The South's Best Small Towns 2022

This artsy community has a red-brick downtown that you'll want to explore. Hop on a historic walking tour or self-guided jaunt, and be sure to stop into the museums, studios, and galleries (like Lee Street Studios, Cooper Gallery, and Harmony Ridge) along the way. There's lots to explore in the Greenbrier Valley, so keep your eyes peeled: You're never far from verdant landscapes and dramatic sunsets over wide open spaces.

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This picturesque small town is located on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, and it has an incredibly charming downtown packed with restaurants where you can enjoy fresh Chesapeake catches, art galleries for browsing exciting local work, and shops for browsing fine clothing and jewelry. Don't miss Storm & Daughters Ice Cream for a delectable cone.

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Pawhuska, Oklahoma, is a place with a deep history, some of which you can see at first glance. Many of the downtown buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the town is the headquarters of the Osage Nation. It's home to the Osage Nation Museum as well as natural wonders like the Joseph H. Williams Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, the largest protected tallgrass prairie on the continent. Don't forget to stop into The Pioneer Woman Mercantile when you're in town.

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A tiny town located north of Baton Rouge along the Mississippi River, St. Francisville is a don't-blink-or-you'll-miss-it stop. Several sites in the area, including the Historic District downtown, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. St. Francisville is a stone's throw from Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge and Tunica Hills Wildlife Management Area, where you can go horseback riding and hiking.

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On the north side of Lake Pontchartrain is Covington, Louisiana, a small-town hub with a fun downtown that includes boutiques and restaurants. Don't miss Abita Roasting Co. and nearby Abita Brewing Co., Columbia Street Taproom and Grill, and Lola. The town is situated at a fork in the Bogue Falaya and the Tchefuncte River, which means there are plenty of places to launch a kayak.

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Lewes prides itself on being a walkable town, so be sure to pack your most comfortable shoes when you visit. You'll have access to museums, inns, bed and breakfasts, restaurants, and a historic district packed with architecture made for marveling. It's located on Delaware Bay, Cape Henlopen, and the Atlantic, which makes for natural wonders including beaches and bird sanctuaries. Plan trips to Cape Henlopen State Park, Lewes Beach, and the the Zwaanendael Museum during your visit.

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Wetumpka is located in the center of the state, just north of Montgomery. It's known as "The City of Natural Beauty," and it's easy to see why. Visitors love canoeing and kayaking on the nearby Coosa River and enjoying the green spaces in the area on walks and picnics. Don't miss Swayback Bridge Trail (for hiking), Corn Creek Park (for birding, fishing, and waterfall watching), and William Bartram Arboretum (to see local flora and fauna).

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Families flock to LaGrange because it's an inviting town with opportunities to hear great music and take in ballets, museum exhibitions, and sports events as well as experience the great outdoors. There are also several great wineries that will appeal to the over-21 crowd. Nearby Callaway Gardens provides a spot for golfing, biking, and participating in educational programs, including free-flighted birds of prey shows presented with the permission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

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Travelers love Travelers Rest, South Carolina. It's a breezy small town located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and it has lots to recommend it. From biking the Prisma Health System Swamp Rabbit Trail to hiking the hills in search of views, there's never a dull moment in the Palmetto State outdoors. Fun boutiques for browsing and several great restaurants for ordering memorable meals round out the in-town offerings.

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This river town is found where the Tennessee and Ohio rivers meet. Paducah is a vibrant creative city that has been named a UNESCO Creative City in honor of its history and industry of craft and folk art. It's noted for its galleries, festivals, arts centers, and museums (including the engaging National Quilt Museum), all of which invite visitors to get involved, get creative, and appreciate art in new ways.

