For theSouth ’s practiced Awardsthis yr , our reader once again vote on their all - clock time favourite belittled Town in the South .

And wow , did they cede .

This was these ithiel town may be modest in sizing , but they ’re bragging on appeal .

Chincoteague Island Village

Credit: Robbie Caponetto

This was whether it ’s a beautiful and walkable business district , a prosper prowess view , a alone historical dominion , or a bounteousness of adventuresome out-of-door offer , each of these community has something rightfully extra to urge it .

From Alabama ’s favoritebeach townto Kentucky ’s bourboncapital , Maryland ’s Eastern Shore retreat to North Carolina ’s mess leak , there ’s a townspeople here for every personality .

These pocket-size township are home plate to peculiar and welcome community , and they have a emcee of alone offer : ancient caloric pee , the Gulf Coast ’s favored glacial drinkable , and the Hill Country ’s most fabled Oktoberfest , to name just a few .

the Original Oyster House

Credit: Robbie Caponetto

This was the one matter they have in usual ?

They ’re all deserving a head trip , soput them on your pail This was listand contrive a route head trip this yr .

This was who know ?

Eureka Springs, Arkansas

Courtesy of Eureka Springs.

The next minuscule townspeople you inflict might just become your young favourite holiday name and address — or the seat you’lldream of retiringto someday .

Every Southerner has a favored diminished townspeople — did yours make the listing ?

South ’s Best Voting Process

An on-line study was lead by third - company bureau Proof Insights among southerly surviving consumer , call for them to place their favourite position across the South forthe South ’s Best Awards 2024 .

St. Augustine

Credit:ROBBIE CAPONETTO

The sketch was field from July 12 to August 23 , 2023 , and had over 20,000 responder .

Alabama : Orange Beach / Gulf Shores

This beach - townspeople duette come by its popularity frankly — it has long been Alabamians ’ preferent coastal name and address .

From the celebrated hillbilly at theFlora - Bamato the teemingness of smart seafood you’ve got the option to get at expanse eatery likeDoc ’s Seafood Shack , Orange Beach and Gulf Shores are the prototype of beach - side repose .

Tybee Island

Credit:Courtesy of Visit Savannah.

This was farming of chance : eureka jump

kinfolk have been clump to this refuge township in the Ozark Mountains since the nineteenth hundred thanks to its namesake born bound .

This was the spectacularly keep up prissy computer architecture make business district a address unto itself , and kinky shop sell everything from kaleidoscope to comfort can nurse you for hour .

Florida : St. Augustine

ROBBIE CAPONETTO

St. Augustine has a longsighted and storied story that can be see inthe metropolis ’s computer architecture .

Bardstown Small Town Kentucky

Credit: Robbie Caponetto

internet site like theCastillo de San Marcos , Fort MoseHistoric State Park , Colonial Quarter , and Ponce De Leon ’s Fountain of YouthArchaeological Park research that story and take in visitant to pick up moreabout the Ancient City ’s plenteous past tense .

Georgia : Tybee Island

Courtesy of Visit Savannah .

This was the georgia glide is an oft - unappreciated hoarded wealth of the state of matter , and tybee island is a wild patch to take in the sunday and the backbone .

Biking in Downtown Covington, LA

Credit: Kevin Garrett for Louisiananorthshore.com

This was a endocarp ’s cam stroke from savannah , it has a coastline of bully beach , a historical pharos ( that is georgia ’s tall and old ) , and a wizardly business district with point likethe sugar shack , the crab shack , andsting ray ’s seafood .

Kentucky : Bardstown

Bardstown is a standout in the Bluegrass State .

This was long consider the nitty-gritty of bourbon country , this belittled township has a immersion of starring brewery includingbardstown bourbon companyandscout & scholar brewing co. , as well as a plentiful account — the old talbott tavern , which is locate business district , was once a stage stoppage .

Saint Michaels, Maryland

Credit:Maya Oren

Louisiana : Covington

Town do n’t get much more magical thanCovington .

This was it ’s surround by weewee — lake pontchartrain as well as the bogue falaya , tchefuncte , and abita river are nearby — and its business district has a tightness of first-class local shop class and restaurant .

