Charleston Named # 2 Best City by Travel & Leisure

Once again, Charleston has been named one of the best cities in North America by the readers of Travel & Leisure, one of the travel industry’s most respected publications. The magazine released its 2011 World’s Best reader survey results on NBC’s TODAY Show and with it, news that Charleston was ranked the second best city, coming in slightly behind New York City and just ahead of San Francisco.

To watch this year’s ‘World’s Best’ announcement on NBC’s TODAY Show, click here.

This year’s achievement is the highest ranking Charleston has received yet. In 2010, San Francisco won the second spot with Charleston coming in third. In the survey, Travel & Leisure asked readers to consider the sights, culture and arts, restaurants, shopping, value, and people of each city. With these considerations in mind, it’s easy to see why Charleston has consistently been named to the list over the years.

Plantations, historic military installations, antebellum homes, and more remind locals and visitors alike that Charleston has thrived since its pre-Revolutionary days and beyond. Now, the internationally renowned annual Spoleto Festival, art galleries, theaters, and museums have transitioned the city in a modern-day cultural destination.

Three of the last four winners of the James Beard ‘Best Southeast Chef’ have hailed from Charleston and along with the popular BB&T Wine & Food Festival, have helped the city’s restaurant scene undergo its own ‘renaissance.' And not only have Charleston locals been credited as having the ‘Best Manners,' they were also named ‘America’s Most Attractive People’ in 2010 by Travel & Leisure.

In other news, Kiawah’s five-star Sanctuary hotel was also named one of the 2011 Top 100 Hotels in the World and Top 20 in the United States. As we move into the late summer months, now is the time to start planning a fall visit to Kiawah and Charleston. Contact your Kiawah Island Real Estate Sales Executive for more information about an exciting new offer to help make your next visit to Kiawah, the best visit.