BEAUFORT, S.C. — Southern Living Magazine has heaped high praise on three South Carolina towns it claims are the best in the South.
Described as a list of towns for relaxation or exploration, the magazine suggests that each of the 20 towns on the list has something for visitors - or those looking for their new home.
Travelers Rest takes the number 12 spot on the list described as a "breezy small town located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Amenities include the 22-mile Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail, fun boutiques and great restaurants. There's also a local history museum for those with an interest in the town's past.
A couple of spots up at number 10 on the list is Aiken, described as an equestrian town that could pass for a postcard. The Aiken Horse Show is the top highlight in the listing, but "gracious inns and bed-and-breakfasts" are also considered worthy attractions. Several art, history and nature venues are also included including the Aiken Art Annex, Boyd Pond, The Center for African American History, Arts, and Culture, Henderson Heritage Preserve and more.
But the top spot goes to a small town that has made a few lists in the past. Beaufort is described by Southern Living as a "Lowcountry gem" that's "studded with moss-hung oaks."
The Penn Center, Pat Conroy Literary Center and the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park are among the amenities highlighted for the first-place destination. And for the most active among travelers, there are opportunities to travel the waterways by kayak or boat - or travel on land and explore the 10-mile Spanish Moss Trail. They also suggest to bring your pet along for the journey.
It's also worth mentioning that the list contains two Beauforts - spelled the same way but pronounced differently. At number five is Beaufort, North Carolina. For those wishing to travel just outside of the state, the Crystal Coast is listed for being both walkable and bikeable "filled with cute cottages, a winning boardwalk, lovely shops and a bevy of nautical scenes" - the latter including Atlantic sunrises.
