The 11 Can't-Miss Towns In The Southern United States
There are a plethora of small towns with stunning natural, historic, and cultural attractions scattered across the southern United States. Factors like these help these particular towns to gain a higher popularity with visitors than other towns around them. Whether you are looking for scenic natural attributes, historic points of interest, or unique seasonal festivities, the towns below are extraordinary. From the charming town of Tybee Island, Georgia, to historic Eureka Springs, Arkansas, to the cultural town of Mount Airy, North Carolina, the eleven phenomenal small towns listed below are some of the best can’t-miss towns in all of the southern United States.
Fredericksburg, Texas
The town of Fredericksburg, located an hour north of San Antonio, features the National Museum of the Pacific War, which is dedicated to the full Pacific Theater of World War II. Fredericksburg also boasts a notable historic district with over eighty points of interest, like the Jail of 1885 and the Schandua House, which was built even before the jail.
Some natural aspects of Fredericksburg include Old Tunnel State Park and the Enchanted Rock State Natural Area. Old Tunnel State Park contains a 920-foot abandoned railroad tunnel. Between May and October, it is the perfect spot for watching up to three million Mexican free-tailed bats in flight. Enchanted Rock, home to a 425-foot pink granite dome, offers several great hiking trails, including the Loop Trail and the Summit Trail.
Beaufort, South Carolina
Just north of Hilton Head Island, the quaint town of Beaufort, South Carolina, hosts Hunting Island State Park. This phenomenal state park offers a range of activities, including swimming, sunbathing, hiking, fishing, and picnicking. With some stunning beaches, great hiking trails like the Diamondback Rattlesnake Trail and the Magnolia Forest Trail, and even camping options, Hunting Island State Park is a hidden haven along the Atlantic Coast.
The town of Beaufort offers numerous historic references, like the John Mark Verdier House, which was first built at the end of the 18th century, and the Beaufort National Cemetery. The Spanish Moss Trail runs through Beaufort. At approximately ten miles in length, this rails-to-trails greenway boasts a plethora of scenic finds, including the Mather Trestle, which spans Battery Creek.
Guntersville, Alabama
Guntersville, Alabama, includes Lake Guntersville State Park, which sits along the southeastern shores of Lake Guntersville, offering a range of water activities, including swimming, fishing, and boating, as well as hiking on the Cutchenmine or Waterfall Branch trails. Lake Guntersville State Park even features an 18-hole championship golf course and offers camping in various styles, including cabins, chalets, tents, or your own motorhome.
Some excellent locations in downtown Guntersville include the Guntersville Museum & Cultural Center, which began in 1936 as a military armory, and Whole Backstage Theater, founded by Dot Moore and now the oldest continually operated community theater in northern Alabama, is entirely funded through the generous support of its patrons.
Eureka Springs, Arkansas
In the northwest corner of Arkansas, the small town of Eureka Springs offers several natural attractions that draw people back year after year. From Onyx Cave Park, which has been popular since 1891, to Beaver Lake, one of the most beautiful lakes in this part of the state, nature is a key attribute of the town of Eureka Springs. Onyx Cave is also part of the Ozark Mountains, with numerous hiking trails like the Lake Leatherwood Trail.
Eureka Springs also features the Blue Springs Heritage Center. Along with a botanical garden, featuring over a mile of scenic trails that wind past gorgeous gardens like the Medicine Wheel Garden and Three Sisters Garden, Blue Springs is also home to a natural spring that pumps millions of gallons of water into its lagoon and then into the White River. They are also a wedding and event venue for those planning a special day.
Tybee Island, Georgia
Perhaps one of the most scenic locations along the East Coast, and certainly one of the most popular towns in the southern United States, the small town of Tybee Island boasts a plethora of excellent attractions that are well worth visiting, including several beaches like North Beach and Back River Beach. This phenomenal town is also home to Tybee Pier on Tybee Island Beach. This pier not only offers great fishing but also features a grand pavilion that extends a thousand feet into the waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
A couple of other awesome attractions in the town of Tybee Island, for guests who appreciate history, include the Tybee Island Lighthouse, the oldest (1773) and tallest (144 feet) lighthouse in Georgia, and the Fort Pulaski National Monument. Fort Pulaski played a significant role in the American Civil War in 1862 and now allows guests to experience life as a soldier during that time. The Tybee Island Lighthouse, accompanied by a museum, offers a breathtaking view of the Atlantic Ocean.
Natchez, Mississippi
Possibly one of the most historic places in the state of Mississippi, Natchez, which began as Fort Rosalie in 1716, boasts numerous buildings that were built before the turn of the 19th century and still stand. These include 1858 Magnolia Hall, 1859 Longwood, and 1803 Gloucester Mansion. King’s Tavern, located in downtown Natchez and now closed, was built in the 18th century and is the oldest structure in the town.
