Discover the Charm of 9 Southeastern States

Kick Up Your Heels in the Southeast

The nine states that make up the Southeast have so much to see! Some of the top reasons people go to these states are to listen to the music, to trace the Civil Rights Movement, to hit the beaches, to explore charming cities and to get a taste of the South. Each state has its own personality, things to do and see, and people. These nine states are Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. Taking a peek at each state will help you decide which state or states you want to visit first.

BUCKET LIST PICKS FOR EACH STATE

ALABAMA:

• Golf Shores: 32 miles of white-sand beaches

• Daughin Island: quiet shores and unobstructed, colorful sunsets

• Montgomery: Civil Rights history at The Legacy Museum

• Birmingham: Hip southern city and Birmingham Civil Rights Institute

• Selma: Edmond Pettus Bridge and the National Voting Rights Museum

• US Space and Rocket Center: collection of rockets, space memorabilia, simulators

• Roll Tide: University of Alabama football

• F Scott & Zelda Fitzgerald House in Montgomery: museum

• Mobile Mardi Gras: attend the parade, try Moe's Original BBQ

FLORIDA:

• Orlando Theme Parks: Walt Disney World and Universal Studios

• The Everglades: Spot alligators in a river of grass

• Florida Keys: Road trip from Key Largo at the top to Key West at the bottom

• St. Augustine: Oldest city in the US, charming historical city, tour the fort

• Sanibel Island: Known for excellent shell seeking

• The Emerald Coast: Destin to Panama City, white powdery sand, less crowds

• Amelia Island: Charming historical town, Civil War fort, oldest lighthouse, bar and hotel

• Crystal River: Manatee refuge

• The Space Coast: Watch a rocket launch, visit Kennedy Space Center

• Little Havana: Cuban culture

• Ocala National Forest: 383,000-acre national forest

• Miami Beach: Visit South Beach in the day, and enjoy the nightlife

• Siesta Key: Fine, powdery white sand beach

• Fort Lauderdale: Venice of America

• Dali Museum in St. Petersburg

• Flora-Bama Mullet Toss Event, Perdido Key

• Weeki Wachee Mermaid Show in Spring Hill

GEORGIA:

• Jekyll Island: Once restricted to the rich and famous, beautiful beaches

• Tybee Island: Quirky beach town near Savannah

• Cumberland Island: Wild horses roam freely, Carnegie homes, no cars on the island

• Savannah: Historic and charming southern city

• Okefenokee Swamp: 700 square miles of freshwater wetlands

• Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Park, Atlanta

• Blue Ridge and the Chattahoochee Forest: Pleasant, small mountain town and forest

• Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta

• Etowah Indian Mounds: date back to AD 1000, Cartersvill, GA

KENTUCKY:

• Kentucky Bourbon Trail tour

• Lexington Horse Country: tour a horse farm

• Kentucky Derby: sip a mint julep and bet on your favorite horse

• University of Kentucky basketball

• Louuisville's Museum Row: Luisville Slugger Museum, Kentucky Science Center, Frazier History Museum, Muhammad Ali Center, Center for the Arts

• Louisville Distilleries: Evan Williams, Angel's Envy, Old Forester Distillery

• Mammoth Cave

• Lexington Distillery District

• Bluegrass Country

• Red River Gorge: Rock climbing

• Cocaine Bear: Hear the legends i Lexington

• Harland Sanders Cafe and Museum: home of Kentucky Fried Chicken

• The Brown: eat a "hot brown" where it was created
  

LOUISIANA:

• The French Quarter: take a tour, eat a beignet and cafe au lait for Cafe Du Monde

• Louisiana Swamps: take an airboat or swamp boat tour to spot alligators

• Cajun Country: crawfish capital of the world

• Lake Pontchartrain: the bridge is the longest continuing bridge over water in the world

• Bywater and Marigny: for music lovers, try the Spotted Cat Music Club and Blue Nile

• Mardi Gras: beads, booze and Bourbon Street

• The Treme: birthplace of jazz, live music

• The Whitney Plantation and Museum: dedicated to the history of slavery and those it hurt. Tour must be booked in advance.

• Haunted New Orleans: Marie Laveau's House of Voodoo, cemetery and haunted houses

MISSISSIPPI:

• Mississippi Blues Trail

• Jackson: Civil Rights history, blues and great food

• Natchez Trace Parkway: 440-mile American Indian footpath, now a slow scenic road

• Clarksdale: Land of the Delta Blues

• Biloxi and the Gulf Coast Scenic Byway

• Ocean Springs: Funky art and music town

• Tupalo: Birthplace of Elvis

• Mississippi Petrified Forest:

NORTH CAROLINA:

• Great Amoky Mountains National Park

• The Outer Banks: Lost Colony of Roanoke, mysterious shipwrecks, Wright Brothers' first flight, wild horses, lighthouses, beautiful beaches, great sea shelling

• Blue Ridge Parkway: 252 miles of winding mountain roads

• Asheville: Scenic mountain town, fun shops, excellent restaurants and breweries

• Appalachian Trail: 2000-mile hiking trail from Maine to Georgia, elevated points

• Small Carolina Mountain Towns: Hiking, river rafting, great views, quaint towns

• Wilmington beaches and fun beach towns

• The Triangle: Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, culture, food and nightlife

SOUTH CAROLINA:

• The Low Country: marshy territory and sea islands along the Atlantic Coast

• Jocassee Gorges: land of waterfalls, wide vistas, cool pine forests and fast rapids

• Hilton Head: beautiful beach resort destination, known for top-notch golf and tennis

• Charleston beaches and islands

• Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor: learn about this culture brought there as slaves

• Charleston: wonderful historic city, very charming southern town

• Congaree National Park: redwoods

• Myrtle Beach: Miles of beaches, fun nightlife

TENNESSEE:

• Grand Ole Opry: Country music stage

• Country Music Hall of Fame: large museum of country music stars

• Memphis' Beale Street: Music, bright lights and barbecue

• Gatlinburg: Gateway to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park

• Graceland: Home of Elvis Presley

• Dollywood: Dolly Parton's theme park

• National Civil Rights Museum

• Lorraine Motel: site of the killing of Martin Luther King, Jr.

• Chattanooga: hip little mountain city

No matter what state or states you pick, this part of the country is full of fascinating history, interesting sights, wonderful people and delicious food. Some of the food you should try while in these states are grits, barbeque, bourbon, fried chicken, catfish, lowcountry boil, cubano, brunswick stew, pie (varies per state), craft beer and sazerac. Just pick a state and GO!

Pick up one of these books to help you plan your next trip:

Alabama

Georgia

Florida

Kentucky

Mississippi

Louisiana

North Carolina

Tennessee

South Carolina