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 in five easy steps. 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 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. The 17 Best Small Towns in the South for a Romantic Getaway

The 17 Best Small Towns in the South for a Romantic Getaway

By Perri Ormont Blumberg
Skip gallery slides
FB
Greenwood, Mississippi
Credit: Courtesy The Focus Group MS

Love is in the air, mountains, beaches, and candle-lit dinners at these incredible locales sprinkled across the South. 

Start Slideshow

1 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Pack your bags!

1 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
Credit: Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism

Replicate the puppy love thrill of a classic carnival ride spin at The Great Smoky Mountain Wheel. It's a well-deserved rest for your tired limbs (and one heck of a view) after a hike on one of the Smokies' trails. To pamper those aforementioned limbs, book a couple's massage at the St.Somewhere Spa at the Margaritaville Island Hotel. Hungry? Dinner pour deux is served at the Local Goat, where the chocolate peanut butter pie will be a talking point for years to come.

2 of 18

3 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Beaufort, North Carolina

Beaufort, North Carolina
Credit: Courtesy The Zimmerman Agency

See wild horses like never before with a kayak or stand-up paddleboard outing with Beaufort Paddle, before satiating your appetite with a guided culinary tour with Hungry Town Tours. Cap off your evening with a toast at a waterfront cafe before retreating to your B&B, like Victorian-style Pecan Tree Inn or the Inn on Turner, complete with a lush garden-side fire pit.

3 of 18

Advertisement

4 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Williamsburg, Virginia

Williamsburg, Virginia
Credit: The Williamsburg Inn

The history, the architecture, the welcoming locals; it's easy to fall in love all over again in this classic American town founded in 1638. Treat yourself to a Sugar "Kiss" Manicure/Pedicure at The Spa of Colonial Williamsburg or a horse-drawn carriage ride around town before tucking into your room at the Williamsburg Inn. P.S. If you can time your stay, may we suggest the Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra for a night with Beethoven or Bach?

4 of 18

5 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Oxford, Mississippi

Oxford, Mississippi
Credit: Visit Oxford, Mississippi

An hour outside of Memphis, you'll feel far removed from city life in this northern Mississippi town that will have literary fans going wild. Kick off your bookworm tryst with a visit to Rowan Oak, William Faulkner's grand estate (pictured here), before a trip to the University of Mississippi Museum where you can browse Greek and Roman antiquities or to the town square for Square Books. To round out your couples' getaway, book a reservation at Graduate Oxford for a Valentine's Day Chef's Table with Dwayne Ingraham, who won Food Network's "Best Baker in America" in 2017.

5 of 18

6 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Ellicott City, Maryland

Ellicott City, Maryland
Credit: Visit Howard County

If your idea of romance counts cornhole and craft beer amongst its ranks, this Maryland city is calling your name. For the aforementioned combo, visit Manor Hill Brewing where rolling hills and fragrant hops set the perfect backdrop for an anniversary or Valentine's Day celebration. For dinner, take a 15-minute drive or Uber to The Iron Bridge Wine Co., in nearby Columbia, which might as well teleport you to a tiny European bistro with the warm glow of candles and smell of mushroom risotto and duck cassoulet. With your home base as Turf Valley Resort, make a pit-stop at Shapeshifter's Wellness Studio for a couple's Shiatsu Workshop where your chi ("breath of life") will be energized like never before.

6 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Greenwood, Mississippi

Greenwood, Mississippi
Credit: Courtesy The Focus Group MS

Venture to this Mississippi Delta town where you can unplug from your iPhones and plug into the peaceful Tallahatchie Flats experience.  A group of cabins are available for rent on the river bend. After perusing the offerings at Turnrow Books, form a reading circle with your better half at the café. When that 5 o'clock thirst slinks in, visit The Winery at Williams Landing to sip on Delta wines as you contemplate extending your trip for just one more day.

7 of 18

8 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Georgetown, South Carolina

Georgetown, South Carolina
Credit: Visit Myrtle Beach

Start your vacation with a stroll along Front Street and the Harborwalk, as you browse high-end furniture shops, funky boutiques, and more, before Cupid kindly guides you to a Lowcountry boat tour with Capt'n Rod. For your digs (dreamy Oak tree out front included), book a room at 620 Prince, an elegant bed and breakfast in a renovated 19th century home. Or, consider an overnight at Mansfield Plantation, which is situated on almost 1,000 private acres and dates back to 1718.

8 of 18

9 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Leiper's Fork, Tennessee

Leiper’s Fork, Tennessee
Credit: Courtesy Visit Franklin

In this fine town of 650 residents just outside of Franklin, there's an unofficial rule that all restaurants and businesses must offer a porch, rocking chairs, and fire pits—with free S'mores ingredients sitting by the fire pits, of course. To fill your days, explore the village's art galleries and shops, dine at the new restaurant 1892, and toast your love at Leiper's Fork Distillery or over  late-night drinks at Puckett's Grocery & Restaurant (don't miss their open mic nights!). Recharge at the dreamland that is the Moonshine Hill Inn (pictured here), self-described as Downton Abbey crossed with Little House on the Prairie.

9 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Jekyll Island, Georgia

Jekyll Island, Georgia
Credit: Courtesy Jekyll Island

This barrier island Shangri-La boasts live Oaks draped in Spanish Moss, golden salt marshes, and the Jekyll Island Club Resort, a posh hotel that seems as if it could leap from the pages of an F. Scott Fitzgerald novella. Grab some books and a blanket and snuggle up on Driftwood Beach, which regularly snags awards for "most romantic beach."

