The Southern United States Best Small Towns for a Weekend Escape
The Southern United States is one of the best locations for a weekend escape. It offers everything from tropical beaches to world-class attractions. Many of these small towns also have significant historical sites and monuments.
There is also an abundance of outdoor activities for the nature lover. Mississippi is home to the mighty Mississippi River, and Florida is surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico and the expansive Atlantic Ocean. Here are the best small towns for a weekend escape in the Southern United States.
Oxford, Mississippi
Oxford, Mississippi, is considered the Cultural Mecca of the South. It is home to the University of Mississippi or Ole Miss and has also been home to famous literary figures. The most prominent writer who called Oxford home is William Faulkner. Several writers, including Willie Morris and John Grisham, have also written famous works in Oxford.
Downtown, there is a vibrant nightlife that centers around the square. The Square has been the town's cultural hub since 1837 and is home to the oldest department store in the South, Neilson's. It comes to life at night, especially at bars and restaurants like City Grocery on the weekend. The Graduate Oxford will put an exclamation point on your weekend escape. It is an elegant hotel located in the heart of the square.
Biloxi, Mississippi
Biloxi is known for its casino boats and southern charm on the Gulf Coast. The Biloxi Lighthouse illuminates Biloxi Beach along the Mississippi Sound. Once known as the "Seafood Capital of the World," there are now sunset sails on the Biloxi Schooners and many other opportunities to see the Mississippi Sound.
There are two entertainment districts where visitors can buy special go-cups and leave the restaurant with their drinks. One is in the historic district, which wraps around Back Bay, and the other is along the beach by Veterans Avenue. Many historical sites exist to explore, like the Beauvoir, the Jefferson Davis Home, and the Presidential Library.
Panama City Beach, Florida
Panama City Beach, or PCB, is a tropical Spring Break destination in the Florida Panhandle. The waterfront town is known for its miles of white sand beaches and nature preserves. St. Andrews is one such preserve and includes 1,200 acres of emerald green water, white sand beaches, and several varieties of birds. It is a prime destination for snorkelers and scuba divers.
Pier Park is the shopping epicenter, offering 124 stores, restaurants, and an IMAX Theatre. Margaritaville is one of the more popular restaurants, perfectly fitting the beach town atmosphere. Seafood is king along the Emerald Coast, and one of the best spots in PCB is the Back Porch Seafood and Oyster House.
Fernandina Beach, Florida
Fernandina Beach is a coastal town on Amelia Island in Northeast Florida, renowned for its commercial shrimping fleet. It has two historic districts: Old Town and Downtown. Old Town was the original site of Fernandina, and the Downtown area is a beautiful example of 19th—and 20th-century architecture.
The downtown area is the heart of Fernandina Beach. Blocks of brick and green-canopied storefronts intermingle with historic inns like the Florida House. Built in 1857, it is Florida's longest continually running bed and breakfast. Several festivals, like the Shrimp Festival and Dickens on Centre, are held yearly, making it a perfect time to visit.
Blue Ridge, Georgia
Blue Ridge is a small mountain town offering many outdoor adventures. It is the gateway to the Blue Ridge Mountains and home to the 106,000-acre Chattahoochee National Forest. There are over 300 miles of hiking trails, along with being the start of the Appalachian Trail. The breathtaking scenery and nature are why many people vacation here, but there are other attractions there, too.
The family-friendly Blue Ridge Adventure Park includes rope bridges and obstacle courses from 15 to 50 feet in the air. You can also catch a four-hour ride on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway. The train leaves the historic depot downtown and winds through 26 miles of stunning countryside and two towns, one in Tennessee and one in Georgia.
Helen, Georgia
Helen, Georgia, is a quaint town boasting Bavarian architecture and several vineyards. The alpine village downtown comprises Bavaian-style buildings, colorful buildings, shops, and authentic German cuisine wafting through the air. One such building is the Helen Arts and Heritage Center. The gallery includes pottery, acrylic paintings, and exhibits from local artists.
This quaint mountain town also offers plenty of outdoor adventures. You can float down the Chattahoochee River on an intertube, hike the numerous trails, and search for the area's most prominent waterfalls, like Horse Trough Falls. To complete your stay, book a room at the Alpine Village Inn. The Bavarian-style hotel exudes the town's unique atmosphere and is only a short distance from Ruby Falls.
Fredericksburg, Texas
Fredericksburg is in the Texas Hill Country, known for its wineries and German heritage. The Pioneer Museum has hundreds of exhibits about this heritage and video and audio virtual experiences. Another cultural attraction is the National Museum of the Pacific, dedicated to the memory of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, who grew up in Fredericksburg. The museum holds thousands of manuscripts and documents from World War ll and is a destination for history buffs and scholars.
Grape Creek Vineyards specializes in Italian and French varietals and has Tuscan-inspired tasting rooms. It is a great way to experience the wine heritage of central Texas. Along with the museums and wineries, there are outdoor attractions. Enchanted Rock State Park includes over eight miles of hiking trails, exhibits, and rock climbing. This is an ideal location to experience the natural scenery that makes up the Central Texas region.
Dripping Springs, Texas
Located in Central Texas, Dripping Springs is a popular traveler destination. The small town is a designated "Bird Town" and the wedding capital of Texas, with over 35 wedding venues. It is also a certified "Dark Sky Community" because of the stunning nighttime sky.
The town is named for the towering limestone waterfalls, particularly the historic Hamilton Pool Preserve. The preserve is near the Pedarnales River and spills over a 50-foot cliff. The preserve is one of the prettiest in Texas and never dries up, though the water flow slows to a trickle. There are dozens of hotels, inns, and restaurants in town, like Garbo's Lobster, especially on historic Mercer Street. Many of the town's first businesses were on Mercer Street, and the vintage storefronts remain today, along with thriving businesses.
Grand Isle, Louisiana
Louisiana is called the "Sportsman's Paradise," and Grand Isle is a prime example of why. This small town is on a thin barrier island known for various bird species and hiking trails inside Grand Isle State Park. The seven miles of idyllic beach are popular with visitors, and there are several entrance points and surf fishing spots.
Elmer's Island Refuge is on the Southwestern tip of the island and includes several fishing species, like trout and redfish, that are popular with anglers. Every Spring, Grand Isle hosts the Migratory Birding Festival, where participants can watch videos and access birding maps for the area. If nature and the beach are your idea of a weekend getaway, Grand Isle is the perfect destination.
Donaldsonville, Louisiana
Donaldsonville was briefly the capital of Louisiana from 1829 to 1831 and also where the first African American citizen, Pierre Caliste Landry, was elected mayor. The town is located where the Mississippi River meets Bayou Lafourche. The Historic District is on the West bank of the Mississippi River and comprises 50 blocks. The 640 buildings ranged from the mid-19th century to the 1930s.
There are many Queen Anne residences along with Italiante commercial buildings. The Lemann Store is the first example of Italiante architecture along the Mississippi River north of New Orleans. The best way to see Donaldsonville is on foot. The axial streets open up to Louisiana Square, and there are many Baroque-style buildings to gaze upon, including the original courthouse, built in the Romanesque Revival style.
The Southern United States is an ideal weekend getaway. Outdoor adventurers will love the fishing on Grand Isle and Fernandina Beach, Florida. History buffs will love the architecture and historical sites in Donaldsonville, Louisiana, and Oxford, Mississippi.
If you are looking for a romantic weekend destination, Fredericksburg and Dripping Springs in Texas are hard to beat. Along with the stunning natural landscape, these towns in Hill Country also contain several vineyards and wineries. These ten towns are charming and friendly and exude the best characteristics of the South.
