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CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCSC) - Charleston County leaders discussed several updates in departments, officials and projects at their retreat meeting on Wednesday afternoon.

One of the presentations involved new ideas for the transportation sales tax.

After the presentation from the Berkeley Charleston Dorchester Council of Governments and the county’s new consultants, the council made a motion to move forward with exploring the idea of a new referendum, but with a different approach.

In the past, the council has been focused on roadways, transit, bike and pedestrian ways, and a Greenbelt project, where the council has put the referendum on the ballot first before going to the public.

Charleston County Council Member for District 9 Jenny Costa Honeycutt said they learned from their mistakes when introducing a referendum on the ballot without getting the public’s feedback prior to decision making.

“I think everyone across all districts wants to know that they were heard,” Honeycutt said.

In 2024, community members voted against a referendum when it was on the November ballot.

However, with this possible new referendum, the council will gather the data and public feedback before any decisions are made or any voting is to be done.

“What the council is doing is they’re leading a campaign to gather data to help them make informed decisions about possibly putting another transportation sales tax on the 2026 ballot,” Deputy County Administrator for Public Services Steve Thigpen said.

With the Tri-County council asking the Charleston County council to lay down a framework, it helped provide new goals and a clear understanding of where this referendum could be headed. Their overall message was to begin with the end in mind.

“I think you can learn a lot from failure and so I think one of the priorities has been how we structure this in a way that really captures the public engagement, and making sure if we do proceed with another referendum that we do so in a way that the public really understands,” Honeycutt said. “Not only understand the question being asked, but they understand the program as it currently exists today.”

For Honeycutt, she said in her district, they really pushed for connectivity along with other initiatives.

“Capacity is always an issue. Traffic’s always an issue, and without additional roads to help with that increased capacity coming across the islands, we have to use our existing infrastructure. So, we need to figure out the best way to improve that,” she said.

She said they’re prioritizing transparency and making sure the public is informed of any possible new decisions, along with making sure they’re educated on what has already been done in previous projects.

While they move forward to explore this idea, the council’s transportation consultants must come back within 60 days, providing an analysis and data before the decision process for any future transportation can begin.

Copyright 2025 WCSC. All rights reserved.

WEST ASHLEY — A New York-inspired deli is preparing to open in a small space that previously housed a catering business.

The Wedge, set to debut at 2487 Ashley River Road in the next month, will specialize in sandwiches, burgers and prepared foods. The new establishment is an extension of a food truck chef Gerry Meehan and his wife Erin Sorbanelli launched after relocating to the Lowcountry from Westchester County near New York City.

With the new establishment, the pair joins the growing list of Charleston-area restaurateurs who are leaning into food that celebrates the culinary traditions of the Northeast.

The Wedge food truck has been popping up at various establishments since its inception, recently at Hobcaw Brewing Co. in Mount Pleasant and House of Brews in West Ashley. Its offering has resonated, with people from New York and New Jersey gravitating to sandwiches like the chicken cutlet, a top seller on the truck.

When it opens in the space previously occupied by The Good Cooker Charleston, The Wedge will serve morning and lunch sandwiches, including the chicken cutlet and a smash-burger with American cheese, pickles, griddled onions and a signature sauce.

The Wedge will mainly serve as a grab-and-go destination. Meehan and Sorbanelli plan to operate the food truck in the evenings after the new deli closes in the afternoon.

The Wedge is targeting a late July or early August opening. For more updates, follow The Wedge on Instagram @thewedgechs.

CHARLESTON — The Holy City's 12-year streak as Travel + Leisure's "Best U.S. City" has officially been snapped as it dropped down to the No.3 spot.

Santa Fe took the crown for the 2025 list, released July 8, with New Orleans in a close second.

Charleston may no longer be No. 1, but it still beat cities like Savannah and Honolulu. It also wasn't the only South Carolina city to make the list, as Greenville earned the No. 7 spot.

When asked about this year's rankings, Travel + Leisure editor-in-chief Jacqui Gifford said Charleston’s 12-year run at the top is "a testament to its timeless charm."

"(Charleston's) rich history, vibrant culinary scene, and signature hospitality have long resonated with our readers," she said.

