REASONS TO VISIT AND RETURN WHY THE CHARLESTON AREA SOARS ABOVE AS A DESTINATION CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA
There’s a reason why so many visitors return to the Charleston area time and time again. At turns, both coastal and cosmopolitan, this celebrated DESTINATION BY THE SEA forever unfolds new delights for every sense. AMERICA250 has designated Charleston as one of four signature U.S. cities for enhanced commemorations of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and founding of our nation, and rightfully so. Charleston played a key role in the winning of independence. The Battle of Sullivan’s Island, fought in Charleston Harbor on June 28, 1776, just six days before independence was declared, represented one of the first decisive victories by the Americans over the British Army and Royal Navy. Royal Navy warships attacked an unfinished fort on Sullivan’s Island, manned by South Carolina Continental soldiers. The fort’s unique construction, of sand and palmetto logs, absorbed the devastating shots from the British cannonade. British soldiers were unsuccessful in their efforts to assault Sullivan’s Island from Isle of Palms. Defeated, the British retreated that evening and would depart South Carolina several weeks later. Realizing Charleston’s significance, the British would return. General Augustine Prevost marched against the city in May 1779, but lacked sufficient force to take it. A more substantial effort took place in spring 1780 when General Henry Clinton, assisted by the Royal Navy, besieged the city.
Although the Americans staged “a gallant defense,” Charleston fell to the British after a six-week siege, the longest of the Revolutionary War. With its rich history, Charleston is excited to be a major contributor to the celebration of the country’s independence in 2026 and you are invited to take in all that the city has to offer in this commemoration. A stroll of Charleston’s streets and travel to its surrounding communities unveils a wealth of history related to the American Revolution. From plantations where British troops encamped to historic buildings such as the Old Exchange where issues were debated, to the museums that will feature special exhibitions related to the event, Charleston will be a must visit for anyone interested in the nation’s founding.
Accolades
SOUTH'S BEST 2025 TM
We are honored to have been named No. 1 City in the U.S. for 12 consecutive years by the readers of Travel + Leisure (2013 – 2024), No. 1 South’s Best City in the Southern Living South’s Best Awards (2017 – 2025), and Condé Nast Traveler ’s Reader’s Choice No. 1 Small U.S. City (2011– 2020, 2022-2025).
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