Best of the South
Between hundreds of gorgeous hotels, scenic natural attractions and delicious restaurants, building your Southern travel itinerary can be a daunting task. We’re here to help with our list of some of the South’s best destinations to add to your plans this year. Trust us: you won’t be disappointed with these picks.
The Eliza Jane
New Orleans, Louisiana
Steps away from the lively French Quarter, The Eliza Jane is the perfect destination for visitors looking to get as close as they can to the action without staying on Bourbon Street. Housed in a quartet of historic warehouses that previously manufactured and distributed liquor, gunpowder and the city’s Daily Picayune newspaper, The Eliza Jane pays homage to its storied history through unique programming and antique architectural flourishes blended with a refreshingly modern twist. Upscale rooms feature rich colors and elegant floral patterns that contrast with tufted leather headboards, brass accents and exposed brick walls. Bring your appetite: the property also boasts an over-the-top lobby lounge and bar, The Press Room, and a signature French brassiere, Couvant, housed in the former Peychaud Cocktail Bitters factory.
Ocean Springs, Mississippi
Indulge in a relaxing, small-town coastal getaway in Mississippi’s hidden gem: Ocean Springs. Front Beach’s quiet stretch of sand is ideal for basking in the sun, swimming in the calm water or experiencing a scenic sunset picnic. For a more active pursuit, enjoy a day fishing on the water. Leave time to explore the idyllic, walkable downtown, which is lined with more than 200 independent shops, boutiques, restaurants and galleries. The artistic pulse can be felt everywhere in the quaint town, including at the nationally accredited Walter Anderson Museum of Art, which celebrates its artist-philosopher namesake’s works of coastal plants, animals, landscapes and people, the Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Arts Center, which offers two art galleries and a theatre and the family-owned Shearwater Pottery, which features an incredible display of figurines, decorative tiles and other ceramic objects.
Blackberry Farm
Walland, Tennessee
There is no better place to soak in the magic of the Great Smoky Mountains than Blackberry Farm, a luxury hotel and resort providing a tranquil escape for family and friends. Situated on a hillside made for viewing the breathtaking sunrise, the resort offers a variety of luxe accommodations, ranging from intimately charming rooms to luxuriously comfortable cottages. With a focus on wellness, Blackberry Farm’s property houses a range of hiking trails, as well as daily fitness classes, real-world nutrition planning, athletic training and a best-in-class spa utilizing natural skincare and body products. The property is renowned for its culinary offerings, which blend haute cuisine and foods indigenous to the region. Guests can enjoy dinner at The Barn, an elevated turn-of-the-century, bank-style barn or The Dogwood, a relaxed fine-dining experience.
Tallulah Gorge State Park
Tallulah Falls, Georgia
One of the most spectacular canyons in the eastern United States, Tallulah Gorge is two miles long and nearly 1,000 feet deep. Hike rim trails to several overlooks, secure a permit to hike to the gorge floor or test your skills on a challenging 10-mile mountain bike trail, but do not miss the park’s iconic suspension bridge, which sways 80 feet above the rocky bottom and provides unparalleled views of the river and waterfall. Families can utilize a stroller-friendly paved path following an old railroad bed before enjoying the exhibits in the park’s Jane Hurt Yarn Interpretive Center, which highlight the rich history of the Victorian resort town, as well as the rugged terrain and fragile ecosystem of the area. Also available in the visitor’s center, an award-winning film takes viewers on a dramatic journey through the gorge, including footage of rock climbers and kayakers.
Niki’s West
Birmingham, Alabama
Known as the gold standard of Birmingham meat-and-three’s, Niki’s West is one of Alabama’s oldest — and most famed — family-owned restaurants. Since 1957, this cafeteria-style eatery has been serving up an outstanding display of home-style Southern cooking with Greek highlights, offering more than 40 fresh vegetables and homemade salads alongside a rotating menu of steaks, seafood and other meat. The portions at this legendary buffet are large, but save room for dessert. Niki’s pies, cobblers and banana pudding are just as good as the mains. Diners can feast on their plates (best served alongside sweet tea) in the clean, comfortable and cavernous dining area that blends a classic diner atmosphere with a mess hall layout.
NASCAR Hall of Fame
Charlotte, North Carolina
Conveniently located in Uptown Charlotte, the NASCAR Hall of Fame is an interactive entertainment attraction honoring the thrilling history and heritage of NASCAR. The high-tech venue is designed to educate and entertain both race fans and non-fans alike through more than 50 interactive experiences. The family-friendly museum offers historical artifacts, a 278-person state-of-the-art theater and a Hall of Honor. Both adults and children will love getting behind the wheel of an iRacing simulator on their favorite track or proving they have what it takes to make the team in the Hall of Fame’s Pit Crew Challenge. Be sure to stop by the onsite Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant to fuel up before checking out the NASCAR Hall of Fame Gear Shop.
Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit
Charleston, South Carolina
The South is famed for its cuisine, including its handmade biscuits. There is no better place in Charleston to stop for a fresh, buttery bite of bread than Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit. This iconic Southern stopover was created by Carrie Morey, who wanted to bring her mother’s traditional, tender, made-by-hand biscuits to the masses. The warm and welcoming space offers flaky and doughy biscuits in a handful of flavors, including buttermilk, cheese & chive, country ham, shortbread, blueberry and cinnamon, as well as biscuit sandwiches and coffee to pair alongside it all. Take these biscuits back to your own kitchen with grab-and-go mixes too.
Jamestown, Virginia
Take a step back in time in Historic Jamestown, which preserves, protects and promotes the original site of the first permanent English settlement in North America and tells the story of the role of three cultures — European, North American and African — that came together to lay the foundation for a uniquely American form of democratic government, language, free enterprise and society. Visitors can explore artifacts at the Voorhees Archaearium, the site’s archaeology museum, and participate in walking tours that provide insight into the 17th century town. The neighboring Jamestown Settlement offers replicas of the three ships that sailed from England to Virginia in 1607, life-size re-creations of the colonists’ fort and a Powhatan village and a tourable riverfront discovery area that highlights European, Powhatan and African economic activities associated with water.
The National, Autograph Collection
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
History comes to life at The National, Autograph Collection, located in downtown Oklahoma City. Situated in one of Oklahoma City’s top architectural treasures, this new hotel preserves and transforms the 1931 First National Bank office tower into an inspired and luxurious place to stay. The hotel brings the city’s history front and center with murals, decorative painted ceilings, marble floors, stone columns, metal finishes, vault doors and more, all telling the story of Oklahoma’s history of oil drilling and banking. Guests can enjoy spacious modern rooms and two on-site restaurants — an American steakhouse and an Italian wood-fired grill. For those looking to imbibe, head to The Library of Distilled Spirits, located in the iconic basement bank vault of the former First National Bank building, where barkeeps serve more than 200 classic cocktails crafted with rare and fine spirits.
Mammoth Cave National Park
Mammoth Cave, Kentucky
Mammoth Cave National Park is home to thousands of years of human history and a rich diversity of plant and animal life, earning it the title of UNESCO World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Reserve. One of the most popular attractions in the state, the national park was established to preserve the cave system, including Mammoth Cave, the scenic river valleys of the Green and Nolin rivers and a portion of the hilly country of south central Kentucky. This is the longest recorded cave system in the world with more than 400 miles explored and mapped. Visitors can enjoy cave tours, hiking, horseback riding, biking, picnicking, camping, backcountry camping, canoeing and fishing as they soak up the area’s natural beauty.
