SC city voted best in the US for 2023 by readers of national travel magazine. Here’s why

Lyn Riddle
·2 min read
Charleston reigned supreme on a list of best smaller cities in the United States.

A new list of 15 favorite cities in the United States is out and guess who’s on top — Charleston, a favorite so often it’s been put on Travel + Leisure magazine’s hall of fame.

This year the magazine called Charleston “the perfect combination of southern charm and city vibes.”

The list is based on responses from readers based on sights/landmarks, culture, food, friendliness, shopping and value. Charleston scored 88.63, topping New Orleans by 1.49 points. The last city on the list, Nashville, scored 81.86 points.

Readers said Charleston was the favorite because people were friendly, King Street has many shopping and dining options and there were a lot of historic sites.

“So many incredible restaurants” have made Charleston a foodie destination, and “the mix of hotels makes the city a perfect fit for any type of traveler,” the magazine said.

In an earlier story specifically on Charleston, the magazine offered 28 things to do list, including starting your day with a biscuit at Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit’s two locations downtown and Vicious Biscuit in Mount Pleasant and while there see the USS Yorktown. Lots of walking on this list, down King Street, Waterfront Park and the Battery, Ravenel Bridge, Shem Creek Boardwalk, Fort Moultrie and Fort Sumter, farmers market on Saturdays.

Other things to do include golf, the International African American Museum, South Carolina Aquarium, sunset cruise, Gibbes Museum of Art, ghost tours, Riverdogs baseball, museum, Gullah Tours to learn more about Black history in the city, Old Slave Mart Museum, Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site, located in West Ashley, is home to the site of the first European settlement founded in South Carolina (in 1670).

Here are the restaurants the magazine recommended: Wild Common, Fig, Hank’s Seafood Restaurant, and Halls Chophouse. Or ask locals.

And if all else fails, there is an ocean nearby — Folly Beach, Isle of Palms Beach, and Sullivan’s Island were mentioned.

The other cities ranked in order after Charleston and New Orleans are Santa Fe, New Mexico; Savannah, Georgia; Honolulu; New York City; Chicago; Alexandria, Virginia; San Antonio, Texas; Boston; Austin, Texas; Williamsburg, Virginia; Asheville, North Carolina and San Diego.