These Towns in the Southern United States Come Alive in Winter

In the southern US, you can sidestep all the crowds heading here during the summer, with open attractions and lodgings abounding! Each of these eight unique southern towns bustles with activities and festivities through February, where scenic views and local warmth will chase away any winter blues.

Melt your soul over spa treatments, hearty dinners, or hot springs, and make your cheeks rosy from all the wine or snow play—to each their own! Best of all, all the rave-worthy hikes are perfectly accessible even in winter, with the South's own version of a winter wonderland for not breaking a sweat and admiring the views over a picnic.

Bay St. Louis, Mississippi

Hovering at around 10,000 locals, this nearly perfect town with Gulf of Mexico beaches is a beautiful idea for a maritime-inspired winter getaway in the Magnolia State! In December, the perky waterfront sports decorated boats, while comfortable temperatures allow for hikes even in the dead of winter, like the salt-infused crisp air at Grand Bayou Coastal Preserve with waterfront Buccaneer State Park, south along the coast. Kick back and warm up over surf and turf at 200 North Beach Restaurant and Bar, the first restaurant on the Bay, or enjoy famous burgers with hand-cut fries at The Blind Tiger! 

Just around the corner from Old Town Bay St. Louis, "The Bird" is a cute and modern coffee place during the day that transforms into a pub with restaurant food—more revealing if its real name is The Mockingbird Cafe with a must-try Bird Brew Martini. You can prowl through the Old Town's collection of shops, art galleries, and restaurants, while Henderson Point Park is minutes away across the Bay St. Louis Bridge. Some 90 miles east of New Orleans, the historic town offers a low-key, relaxing way to escape the winter blues and catch the Harbor Lighting next year along the photogenic waterfront reflecting in the water under evening skies! 

Beaufort, South Carolina

This town on Port Royal Island along South Carolina’s scenic Atlantic Coast, affectionately called the “Queen of the Carolina Sea Islands,” offers a mix of Victorian homes and bed-and-breakfasts, as well as the boutique City Loft Hotel and waterfront Anchorage 1770. Being one of SC's oldest colonial settlements with, perhaps, the most extraordinary pre-Civil War architecture, Beaufort’s downtown is a National Historic Landmark area. Making appearances left and right, the state's most charming town comes alive in winter with its old-timey Christmas spirit and horse-drawn carriages despite the lack of snow.

Located in the low country, the timeless charm of antebellum and pleasant weather follow your seasonal merriment strolls along the bright Christmas lights and decorated street displays in this quaint southern town. Don't miss its charming sidestreets with quiet nooks under moss canopies and the ever-lush Huntington Island State Park for immersive nature, offering a sliver of serenity! You can enjoy Southern staple cuisine at the Old Bull Tavern and stock up on trinkets for home and gifts at the local Scout Southern Market!

Blue Ridge, Georgia

What can be more beautiful than Appalachian scenery from under the snow-capped Appalachian Mountains in wintertime? Blue Ridge, the town in the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests, is captivating every season, like a cabin trip with friends and family in the summer or a romantic getaway for adventurous couples in the winter! From hiking trails of all lengths and terrains to the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway at its heart, a winter-themed train ride.

The downtown comes alive during the holidays with local cheer, Christmas lights, and decorated storefronts, where the annual Ice Skating Rink kicks off the season in November and is operational through February! You can poke around local shops for treats and galleries with works by artists inspired by the Blue Ridge Mountains. Visitors enjoy year-round strolls and treats at the Mercier Orchards, under ten minutes north, with winter-specific fruit varieties to taste and buy, so come now or next year for the spectacular light display during the holiday season in Downtown Blue Ridge.

Branson, Missouri

Memorable Missouri vacations are made in Branson, an ideal town for R&R, some hiking, and loads of sightseeing, like the megapopular Moonshine Beach just north! The charming bed-and-breakfasts sprinkle the Ozark Mountains, with easy access to the waterfront for a scenic cruise or one of Branson's trails to get acquainted with local flora and fauna! The banner event is the annual Ozark Mountain Christmas, including tourist-favored drive-through light displays like Trail of Lights and Gift of Lights and Branson's own Polar Express-inspired scenic railway train ride!

The first days of February bring out the shining favorite, Hot Winter Fun Big Show, traditionally featuring big-star performances. From one-of-a-kind dining experiences like the retro-inspired Burger Shack to bakeries and a drinking scene, you can taste Missouri-grown wines, locally distilled whiskey, and moonshine. Big Cedar Lodge boasts a luxurious spa, as does Chateau on the Lake—both great options for a stay. 

