3 Virginia Cities Named By Southern Living Readers As Best In The South

VIRGINIA — From major destinations to charming small towns, the new South's Best Cities 2024 list by Southern Living covers a wide range of places in the Southern U.S. Three Virginia cities made the cut.

The magazine's readers voted on their top 25 favorite cities in the South, from the large metropolises of Texas to the coasts of the Carolinas. Over 20,000 respondents contributed to the ranking.

Here are the three cities in the Commonwealth that made the list and what brought them praise:

Virginia's capital city Richmond took the 18th spot. Southern Living cited Richmond's strong culinary scene, historic neighborhood, and recreational destinations around the James River.

Charlottesville, home of the University of Virginia and Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, was ranked 20th. Aside from the city's more well-known landmarks, there's an abundance of restaurants, wineries, cideries, breweries and Blue Ridge trails in the area, according to Southern Living.

Alexandria, a visitor destination in its own right thanks to its historic Old Town neighborhood, ranked 23rd. The city across the river from Washington, D.C. has appeal due to its cobblestone streets, locally-owned boutiques, restaurants and Potomac River waterfront.

Charleston, South Carolina, a favorite destination for U.S. travelers, took the top spot on the list. Other cities in the top five were Savannah, Georgia; Nashville, Tennessee; New Orleans, Louisiana and Asheville, North Carolina.