Charleston Named No. 1 Small U.S. City

For the fifth consecutive year, Charleston has been named the No. 1 Small U.S. City by Condé Nast Traveler 2015 Readers’ Choice Awards.

Beating out several California towns, Asheville, N.C., Savannah, Ga., and second-place contender Santa Fe, N.M., Charleston was heralded for her “beautiful gardens, vibrantly painted Georgian houses along Rainbow Row, and carriages clacking across cobblestone streets.”

Calling Charleston one of the country’s “most picturesque cities,” the magazine noted the city’s food, shopping and theater.

“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.”

According to Condé Nast Traveler, more than 128,000 travelers took part in the 28th annual Readers’ Choice Awards survey — the most in its history — submitting millions of ratings and tens of thousands of comments that helped to craft the list of winners.

In addition to the No. 1 Top Small U.S. City ranking, Kiawah Island Golf Resort ranked No. 6 and Wild Dunes Resort ranked No. 20 in the Top 20 U.S. Resorts in the South. The Restoration on King and Wentworth Mansion ranked No.2 and No. 13, among the Top 20 2015 Readers’ Choice Award-winning properties in the Hotels/South category, as well as No. 38 and No. 89, among the Top 100 Readers’ Choice Award-winning Hotels & Resorts in the World.

The following hotels ranked among the Top 10 Hotels/Charleston category: The Restoration on King, Wentworth Mansion, John Rutledge House Inn, French Quarter Inn, The Vendue, Belmond Charleston Place, Market Pavilion, Kings Courtyard Inn, Planters Inn and Zero George.

Best Ghost Tour is Found in Charleston

Also topping lists in recent days is Bulldog Tours, which was named the No. 1 Ghost Tour in the Country in the 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. The award for the Best Ghost Tour included 20 nominees from around the country, chosen by a panel of experts that includes a combination of editors from USA TODAY; editors from 10Best.com; relevant expert contributors; and sources for both these media and other Gannett properties. The public then had four weeks to vote for its favorite ghost tour from among the 20 nominees. The final winners were announced on Oct. 16.

Since 2001, Bulldog Tours has been entertaining visitors with tales of Charleston’s haunted past and dark secrets. Its tours give visitors access to buildings they wouldn’t otherwise be able to experience, including the Old City Jail, Provost Dungeon at the Old Exchange Building and the city’s oldest graveyard at the Old Circular Church.

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Charleston FAQ's

Best Places to Stay and Hotels in Charleston?

Choosing a hotel and where to stay in Charleston all depends on your budget and goals. Do you want to stay Downtown, at the beach or in the outer areas such as North Charleston where you have to drive to get everywhere? For more help on deciding: https://travelerofcharleston.com/articles/hotels/

What Beach in Charleston is Best?

Charleston has 3 main public beaches which are: Folly, Isle of Palms and Sullivans. Each beach has it’s own atmosphere. The most common beach that people visit is Folly Beach and then Isle of Palms followed by Sullivans Island. For more info on Charleston’s beaches visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/guide-charlestons-beaches/

What are some historical things to do in Charleston?

Charleston, SC is full of historical things to do. Everything from museums, to public sites and free landmark sites such as Rainbow Row and the Battery can be seen. For more info on Charleston’s top historical sites visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/places-to-learn-about-charleston-sc-history/

What to do with the family and kids in Charleston?

There are many things that will keep the kids and family entertained and educated in Charleston. There are historic sites such as Fort Sumter, a Children’s Museum, Aquarium and the USS Yorktown…a WWII era aircraft carrier you can tour. For more info visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-family-fun-activities/

Are you a Charleston First Time Visitor? Checkout the guide

There’s so many things you could do in Charleston it can be overwhelming. We recommend that first time visitors, checkout the ultimate first-time visitor guide here: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-first-time-visitors-guide/

Charleston things to do in the Spring season?

Spring in Charleston, SC is an amazing time of year to visit. The flowers are blooming and the weather is mild and sunny. For more info, check-out our spring guide to Charleston here: https://travelerofcharleston.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-springtime-in-charleston/

Charleston things to do in the Summer season?

Summer in Charleston is a great time to visit. There’s plenty of things to keep you busy and visiting the beach will probably….or should be on your short-list. Also water-based activities and tours are popular. Checkout this summer guide to Charleston for more info:

Our 10 Favorite Summer Activities in Charleston

Charleston things to do in the Fall season?

Fall is one of the best times to visit. The weather cools down a bit and the skies are typically blue and clear. In addition there are many great events, festivals and the large crowds of summer have gone back to school or work. For more info on visiting in the fall, checkout this article: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-12-things-to-do-fall/

What should I not miss in Charleston?

There are so many great things to do that it’s difficult to narrow the list down. This article does a great job with figuring out the must do things to do in Charleston

7 Can’t Miss Reasons to Visit Charleston, SC Now

How many days do I need in Charleston?

The consensus is a minimum of 3-days is needed to settle in and experience Charleston. For instance, many people take 2 days exploring downtown and another day visiting sites outside of downtown such as the plantations, Angel Oak Tree or beaches. Checkout this page for a list of tours and attractions:

Charleston’s Top Tours & Attractions | Things to do

Is Charleston a walkable city? Do I need a car?

Downtown Charleston was made for walking and for sure one of the best way to soak up and experience the history first-hand. This article goes over getting around Charleston with and without a car as well:

Getting Around Charleston, SC

Is Savannah or Charleston better?

We’re of course partial to Charleston, but here’s the truth. There are many similarities however there are some differences in our opinion:

Both cities are historic and beautiful.
Both cities are extremely walkable. Savannah, with it’s park-like squares maybe more walkable than Charleston.
Charleston has a more established and food scene with many more options.
Charleston has better hotels and shopping.
Both cities have equally good tours.
Charleston has better beach options. Savannah has Tybee which is great, however it’s 1 beach vibe versus Charleston which has 3 beaches with different vibes. Checkout this Charleston beach guide article: https://travelerofcharleston.com/guide-charlestons-beaches/
In Savannah you can walk with alcoholic beverages on the street. This is not allowed in Charleston. This can be good or bad depending on your stance.
Savannah is more affordable.
TourPass offers all-inclusive passes in both cities: https://tourpass.com