South Carolina City Is Best In The Country For The 11th Year In A Row

In the Carolinas, there are many cute, festive, quaint cities to visit. But there’s one city in South Carolina that seems to rise above all others year after year. Travel & Leisure has just come out with their ‘World’s Best Awards for 2023’. Their list ranks the best cities, hotels, airlines, and more. One South Carolina city has topped their list yet again this year.

According to the magazine, Charleston, South Carolina is the ‘Best City in the U.S.’ for 2023. This is the 11th year in a row the historical city has topped the list. And for good reason. There are so many different things to see and enjoy in Charleston.

If you’ve never visited Charleston, you need to put it on your ‘must see’ list. Although it’s been quite a while since I’ve been, it’s a gorgeous place! You can spend an entire day just walking around and looking at the beautiful homes there. The homes, known as Charleston-style homes, are built in a variety of architectural styles, but share a similar interior layout. Almost all of the homes are on narrow lots and are at least two stories. Many of the homes are brightly painted, which adds to their charm.

Walking along the cobblestone streets of Charleston, it reminds you of an older time. Almost every home has a huge porch, usually in front. Most homes have long porches on the first and second floors. It’s very Southern. Along with the very Southern homes, there’s very Southern food.

In 2000, I got married to my first husband in Charleston. After we were married, we eloped, we had dinner at the famous Magnolia Restaurant. It was amazing! I had the best shrimp and grits! The restaurant has been serving amazing Southern food for over 30 years. Just looking at the menu makes you hungry. It’s a must visit when you travel to Charleston.

The Charleston City Market is another place to visit when walking around Charleston. At the market, you’ll be able to find lots of arts and crafts that are local to the area. You can’t leave the market without purchasing a sweetgrass basket. For more than 300 years, people in Charleston have been weaving the baskets and they’re gorgeous. They are made with locally harvested bulrush and they last forever!

In addition to all of the local artisans, there’s food to enjoy as well. Grab a cup of coffee while walking around the market and grab yourself a Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit. If you’ve never tried these, omg! These biscuits melt in your mouth. You can also find the biscuits in the freezer section of your local Harris Teeter or Publix. I’ve found them at Publix. I’ll get some Publix Chicken Tenders and put them inside a Callie’s biscuit. Heaven!

There are so many things to do in Charleston, that I can’t list them all here. It’s a great city for a weekend getaway. There are numerous historic hotels to stay in that are full of Southern charm.

Here’s the complete list of Travel & Leisure’s ‘Best Cities in the U.S.:

1. Charleston, South Carolina
2. Santa Fe, New Mexico
3. New Orleans, Louisiana
4. Savannah, Georgia
5. Chicago, Illinois
6. Honolulu, Hawaii
7. New York, New York
8. Nashville, Tennessee
9. Alexandria, Virginia
10. San Antonio, Texas

You can see the ‘Best Cities in the World for 2023’ list and Travel & Leisure’s other ‘Best’ lists here.

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