Top Cities In The South You Should Visit

Growing up in the Southern part of the United States has definitely got its perks. Everything from spur of the moment adventures, to delicious homemade cuisines, and that sweet Southern Charm everyone talks about the South has so much more to offer than a thick accent and a camouflage hat. That is why you don't want to miss out on these Southern cities, and everything they have to offer. 



Durham, North Carolina

Durham is one of the most unique towns, not just in North Carolina but in the South, thanks to incredible food, a relaxed vibe, and cool warehouse buildings (this is an old tobacco city). It’s full of perfect spots to enjoy nature, listen to local bands, and taste finely brewed beer.
Durham’s Brightleaf Square is a hub for restaurants and shops, housed in renovated tobacco warehouses. If you love food trucks (and Durham helped snowball the trend, with its Food Truck Rodeo), the city has some goodies: Pie Pushers, Chirba Chirba Dumpling, and Only Burger.

If you’re into camping or hiking, spend a day at Eno River State Park (and if you’re road-tripping in the summer, bring your homemade flower crown and check out the annual music festival in honor of the river). If you’re a serious concertgoer, head to Motorco Music Hall. If you’re into beer, the Biker Bar NC is a 14-person bar on a bike that wheels you around downtown Durham as you sample brewery favorites.

Charleston, South Carolina

Charleston has a lot more to offer than just beautiful architecture and houses you wish you could afford, though one could stare at those intricate wrought-iron porches all day. It’s a beach town, a bar town, a historical town, and a burger town, all rolled into one. 

From warm sands and that hair that only beach salt can provide, check out Folly Beach and its long pier, as well as the Windjammer, a bar with beach volleyball out back. Visit Cypress Gardens, an outdoor sanctuary with trails and boats to paddle through the swamp.

Whatever sound you’re into, Music Farm hosts over 200 events per year, ranging from comedy and hip-hop to EDM and bluegrass. Head to Hominy Grill for nosh and order the shrimp and grits, fried chicken, the Big Nasty (a sausage-gravy biscuit), and chocolate pudding. Poe’s Tavern is an Edgar Allan Poe-themed local haunt on Sullivan's Island, where the writer was stationed during his military service, that serves the best burgers in Charleston — all with names derived from Poe stories and poems.

If you’re looking for a night out, look no further than AC’s Bar & Grill, a tiny dive bar on King Street, or find the locals at Recovery Room Tavern, which has sold more cans of PBR than any other bar in America. A last quirky must-see is the Angel Oak, an enormous, almost 500-year-old oak tree with a 26-foot-circumference trunk!! Charleston is full of history, architecture, and magic that will make you want to be a beach bum from the moment you arrive. 

Nashville, Tennessee 

It’s true Nashville’s known for its country-music scene, but it's not all highlights from the ABC TV show. There are loads of local hangouts that make up a behind-the-scenes “Music City.”

Third Man Records, started by Jack White of the White Stripes, does triple duty as a record store, label headquarters, and performance venue. Check out little-known hot-spot Blue Bar, a hole-in-the-wall joint where you can find the best local musicians.

Pinewood Social, a combination coffee shop, bar, bowling alley, bocce-ball court, public living room, and pool, has got you covered for pretty much anything you want to do. For free line-dancing lessons, head to Wildhorse Saloon downtown.

Checking out Prince's Hot Chicken is a must, and the Pharmacy Burger Parlor & Beer Garden offers an old-school soda fountain.

On the outskirts of the beautiful skyline there is plenty more to discover, from art galleries, hiking/biking trails, camping sites, and waterfalls galore, an outdoor adventure is never more than a short car ride away.

Seaside, Florida 

Despite its generic name, Seaside is truly the beach destination to top all others. Beach-goers come from all across the country to visit this town. If you’re looking for a small-town beach feel with boutique shops, emerald waters and white sands, and good eats, keep reading.

DejaVu is a one-stop shop for bohemian style, with very unique dressing rooms and a small stage where you can sing and play guitar to score 15% off your purchase. Stop by the shiny silver trailers in the square that have been transformed into food trucks: The MeltDown, known for its specialty grilled-cheese sandwiches; Raw & Juicy, an organic juice bar; and Frost Bites, featuring shaved ice and cold drinks.

Take a walk in the park by heading behind the square to Ruskin Place, a community of art galleries, and get over to The Red Bar to eat — it has fewer than ten items on the menu, all of them flawless. Finally, rent bikes and ride down the road to WaterColor, where you can rent paddle boards from the Boathouse or explore the trails that line Western Lake. As Chance Gullett, owner of Frost Bites, notes, Seaside “offers a sense of old-time U.S.A.”