9 Slow-Paced Towns to Visit in the Southern United States

The Southern United States is a diverse place filled with gentle beaches, picturesque mountain ranges, and sleepy towns. The South is particularly known for hospitality and slow-paced towns that take life easy and enjoy the simpler pleasures. By visiting some of these slow paced towns, visitors will discover Civil War battlefields, hot springs, Appalachian trails, and unique museums. Here are nine slow paced town in the Southern United States to visit today.

Vicksburg, Mississippi

Just under 20,200 people call Vicksburg, Mississippi home, but many others consider the town a must visit for one reason: its historic significance. During the American Civil War, Vicksburg was the site of a critical siege to control the Mississippi River between the Union and Confederate armies. In the end, General Ulysses S. Grant would take the city and split the Confederacy in two.

Today, visitors can step back in time and see the battlefield for themselves at the Vicksburg National Military Park and the Vicksburg National Cemetery. The town keeps many artifacts from the battle and the Civil War in general at the Civil War Museum and Old Courthouse Museum. In addition to these historic sites, Vicksburg is famous for duck hunting on the Mississippi, Yazoo, and Big Black rivers.

Harpers Ferry, West Virginia

Harpers Ferry, West Virginia is such a beautiful place amid the Appalachian Mountains, one would never guess it was the site of one of the most pivotal moments in US history that would light the spark that began the American Civil War. It was here in 1859 that the abolitionist John Brown led a group of Free Black men and others to seize the armory and begin a slave insurrection. Although his efforts failed and he would later be executed, his actions were a major factor in starting the Civil War.

Harpers Ferry preserves many historic sites from this raid including the John Brown Museum and John Brown's Fort within the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. The park also has multiple trails and scenic spots such as Jefferson Rock, where President Thomas Jefferson stood and declared the view "worthy a voyage across the Atlantic," and The Point of the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers.

Harrodsburg, Kentucky

Harrodsburg, Kentucky was founded in 1774, make it the oldest founded settlement of Kentucky and the first permanent town west of the Allegheny Mountains. As a result of this long history, this sleepy town has many historic sites to explore. These include the Old Fort Harrod State Park, a replica of the original fort set up in the 18^th century by James Harrod. Visitors can explore a militia blockhouse, the Mansion Museum, which houses artifacts from the Civil War and the Lincoln Marriage Temple, a small log cabin where Abraham Lincoln's parents were wed.

Also within Harrodsburg is the unique Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, the site of a community of Shakers who practiced ecstatic religious experiences, celibacy, and communal living. Within this village are the Historic Centre with old Shaker buildings, The Farm that provides food for a local restaurant on site, and the Preserve with several picturesque trails to explore.

Tupelo, Mississippi

Many famous Americans were born in small towns where they learned the skills to become a legend. One such small town is Tupelo, Mississippi, which was the birthplace of the King of Rock N' Roll, Elvis Presley. As to be expected, there are multiple Elvis related attractions such as the massive Elvis Presley Statue and the Elvis Presley Birthplace & Museum, a small two story house where he was born.

Also of note is the Tupelo Hardware Store, where Elvis received his first guitar as a birthday present. This slow paced town is situated within one of America's top rated national parks, the Natchez Trace Parkway, a 444 mile byway with several hiking trails to check out along the way, such as Tupelo Trail, which runs by the Chickasaw Village Site.

Eureka Springs, Arkansas

Eureka Springs was first discovered in 1858 by Dr. Alvah Jackson, who noted the area for its mineral water springs, which he believed held medicinal value. When he announced his discovery, people began flocking to the area and Eureka Springs was born in 1879. The town is a beautiful oasis in the middle of the Ozark Mountains that has many attractions to explore. Visit Blue Spring Heritage Center, the largest spring in Northwest Arkansas and Lake Leatherwood City Park, which has more than 25 miles of trails across the lake, through rock formations and woodlands. Eureka Springs hides many caves right in the center of its downtown area, such as the Grotto Cave and Springs, and the Civil War Cave.

Beaufort, South Carolina

Beaufort, South Carolina has one of the longest histories in the entire state. The Spanish first visited the area in 1520, and it would go back and forth between multiple European powers, until the British successfully settled the area and founded Beaufort in 1711. Today, the town has some of the best beaches in the entire south, which make for relaxing vacations. There are two main beaches in Beaufort: Hunting Island State Park, which has 5 miles of beaches and a public lighthouse and The Sands Beach, which is known for its shark population that regularly leave their teeth behind in the sandy waters.

For cyclists, there is a 10-mile bike trail called the Spanish Moss Trail that runs through the town, the coast, and salt marshes. Beaufort houses its history museum inside the Beaufort Arsenal, a 1798 fortification built for its volunteer artillery from the American War of Independence.

Townsend, Tennessee

When travelers come to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, they typically start in the busier small towns of Gatlinburg or Pidgeon Forge. Townsend, Tennessee offers a more peaceful laid back way to experience the Smoky Mountains. It is the gateway to Cades Cove, a gorgeous section of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, that features black bears, trails and multiple historic churches. The national park itself has multiple picturesque trails such as Clingman's Dome, Alum Cave, and Mount LeConte.

Within Townsend itself are several cute local shops such as the Apple Valley Country Store, which has locally made crafts. In addition, Townsend hosts the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center, which offers tours of 19^th century structures and a collection of artifacts from the Cherokee Native Americans.

Chincoteague, Virginia

This island town on Virginia's Eastern Shore is most well known for the wild ponies that roam freely. In fact, saltwater cowboys often travel to nearby Assateague Island to claim some of these wild horses for a special charity auction, and then returned back to the island after the auction. Visitors can see these wild horses up close at the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, which also includes a 37-mile beach. The refuge also features waterfowl, song birds, wading birds and makes for a great fishing spot.

In addition, visitors can explore maritime forests at the Assateague Island National Seashore, or find oysters in the sand. To learn more about the history of this cute town display, travelers can check out the Museum of Chincoteague Island, which gathers intriguing artifacts from the waters and shipwrecks.

Mount Dora, Florida

Nestled in central Florida, a short drive away from Orlando, is the picturesque town of Mount Dora. It's popular hub for travelers on their way to Disney World and other Orlando attractions, but Mount Dora has a lot of small town charm and big adventures all on its own. For one, Mount Dora is home to a 5,000 acre lake called Lake Dora, which itself is part of the Harris Chain of Lakes. Travelers can traverse all these lakes on their own or by taking a CatBoat Adventure Tour.

There are also multiple cute spots in Mount Dora, such as the 1893 Queen Anne Donnell House, which looks like a doll house with its gentle blue and yellow painting and porch, along with the red and white Mount Dora Lighthouse in Grantham Point Park. Visitors can enjoy local cuisine and art at the Mount Dora Marketplace in the downtown area.

Conclusion

The Southern United States has something for all visitors looking to enjoy a relaxing trip. They can take a gentle tour of the lakes in Mount Dora, go for a drive in Cade's Cove in Townsend or walk in the footsteps of a young Elvis Presley in Tupelo. These towns are slow-paced but that doesn't mean they are boring. In fact, with the many museums, Civil War sites and beautiful national parks, visitors will find plenty of hidden gems in these slow-paced towns.