Innehållsförteckning för Southern Getaways 2023 från Southern Lady

If the seashell-studded walls of the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument could talk, the chorus of voices would reverberate around the stony fortress louder than cannon fire. Lingering like echoes of the blasts still heard during today’s reenactments, stories of those who have passed through this military stronghold turned national park trace back more than three centuries, spanning tragedies and triumphs that predate our country’s birth. “This is where America began,” says Greg Utech, a longtime park ranger. “St. Augustine is the destination. However, the Castillo de San Marcos—the Castle of St. Mark—actually becomes the magnet, and it becomes the highlight of a lot of people’s journeys.” Widely acclaimed as one of the state’s historical jewels, the landmark is both a symbol of St. Augustine’s rich heritage and a…

A breathtaking octagonal domed library and a goblet that belonged to George Washington are among the artifacts highlighted at American statesman Henry Clay’s residence Ashland, a Federal-style abode in his beloved Kentucky Bluegrass. A true tribute to a remarkable man instrumental in grounding our budding nation, the estate and its surrounds inspire both a sense of wonder and a feeling of home. Henry, who moved west to Kentucky from Virginia early in his career, yearned for a place of his own to enjoy the young country he was devoting his life to help grow. He found it on 672 acres in Lexington, naming it Ashland for its abundance of beautiful blue ash trees, and lived there for nearly five decades with his wife, Lucretia Hart, raising their 11 children. Today,…

As you gaze toward the horizon, a silhouette of summit ridges in softly blended blues gives a crystal clear explanation as to the name of this Georgia resort town and to the tranquil aura that makes Blue Ridge such a popular spot to unplug and unwind from the bustle of everyday life. You might simply bask in the splendor of nature or enjoy an abundance of easygoing pastimes, like a vista-viewing railway, that make it the perfect escape. From top-notch restaurants and quaint shops to hiking trails and laid-back tubing on the Toccoa River, the best part is you can choose as many or as few activities as you’d like. Donna Harper, owner of Blue Ridge Olive Oil Company (one of dozens of distinctive downtown boutiques), says the peaceful scenery…

The modest community of Greenwood, Mississippi, has always embraced the merits of the simple life, moving to an unhurried cadence that echoes the slow and steady current of the Yazoo River that flows through town. This down-home demeanor belies its rich history and cultural contributions, which include a showstopping pedigree as a mecca for the performing arts—from its part in the birth of the blues in the19th century to the filming of the acclaimed 2011 movie The Help. Once proclaimed the “Cotton Capital of the World,” a contemporary restoration is breathing new energy into the town’s retail, food, and arts scenes, but its soulful heritage and deeply Southern sense of hospitality remain. Greenwood’s setting in the floodplain of the Mississippi River put it on the map when Choctaw and Chickasaw…

By land, by water, but especially on foot, Chattanooga exudes a fresh, outdoorsy vibe. That attitude is bolstered by both exceptional vistas from on high and a lively riverside, where the town’s font of renewal, the Tennessee Aquarium, thrives surrounded by its entertaining offspring. Chic new hotels, a beautiful civil rights tribute, and a sprawling art museum that depicts three distinct architectural styles—all sprinkled with hip eateries and youthful activities like rock climbing—surround the esteemed institution, now more than 30 years old. But the museums, parks, shops, and tourism showcases are merely an addendum to the breathtaking scenery. Lookout and Signal Mountains and the Tennessee River, which bisects the city, make Chattanooga a mecca for nature lovers and exercise enthusiasts. Year-round, the views lure those who relish the brilliant colors…

