Annapolis Named One Of The South's Prettiest Cities

ANNAPOLIS, MD — The South has no shortage of spectacular views, from sunny beaches to historic towns and sweeping farmlands to sunny beaches and charming ports. Southern Living Magazine narrowed down the plethora of choices to 15, and Annapolis made the top five.

The Prettiest Cities ranking was part of the magazine's South's Best 2018, decided on by 32,000 readers. "Quirky college cities, lazy beach towns, historic coastal hubs, and bustling metropolises make up the pulsing heart and the pretty façade of the South," states Southern Living on the winners.

With its rich colonial history serving as the country's capital after the Revolutionary War, fresh seafood served up and local restaurants, picturesque streets in the downtown area, sailing festvials and location on the Chesapeake Bay, it's no surprise Annapolis made the list. Among a diverse selection of cities like Asheville, North Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina and San Antonio, Texas, Annapolis was the only city on the list from Maryland.

"Southerners have a longstanding appreciation for pretty things. Grand columned antebellum homes, snow-white fields of cotton, Mama’s hot buttermilk biscuits—we like having a little eye candy on the horizon. That’s why we take major pride in our cities and all of their charming qualities," the magazine writes of the winners. "From the historic avenues of Charleston to the white sandy beaches of St. Petersburg, the mountain vistas of Asheville to the river views of Savannah, the South boasts some truly good-looking spots just begging to be wandered and adored."

Here are the full rankings from Southern Living:

1. Charleston, South Carolina
2. Savannah, Georgia
3. Asheville, North Carolina
4. Annapolis, Maryland
5. Sarasota, Florida
6. Greenville, South Carolina
7. Fayetteville, Arkansas
8. Wilmington, North Carolina
9. Lexington, Kentucky
10. Chapel Hill, North Carolina
11. St. Petersburg, Florida
12. Georgetown, Texas
13. Chattanooga, Tennessee
14. Alexandria, Virginia
15. San Antonio, Texas

SEE ALSO:

• Annapolis Among 20 Best Coastal Places To Live: Magazine
• Annapolis Ranks On Top 100 Best Places To Live

The city just last week finished as the runner-up to Muskegon, Michigan, in the Strongest Towns contest. A thriving downtown district, diverse local employers and generally safe neighborhoods are among Annapolis' selling points.

Strong Towns, a national nonprofit working to build financial resilience in America's cities, towns and neighborhoods, is hosting the competition to determine the strongest town in the world.

Here's how city officials described Annapolis:

Through historic preservation and careful planning in neighborhoods that span the centuries, the City offers a unique small-town quality of life with historical and maritime charm, yet also provides big-City style and modern amenities. Annapolis offers a great variety of excellent dining and entertainment options but it is still small enough that it's easy to find a place for yourself in the community. From its earliest days as a colonial capital city, Annapolis was known as the "Athens of America" due to its wealth of cultural activities, a glittering social season, gracious hospitality and intellectual stimulation. More than 300 years of welcoming visitors has made our hospitality second to none. You will find the same welcoming atmosphere today, drawing more than 4 million people a year to the City's shores to indulge in our historic architecture, world-renowned cuisine, thriving maritime amenities and diverse cultural arts activities. Whether you come for the history, education, water or hospitality, there is always something happening in Annapolis for you to enjoy.

Image by city of Annapolis