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Charleston Continues Best City Streak. Why This South Carolina Spot Is An American Favorite
Travel + Leisure readers get to vote for their favorite travel destinations around the world. Included in these awards is Best Hotel, 25 Best Cities in the World and 15 Best Cities in the United States.
Voting for cities was based on criteria that includes sights, landmarks, culture, cuisine, friendliness, shopping and overall value. For a whopping ninth year in a row, Charleston, South Carolina, has been voted the Best City in America by T+L readers.
Being the editor of Access Charleston right off the bat let me say I'm totally new to Charleston.
My friends Ada and Saleem Munir who live on John's Island are sharing all the their hidden allies and streets in this fabled Southern City. Charleston is one of the oldest cities and a city of many firsts. But what it’s known most for is for it’s Southern charm!
While I hope you end up using this as a guide sometime in your life, I also hope it’s much more of a loose guide.
Rainbow Row
One of the most popular sections in the city is Rainbow Row. It’s a high trafficked street in Charleston so I would suggest showing up early or during a meal time. But the rows of brightly colored homes will make up for it!
Elliot Street
This travel guide isn’t going to give you an exact location on each street. Why? Because part of the beauty of the city is finding and discovering your favorite allies and corners.
After one strolls through Rainbow Row, a quick turn on Elliot Street will have one wondering if you were in Paris or South Carolina still.
Battery Street
On the other side of Rainbow Row, right next to the Atlantic ocean – lies Battery Street!
The Battery is named for the civil war artillery battery at the site, though tourists flock to it mainly for all of the grandiose historic homes that line the Southern most point of the city. The homes are known for their “antebellum” architecture meaning they have large pillars, wrap around porches and enormous foyers on the inside.
Bedons Alley
I can’t remember the last time I visited a city and ran down every alleyway. But that’s the magic of Charleston! It’s beauty and charm is often tucked away meaning don’t ever be afraid to go off course. You never know what you will find!
Case in point : Bedons Alley.
While just another cute scenic alley filled with vines and exposed brick with a tiny teal home was right at the end. Bonus! Even all of the surrounding homes were as cute and quaint.
Pennsylvania Alley
Another alley that is often talked about in Charleston.
Pennsylvania alley is nestled right in the French Quarter, a few blocks east of King Street. It’s a bit more well known and traveled than the majority of alleys. But it’s also covered in greenery giving you so many photo ops in just one street!
Church Street
This street runs North and South in the city stretching throughout a lot of different neighborhoods. In some ways I liked this one a bit better than the famous King Street. It was so much quieter and a bit more colorful!
An FYI for the history buffs out there, Church street is where the historic Heyward-Washington House is located. This home housed one of the signers for the Declaration of Independence and you can actually tour the house.
Montagu Street
The Simmons say is a street with sprawling homes and a secret garden.
King Street
I’m personally not a big fan of tourist traps but everone is saying Oscar you just have to see King Street. There are a few blocks that are purely shops, houses and some famous restaurants.
I fee like I could go on and on with Charleston and street names! The city is just drenched in charm.
Have you ever traveled to Charleston? If so what was your favorite part of the city??
Please send us your feedback.
Oscar Smith, Editor
