--- title: "Destination: Charleston, South Carolina" id: "12676" type: "post" slug: "destination-charleston-south-carolina" published_at: "2015-07-20T15:43:00+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-15T02:51:06+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2015/07/20/destination-charleston-south-carolina/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2015/07/20/destination-charleston-south-carolina.md" excerpt: "Condé Nast Traveler named Charleston the friendliest city in the U.S. (opens in a new tab) in 2014. Here are three other ways the city will show your attendees some Southern charm. Convenient convention center. Located minutes from Charleston International..." taxonomy_category: - "Meetings / Events" taxonomy_post_tag: - "ASAEcenter" - "conferences" - "event planning" - "event venues" - "Expositions & Trade Shows" - "Meeting Planning" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Destination: Charleston, South Carolina *Condé Nast Traveler*named Charleston [the friendliest city in the U.S. (opens in a new tab)](http://www.cntraveler.com/galleries/2014-08-04/friendliest-and-unfriendliest-cities-in-us/10) in 2014. Here are three other ways the city will show your attendees some Southern charm. **Convenient convention center.** Located minutes from Charleston International Airport and a short shuttle ride to downtown, this sprawling complex—the largest of its kind in the Southeast—features a 76,960-square-foot exhibit hall and an adjoining performing arts center. Also steps away is the North Charleston Coliseum. **Waterfront venues.** Charleston’s event spaces make the most of the city’s harbor and river views. One is the South Carolina Aquarium, which is located on the Charleston Harbor and features 22,000 square feet of meeting space. Another is the Cooper River Room at Mt. Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park, with 2,000 square feet of meeting space and views of the Cooper River and the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge. **Good eats.**The city is a food lover’s paradise. Give attendees the chance to sample traditional and modern Lowcountry dishes by offering a culinary tour during your meeting. Or, in their free time, attendees can treat themselves to a meal at James Beard Award-winning restaurants like Husk, Hominy Grill, or FIG—if they can get a reservation, that is.—Samantha Whitehorne ### CHS Fast Facts **Recent and future association meetings:** 2015 National Coffee Association Annual Convention, 2015 American Association of Blacks in Higher Education National Conference, 2015 American Agricultural Law Association Annual Educational Symposium **Hotel rooms:** 5,663 **Convention center square footage:** 150,000 **Distance from airport to convention center:** 2 miles **What else?** The city’s minor league baseball team, the Charleston RiverDogs, is co-owned by actor Bill Murray. His other official team title: director of fun. *Samantha Whitehorne is deputy editor at*Associations Now*in Washington, DC. Email: [swhitehorne@asaecenter.org](mailto:swhitehorne@asaecenter.org)* [Samantha Whitehorne](https://associationsnow.com/author/samantha-whitehorne/) Samantha Whitehorne is a former editorial director of Associations Now in Washington, DC. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/samantha-whitehorne/) Tags: [#conferences](https://associationsnow.com/tag/conferences/) [#event planning](https://associationsnow.com/tag/event-planning/) [#event venues](https://associationsnow.com/tag/event-venues/) [#Expositions & Trade Shows](https://associationsnow.com/tag/expositions-trade-shows/) [#Meeting Planning](https://associationsnow.com/tag/meeting-planning/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [ArticleCan a Game Enhance the Expo Hall Experience?July 23, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/07/23/can-a-game-enhance-the-expo-hall-experience/) - [ArticleWhat Sephora and Ulta Know About Your Members That You DontJune 12, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/06/12/what-sephora-and-ulta-know-about-your-members-that-you-dont/) - [ArticleIs Your Event Still Worth the Trip?March 31, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/03/31/is-your-event-still-worth-the-trip/) - [ArticleAtlanta: The Premier Convention Destination for Accessible, Connected, and Culturally Rich EventsSeptember 5, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/09/05/atlanta-the-premier-convention-destination-for-accessible-connected-and-culturally-rich-events/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2015%2F07%2F20%2Fdestination-charleston-south-carolina%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !