Gatlinburg, Tennessee, is an iconic Southern locale.
When you think of the South, which locations first come to your mind? Which small towns and larger cities epitomize the things that the region is most affectionately known for?
Hospitality and beauty; history and progress; uniqueness and importance…these are things that make these locations truly memorable. We know them all (these aren’t the “hidden treasures” we often share), but we know them for a reason.
They are superlative. They are iconic.
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Natural dunes in St. Augustine, Florida. (Photo by: Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
St. Augustine, Florida
The oldest city in the United States, St. Augustine on Florida’s Atlantic coast was founded in 1565 and gets iconic status for such locations as the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument (the oldest masonry fort in the nation, its construction began in the 1680s), the Fountain of Youth (yes, that one!), the Cathedral Basilica (the oldest parish in the country, dating to 1585), and Aviles Street (the oldest street in the United States, it first appeared on maps in the 1580s). You can almost feel the spirits of the long-gone explorers, pirates and early residents as you walk or trolley through its corners.
Be sure to visit all of those sites listed above – their age alone will leave you breathless – but be sure to also walk around Flagler College downtown, climb to the top of St. Augustine Lighthouse, eat at one of the restaurants-with-a-view on the waterfront, and enjoy nearby beaches. St. Augustine Beach is just a few miles down the road and offers uncrowded vistas.
READ MORE: Southern cities that are magical at Christmastime
Forsyth Park in Savannah, Georgia (Shutterstock)
Savannah, Georgia
Perhaps the most beautifully gothic town in the South, Savannah is a dream for history and architecture buffs – plus it takes mere minutes to get to quaint beach towns.
The coastal town is just under four hours from Atlanta, but is a world away from the hustle and bustle of city life. It seems remote and exotic, with its European-feel garden system connecting 22 squares of homes, fountains (including the famed Fountain at Forsyth Park), and foliage, and the beautiful Bonaventure Cemetery just three miles from downtown. Be sure to stroll through all of those sites, but also get a taste of the city’s history on a ghost tour, walk along the waterfront River Street and enjoy Southern food at places like Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room. (And the nearby beach towns? Tybee Island – just across the bridge – can’t be beat.)
READ MORE: Southern places book lovers will love
Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. Shutterstock
Asheville, North Carolina
George Vanderbilt’s presence emanates from all corners of Asheville – not unsurprisingly from his iconic Biltmore Estate, which is the largest privately-owned home in the country at 1278,926 square feet, but also from the almost 3 million trees he planted that make up the verdant landscape of the area.
Don’t miss his Biltmore Estate; it’s one of those “you have to visit it once” locales that actually lives up to the hype. The home tour is excellent, and the property’s restaurants, winery and other attractions are top tier. But be sure to find time to explore downtown Asheville, which is extremely walkable and filled with unique shops and world-class restaurants, and then venture into nearby Pisgah National Forest and its numerous waterfalls and trails. The Blue Ridge Parkway can bring you in and out of town, and is one of the most beautiful – and iconic – drives in the South.
READ MORE: 21 places to visit in the South this year
Tailgating at an Auburn-Ole Miss game in the Grove.(Julie Bennett)
Oxford, Mississippi
The South is known for its writers, and no state can stake such a claim to the literary world as Mississippi–and nowhere is that more evident than in Oxford, the home of iconic author William Faulkner. The town’s Faulkner sites include his beloved estate Rowan Oak (where you can see his typewriter and a wall where he plotted “A Fable” in pencil) and his burial site at Oxford Memorial Cemetery just north of the town square. And if you love books, there’s arguably no better place in the South than Square Books; the bookstore is John Grisham’s “home” store and includes a huge inventory and many book-related events.
The town is also the epicenter of hospitality, at least during football season, when the Grove on the Ole Miss campus becomes the most elegant tailgating site in the South. Where else, after all, can you find chandeliers and silver platters on display in tents before and after games?
READ MORE: Why The Square in Oxford is one of the South's best gems
The Great Smoky Mountain National Park is one of the South's best natural experiences.(Joe Songer)
Gatlinburg, Tennessee
We could have gone with Nashville or Memphis as our iconic location in Tennessee (those towns, after all, are legendary when it comes to the history of music in the South), but Gatlinburg gets the nod here. What other town generates so many visitors to the mountains? This favorite vacation spot isn’t a tourist trap, however; its views are spectacular and its store-lined streets and restaurants (pancakes, anyone?) are legendary.
Gatlinburg also benefits from its status as the gateway to so many fantastic other locales. Stop at Pigeon Forge on the way into Gatlinburg to visit Dollywood, the theme park designed by and named for the South’s true queen. And on the other side of Gatlinburg, take the drive into the Great Smoky Mountain National Park to enjoy the best natural experience the South has to offer.
Evening on Ohio River and Louisville skyline, KY shot from Indiana (Photo by: Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Louisville, Kentucky
What’s more iconic than the Kentucky Derby, and all the grandeur and tradition that comes with it? It’s hard to beat Louisville if you want a taste of Southern gentility – but it’s also a place where you can get a taste of legendary food and drinks, and relive great sports moments.
