Today, we’re pitching an answer to the age-old, largely contested question — what is the best city in South Carolina, and why? (Spoiler alert: It’s Charleston.)

Editor Lexa here, and if you know me, you know that I've spent years arguing why Charleston is better than any other city in the state. Yes, I’m looking at you, my Clemson and UofSC-grad besties.

To show that I’m objective, I’ll start with some of the good things that other South Carolina cities offer:

Columbia | The three rivers + its central location to Greenville, Charleston, and Charlotte. Plus: It’s a college town and the state’s capital.
Greenville | Eclectic art around town with murals, galleries + festivals (read: Artisphere), the craft beer scene, and landmarks like Falls Park and the Swamp Rabbit Trail. It's also home to our parent company, 6AM City.
Beaufort | Lots of history + scenic, coastal views with trails, parks, and nearby beaches.

See? Totally impartial + willing to say that these cities are great — just not as great as ours. Now, why Charleston is the best:

We’ve been ranked No. 1 on Travel + Leisure’s list of the Top 10 U.S. Cities for ten years in a row.
We’ve got one of the most picturesque, if not the most picturesque, cityscapes in the nation. Enter: The Battery, Rainbow Row, and Waterfront Park.
Charleston is home to the Angel Oak Tree on Johns Island — bringing in approximately 400,000 visitors each year.
Our food and bev scene is second to none, featuring a wonderful mix of restaurants that have been here for generations (like 82 Queen) and spots that have recently opened to serve our community (like Bar Rollins).
And in case you’ve forgotten: Charleston is the city Darius Rucker sings about.

But if you’re ever in the Greenville or Columbia areas and need the 4-1-1 on what’s going on in those cities, check out our friends Danielle + Kyle at GVLtoday and David + Sam at COLAtoday. They’re pretty great.

*Note: This article is meant to be fun + lighthearted. We love all of the other cities in this state and know that each one has its own unique reasons for being wonderful.