Southbound

At this year-old, 234-room hotspot in New Orleans’s burgeoning Warehouse District, God is in the details.

Nestled on a picturesque riverbend in the Appalachian foothills, this cheerily named town has long delighted the young at heart.

As the state capital, Baton Rouge is the epicenter of Louisiana’s political life and a great place to discover the state’s past. The city’s vibrant culture, a blend of French, English, and Spanish influences, rivals that of its older sister, New Orleans.

I’m heading to Pointe Coupee, Louisiana, and when I arrive, I’ll meet Ernest J. Gaines himself.

What do Judge Judy, Sheryl Crow, and Derek Jeter have in common? They love vacationing in the Gulf.

A featured specialty at Lucy Buffett's restaurants.

The first time I saw the Four Seasons Hotel Miami, I mistook it for a museum. Driving down Brickell Avenue through the city’s gleaming financial district, I spotted a pair of commanding sculptures standing in the building’s lobby.

I first visited Ship Island as a child with my family, taking the hour-long ferry out of Gulfport. It is the only barrier island off the coast of Mississippi with ferry access, the only one you can get to if you don’t have your own boat.

There’s something undeniably magnetic about Miami after the sun goes down, when the balmy air and neon lights create an atmosphere removed from reality. Whether it’s the clave pulsating from salsa clubs or the crowds strolling down Ocean Drive, the nighttime energy in Miami is palpable. Come along as we meander through Miami at its quintessential best, from tropical sunset to happy hour sunrise.

Kinsey Gidick is a writer and editor at Charleston City Paper, where she handles the Cuisine and Arts sections. “You can’t overlook the landmark of Charleston Place. After twenty-eight years, it still manages to be...