Skip to content

Top Navigation

Southern Living Southern Living
  • Food and Recipes
  • Culture and Lifestyle
  • Style
  • Holidays & Occasions
  • Home
  • Gardening Ideas
  • News
  • Video

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living Books this link opens in a new tab
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Southern Living

Southern Living Southern Living
  • Explore

    Explore

    • The Best New Haircuts to Try in 2022

      The Best New Haircuts to Try in 2022

      Here are the haircuts you'll be seeing everywhere this year. Read More
    • How To Season a Cast-Iron Skillet

      How To Season a Cast-Iron Skillet

      Learn how to season this Southern kitchen staple. Read More
    • 50 Thoughtful Messages for a Meaningful Thank You Note

      50 Thoughtful Messages for a Meaningful Thank You Note

      Not sure what to write in a thank you card? Here's how to show your gratitude with a handwritten note. Read More
  • Food and Recipes

    Food and Recipes

    See All Food and Recipes
    4 Easy Ways to Tell if an Egg Has Gone Bad

    4 Easy Ways to Tell if an Egg Has Gone Bad

    It’s not all in the senses, but they sure can help.
    • Recipes
    • Quick and Easy Dinner
    • Kitchen Assistant
    • Casserole
    • Holiday and Occasion Food
    • Slow Cooker Recipes
    • Desserts
    • Healthy and Light
    • Side Dishes
    • Party Food and Drink
    • Appetizers
    • Meat
    • Breakfast
    • BBQ
    • Drinks
    • What's Cooking
  • Culture and Lifestyle

    Culture and Lifestyle

    See All Culture and Lifestyle
    70 Cute and Funny Nicknames For Your Best Friends

    70 Cute and Funny Nicknames For Your Best Friends

    Let your besties know how much they mean to you with one of these unique nicknames.
    • Quotes and Sayings
    • Biscuits and Jam Podcast
    • Travel
    • Pets
    • Healthy Living
    • Coastal Living
  • Style

    Style

    See All Style
    The Coziest Winter Nail Colors for January 2022

    The Coziest Winter Nail Colors for January 2022

    The beginning of a new year often has us all feeling like starting off fresh by taking on better habits, getting rid of old ones, and—most commonly—changing up our look. While others are hitting the squats and going into the salon for a pixie cut, why not start slow and steady with a cozy winter manicure in a color that feels new to you? It takes only a little courage to step outside your usual OPI Lincoln Park After Dark or Essie Bordeaux, which is all you need to kick 2022 off on a fanciful foot.  From new wintry takes on classic dark nail colors to unique pops of color that'll have you feeling the opposite of boring, these are the best nail colors to try this January and tick off all the way into spring. 
    • Beauty
    • Hair
    • Fashion
    • Short Hairstyles
    • Nails
    • Medium Hairstyles
    • Skincare
    • Long Hairstyles
  • Holidays & Occasions

    Holidays & Occasions

    See All Holidays & Occasions
    • Thanksgiving
    • Gifts
    • Christmas
    • Mother's Day
    • Hanukkah
    • New Year's
    • Easter
    • Mardi Gras
    • 4th of July
    • Weddings
  • Home

    Home

    See All Home
    16 Kitchen Design Trends Southern Designers Predict Will Be Everywhere in 2022

    16 Kitchen Design Trends Southern Designers Predict Will Be Everywhere in 2022

    There's no denying how the pandemic fundamentally changed the world—including how we live (and work) inside our homes. An overall trend toward celebrating the history and originality of our homes is displacing ultramodern aesthetics and sharp lines as we all look to create cozier, colorful, more personalized spaces that better suit our lifestyles. We're turning away from big-box stores and toward vintage items—first, out of necessity due to supply-chain issues, and now, for design reasons—to add charm and character to every room in the house, including the kitchen. Here, interior designers from around the South share their predictions for what's trending in kitchen design for 2022 and beyond.
    • Home Decor Ideas
    • Idea Houses
    • Kitchen Design
    • Before & After Photos
    • Bathroom Design
    • Curb Appeal
    • Bedroom Design
    • DIY Home Decor
    • Color Palettes & Paint
    • House Plans & Builders
    • Inspired Communities
  • Gardening Ideas

    Gardening Ideas

    See All Gardening Ideas
    If You Keep Finding Ladybugs in Your House, Here's What You Need to Know