Heber Springs, Arkansas

This foothills town, founded in the mid-19th century on the banks between the Greers Ferry Lake and the Ozarks, boasts scenic views for 360 degrees, easy access to nature, and something for everyone within. You will find world-class resorts, fly-fishing, and all-season waterside recreation, as well as antique stores, great restaurants, and a museum. Home to a vintage cinema and just over 7,000 locals, it's easy to fall in love with this adorable southern town on a perfectly quaint winter retreat!

The holiday spirit comes alive along the historic downtown with its Spring Park for nature and the "healing" springs—around which it was established—for soaking. Heber Springs guarantees a warm season in every sense, with inviting stops to explore for the day and perhaps catch some cozy evening vibes over a movie. Come in for brewed locally roasted coffee or gourmet espresso at Jitterbug Coffee House and stay for hearty homemade soups and sandwiches, with a hand-dipped cone for dessert, relevant all year round here!

Lewisburg, West Virginia

Here in Greenbrier Valley, the winter blues don’t stand a chance with many towns in the sundrenched valley, but none like the historic town of Lewisburg, the liveliest of them all! So pick up a hot toddy from Wild Bean and start exploring the spirited atmosphere through artsy shops, galleries, and museums in Downtown Lewisburg! You can wrap up the evening on a fine craft beverage tasting tour, with appellations wrapped in the valley, like the grain-to-glass operations for small-batch sipping at the nearby Smooth Ambler Spirits and Hawk Knob Hard Cider and Mead.

Carnegie Hall is a cultural, world-class center for live shows and performances with arts and educational programs, including all-season independent films and gallery exhibits. The versatile Greenbrier Valley Theatre, WV's professional theater, features live theater, music, and art events, as well as wine tasting and a truffle workshop, Gingerbread Ball, on Christmas Eve! As a prime 18th-century resort town, Lewisburg dazzles with the seasonal merriment of thousands of light decorations and holiday entertainment until January 1. Stick around for all the sales, southern treats, carriage rides, ice skating, and spa treatments!

McAdenville, North Carolina

In winter, McAdenville glows with a red, white, and green heart since W.J. Pharr, the founder of the textile company, wanted to instill Christmas spirit in this town in 1956. Being only 1.5 square miles in area, this magical North Carolina small town transforms into a whimsical holiday neverland! Home to under 1,000 people, this Christmas Town USA features over half a million lights adorning 250 lit-up evergreen trees and 100 meticulously decorated buildings. Most impressively, McAdenville's lake with floating Christmas trees is unique to this town, a destination for 600,000 people from near and far! 

Just around the corner from Charlotte, you can enjoy a stroll or drive, particularly magical in the evenings and nights, through the scenery where family and friends stay out long after the sunset to soak up the atmosphere. Stick around for after-holiday sales through local businesses in a decidedly German-inspired Christmas village, complete with chocolate, beer, gifts, and the Gingerbread Lane at The Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge. Next year's tree-lighting ceremony, a 5K run, and a Yule log parade promise to be just as inspiring, with free hot cocoa and kettle corn!

Snowshoe, West Virginia

Seriously, with a name like that, can you think of a better wintertime escape in the South? Welcome to the Pocahontas County town of Snowshoe, your gateway to Snowshoe Mountain Resort, where boutique shopping, spa days, and family fun abound at glorious mountaintop views! The active outdoorsman can ski and snowboard along the resort’s skiable terrain, which is just short of 250 acres. Sled down the slopes and make snow angels or tube down on repeat until it is into the open local arms for a decadent 4-course dinner or a hot stone massage!

Cute as a button, Snowshoe, akin to a European ski town, is home to Splitrock Pools and restaurants like The Junction Ale House, Foxfire Grille, and Old Spruce Cafe and Tavern. The raving beauty of the Allegheny Mountains landscape delights your eye on a snowshoe adventure, a snowmobile, or even a fun horse trot! You can gear up at the popular Snowcreek Mountain Sports north of town or head on a trek to Shavers Lake just west with the top-rated Boathouse restaurant overlooking the beach!

A Winter Wonderland in the South

Coming alive in pleasant weather and landscapes for every taste, these eight towns will be delighted to receive you with local southern hospitality for a memorable winter escape this season. The south of the US is an enticing winter escape, with warm weather and hot-headed locals, where sheer happiness is found on every slope.