12 Prettiest Towns in the Southern United States
The prepped-up south of the United States, from the coasts through the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Smokies, unravels its beautiful nature around small, pretty towns. Find plentiful culture and history condensed in these small hearts of each state, with friendly locals and welcoming small businesses. From modern boutiques to fine dining, art galleries, and music-filled streets, the southern towns value quality over quantity and add their flair to spice up your experiences with authentic notes.
Escape the city in any season for a dose of warm Southern charm and hospitality with b&bs and summertime campgrounds to commence adventures from the doorstep. Trek along the coastal trails for the best sunsets or catch a sunrise from a mountain top with state parks between hiding rainforests, waterfalls, and unbelievable views of sky-high ridges like Blowing Rock or Dunsmuir. Discover these charming gems and explore the pretty landscape around them, from an island to seaside slices, rivers, and lake towns, under the persistent southern sun.
Amelia Island, Florida
Just off Florida's northeast coast and 30 miles from Jacksonville, Amelia Island feels like a world apart. Get away with your loved ones for a fun, relaxing time spent along the golden-hued sands and oceanside trails. Offering an uncrowded feel and a remote atmosphere, with just the sounds of nature surrounding you, nothing is going to get in the way of experiencing all its beauty. The charming town inspires an Old Florida vibe with no high-rises or big chain anything, but cute mom-and-pop shops and the Amelia Island Trolley tour of the town. Take a sunset sail out from the waterfront or stroll to nearby Fernandina Beach, with its brick streets and seashell treasures. Find an excuse to experience it all and more during the wacky holidays like the summertime National Daiquiri Day or National Relaxation Day in August, celebrated here like nowhere else in the nation.
Wild outdoor adventures await every group, from laidback family vacations to romantic escapes and getaways with friends, like horseback rides along the Atlantic Ocean shore. Sightsee dolphins and ospreys from the beachside trails and catch a glimpse of the endangered right whale while lounging. Choose from luxury hotels to plentiful b&bs for all comforts and styles, and explore Amelia Island's rich history, once under France, Spain, and England's control. You can eat seafood for every meal of the day, with shrimping being the biggest industry, lending to the size of shrimp and the bang for your buck that feels like a dream. Visit the popular Green Turtle Tavern, a lounge bar with outdoor seating and live music to share over a cold beer or the best bourbon selection.
Bay St. Louis, Mississippi
This quaint seaside city, wistfully called "a place apart," is one of the best places to live in Mississippi in 2020 and one of the coolest small towns, according to Budget Travel. Find something for everyone; from the decorated downtown with arts to the Bay's white sand pet-friendly beaches, you can indulge in the easygoing life of the locals. Find fun attractions and leisurely pursuits for the whole family, like art galleries, antique stores, and plentiful quality eateries. Just over 50 miles from New Orleans, the small beach town embraces its heritage while keeping up the Big Easy’s funk with friendly people, historic buildings, and the unique Old Town’s French Quarter.
While the girls prowl through boutiques like "Social Chair" for fashion accessories, the men will enjoy golf and charter fishing with friends before a get-together at the beach for more fun. Stop by the French Potager with crafted items of one-of-a-kind design for yourself, your home, and friends back home. Although one of the best secrets in the state, Bay St. Louis accolades include eight small businesses named "Best of." Choose the best b&b stay at the Bay Town Inn and check out the best Smith & Lens art gallery. Grab a healthy snack in between your perusal at Starfish and end the day over fine dining at Cafe Sycamore House or outside in the sea breeze at The Blind Tiger.
Berea, Kentucky
Berea, an appealing gem of the state, is renowned for a vibrant art scene and various fun attractions you won't find anywhere else. Just take the Berea Public Art Tour with narration along its unique mythical beasts, vibrant hand prints, fountains, historic architecture, and stained glass windows telling of the town's rich heritage. See the creation process at the welcoming live studios and mingle among local musicians at the weekly jam festival. Sightsee the best of this "folk arts and crafts capital of Kentucky at the wares in galleries along Chestnut Street, the Artisan Village, and the Kentucky Artisan Center.
Nature inspires this crowd, where arts and crafts are the way of life, and the Kentucky trails here can't be beat for hiking and biking of various levels and scenery, including the spectacular Anglin Falls. Tackle the Berea Pinnacles, the top hike in the state, according to Outside magazine, through the Berea College Forest for beautiful views and easy access from town, with the nearby Daniel Boone National Forest. The dynamic town is also home to long-beloved architecture like the iconic octagonal cupola building by Mitchell Tolle and his studio and gallery. Stop by the Boone Tavern, a leader in energy and environmental design and the "Historic Hotel of America."
Blowing Rock, North Carolina
The picturesque town, perched in the Blue Ridge Mountains, flaunts astounding scenery and natural attractions like none other. Seek vistas prowling through the hamlet's various small businesses like shops, galleries, and restaurants along the thoroughfare with the beautiful mountains around. While many recognize the staple precipice protruding from an enormous cliff high on a mountainside, christening the area with its name, it goes deeper than that. Legend has it that this enormous cliff high above the Johns River Gorge has supernatural powers to create wind gusts around it. Hike to the large boulder to see the landmark for yourself and decipher whether the rumors are true.
It is no wonder that Blowing Rock embraces an outdoor lifestyle with varying sights like Grandfather Mountain, Linville Caverns, and Linville Falls for ideal adventures. From thrilling activities to easygoing recreation and relaxation with views, you can enjoy climbing, angling, and skiing. The luscious Moses H. Cone Memorial Park, a natural world of its own, is spliced by meandering trails along grasslands and through the woods for strolls, hikes, picnics, and fishing. Explore the charming downtown, abuzz in the summer months with fairs, events, and festivals like the Fourth of July Parade. Stop for the Blowing Rock Art and Antique Show and ride the Tweetsie Railroad, with plenty more family-friendly entertainment awaiting at the heart of the village.
Bluffton, South Carolina
Find this poster child for the Carolina Lowcountry amid tranquil marshland, along the beautiful May River shores. The small town offers a summer vacation straight from your freeing childhood days, filling you with energy and giving you eyes full of hope. From wet and dry adventures in nature like kayaking, biking, hiking, and fishing to strolls through the stunning beauty of the Old Town, you'll be singing, "It's a beautiful life in Bluffton!" It is also the historic heart of the state, with rich culture and heritage on display. Immerse yourself in the charm of the elegant homes and vibrant art scene, with palmettos everywhere you turn, for one picture-perfect South Carolina postcard.
Come to "the last true coastal village of the South" for the beaches and stay for the bargains through factory outlet stores and art galleries inspired by the local nature around you. Take a morning stroll down the sedating moss-draped lanes of Old Town Bluffton to the colorful Farmers Market of Bluffton with fresh, just-off-the-boat seafood, seasonal farm produce, herbs, and a "potpourri of artisan quality foodstuffs." Find pastries to go with coffee, dine right here on southern-style barbecue fare, or head for more culinary delights at one of many fabulous Lowcountry restaurants.
Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville, a historic town from 1762, bursts with Central Virginia flavor through its scenic heritage along the Rivanna and James Rivers. The larger town of nearly 45,000 is one of the South's prettiest, with a lively student culture on its gorgeous University of Virginia campus. This iconic, Thomas Jefferson-designed college and the former president's Monticello estate nearby comprise a destination in themselves for American history relic hunters. Escape from the city into the cozy cradle of the Blue Ridge Mountains, some 100 miles southwest of Washington, D.C., and 70 miles northwest of Richmond.
