Southern Living says 2 Kentucky spots are among the ‘friendliest towns’ in the South
Two Kentucky locales recently made Southern Living’s list of “The 20 Friendliest Towns In The South” for hospitality and welcoming visitors.
The May 20 Southern Living article recognized towns in Florida, Louisiana, South Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Texas, Tennessee and Kentucky.
Paducah and Henderson each made the list and landed in 18th and 19th place, respectively.
The list used an online survey conducted by third-party Proof Insights that asked Southern Living readers to name the friendliest people and places in the South. More than 20,000 responses were received, according to Southern Living.
Here’s how the 20 Friendliest Towns In The South compared, according to Southern Living:
Covington, La.
Beaufort, S.C.
Fairhope, Ala.
Spartanburg, S.C.
Oxford, Miss.
Southport, N.C.
Round Top, Texas
St. Augustine, Fla.
Fredericksburg, Texas
Laurel, Miss.
Carolina Beach, N.C.
Eureka Springs, Ark.
Gatlinburg, Tenn.
Hendersonville, N.C.
Williamsburg, Va.
Ocean Springs, Miss.
Auburn, Ala.
Paducah, Ky.
Henderson, Ky.
Fernandina Beach, Fla.
Kentucky locales have done well in Southern Living’s “best” awards this year. Other mentions include a nod to Moonlite Bar-b-q Inn in Owensboro as the best barbecue in the state, along with top praise for Lexington and Louisville as “cities on the rise.” Finally, J. Graham’s Cafe at The Brown Hotel in Louisville made a unique listing from the publication, which determined the hot brown served there was Kentucky’s local treasure.
Visiting Paducah, KY
Paducah is located about 4 hours from Lexington by car and borders Illinois. If you’re looking for something to do in there, you could see the Paducah Symphony Orchestra perform or explore the Lower Town Arts district.
Nature lovers may enjoy boating and fishing or running on Paducah’s trails. You can also tour the city’s history and architecture, check out the local quilting scene or shop downtown.
Upcoming events and celebrations in Paducah include the McCracken County Fair, Independence Day festivities, a film festival, Barbecue on the River and more.
This is not the first time Southern Living has highlighted Paducah. In 2023, the city made the publication’s 50 best small towns in the South list.
Visiting Henderson, KY
You can drive to Henderson from Lexington in roughly 3 hours and 20 minutes. The city is known as a “vibrant river town retreat” and features Audubon State Park, local barbecue restaurants, music festivals and more.
Activities can include indulging your equestrian interests at Blue Moon Stables, taking a stroll through a local winery or exploring a 12-acre corn maze in the fall.
Henderson’s community calendar displays upcoming events such as trivia nights, bowling, music bingo (“Singo”) and the W.C. Handy Blues & Barbecue Festival, which will take place June 12 to 15.
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