Top 10 Cities in the United States
A perennial top-ten placer, Charleston grabs the No. 1 spot for the first time
Charleston has been honored as the top American travel destination by the readers of Conde Nast Traveler Magazine. Charleston was No. 2 on the list last year. The Holy City welcomes an estimated 4 million people every year. The city boasts an old world charm and a touch of new world sophistication – the cozy little town complete with its cobblestone streets and scenic antique buildings seems to have it all. “Beautiful structures, beautiful beach, great weather most of the time its a great time, nice people, we love it,” one out-of-towner said.
Charleston was chosen as the marquee destination in the U.S. based on six criteria, atmosphere/ambience, culture/sites, friendliness, lodging, restaurants and shopping. The award was presented Monday evening at the magazine’s Reader’s Choice Awards in New York with Charleston native and comedian Stephen Colbert awarding the honor to local tourism officials. Colbert said Charleston is the most beautiful city he has ever seen and joked that, as a child, he picked up pocket change pointing out the house in Charleston where Rhett Butler grew up.
The award is a big payoff for the Charleston Area and Visitors Bureau. Charleston has been on the magazine’s Top 10 list since 1993.The award will also bring with it new attention to the tourist-friendly town. Charleston Place Hotel General Manager, Paul Strecey said Conde’ Nast along with Travel and Leisure are among the top travel resources in the world and the ranking will help bring in more business. “It’s a very unique town,” Strecey said. “I think the others have their charms and their reasons for going there, but no other town like Charleston where it blends all together so well.”
San Francisco was second on this year’s list followed by Santa Fe, N.M., Chicago and Honolulu. New York was next followed by Savannah, Ga., Carmel, Cal., Seattle and Boston.
To find out if now is the right time to relocate to Charleston, contact Shawn Pillion. Shawn is a full time buyer’s agent in Charleston, SC and part owner of the brokerage.