Explore the upper Piedmont Plateau with pastoral sights to the headwaters of the Rivanna River for summertime dips, lounging, and recreation. Check out a local orchard or farmers market and enjoy easy access to Shenandoah National Park, with countless scenic trails for hiking and picnics. The craft brewery scene and over forty vineyards on the Monticello Wine Trail will take your relaxation to the next level. Enjoy elegant dining along the historic pedestrian Downtown Mall, replete with restaurants, and Main Street with a rooftop bar for the best Blue Ridge Mountains sunset views.
Covington, Louisiana
You may recognize this town first and foremost from The Vampire Diaries, planted on the north side of Lake Pontchartrain. Covington, a charming town along the three rivers of the Bogue Falaya, Abita, and Tchefuncte, is jam-packed with activity. Bursting with flavorful Louisiana culture and traditional hospitality, the town is a Hollywood star of a real magnitude: it is central to productions like In the Heat of Night, Remember the Titans, and Netflix’s Sweet Magnolias, among hundreds of others.
Just imagine all the southern vibes in the town—a setting for the Dukes of Hazzard! Prowl its scene of boutiques, art galleries, bed-and-breakfasts, and antique shops with the coolest southern demeanor, like at the popular Lola, a local favorite dining spot. With plentiful ways to explore the charmer, you can take a ghost tour in time for Halloween or hop on a local trolley tour to various movie sets. Take a self-guided excursion to organic farms and vineyards to stock up on goodies and enjoy shopping and chilling at the Hammock Park before diving into the 5-star dining scene!
Dahlonega, Georgia
The pretty town on the slopes of the Blue Ridge Mountains, with its long gold rush past, is a real treasure trove of opportunities for a memorable getaway amid beautiful sights. Find what you seek here, from history to the outdoors to wine and a farm-to-table culinary scene. Visit the Dahlonega Gold Museum and its historic site with artifacts from the gold rush of 1836 and witness the town's gold mining legacy firsthand through the stunning downtown area, replete with specialty shops in historic buildings.
From art galleries and cultural spots to dining through Dahlonega's attractive downtown, you can follow it up with a wine tasting at one of many wineries. Visit for the exuberant Dahlonega Arts & Wine Festival and enjoy a scenic drive on the Lumpkin-Union Loop with waterfalls and rugged mountains at your fingertips. Come in the summer for the nearby hikes along the Appalachian Trail or now to take a scenic train foliage voyage through the lovely falltime mountainscape. Visit Amicalola Falls State Park for a picnic by the state's highest waterfall in Georgia, and hike to Cane Creek Falls for another sparkling charmer.
Dunsmuir, California
This northern California town with the official slogan "Home of the Best Water on Earth" is full of surprises and has no end to scenery along the Upper Sacramento River of the Trinity Mountains. The volcanic rock on Mount Shasta astonishingly filters the snowmelt and provides all the drinking water for the locals. Choose a unique stay at the Railroad Park Resort in refurbished vintage cabooses and find more behind the moniker while chasing waterfalls and alpine lakes, along with the top fly-fishing streams in the region. Dunsmuir Botanical Gardens along Upper Sacramento sprawl from your doorstep through dogwood, Shasta lilies, and other California natives. This beautiful NorCal town of only around 1,750 residents also hosts a secretly good restaurant scene and beer lovers heaven. Choose Yaks on the 5th, with brick walls, shelves of books, and board games to enjoy over a brew and an artisanal burger, or dine on Mediterranean cuisine at the intimate Café Maddalena.
The outstanding local watering hole for microbrews, Dunsmuir Brewery Works, serves clam chowder and elk burgers. Join cross-country anglers in the peak late spring and early fall to fish for rainbow trout on the Upper Sacramento and brown trout along the banks of the McCloud River, while the glacial Castle Lake is a sight to behold while ice fishing. It has a cute campground and trails into the wild! Take the Hedge Creek Falls trail for an easy hike just outside of town to a plunging curtain of water, or hike to the modest and stunningly beautiful Sweetbriar Falls just to the south, right off Interstate. The nearby 4,000-acre Crags State Park features over 30 miles of trails, the Sacramento River, and campgrounds, all under the soaring, jagged ridge of granite spires. These 170-million-year-old formations, rising to 6,500 feet, offer unforgettable scenery on a picnic in between outdoor adventures.
