7 Picture-Perfect Main Streets In The Southern United States
The southern United States is filled to the brim with picture-perfect main streets that often serve as lively epicenters of their towns. Whether it's the sandy roads of a small town in Florida or the heart of the BBQ scene in Lockhart, Texas, each of these communities is a cut above the rest and promises beauty in vastly different forms. In search of rarities and to give them the attention they deserve, here is a spotlight on southern US main streets that are as photogenic as they are full of character.
Lockhart, Texas
Tucked away in Caldwell County, and about an hour and a half from San Antonio, Lockhart carries the prestigious title of the "Barbecue Capital of Texas." Its name is no lie either, as Lockhart is home to four legendary BBQ locations right in the middle of town. To name just a few that are not on the main street, Black's Barbeque has been operating since the 1930s, and with the restaurant remaining in the hands of the same family for almost 95 years, plenty of time has passed while the quality hasn't dipped. Smitty's Market, on the other hand, is newer to the scene as it was founded in 1999, but it has managed to compete with the other three legends by virtue of its secret recipe for beans, its smoked pork chops, and sausage.
Several main streets, including North Colorado St, San Antonio St, and East Market St, run through the town. On North Colorado St, you will find Terry Black's Barbecue (another solid BBQ joint that is not to be confused with Black's Barbecue), and the third legendary BBQ spot by the name of Kreuz Market. Meanwhile, the Caldwell County Museum sits on the next street over on East Market Street. The museum is actually in the same location as the old 19th-century jail, and covers the county's and Lockhart's history, which includes tours and details on the origins of this BBQ town.
Natchitoches, Louisiana
Famed for its Antebellum architecture and as the state's oldest settlement, Natchitoches (pronounced Nak-a-Tish) sits comfortably around the small Cane River, with Washington Street (its main street) at its side. The numerous nearby bodies of water have given life to the willows and magnolia trees, giving a charm to the rest of the town's notable and historic spots. One of which is Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Historic Site, the birthplace of the town, recreated from the scholarly study of schematics left by the settlement's founder, Louis Antoine Juchereau de St. Denis. This lovely, popular fort is open for tours, events, and activities such as birding.
For those looking to tour both the main street and the Cane River next to it, the Cane River Queen Riverboat zooms up and down the lifeblood of Natchitoches. With seating up to 49 people, the riverboat is suitable for parties large and small, and is open to private rides and tours. Finally, Violet Hill Bed & Breakfast, 'The Crown Jewel of the Cane River Lake', is not just a B&B, but a luxury and historic experience. If resting in a 19th-century home that once belonged to an elite family of the town doesn't get one excited, then perhaps the breakfast will: a two-course meal with a choice between Louisiana Bread Pudding with warm maple sauce, or a Raspberry Croissant Bread Pudding topped with whipped cream. And then a second course with savory foods, like the popular Rolled Omelette with Canadian bacon and Pepper Jack, will help break the sweetness of the first course in a move that helps cement Violet Hill's culinary merit and fame on Natchitoches' main street.
Lake Worth Beach, Florida
Lake Worth Beach is a very small town facing the Atlantic and is only a few short miles away from West Palm Beach. Its location has afforded it golden sands and salty sea breezes, and it is home to two main streets, Lake Avenue and Lucerne Avenue. Lake Avenue connects to a smaller island off the mainland, and that smaller island is home to luxury resorts and beaches proper (with the main street there being South Ocean Blvd).
The town's namesake, Lake Worth Beach Park, sits on that extended island on South Ocean Blvd. With the sight of pale sands, surfers, and the deep blue ocean, Lake Worth Beach is recognized as the town's greatest appeal and attraction, but it perhaps shares the spotlight with the many storefronts with postcard views right on the shores. One such location is Benny's on the Beach, a cozy American-style breakfast and lunch spot directly on the beach. It is by no means a luxury restaurant, but a casual one where hungry visitors can grab a bite before heading back to the waters that make a prime Floridian beach experience.
