FREDERICKSBURG, VA — Fredericksburg claimed the fifth spot in the South's Best Small Towns 2020 list in Southern Living. A reader vote placed Fredericksburg ahead of the likes of Aiken, South Carolina; Thomasville, Georgia; Beaufort, North Carolina; and Natchitoches, Louisiana. Another Virginia town, Williamsburg, captured the top spot on the Best Small Towns 2020 list.

When it asked readers to choose their favorite small towns, Southern Living said it found out how much variety the South has to offer — from coastal villages like Manteo, North Carolina to historic towns like Fredericksburg and Williamsburg. "What they all share in common is an authentic sense of place and devoted locals who get more excited about preservation and reinvention than demolition," Southern Living said Tuesday upon releasinig the list.

From the gas lanterns lining the downtown streets to the 18th century brick façades, Fredericksburg "exudes a quiet, calm energy" as well as "palpable sense of history," Southern Living wrote in its description of the city. Another historic Virginia city, Alexandria, claimed a spot in the top 10 of the South's Best Cities 2020 list in Southern Living.

In its Small Towns list, Southern Living wrote that Fredericksburg is an ideal destination for a weekend getaway where visitors can stay at a local bed and breakfast or inn. "There's no better way to spend a morning than with a cup of coffee on the Kenmore Inn's regal, column-lined front porch," the magazine wrote. The Richard Johnson Inn, located in downtown Fredericksburg, is a great option for those who want to experience a piece of history.

The magazine also highlighted downtown Fredericksburg for its architecture. "Fredericksburg's historic downtown includes over 350 original 18th and 19th century buildings within a 40-block loop," the magazine said.

Fredericksburg offers many dining options. At Orofino, Chef Danilo Orofino "helms the kitchen, maintaining his commitment to serve classic, authentic Italian food," the magazine said. For a true taste of Virginia, Fahrenheit 132 uses ingredients that are locally sourced, from the Virginia angus beef steaks to the Chesapeake Bay crab cakes. The Park Lane Tavern is another spot where "locals and imports unite" for a drink and a bite, according to the magazine.

At No. 1 on the list, Williamsburg boasts historic architecture and great restaurants that make it "a fun, contemporary small town, with plenty of outdoor recreation nearby," the magazine said.

"Whether you come here for the unmatched historic character or craft brews, the friendly neighbors or bucolic beauty, it's a place that reels you in and keeps calling you back for more," Southern Living says in its description of Williamsburg.

See the full South's Best Small Towns 2020 list below or find more information at www.southernliving.com/souths-best/small-towns.

