Wilmington, N.C. (#1) Claims Top Spot Among Southern Living’s 2024 “South’s Best Cities on the Rise”; Wrightsville Beach is the North Carolina Winner for “Best Waterfront Town in Every Southern State.”
Wilmington, N.C., Wednesday, March 6, 2024: Earlier today Southern Living announced the winners of its eighth annual South's Best Awards, recognizing its readers' favorite Southern destinations and experiences.
For the first time, Wilmington, North Carolina claims the top spot among Southern Living’s 2024 “Top 25 Cities on the Rise”! Wilmington previously made an appearance at #10 on the 2021 Best Cities on the Rise list. Another first for the destination, Wrightsville Beach is Southern Living’s North Carolina pick for “Best Waterfront Town in Every Southern State.” In 2022, Wrightsville Beach was included among Southern Living’s list of South’s Best Beach Towns.
Southern Living credits Wilmington’s beauty, charm, and history, as well as its geographic location between the Atlantic Ocean and Cape Fear River, for making it a favorite vacation destination and filming location. Wilmington’s write-up cites how in recent years it has become a top place to move with a steady rise in population. New boutique hotels and rentable houseboats, the Wilmington Riverwalk, and a distinctive beach vibe at nearby island communities are also included as favorites.
Wrightsville Beach is described by Southern Living as having “some of the most excellent stretches of coastline in the state” with wide shores and long piers to welcome beachgoers and anglers. It is also described as a great spot for surfing and watersports.
“We are thrilled and honored that Wilmington, North Carolina is Southern Living’s 2024 number one ‘Best City on the Rise’ and that readers also chose Wrightsville Beach as the ‘Best Waterfront Town’ in North Carolina. These high-profile recognitions will reach millions of people,” states Kim Hufham, president/CEO of the New Hanover County Tourism Development Authority.
About South’s Best & Voting Process
According to Southern Living, the publication’s editors compiled a large list of cities based on research, reporting, and their own experiences. Then, readers selected their top picks in the annual South’s Best Awards survey. The result is a diverse mix of large and small cities, and each one has something different to offer. An online survey was conducted by a third-party agency, M&RR, among Southern Living consumers, asking them to rate their favorite places across the South. More than 15,000 respondents answered the survey. The survey was fielded from July 12 - August 23, 2023. For the complete survey methodology, click here.
In-depth coverage of the winners appears in the April issue of Southern Living magazine, on sale March 22 and on SouthernLiving.com here. Southern Living celebrates the essence of life in the South, covering the best in Southern food, homes, gardens and travel. Southern Living connects consumers to the region's rich culture through a robust multi-platform presence, including print, digital and social as well as its Biscuits & Jam podcast and licensing partnerships. Headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, Southern Living is part of the Dotdash Meredith publishing family.
The New Hanover County Tourism Development Authority (TDA), d/b/a Wilmington and Beaches Convention & Visitors Bureau, markets and develops the county and its communities’ leisure and group travel experiences for economic growth and quality of place.
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Contact:
Connie Nelson
Communications/PR Director
Wilmington and Beaches CVB
910-341-4030 x120
866-266-9690
cvbpr@wilmingtonandbeaches.com
