Best cities to visit in the US according to Travel + Leisure

July 6, 2016, 2:37 PM UTC / Source: Travel + Leisure

By Melanie Lieberman

One thing is perfectly clear in our list of the best cities in the United States: travelers (and locals, too) love the charming, historic cities of the American South. Of the top 15 cities on this year’s list, one-third are below the Mason-Dixon line, and two more are in Texas.

Every year in our World’s Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise lines, spas, airlines, and more. Readers rated cities on their sights and landmarks, culture, food, friendliness, shopping, and overall value.

It’s no surprise that New York City and San Francisco are in the top 10 — they’ve been on the list every year since the awards' inception. The growing popularity of the Pacific Northwest, however, shook things up a bit, as Seattle returned after a decade and Portland made the list for the first time ever.

“Portland is a wonderful city,” wrote T+L reader Evan Peller, citing its noteworthy shops downtown, nearby hiking at Multnomah Falls, and “top-notch” food. “There's something for everyone, from gourmet food trucks to top-of-the-line restaurants.”

The Big Easy also won over readers with its impressive, unique food scene. “I would go to New Orleans just for the food alone,” wrote one reader.

Southern cities particularly impressed survey-takers with their diverse offerings (hip art galleries, entire streets lined with restaurants) and welcoming residents.

“Savannah is such a friendly, quirky place,” wrote a T+L reader. “We spent an evening drinking beer with locals at a lodge. They made us feel like we lived there, too.” Of course, survey-takers also raved about the city’s charming streets fringed by live oaks draped in Spanish moss and the attractive antebellum houses.

The best cities in the United States, it seems, are the ones where visitors feel most at home. As revealed on TODAY, Charleston, South Carolina, took the No. 1 spot (in not only the US, but the world), followed by New Orleans, Louisiana, and Savannah, Georgia. Here's a look at the other top cities: