12 Most Beautiful Small Towns in the Southern United States You Should Visit
The Southern US is home to mountains and state parks, with many of the country's most beautiful towns set amid scenic nature. With a rich history, from the Native Americans to European colonialism, the Civil War, and gold mining, there are also many port towns by the alluring seascape and rivers. The South is breathtaking, from the pristine beaches and off-shore islands to the dense forests and majestic mountains with the best sunrises and sunsets.
These luring towns are a tapestry of southern culture, with their old-world charms and welcoming residents. Find your next warm place to discover and unwind in the mountain air or the salty sea breeze with southern delights and comforts like wineries, spa visits, and a renowned brewery scene in between shopping and indulging in comfort food.
Amelia Island, Florida
Just 30 miles from Jacksonville, Amelia Island, with just over 38,000 people living an island lifestyle, is an alluring mix of old Florida vibes and Southern charms. The small town feels a world apart, space- and time-wise, but offers modern family-friendly fun for all. With its surrounding golden-sanded beaches, the epicenter of leisurely recreation, you can stroll, lounge, and enjoy guided horseback rides along the sapphire Atlantic surf with dolphins, osprey, and the endangered right whale in the water. From boating, fishing, and swimming, a selection of luxury hotels and b&bs are just a hand's reach away from both the shores and downtown attractions for historical exploration.
The sunkissed island, with 13 miles of pristine, uncrowded beaches to the west and refreshing marshes in the east, is captivating any season for outdoor exploration and relaxation. Its historic district, under the former influence of France, Spain, and England, boasts a fine dining scene accentuated by fresh seafood delights, while the brick-streeted small town of Fernandina Beach, with its own 13,500 locals, is the birthplace of the shrimping industry. Amelia Island feels like cloud nine on a getaway from the city, without high-rises or big-chain hotels. The ambient town will steal your heart over experiences and shareable moments with your loved ones, like riding the Amelia Island Trolley and setting sail into the sunset.
Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville is a top NC travel destination for the outdoors and culture, with historical attractions like the opulent Biltmore Estate and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Really, just a small southern town at the spectacular backdrop of the Great Smokies, it opens a whole natural world of possibilities, along with Pisgah National Forest, the nearby Appalachian Trail, and nearby Blue Ridge Parkway, for scenic drives and hiking adventures.
With a fine range of hotels, vacation rentals, and cozy b&bs, you can stay in style and comfort to discover local cuisine, fine wines, and the craft beer scene to unwind in any season. The historic downtown, under the fresh breath from the mountains, which you can spot in town, hosts frequent festivals, live music, and popular events, with terraced cafes, restaurants, and the Asheville Art Museum for all other days. Get in touch with Mother Nature on a bike ride along the French Broad River through town, many streams, and waterfalls, or enjoy kayaking, camping, or ziplining for another scenic perspective.
Blue Ridge, Georgia
Blue Ridge, a quintessential getaway in the Southern US, is the ideal town to drink up Georgia's renowned nature, wine scene, and culture for outdoorsy wine lovers on a quick getaway from Atlanta. The small town in the northern part of the state, with many family-run B&Bs, offers easy access to over 40 independent wineries in the area to unwind over tastings and live music. Enjoy a glass of your favorite on the porch in the mountain air with views, and stock up on fairly priced cabernet francs to delight your friends back home over stories about the ambient town.
Blue Ridge is an epic getaway for the naturally inclined, with the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway central to its charismatic downtown area and nature just steps away. Replete with small local businesses for your daily perusal pleasures, you can browse through boutiques, breweries, restaurants, and ice cream shops with easy access to outdoor pursuits. From hikes in the magnificent Appalachian Mountains to the refreshing Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, there is also seasonal fruit picking, farm visits, and sunflower harvests.
Fairhope, Alabama
Fairhope, Alabama’s “City of Flowers,” is not just one of the region's most beautiful towns but its favorite shopping destination. With over 100 boutiques, specialty stores, and galleries to fulfill all of your antiquing and fashion desires, you won't mind indulging in pretty views along the bluffs overlooking Mobile Bay either! This little heavenly Gulf Coast slice, nicknamed Beauty on the Bay, blends southern hospitality with a seaside lifestyle where you are never far from the water for boat rides, cooling dips, or just lounging at the views.
With sights for all along the streets with antebellums, you can browse for days in the mountain air under the live oaks, ogling at the bougainvilleas and stately Southern estates in between quaint cafes for all styles of dining. From Panini Pete's for lunch or breakfast under a Spanish-moss-covered giant oak tree to cultural market strolls, the impressive Grand Resort is a great place to relax. The city, full of small-town charms, views, and shopping, feels made for indulging without the resort-town vibe!
