If you’ve ever been to Charleston, you probably already consider it to be the top place to visit in America. Now, readers of Conde Nast Traveler Magazine have made it official.

Charleston was named as the top American travel destination for 2011 by the magazine’s readers. It ranked as number 2 for the past three years.

"It's like winning the Academy Award for tourism," an ecstatic Helen Hill, executive director of the Charleston Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, told the Charleston Post & Courier soon after accepting the honor in New York City from Emmy Award-winning comedy writer and fellow Charlestonian Stephen Colbert.

“I've been all over the world and Charleston is the most beautiful city I've ever seen,” said Colbert, who joked about making pocket change as a boy by showing visitors the house where Rhett Butler grew up.

Each year cities are judged on six categories: atmosphere/ambience, culture/sites, friendliness, lodging, restaurants and shopping.

"We love to share our extensive heritage and tradition of hospitality," Mayor Joe Riley said in a statement. “Great food and lovely hotels add much to the enjoyment of our guests who come either for a day or a week. We look forward to the opportunity to show visitors what makes Charleston a great place to visit."

Also winning awards in the Charleston area:
Kiawah Island Golf Resort, named No. 3 for the Top U.S. Island and Top Mainland U.S. Resort.
French Quarter Inn -- No. 15 - Top U.S. Hotels
Charleston Place -- No. 30 - Top U.S. Hotels
Planters Inn -- No. 52 - Top U.S. Hotels
Market Pavilion -- No. 62 - Top U.S. Hotels
John Rutledge House Inn -- No. 16 - Top U.S. Small Hotels
Wentworth Mansion -- No. 17 - Top U.S. Small Hotels
and Wild Dunes Resort -- No. 121 - Top Mainland U.S. Resorts.

Charleston has been on the magazine's Top 10 list since 1993.

San Francisco was second on this year's list followed by Santa Fe, N.M., Chicago and Honolulu. New York was next followed by Savannah, Ga., Carmel, Calif., Seattle and Boston.

The awards appear in the November issue (on newsstands October 25) and are derived from the Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice survey. This year, more than 27,000 readers voted on more than 11,000 properties and destinations. Click here for a comprehensive list of 2011 winners.