More than 159,000 of Condé Nast Traveler readers rated their favorite cities in the United States. Guess which city was voted the Best Small City in the U.S.? Yep, Charleston.
The award noted:
With its beautiful gardens, vibrantly painted Georgian houses along Rainbow Row, and carriages clacking across cobblestone streets, Charleston remains one of the country’s most picturesque cities. Underneath its sleepy charm, the city is known for its dynamic food scene—where destination dining reflects its English, French, and West African roots—along with a thriving theater scene, bustling King Street, and historic City Market. Come evening, stroll along The Battery and take it all in.
This is the sixth consecutive year, Charleston has taken the top spot in the Readers’ Choice Awards. This year, the survey received so much feedback, the editors of Condé Nast Traveler divided the list into two, with the small city awards recognizing cities with populations under 150,000.
Also making the list were Savannah, Georgia, at No. 5 and Asheville, North Carolina, at No. 10.