Everybody knows that Charleston is great to visit during the summer, when the beach beckons for some serious sunshine time. No wonder the time between Memorial Day and Labor Day is considered peak season for our luxury rental homes.
But word is getting out that Charleston is also the place to be at other times of the year, too - namely, during the holidays.
The venerable travel autority Fodor’s recently published an article championing Charleston’s charms over and above that classic mega-city to visit for the holiday season. You know the one, with Rockefeller Center, the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes, the Macy’s Parade, Miracle on 34th Street, and all that jazz.
Check out the title of the article…
“Forget NYC! This U.S. City Is the Best in the Nation for Holiday Cheer.”
Yes, writer Rachael Levitt is talking about our very own Charleston. She waxes poetic about our fair city, making a strong case for her ranking.
I think she’s on to something, for sure. Here’s why I agree.
The weather’s better in Charleston.
While you can make a case that it’s fun to experience cold weather at Christmas, that has a tendency to wear thin pretty fast. Especially in a big city like New York.
Feeling a frigid blast of arctic air whipping down the Fifth Avenue, funneled by skyscrapers, cuts right through the heartiest winter wear. If it happens to actually snow in Manhattan, it rapidly turns to an icy puddle or a rock hard, gray mound plowed up against the sidewalk. Thick wet feet and frosty toes - yuck.
Contrast that with pleasant temps in December that can reach the 70’s during the day. People walk around wearing shorts and short sleeves. It’s perfect for doing things outdoors, and not being in physical pain while doing so.
By the way - the holidays are also a great time to walk along the beaches around Charleston, like here at the Isle of Palms. Light layers are always a good idea, so you can adjust with the wind.
It’s not nearly as crowded as NYC!
Um, this pretty much goes without saying.
Population of New York City: 8,258,000 people. Yikes!
Population of Charleston, South Carolina: 155,369. Now that’s more like it.
If you’re in Manhattan, you are always around people, noise, commotion, crowds, more noise, louder noise, and then there’s traffic. A few years back, we stayed in Manhattan during the holidays, and people honked the horn all night long. At 3:00 a.m., the traffic din was surreal, with people yelling down the street. Ear plugs were a must.
In Charleston, you can relax and stroll easily down the sidewalks, pausing to chat or window shop, without having your personal space violated or constantly being in someone’s way. And at night, it’s serene and quiet.
Christmas is a holiday of peace and joy, and it’s in abundance here in the Holy City.
It’s not as expensive.
Prices in New York have always been atrocious, and they’ve only gotten worse with inflation and sky high taxes – to the point that NYC recently topped the list of most expensive cities in the world. Like, $29 for a simple ham and cheese sandwich. Plus, they tend to bump prices even higher as holiday tourists flock to town.
Oh – and parking in New York City? Fuhgeddaboudit. It can cost $18 per hour, or up to $60 overnight, if you can find it.
Contrast that with the City of Charleston, which offers special free parking vouchers during the holiday season, as I covered in that last blog. Prices are reasonable, and sticker shock is rare here.
That’s the spirit of Charleston – good quality, but a good value too, pretty much across the board.
Oh - and another bonus - you can score some seriously good off-season deals on our Isle of Palms vacation rentals.
There’s plenty to do in Charleston during the holidays.
World class holiday lights? Check. Holiday markets? Check, and check. Classic Christmas productions in a historic theater? You bet. Parades? Check. Ice skating? Check. A scuba-diving Santa Claus? Check. Some of the loveliest, most historic churches in America? Check. Charleston’s got it covered.
On Exclusive Properties’ website, we have a whole Events section chock full of terrific holiday happenings, arranged by date. Check it out here.
Plus, the people are friendly and laid back.
No dis to the folks in New York City, but Charlestonians have been voted the most polite, friendly people in the country for so many years running, they finally stopped the competition.
Folks here take the time to stop and talk, help if needed, and smile. It’s the South, after all… and Charleston is its gem.
So the more I think about it, the more I totally agree with Fodor’s that Charleston is the place to be for the holidays. You can read the original article on Fodor’s Travel.
If you weren’t able to make it to Charleston for the holidays this year, it’s not too early to start planning for 2025. Just reach out to us here at EP and we’ll be glad to help.
Check out our Isle of Palms vacation rentals!
All best,
Lowcountry Lisa
your Isle of Palms vacation blogger