The Top Southern Destinations to Add to Your Travel Plans This Year 

By: Crysta Culbertson 

After enjoying the holiday season surrounded by family and friends, spending all day cooking a family meal or baking goodies, and attending one celebration after another, it’s beyond time for a vacation! So what better way to start off the new year than by planning your family’s next getaway? The South has so many incredible destinations that there’s really no wrong choice, but there are some special places that should be at the top of your list. 

Charlotte, North Carolina is a major city in North Carolina. Millions of visitors are drawn there each year to visit the NASCAR Hall of Fame, the kid-friendly Discovery Place, and the Levine Museum of the New South, which educates guests on post-Civil War history in the southern United States. Visitors to Charlotte can also get a taste of adventure at the US National Whitewater Center and a taste of the delicious at one of the many cafes and bake shops in the area serving freshly roasted coffee and homemade artisan doughnuts. 

Louisville, Kentucky is many things — original, eclectic, dynamic, and energetic. Within its boundaries you'll find sports, history, nature, art, music, amazing food, and lodging that take overnight stays and vacations to the next level. Don’t miss out on the Urban Bourbon Experience™, featuring the world’s only, city-wide trail filled with award-winning micro-distilleries, exhibits and craft cocktail destinations. Then discover one-of-a-kind attractions like the legendary Churchill Downs, Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, and the Muhammad Ali Center. 
gotolouisville.com 

The Ozark Mountains, Arkansas sometimes referred to as the Ozark Plateau, refers to a region that encompasses parts of Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Arkansas. This rural, natural region is full of thick green forests, deep lakes, and a rugged, mountainous landscape. In the Ozarks National Scenic Riverways in Southern Missouri, visitors can go fishing, canoeing, or swimming in either the Current River or the Jacks Fork River, which ease their way through a landscape of hilly green mountains and are edged by many hiking trails. In the Arkansas Ozarks, travelers will find taller, more twisty hills and roads, with natural springs, countless lakes, caves, and more. 

Franklin, Tennessee is home to modern amenities and rich history, mixed with a healthy dose of Southern charm. With a Great American Main Street that runs through the heart of a 16-block historic downtown, Franklin offers a getaway from the expected. It is a place you'll find transformative music experiences, world-class art next to restaurants where you eat BBQ on a paper plate, local distilleries that have transformed Tennessee whiskey, and a world of colorful memories that are not soon forgotten.
visitfranklin.com 

Jekyll Island, Georgia is a place you’ll be smitten with if you love to bike (or boat, crab, fish, or swim), and a classic destination for Southern vacations. Located between Savannah and Jacksonville in the Golden Isles, this barrier island boasts 10 miles of uncrowded beaches. When you’re not out for a bike ride on the 25-mile paved trail system, you might find yourself fishing from the pier, playing a round of golf, or exploring Driftwood Beach, a must-see spot scattered with driftwood formations. Book a rental along the shore, and you might spot pelicans and sandpipers from your back porch! 
jekyllisland.com 

Beaufort, South Carolina charms visitors with its horse-drawn carriages and antebellum mansions, few Southern vacations combine history, hospitality, and coastal charm. Get acquainted with this beautiful small town on a photo safari or fishing charter, or a history and film tour, then fall head over heels for the breezy views at Hunting Island State Park or Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park. Rentals range from colorful carriage houses to restored cottages in the heart of the historic district. No matter where you stay, you’ll enjoy easy access to chic galleries and locally-owned Lowcountry restaurants. 
beaufortsc.org 

Breaux Bridge, Louisanna is the designated Crawfish Capital of the World and the birthplace of crawfish etouffee. The town’s famous Crawfish Festival blends Cajun flavors and family-friendly attractions with entertainment from traditional Cajun, Zydeco, and Swamp Pop musicians. No matter when you visit this Southern small town, you’ll discover a culture as soulful as the cuisine and a landscape as enchanting as the locals. Beyond the boutiques in the historic district, attractions include wetland tours in the Atchafalaya Basin and spectacular birdwatching at Lake Martin. 
breauxbridgela.net 

In Huntsville, Alabama, change is constant, but tradition is never forgotten. From the rich, historic architecture and neighborhoods to the progressive industries in aerospace, defense and biotech to the culture that encourages innovation and inclusivity, the “Rocket City” has never failed to adapt to the present while maintaining a love for the past. They work creatively and, when they play, they play all over the place – from the mountain trails of Monte Sano to the waters of the Tennessee River and the nightlife of Downtown Huntsville. 
huntsville.org 

Fredericksburg, Texas is located in the heart of Texas Wine Country and charms visitors with its vineyards, vibrant art scene, and toe-tapping live music. Learn more about the town’s German settlers on a historic trolley tour, then purchase some peach jam at quaint country store Das Peach Haus or go climbing at Enchanted Rock State Area. After a long day of sipping, shopping, or antique picking,  you’ll want to head back to your rental—perhaps a renovated cabin owned by one of the town’s founders?— to relax by the fire pit. 
visitfredericksburgtx.com 

Jackson, Mississippi is known as the City with Soul™ because of its perseverance and triumphant spirit. It has birthed many historical marks, from Civil Rights to Civil War, to music, to world-class museums and exhibits, to thriving festivals and events, to award-winning attractions to James Beard Foundation chefs and restaurants. The city pulses with music from classical to inspirational, home-grown gospel, blues, jazz, rock ‘n roll, R&B and more that can be found all around town. 
visitjackson.com 

Charlottesville, Virginia is home to the University of Virginia, which bears mentioning particularly due to the designer of its central campus: Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States and one of the Founding Fathers. In fact, the entire city is peppered with monuments and history pertaining to Jefferson. His plantation, Monticello, sits just outside the city limits and is open for visitors to explore the mansion, extensive grounds, and reconstructed slave quarters. The city of Charlottesville is also very conveniently located to Shenandoah National Park, which gives access to some of the most spectacular sights in the Blue Ridge Mountains. 
visitcharlottesville.org 

Huntington, West Virginia is a place that’s redefining travel and hip vacations. As home of Marshall University, this West Virginia city has a bustling dining and nightlife scene, but it’s also a great place for families to visit. Huntington is also home to the state’s only Smithsonian affiliate, Heritage Farm Museum and Village as well as many other amazing attractions, fine dining, charming boutiques, outdoor recreation, entertainment opportunities and more. In H-Town, you’ll find a unique flavor of vacation and so much more.
visithuntingtonwv.org 

With so many great southern destinations to choose from you might need to draw from a hat or flip a coin. Don’t despair though, even if you can’t visit all these places this year, they’ll still be there to welcome you for years to come because southern hospitality never expires.