The American South is determined by its cuisine, landscape, accent, literature, music and history. In the cities of the Southeast, one can identify the true American experience, in the sweat-drenched noir of New Orleans to the accept-all-comers diversity of Atlanta and Nashville. These cities also offer the perfect bases to explore this fascinating region further.
Best excursions from Atlanta
Georgia Museum of Art, Athens, Georgia
The Georgia Museum of Art is a smart, modern gallery where brainy, arty types set up in the wired lobby for private study, while art hounds gawk at modern sculpture in the courtyard garden as well as the tremendous collection from American realists from the 1930s. 1hr 15min by car.
North Georgia Wine Country
The Appalachian foothills north of Atlanta are now a recognized viticultural region, thanks to the ultra-quaffable wines produced here. There are other than a dozen wineries to choose from, many with breathtaking mountain views, live music or patios which are perfect for whiling away a few hours. Pull-up a stool at certainly one of Dahlonega's tasting rooms to sample the very best of the location. 2hr by car.
Providence Canyon State Park, Georgia
You might not expect Grand Canyon-style landscapes inside an easy drive of Atlanta, but that's what you'll find at Providence Canyon. The 1000-acre park has trails galore amid its trademark gullies, with cliffs of layered sediment inside a rainbow of colours. Stop for any bite along with a riverside stroll in Columbus, around the Chattahoochee River. 2hr 20min by car.
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Best excursions from Charlotte
Asheville, North Carolina
In 1890, George Vanderbilt chose to build himself the largest home in the US within the most beautiful location. He find the rolling mountains near Asheville – along what's now the Blue Ridge Parkway – where art deco buildings, farm-to-table restaurants and innovative microbreweries now pave the best way to his Biltmore Estate. The town is home to a sizable population of artists and hard-core hippies. 2hr by car.
Congaree National Park, South Carolina
Firefly speed dating? Yup. Not only does Congaree National Park possess the world's largest expanse of old-growth hardwood forest and miles of boardwalk trails through languid blackwater swamps, however for fourteen days at the end of May to early June, Congaree becomes a first-date hotspot for a million Photinus carolinus fireflies, who blink together during mating season. 2hr by car.
Mount Airy, North Carolina
The inspirational setting for the fictional capital of scotland- Mayberry from The Andy Griffith Show, Mount Airy is really as American as the $1.80 bologna sandwich at its Snappy Lunch diner. The nearby Yadkin Valley's wine industry has lent an aura of sophistication to this old-timey town. Check into the endearingly perfect Pilot Knob Inn in which to stay an original tobacco cabin, and canoe on your own private lake. 2hr by car.
Best excursions from Nashville
Lynchburg, Tennessee
Lynchburg – the home of Jack Daniels Distillery – is really a veritable mecca for fans of Tennessee whiskey. The distillery is situated in a dry county, however, you can still sample whiskey sucked from individual barrels during certainly one of their informative distillery tours. If wines are more your speed, pop into the Lynchburg Winery before indulging in a slice of rich Southern gastronomic history at Miss Mary Bobo's Boarding House Restaurant. If souvenir shopping is on the list, the surrounding shops are stocked with a delightful assortment of handmade crafts. 1hr 40min by car.
Lookout Mountain, Chattanooga, Tennessee
Six miles from downtown Chattanooga lies a nature-based triple treat: Ruby Falls, Rock City and the Inline Railway. This adventure is based in Lookout Mountain, a mountain ridge running through Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia. Go in for a guided cave tour or a 700ft zipline adventure through Ruby Falls, home from the world's largest underground waterfall. Stroll through the diverse plants and creatures of the Rock City Gardens. Wrap up having a mile-high ride around the Incline Railway, one of the world's steepest passenger railways. At the top: a bird's eye in the Lookout Mountain observation deck. 2hr 10min by car.
Lost Sea, Sweetwater, Tennessee
Tennessee may be land-locked, but that doesn't stop the state from boasting its sea. Listed as "America's largest underground lake" by Guinness World Book of Records, the Lost Sea is really a massive lake located in a historic cave system known as the Craighead Caverns. The lake's true dimensions are unknown, however, you can glide across its four-acre surface and catch a glimpse of the crystal formations and colossal rainbow trout that inhabit the caverns on the boat tour. Nearby, Sweetwater's revitalized Main Street provides a bake shop full of indulgent Southern sweets, galleries and plenty of antique shopping. 2hr 53min by car.
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Best day trips from New Orleans
Barataria Preserve, Marrero, Louisiana
The Barataria Preserve belongs to the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, south of recent Orleans close to the capital of scotland- Marrero (and Crown Point). This section provides the easiest accessibility encircling dense swamplands. The eight miles of boardwalk trails provide a stunning exploration through the fecund, thriving swamp, the place to find alligators, nutrias (basically big, invasive river rats), tree frogs and myriad types of birds. 30min by car.
Laura Plantation, Vacherie
Discover Louisiana's turbulent past at Laura Plantation, a restored 19th-century estate on the west bank of the Mississippi River. It was run by four Creole women, most notably Laura, for whom it is named. An excursion teases the distinctions between Creole, Anglo, free and enslaved African Americans. Culturally and architecturally, this Creole mansion is strikingly dissimilar to other plantations. 1hr by car.
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge, Louisiana's capital, hosts a thriving arts community, largely thanks to Louisiana State University. The LSU Museum of Art, inside the clean, geometric lines of the Shaw Center for that Arts, holds a permanent assortment of over 5000 works as well as hosts touring exhibitions. There are lots more galleries off and on campus, many associated with the university and it is myriad arts courses. 1hr 20min by car.
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