Photo by Matt Chenet for Visit Alexandria.
A waterfront view of Alexandria
The accolades keep coming for Alexandria. The readers of Condé Nast Traveler recently voted on the friendliest cities in the country in its Readers’ Choice Awards, "focusing on where you felt welcome when you traveled."
For the magazine's 37th annual Readers’ Choice Awards survey, the magazine called on readers to rank the friendliest cities nationwide and Alexandria is among the top 10.
Here's what they had to say:
With a charming brick-lined Old Town, a beautiful waterfront and convenient metro access for commuting to nearby Washington, D.C., the Northern Virginia city of Alexandria has long drawn young professionals and families seeking a more relaxed atmosphere than what you’d find in the nation's capital. Now the tourists are coming to get in on the fun, too, drawn to the great shopping, dining, and arts community (check out the Torpedo Factory Art Center). A big plus: Alexandria is especially dog-friendly, which we think might contribute to people’s overall sense of well-being.
Here's a list of the entire top 10 and where Alexandria ranks:
10. Chicago, Ill.
9. Alexandria, Va.
8. Charleston, S.C.
7. Columbus, Ohio
6. Savannah, Ga.
5. Mobile, Ala.
4. Greenville, S.C.
3. Santa Fe, N.M.
2. Lexington, Ky.
And the number one friendliest according to the survey is:
1. Chattanooga, Tenn.
Here's what they had to say about the city:
While you may be tempted to bypass Chattanooga in favor of Nashville or Gatlinburg, the fourth-largest city in Tennessee begs travelers to make a detour with its natural beauty, boutique hotels, and adventurous activities. But one of the city’s greatest assets is its friendly population. As you pass happy residents kayaking in Coolidge Park, hiking up Lookout Mountain, or shopping their way through Bluff View Art District, you’ll be tempted to make a permanent relocation to this charming city in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains.