The city is still going strong on the best of list at No. 3, while Kiawah Island and multiple resorts and hotels were recognized in various categories, including several “Best in the U.S.” lists.

South Carolina newcomer Greenville also earned a spot on the "Best U.S. City" list for the first time. Travel + Leisure wrote that the Upstate destination "made a strong debut" at No. 7 and cements the Southeast as a "powerhouse region."

"This mid-size city was described as one of the South’s best kept secrets. Visitors appreciated the high number of locally owned restaurants and the proximity to the outdoors — the Reedy River, which flows right through downtown, also provides a peaceful setting," the publication wrote.

Santa Fe's rise, Gifford said, comes in turn as a result of it's "unique blend of art, history and Southwestern culture."

Helen Hill, CEO of Explore Charleston, said regardless of the ranking, the region has forged a reputation for "delivering meaningful experiences and genuine hospitality." She added that readers clearly continue to "recognize the Charleston area’s uniqueness and character."

“In addition to Charleston being voted a top three U.S. city, the market’s outstanding reputation and desirability are further illustrated by the number of industry partners regionwide — from our beaches to the historic district — that were voted among the best in the country,” Hill said.

Charleston's $14 billion tourism machine saw more than nearly 8 million visitors last year. Almost 25 cents of every dollar spent in the region is attributable to the industry, College of Charleston’s Office of Tourism Analysis estimated in a study last year.

Views from afar

Randy Randall, director of Tourism Santa Fe — the visitor's bureau for the New Mexico city — said Charleston and Santa Fe have been running neck-in-neck in the Travel + Leisure rankings for the last few years. He gives The Holy City credit for retaining the title for so long.

Randall said he's asked often what city Santa Fe competes with, and his response is always, "No one." But when it comes to what city Santa Fe is most like, he always answers, "Charleston." He said it's the cities' authentic storytelling and preserved history that create a resemblance, but each has something the other does not. Charleston has a waterfront, while Santa Fe has mountains.

"One thing we're very proud of the fact that we don't change much," Randall said. "We've been very protective of our history. Santa Fe is the second-oldest city in the United States, and it's the oldest state capital. Very early on, we created the urban historic protection rules that we have in our historic district."

Santa Fe's welcomes 3 million visitors per year, with 2.2 million overnight stays and 800,000 day trips, according to Tourism Santa Fe data. Much of Santa Fe's tourism is regional, similar to Charleston's "drive-in" visitation trend of several years ago, before the growth in local air service options began to pull travelers from a wider geographic area.

Santa Fe is a community of roughly 92,000 people, while its greater county has a population of 142,000. Meanwhile, the city of Charleston has more than 155,000 residents, with the county totaling closer to 424,000, according to Census Bureau data.

Randall said many are surprised to hear Santa Fe is home to more than 250 art galleries, a world-class opera house and a robust culinary scene of more than 400 restaurants. It's also known for its rich cultural and art festivals.

"We live above our size and I think that's one of the things that makes us different than most places," Randall said. "It's the visitation that is our lifeblood. Because our communities are smaller we deal with less issues that other cities face, like rush-hour traffic."

Randall said he has a deep respect for Charleston and the city's tourism leaders. He's no stranger to South Carolina, having worked on Hilton Head Island for a few years. If anyone had to take the crown from Charleston, he said he's "honored it was Santa Fe."

The magazine's annual survey fetched more than 180,000 responses that rated the best places to visit and stay around the world. The Travel + Leisure survey rates top cities based on sights, landmarks, culture, cuisine, friendliness, shopping and overall value.

Charleston first climbed to the top of the Travel + Leisure best U.S. city ranking in 2013.

Other nods

For the first time in 12 years, a new U.S. city has been crowned the best domestic destination by Travel + Leisure readers.

On Tuesday, July 8, T+L released its annual World’s Best Awards. In a remarkable upheaval, Santa Fe, N.M. tops the list of best U.S. cities, ousting Charleston, S.C., which had held the title since 2013. The coastal city not only lost the top spot, it dropped to fourth place.

Known for its vibrant art scene, outdoor recreation and more than 300 days of sunshine each year, Santa Fe, was described by one reader is “a true gem of a place in America.”

“Every trip exceeds the last, with so many new things to discover,” another repeat visitor told the outlet, adding, “Santa Fe offers a multi-layer experience.”

T+L readers “raved” about the inventive New Mexican cuisine and the city’s natural beauty. Urban markets and galleries combine with the rolling foothills of the Sangre de Cristo mountain ranges to make for a perfect getaway.

Celebrities are also fans of this Southwest culture capital.

The late Val Kilmer spent decades living in Santa Fe, as did Gene Hackman. Game of Thrones author George R. R. Martin also has deep roots in the community. In 2013, he pledged his own money to rejuvenate the local and historic Jean Cocteau Cinema.

Each year, T+L sends a survey out to readers through the magazine, tablet editions, newsletters, social media and travelandleisure.com that asks respondents to rate nominees in each category based on certain characteristics. For cities, readers were asked to rate sights/landmarks, culture, food, friendliness, shopping and value. Final scores are averages of these responses.

While Santa Fe has had a spot in T+L's top 10 list for the past 20 years, this is its first time it has claimed No. 1.

Overall, readers were big fans of cities in the Southeast and Southwest, with only one city in the Northeast and one in the Midwest rounding out the top 10.

Santa Fe was also the only U.S. city to make T+L’s list of top 25 cities in the world, coming in at No. 19. At the top spot, a 10-time honoree, is San Miguel de Allende, Mexico followed by Chiang Mai, Thailand and Tokyo, Japan.

For vacationers looking for an island getaway, Páros, Greece takes the top spot for best island. According to Forbes, big names like Tom Hanks, Matthew McConaughey and Jeff Bezos are frequent visitors. In the U.S., the top island goes to Mount Desert Island, Maine — a protected part of Acadia National Park.

“This year’s results reflect a travel landscape in motion,” Travel + Leisure’s editor-in-chief Jacqui Gifford said in a press release. “From a high-desert city in the American Southwest to a quiet Greek island, our readers are seeking depth, character, and a strong sense of place. We’re thrilled to honor the hotels, destinations, and travel companies that are delivering those transformative experiences.”

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See more from Travel + Leisure's World's Best Awards in the July issue, on newsstands now, or visit travelandleisure.com.

Travel + Leisure readers have long loved the Palmetto State.

And while there are plenty of vacation-worthy places across South Carolina, from the marshy Lowcountry to the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains, one region is a clear winner this year. Eight of our readers’ 10 favorite South Carolina resorts can be found along the coast; three winners are located on Hilton Head Island (with another just off the island in Bluffton), and four are located in the communities surrounding the reader-favorite city, Charleston. Of course, the Upstate is home to a couple of standout properties as well—two of this year’s winners are in Greenville, a blossoming city in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

It’s clear the South Carolina Lowcountry has captured our readers’ hearts. Both Hilton Head Island and Kiawah Island, frequently voted among the top islands in the continental U.S., are home to some of our readers’ favorite coastal resorts. Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort, voted No. 8 this year, offers a family-friendly escape in a scenic natural setting (far from Disney’s famous theme parks), while The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort (No. 4) is a prime golf getaway with world-renowned courses just minutes away.

Of course, no matter which of these hotels you pick across the Palmetto State, one thing remains consistent: the dedication to that warm Southern hospitality the region is known for. Of Hotel Hartness, which made No. 2 this year after winning the top spot in 2024, one reader commented, “This hotel continues to provide excellent and bespoke service, as well as a truly unique experience.”

While there are several returning favorites, the top property for 2025 is a luxe newcomer—but more on that below.

The Winner

The Dunlin, Auberge Resorts Collection

One of South Carolina’s newest luxury resorts is also the state’s best, according to T+L readers. The Dunlin, Auberge Resorts Collection opened last summer in the new Kiawah River development on Johns Island, about 20 miles from downtown Charleston. The WBA newcomer has 72 rooms and suites spread across several buildings that feel like a Lowcountry home away from home. The luxe property features a marshfront pool lined with mint green loungers, an elevated take on Carolinian coastal cuisine at Linnette’s, and guest rooms decked out in gingham and pastels. One reader described it as a “new gem just outside Charleston” with “incredible interior design.”

The Full List