Natchez, Mississippi, includes the Natchez Trace Parkway and Bluff Park, for those who wish to commune with natural attributes. While Bluff Park in downtown Natchez offers views of the Mississippi River, the Natchez Trace Parkway spans 444 miles, running from Natchez to Nashville, Tennessee. First established in 1938 to follow the migration of the American bison, this parkway is a beautiful way to experience nature.
Mount Airy, North Carolina
Close to the southern Virginia border, the town of Mount Airy features the Andy Griffith Museum, as well as Floyd’s Barbershop and a replica of the Mayberry Courthouse. On top of all that, Mount Airy is also home to the 1938 Earle Theater, the 1903 Gertrude Smith House, and Mount Airy’s Museum of Regional History, making this town one of the most historic locales in northern North Carolina.
If you prefer nature to history, Mount Airy also contains Riverside Park, which follows the Ararat River, offering some excellent fishing, as well as access to the Granite City Greenway. Eight miles in length, the greenway provides stops at several different parks, including Lowry Pocket Park and Carlos Jones Pocket Park, both within the town of Mount Airy.
Natchitoches, Louisiana
The picturesque town of Natchitoches, an hour south of Shreveport, offers several unique attractions, including Kaffie-Frederick General Mercantile Store and the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. The sports hall of fame on the western bank of Cane River, features famous inductees like Archie Manning and Carl Maddox. The Kaffie-Frederick General Mercantile Store, which was first established in 1863, is now the oldest mercantile store in the entire state.
Natchitoches also has several natural attractions that make it well worth the trip, including the National Fish Hatchery & Aquarium, which opened in 1931 and is the only federal fish hatchery in Louisiana. The Gator Country Louisiana Alligator Park is also just outside Natchitoches. If one of your bucket list items is to feed a live Alligator, this is the place to go.
Bardstown, Kentucky
Bardstown, Kentucky, two hours north of Nashville, Tennessee, hosts a variety of vineyards, wineries, and distilleries, including Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience, Lux Row Distiller, and McIntyre’s Winery. They also have the Oscar Getz Museum of Bourbon History in downtown Bardstown, which features over 1,500 rare bottles of whiskey collected over the last four decades.
Some of the more interesting attractions in Bardstown that do not relate to the creation of alcohol include the Old Bardstown Village Civil War Museum, honoring those who gave their lives during the American Civil War, especially those who resided in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Mississippi, and My Old Kentucky Home. This state park just celebrated the 200th anniversary of the completion of the Federal Hill mansion.
Mount Dora, Florida
Just east of Lake Eustis and northeast of Lake Dora, the quaint town of Mount Dora is a natural haven of attributes that would please even the toughest outdoor critic. From Trimble Park, Gilbert Park, and Lighthouse Park, all on the banks of Lake Dora, to Nunan Butterfly Garden and Long & Scott Farms, there is something for everyone in Mount Dora. Long & Scott Farms even has a Country Cafe, which features several delicacies, like hand-spun milkshakes.
Mount Dora also has a historic thread for those who love to learn about the past, such as the Historical Society Museum, the Modernism Museum, the Sydonie Mansion, built in 1883 and remodeled in 1903-1904, and the Donnelly House. The Donnelly House, a Victorian mansion built just before the turn of the 20th century, is also said to be haunted by several sources.
Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Below Pigeon Forge and above the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the town of Gatlinburg has a plethora of excellent attractions that make it one of the premier vacation spots for the entire family. With two of the most popular amusement theme parks in the area, SkyLift Park, featuring the record-setting SkyBridge, SkyTrail, SkyDeck, and chairlift, and Anakeesta, with its spectacular Firefly Village, Gatlinburg is a great destination for all ages.
The town of Gatlinburg also features Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, which is conveniently located downtown. Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies has over 10,000 exotic sea creatures, with 300-plus different species, including sharks, horseshoe crabs, clownfish, and stingrays. They even have some other excellent attributes, like educational programs and interactive exhibits, such as Ocean Realm, Shark Lagoon, and the Tropical Rainforest.
Final Overview
The southern United States, including states like Louisiana, Tennessee, and Georgia, has so many places and locales that will take one’s breath away, literally. From feeding an alligator in Gator Country, Louisiana Alligator Park in Natchitoches, Louisiana, to watching the flight of thousands of bats in Fredericksburg, Texas, the sights that can be seen across this particular region of America will throw you for a loop, especially within these eleven can’t-miss towns in the southern United States.
