10 Small Towns In Southern United States To Visit For A Weekend Getaway
The ultimate goal for a getaway is to hit the three 'r's of relax, recharge, and return feeling refreshed, with a change of pace and scenery—the glue that holds it all together! Forget about size because big Southern charm comes in small packages, and you can only handle a dose of it on a weekend escape. From thriving spa meccas to sleepy beach towns along the National Seashores in Ocean Springs and Nags Head, there is also the Outer Banks in North Carolina.
Berkley Springs and the Highlands are your personal mountain retreats in West Virginia and North Carolina, respectively. With a greatly varying history and vastly varying landscape, there is a town for every taste in the south where warm Southern charm prevails, like the small college town of Oxnard, which you can taste at one of the Graduate Oxford restaurants. For an out-of-this-world feel, there's the mysterious Nags Head, offering sweeping views and colossal sand dunes with an eerie history of land-based pirates.
Berkley Springs, West Virginia
When your dream getaway is to relax after a workweek or to unwind from the everyday, this historic, art-filled spa town will get you there in old southern charm style, feeling cool as a cucumber! Home to quite a few natural mineral springs, it is the birthplace of America's first spa, worthy of a king's visit. Even George Washington graced this spa town, so dealing with everyday tired workers, businessmen, and stay-home moms is a piece of cake with warm bubbling waters, world-class dining, and blocks of distinctive shops—a dream girl's trip!
Now part of Berkeley Springs State Park, it speaks volumes to nature fans and daytrippers, where sightseeing is always part of the getaway package in the West Virginia mountains. From elegant B&Bs and historic inns to rustic mountain cabins or a glam resort, the unreplicable scenery is accessible to all, together with a festival calendar, live music, and theater on a getaway for all seasons and tastes.
Duck, North Carolina
Just off the coast of North Carolina, the Outer Banks, a striking string of islands, guarantee a tranquil escape with a selection of rentals and seafood selection for days while relaxing and soaking up some rays in the summer and Southern vibes year-round. This nostalgia-inducing town is perfect to let your kids experience a weekend getaway back in your childhood and the scenic North Carolina Outer Banks of the Atlantic Ocean. You will find water fountains throughout this pet-loving town on a stroll along the streets, with salty sea air and splashes along the rustic wooden boardwalks.
Dotted with lovely beaches, luxurious vacation rentals, and various shopping venues, Duck's old-timey vibes extend to the scenic waterfront, abounding in outdoor dining spots over the beckoning waterscape. The boundless waters are replete with small islets and marshlands for paddling along to your heart's content, from the 11-acre maritime forest to the willow swamp trails and stops as the time permits! A sunset cruise over the bay shallows is a great finale to your self-narrated getaway! In the summer, the warm sands of the expansive beach scene will hold you captive, whereas a shaded bike trail with dogs off-leash guarantees some fun and memorable active time for both.
Ellicott City, Maryland
Right between Baltimore and Washington, D.C., this picturesque mill town beckons for a quick escape from the urbanity to historic streets with friendly locals. No one is in a rush here to stroll past the beauty of the bygone era, stopping to appreciate the captivating architecture. You will be at a crunch to hit most of the over 70 eclectic boutiques, charming shops, and art galleries in town, with each striving to make your experience out of the ordinary, like extraordinary dining like Honey Pig and The Iron Bridge Wine Company.
Just north of the Historic District, Patapsco Valley State Park is a worthy chunk of your getaway, while Turf Valley Resort is a fun and unique stay in the countryside. From its storied past in plain sight to uncovering hidden gems, craft beer at Manor Hill Brewing is a combo deal for nature, culture, and entertainment along the rolling hills over fragrant hops. Just 15 minutes away in Columbia, The Iron Bridge Wine Co. is a traditional European restaurant in a warm candlelight glow for your favorite upscale pairings, like mushroom risotto and duck cassoulet, with fine wines, of course!
Florence, Alabama
With its rich musical heritage, you will likely hear this tiny town first, like a vibrant gem with artistic flair along the alluring banks of the Tennessee River. After "Big Bad Breakfast" near the waters, the Florence Indian Mound and Museum is a good place to start discovering, with live entertainment for the night and inviting outdoors for hiking and biking in between. From a shopping mall and favorites like Sam's Club for upscale homewares to outdoor dining, you can stop by Frank Lloyd Wright Rosenbaum House before a first-run film screening at the beloved AMC CLASSIC Florence 12, a Cineplex with 3D and jumbo digital screens, including opera productions and sports events.