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This equestrian town looks like something from a postcard. Home to the Aiken Horse Show, which has been running for over a century, it's a place where you can saddle up and go for a trail ride, get cozy in gracious inns and bed-and-breakfasts, and enjoy the general splendor of the landscape. There's also the Aiken Art Annex; Boyd Pond; Aiken Arboretum Trail; Center for African American History, Arts, and Culture; Hitchcock Woods; Henderson Heritage Preserve; DuPont Planetarium—we could go on and on. Hop aboard an electric bike rental, or take your seat on an Aiken trolley tour for an introduction to the town.

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Welcoming Decatur, Georgia, has a walkable downtown packed with restaurants that will entice you to extend your visit a while longer. Don't miss The Iberian Pig, The Deer and the Dove, Chai Pani, No. 246, Revival, and The White Bull for meals to remember. Any time of day, take a long and leisurely jaunt to browse the shops and parks peppered throughout the town, particularly in the fantastic central square.

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Natchez is located along the Mississippi River, and it makes the most of the rambling waters that border it. Take a walk along the Natchez Trail for nature views, or launch into a waterway to see the sights up close. It's one of the best paddling towns in the state, and there are lots of guided tours on offer that will take you through the area's picturesque swamps, creeks, and lakes.

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This tiny town in Middle Tennessee is situated along the Harpeth River and Dobbins Branch. Find in its downtown great restaurants and spots for browsing antiques and sipping wine. Don't miss breakfast at The Country Boy; a leisurely tour at Leipers Fork Distillery; and lots of inspiring art at Copper Fox Gallery, David Arms Gallery, and Leipers Creek Gallery.

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Florida's Atlantic Coast has lots to recommend it, including relaxed beach towns with rich histories. North of Miami and West Palm Beach is one such spot: Stuart is located on the St. Lucie River and has in its downtown The House of Refuge at Gilbert's Bar, a turn-of-the-century haunt for shipwrecked sailors. Don't miss the town's heritage museum to learn about local history, and then get outdoors, either on the beach or in parks such as Seabranch Preserve State Park and St. Lucie Inlet Preserve State Park.

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Along the southern end of North Carolina's coast—in a stretch known as the Crystal Coast—is a walkable and bikeable small town that invites you to relax and stay awhile. The fishing village of Beaufort is filled with waterfront wonders, cute cottages, a winning boardwalk, lovely shops, and a bevy of nautical scenes, including Atlantic sunrises and boat masts bobbling along the water.

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This Texas Hill Country treasure blends its German roots and contemporary Texas traditions seamlessly. When you visit Fredericksburg, you can enjoy biergartens (including Altdorf Biergarten and The Auslander) and German food and architecture alongside Texas barbecue and a host of local wineries (more than 100 and counting!). The town's bustling Main Street and museums always offer up something new to discover.

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One of the most charming small towns in the state of Alabama is located on Mobile Bay, and it's a laid-back getaway destination that will invite you to breathe a little deeper. In Fairhope, you can bike oak-lined sidewalks, see watercolor sunsets, and browse inspired shops, including Page & Palette bookstore and other businesses in the town's French Quarter near the water. Explore the piers and meander the parks and beaches—there's so much to enjoy on the bay.

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No visit here is complete without spending time at Colonial Williamsburg, a living history museum where visitors get a glimpse of life in the America of centuries past, but what's happening in contemporary Williamsburg is just as interesting. It's a bustling community with a big roster of things to do and places to explore. Don't miss sandwiches at The Cheese Shop; the boutiques and taprooms at Merchants Square; and brews from Precarious Beer Project, Amber Ox Public House, and The Virginia Beer Co.

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Located on Port Royal Island along the South Carolina coast between Hilton Head Island and Charleston is a Lowcountry gem studded with moss-hung oaks. Beaufort is full of coastal charm and is home to the Pat Conroy Literary Center, Penn Center, and Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park. Go kayaking, paddling, boating, and fishing along the area waterways, or explore on foot. You can also lace up and bike or walk the Spanish Moss Trail, which connects Beaufort and Port Royal as it runs along the Whale Branch River, to see the small-town sights.

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