south's small-town jewels, The

Southern Living, Spring 2002 by Austin, Farrah

We asked four Southern Living writers to name their favorite little burgs. Here's what they had to say.

Old men sip coffee and talk politics at a neighborhood cafe. A mail carrier making his rounds tips his hat and bids hello to passersby. Mothers in ponytailed hair and tennis shoes leisurely push their newborn babes down the sidewalks of scarcely populated streets. Even the mayor on an afternoon jog stops long enough to pet the dog of an 8-year-old constituent.

Things simmer down to a slower, easier pace in small Southern towns. Most of the time people aren't in a rush to do anything except say good morning to a stranger or share a meal with a friend. A welcome departure from their glamorous big-sister cities, small towns carry a refreshing and inviting quality, reminiscent of a tall glass of iced tea on a hot afternoon.

We at Southern Living have come to cherish these jewels of the South. Here are a few towns that especially inspire us.

Eureka Springs, Arkansas

An air of enchantment envelops this tiny Victorian city. Houses bathed in brightly colored paint-canary yellows, precious pinks, and baby blues-adorn its pristinely kept streets. Visitors from all over come for the magic of the town's healing waters and rugged beauty.

Eureka Springs is also a melting pot of tastes, with pizza from New York, herbs from California, crafts from the Ozarks, and music from the Carolinas. I normally satisfy my appetite at Olive's Restaurant, a piano bar where they serve everything from steak to sushi on their ever-changing menu. My favorite store in town is Vintage Cargo, which carries the metal artwork of Jan Barboglio, European antiques, and home and garden accessories. These two places speak of the variety and mystery that can be experienced in Eureka Springs.

For more information contact the Eureka Springs Chamber of Commerce at (501) 253-- 8737 or www.eurekaspringschamber.com.

Ocean Springs, Mississippi

It's no wonder this coastal town-complete with lovely waterfront, soul-stirring sunsets, and untouched natural landscape-is one of our favorites. Senior Writer and Story Director Dianne Young describes Ocean Springs as "a little-town dream, maybe the sweetest in all of Mississippi."

Perhaps that's what compelled native artist Walter Anderson to set up shop and call its shores home. One of our special places is the museum of art named in his honor, where Anderson's work is housed.

This community celebrates its painters, potters, and dancers with a thriving artists colony. Many of their creations can be seen and purchased at any number of the town's eclectic shops. "I was hooked on this place from the first time I saw Ocean Springs and visited Shearwater Pottery," recalls Dianne. "The art, the ambience, the soft ocean air-how can you beat such a combination?"

For more information contact the Ocean Springs Chamber of Commerce at (228) 875-4424 or www. oceanspringschamber.com.

Shepherdstown, West Virginia

Pastoral hills of rolling green grass come to mind when I think of Shepherdstown. "It's an hour and a half from D.C., but a century back in time," says Associate Features Editor Joe Rada. Here, time takes a break and invites visitors to do the same.

Those who do visit find that it's a good place to relax, eat a hearty meal, or watch a film at the Shepherdstown Opera House.

Just 5 miles down the road from Shepherdstown, an integral chapter in our nation's history came to life. It's hard to imagine that the Battle of Antietam was fought near this picturesque place once known for manufacturing yellow bricks. You may not find yellow-brick roads here, but you can still follow the path to Shepherd College, the younger and more energetic pulse of the city.

For more information contact the Shepherdstown Visitors Center at (304) 876-2786 or www.shepherds town.org.

Muskogee, Oklahoma

Blossoming azaleas are seldom associated with Oklahoma. That is, unless you've been to Muskogee in April, when 400,000 visitors flock to the town's Azalea Festival.

If you prefer to pass up the flowers, Senior Writer Gary Ford offers another reason to visit-the town's charm. "As soon as I entered Muskogee I could feel the friendliness of a small Southern town," he says.

One of Gary's favorite places to have a good meal in town is the Harmony House eatery and bakery. "Three generations of women serve some of the tastiest lunches in the South," he says.

For a sampling of the state's American Indian culture, the Ataloa Lodge Indian Museum houses 20,000 artifacts of traditional and contemporary Indian art.

For more information contact the Muskogee Convention and Tourism at (918) 684-6363, or visit www. muskogee.org. FARRAH AUSTIN