A number of Southern cities were among the top 15 U.S. travel destinations as voted by readers of Travel + Leisure. The list was released as part of the magazine’s 26th annual World’s Best Awards.
At the top of the list was Charleston, S.C., which has been at or near the number-one spot so many times Travel + Leisure named it a Hall of Fame destination. Charleston was also the only American city to earn a spot in the list of the top cities around the world, coming in at #17.
Also earning Hall of Fame distinction was the #3 destination, Savannah, Ga.
Rounding out the Southern contention on the list was New Orleans at #4, San Antonio at #6, Williamsburg, Va., at #8, Nashville at #11, and Asheville, N.C. at #15.
The awards also include categories such as tour operators, hotels, and—for the first time—national parks. The awards were open for voting between January and May 2021.
“The 2021 standouts are as far-flung as ever and suggest a renewed appreciation for places that offer unparalleled natural beauty and, in many places, fewer crowds,” Travel + Leisure editor in chief Jacqui Gifford said in a news release related to the awards. “Forced to think on their feet, the properties that made the cut in 2021 all found innovative ways to deliver exceptional hospitality to their guests.”