Helen, Georgia
The state's third-most popular town, Helen, is a beautiful Bavarian-inspired village with old-world class and charming attractions that make you feel part of the other continent. Enjoy all of the European sights on a stroll through loads of beauty packed into 2.1 square miles, along the cross-gabled cottages, under steeply pitched roofs, and waving German flags in the wind. Visit this holiday season for the most atmospheric Christkindlmarkt, an annual Christmas market with authentic foods, glühwein, and a soft blanket of snow if you are lucky, giving the hamlet a holy glow.
Come any day for fun engagements and cultural activities of the historic German legacy in the views from the foothills to the Blue Ridge Mountains. From outdoor recreation to mountaineering and relaxing with a brew, you can also enjoy tubing adventures or serene angling from the banks of the Chattahoochee River. Take a hike along one of the trails to sightsee the Bavarian-style design from above and discover countless boutiques, eateries, and beer gardens in the appealing downtown. Now is the time for leaf peeping in the neighboring forest, and stay for Oktoberfest merriment, one of the US' largest!
Leipers Fork, Tennessee
For an all-southern experience during your beauty-inspired hunt through the south, you must add this charming Tennessee village to your list! Leipers Fork, a real southern gem just outside of Franklin, welcomes you with a come-as-you-are attitude and a whole lot of fun attractions "on a silver plate." The sweet little village packs a punch in world-class talent for all art mediums, including culinary creations like down-to-earth food and fine wines, and charming boutiques to browse through antiques, high-end art, and eclectic shops for unique items.
Find yourself in the idyllic surroundings where tradition and nature meet along the trails and creekside on a picnic. Join the friendly locals in the streets to the sounds of sweet Southern music or kick back at a world-famous open mic night before the soundest sleep at one of the beautiful, welcoming B&Bs. With quality in everything but only a single stoplight along the main street alongside fine art galleries and dining, the town sure is unique. The surrounding dreamscape of rolling pastures, horse farms, and winding roads makes you feel like you've found the perfect home.
Saint Augustine, Florida
The fair lady of Saint Augustine is renowned to world travelers as the oldest European settlement in the US, with beautiful architecture and old Florida charm like you've never experienced before. Fewer tourists are aware and are surprised to find uncommon culture and art defining the town today as much as its rich past. With its unique natural scenery and blend of history, St. Augustine is a desirable destination for couples and other romantics, with its spiraling lighthouse, scenic nature trails, and tranquil beaches. The town founded in 1565 is home to the 1600s at Castillo de San Marcos National Monument.
Explore the Ancient City's military forts, stately castles, and Gilded Age hotels, and dive into fascinating museums. Immerse yourself in the European flavor on a due diligence stroll along the brick-lined streets with centuries-old buildings and horse-drawn carriages, and dive into a hidden courtyard for a nook to reminisce over the 450 years of history you have just traveled through. Its timeless attractions stand the test of time as much as modern-day pursuits like scary ghost tours and historical reenactments, as well as the up-and-coming dining scene, craft breweries, and distilleries.
These towns, from east to west and off the ocean coast to North Carolina, will take your breath away with their adventures, sights, and welcoming spirit of locals and festivals. Visit a mini-Bavaria for Oktoberfest, a mountain gem, or a Louisiana town full of flavor like Covington, a real Hollywood star. For the arts, head to Berea, the capital of crafts.
Come now for the beautiful fall foliage train rides through the mountains, colorful state parks, and discovery ghost tours for Halloween. No matter where you land, the charming southern atmosphere weaves into the coastal lifestyle as seamlessly as it does into mountain living or historic St. Augustine—the lady that has over 450 years of southern charm in her pocket!
