From Staff Reports

GREENVILLE, S.C. — Greenville was ranked No. 3 on CNN Travel’s list of the “best U.S. towns to visit,” CNN announced on July 1.

For the 2026 list, CNN named Sarasota, Fla., as the No. 1 top town to visit, followed by New Haven, Conn.

As for Greenville, the network highlighted the city’s lively downtown area, its outdoor parks like Falls Park on the Reedy, and the popular Swamp Rabbit Trail.

The recognition is the result of a 50-year urban revitalization that transformed the city from a declining industrial textile hub into a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly downtown known for its parks, dining, and outdoor recreation.

Meanwhile, neighboring archrival Asheville was not ranked on CNN Travel’s “Best Towns to Visit” list for 2026. Asheville ranked No. 3 on CNN Travel’s “America’s Best Towns to Visit” list for 2025, when it praised for its mountain setting, resilient arts community, and food and beverage scenes

Also, neither Hendersonville, N.C., nor Spartanburg, S.C., were included on the list.

Regarding Greenville’s ascendancy, the backstory behind this transformation and CNN’s recent accolades includes the following:

• From textile to tourism: Once dubbed the “Textile Capital of the World,” downtown Greenville’s Reedy River was heavily polluted, and the area that is now the central city was an industrial hub. As mills began to close in the 1980s and 90s, local leadership, starting with Mayor Max Heller and continued by Mayor Knox White since 1995, intentionally shifted focus to urban design, parks, and culture.

• Reedy River revival: What was once an area known for drugs and pollution has been completely reclaimed as Falls Park on the Reedy. The downtown park features the iconic Liberty Bridge, a curved suspension bridge that overlooks the Reedy River Falls.

• The Swamp Rabbit Trail: CNN specifically highlighted the Swamp Rabbit Trail, a 28-mile multi-use greenway. This converted rail-trail connects parks, local businesses, and neighboring towns (like Travelers Rest), encouraging heavy foot and bike traffic right into the downtown corridor.

• A vibrant street scene: CNN praised the city’s wide sidewalks and bustling arts and dining scene. The Main Street corridor was redesigned in the 1980s to narrow roads, add outdoor cafe seating, and preserve trees, creating an active environment that currently attracts visitors and baseball fans alike.