12 Prettiest Towns in the Southern United States
The southern United States, from the coasts through the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Smokies, showcases its stunning natural landscapes around charming small towns. These areas are rich in culture and history, nestled in each state's small centers, featuring friendly residents and inviting local businesses. Whether it's modern boutiques, fine dining, art galleries, or lively music streets, southern towns emphasize quality and bring their unique charm, enriching your experience with authentic flavors.
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.
Adventure awaits on Amelia Island, offering a range of outdoor activities suitable for every group, from relaxing family holidays to romantic getaways and fun trips with friends, like horseback riding along the Atlantic coast. Enjoy spotting dolphins and ospreys on beachside trails and catch a glimpse of the endangered right whale while relaxing. Choose accommodations from luxury hotels to charming bed and breakfasts to suit all preferences and styles. Discover Amelia Island's fascinating history, once controlled by France, Spain, and England. Indulge in fresh seafood throughout the day, especially shrimp, which is a major industry—its large size and affordability make it particularly appealing. For a lively atmosphere, visit the Green Turtle Tavern, a bar with outdoor seating and live music, perfect for enjoying a cold drink and the finest bourbon.
Bay St. Louis, Mississippi
This charming seaside city, often called "a place apart," was named one of Mississippi's best places to live in 2020 and is listed among the coolest small towns by Budget Travel. It has something for everyone, from the artsy downtown to the Bay's white sand, pet-friendly beaches, where visitors can enjoy a relaxed, local vibe. The town offers a variety of attractions and relaxing activities suitable for all ages, including art galleries, antique shops, and top-notch restaurants. Located just over 50 miles from New Orleans, this small beach town celebrates its heritage while maintaining the lively atmosphere of the Big Easy, with friendly residents, historic architecture, and the unique charm of Old Town’s French Quarter.
While the girls browse boutiques like "Social Chair" for fashion accessories, the men can enjoy golf and charter fishing with friends before gathering at the beach for more fun. Visit the French Potager to find handcrafted, one-of-a-kind items for yourself, your home, or as gifts for friends back home. Despite being one of the state's best-kept secrets, Bay St. Louis boasts eight small businesses recognized as "Best of." Opt for the Bay Town Inn for an excellent B&B experience and explore the Smith & Lens art gallery. Take a healthy snack break at Starfish, then end your day with fine dining at Cafe Sycamore House or outdoors in the sea breeze at The Blind Tiger.
Berea, Kentucky
Berea, a charming gem of the state, is famous for its lively art scene and unique attractions that can't be found elsewhere. Take the Berea Public Art Tour with narration to see mythical beasts, vibrant handprints, fountains, historic buildings, and stained glass windows that reflect the town's rich heritage. Watch the creation process in welcoming live studios and join local musicians at the weekly jam festival. Explore the best of this "folk arts and crafts capital of Kentucky' through galleries along Chestnut Street, the Artisan Village, and the Kentucky Artisan Center.
Nature inspires this community, where arts and crafts are central. Kentucky's trails offer excellent hiking and biking opportunities for all levels, with highlights like Anglin Falls. The Berea Pinnacles, ranked as the top hike in the state by Outside magazine, can be explored via the Berea College Forest for stunning views and easy access from town, near the Daniel Boone National Forest. The lively town also features historic architecture such as Mitchell Tolle's famous octagonal cupola building, his studio, and gallery. Visitors should also check out the Boone Tavern, known for its energy-efficient design and status as a
Blowing Rock, North Carolina
The scenic town, nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, offers breathtaking views and unique natural attractions. Explore the area by visiting local shops, galleries, and restaurants along the main street, all surrounded by stunning mountain scenery. While many are familiar with the prominent cliff that juts out from the mountainside and gives the region its name, there's more to its story. According to legend, this high cliff above the Johns River Gorge has supernatural abilities to generate gusts of wind. Hike up to the large boulder nearby to see the landmark firsthand and decide for yourself if the tales hold 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.
Visit "the last true coastal village of the South" for its beaches and discover great deals at factory outlet stores and art galleries inspired by the surrounding nature. Enjoy a morning walk through the peaceful moss-draped streets of Old Town Bluffton to the vibrant Farmers Market, offering freshly caught seafood, seasonal produce, herbs, and a variety of artisanal foods. Pick up pastries to complement your coffee, enjoy outdoor southern-style barbecue, or explore additional culinary options at numerous renowned 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 leading to the Rivanna River's headwaters 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 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 plenty of 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, then 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.
Explore art galleries and cultural venues before enjoying a meal in Dahlonega's charming downtown. Afterwards, indulge in wine tastings at several local wineries. Attend the lively Dahlonega Arts & Wine Festival and take a scenic drive on the Lumpkin-Union Loop, which features waterfalls and rugged mountains. During summer, go hiking along the Appalachian Trail, or visit now for a scenic train ride to see the fall foliage in the mountains. For outdoor adventures, stop by Amicalola Falls State Park to picnic by Georgia's highest waterfall, and hike to Cane Creek Falls for another stunning site.
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 late spring and early fall to fish for rainbow trout on the Upper Sacramento and brown trout along 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 for a picnic 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.
Discover the ancient city's military forts, grand castles, and Gilded Age hotels, along with intriguing museums. Experience the European charm during a leisurely stroll through brick-lined streets filled with centuries-old buildings and horse-drawn carriages. Explore a hidden courtyard to relax and reflect on the 450 years of history you've just experienced. Its timeless sights endure alongside modern attractions such as ghost tours, historical reenactments, and the evolving 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!
