Charleston, the South Carolina port city founded in 1670, is defined by its cobblestone streets, horse-drawn carriages and pastel antebellum houses, particularly in the elegant French Quarter and Battery districts. In recent years it has transformed into one of the top travel destinations in the world.Charleston, South Carolina has been consecutively named the No. 1 City in the United States and Canada by the readers of Travel + Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler, and was the first domestic destination to earn the coveted No. 1 City in the World ranking. The fine arts community has thrived in Charleston since 1736 with the opening of the Dock Street Theatre, the nation’s first permanent playhouse. While cuisine and hotels always merit mention in the reader polls, the warm hospitality extended by Charleston’s locals is a deciding factor in the destination’s enduring charms and widespread appeal.