Harper's Ferry, West Virginia
Harper's Ferry is a sought-after mountain town along the scenic banks of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers, with a beautiful waterfront and under 300 locals. 400,000 annual tourists visit the iconic National Historical Park in and around this 19th-century town, within dense deciduous forests beneath rocky cliffs with two scenic bridges over the river. The Appalachian Trail runs directly through the main drag, with picturesque history to explore in the alpine breeze amid mountains, the river, and Civil War vestiges. From Maryland Heights Trail to Loudon Heights Trail, the Lower Town Loop Trail, and the Murphy-Chambers Farm Loop Trail, there are different vibes and views for all hiking levels.
The 1833 stone-faced Victorian Gothic St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church with stained-glass windows and a dramatic spire was spared during the Civil War, while the riverfront with an original armory guard house dates from the time of the failed abolitionist revolt in 1859. Harper's Ferry is a real Mountain State gem for its natural Appalachian beauty, ensconcing a slew of modern restaurants, stores, and living history museums. The colorful Victorian rooftops of Harpers Ferry’s Lower Town add character to the town, lined by 150-year-old buildings. The president declared this spectacular panoramic outlook "worth a voyage across the Atlantic" on the iconic Thomas Jefferson’s Rock, while the nearby ancient moss-speckled staircase is part of the Appalachian Trail.
Helen, Georgia
Helen, a Bavarian village in northeast Georgia, boasts a bustling, artistic shopping district along the beautiful Chattahoochee River. From floating down the gently flowing river through town to strolling along its cobblestone streets, you will discover rich local history linked to the Cherokee Indians and early settlers from the gold mines and the lumber industry. Come for the sought-after attractions of Charlemagne's Kingdom, the Russell-Brasstown Scenic Byway, and wine tasting at Habersham Winery, one of the state's oldest, and stay for nature strolls like Anna Ruby Falls. Helen Waterpark offers a pool, slides, a lazy river, and tubing along the Chattahoochee River in the summer, while the falltime Oktoberfest hosts festivities like a parade, live music, dancing, and German-style culinary pleasures.
With over 200 specialty and import shops in town for all your decorating needs, the dining options here mix southern comforts with filling traditional German fare. The town at the gateway to Unicoi State Park offers nature from the doorstep, with trails for hiking and biking to the Unicoi Lake for swimming, fly-fishing, and boating. You can enjoy the forest strolls and river banks against the scenic backdrop of mountains, as are the wooden houses, to find your b&b amid colorful shops along the streets, with a mix of the heavenly aroma of authentic German fare and a mountain breeze.
Highlands, North Carolina
Another NC gem is a quaint town called the Highlands, nestled along the foothills in Nantahala National Forest. With an attractive name and a warm, welcoming spirit, the engaging town crafts your personal mountain retreat that feels minimalistic, natural, and at the same time luxurious. The town, at an elevation of 4,118 feet, lures with fine dining through seven wine spectator restaurants, cultural activities, and unique shopping downtown, while nature is a chic retreat with a mix of mountaineering.
From summiting the highest Mount Mitchell peak to exploring the deepest Linville Gorge, the tallest cascade in the eastern US, the spas back in town call to relax you for post-nature adventures. The nearby Whitewater Falls, the tallest in the eastern US, is great for a summer's day picnic in the mist, while the popular Blue Ridge Parkway and Great Smoky Mountains National Park are under two hours away. Highland's charming Main Street is replete with eclectic shops and restaurants, where you can inspire a romantic overseas getaway at The Old Edwards Inn and Spa, one of Relais & Châteaux's best resorts in the country.
Natchez, Mississippi
Perched high on a bluff over Mississippi, Natchez is a fantastic southern US destination for sightseers in the southern state on a quick escape from New Orleans. The small town with a storied past, where history, music, and Southern hospitality unite along the iconic river's banks, boasts over 1,000 structures on the National Register of Historic Places. You can stroll amid homes that have stood there since the 1700s, including St. Mary’s Basilica, constructed in the 1800s, and tour the must-see Longwood, the largest octagonal home in the US. The oldest settlement on the Mississippi River features more antebellum houses than any other town in the United States. Take a scenic trip down the river in a steamboat before diving into the cutting-edge cuisine and a nation-renowned live music scene to entertain you every evening.
Home to the Gold Record Road, this driving tour hits a collection of fascinating historical, musical, and cultural landmarks, from the American Music Triangle to the present day's nine distinct musical genres. From blues over cold beer at the local favorite juke joint, Smoot’s Grocery, to southern comfort food at Biscuits & Blues with evening musical acts, the Under-the-Hill Saloon features the best views over the Mississippi River. Set in the namesake district, this lively bar at the historic river port that has seen the rowdiest river travelers is the fun place for couples to catch the sunset. Settled by French colonists in 1716, you can seek the colorful heritage at the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians, with a museum showcasing traditional homes and three preserved earthen mounds. The brick William Johnson House, owned by a free black man pre-Civil War, and the 1845 Melrose Estate will complete your historical immersion.