    If You Keep Finding Ladybugs in Your House, Here's What You Need to Know

    Plus a few strategies for keeping them out-of-doors
    • Container Gardening
    • Gardening Flowers
    • Fruit, Vegetable & Herb Gardens
    • Garden Pests
    • Plant Guides A-Z
    • Indoor Plants
    • Fall Plants
    • Landscaping Ideas
    • The Grumpy Gardener
  • News

    News

    See All News
    • Celebrities
    • Local News
  • Video

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living Books this link opens in a new tab
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Southern Living
  2. Travel
  3. South's Best Small Towns

South's Best Small Towns

Southern Living May 2021 Cover
By Southern Living Editors
Skip gallery slides
FB
Middleburg, Virginia
Credit: Peter Frank Edwards

Our best small towns have a lot in common, whether they're mountaintop or beachside or somewhere in between. One of the best small towns in North Carolina, Highlands, has fewer than 1,000 residents year-round—but no shortage of character, gorgeous mountain scenery, and interesting shops and galleries. You could say something similar about tiny Breaux Bridge, Louisiana; Floyd, Virginia; or Rock Hall, Maryland, on the Chesapeake Bay. The South's best small towns are loaded with character and charm, often because they've worked hard at historic preservation. They have interesting arts communities or lots of locally owned boutiques and galleries—or all of the above. They're the kind of places that locals are proud of because they're great communities. And those happy residents are eager to share their towns with visitors, who reap the rewards of a warm welcome. On your next getaway, take a spin on the dance floor in Luckenbach, Texas, or watch the sunset at Fernandina Beach, Florida. A good time will be had by all.

Start Slideshow

1 of 20

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Fairhope, Alabama

Fairhope, Alabama
Credit: Getty Images

You have to tip your hat to a place that considers its municipal pier the "town square." That's the charm of this bayside burg, originally founded as a utopian society in the late 19th century. Fairhope's knack for creative thinking is reflected in the many artists and authors who call it home and the galleries that dominate downtown. beautifulfairhope.com

1 of 20

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 20

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Florence, Alabama

Florence, Alabama
Credit: David McClister

This great old college town on the edge of the Tennessee River oozes creativity, from hometown heroes W.C. Handy (the father of blues) and legendary record producer Sam Phillips to contemporary designers Billy Reid and Natalie Chanin. Experience the town's creative vibe during First Friday sidewalk art shows or by perusing renowned galleries such as ARTifacts. Wander through one of Frank Lloyd Wright's most iconic designs at the Rosenbaum House. Just down the road is Muscle Shoals, home of FAME Studios, where Aretha Franklin recorded "I Never Loved a Man" (her first big hit), Wilson Pickett recorded "Mustang Sally," and Etta James recorded "Tell Mama." Today, it's a magnet for young Southern bands attracted by its storied pedigree. visitflorenceal.com

2 of 20

3 of 20

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Fernandina Beach, Florida

Fernandina Beach, Florida
Credit: Imke Lass

Stroll the palm-lined Centre Street, which stretches all the way from historic downtown Fernandina to the harbor, and you'll see what makes this small town on Amelia Island so spectacular: boutiques galore, Le Cordon Bleu-trained chefs, and a watering hole fit for a Norman Rockwell painting (Palace Saloon). Did we mention the beach? www.AmeliaIsland.com 

3 of 20

Advertisement

4 of 20

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Madison, Georgia

Madison, Georgia
Credit: Van Jones Martin

Good luck finding a more Gone with the Wind town than Madison, which Union General William Tecumseh Sherman spared. (Did he really think it was "too pretty to burn," or was he just doing a favor for an old West Point classmate? Choose your mythology.) Madison has one of the largest historic districts in the state of Georgia, complete with the requisite antebellum plantations, beautifully restored, and a pedestrian-friendly downtown filled with shops and eateries. madisonga.com  

4 of 20

5 of 20

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Bardstown, Kentucky

Bardstown, Kentucky
Credit: Gary Clark

Five of the country's most storied bourbon distilleries call Bardstown home, making the small town of 11,240 the "Bourbon Capital of the World." Sure, you'll come for the spirits, but you'll stay for the picturesque town square, lined with antique shops, boutiques, and restaurants dishing up Southern delicacies. visitbardstown.com 

5 of 20

6 of 20

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Breaux Bridge, Louisiana

Breaux Bridge, Louisiana
Credit: Robbie Caponetto

A tiny bayou town just a short hop from Lafayette, Breaux Bridge is not only the "Crawfish Capital of the World," per the Louisiana legislature, but lays claim to having invented crawfish etouffee. It's in the heart of Acadian Louisiana, with all the fantastic food and music that entails. Cajun dancers have been two-stepping and waltzing around the beautiful old dance floor at La Poussiere since 1955. On Saturdays, Café des Amis serves a Zydeco breakfast with live music downtown, where we go antiquing and visit locally owned shops.