10 of 18

11 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Daufuskie Island in South Carolina

Daufuskie Island in South Carolina
Credit: Courtesy Haig Point

Go for a special horseback tour of the island complete with white sand beaches, wooded trails, and plenty of wildlife, or clink glasses with your partner at the Daufuskie Island Rum Company, a distillery perched on a picturesque pond. Under the watchful eye of oak trees, check out art galleries, restaurants, and more, before tucking into a vacation rental—which run from lavish oceanfront mansions to isolated villa.

11 of 18

12 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Deep Creek Lake, Maryland

Deep Creek Lake, Maryland
Credit: Garrett County Chamber of Commerce

How does a fairy tale ski resort in Maryland sound? Yes indeed, y'all. Every day at Wisp Resort brings something different, where you can ski, snowshoe, or ice skate to your heart's content. If you're not staying at Wisp, indulge in bed and breakfasting at Lake Pointe Inn (pictured here). While in town, be sure to take a hike to Muddy Creek Falls, which freezes in the winter for a panorama unlike anything you've ever seen. 

12 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Blue Ridge, Georgia

Blue Ridge, Georgia
Credit: Georgia Department of Economic Development

Tucked above Bill Oyster's fly-fishing shop, The Oyster Cast & Blast Inn is the perfect spot to rekindle the flame with your amour. If you can peel yourself away from their balcony above Main Street, go for a hike or scenic drive (check out some ideas here). Then, revisit your high school dating days with a show at the Swan Drive-In Theatre. Another night, be sure to indulge in modern Southern fare at Harvest on Main. Looking for a more secluded mountain getaway? Try Aska Lodge Bed and Breakfast (pictured here), which you'll quickly want to make an annual tradition.

13 of 18

14 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Wimberley, Texas

Wimberley, Texas
Credit: Rauluminate/Getty Images

It may only be 45 minutes outside of Austin, but you'll feel in another universe in this inviting small town known for Jacob's Well, an artesian well roughly 140-feet deep. Get the adrenaline pumping with Wimberley Zipline Adventures or enjoy a more leisurely day at Wimberley Valley Winery or Middleton Brewing. For memorable accommodations, kick your feet up at Blair House Inn, where you'll never want to say goodbye to the bubble bath (especially with the Roses, Bubbly, and Bubbles package).

14 of 18

15 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Fredericksburg, Texas

Fredericksburg, Texas
Credit: Dean Fikar/Getty Images

It's a no-brainer that Texas wine country is ideal for a couple's trip, but Fredericksburg really shines thanks to its German-influenced architecture, welcoming hospitality, and yes, the vino (try Grape Creek Vineyards). Call Glamping Hub's beautiful cottage located on a winery yours for a few days, or grab a rocking chair and stemware and make yourself at home at the Hoffman Haus. There, the Sweetheart Special includes two massages, a floral arrangement, champagne, chocolate-dipped strawberries and a late check-out at noon.

15 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Harrodsburg, Kentucky

Harrodsburg, Kentucky
Credit: Harrodsburg-Mercer County Tourist Commission

The Beaumont Inn (pictured here) had us at "personalized bourbon tasting with the innkeeper." It will also have you with its sprawling grounds, outdoor tree swing, and award-winning food. For a laidback cruise along the geologically ancient Kentucky River Palisades on the Dixie Belle Riverboat which runs May through October. For winter lovebirds, stroll around downtown art galleries and shops or visit (or book your lodging) at Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill for a history lesson you won't soon forget.

16 of 18

17 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Washington, Virginia

Washington, Virginia
Credit: Chuck Fazio

It doesn't get much better than the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Especially in "Little Washington," where time has a way of slowing down in this town of less than 150 individuals, not including two horses, one llama, a flock of sheep, and a dozen or so chickens who live in an ornate abode with stained glass windows in the Historic District, naturally. Book your stay at Le Fay Cottage (pictured here), a quick stroll to Little Washington Winery. You can't go wrong with dinner at the Inn at Little Washington, especially when it's paired with a show with your beloved at Little Washington Theatre.

17 of 18

18 of 18

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Blowing Rock, North Carolina

Blowing Rock, North Carolina
Credit: VisitNC.com

Even the folklore behind this Blue Ridge town is romantic. Our favorite pit stops for two peas in a High Country pod? An excursion to Blowing Rock Art and History Museum before grub at the Bistro Roca or the Restaurant at Gideon's Ridge. Beginner skiiers may also enjoy Appalachian Ski Mtn with a vertical drop of 365 feet and the longest run clocking in at an approachable half-mile (both clothing and equipment rental are on-site). Luxuriate in a spa treatment and the indoor heated pool at Bob Timberlake Inn at Chetola Resort, before watching the flames flicker in your in-room fireplace and plotting the next day's adventures.

18 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Perri Ormont Blumberg

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 18 Pack your bags!
    2 of 18 Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
    3 of 18 Beaufort, North Carolina
    4 of 18 Williamsburg, Virginia
    5 of 18 Oxford, Mississippi
    6 of 18 Ellicott City, Maryland
    7 of 18 Greenwood, Mississippi
    8 of 18 Georgetown, South Carolina
    9 of 18 Leiper's Fork, Tennessee
    10 of 18 Jekyll Island, Georgia
    11 of 18 Daufuskie Island in South Carolina
    12 of 18 Deep Creek Lake, Maryland
    13 of 18 Blue Ridge, Georgia
    14 of 18 Wimberley, Texas
    15 of 18 Fredericksburg, Texas
    16 of 18 Harrodsburg, Kentucky
    17 of 18 Washington, Virginia
    18 of 18 Blowing Rock, North Carolina

    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

    Follow Us
    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

    The 17 Best Small Towns in the South for a Romantic Getaway
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.