Paducah, Kentucky
This little picturesque riverside town in Kentucky is one of the US's only nine UNESCO Creative Cities. Steeped in history along the decorated streets, its thriving arts community is anchored by the National Quilt Museum and more art through shops, galleries, and boutiques. Paducah, a longtime destination for creatives, features a revitalized, colorful Lower Town Arts District, a historic residential neighborhood with the Paducah School of Art & Design. At the heart of the US’s inland waterways, you will find more beauty along the banks of the flowing Ohio River, adding character to the town as its lifeline. Discover its impact at the River Discovery Center after a waterside stroll for modern life along the river.
The Midtown neighborhood is a must-visit with a coffee shop, brewery, and pizza place in authentic architecture, as well as the Coke Plant—a reborn historic place from 1939. The 19th-century downtown, full of galleries and old buildings, has attractions for every taste along its vibrant streets, including workshops and performances. Paducah, a longtime cultural hub, is home to the Art Center, Maiden Alley Cinema and Gallery, Market House Theatre, and Clemens Fine Art Center for live theater, exhibitions, and art films. From the Carson Center to live classical performances by the Paducah Symphony Orchestra, the city’s Wall to Wall Floodwall Murals offers 50 painted panels detailing the town's rich history in bright light by the renowned muralist Robert Dafford along the riverfront.
Saint Augustine, Florida
Full of charm, history, and vibrant culture, there's no other town in the country like this southern gem, the oldest European settlement in the contiguous US. Discovered by the Spanish colonists way back in 1565, the authentic city preserves its scenic traces of maritime and colonial history as a seaside village with a strong sense of community. Home to just over 15,000 locals. Immensely proud of its heritage, St. Augustine is as welcoming to visitors as tourists are hungry to discover it.
No visit to Saint Augustine is complete without touring the 17th-century Castillo de San Marcos National Monument or indulging in the delicious Spanish cuisine at many restaurants, like the famous Columbia Restaurant. The town under the Old Florida vibe features quaint cobblestone streets under Spanish moss-draped trees, with something for everyone to discover and find engaging. You always hit the beach under Florida's sun and take a boat tour for a different perspective of historic St. Augustine—a real sight like observing a medieval city!
Sanibel, Florida
Sanibel, a 33-square-mile natural oasis just off Florida's coast with a small town population of 6,500, is an indulging island lifestyle getaway. With gorgeous greenery growing right up to the powder-sugar sand beaches lapped by bright turquoise waters, Sanibel is also a renowned place for shelling. The ocean here notoriously directs currents to wash up the most unique shells in abundance for your beachcombing pleasures to bring home as great souvenirs. The beautiful barrier island town feels like a painting or a screensaver of a Caribbean slice framed by the glittering Gulf.
There are no hi-rises, stoplights, or big-chain grocery stores to ruin the views along your beach cruiser ride around the island's 25 miles of bike paths with snowy egrets in the sky. From 17,000 explorable acres of the lush west side for nature lovers, the other side, with Lighthouse Beach Park at the eastern tip, overlooks San Carlos Bay. The nearby MudBugs Cajun Kitchen will recharge you after, or Blue Giraffe Restaurant just further down the main, while the highest-rated Doc Ford's Rum Bar & Grille is right by the trail-spliced Red Mangrove Island.
Williamsburg, Virginia
With nicknames like Colonial Williamsburg and the "Colonial Capital," this small southern town in Virginia holds the promise of a trip to the past full of epic discoveries. One of the country's first planned cities, meticulously preserved and reconstructed, you will feel part of the era under the traditional hospitality standards of the "Historic Triangle," guaranteeing royal treatment. From all-style dining with quality food and local prices to splurging and bargain hunting through the independent boutiques of Merchants Square and New Town, there are also breweries, golf courses, and spas. You can feel like a local in a medieval city while shopping through the Farmer's Market, or browse alongside them at the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum for sights through time.
There's also the Muscarelle Museum of Art at the College of William and Mary and fine artworks from around the world at the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum. A horse-drawn carriage ride down the cobbled streets delights families and couples alike as a perfect way to uncode this 18th-century epicenter. Williamsburg, the world's largest living history museum, is not without nature either, where beautiful gardens and a stroll along the nature trails feel just as fitting as embarking on a ghost tour. The family-friendly Kingsmill Resort is surrounded by 3,000 acres of wild nature along the iconic James River, while the kids love the world's fastest multi-launch roller coaster at the Busch Gardens Williamsburg amusement park.
These twelve destination towns welcome you with a fine blend of Southern hospitality and unique quirks that leave the most memorable impressions. The grandiose architecture along the cobbled streets and the medieval feel at the markets will transport you through time. With local celebrations and enticing regional cuisine, you can choose an island-inspired getaway in Florida or seek its oldest city in the entire nation, St. Augustine.
These charming small towns enchant with scenic history and natural beauty for every taste. With many waterfalls and rivers, including the iconic Mississippi, as well as the Atlantic Ocean, your estranged city eyes will make you believe you've landed in an oasis.
