By Jennifer Jordan | Charleston Housing News
For nearly a decade, Charleston has remained at the top of nearly every major travel ranking in the South. But according to one of the nation’s leading travel editors, the Holy City has evolved into something much larger than an award-winning destination.
Speaking during Explore Charleston’s annual Travel Council meeting, Southern Living Editor-in-Chief Sid Evans said Charleston has become the benchmark against which Southern hospitality, culture and lifestyle are measured.
“Charleston isn’t just a destination for our readers,” Evans said. “It’s an idea they aspire to — hospitality, sophistication, culture. The idea of Charleston is powerful.”
Evans went on to describe Charleston as “the South at its best,” a distinction that helps explain why Southern Living readers have voted the city South’s Best City for nine consecutive years.
The comments underscore Charleston’s continued national influence as one of America’s premier travel destinations while also highlighting the growing challenge of protecting the qualities that made the city famous.
More Than a Vacation Destination
Charleston welcomes nearly eight million visitors annually, but Evans suggested travelers aren’t simply arriving for beaches, historic homes or acclaimed restaurants.
Instead, they’re seeking an experience rooted in authenticity.
Historic neighborhoods, preserved architecture, walkable streets, coastal scenery and a deeply established hospitality culture have helped distinguish Charleston from countless cities competing for tourism dollars.
“It’s an idea they aspire to,” Evans said, describing Charleston as a place that represents the very image many readers associate with the modern South.
Growth Comes With Pressure
While praising Charleston’s success, Evans acknowledged that continued growth presents significant challenges.
As the region attracts more residents, tourists and investment, preserving Charleston’s historic character becomes increasingly difficult.
Visitors continue to flock to King Street, waterfront attractions, museums, beaches and the city’s nationally recognized dining scene, but increased popularity has also produced heavier crowds, transportation challenges and growing demand for hotel accommodations.
Evans, who previously lived on Sullivan’s Island while serving as editor of Garden & Gun, reflected on how dramatically Charleston has changed since 2008.
He recalled a King Street that featured relatively few restaurants and numerous vacant storefronts.
Today, the corridor has become one of the Southeast’s premier retail and dining districts, drawing visitors from around the world while also introducing many of the challenges associated with larger metropolitan destinations.
Charleston’s Culinary Scene Continues Driving Tourism
Evans identified Charleston’s restaurant industry as one of the city’s greatest competitive advantages.
He highlighted longtime favorites such as FIG alongside acclaimed newcomers, including Lost Isle on Johns Island, which Southern Living named its Restaurant of the Year in 2025, and Palmira Barbecue in West Ashley, recognized by the magazine as the Best Barbecue Joint in the South in 2024.
“These are some of the city’s greatest champions,” Evans said.
He added that readers regularly contact the magazine asking for restaurant recommendations before planning trips to Charleston, demonstrating that the city’s nationally recognized food scene has become one of its strongest tourism drivers.
According to Evans, it’s not simply the food that resonates with visitors, but the stories, traditions and local culture surrounding it.
Tourism Recognition Has Real Estate Implications
Charleston’s national reputation extends well beyond tourism.
Industry observers have long noted that many second-home buyers and relocating residents first experience Charleston as visitors before eventually purchasing property in the region.
The city’s consistent national recognition helps reinforce its appeal among retirees, remote workers, luxury buyers and investors seeking communities with enduring lifestyle value.
As Charleston continues balancing growth with historic preservation, maintaining that reputation may prove as important economically as attracting the next wave of visitors.
Hotel Development Reflects Continued Demand
Charleston’s tourism economy continues to evolve alongside its growing national profile.
A long-delayed proposal for a 175-room hotel at 194 Cannon Street, near the Ashley River bridges, is once again scheduled for review before the Charleston Board of Zoning Appeals after questions emerged regarding which zoning regulations should govern the project. If approved, the development would still require review by the city’s Board of Architectural Review.
Meanwhile, visitors now have another lodging option following the reopening of The Lowline Hotel, the former Hyatt Place at 560 King Street. The property recently completed a comprehensive renovation and reopened as a 197-room lifestyle hotel, reflecting continued investment in Charleston’s hospitality sector.
As Charleston’s reputation continues to grow nationally, city leaders face an increasingly delicate balancing act: accommodating millions of visitors each year while preserving the historic character, culture and authenticity that made the Holy City one of America’s most celebrated destinations in the first place.
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