6 of the Most Overlooked Towns in the Southern United States
When people think of visiting towns in the Southern United States, popular destinations include Pensacola, Florida, and Hot Springs, Arkansas. However, there are many other small towns in the Southern United States to explore. Some of the most interesting towns are overlooked destinations, despite their beautiful scenery and captivating communities. Crystal River, for example, is a small Florida town that is the best place to see manatees swimming. Fort Payne is an Alabama town known for its stunning waterfalls. Rogersville, Tennessee, is another underrated small town with unique historical attractions to explore, such as the oldest stone dam in Tennessee.
Take the time to explore the six most overlooked towns in the Southern United States.
Crystal River, Florida
While Florida is a popular tourist destination, Crystal River doesn't receive a lot of attention from tourists. However, Crystal River is a haven for anglers and nature lovers to enjoy the beauty of the Gulf Coast. Just 80 miles north of Tampa, on Florida's west coast, the town is the perfect place to swim in beautiful waters. The beaches here are one of the few places in the United States where you can swim amongst fish and mammals such as manatees in the wild. Manatees are popularly sited at Crystal River because the area is part of their migration route. Every winter, hundreds of manatees swim into the warm waters and natural springs of Crystal River’s Kings Bay. From November to March, diving in the chilly water to see manatees up close is a popular activity.
Those who want to learn more about the local natural landscape should pay a visit to Crystal River Preserve. Home to 27,500 acres of hardwood forests, salt marshes, and mangrove islands, the nearly untouched paradise is ideal for outdoor enthusiasts. Hiking, biking, and kayaking are popular activities in the area. Aside from the water and nature, Crystal River has Crystal River Archeological State Park. Here you can explore some of Florida's history, including the pre-Columbian burial mounds.
Fort Payne, Alabama
Fort Payne is a small town in Alabama full of natural beauty, from mountain trails to cascading waterfalls, it is a town not to miss. One of the gems in town is the Little River Canyon Preserve, a 15,288-acre nature preserve that has the longest mountain river in the state. This is a great place to go for a swim or a hike and reconnect with nature. Another great place to enjoy a swim in Fort Payne is Martha’s Falls. This is a popular spot for locals, especially during the summer months.
Close to Fort Payne is the stunning DeSoto State Park, with 25 miles of trails. The park also has it's own restaurant and swimming pool to enjoy. Fort Payne also has fascinating historic buildings to explore. The Davis Hosiery Mill, also called the Big Mill Antique Mall, is a popular place to check out. The building once made socks, but today it is a place to get antiques, collectibles, and artwork.
Helen, Georgia
If Georgia's on your mind, consider taking a trip to the underrated town of Helen. In the heart of Northeastern Georgia, Helen is a town reminiscent of a German village. There are Bavarian-style buildings around town, along with classic foods such as delicious schnitzel and authentic beer. There is even a European bakery downtown called Hofer's of Helen that serves classics such as Belgian waffles and Alpine French toast. The town celebrates its German heritage every year at Oktoberfest, a tradition that dates back to 1810 in Southern Germany.
Helen also happens to be a natural paradise, with plenty of places to hike, swim, and bike. The town center is just 2 miles from Unicoi State Park, a great serene space to enjoy a hike. A popular hike in the mountains in Helen is the Yonah Mountain trail. The out-and-back 4.4-mile trek is difficult, but the stunning views are worth the tip.
If you are a waterfall hunter, Helen is the right town for you. There are plenty of places to see scenic views of the falls. One of the best waterfalls to see is the Anna Ruby Falls. Named after Anna Ruby Nichols, it is actually two waterfalls reached by a scenic half-mile interpretive trail.
Rogersville, Tennessee
Rogersville isn't a popular town to visit, but for history lovers, the town is a must-see. Rogersville is Tennessee's second oldest town, and while there aren't a lot of conventional tourist destinations in the town, there are a lot of historic landmarks to see. One of the top places is the Thomas Amis Estate. Built before the town of Rogersville was officially established, in the 18th century, the estate features the Amis home and blacksmith cabin, which you can explore. There is also a museum in Rogersville, the Tennessee Newspaper and Printing Museum. Here you can see displays and exhibits of newspapers from Tennessee's past, along with local Rogersville artifacts.
In October, Rogersville also has a Heritage Days Festival that celebrates the town's past. The festival has old cars, antiques, and local food. While exploring Rogersville, consider staying at the Hale Springs Inn. Built in 1824, the inn has a historic charm with modern-day comforts.
Black Mountain, North Carolina
When people think of the Blue Ridge Mountains, they don't typically think of Black Mountain. However, the underrated quaint town is one of the prettiest mountain towns in the United States. Close to Asheville, Black Mountain is a charming town with local cafes, galleries, incredible trails, and breathtaking views. The stunning scenery has long served as inspiration for local artists. A great spot to check out is the Black Mountain Center for the Arts. The gallery is in the former town hall and shows a variety of artists.
It's rare to have stunning scenery just a few blocks from downtown, but this is the case in Black Mountain. Lake Tomahawk Park is just a few blocks away from the downtown. This is a great spot for a leisurely stroll or a picnic. Another great spot for a hike is the Graybeard Trail. The trail takes hikers to the sixth-highest peak in the Blue Ridge mountains.
Breaux Bridge, Louisiana
Breaux Bridge is a charming Louisiana town with fewer than 10,000 residents. The town does have a claim to fame as the "Crawfish Capital of the World". The restaurants in town were the first to have crawfish on their menu. Breaux Bridge hosts a crawfish festival every year in March. The four-day feature has everything from crawfish tasting to live music. While people visit the town for the delicious crawfish, this isn't the only draw to the town. The nature, history, and community are at the heart of Breaux Bridge.
For nature lovers, The Atchafalaya Basin is an amazing spot to visit in town. This is the largest river basin in North America. You can explore the basin by paddling down it through town. This makes for an unforgettable experience as you see beautiful rivers, cypress trees, hyacinths, and water lilies. Birders will love heading to Lake Martin. The town's lake is one of the largest nesting areas of wading birds in the entire country. Make sure to be careful around this area since there are also alligators in the lake.
While these towns in the Southern US are all overlooked they still are worth a visit. In Rogersville, you can explore historical landmarks. In Breaux Bridge, you can appreciate the beautiful Atchafalaya Basin and see an amazing diversity of wildlife. Whatever adventure you are looking for, there is something for everyone in these overlooked towns.
