There’s nothing like the promise of Memorial Day weekend to set the mood for a great Southern road trip.
Whether you’re feeling the coast or the hills, grab an 1 old-school field guide and dream up a destination—how far to Nashville, New Orleans, Austin, anyone? Wild Sam field guides for Austin, Nashville, New Orleans; $18 each, Tweeds, 1009 Marietta Street, tweedsshop.com
Once you’re ready to hit the back roads, you’ll need 2 sunglasses for the glare, Southern Proper x Red’s Outfitters sunglasses, $135, southernproper.com
a 3 chewy local snack for sharing, Little Buffalo sea salt caramels, $18 for 25, Oakleaf & Acorn, coming to Ponce City Market, oakleafandacorn.com
a 4 camera to immortalize every barbecue stop along the way, Fujifilm Instax Mini 90 Neo Classic camera, $165, amazon.com
and—now this is important—5 good music. My Morning Jacket, The Waterfall; Best Coast, California Nights; Surfer Blood, 1000 Palms; Criminal Records, 1154 Euclid Avenue, criminalatl.com
In the back, stash a sturdy little lightweight 6 rucksack packed with the essentials: Filson rucksack, $290, Steven Alan, Westside Provisions District, stevenalan.com
a 7 swimsuit; Vilebrequin one-piece, $250, Buckhead Atlanta, vilebrequin.com
a toothbrush; a couple of fresh, 8 comfy shirts; Vineyard Vines popover, $125, Lenox Square, vineyardvines.com
and some clean 9 undies La Perla “Begonia” mid-rise briefs, $68, Buckhead Atlanta, laperla.com
and if you forget ’em, you can 10 wash a pair in the hotel sink anyway. The Laundress Wash & Stain bar, $6, Gramercy Fine Linens & Furnishings, Peachtree Battle Shopping Center, shopgramercy.com
Can’t you feel the wind in your hair already? Pass the gas station biscuit.
Photography credits: Travel guides, caramels, soap, panties, shirt: Caroline C. Kilgore; Sunglasses: Pix House; Rucksack: Filson; All others courtesy of their company
This article originally appeared in our May 2015 issue.
