Charleston, S.C. replaces S.F.
as top tourist destination in U.S.
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"It's like winning the Academy Award for
tourism," an exuberant Helen Hill, head of the Charleston Area Convention
and Visitors Bureau, said after her South Carolina town was named the top
tourist destination in America by the readers of Condé Nast
Traveler.
San Francisco has been the perennial winner of this Condé Nast readers'
poll for several years running. This year, however, S.F. was finally usurped by
none other than Charleston, South Carolina. Curious as to what Charleston has
to offer that San Francisco doesn't? According to the poll, more than 90% of
Condé Nast readers described Charleston |
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as a friendly city, while only 66.9% described S.F. as such. This is how
the poll works: Voters evaluate cities based on six categories including
atmosphere/ambience, culture/sites, friendliness, lodging, restaurant, and
shopping. The city with the highest total score wins the prize.
San Francisco is pretty hard to beat in the culture/sites, restaurant, and
shopping categories. But as far as the city's apparent problem with
friendliness goes, many are quick to attribute the growing homeless population
and some overly-aggressive panhandlers to San Francisco's sudden fall in the
that category. Still, Charleston offers a pleasurable mix of extensive history
and modern flare. Cobblestone streets surround beautiful beaches, while Civil
War museums and grandiose churches can be found all over the city. Scroll
through this gallery and take a look at the city that topped San Francisco as
the top tourist destination in the United States for 2011-until San Francisco
takes back the title in 2012. |
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After 18 years at the top of the tourist charts, San Francisco has slipped to
No. 2 - behind Charleston, S.C. - as the favorite North American destination
among the 29,000 readers of Condé Nast Traveler.
The breaker, it seems, is friendliness.More than 90 percent of the travel
readers rated Charleston as a friendly place, compared with 66.9 percent for
San Francisco."It's like winning the Academy Award for tourism," an
ecstatic Helen Hill, head of the Charleston Area Convention and Visitors
Bureau, told the hometown Post and Courier after the city received the top
tourist award from comic and Charleston native Stephen Colbert. |
Joe D'Alessandro, head of the San Francisco Travel Association - who in the
past got to glow in the annual poll - said he's not surprised San Francisco has
dropped a notch. He attributes it to the reported rise in homelessness in the
city and increased complaints from visitors about aggressive
panhandlers."When it comes to natural beauty and the culinary scene, we're
going to beat Charleston every time," D'Alessandro said. "But when
guests come out of hotels and are harassed, many times people interpret that as
an unfriendly environment."Quan curfew change? In what appears to be a
significant switch, Oakland Mayor Jean Quannow supports a curfew for teens in
her crime-troubled city.
City Administrator Deanna Santana tells us that Quan is "in favor if some
sort of curfew," but that the question of implementation still needs to be
worked out."I'm meeting with staff to begin to scope out what we can do
within existing resources and what it would look like. I want biggest bang for
the buck," Santana said."That's news to me," said City Council
President and curfew backer Larry Reid.Reid noted that it was Quan who cast the
tie-breaking vote that sent the matter back to the council's Public Safety
Committee after a very long and contentious public hearing this month.
"And I couldn't get her support when it came before the Public Safety
Committee last year, either," Reid said. |
San Francisco is pretty hard to beat in the culture/sites, restaurant, and
shopping categories. But as far as the city's apparent problem with
friendliness goes, many are quick to attribute the growing homeless population
and some overly-aggressive panhandlers to San Francisco's sudden fall in the
that category. Still, Charleston offers a pleasurable mix of extensive history
and modern flare. Cobblestone streets surround beautiful beaches, while Civil
War museums and grandiose churches can be found all over the city. Scroll
through this gallery and take a look at the city that topped San Francisco as
the top tourist destination in the United States for 2011-until San Francisco
takes back the title in 2012. |
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Quan's office did not return calls on the issue.We do know, however, that the
curfew was roundly supported by a working group assigned to look at the issue
during the mayor's recent neighborhood crime summit.Pension predicament:
There's a chance that both of San Francisco's pension reform measures could go
down in flames.A new poll of 500 San Francisco voters shows Proposition C, the
"consensus" measure being backed by unions and City Hall, barely
squeaking by, with 52 percent support.Proposition D, the rival measure put on
the ballot by Public Defender Jeff Adachi, comes up short at 42 percent.The
poll was paid for by the Prop. C campaign.With Adachi's measure appearing
headed for defeat, the unions must now decide whether to spend big money to
pass their measure - or hold back, let both measures fail and thus keep the
status quo. |
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Interesting choice.Occupational hazard:Three cities, three mayors and three
different reactions to the Occupy camps that sprang up on their doorsteps.In
San Jose, police moved in early Friday and removed the tiny band of protesters
camping outside City Hall. The only trouble was when a mentally ill homeless
guy tried to bite the hood of the police car while he was being arrested.
In San Francisco, where Mayor Ed Lee is facing an election in just over two
weeks, it's a bit more complex.Like San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed, Lee has stated
his support for the "spirit" of the Occupy movement. But he said he
drew the line at open fires and tents going up in city parks.In reality,
however, after two televised confrontations with demonstrators, city officials
have pulled back and allowed about 25 tents and a kitchen to remain in Justin
Herman Plaza while they assess matters day to day.In Oakland, Mayor Jean Quan
marched with Occupy protesters early on, and Vice Mayor Desley Brooks even
joined the camp outside City Hall for a couple of days.By the end of the week,
the city said it had had enough - but no one was setting deadlines.Apparently,
everyone is praying for rain. |
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