Southern Living magazine recognized North Carolina and South Carolina locations multiple times in a roundup of 2025 “best of” lists.
Established in 1966, Southern Living aims to “celebrate the food, homes and places that define our region.” The publication’s ninth annual “South’s Best” awards honored readers’ favorite spots for 2025 through a voting process that drew 10,000 respondents. Previous Citizen Times reporting covered the inclusions of Asheville’s Inn on Biltmore Estate and Omni Grove Park Inn on the Southern Living list of 10 best 2025 resorts in the South.
On the magazine’s list of 20 best Southern cities of 2025, four locations across the two states were honored, including Asheville and Greenville. Here’s what Southern Living writers said about the cities, other N.C. and S.C. cities recognized, and the full list of 20.
Best cities in North Carolina, South Carolina
In total, four cities from N.C. and S.C. were included on Southern Living’s roundup of 20. Charleston and Greenville in S.C. were highly praised, at No. 1 and No. 6, respectively. In N.C., Asheville and Wilmington were recognized, at No. 3 and 13, respectively.
More: The top 2 resorts in the South are in Western NC, Southern Living says: Here’s where
What to do in Asheville, NC
Southern Living writers honored Asheville not only for its beauty and many options for travelers, but for its resiliency following Tropical Storm Helene’s devastation.
“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,” writers said.
Southern Living’s guide to visiting Asheville suggests the following:
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Grab a beer at a local brewery, or visit national favorites with East Coast operations in the area such as Sierra Nevada and New Belgium.
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Get outside at any of the city’s outdoor areas, from the N.C. Arboretum to the Asheville Urban Trail to the Blue Ridge Parkway and beyond.
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Eat up at countless local restaurants. Writers suggested stalls at the S&W Market, Cúrate, Chai Pani, Rhubarb and more.
The S&W Market in Asheville.
What to do in Greenville, SC
Less than 100 miles from Asheville, Greenville, S.C. at No. 6 on the list was praised by Southern Living for its big city perks and small town feel.
“No longer a hidden gem” according to writers, the magazine’s suggestions for visiting Greenville:
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Celebrate the arts with outdoor concerts and Broadway shows at the Peace Center, a nationally acclaimed collection at the Greenville County Museum of Art, events at NOMA Square and more.
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Enjoy the city’s green spaces, including Falls Park on the Reedy in downtown Greenville and the 28-mile paved Swamp Rabbit Trail that connects major attractions
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Learn about local history by visiting the Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum and Baseball Library or the Upcountry History Museum
The Piedmont Natural Gas ‘Downtown Alive’ live music series will be held this year Thursdays March 13 – August 28 at downtown Greenville’s Noma Square 5:30 – 8:30pm. This is music on Mar. 13, 2025 featuring the band Loud Music Company.
The South’s best cities of 2025
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Charleston, South Carolina
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Asheville, North Carolina
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Greenville, South Carolina
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Wilmington, North Carolina
More: Asheville hotel is one of the ‘World’s Greatest’ places to stay in 2025: Time magazine
Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Asheville NC among Southern Living Best Cities of 2025
