Underrated Southern Towns You Need to Be Spending a Lot More Time In

Atlanta ? Miami ? New Orleans ? You proceed , you saw , you conquered . All grotesque cities , but you ’re count for a more exploratory challenge . Luckily , the Southeast is awash in lesser - know hamlets that still ooze homely charm . Here are eight of our favorite incognito enclaves that warrant a multi - minute road trip or puddle - jumping connection .

NOTE : Just as withour Southern state ranking , we used the 16 land theUS political science limit as the South . Although , obviously , we recognize thatmany Southerners disagree .

Harpers Ferry, West Virginia

Why it ’s so large : The midget , historical townspeople , situated where the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers meet somewhat much demand that you disconnect . Instead of losing yourself in Kendall and Kylie ’s raw app , you’re able to whitewater raft , pedal the canal trail , wage increase inHarpers Ferry National Historical Park , and IG the panoramic scene from Maryland Heights . Your tourer dollar mark also mean a lot these days , as the historic territory suffered a serious flack last summer . Just mind that DC types grumble into town on the weekend to let off all that capital - city steam .

Must - eat up intellectual nourishment : A intelligent dejeuner atCanal House Cafe , $ 1 beer and pub transportation at The Anvil , and ice pick from Swiss Miss

Norfolk, Virginia

Why it ’s so groovy : Art and food – why else do you journey ? The NEON ( New Energy of Norfolk ) district is an Instagram Shangri - La thanks to myriad rainbow - imbue paries murals . try out your ( unwavering ) hired man at trash - blow atthe Chrysler Museum of Art & Glass Studio , then mosey by an open-air instalment at theNorfolk Botanical Garden . To get your requisite diachronic repair , explore the Ghent and Freemason Districts ( with child indie dress shop shopping , too ) , then walk some or all of the Cannonball Trail for a 400 - year rich dive into the city ’s past .

Must - rust food : Where not to exhaust ? Doumar ’s Barbecue tempt with moderate pork sandwiches and milkshakes made with homemade ice pick , while Freemason Abbey is a local favorite and the place to sample she Cancer soup , one of Norfolk ’s specialties . Imbibing types should control out both in - town brewery ( Coelacanth and Smartmouth ) and Mermaid Winery , the state ’s first urban wine maker .

St. Michaels, Maryland

Why it ’s so peachy : St. Michaels has everything you want from a Chesapeake Bay visit : waterside brick walkways , Victorian place , seasonal pubic louse shacks , and a bizarre history . The British unsuccessfully attacked it during the War of 1812 when local hung lanterns in the trees to make it come out the town sat on a hill ; as a consequence , it became roll in the hay as the townsfolk that fooled the British . “Five Gables Inn , a 20 - way hostel comprising three separate nineteenth - one C homes , give you the full throwback experience – and also has a hard-and-fast no - child insurance policy .

Must - use up food : The Crab Claw in Navy Point is a family - have shack and southerly initiation that demands you slowwwww dowwwwn ( ahh ) , then scarf out on steam bay oyster and Old Bay - crusted drab crab .

Panama City, Florida

Why it ’s so great : Because when it ’s not bounce interruption , this is an absolutely adorable beach town . ( repetition : do NOT go during bound break . ) lily-white sand beaches and the calm waters of the Gulf will entice you into a Caribbean state of mind , while the hiking and biking encourages daytime light living . It ’s also a music fest haven , with jazz , land , and Mardi Gras celebrations going down throughout the year .

Must - eat food for thought : Fried strawberries at the new Sisters of the Sea Grille & Grog , and chargrilled grouper and Apalachicola oysters middling much everywhere you go

Natchez, Mississippi

Why it ’s so great : The flyspeck city is in the midst of celebrating its 300th birthday , which means historic base duty tour and reenactments , music fests , a balloon race , and a July nutrient - and - wine fest that ’ll draw in all personal manner of Southern chef and distiller . In between , you’re able to saunter alongside Old Man River , suss out Mississippi Blues Trail markers , and call the indigenous village of the Natchez Indians . Oh , and wonder over just how friendly the house physician are and what a colossal a - hole you feel like by comparison .

Must - eat food : Um , it ’s the Biscuit Capital of the World – what do you think you ’re eating ? Wash said cooky down with a rosé from Old South Winery .

Gulf Shores, Alabama

Why it ’s so great : The outdoor charms of the Panhandle are unnumbered . In fact , we ’ve already made our case forhow special the Redneck Riviera is . Here you have squeaky fine - sand beaches , aquamarine Gulf waters , backcountry hiking trails , marine lifetime habitats , deep - sea sportfishing , golfing , and even scuba diving . You also have an increasing routine of families on holiday , so essay to avoid school vacation weeks .

Must - rust food for thought : Gumbo , fried ' gator , barbecue butter - broil oysters , and umber micro chip peanut butter Proto-Indo European at the Original Oyster House , which overhangs a laguna

Paducah, Kentucky

Why it ’s so great : Just two hour from Nashville , Paducah give you the same crossbreed - section of culture , food for thought , euphony , and chronicle . establish in 1827 by William Clark ( yep , of eighth - ground level American history Lewis & Clark fame ) , today the metropolis is a UNESCO Creative City , owe to its substantial creative person biotic community ( workshops bristle for visiting neophytes ) . The city is also in the thick of a foodie miniskirt - revolution , include the launching of two new breweries .

Must - eat food : The newly openedFreight Houseis the town ’s only farm - to - table restaurant ( everything is source from within a day ’s parkway of Ithiel Town ) . Craving a little guile moonshine?The Moonshine Companycan set you up .

Franklin, Tennessee

Why it ’s so great : Because it ’s Nashville but small . The Downtown area is awash in vintage shops , barbecue joints , historic homes ( some still bearing scar from the heroic Battle of Franklin ) , and euphony venues galore .

Must - eat food : Cork & Cow is a ) the place for oak wood - grilled steak and cocktails , and b ) the superlative eating place name ever . Puckett ’s Boat House gives you oysters , shrimp and gritstone , and nightly springy euphony .

harper’s ferry, west virginia