Home to the raucous River Street, historic architecture and moss-draped oak trees, it’s no surprise Savannah is getting national recognition for being the charming town it is.
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Readers of travel magazine Condé Nast ranked the Georgia town among the top 15 of its top small U.S. cities 2018 list, part of its Readers' Choice Awards curated with hundreds of thousands of votes in mind.
The ranking honors “the country's smaller cities, with populations under one million, and its major hubs, with populations over one million.”
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In first place is Charleston, South Carolina, beloved for its food scene, mansions and street fashion.
Santa Fe, New Mexico, known for its art galleries and colonial churches, came in second overall.
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Georgia’s own Savannah ranked third overall.
Here’s what Condé Nast had to say about the coastal city:
Mossy, moody Savannah has no shortage of 'grammable views. Start with a walk along its cobblestoned historic district past horse-drawn carriages, ornate architecture (and haunted buildings), or find shade under live oak trees drooping with Spanish moss. Book well in advance for your pick of luxury at The Gastonian, an upscale historic bed and breakfast just two blocks from 30-acre Forsyth Park. And for a fantastic dining experience, go to The Grey, a former Greyhound Bus depot elegantly reborn as a James Beard best new restaurant nominee, where executive chef Mashama Bailey—a finalist herself, for best chef in the Southeast—serves elevated comforts like foie and grits and tempura fried catfish.
And this isn’t Savannah’s first time stealing hearts.
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Last year, Southern Living named Savannah one of the best cities in the South.
“Like a time capsule of historic architecture and city planning, Savannah’s old-school exterior belies its status as a progressive art, design, and culture hub,” the magazine wrote.
The coastal town was also named one of the best long weekend getaway spots in the country in travel site Jetsetter's ranking of 13 top quick-trips from the city. Savannah is approximately four hours from metro Atlanta.
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The best small cities, according to Condé Nast’s Readers’ Choice Awards:
- Charleston, South Carolina
- Santa Fe, New Mexico
- Savannah
- Alexandria, Virginia
- Sarasota, Florida
- Sedona, Arizona
- Monterey, California
- Asheville, North Carolina
- Greenville, South Carolina
- Key West, Florida
- Portland, Maine
- Napa, California
- Palm Springs, California
- Newport, Rhode Island
- Santa Barbara, California
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