Alexandria Again Named A Top Small U.S. City By Condé Nast

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Condé Nast Traveler has released its 2020 Readers' Choice Awards, and Alexandria has once again made the cut for the best small cities list.

The best city rankings were split into two categories small cities (with populations under 250,000) and large cities. Alexandria placed fifth among the likes of Charleston, South Carolina, Santa Fe, New Mexico, Laguna Beach, California and Aspen, Colorado. Since the small cities category was created in 2018, Alexandria has ranked in the top five.

Results were determined by more than 715,000 Condé Nast Traveler readers around the world who submitted responses about their travel experiences. The Readers' Choice Awards are considered the most prestigious for the travel industry and have been occurring for 33 years.

Here's what Condé Nast Traveler says about Alexandria in the ranking:

Washingtonians are all in on the secret, but it's no surprise the rest of the world is catching up: Alexandria, Virginia, the charming, historic city just across the Potomac River from our nation's capital, draws travelers and would-be residents alike. Most folks start to imagine moving there just after setting foot in Old Town, once they've strolled the red brick sidewalks, clocking street after street of perfectly preserved rowhouses from the 18th and 19th centuries.

The top small cities in the U.S. are:

1. Charleston, South Carolina
2. Santa Fe, New Mexico
3. Caramel-by-the-Sea, California
4. Laguna Beach, California
5. Alexandria, Virginia
6. Greenville, South Carolina
7. Aspen, Colorado
8. Savannah, Georgia
9. Jackson Hole, Wyoming
10. Key West, Florida

The best large cities list included Alexandria's neighbor Washington, DC. The list includes many recognizable destinations like Chicago, Boston, New Orleans and New York.

Here are the best large cities in the U.S.:

1. Chicago, Illinois
2. Washington, D.C.
3. Boston, Massachusetts
4. New Orleans, Louisiana
5. San Antonio, Texas
6. New York, New York
7. San Diego, California
8. Nashville, Tennessee
9. Tucson, Arizona
10. St. Petersburg, Florida

All winners will be featured in the November issue of Condé Nast Traveler. See the full list here.