Charlotte lands on Southern Living’s list of top 10 best cities in the South

CharlotteFive staff
·2 min read

Four North Carolina cities, including Charlotte, have made Southern Living’s annual list of the “South’s Best Cities.”

And that’s not all: The magazine rated everything from small towns to barbecue restaurants across the South, with North Carolina getting 29 awards.

Statewide favorites getting mentions included Lake Lure, Grandfather Mountain, Blue Ridge Parkway and Biltmore Estate.

Grab your driving gloves (is that still a thing?), map out your route (gas is expensive, so plan carefully) and check out some of these road-trippable winners:

[Related: Charlotte’s Classic Eats: Dine in a Victorian mansion at McNinch House in uptown Charlotte]

CITIES

South’s Best Cities Overall — The Top 10:

  1. Charleston, SC

  2. Savannah, GA

  3. Asheville, NC

  4. Nashville, TN

  5. New Orleans, LA

  6. Austin, TX

  7. Atlanta, GA

  8. Charlotte, NC

  9. Birmingham, AL

  10. Richmond, VA

South’s Best City on the Rise: Greenville, SC

SO, ABOUT CHARLOTTE: “Visit Charlotte and you’ll find a city with charm to spare. The Queen City is a destination for the arts; there’s always something happening at The Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, Levine Center for the Arts, and the Visulite Theatre. It’s also a hub for enjoying nature, including Little Sugar Creek Greenway, Freedom Park, Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, the U.S. National Whitewater Center, and Lake Norman. There’s a lot to do and see in Charlotte. Isn’t it time you planned a trip?” — Southern Living

TOWNS

  • South’s Best Small Town: Beaufort, SC

  • South’s Best Beach Town: Hilton Head, SC

  • South’s Best Mountain Town: Gatlinburg, TN

  • South’s Best College Town: Athens, GA

  • South’s Best Lake Town: Lake Lure, NC

DESTINATIONS + RESORTS

  • South’s Best Family Getaway Destination: Orlando, FL

  • South’s Best Resort: Biltmore Estate (Asheville, NC)

  • South’s Best Scenic Drive: Blue Ridge Parkway (NC/VA)

  • South’s Best State Park: Grandfather Mountain State Park (NC)

  • South’s Best Museum: US Space & Rocket Center (Huntsville, AL)

FOOD + DRINK

  • South’s Best Bakery: Back in the Day Bakery (Savannah, GA)

  • South’s Best Brewery: Palmetto Brewing Co. (Charleston, SC)

LOCAL FAVORITES

  • Nashville: Hattie B’s Hot Chicken

  • Austin: Torchy’s Tacos

  • New Orleans: Po’ Boys at Parkway Bakery and Tavern

BBQ JOINTS

South’s Best BBQ Joints by State:

  • Alabama: Big Bob Gibson, Decatur

  • Arkansas: McClard’s, Hot Springs

  • Florida: Jenkins Quality, Jacksonville

  • Georgia: Wiley’s Championship, Savannah

  • Kentucky: Moonlite Bar-B-Q-Inn, Owensboro

  • Louisiana: The Joint, New Orleans

  • Maryland: Blue Pit, Baltimore

  • Mississippi: The Shed Barbeque & Blues, Ocean Springs

  • Missouri: Pappy’s Smokehouse, St Louis

  • North Carolina: Buxton Hall, Asheville

  • Oklahoma: Oklahoma Joe’s, Tulsa

  • South Carolina: Rodney Scott’s, Charleston

  • Tennessee: Peg Leg Porker, Nashville

  • Texas: Franklin, Austin

  • Washington DC: Federalist Pig, Adams Morgan, DC

  • Virginia: Pierce’s Pitt, Williamsburg

  • West Virginia: Rollin Smoke, Charleston

Check out the full list of winners of Southern Living South’s Best 2022 survey.