History is always close at hand in a colonial city—especially one that’s home to a Thomas Jefferson–designed state capitol and the graves of two other presidents (James Monroe and John Tyler). Still, Richmond works hard to not only showcase its legacy, but also prove it is home to innovative offerings that appeal to modern visitors.

Travelers to the northwestern corner of Arkansas will encounter all the natural splendor—limestone cliffs, pristine lakes, deep forests—one would expect on a trip through the enchanting Ozarks.

If you like IMAX, you’ll love Illuminarium, a new attraction on the city’s BeltLine. A 350-foot wraparound screen is enhanced by piped-in scents (like damp earth in the ongoing Wild: Safari Experience).

Chapel Hill, home to the University of North Carolina (UNC), has that elusive blend of qualities that makes for an ideal weekend destination: instantly comfortable yet demanding to be explored.

A Cajun colloquialism, “T” in front of a name means petite or small. For the T’Spoon cocktail at Spoonbill Watering Hole & Restaurant in Lafayette, Louisiana, it may be a small, boozy nod to the restaurant’s brashy-sweet vibe—but it sure has big taste.

The Peabody Hotel truly keeps its ducks in a row. Each morning at 11, its five resident North American mallards depart their “Royal Duck Palace” on the hotel’s rooftop and waddle to the elevator, riding it down a dozen floors until the doors open to reveal a red carpet lined with guests.

The peaks of western North Carolina are the highest in the Eastern United States, and the state’s largest ski resort combines a solid 5,300-foot elevation with a diverse range of runs.