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Travel publications give Charleston top marks
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Shem Creek, Charleston (Photo: Caroline Eubanks)
Charleston has long been raved about in travel media, but this year it tops nearly every list. In Travel + Leisure's America's Favorite Cities 2009 survey, Charleston was in the top ten for the categories of attractive, friendly, intelligent, and stylish people; romantic escapes, family vacation, relaxing retreat, and cultural getaways; bed and breakfasts, small inns, and stylish boutique hotels; cocktail hour; historical sights and monuments; antique and vintage shops and independent boutiques; farmer's markets; and overall quality of life.
Although Charleston won over most categories by a landslide, there were some overlooked categories that Charlestonians might disagree with. Charleston ranked the lowest (#28) for a wild weekend, (#29) for business hotels, and (#26) for big-name restaurants. Any college student who has frequented the Market Street bars would argue that the weekends here are as wild as anywhere else. Spend time dancing on the bar at Market Street Saloon or Mad River and you will agree. Charleston may not have big-name business hotels, but its hotels boast prime locations and features like free internet, complimentary breakfast, and great views. The restaurants of Charleston may not be owned by celebrity chefs, but they can cook with the best of them. McCrady's chef Sean Brock has been featured on numerous Food Network specials and twice been nominated as "Rising Star Chef" by the James Beard Foundation. FIG's Mike Lata won a James Beard Award in 2009 for Best Chef in the Southeast. Charleston may not be winning as many awards as foodie powerhouses like New York City, but a city with multiple James Beard nominees and winners is impressive.
In Conde Nast Traveler's 2009 Reader's Choice Awards, Charleston was named second (under San Francisco, Calif.) in the Top 8 American cities. It is interesting to note that Charleston's rivaling sister city Savannah was named #8, while New York City finally slipped to #4. In Conde Nast's Charleston travel guide, it describes the Holy City as a "living museum" and urges visitors to visit plantations, eat shrimp and grits, and avoid "anything built after 1865." Charleston's past may be in Civil War and Gone with the Wind, but it's future is in the culture. Charleston played host to a worldwide Pecha Kucha Night and brings in renowned chefs, artists, and museums. To see more of their guide, see their website.
Although not all of the "new" Charleston was described in these articles, all press is good press for this rapidly expanding city.
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