The South’s Prettiest Towns 2018

The South is full of small towns, packed with charm and nestled in enchanting scenery.

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Southern Living Editors

There’s not just one thing that makes the South so beautiful. It’s the breathtaking mountain vistas, beaches that belong in a screensaver, fields of wildflowers that stretch to the horizon, iconic desert landscapes in Texas, and marshes that look like a movie set. Whether you’re a lake person or a beach person, prefer the mountains or wide-open plains, the South is full of small towns, filled with charm, nestled among such enchanting scenery. From tropical Key West, Florida, to mountainous Cashiers, North Carolina, our small towns are hidden gems, populated by friendly faces and plenty of reasons to stay longer than a quick pit stop. In Franklin, Tennessee, you can check out a few of its 70 shops (all within 16 blocks) while escaping the bustle of Nashville. In Madison, Georgia, you can witness the power of tireless historic preservation efforts and take in the glory of old Southern architecture—from Greek Revival to Victorian, this town showcases all the great architectural styles. The list doesn’t end there. Read on for more of the South’s prettiest small towns—chosen by you.

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See The Winners

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2 of 26 Photo: Courtesy Amanda Lugenbell/Blowing Rock Tourism Development Authority

1. Blowing Rock, North Carolina

3 of 26 Peter Frank Edwards/Redux

2. Aiken, South Carolina

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4 of 26 Courtesy of The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel

3. Sanibel, Florida

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5 of 26 The University of the South

4. Sewanee, Tennessee

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6 of 26 Photo: Benjamin Callahan

5. Fairhope, Alabama

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7 of 26 Stacy Redmon

6. Cashiers, North Carolina

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8 of 26 Robbie Caponetto

7. Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina

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9 of 26 Danita Delimont/Getty Images

8. Southport, North Carolina

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10 of 26 Robbie Caponetto

9. Beaufort, South Carolina

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11 of 26 Courtesy of Madison CVB

10. Madison, Georgia

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12 of 26 Robbie Caponetto

11. Beech Mountain, North Carolina

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13 of 26 Dennis Johnson/Getty Images

12. Williamsburg, Virginia

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14 of 26 Courtesy Josh Gibson/Orient Express

13. St. Michaels, Maryland

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15 of 26 Courtesy of Jekyll Island Authority

14. Jekyll Island, Georgia

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16 of 26 Peter Frank Edwards

15. Middleburg, Virginia

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17 of 26 Charlotte Observer/Getty Images

16. Beaufort, North Carolina

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18 of 26 Robbie Caponetto

17. Mentone, Alabama

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19 of 26 Southern Living

18. Eureka Springs, Arkansas

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20 of 26 Courtesy of The Moorings Village

19. Islamorada, Florida

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21 of 26 Wolfgang Kaehler/Getty Images

20. Hendersonville, North Carolina

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22 of 26 Robbie Caponetto

21. Key West, Florida

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23 of 26 Courtesy Universal Images Group/Getty Images

22. Franklin, Tennessee

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24 of 26 Peter Frank Edwards/Redux

23. Charlottesville, Virginia

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25 of 26 Sean Taylor/EyeEm/Getty Images

24. Brevard, North Carolina

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26 of 26 Robbie Caponetto

25. Fernandina Beach, Florida

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