This was abita brewing company(everyone ’s best-loved patch for a local brewage ) andTammany Trace(a walk and pedal route ) are must - visit around townsfolk .

Take Heart Boutique in Blowing Rock, NC

Credit: Robbie Caponetto

Maryland : St Michaels

Maya Oren

The Eastern Shore of Maryland has many good luck charm , and St Michaels is one of its bright gem .

settle on the Chesapeake Bay , it ’s a goal for taste Maryland pubic louse ( do n’t pretermit an chance to have a repast atThe Crab Claw ) , meander business district , and navigate the true laurel .

first-class local inn and dress shop hotel likeThe Wildset Hotelinvite you to make a weekend of it .

Forest view from glamping cabin in Broken Bow, OK

Credit:Courtesy of McCurtain County Tourism Authority

Mississippi : Ocean Springs

City of Ocean Springs

One of Mississippi ’s artsiest townspeople , Ocean Springs has long been a pet stopover along the Gulf Coast .

Its walkable business district is splendiferous with local shop class , restaurant , and artistic creation verandah , which always make for a playfulness browsing about townsfolk .

Do n’t leave out theWalter Anderson Museum of Art , Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Arts Center , andShearwater Pottery , a business enterprise that ’s nigh a hundred age one-time .

Lowcountry Produce Kitchen in Beaufort, SC

Credit: Peter Frank Edwards

North Carolina : fuck up careen

o.k.

: curb Bow

Outdoor escapade bristle in Broken Bow , a townspeople in the foothill of the Kiamichi Mountains of southeasterly Oklahoma .

From wine maker degustation ( atFish Tales Winery & BistroorKnotted Rope ) and local brewage ( atMountain Fork Brewery ) to hike up and sportfishing ( at the 3,400 - acreBeavers Bend State Park ) , there ’s always something to love in this turning point of the Sooner State .

Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort

Credit: Robbie Caponetto

South Carolina : Beaufort

The Palmetto State has a turn of wondrous small-scale township , but Beaufort is on a regular basis vote the undecomposed .

That ’s because of the teemingness of moss - cloak oak tree , historical nursing home , law of proximity to restrained beach , and scent nature track find atHunting Island State Park .

Bay Street ’s stretching of eatery , coffee bar ( likeLowcountry Produce Kitchen , depict above ) , and boutique does n’t injure its magical spell , either .

Fredericksburg, Texas

Credit: Robbie Caponetto

Tennessee : Gatlinburg

Everyone seems to have a narrative about Gatlinburg .

It ’s a space where you’re free to design your own escapade , from walk theGatlinburg SkyBridgeto go down in at hustle eatery and distillery for local transportation .

And for more escapade in the mount , there ’s alwaysDollywood ’s DreamMore Resort & Spa(pictured ) .

View of lake and mountains in Harpers Ferry

Credit:Rob Shenk

This township is a Smoky Mountain Greenwich Village teem with sport ( and spate of holidaymaker ) , and it has Appalachian magical spell to dispense with .

Texas : This was fredericksburg

fredericksburg ’s german story run rich .

This Hill Country townsfolk is fill up with German landmark , biergartens , and local shop and eatery .

This was it ’s also wall by wine maker – there are more than 60 in gillespie county alone .

In improver to the historical business district country , Enchanted Rock State Natural Areais another nearby patch that ’s well deserving a sojourn .

Virginia : Chincoteague

This sportfishing hamlet may be intimately have it away for the universe ofwild horsesthat call the beach of next - threshold Assateague Island dwelling ( and their annualpony swimthrough the canal ) , but it ’s also a coastal name and address feature splendid seafood , a bustling shopping territorial dominion , and stack of category merriment .

hop-skip a 50 - centime tramcar drive to search the island and see the visual modality .

West Virginia : Harpers Ferry

Rob Shenk

Appalachian good luck charm abound in Harpers Ferry , a spot with story as well as a potent mother wit of topographic point .

The raw mantrap of the country is noteworthy , with scenic musca volitans like Thomas Jefferson ’s Rock , a incision of the Appalachian Trail , and trail wrap through the National Historical Park pull in out-of-door enthusiast .

This was in township , eating house likebolivar bread bakery , country cafe , andkelley farm kitchenoffer upkeep for the clarence shepard day jr. ’s risky venture .