Southbound: 10 years of travel in the American South

Take a look back at the covers and features from our first decade in print, showcasing the best experiences in Southern travel.

southbound

September 8, 2023

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Editor’s Note

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Southbound—10 years of travels in the American South. Of course, much has changed. When we founded the magazine a decade ago, we reported on eight Deep South states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. A couple of years ago, as part of a redesign, we expanded our coverage area to include the Mid-South states of Arkansas, Kentucky, Virginia, and West Virginia.

What remains consistent is our commitment to presenting the best of Southern travel. Over the years, we’ve twice been awarded the gold for best travel magazine by the SATW (the Society of American Travel Writers), the travel journalism equivalent of bringing home an Oscar. In addition, we’ve been honored for writing and photography by both SATW and the North American Travel Journalists Association (NATJA). Perhaps more significantly, we’ve received a wealth of support from you, our readers, who’ve written and called and posted to let us know how much you appreciate what we’re doing. And I thank you for coming back, issue after issue.

As for us at Southbound, we have some big plans of our own. We’ve expanded our staff and increased our frequency, so you’ll be seeing more of us—in your towns as we report stories, as well as in your mailbox or on your newsstand. Thank you for 10 great years. We’re just getting started.

—Kevin Benefield

Fall/Winter 2013
Back to the Beach: Four great fall getaways to the coast.

Spring/Summer 2014
A River Runs Through Them: Four favorite Southern river towns.

Fall/Winter 2014
The Holy City Unveiled: An insider’s guide to Charleston.

Spring/Summer 2015
Mountain Revival: Highlands, North Carolina, and her neighbors.

Fall/Winter 2015
Sissy’s South: On the road with Oscar winner Sissy Spacek.

Spring/Summer 2016
On Island Time: Find your perfect escape.

Fall/Winter 2016
Book Tour: Traveling the literary South.

Spring/Summer 2017
Small-Town South: Eight favorite escapes from city life.

Fall/Winter 2017
Big Easy Bash: New Orleans turns 300.

Spring/Summer 2018
Great Lakes of the Southeast: Oconee, Martin, Douglas, Lure, and 29 more.

Fall/Winter 2018
Extraordinary Escapes: 16 unexpected accommodations to book in the South, including an underwater hotel, a historic castle, a treetop retreat, plus 13 more.

Spring/Summer 2019
Vintage Vacations: The Southeast’s most legendary and long-standing attractions.

Fall/Winter 2019
Want Food Will Travel: 8 destination dishes that will send you packing your bags.

Spring/Summer 2020
Secret Beaches of the South: Nearby spots that feel far away.

Fall/Winter 2020
Our Favorite Things: 99 reasons we love traveling in the South.

Spring/Summer 2021
Cold Calling: 21 refreshing retreats that offer a dose in the South that offer a dose of nature’s air conditioning.

Fall/Winter 2021
Cheers to You: The best places to celebrate a birthday, graduation, retirement, or other milestone.

Spring/Summer 2022
Where to Stay Now: The South’s new hotel explosion.

Fall/Winter 2022
Into the Wild South: Explore Alabama’s Mobile-Tensaw Delta, known as the Amazon of North America, plus five more natural wonders.