The South's Best Small Towns 2018

RX_1804 South's Best 2018_Small Towns Top 10_St. Augustine

Aiken. Oxford. Fairhope. St. Augustine. Even their names sound charming. Small towns in the South have their own beating hearts and their own unique traditions. Small Southern towns have neighbors who gather on front porches to drink sweet tea and watch the sun dip below the horizon. These tiny, tight communities have celebrations that everyone, both young and old, anticipate like parades, block parties, garden tours, and holiday markets. They are tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the big cities, and they're bursting with warmth, personality, and history. And while some of their selling points are the same– the tree lined cobblestone streets, an Instagram-worthy town square, a Main Street with a general store and an ice cream parlor–we promise these towns are wonderfully different. As we celebrate this year’s top ten winners, which were chosen by all of you, we recognize that some of these towns do have a lot in common. Some more than others. (Here’s looking at you Beaufort, South Carolina, and Beaufort, North Carolina.) But behind each winner are the people, from the shop owners to the homeowners, who create the real personality of the town. From St. Augustine, Florida, to Fairhope, Alabama, we’re celebrating the most spectacular small towns in the region and the communities that give them their true spirit. Never before was there a better time to plan a small town getaway in our region. Prepare to be enchanted.

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1. Aiken, South Carolina

Aiken, South Carolina

Peter Frank Edwards/Redux

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2. Fairhope, Alabama

Fairhope, Alabama

Photo: Benjamin Callahan

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3. Oxford, Mississippi

It’s no surprise that in William Faulkner’s hometown, “The past is never dead. It’s not even past.” At the writer’s estate, Rowan Oak, visitors can tour his home and see the grounds, which are still mostly untamed, as he preferred. Don’t miss a trip to Ne

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See The Winners

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4. Southport, North Carolina

Southport, North Carolina

Danita Delimont/Getty Images

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5. Williamsburg, Virginia

College of William and Mary

Dennis Johnson/Getty Images

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6. Beaufort, South Carolina

Beaufort, South Carolina

Robbie Caponetto

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7. Blowing Rock, North Carolina

Blowing Rock and Blue Ridge

Photo: Courtesy Amanda Lugenbell/Blowing Rock Tourism Development Authority

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Fredericksburg, Texas

Fredericksburg

Robbie Caponetto

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9. Beaufort, North Carolina

Beaufort

Charlotte Observer/Getty Images

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10. St. Augustine, Florida

The Bridhe of Lions Downtown Saint Augustine, Florida

John Coletti/Getty Images

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