In the span of a single mile, you can trace the footsteps of cowboys, Scottish pioneers, and celebrities while taking in modern-day Salado, a historic Texas hamlet with a sweeping enthusiasm for the arts and a stay-awhile attitude. “The people of this town are amazing. The community is so kind and welcoming, and it just feels like home,” says Lara Tracy, a California transplant who owns a hub for local businesses, The Shoppes on Main, with her mom and sister. In the 1960s, air force service pilot and fashion icon Grace Rosanky Putnam Jones brought far-flung attention to the village of Salado when her couture boutique attracted such prominent clientele as actresses Loretta Young and Gene Tierney, as well as Lady Bird Johnson and the former first lady’s press secretary,…

Perhaps the first hint that The Willcox is different from most hotels is the traditional brass room key and shiny polished door lock that clicks with an authority no plastic entry card can summon. But the feeling of rarefied air soon follows as you explore the history and spaces that lie with in this white-pillared Colonial Revival that rests in the heart of South Carolina’s horse country. “Everyone has a story about The Willcox,” says Shannon Ellis, who with her husband, Geoff, has owned the hotel since 2009, when a serendipitous sequence of events led to their purchase of the property near Aiken’s downtown. “This is a really special place. It’s one of the last standing wooden hotels in the country.” Like most 19th-century buildings, The Willcox has its eccentricities,…

As brief as it is riveting, a procession of chestnut stallions, speckled mares, and silvery foals awes spectators gathered to witness the majestic Chincoteague ponies traverse the Assateague Channel’s calm, sun-dappled waters. The annual event and accompanying weeklong fanfare are points of pride for the tight-knit community of Chincoteague, Virginia, where a relaxed vibe suits the leisurely graze and gambol of wildlife on the untouched coastal terrain. “Chincoteague Island is the commercial, residential island, and Assateague Island is the natural area where the wild ponies live,” explains Evelyn Shotwell, executive director of the Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce. “It’s not a beach with boardwalks and amusement rides. You can come for the beach, but you also have the quaint little shops that have been family owned for 30 years. All of…

One of the fastest growing cities in the country, Charlotte embodies urban ambience with a skyline of prominent high rises belonging to the big-name businesses that have put it on the map. But this prosperous town hasn’t forgotten the past that peeks through in well-preserved, early 20th-century sites—from North Carolina’s first art museum to a celebrated mansion owned by a family pivotal in the state’s development. The city holds tightly to its history, incorporating centuries-old tales into a progressive present in ways that bring true Southern soul to every corner of the evolving metropolis. The Queen City, as it’s dubbed, has its regal origins in the 18th century. England’s King George III ruled the colonies at the time, and European settlers deemed the area lovely enough to be named for…

Beginning in 1956 and over the four decades afterward, philanthropist Verna Cook Garvan planted thousands of hand-selected botanicals in the picturesque Ouachita Mountains of Hot Springs, Arkansas—and established a legacy that has lured garden enthusiasts to the region for nearly seven decades. Mapping out the meandering paths of what would become Garvan Woodland Gardens, Verna personally placed hundreds of rare shrubs and trees—including upwards of 160 types of azaleas, plus camellias, magnolias, and more. Under a canopy of soaring pines, her precious plants still find protection on this forested peninsula along Lake Hamilton. It’s just one of the local gems that make a visit to the Hot Springs area such a joy, from old-fashioned bathhouses to modern boutique hotels. Start with a stroll through Garvan Woodland Gardens and take in…

Situated on the celebrated Tennessee River—often called the Singing River—Florence, Alabama, exudes a quaint, unassuming feel despite its well-established prominence rooted in the arts—most notably, the musical arts. Legend has it that early Native American settlers said the running waters of the surrounding river sounded like song. Since then, the region’s musical heritage has been attributed to the river’s mythical influence. “The Shoals,” a four-city area that encompasses Florence, was the music industry’s hailed recording hub in the 1960s, claiming artists such as Aretha Franklin, The Rolling Stones, Paul Simon, and many more. W.C. Handy, Father of the Blues, and Sam Phillips and Buddy Killen, the Fathers of Rock and Roll, were all born in Florence. Recording studios still permeate the area, and many musicians call the town home, making…