Port Isabel, Texas
Having humble origins in the 1850s, Port Isabel is another wondrous beach town, but with a twist: it has its commitment to the beach, but also to the culinary arts, specifically, seafood. With the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America) neighboring it to the East, and the border with Mexico immediately to the South, it could be said that seafood was destined to be on the menu for Port Isabel. One of the main streets of this lovely seafood town is East Maxan Street, home to places like the Burger Shack and Beer Garden (with seafood burgers) and Joe's Oyster Bar. These destinations have become so well-known to beach-goers and seafood-loving travelers because they get their ingredients right from the Gulf. And while, truthfully, the entire town is filled with restaurants attempting to outdo each other with various dishes and styles of cooking, it leaves the hungry traveler with loads of options at top-notch quality.
While not on the main street, the Treasures of the Gulf Museum offers a genuine experience of the area's seafaring past after feasting on the denizens of the ocean. It even houses real artifacts of three sunken Spanish galleons that sank right off the coast. A true pirate museum through and through, the museum speaks to the other, more adventurous side of town that represents the gateway to the beach.
Tombstone, Arizona
Step back in time with this famous town straight out of the Old West. Tombstone may actually need no introduction: The famous gunfight outside the O.K. Corral with participants like Doc Holiday and Wyatt Earp versus the Clantons and the McLaurys has its legacies speak for themselves and for Tombstone. And while the only gunfights in Tombstone nowadays are staged, Tombstone, contrary to its name, is still a lively town that holds onto its past.
Tombstone's main streets are both East Allen Street and the old historic Highway 80, which once helped this Wild West town grow. Proof of this can be seen in the sheer number of attractions and shops along the once dusty trail meant for wagons and cowboys. For the morbidly curious, the Tombstone Boothill Gift Shop and Graveyard (on Highway 80) is there to satiate the need for Western apparel, Tombstone memorabilia, and to gaze at the graves of some of the West's most notorious residents. Lovers of the gunslinging past may also rejoice at the aforementioned O.K. Corral on East Allen, and while not on the main street, the Gunfighter Hall of Fame can find no better location than a town known for bullets, grit, and dead souls.
Goliad, Texas
Charming and discreet, Goliad's downtown center is around South Market Street and East Franklin Street. Right around there are most of the town's small shops and parks. The story behind this town and its claim to fame is twofold: on one hand, it is known for its charming preservation of its historic sites, and on the other, it is known because of the Goliad Massacre during the Texas Revolution. Despite that, the Goliad of today celebrates its unique place in history by preserving the Spanish Colonial era missions, as well as structures from the Texas Revolution and onward.
Along its main street, one can expect a picturesque view of Fannin Plaza and the mounted cannon used by Colonel James Fannin and his men during the Texas Revolution. And on the same street (South Market Street), is the tiny but welcoming Goliad Market House Museum, which has everything from old weaponry to old letters, typewriters, and antique farming equipment. The real show, however, is just beyond the downtown area. The Mission of Our Lady of the Holy Spirit of Zuniga is perhaps the most famous landmark in all of Goliad, along with Presidio La Bahia State Historic Park. On the grounds of both are placards telling of their respective history and the restored but authentic architecture from the 19th century and earlier. While the Mission of Our Lady of the Holy Spirit of Zuniga and the Presidio are not on the main streets of Goliad, their striking presence and fame alone make them a must-mention.
Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Few towns can hope to match the whimsical look of the colorful flowers of the Great Smoky Mountains found in Gatlinburg. Parkway is the main street and heart of this tiny town. Known for its amusements and natural beauty, Gatlinburg often seeks to capitalize on the land's features that have captivated people on this side of Appalachia. A perfect example of this is the Gatlinburg SkyPark (on Parkway, just outside of town), the largest pedestrian cable bridge in North America. The bridge is 1,800 feet above sea level and stretches about 700 feet across the valley.
Another amusement on Parkway is the Anakeesta theme park, which can provide an elevated dining experience in the mountains, and a pleasant or perhaps terrifying walk along the mountaintop that is 600 feet above downtown Gatlinburg. For those who feel like a little late-night adventure and like disturbing the spirits, there is also a tour and Ghost Walk of Gatlinburg that sees visitors go through various haunted sites, such as the 19th-century cemetery.
Finding a main street is common, but discovering one that is picture-perfect and truly deserving of attention is much more challenging. The towns highlighted here represent the very best of Tennessee, whether well-known or underrated, remote or close to civilization. What matters most is what these towns offer that sets them apart from others. Although each stunning main street may look vastly different from the next, they all evoke a sense of uniqueness and aesthetic pleasure.
