Southern Exposure
Whether you're ready to warm up on a sleepy beach, sip spirits in bourbon country or stroll through a city center jacket-free, these Southern destinations offer welcome escapes from the cold. Take a quick flight or drive to all three states.
KENTUCKY
SOUTH CAROLINA
GEORGIA
CLICK ON A STATE TO LEARN MORE
GOOD TIMES GREAT SPIRITS
QUIET COAST VIBRANT SIGHTS
WARM TOWNS PRISTINE BEACHES
KentuckyTourism.com
DiscoverSouthCarolina.com
ExploreGeorgia.org
Kentucky
Neighbor to four Midwestern states (Illinois, Indiana, Missouri and Ohio), the state famed for verdant terrain provides easy getaways focused on history, food and drink, sporting events, and outdoor adventures. South of Louisville, visit Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park before heading to Mammoth Cave National Park. As you drive east, bluegrass gives way to the Appalachian Mountains and their folk culture of music, arts and crafts.
State Parks
Nickname
01
James Beard Award nominee Ouita Michel (nominated for outstanding restaurateur and best chef Southeast) relies on local ingredients at all seven of her restaurants, including her original: Midway’s Holly Hill Inn. Locally sourced goodness also stars at Freight House in Paducah, Lilly’s Bistro in Louisville and Owensboro’s circa 1918 Old Hickory Bar-B-Que.
FOODIE FORAYS
49
SPIRITS QUEST
FOR OUTDOOR EXPLORERS
BEHOLD YOUR HORSES
Barrels of the state’s signature spirit await at 73 distilleries. Besides the legendary Kentucky Bourbon Trail in the heart of the state, explore the Urban Bourbon Trail around Lexington or The B-Line, a string of bars, distilleries and restaurants serving the good stuff in the north. Newer craft distilleries, such as Frankfort’s Castle and Key (serving small-batch spirits at a stunning 113-acre estate) pop up regularly.
02
Marvel at what lies beneath the surface at Mammoth Cave National Park, featuring historically rich hiking tours of the world’s longest known cave system. Above ground, conquer whitewater at Cumberland Falls State Resort Park or hit the trails at Sugarcamp Mountain Trails, eastern Kentucky’s premier mountain biking destination located in Prestonsburg.
03
Immerse yourself in the “most exciting two minutes in sports” at Louisville’s Kentucky Derby Museum and track tours of Churchill Downs. In Lexington, catch races, museums and behind-the-scenes tours at two celebrated destinations: Keeneland (known for its horse sales) and Kentucky Horse Park.
04
Bluegrass State
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FOOD AND FOREST
Discover a state of traditions—and surprises. On the northwest border, cruise the roller-coaster drive amid the Blue Ridge Mountains. Enjoy stops for waterfall hikes and barbecue, and plan an overnight in Greenville to explore the numerous breweries on foot. As you roll out of the mountains to the southeast, antebellum plantations (many open for tours) dot the landscape. Find your endgame at the coast, where sleepy beach towns and state parks complement Charleston and its candy-color houses, contemporary boutiques, and über-fresh seafood and Low Country cuisine (think shrimp and grits, she-crab soup and Hoppin’ John).
South Carolina
MILES OF SHORELINE
2,876
Palmetto State
ISLAND EYEFUL
SEAFOOD, SEE ART
JUST BEACHY
Set up a tent or park your RV near 5 miles of pristine sand at Hunting Island State Park. Climb the historic lighthouse’s 167 steps for sweeping seascapes. Farther up the coast, four miles of ADA-accessible trails wind through seashell-studded Edisto Beach State Park. Experience Gullah culture and encounter dolphins with Botany Bay Ecotours.
Spot loggerhead sea turtles, bottlenose dolphins and eagles on a short ferry ride from Awendaw to Bulls Island. The car-free island offers 16 miles of trails and teems with ducks, gators and around 300 bird species.
Head to Georgetown, where oak trees tower over indie shops and restaurants in the state’s third-oldest city. Get the dish on local history and Low Country cuisine with Carolina Food Tours. Then drive down to McClellanville and the 259,000-acre Francis Marion National Forest, which offers countless opportunities to explore on foot, bike or horseback. Get oriented—and meet a red wolf—at the Sewee Visitor and Environmental Education Center.
On Murrells Inlet, stroll the half-mile Marsh Walk to watch the day’s catches of fish, oysters, clams and crabs arrive at the docks, then try them fresh at a local eatery. Nearby Brookgreen Gardens boasts a world-renowned collection of 2,000 American sculptures.
Peach State
A sweet subtropical climate keeps your mind on the southernmost of the original 13 Colonies. Make Atlanta your anchor for food, shopping, sports and Civil Rights history. A drive southeast leads through historic downtowns brimming with locally owned shops, Georgia’s largest yard sale (Peaches to Beaches, March 8–9) and farms to tour. Get your friendliness fix along the coast in Savannah before settling in on one of the barrier islands to explore state parks, play golf or soak up a spa treatment.
Georgia
BARRIER ISLANDS
15
(only four accessible by car)
TOASTS OF THE COAST
SAVOR SAVANNAH
MUSEUMS AND MORE
CAPITAL IDEAS
As you slice the Peach State from north to south on I-75, hop off in Atlanta, the capital, for fine dining, super shopping, rich history and inspiration-inducing attractions. Start with Centennial Park District, where you can tour the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, Center for Civil and Human Rights, and the College Football Hall of Fame.
On the northern stretch of I-75, Cartersville draws families with its Tellus Science Museum, Booth Museum and Etowah Indian Mounds. In Calhoun, The ROCK Garden features a miniature version of Paris’ Notre Dame Cathedral; you can also visit Sam’s Tree House containing a submarine from an Elvis Presley film.
The coastal city of Savannah checks all the boxes for Southern charm: antebellum architecture, horse-drawn carriages and cobblestone streets. See it all on a trolley tour, then explore the shops and cafes of Broughton and River streets. More discoveries await on the water with Savannah Riverboat Cruises and Moon River Kayak Tours.
Four barrier islands and the mainland city of Brunswick combine for a coastal getaway that suits your style. The entire family finds something to love on Jekyll Island, home to 10 miles of beaches, a National Historic Landmark District, 63 holes of golf and the Georgia Sea Turtle Center. Find tranquility on the undeveloped beach of St. Simons Island, or pamper yourself at one of the resorts of Little St. Simons Island or Sea Island.
As you slice the Peach State from north to south on I-75, hop off in Atlanta, the capital, for fine dining, super shopping, rich history and inspirational-inducing attractions. Start with Centennial Park District, where you can tour the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, Center for Civil and Human Rights, and the College Football Hall of Fame.
On the northern stretch of I-75, Cartersville draws families with its Tellus Science Museum, Booth Museum and Etowah Indian Mounds. In Calhoun, The Rock Garden features a miniature version of Paris’ Notre Dame Cathedral; you can also visit Sam’s Tree House containing a submarine from an Elvis Presley film.
LET'S CHOOSE ANOTHER TRIP
TOASTS OF THE COST
ExploreGeorgia.com
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