This SC city is a ‘must see’ travel experience for families, nationwide magazine says. Here’s why

Greenville once again is on a national magazine’s ‘best’ list, this time Good Housekeeping’s extensive Best Family Travel Awards.

Greenville is the only city in the Southern states listed as a must-see travel experience.

Other must-sees are New Orleans; Victoria, British Columbia; Madison, Wisconsin; Santa Fe, New Mexico; Tucson, Arizona; Rapid City, South Dakota; and Traverse City, Michigan.

The complete list includes items such as luggage, strollers, pillows; resorts, even getting around, such as suggesting the Amtrak auto train.

“One of those rare places that appeal to a variety of ages and interests, Greenville warmly welcomes everyone,” the magazine said “Outdoorsy type? A 32-acre urban park with a suspension bridge that curves around a waterfall is epic. Car aficionado? Check out the free BMW Zentrum Museum. Have a kid who’s into science? Roper Mountain wows with its up-close reptile encounters, dino trails and “starry night” shows.”

They recommend the Residence Inn Downtown Greenville as a place to stay. They called it a value..

“In fact, in 2022 the average cost of a hotel room in Greenville was $170,” the magazine said.

The person who visited, called the tester, said, “The vibe in Greenville was energetic.”

She visited with her 6-year-old.

“There was a liveliness about the place. I saw families, couples and groups of friends and the biggest thing I noticed was the feeling in the air. People were happy,” the tester said.

They magazine mentions, as most lists do, the 22-mile Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail and the free downtown trolley.

It also suggests taking in the Children’s Museum of the Upstate, the 10th largest children’s museum in the country. It is 80,000 square feet on three floors of play-based, hands-on learning.

There is a pretend Publix grocery store, a race car pitstop and other exhibits geared to kids younger than 12.

The museum is in a cultural area just beyond downtown known as Heritage Green, which also houses the Upcountry History Museum, Greenville County Museum of Art, Greenville Theatre, the Sigal Music Museum and Greenville County Library.

Among the dozens of hotels in the town area, Good Housekeeping singled out Springhill Suites Downtown, which with “swinging egg chairs in the lobby, is a fantastic home base.”

The person who visited Greenville for Good Housekeeping also mentioned a site not often included in the best of lists — Roper Mountain Science Center, which is owned by Greenville County Schools.

Located off Interstate 385 about 6 miles south of downtown Greenville, the center opened in 1985 as a public-private venture. Building and other funding was managed by the Roper Mountain Science Center Association while the school district supplied the personnel.

The Association has raised some $6 million to build the buildings.

The tester said the center “was one of the best family attractions I’ve ever visited. It has the exhibits you’d expect at a science center plus an aquarium, dinosaur trail, planetarium, farm and butterfly garden.”

The Good Housekeeping Institute reviewed hundreds of submissions and considered convenience, value, quality, safety, innovation and inclusion as well as the feedback from travel experts and families.

“More than 75 testers (often with their families) reviewed destinations, hotels, resorts, cruises, campgrounds, attractions and travel services in the United States, the Caribbean and Mexico,” the magazine said.

They looked at cribs, pool areas, kids’ menus and clubs..

“They noted the vibe of each place and whether it felt safe enough to allow older kids some independence. They also took notes in relation to sustainability and inclusion, flagging some spots as being particularly welcoming to guests with dietary restrictions, children with special needs and LBGTQ+ families,” the magazine said.