Find adventures at McFarland Park, part of the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area, or the popular Deibert Park with a playground, while the waterfront Veterans Park wraps right around your well-deserved getaway stay at Marriott Shoals Hotel & Spa! Florence, with houses on the bluffs overlooking the river and a downtown full of beautiful, historic architecture, is breathtaking! You can enjoy the sights over your favorite pursuits, like waterfront strolls, legendary fishing, world-class golf, and the best southern comfort food! A hive for summer vacationers with watersports, concerts, art shows, and festivals, Florence appeals to couples on a getaway with its European flavors!
Greenwood, Mississippi
This region in south-central Mississippi is the birthplace of America's original musical art form, the blues. Full of history and culture, the legendary bluesman Robert Johnson forever rests here along the rich and fertile alluvial soil of the Mississippi Delta. It is also here that the complex flavors of the southern culinary traditions arose from humble roots, now seducing and simultaneously comforting the soul. With the Yalobusha River through its heart, Greenwood is the king of getaways in the Mississippi Delta, a place to unplug from the city and connect with peaceful Tallahatchie Flats to recharge and feel refreshed in no time!
The charming town, living and breathing authentic Southern hospitality, attracts historians, families for memorable experiences, and solitude seekers to unwind. Home to a share of artists, musicians, filmmakers, craftsmen, chefs, foodies, writers, storytellers, and outdoorsmen, even entrepreneurs once fell in love and stayed. Replete with independent businesses where the atmosphere is everything, Turnrow Book Co. creates an ambiance as good for browsing pages as it is for sipping coffee! There is a whole set of bookable cabins on the river bend to call it a late weekend night after sipping wine at the local vineyard on Delta and contemplating extending for just one more day!
Highlands, North Carolina
Welcome to your personal mountain retreat, the quaint town of Highlands on Lake Sequoyah and the Cullasaja River! With a warm and welcoming spirit, this town weaves refined luxury into the great outdoors, with experiences for every taste and length of a getaway like numerous golf courses, Mirror Lake Dam, and Park. From unique shopping to cultural activities, you can create shareable memories year-round, with numerous spas and regular festivals to relax and unwind in no time.
With seven must-hit wine spectator restaurants with inspired cuisine and the finest wines, dining is literally an elevated experience at 4118 feet here. In the mountains of western North Carolina—the choose-your-own-adventure destination—just choose an inn, a mountain cabin rental, or a chic hotel and see where Highland takes you. Whether you take a hike to a waterfall, the Biltmore Estate, or the Old Edwards Inn and Spa, you can cozy up in the evening by a flickering fireplace in the winter or a fire pit in the summer and book another spa appointment for the next day of your weekend getaway!
Nags Head, North Carolina
A hive for vacationers, this city draws city dwellers just as well with its ocean breeze through the heart of the Outer Banks, a destination for over a century! Packed with beach houses, motels, and hotels to step out into the waters, you can spend your entire getaway a hand reach from the sea. From boutiques to surf shops, there is an outlet mall to stock up on deals for shopaholics and visit restaurants for the foodies among them! Whether you're saving room for fine dining or snacking on delectable barbecue bites, it is served up with southern flair and hospitality, and there is always exceptional seafood that can rival any in Florida. Bordered to the south by Oregon Inlet and the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, there are plentiful waterfront parks around for hikes, canoeing, and kayak rides to the west in Roanoke Sound. Nags Head, a wide point on the Outer Banks, is not without some pitiful legends, like the coast's name, The Graveyard of the Atlantic.
