8 Best Small Towns To Visit In The Southern United States
The south is often seen as the friendliest part of the United States, perfect for families on a getaway into small towns holding onto tradition as much as tourism without the trap vibe and putting forth their best for all the guests to thoroughly enjoy. Revel in the temperate climate with some of the best beaches in the entire country nearby and outdoor pursuits for every taste and level through state parks, vineyards, and mountainous scenery.
With something for everyone, you won't be remiss in choosing a town blindly, but visit Maysville for the drinking scene and the historic Lady of St. Augustine for strolls through the 17th century. These eight towns, starting with Blowing Rock, will blow your mind.
Blowing Rock, North Carolina
Blowing Rock is a wonderful little mountain town, tucked away in the Blue Ridge Mountains along the famous Blue Ridge Parkway scenic route. Its namesake feature, the protruding monoliths, is popular among the active type, including climbers and sightseers. Find ventures for every group, level, and taste around the 4,000-foot cliff over a spectacular gorge, with peaks in the distance posing as unmatchable photo ops. Take a hike through the dense forests, oh so refreshing during the summer, that turn vibrant come fall. After the blaze, the snow weighs down the branches in a spectacular winter wonderland scene.
In addition to whitewater rafting nearby, Blowing Rock also features boutique shopping, foodie delights, great art, and a history museum. The multi-faced town is not a one-hit wonder just for the outdoors, but with its hard-to-ignore abundant High Country character, it is a delight to discover on a stroll. Venture through the atmospheric town, soaked in unique mountain culture and a pace of life that feels far removed from the city's bustle. Blowing Rock's talented local craftsmen and chefs, inspired by their surroundings, will delight you through some region-noted small businesses.
Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Eureka Springs, a highlight of the rich Arkansas culture, has been a resort town since the early 1900s. Visit for the delightful natural springs with refreshing waters and health benefits to relax amid sights, and stay for the strolls through the stunning Victorian era galore. The colorful architecture downtown, a reason in itself to visit Eureka Springs, is interspersed with other small businesses and quirky shops selling something for everyone, like unique outfit pieces, home decor, and souvenirs.
This cozy town deep in the Ozark Mountains is a favorite getaway in the south of the United States, delighting visitors from elsewhere with a homegrown feel and traditional Southern hospitality despite a resort vibe. Immerse yourself in the local, down-to-earth lifestyle of the Southerners on a stroll along the streets that earned Eureka Springs recognition as one of America’s Distinctive destinations by The National Trust for Historic Preservation. The other side of town, just like its springs, bubbles over with charm, particularly in its art creations of all kinds, from boutique shops to art galleries, studios, and loads of award-winning restaurants.
Helen, Georgia
Helen, Georgia, is a local hotspot destination for wine connoisseurs, with vineyard strolls, tastings through the wineries, and stocking up on bottles to share back home with friends at great rates. The small mountain town, in the northeast region of the state, is overall fantastic for a budget escape in the south of the US, where the beloved Unicoi State Park welcomes campers by the lakeside. Helen, one of the best small town getaways in the south, right in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, keeps on giving with leisurely activities.
From fishing to strolls through the Bavarian-style downtown, you can transport yourself to a whole other continent right from your backyard. Tackle a variety of trails for every level and pursuit, like strolls and hikes through the nearby Chattahoochee National Forest, where you must find the Anna Ruby and Raven Cliff waterfalls. Visit the family-friendly historic property of the Hardman Farm State Historic Site, home to the Nacoochee Indian Mound Burial Grounds and its 1870 homestead.
Manteo, North Carolina
Manteo, in the Outer Banks, is, at first glance, a typical seaside town, veiling an unmissable coastal North Carolina destination. The area, rich in attractions with fun and local history and everyone's favorite pastimes, hosts one of the greatest mysteries in the world: Roanoke Island. It is the real birthplace of English colonization in America, with its impressive collection of historical sights and attractions that enticed generations on vacation or a quick getaway from the city. Manteo captivates all, from its manicured historic square to the famous Kill Devil Hills Rum distillery to the intriguing local legends around the spotty, mysterious island.
Enjoy a veritable trip back in time along the streets and the must-hit Roanoke Island Festival Park. Visit the Island Farm and the Elizabethan Gardens for serene outdoor scenery of a bygone era. The modern downtown offers blocks of quality boutiques, book shops, and gift stores, tested by time and popularity, along with some of the most celebrated restaurants in the region. Conveniently adjacent, Mateo's bustling and beautiful waterfront is ideal for morning strolls and sunset watches among cultural sights and the local lifestyle.
