Innehållsförteckning för Travel 2015 från Southern Lady

The open road leads to a sublime sort of freedom. Bags packed. Sunglasses on, and snacks in the back. Windows down; music up. Maps and milemarkers. Blue skies, barbecue sandwiches, deep conversations. Indeed, the journey is just as important as the destination, and in this special issue, we go on and off the beaten path in the South to help you discover ideas for your next getaway. From long weekends to dream vacations, the options range in diversity, from atmosphere to activities, but each is beautiful and interesting in its own way. We’ll also introduce you to the faces who make the places great—chefs, innkeepers, artists, proprietors, pitmasters, and more! Perhaps you’ll decide to sample a Snoball at Hansen’s Sno-Bliz in New Orleans or take a carriage ride down Charleston’s…

All it took was a song called “Memphis Blues” by a budding W.C. Handy for this riverside destination to become known for harvesting legends rather than cotton. From Johnny Cash to Otis Redding to Elvis Presley, numerous musical greats have shaped the city’s song, a lively medley celebrated through attractions like Sun Studio and the Memphis Rock ’n’ Soul Museum. Riverboat tours and carriage rides offer a leisurely way to sightsee, or if you choose to explore downtown by foot, watch for the Blue Suede Brigade. The on-thestreet ambassadors are happy to help with directions and information. Of course a trip here wouldn’t be complete without a stop at Graceland, once a working cattle farm named for the original landowner, Grace Toof. Elvis bought the expansive property, and in 1957,…

Spanish moss sways in the sultry summer breeze, dancing to a rhythm that belongs solely to Fairhope, Alabama. Nestled on the eastern shore of Mobile Bay, it’s a locale where life moves at a slower pace, friendships grow over oyster dinners, and children feel the wonder of digging their toes into the warm sand while pelicans dip and dive in the shimmering waters. Fairhope is a wonderful place to live, but as a visitor, you can borrow the bliss for a while. The town boasts quaint shops selling everything from French antiques to luxury bedding to signed best sellers. And bring your appetite—whether you’re craving sweets or seafood, your taste buds will thank you. When you’ve strolled the streets to your heart’s content, make your way to the bay at…

The early spring breezes blow across pine-dotted hills near Round Top, Texas, spinning the silver turbines of the windmills and stirring fields of bluebonnets that stretch beyond the horizon. Life moves at a less hectic pace here, leaving plenty of time to savor the essence of the days. It was this rustic tranquility that drew designer Rachel Ashwell, creator of Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic Couture, to the area. That, and the incredible antiques that beckon treasure hunters from far and wide. “I have been going to the flea markets in Texas for many years, often staying in what was previously The Outpost at Cedar Creek,” Rachel explains. “When it came up for sale, what seemed at the time a whim became a long-held dream of creating my vision of a…

Among the posh enclaves dotting the southeastern shores of Florida’s peninsula lie the towns of Palm Beach and West Palm Beach, separated by a silver sliver of the Intracoastal Waterway. Though this scenic section is a wonderful year-round destination, its mild weather and preponderance of sunny days make it the perfect winter escape. Palm Beach is known for Worth Avenue with its four-block section of high-end retailers, while her sister city to the west boasts the Antique Row Art & Design District—home to more than 50 antiques and specialty shops—and the monthly, spectacular West Palm Beach Antiques Festival, held at the South Florida Fairgrounds. When it comes to food, area restaurants run the full spectrum, whether you’re craving spicy Cuban cuisine, fresh local seafood, or steakhouse fare. And if your…

When Spanish explorer Tristán de Luna sailed up what is now called Pensacola Bay in 1559, he was just the first of many to discover the beauty of this serene marine locale. Though a hurricane crashed the coast just weeks later, dismantling his new settlement and costing Pensacola its claim as America’s oldest city, it wasn’t long before others found their way to the beautiful bay area and development began in earnest. Over the years, five flags have flown over the city, reflecting the importance of this strategic and desirable location. Today, the town still bears the imprint of its storied past. Streets are lined with houses trimmed in Spanish-style stucco and French-inspired ironwork; venerable live oaks bend their branches to shelter neighborhoods with names like Seville Square and Belmont-DeVilliers.…

This is the kind of city people love to claim. Art fans, nature lovers, and foodies alike will tell you Asheville is an ideal getaway. And there’s plenty of town to go around. Surrounded by rivers and tucked among the Appalachian Mountains, this scenic plateau became a popular travel destination only after the advent of the railroad. Once the first tracks were laid in 1880, Asheville grew into a health retreat for those seeking respite from the congestion of city life. George W. Vanderbilt found himself enchanted after first arriving in 1888. He subsequently purchased some 120,000 acres of land, where he constructed a 250-room French Renaissance chateau. His Biltmore Estate would then distinguish Asheville as a fashionable destination for rest and reconnection with nature. In the more than a…

The history of the enchanting white house that stands on the coveted corner of Meeting Street and South Battery, just steps from White Point Garden, begins with a love story. Back in the late 1800s, Charleston jeweler Waring Carrington met the lovely, young Martha Williams, and he was instantly smitten. She was equally taken, and the couple were married in the most celebrated ceremony of 1890. The delighted father of the bride bestowed an incredibly generous gift: a check for $75,000 to be used toward the newlyweds’ first home. The stunning Queen Anne–style house, which was completed in 1892, now welcomes guests as Two Meeting Street Inn, a bed-and-breakfast that is the very definition of Southern hospitality. In 1946, Minnie Spell Carr purchased the home from relatives of the original…

Fried Chicken DOOKY CHASE’S RESTAURANT Chef Leah Chase’s golden, crispy fried chicken at Dooky Chase’s Restaurant in New Orleans’s Tréme neighborhood is what the best dreams are made of. This historic, art-filled restaurant is also known for classic dishes including Shrimp Clemenceau and Creole Gumbo. 2301 Orleans Ave. 504.821.0600 dookychaserestaurant.com Po-Boy DOMILISE’S PO-BOY & BAR Located on a quiet Uptown side street marked only by a small sign, unwitting passers-by might miss Domilise’s Po-boy & Bar. And they would be missing out. Fried shrimp, roast beef with gravy, and hot sausage po-boys all shine at this no-frills, family-owned neighborhood haunt. 5240 Annunciation St. 504.899.9126 domilisespoboys.com Snoball HANSEN’S SNO-BLIZ A snoball is by far the most delicious way to stay cool on a steamy New Orleans afternoon. Locals line up for…

For decades Lexington has ranked among the world’s horseracing epicenters, drawing visitors from around the globe to sit in its stands and cheer on their hopefuls. Whether or not travelers pick a champion, time spent in this Kentucky city—with its historic sights, vibrant culinary scene, and nearby distilleries—promises a winning time. Situated on a plateau of gently rolling bluegrass pastures, Lexington was once an Indian hunting ground before frontiersman Daniel Boone established forts in the area. It later became home to national political figures such as The Great Compromiser Henry Clay, while a young Mary Todd spent her childhood years in the city before moving to Springfield, Illinois, where she met up-and-coming lawyer Abraham Lincoln. By 1865, it was home to the University of Kentucky—the state’s flagship university. While races…