Churchill Downs, the home of the Kentucky Derby, is the town’s most famed location; it can be visited on race days, but tours are also available throughout the year. The town is also home to the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory, where most Major League Baseball bats are still made, and you can celebrate hometown son Muhammad Ali in numerous ways and locations. And for more iconic experiences – ride on the Belle of Louisville, the oldest operating steamboat in the world, and try some of the famous Southern cuisine created in the city (including the Hot Brown sandwich, the Mint Julep, the Old Fashioned bourbon drink and Derby Pie).
A visitor photographs a display in the ice cream parlor at Blue Bell Creameries in Brenham, Texas, on Tuesday, July 18, 2023. (Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)
Brenham, Texas
Arguments can ensue over how iconically Southern any town in Texas can be, but the small town of Brenham (halfway between Austin and Houston) fits the bill for such status due to its history, hospitality and connection to one of the South’s favorite treats.
The only Southern state to once be its own country, Texas’ independent history traces its past to Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site just outside Brenham. It’s where the signing of the Texas Declaration of Independence took place on March 2, 1836. Various home tours and museums throughout the area provide even more details about Texas’ early history. The town’s more modern claim to Southern fame is at the home of Blue Bell ice cream; created in the town in 1907, the treat is now a staple in homes and at festivities across the South.
READ MORE: Blue Bell flavors, ranked
Little Rock, the capital of Arkansas, is a city on the Arkansas River. (Photo by Paul Harris/Getty Images)
Little Rock, Arkansas
Home to one of the most pivotal moments in the Civil Rights Era, Little Rock is a city that blends the Southern past and future in wonderful ways. The Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site celebrates the nine Black students who paved the way for desegregation across the country when they enrolled at the all-white school in 1957 with the help of federal troops; the site, along with the Little Rock Civil Right Self Guided Tour are excellent ways to connect with the past.
The city is also the Arkansas state capitol, home to the Clinton Presidential Library, and an excellent place to enjoy arts and cuisine. But another iconic Southern connection is found at The Old Mill in North Little Rock. The park, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, includes the only remaining set piece from the 1939 movie Gone with the Wind. (It’s seen over the opening credits).
New Orleans Shutterstock
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a mix of culture, making it iconic among Southern locales for its diverse scene illustrated by its cuisine, architecture, music, arts, and more. Founded more than 300 years ago with influences from the French, Spanish, American, Caribbean and African cultures, the city is a true melting pot.
The city is also known as the Birthplace of Jazz and the Big Easy, and a trip isn’t complete without experiences and sites that can be found nowhere else in the South. Where else can you visit above-ground cemeteries, watch “second line” city celebrations, sample beignets and jambalaya, get co*cktails (including original-to-the-city Hurricanes) to go, explore voodoo and supernatural history, party in the French Quarter, and enjoy views of the Mississippi River?
WATCH MORE: We tried to pronounce New Orleans street names
Charleston, South Carolina Shutterstock
Charleston, South Carolina
One of the South’s earliest important cities, Charleston was founded in 1670 and was important in both the Revolutionary War (at the time, “Charles Town” was the fourth largest city in the colonies) and the Civil War (the battle at Fort Sumter signaled the start of the war). Today, though, it is a vibrant, progressive city that exudes hospitality.
The city boasts one of the South’s most iconic and photographed views–the beautiful, pastel-colored homes on Rainbow Row right on the waterfront. Be sure to stroll down East Bay Street on the Battery (the waterfront area) to see the homes, but don’t forget the town’s other memorable places and experiences. The Charleston City Market has been a hub since the 1880s and today is a great place to see Gullah artists at work, and local gardens and plantations provide valuable insight into the slave experience and the road to freedom.
READ MORE: 'P-Nut the Lowcountry Poet' tells stories of Charleston
The USS Alabama in Mobile.(Joe Songer)
Mobile, Alabama
Why not Birmingham, with its significance to the Civil Rights Movement? Or Huntsville, with its history in technology and current growth? Or even Tuscaloosa, where many can argue the greatest brand of Southern football has ever been played?
Founded by the French in 1702, Mobile is Alabama’s oldest city and is quintessentially Southern; it’s the home of the original Mardi Gras (appearing in 1703, fifteen years before New Orleans was even founded as a city) and its stately gardens, historic homes, and port views make it iconic. On the list of must-see sites in Mobile include the beautiful Bellingrath Gardens, the USS Alabama battleship and historic home districts. And just 30 minutes away is Bayou la Batre, the site of scenes from one of the South’s favorite movies “Forest Gump.”
READ MORE: How to spend a weekend learning Black history in Mobile
What does the South mean to you, and how is it epitomized by locations throughout the region? Whether it’s a glimpse into history or a sip of bourbon; a snap of an Instagram-worthy house or a conversation laced with hospitality…these places make us proud to be Southern.
