Reviewed by: Pat Byington
Fairhope named one of the most scenic towns in the South
Reading time: 2 minutes
Fairhope has landed on WorldAtlas’s list of the nine most scenic towns in the Southern United States for 2026. The coastal tourist-destination is Alabama’s sole representative on the list.
Why Fairhope made the list
WorldAtlas points to Fairhope’s roots as a single-tax colony founded in 1894 by followers of economist Henry George, an experiment that grew into the bluff-top, sunset-facing town it is today.
The list highlights the Weeks Bay Reserve’s thousands of acres of marsh and hardwood forest, along with the Eastern Shore Art Center’s exhibitions and classes downtown.
The write-up also calls out Point Clear’s Grand Hotel Golf Resort and Spa, noting the resort’s 550 bayfront acres, two golf courses and private beach, plus its long history dating back to 1847.
WorldAtlas aptly summed up the appeal:
What ties these towns together is less a shared look than a shared depth.
Ellery Weil, WorldAtlas
The other 8 towns on the list
Fairhope shares the spotlight with towns spanning six other states, from Gulf Coast neighbors to mountain hideaways up the Eastern Seaboard:
- Beaufort, South Carolina
- Blowing Rock, North Carolina
- Eureka Springs, Arkansas
- Georgetown, South Carolina
- Monticello, Florida
- St. Augustine, Florida
- St. Michaels, Maryland
- Staunton, Virginia
