Southern attractions are fun for all ages.
Dunwoody, Georgia
The only way to experience the venerable southern hospitality up close and personal is to plan a visit to your favorite southern destination. While every state in the South features more than just one attraction, there are always a few that stand out from the rest. Here are some of the South’s top destinations of 2021.
Relaxation time is a special part of southern hospitality.
Dunwoody, Georgia
Dunwoody, Georgia
Endless activities and a vast array of culinary choices await visitors to this quaint town ten miles from Atlanta. Visit the Perimeter Mall, the Southeast’s second largest mall. Brook Run Park has a multi-use trail spanning two miles, dog park and TreeTop Quest, an obstacle course with zip lines at heights up to 55 feet above the ground. For those who want to sit back and take in the fresh air, relax in Dunwoody Park and Nature Center’s hammock garden. Dunwoody is a foodie’s paradise and offers everything from breweries to bakeries. Alon’s Bakery and Market is a local favorite for European-inspired gourmet pastries and fresh-baked breads. Novo Cucina, a chic Italian restaurant, uses locally sourced ingredients. Wrap up the day with brews at Moondog Growlers, offering over 40 different brews. With over 1,800 rooms across several hotels including the Atlanta Marriott, Le Meridien and Embassy Suites, the hotels in Dunwoody provide a welcoming, clean environment and southern hospitality.
Luxurious accommodations await guests.
Old Edwards Inn and Spa
Highlands, North Carolina
With ideal temperatures and plenty of outdoor activities, this charming mountain town is the perfect summer getaway. Within two-hour driving distance from Atlanta and Greenville, Highlands is ideal for travelers looking for a mountainous vacation, while not having to travel too far to get there. Highlands offers an abundance of local events for travelers to experience all summer long. Explore scenic drives and hiking trails, stroll beneath Dry Falls, drive under Bridal Veil Falls or view Whitewater Falls – the tallest east of the Rockies at 411 feet. Situated in the heart of downtown Highlands, Old Edwards Inn and Spa offers a mountain retreat with luxury guest rooms, suites, cottages and vacation homes. Perched atop the southwest plateau of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the European style Relais & Châteaux resort is woven into the Highlands community and culture. At Half-Mile Farm, guests will discover a quaint country inn secluded in North Carolina’s Highlands and surrounded by idyllic natural landscapes and mountain vistas.
The property blends Southern charm with contemporary decor.
Valley Hotel
Birmingham, Alabama
The seemingly countless activities combined with mild year-round climate make Birmingham a paradise for the outdoor enthusiast. Zip and climb through the forest for an exhilarating day of adrenaline-pumping fun at Red Mountain Park. With 50 miles of trails to choose from, Oak Mountain gives hikers the option of a short loop or an overnight trip. Railroad Park provides a historically rich venue for local recreation, family activities, concerts, and cultural events. One of the state’s most popular attractions, the Birmingham Zoo, is an ever-evolving adventure. New to the city, The Valley Hotel is located just a mile from the bustling downtown scene. The luxury property blends Southern charm and contemporary lifestyle among its spacious rooms, upscale chef-driven restaurant and signature café. The hotel offers travelers yet another side of Birmingham to add to their agenda: a visit to Homewood. The bucolic neighborhood offers travelers a true look at Southern hospitality with mom-and-pop boutiques, art galleries, restaurants and golf courses to explore.
There are numerous attractions throughout the area.
The Riverbanks Zoo
Lake Murray Country, South Carolina
It’s rare indeed to discover a region that artfully combines historic charm while bursting with every modern necessity, not to mention some of the south’s finest food. Such is the case with Lake Murray Country, South Carolina, where visitors can peruse 40 art galleries, collect timeless wares and fun threads at specialty shops and taste their way through the more than 60 restaurants and bars. Burn off all of those good eats with a city walking tour and stroll the streets that are etched in civil rights and Civil War history. Continue to step back in time and explore the area’s antebellum homes or one of the many museums that call Columbia home. Make sure the little ones get in on the Ed-Venture, the largest children’s museum in the South, or take them for a walk on the wild side at the Riverbanks Zoo. Visitors are shop till they drop throughout the region. Shop funky and fabulous stores in Columbia’s Five Points, the hip district located near the University of South Carolina.
Water fun reigns supreme at the expansive resort.
Massanutten Resort
Shenandoah Valley, Virginia and West Virginia
Few destinations anywhere offer the diversity of attractions found in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and West Virginia. Whether it’s at a waterpark, at a performance or festival, in a garden or on a wine or beer trail, the activities are endless. The region is a hub of outdoor recreation, offering hundreds of miles of trails and roads to hike or bike. Rent a cabin and go horseback riding in a national forest all weekend, or canoe, fish and swim the storied Shenandoah River. You can play golf, ride an ATV or even rock climb. Massanutten Resort features 6,000 acres of mountain fun at its very best. Visitors can beat the heat at the resort’s newly expanded Outdoor WaterPark, where they can race down one of the resort’s three new water slides – Mass Mayhem, Peak Plunge or Valley Vortex. The Inner Tube Slides create an exciting ride with unexpected twists, drops and tight corners, and the Reverse Freefall Rainbow Slide thrills riders with a 47-foot plummet down the half pipe.
The hotel will debut this fall with View Glass smart windows.
Lake Nona Wave Hotel
Lake Nona, Orlando, Florida
Dubbed “a smart city with soul,” Lake Nona is one of the fastest-selling master designed and technologically advanced communities in the country. Encompassing 17-square-miles and located adjacent to the Orlando International Airport, Lake Nona is built on the power of partnerships and innovations. It is home to one of the world’s largest autonomous vehicle fleets and a smart home, a test lab for the world’s smartest companies with amenities such as a Sleep Sanctuary and Wellness Kitchen. The future of Orlando’s hospitality landscape is set to dramatically change with the opening this fall of Lake Nona Wave Hotel. The hotel will debut with View Glass smart windows that tint using predictive intelligence in response to the sun and outdoor conditions, voice-automated in-room controls, TOTO Toilets, Healthe Inc. Cleanse Solutions that keep vital surfaces sanitized, customized app and more.
