The Charlotte Observer today reported that Charleston
again was voted the No. 1 city in the United States to visit in the annual Readers' Choice Awards by Conde Nast Traveler
-- for the fourth year.
Also, Charleston
finished in second place in the Readers' Choice Awards for Top 25 Cities in the
World.
But a closer look at the other cities in both lists may be
informative.
Top 5 Cities in the United States
1. Charleston
2. Santa Fe ,
N.M.
3. New Orleans
4. San Francisco
5. Chicago
Top Cities in the World
1. Florence ,
Italy
2. Charleston
3. Budapest ,
Hungary
4. Cape Town ,
South Africa
5. San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
6. Prague ,
Czech Republic
7. Rome
8. Siem Reap, Cambodia
9. Barcelona ,
Spain
10. Santa Fe ,
N.M.
11. Krakow ,
Poland
12. Luang Prabang, Laos
13. Bangkok ,
Thailand
14. Beirut ,
Lebanon
15. Vienna ,
Austria
16. Siena ,
Italy
17. New Orleans
18. Quebec City ,
Canada
19. Sydney ,
Australia
20. San Francisco
21. Chiang Mai ,
Thailand
22. Salzburg ,
Austria
23. Chicago
24. Bruges ,
Belgium
25. Kyoto ,
Japan
Why is "Top Cities in the United States " limited to only
five destinations? While a good bit of the contents of the magazine (these and
other best-of lists are in the November issue, on the shelves Oct. 26) is usually geared toward luxury and exotic travel, the five-city limit seems restrictive for a
magazine based in America
and written for American readers.
With the exception of Santa Fe ,
N.M. , the other winners in the United States
list also appear on the world list.
And with the exception of Santa Fe , the domestic destinations chosen are
not surprising. In fact, they could qualify for been-there-done-that honors for
most travelers.
But look at some
of the international selections, like exotic Luang Prabang, Laos , or Beirut , Lebanon
-- a fascinating place that was a jet-set destination before decades of civil
war. Who would have imagined those places (or even rustic Siena , Italy )
on the top 25 list?
Think it through: Could fabled Florence ,
Italy -- shown at the top of
this post -- really be the only city in the world more worth visiting than Charleston ?
Be aware that anyone could take any of the Conde Nast Traveler's online polls.
It' ain't just readers, folks.
Maybe Conde Nast
Traveler poll-takers aren't overly curious about trying different or unusual destinations
in the United States
-- or are poll-takers on a mission. Or just don't get out much. And perhaps poll-takers' international choices are more of a wish list than anything.
1 comments:
Charlotte often gets accused of being a city full of insecure people who aspire to put it on a fake, undeserving pedestal. I've often disagreed. And then the Observer publishes a story like this, that for the life of me I totally don't understand. Why try to minimize such a wonderful accolade for Charleston? The only conclusion is jealousy.
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