Growing South Carolina City An “Unexpected U.S. City You Need to See”

I'm sure you have a bucket list of cities you want to visit. Both internationally and in the US. For most people that US bucket list includes cities like Los Angeles and New York. I've been lucky enough to travel to a lot of US cities and states but the top 2 on my list right now are New Orleans and Austin. But perhaps there is a South Carolina city I need to add to that list. Though technically I have been there, but I haven't spent much time there. This growing South Carolina city that has received a lot of buzz lately was recently named as one "unexpected US city you need to see." The list was curated by Travel.Alot.com. Can you guess which one?

It's Greenville, SC! As the city's marketing slogan says, "yeah that Greenville". In the last 5-10 years Greenville has really put itself on the map as a destination in the South Carolina Upstate. You've probably seen pictures of Falls Park, the gorgeous city park in downtown Greenville. The city is right at the foothills of the gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains giving it a natural beauty. I've heard a lot of great things about the food scene as well as breweries and distilleries in the area. According to VisitGreenville,  the city features "one-of-a-kind shops, boutiques, and art galleries" in addition to museums, tours, and outdoor activities. If you haven't paid Greenville a visit it might be time to do so.

I'd certainly say this qualified Greenville South Carolina a city you need to see. Some other cities that made the list include Asheville North Carolina, Chattanooga Tennessee, and Charlottesville Virginia. You can read the full list here. Learn more about what to do in Greenville here.

According to the calendar, summer is winding down, although it doesn't feel like it outside. Even if your kids are headed back to school, there's still plenty of warm weather to enjoy at the beach. One of the great things about living in the Charlotte area is that it's easy to jump in the car for a weekend getaway along the Carolina coastline. One of my family's favorites things to do at beaches is visiting the boardwalks.

I grew up with beach boardwalks in New York and New Jersey. It was the same for my wife, who spent many of her childhood summers in Ocean City, New Jersey. In fact, we were there again this summer and it was exactly the same as we both remember. Nothing beats a boardwalk for a healthy dose of nostalgia from one's youth.

Beach towns with boardwalks offer the perfect balance of sun, surf, sand, sugar, and salt. Oh, and silliness. Lots and lots of silliness. When you need a break from the beach, you can find all sorts of other ways to amuse yourself on the boardwalk, from putt-putt to Ferris wheels to skeeball to roller coasters. You can also just take a leisurely stroll or hop on your beach cruiser.

Study Finds has ranked America's Top 5 Boardwalks. I mentioned my family's fondness for the boardwalk in Ocean City, New Jersey. While it's certainly deserving of high honors, if only for the pizza and crab fries, another Ocean City actually landed on this list. So did one beloved boardwalk in South Carolina.

Built in 2010, the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk & Promenade has been dubbed “America’s Boardwalk.” Highlights include a 1.2 mile walkway with terrific dining options, the 187-foot-tall Myrtle Beach SkyWheel, and weekly fireworks shows.

The half-mile-long Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk dates back to 1907. The 1911 Looff Carousel and 1924 Giant Dipper roller coaster are National Historic Landmarks. Visitors can get a bird's eye view of all the fun from the Sky Glider.

Originally built as a wooden walkway in 1888, the Virginia Beach Boardwalk has been rebuilt several times. It is now a 28 ft-wide, three-mile-long concrete boardwalk, which is ideal for walkers, jogger, and bikers. The designated paths keep them all from running into one another. Visitors will enjoy the dozens of restaurants, bars, and shops, as well as taking selfies with the giant statue of King Neptune.

What started out as a removable wooden walkway in 1902 was completely rebuilt following a storm in 1962. The Herschel-Spellman carousel also dates back to 1902. According to Fodor's, it's America's "oldest continuously operating carousel with two tiers of elaborately carved and painted animals." And when in Maryland, you have to try the crab cakes.

Click here to find out which famous American boardwalk came in at #1. Here are a few hints: This boardwalk is located on the East Coast, it's the longest boardwalk in the WORLD, and the city where it's located was the basis for the original version of the board game Monopoly. I'm sure you've already figured it out, but click here for the full report to see which boardwalk came in at #1 and why it topped the list.