Maysville, Kentucky
Maysville, the beautiful, the naturally charming, and the endlessly scenic, nestles cozily along the Ohio River in northeastern Kentucky, an hour from Cincinnati, Ohio, or Lexington. The small town bursts at the seams with outdoor opportunities for every taste in fresh air, like leisurely sightseeing strolls. The photogenic town, with every sight a postcard setting, is full of engagements for the cultured as well, like the magnificent 1920’s theater and renowned drinking scene of local speciality, craft bourbon.
Relax along the banks and take in the town's vast shopping scene amid art and vestiges from its vivid past. Intermittent with the advantages of the 21st Century, Maysville is the perfect mix for modern families on a discovery-charged visit to bond over fun pursuits in and around town. Start at the tourism office and gift shop on the second floor of the historic Cox Building and taste your way through Kentucky's deliciously smooth drink, taken up a notch in Maysville, at the Pogue family's distillery of rye and bourbon, six generations in practice.
Ponchatoula, Louisiana
Ponchatoula is the oldest incorporated city in Tangipahoa Parish, just outside Baton Rouge, the Northshore area, and New Orleans. Visit anytime for the culture or next spring for the popular Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival. Seek all the renowned things about Louisiana in a small town setting, from vibrant sights and attractions to historic architecture galore and foodie delight, in a concentration on what feels like a real getaway from the rest of the world and daily worries. There's the absolutely stunning Lake Pontchartrain just to the southeast and abundant countryside growing strawberries around town, named from the Choctaw Indian word for "hair to hang."
Explore the beautiful landscape via strolls and hikes in the fresh berry-scented air and verdancy that delight the eyes thanks to the Spanish moss everywhere on the ancient oak trees. Ponchatoula is as great for the outdoors as it is for exploring "America's Antique City" on an art tour and antiquing ventures. Enjoy the small town atmosphere and local feel with the southern accent and wafting smells as you browse through numerous pieces of art, antiques, and hand-crafted items inside historic buildings in the central area. The delicious food and homegrown hospitality are as innate to the town as the Ponchatoula Country Market in the historic train depot, which has the best shops for handmade crafts and rare items.
Saint Augustine, Florida
St. Augustine, the oldest European settlement in the United States, continuously makes lists as the most beautiful, most historic, and most authentic, all with a small town feel and proximity to the renowned Floridian seascape. Hit the beach with days of lounging under Florida's sunkisses and take a boat tour before the stunning sunset from a waterfront restaurant over some delicious Spanish cuisine, like the famous Columbia Restaurant. It is a wonder how, with so many accolades, St. Augustine retains a homegrown feel, strewn with modern amenities and vestiges dating back to its roots in 1565.
Encounter the past on a stroll through the 1600s around every corner, like the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, and make a point to score a terrace seat at one of the cute cafes to fully appreciate the bubbling culture around the up-and-coming dining. From its vast drinking scene with its many craft breweries and distilleries to its Spanish flair, St. Augustine is a joy to discover along the cobblestone streets lined with Spanish moss-draped trees.
Tarpon Springs, Florida
Tarpon Springs is a real Floridian gem along the Gulf of Mexico shoreline, just 45 minutes north of St. Petersburg, shining brightly with its Greek culture and architecture galore. Find an abundance of fish in the nearby waters, lending the town its name, as well as sponges, earning it the moniker "sponge capital of the world." The Greek heritage stretching for 51 miles of waterfront allure encompasses a charming downtown area on the National Register of Historic Places. Take a stroll through the Historic District for an overwhelming concentration of sights along its brick streets strewn with art galleries, antique stores, and specialty shops housed in buildings from the 1800s.
Visit the regionally renowned Tarpon Springs Performing Arts and Cultural Center for more art and historical exhibits, or take in an evening theatrical performance or a concert, among other quality programs. Tarpon Springs grew with an influx of Greek sponge divers in the 1900s into the culturally rich town that it is today. It continuously delights tourists who seek out strong Mediterranean influences in the Southern United States. Combined with its lovely waterfront, Tarpon Springs transports you into a sleepy coastal Greece town setting for any-season visits, like a vibrant beach destination during the summer. Enjoy year-round culture on full display, the best sunset walks down the beach, and delicious Greek fare.
The Southern United States is a historically agrarian region, delighting all with its fresh produce and farm-to-table restaurants with a modern flair. Discover these towns on the best getaway of a lifetime through traditional values, down-home hospitality, and a slower lifestyle than the city and the rest of the country. Find southern flair in everything, like distinctive culture, accents, and music. The Southern cooking is worth a culinary visit alone, just like the many festivals that locals celebrate with a bang.
