This NC city ‘banded together.’ Now, it ranks as one of the best places in the South
A North Carolina city “banded together” through hardship — and now, it ranks as one of the best destinations in the South.
Asheville is No. 3 on a list of places in the region that people love the most, according to results published Tuesday, March 11.
“Southern hospitality is more than just a saying — it’s a way of life, and no one knows the best experiences better than the locals,” Sid Evans, editor in chief of Southern Living magazine, wrote in a news release. “That’s why, year after year, we turn to our readers to share their favorite places that define the South.”
To determine the region’s top cities, the magazine said it worked with researchers at Proof Insights from July 10 to Aug. 21. They surveyed more than 10,000 magazine readers, and the winners earned South’s Best Awards, a spokesperson told McClatchy News via email.
The survey was conducted before Hurricane Helene hit the Asheville area in late September. The deadly storm devastated parts of Western North Carolina with storm damage and catastrophic flooding.
As communities in the mountains rebuild, Southern Living said readers’ love for Asheville continues.
“Asheville proves that you can’t keep a good city down, as businesses, community leaders, and residents banded together to bring back their hometown and reopen it to visitors,” the magazine wrote in its report. “If you love this place, there’s no better time to support it. And if you’ve never been, it’s a great time to discover it for yourself.”
For those who are interested in visiting, the Explore Asheville tourism website has answers to common questions about transportation, accommodations and other travel-related logistics.
Asheville was the only place in North Carolina to earn a top 10 spot on the Southern Living list. Across the region, the No. 1 fan-favorite city was Charleston, South Carolina. Rounding out the top five:
- Savannah, Georgia, at No. 2
- New Orleans at No. 4
- Nashville, Tennessee, at No. 5
The South’s Best Awards also considered top beach towns, barbecue joints and other regional attractions.
In the past, Southern Living has told McClatchy News it focuses on the following places: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia.
This story was originally published March 14, 2025 at 12:27 PM with the headline "This NC city ‘banded together.’ Now, it ranks as one of the best places in the South."
