a whimsical and unexpectedly poignant encounter right along Main Street. Having seen the original Il Porcellino https://www.yelp.com/biz/fontana-del-porcellino-firenze?hrid=UizYyvjrk5omTSqqxDyorQ nestled beneath the loggia of Florence's Mercato Nuovo three years ago, its snout polished to a golden gleam by centuries of hopeful hands, I was genuinely moved to find its twin in downtown Greenville. This version, cast in Florence by the Frilli Gallery and installed in 2011, sits just outside the TD Bank building, slightly more exposed to the elements and foot traffic than its Italian counterpart but no less dignified. The craftsmanship is excellent. The boar's bristled mane, alert ears, and slightly mournful eyes are all rendered with the same expressive detail I remembered from Italy. What makes Greenville's Porcellino especially endearing is its quiet placement. There is no grand pedestal or heavy signage, just the boar, a small fountain, and a grate beneath its mouth where coins can fall if you follow the tradition of placing one on its tongue. It is easy to miss if you are not looking, but that is part of its charm. It feels like a secret nod to those who have wandered the markets of Florence. For those who have never seen the original, this statue stands on its own as a delightful piece of public sculpture. But for those who have, it is a gentle echo of a distant city, a reminder that even across oceans, some traditions and symbols still manage to root themselves in new soil. Greenville's Porcellino does not just copy a classic. It carries a bit of Florence's soul into the Carolinas. [Review 1437 of 2025 - 4508 in North Carolina - 24988 overall]

I Love You. I hardly know you but we're supposed to love our neighbors, right?…read more This unique piece of art features the American Sign Language signal for "I love you" and it's easy enough to make this gesture anywhere. The project is part of an effort by the South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind. Look closely at the hand - the sculpture is made up of their handprints. Sit on the hand, take a picture. I love you! [Review 2245 of 2024 - 1208 in South Carolina - 23263 overall]

This is a very nice, walkable, historic city that has lots to offer. There are plenty of eateries,…read morehotels, and bars. There's a beautiful, scenic river that runs through it with waterfalls and an amazing pedestrian bridge that offers some great pictures! The town is very walkable, with plenty of crosswalks... in fact, it's easier to walk it than drive it because of all the lights. Definitely would return!

Well worth the visit! Very quaint with activities for all types of people. Isn't a huge city, it…read morecan all be explored in one day.

I'm not big on being squashed in a crowd or having to fight my way to a food booth for a small…read moreportion of food, so we decided to go this year as soon as they opened on Sat. morning. We were able to walk up and down the street and check out all the vendors had to offer, and then we made our way to the booths we wanted to try, some with no lines. This way, we were able to try far more food than in years past. Granted, after being there a little over an hour the crowd was starting to close in, but at that point we had had our fill of the food, at least. I really appreciate that the festival seemed more family friendly this year since we had our grandson with us. The baby changing station and rocking chairs were a great idea. We noticed that alcohol sales are cut off relatively early, and this gives the restaurants the opportunity to take over when the festival closes. All of this, I'm sure, will continue to improve the reputation of FFG going forward.

Having lived near downtown Greenville for 5 years now, Fall for Greenville has always been just an…read moreannoyance to me...3 days of detours when trying to go to the grocery store, traffic snarls where there should be none. Finally this year, I decided to throw myself into the fray to see what all the excitement was about. As it turns out, it is actually worth the effort. Great food, great music, surprisingly well organized for an event with that many people. I'm a bit of an introvert, so I have very short limits on being able to push through crowds. Most of the booth lines were managed well enough that I never waited more than 4 minutes, and once I got my tickets and a beer, I worked my way to one of the concert stages and had plenty of elbow room to stand and enjoy some live music. I checked out 2 stages and 3 artists. Each was very different- from folk to rock to country-and all were really good bands. The beer garden had a nice selection of local beers represented, and the Main Street showed off some of what is making Greenville a place that out of town foodies should put on their radar. Will I go back next year? Heck ya!

This prominent bronze sculpture in downtown Greenville depicts two African-American students. One…read moreleft, a young man with an "S" on his sweater next to a girl carrying schoolbooks. It commemorates Sterling High School, the city's first Black public high school. It was created by artist Mariah Kirby-Smith and dedicated on November 19, 2006. Sterling High School was founded in 1896 by Reverend Daniel Melton Minus, originally as Greenville Academy, and later renamed Sterling. It served generations of Black students during segregation, becoming a beacon of academic excellence and civic leadership. The school was tragically destroyed by fire in 1967, but its legacy lives on through alumni like Reverend Jesse Jackson, who was a star quarterback there before becoming a national civil rights leader. The sculpture's location is intentional. It stands near the former Woolworth's lunch counter, where Sterling students held peaceful sit-ins during the 1960s civil rights movement. These protests helped desegregate public accommodations in Greenville, including libraries and buses. There are a number of plaques on display. Perhaps the most poignant is titled "Civil Rights" and is inscribed "The students of Sterling High School were the driving force that promoted the change of institutional segregation in Greenville County. During the 1950s and 1960s, Sterling students held demonstrations, marches and rallies that finally integrated the Greenville County Library and public accommodations, changed the seating arrangement on city buses and eliminated the segregated lunch counters at the former Woolworth's Department Store at this site." The two students are standing tall, descending the steps. The expression suggests determination. [Review 1394 of 2025 - 1338 in South Carolina - 24946 overall]