If 2017 was all about gorgeous landscapes, bucket list trips, the world's best beaches and traveling closer to home, 2018 is all about thinking outside the box for a great escape. The world is officially rethinking luxury travel, with people looking to explore the world now more than ever. Leave your presumptions about certain parts of the world at home and get your passports ready–these are the 18 top places to travel in 2018.
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Why to go: Want to be totally transported without even breaking out your passport? Charleston is rife with architecture and history enough to evoke any of the great European cities–all of it permeated with a uniquely American sensibility and quintessentially southern charm. Long viewed through the lens of its storied, cultural past, Charleston of the modern era is a fast-growing, constantly changing city with a vibrant music and art scene, spectacular hotels, parks and Georgian row houses, and world-class restaurants. If you love New Orleans and Nashville, this is an American city worth spending a long weekend in.
What to do: Charleston’s location at the epicenter of several rivers meeting the Atlantic ocean makes it prime for a boat tour, where you may even spot a few dolphins. For a touch of history, head to one of the area’s beautiful antebellum homes: Middleton Place features historical reenactments of life in colonial times, the Fort Sumter National Monument, or the Old Exchange Building & Provost Dungeon where George Washington once greeted locals and prisoners who were held during the American Revolution. Of course, low country cooking is also one of the city’s big draws, and visitors would be remiss not to stop in at the many acclaimed restaurants like Husk, traditional barbecue spots like Lewis Barbeque, or taking in a sampling of local treats at the weekly Marion Square farmers market.
Pro Tip: Too many to count! But we’ve got the low down on low country with over 50 places to stay, eat, shop and more in our handy weekend guide to this sweet city.
