South Carolina city named nation’s No. 1 place to visit — and one of the world’s best

Simone Jasper
·2 min read
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Travelers love visiting one South Carolina city — and now, it ranks as one of the best vacation destinations in the world.

Charleston earned a spot on the worldwide list and also was named the No. 1 place to go for a trip within the United States, according to results Travel + Leisure magazine published Tuesday, July 11.

Though Charleston made its mark when it came to individual cities, other tourist attractions in the Palmetto State received nods in nationwide travel-related categories. The destinations that ranked in the top 10 include:

  • Kiawah Island at No. 3 for best islands in the continental U.S.

  • Hilton Head Island at No. 5 for best islands in the continental U.S.

  • Hilton Head Health at No. 3 for best “destination spas”

  • Wentworth Mansion in Charleston at No. 5 for best urban hotels in the continental U.S.

  • The Loutrel in Charleston at No. 8 for best urban hotels in the continental U.S.

Shoppers and students experience part of King Street in downtown Charleston, South Carolina on Aug. 29, 2021.
Shoppers and students experience part of King Street in downtown Charleston, South Carolina on Aug. 29, 2021.

The list of “World’s Best” award winners came after Travel + Leisure said it conducted an “extensive” vacation-related survey. More than 100,000 readers responded from Oct. 24 to Feb. 27.

For individual cities, the survey focused on several aspects, including landmarks, dining options and value. Readers chose their favorite travel destinations “based on a number of characteristics for which they could choose a rating of excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor.”

Why travelers love Charleston so much

Charleston — which ranked as the 19th most favorite city in the world — also was the nation’s highest scoring place for the 11th straight year. Travel + Leisure gave the popular South Carolina destination a nod for its “combination of southern charm and city vibes.”

The magazine said readers “praised the friendly locals, historic sites, and the shopping and dining along King Street.” Charleston also has gotten noticed for its colorful buildings, walkability and variety of hotel options, according to Travel + Leisure.

The city has made it into global rankings before, being named one of the world’s most breathtaking cities last year.

Within the United States, the Charleston area recently was named a top food destination. It also was found to boast some of the best travel tours and staycation activities, McClatchy News reported.

Overall, the “mole and mezcal capital” of Oaxaca, Mexico, was named the No. 1 travel destination in the world among the 25 cities that were honored.

After Charleston, the top five places to visit in the United States were:

  • Santa Fe, New Mexico, at No. 2

  • New Orleans at No. 3

  • Savannah, Georgia, at No. 4

  • Chicago at No. 5

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