Featured Image Credit: Charleston CVB
Charleston and Greenville earned the No. 1 and No. 3 spots in the Conde Nast Traveler’s “The Best Small Cities in the U.S.” featuring cities with populations under 1 million.
The annual survey named Charleston the country’s best small and “most charming cities” for the third year in a row. The magazine described the picturesque, southern town, “known for its dynamic food scene – where destination dining reflects its English, French and West African roots – along with a thriving theatre scene, bustling King Street and Historic City Market.” Travel & Leisure magazine also named Charleston the top city in the U.S. for the fifth year running in 2017.
Greenville came in at No. 3 in the Conde Nast Traveler’s list. The small town was featured as a secret city just on the cusps of stardom. The magazine described Greenville as “The up-and-coming food lover’s town getting its own outpost of Sean Brock’s Husk and its first food hall in late-2017, and its farm-to-table scene is rising to the ranks of Asheville.” Unique to the growing city is its 32-acre Falls Park that runs straight through the middle of town. Many visitors take a nice evening stroll of the trails after a day of window shopping and a mouthwatering dinner.
South Carolina’s Hilton Head Island was also featured as No. 1 among the “Best Islands in the U.S.” The Lowcountry region is known for its golf courses, lighthouses, and large beaches. The magazine described the island “With pristine beaches, shopping to satisfy everyone and restaurants that could compete with major cities, it’s no wonder that our readers found this South Carolina island so relaxing.”
The State of South Carolina found itself among many mentions throughout different magazines for its splendid cities. Neighboring cities mentioned in the “Best Small Cities in the U.S.” include Savannah, GA at No. 6, and Asheville, N.C. at No. 14.