6 of 20

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 20

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Natchitoches, Louisiana

Natchitoches, Louisiana
Credit: Robbie Caponetto

Natchitoches is the state's oldest town, settled by the French in 1714. Local historians swear this is where New Orleans got the idea for all that wrought iron in the French Quarter. Judging by the facades along Front Street, which predates the French Quarter, we believe them. The Steel Magnolias tour is a must for fans of the 1989 tearjerker, which was filmed here. natchitoches.com  

7 of 20

8 of 20

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Berlin, Maryland

Berlin, Maryland

Berlin (pronounced BURL-un) is so danged picturesque that Runaway Bride was filmed here, and if it's good enough for Julia Roberts . . . Historic red-bricked buildings dominate downtown, which is packed to the gills with boutiques and eclectic restaurants. The beach isn't far, and the town even has its own signature dessert—the peach dumpling. berlinmainstreet.com

8 of 20

9 of 20

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Rock Hall, Maryland

Rock Hall, Maryland
Credit: Jessica Nelson

Known as the "Pearl of the Chesapeake," Rock Hall sits directly on the upper eastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay, offering the quintessential Bay experience. Working fishing boats and pleasure cruisers fill the harbor; steamed crab is available everywhere; and you can even watch regattas just beyond the harbor. rockhallmd.com

9 of 20

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 20

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Ocean Springs, Mississippi

Ocean Springs, Mississippi
Credit: Getty Images

The food shouldn't be this good in a town of just 17,000, but you'll have more than 100 restaurants to choose from, many of which mix the nearby Gulf's bounty with the town's French influence (it was founded by the French in 1699). Ocean Springs has one of the prettiest downtowns in the South, with local shops, galleries, and restaurants lining Washington Avenue and Government Street and coastal architecture shaded by towering live oaks—all this plus the Gulf Islands National Seashore and a soaring pedestrian bridge crossing the bay into Biloxi. oceanspringschamber.com

10 of 20

11 of 20

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Oxford, Mississippi

Mississippi: Oxford
Credit: Robbie Caponetto

William Faulkner's serene and stately home, Rowan Oak, is reason enough to visit, but the turnip greens at Ajax Diner or fried catfish at City Grocery are also worth the trip to Oxford. James Beard-winning chef John Currence has a number of restaurants here. Oxford's historic Town Square is filled restaurants, bars, galleries, and boutiques. Time your visit to coincide with an Ole Miss home game, and you'll see tailgating elevated to an art in The Grove. (But you'll want to book that hotel room several years in advance.) visitoxfordms.com

11 of 20

12 of 20

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Jefferson City, Missouri

Jefferson City, Missouri

The architecture in this state capital is stunning, with the capitol building, Supreme Court building, and Governor's Mansion anchoring the historic downtown (not to mention one of the state's most historic ice cream parlors). The 240-mile Katy Trail runs through town along the Missouri River, and Missouri's wine country is just beyond the city limits. downtownjeffersoncity.com 

12 of 20

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 20

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Highlands, North Carolina

Highlands, North Carolina
Credit: Peter Frank Edwards

Highlands is a retreat in every sense of the word. Less than 1,000 people live year-round in this mountain town, which has perfected the art of relaxation, from the plush digs at Old Edwards Inn to the impressive number of fine dining options (we like the innovative Cypress International). Downtown is lined with upscale boutiques and galleries, all of which sit within striking distance of some of North Carolina's most dramatic peaks and rivers. highlandschamber.org

13 of 20

14 of 20

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Beaufort, South Carolina

Beaufort, South Carolina
Credit: Robbie Caponetto

This 300-year-old coastal town is rich with antebellum architecture, most of which is framed by moss-draped live oaks. But the town isn't stuck in the past, thanks to a progressive food scene, which has spawned a renewed oyster industry, and an active population that makes the most of the surrounding rivers, islands, and beaches. beaufortsc.org

