Down-Home Dining: 24 legendary Southern restaurants worth the trip

Last year, the Michelin Guide designated the American South as a region worthy of culinary recognition. And while we’re delighted by buzzy Michelin-starred restaurants and James Beard Award–winning chefs, the excellence of our food is not new to us. We’ve always known it was something special.

My South: Actor and singer Leslie Odom Jr. on Savannah, Georgia

Savannah is a warm touchstone for me. My first time there was 25 years ago when I did this ramshackle musical revue. I have a distinct memory of my grandparents—who lived close by in Columbia, South Carolina—picking me up at the airport under that lovely skylight and taking me out to dinner

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How to plan the perfect weekend escape in Dahlonega

Tucked into the Blue Ridge Mountains about 65 miles north of Atlanta, Dahlonega claims a distinctive chapter in American history.

Taking the advice of Tennessee’s “talking barns”

Until the mid ’60s, before First Lady “Lady Bird” Johnson decided to beautify highways, the barns in my native Ohio were embellished with advertisements—itinerant painters roamed the countryside on behalf of companies like Mail Pouch Tobacco that would offer large amounts of free product to farmers.

Where to shop, eat, and stay in Eureka Springs, Arkansas

Nestled in the Ozark Mountains, Eureka Springs rose to prominence in 1879, when Dr. Alvah Jackson’s promotions of its more than 60 natural springs (“Eureka!”, he reportedly exclaimed after finding the first) helped the city emerge as a popular wellness destination.

One city, three ways: Huntsville, Alabama

Rocket City is soaring. Ask anyone in Huntsville, and they’ll tell you: It’s a different place now than it was just five to 10 years ago.

Behind the curtain of Nashville’s iconic Hatch Show Print

Celene Aubry is the first woman to serve as associate director and manager of Hatch Show Print, Nashville's iconic letterpress print shop, in its 147-year history.

Chef Ming Pu’s ramp and red shrimp dumplings are worth traveling for

Chef Ming Pu isn’t afraid to be a pioneer. His new restaurant, TANA, is the first in Louisville focused on the cuisine of his birthplace.

The Cooper, Charleston’s only waterfront hotel, is a harborside haven

The luxury property is also home to a 7,000-square-foot spa, private infinity pool, and a stellar restaurant.

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Southbound is a quarterly travel publication showcasing the top destinations in the Southeast. We visit idyllic small towns and exciting cities in search of outstanding vacation opportunities. Find a media kit here.