Since the early 1800s, over a thousand ships have wrecked against these shores, "thanks" to hidden shoals and sandbars offshore, but land-based pirates were the main culprits. Having tied lanterns around the necks of old farm horses, they led the "nags" along the dune ridges, with swaying lights misleading ships into port to bottom out in shallows during the night. They salvaged wood and cargo from the wrecks, and Nags Head was born. Today, Nags Head is one of the most relaxing and romantic places in the Outer Banks, with sweeping vistas and Jockey's Ridge State Park with its colossal sand dunes. Complete with beach cottage rentals and fishing piers to catch a sunset, it is the perfect romantic escape with a storied past, bikeable paths through streets in the salty air, Woods Preserve for walking, and nearby Bodie Island Lighthouse and Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
Ocean Springs, Mississippi
With a "My downtown's cooler than your downtown" vibe, this quaint community along the coastal Mississippi is worth a visit just to stroll through the sea breeze along the vibrant, historic center. The artistic flair delights the eye in the small-town feel—the atmosphere that your heart desires on a city weekend escape. From the nationally accredited Walter Anderson Museum of Art to the Mary C. O'Keefe Cultural Arts Centre, the cool Aunt Jenny's Catfish Restaurant has an old-school speakeasy in the cellar! With over 200 independent shops, galleries, and award-winning restaurants, there is one-of-a-kind decor and souvenirs at the century-old family-owned Shearwater Pottery, with incredible figurines, decorative tiles, and ceramic charms.
Gulf Islands National Seashore is your outdoorsy kingdom for hiking, biking, bird watching, fishing, and camping, where the colorful, modern town delights the eye and soul with fun festivals like the state's largest fine arts gathering to view, buy, and mingle at the Peter Anderson Arts & Crafts Festival! No getaway in these desolate lands is complete without a beach like the Front Beach to lounge in the soft sands, a hop from downtown! Perfectly swimmable in the summer, you can enjoy walking trails, fishing, and recreation in an intimate setting with your loved ones against the views. The fishing pier is spectacular, with plenty of space for a sunset picnic, and speaking of it, the iconic Coastal Picnic & Company will create a gorgeous spread for any group and a taste under a fringed umbrella!
Oxford, Mississippi
Since 1837, Oxford has grown into "The Cultural Mecca of the South, a real hotbed of artistic activity with live music and illustrious history along the streets! You can mingle with students during the school year or enjoy a serene summer all to yourself, and the lively and eccentric entertainment scene will stay with you long after even a short getaway. William Faulkner's estate, Rowan Oak, with a mansion, is great for a tour and stroll around with all the history you need to know before popping into some galleries to get acquainted with the local artisans.
Just an hour outside of Memphis, you can let your literary affair flourish by visiting bookstores and themed coffee shops. The cultured, if not bookish, northern Mississippi town inspires you to embrace your own creative side, release your inner foodie through culinary experiences by soon-to-be chefs at the town's University of Mississippi, or watch the charmingly named Ole Miss Rebels rebel against other teams on the field. From Square Books for an easy read or a collection piece to a reservation at one of the Graduate Oxford restaurants, Oxnard will be the best chapter of your getaway, soaked in Southern flavors!
Wimberley, Texas
Wimberley, Texas, is for all you outdoor fans, worthy of reaching even from the far corners of the immense state! Outdoor enthusiasts unite here in the summer months with bountiful swimming holes while hiking trails beckon to some of the most sought-after natural sights in the US, like the 81-acre Jacobs Well Nature Area with the second largest fully submerged cave in Texas! Feeding into Cypress Creek, Blue Hole Regional Park, and Blanco River, you can take a self-guided hike or paddle along a chosen stretch with intermittent dips on a hot summer day. From multiple parks and trails for easygoing strolls, picnics, and fresh air recreation to destress, you can scale the top of Mt. Baldy with 360-degree views that will highlight your getaway after an invigorating hike!
Wimberley Zipline lets you glide over the Wimberley Valley hills—a spectacular fall day activity for thrill seekers! Wimberley is a year-round getaway for the area's wineries, breweries, and distilleries to unwind in the most fail-"proof" way! From Valley Winery to Middleton Brewing, it is not a weekend getaway without the bar scene for adults to stay up late with live music and easygoing local nightlife while families enjoy glass-blowing demonstrations at Wimberley Glass Works. Just 45 minutes outside of Austin, you'll feel like you're in another universe in this artesian town, with its 140-foot-deep "Well", hiking for days, and Blair House Inn to kick up your feet with a spa.
Each with a distinct story to tell, you'll be equally pressed for time and delighted by the seaside, in the mountains, near natural sights, and cultural attractions. You can have a literary affair in Oxnard bookshops and William Faulkner's estate, Rowan Oak, while Ocean Springs is a Main Street town. Duck is your getaway to childhood, Florence—to Europe, and Highlands is an elevated getaway with spas and upscale dining, literally, as it sits at 4,118 feet above sea level in the mountains of western North Carolina—the choose-your-own-adventure destination.
