The Mid-South's Best Small Towns for a Weekend Escape
One overlooked region of the US for vacations is the Mid-South. Although not as popular as California, Florida or Texas, the Mid South is no slacker when it comes to beautiful places to visit. From Branson with its many picturesque lakes to historical Bardstown, the Bourbon Capital of the world, to gorgeous Gatlinburg in the Appalachians, the Mid-South is a treasure trove of places to spend a memorable weekend. Here is a list of eight such towns in the Mid-South providing the best the region has to offer.
Tupelo, Mississippi
This small town of Tupelo is an ideal weekend getaway for music lovers, as it was the birthplace of major public personality Elvis Presley, the King of Rock N' Roll himself. Born and raised in a small two-bedroom home, you can visit the roots of Elvis at the Elvis Presley Birthplace & Museum or see the beautiful Elvis' 1956 Homecoming Statue. You can also see the Tupelo Hardware Company, where Elvis's mother purchased him his first guitar for his 11th birthday. Even if you aren't a fan of classic Elvis music, the town has plenty of other spots to offer, ranging from the Tupelo Buffalo Park & Zoo, Event Zona & Rebound Trampoline Park, and the Natchez Trace Parkway, a 444-mile drive with multiple trails and places to explore along an old Native American trail. There are many hotels in town, including Candlewood Suites, Comfort Suites, and more.
Branson, Missouri
Branson is a pretty Mid-South small town that is home to three lakes, offering you many opportunities to relax in the water, with the backdrop of the beautiful Ozark Mountains to boot. Table Rock Lake, Lake Taneycomo and Bull Shoals Lake offer fishing, watersports, camping, hiking, kayaking and more. Lake Taneycomo is located on the Branson Landing boardwalk, which provides shopping and dining experiences as well. Speaking of the Ozarks, the Dogwood Canyon Nature Park in nearby Lampe offers 10,000 acres of hiking through an Ozark canyon. There are many museums in town to explore, including the Ancient Ozarks Natural History Museum, Titanic Museum Attraction, Hollywood Wax Museum, and more. For places to stay consider the Ozarker Lodge or Carriage House Inn.
Madison, Indiana
Located on the shores of the Ohio River, this small Indiana town is a historic place with lots to see, explore and experience. For one, the Clifty Falls State Park has many picturesque hikes, including through several waterfalls, but that's not the only outdoor adventure in town. The Heritage trail will take you from downtown to a hill overlooking the Ohio River, while Springdale Cemetery will show you several beautifully crafted statues and graves, including multiple Civil War heroes. Madison is also a great place for historic buildings enthusiasts since you can explore the Lanier Mansion or the Historic Eleutherian College, founded by anti-slavery activists in the 19th century. For places to stay, consider one of the bed and breakfast inns in the area, such as Ayer's Windy Hill Bed & Breakfast.
Bardstown, Kentucky
Known as the Bourbon Capital of the World, Bardstown, Kentucky, is a treat to visit. Believed to be the spot where bourbon whiskey was first invented, it is home to many distilleries that offer tours and samples. These include Lux Row Distillers, Preservation Distillery, Bardstown Bourbon Company, James B Beam Distilling Co., and many more. If you aren't a fan of spirits, there are other places in Bardstown to explore, including the My Old Kentucky Home State Park, which offers tours of the mansion, and the Kentucky Railway Museum. One of the best hiking spots is the Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest, located in nearby Clermont. For the best place in town to stay, consider the Poplar Cottage Retreat on Log Stiller Distillery's Campus.
Arrow Rock, Missouri
This small town is a historic treasure trove. First established in 1829, the entire town is listed as a National Historic Landmark. You can explore this town and its many museums on foot, including the Black History Museum, Dr. John Sappington Museum, home of a frontier doctor, I.O.O.F Lodge Hall and Print Shop Museum, J. Huston Tavern, and John P. Sites Gun Shop. Arrow Rock also has many antique stores and merchants such as Arrow Rock Anitques & Mercantile, Arrow Rock Craft Shop and the Arrow Rock 1829 Gift Shop. The area is surrounded by woods, which provide excellent hiking trails. This quaint town has excellent places to stay, ranging from the Borgman's Bed & Breakfast to the Latch House Barn.
Ellijay, Georgia
This mountain town in North Georgia is a charming place to visit for multiple reasons, including natural beauty and wonderful orchards. Ellijay is renowned as being the Apple Capital of Georgia, and it's easy to see why with many orchards providing apple picking and cider including B.J. Reese Orchards, Hillcrest Orchards, and Red Apple Barn. The town is situated right next to the Amicalola Falls State Park, a part of the larger Appalachian Trail, which connects to the Chattahoochee National Forest and contains the 729-foot Amicalola Falls. There are many quirky and intriguing museums within town limits and outside of town, including the Expedition Bigfoot! Museum gathering information on the cryptid and the Tabor House & Civil War Museum. If kayaking is more your cup of tea, try the Cartecay River Experience inside the Chattahoochee National Forest. To get the full Ellijay experience, try renting a Blue Ridge Treehouse to stay in.
Mountain View, Arkansas
Located in the Ozarks, Mountain View, Arkansas, is a pleasant town filled with beautiful trails, quaint shops, and more. For bikers, Mountain View is a must-visit, as the Syllamo biking trails provide miles of gorgeous views of the White River, North Sylamore Creek Valley, and the Ozark Mountains. The White River, which runs through town, is famous among fishing enthusiasts for its brown, rainbow, and cutthroat trout. There are plenty of shopping locations in Mountain View, including the Arkansas Craft Guild & Gallery, Mellon's Country Store, My Outlet Mall, The Sophisticated Flea, and more. For lodging, there are many cabins for rent right by great fishing, swimming and kayaking locations such as White River Meadows and Ivy Vacations.
Gatlinburg, Tennessee
When it comes to weekend retreat towns in the Mid-South, Gatlinburg is a top destination. Gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, it has some of the best trails in the Appalachian Mountains, including the Alum Cave trail to Mount LeConte, Chimney Tops Trail, and Clingmans Dome Observation Tower Trail. The Cades Cove area in the park is the best place to see black bears from a safe distance. The downtown area of Gatlinburg is filled with fun attractions such as the Gatlinburg SkyBridge, Ober Mountain, Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies and the Moonshine Mountain Coaster. Speaking of moonshine, there are several distilleries in the town such as Ole Smokies which offer samples of delicious moonshine. For places to stay, consider renting a cabin with Diamond Mountain Rentals or Jackson Mountain Rentals.
The best aspect of the Mid-South is the variety of locales to explore. You can relax on the lake in Branson, explore a historic town in Arrow Rock, visit the Appalachian Mountains in Ellijay and Gatlinburg or experience a charming river town community in Madison. Thankfully, all of these small towns also have a variety of lodging options ranging from affordable hotels to deluxe cabins. The next time you plan a weekend retreat, consider visiting one of these charming Mid-South small towns.