14 of 20

15 of 20

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Landrum, South Carolina

Landrum, South Carolina
Credit: Art Meripol

Downtown Landrum has plenty of small-town charm. Antique shops with brick storefronts fill the center of town, while a restored train depot gives a sense of the town's past. But you have to explore the surrounding foothills to appreciate the beauty of Landrum. Take a drive through South Carolina's horse country, cruising through rolling horse pastures hemmed by white farm fences, then hit downtown and refuel at the Hound and Hare. cityoflandrumsc.com 

15 of 20

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 20

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Luckenbach, Texas

Luckenbach, Texas
Credit: Jody Horton

A saloon/general store and a dance hall—that's all there is to Luckenbach, and yet the town has become a symbol for Texas cool, thanks to its ties to country music lore and recordings by Willie Nelson, Jerry Jeff Walker, and Waylon Jennings. You can still catch live country music most weekends, and locals contend this is the best dance hall in the entire state (though they might get an argument from the folks in Gruene). luckenbachtexas.com

16 of 20

17 of 20

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Marfa, Texas

Marfa, Texas

Situated on a highland desert plain with the Davis Mountains to the north, Big Bend National Park to the south, and the Chisos and Chinati Mountains to the southeast and southwest, respectively, Marfa is West Texas. (The James Dean-Rock Hudson-Elizabeth Taylor classic Giant was shot here.) Maybe it's the starkly dramatic landscape and huge sky that attract so many creative people. This little town is home to such art installations as the famous Prada Marfa (a fake Prada store), as well as contemporary art at the renowned Chinati Foundation created by artist Donald Judd, and many other galleries. You'll also find upscale tee-pees for rent and handmade everything, from furniture to cowboy boots. Not bad for a town with a population of just 1,900. visitmarfa.com 

17 of 20

18 of 20

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Floyd, Virginia

Floyd, Virginia
Credit: Cheryl Zibisky

You've got the mountains rising from all sides of town, the Blue Ridge Parkway running north and south, and all of the old time, bluegrass music you could ask for. A stop on The Crooked Road, Virginia's Heritage Music Trail, Floyd takes its farm-centric roots and adds a touch of artistic whimsy. Show up for the Friday Night Jamboree at the Floyd Country Store to see the town at its finest. visitfloydva.com

18 of 20

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 20

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Middleburg, Virginia

Middleburg, Virginia
Credit: Peter Frank Edwards

Horse country rolls away from Middleburg's tiny downtown, broken only by the occasional Federal-style estate. Eventually, the green pastures give way to the Blue Ridge Mountains on the horizon. This is serious Hunt Country, so expect to see locals fresh off the trail in places like the Red Fox Inn & Tavern (established 1728), the Red Horse Tavern, and Journeymen Saddlers. middleburgonline.com

19 of 20

20 of 20

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Shepherdstown, West Virginia

Shepherdstown, West Virginia
Credit: Getty Images

Shepherdstown has everything you'd expect from a small Southern town—a historic downtown, centuries-old homes converted into B&Bs, and Southern fare made from scratch. But it also has some surprises up its sleeve—like art in spades. You'll find performances from Shepherdstown's own theater troupe, galleries brimming with local and regional art, and a vibrant live music scene—everything from street performers to a chamber orchestra. shepherdstown.info 

20 of 20

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Southern Living Editors

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 20 Fairhope, Alabama
    2 of 20 Florence, Alabama
    3 of 20 Fernandina Beach, Florida
    4 of 20 Madison, Georgia
    5 of 20 Bardstown, Kentucky
    6 of 20 Breaux Bridge, Louisiana
    7 of 20 Natchitoches, Louisiana
    8 of 20 Berlin, Maryland
    9 of 20 Rock Hall, Maryland
    10 of 20 Ocean Springs, Mississippi
    11 of 20 Oxford, Mississippi
    12 of 20 Jefferson City, Missouri
    13 of 20 Highlands, North Carolina
    14 of 20 Beaufort, South Carolina
    15 of 20 Landrum, South Carolina
    16 of 20 Luckenbach, Texas
    17 of 20 Marfa, Texas
    18 of 20 Floyd, Virginia
    19 of 20 Middleburg, Virginia
    20 of 20 Shepherdstown, West Virginia

    Share & More

    Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print
    Southern Living

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • About Us
    • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
    • Books from Southern Living
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    MeredithSouthern Living is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2022 Meredith Corporation. Southern Living is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporationthis link opens in a new tab All Rights Reserved. Southern Living may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright Southern Living. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.southernliving.com

    Sign in

    View image

    South's Best Small Towns
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.