Category: Southeast

Spend summer in the water, on Florida’s Adventure Coast, Brooksville-Weeki Wachee. Nature’s Place to Play offers crystal clear rivers running to the Gulf of Mexico, for fishing, scalloping and paddling.

Mississippi has been home to some of the most defining moments in American history, from pivotal battles in the Civil War, such as the siege of Vicksburg, to the struggle for civil rights and much more. Experience Mississippi’s history up close by visiting one-of-a-kind museums, historical sites and cultural attractions located throughout this tour.

The legacies of Mississippians like literary titan William Faulkner and “The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll” Elvis Presley come alive in tours of their homes and the towns where they lived. Visit the home where Faulkner wrote his best-sellers, the hardware store where Elvis got his first guitar and the hometown of acclaimed playwright Tennessee Williams. Today, a new generation leads the charge in preserving and reviving those towns, like Erin and Ben Napier of HGTV’s hit show “Home Town,” which follows the duo as they bring new life to older homes in their charming hometown of Laurel. Come see the people and places that make “Home Town” one of HGTV’s most-watched shows. 

Widely considered the Birthplace of America’s Music, Mississippi is the one place where visitors can trace their roots back to the blues, rock ‘n’ roll and country music. Follow Highway 61, also known as the “Blues Highway,” through the Mississippi Delta, making sure to visit the iconic places that birthed the blues and shaped music as we know it today.

Places are powerful reminders of the past, few more so than Jackson, Mississippi. Opportunities for Civil Rights education, illumination and enjoyment abound. Here, reenergizing the movement requires somber reflection, but also the celebration of endurance and the spirit of hope. 

Few other places have as much potential to teach us about the movement as the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum. This state-of-the-art space – the only state-funded such museum in the nation – features eight distinct galleries, guiding visitors from the struggle for freedom through the Jim Crow South and beyond to the present moment. 

The Mississippi Freedom Trail takes history out of a building and into the streets. Made up of numerous sites of Civil Rights significance, the Freedom Trail ushers visitors past the home of icon Medgar Evers to the Greyhound Bus station where Freedom Riders were rounded up and arrested. Other sites include the site of a Woolworth Department Store sit-in, the site of the Capitol Rally, the Edwards Hotel, and the Municipal Library where nine students from Tougaloo College protested segregation.

Designated as a National Park Service Monument, the Medgar and Myrlie Evers home still stands today. A WWII veteran and Mississippi’s field secretary for the NAACP, Medgar Evers both lived and died at this site, assassinated in his driveway in 1963 by a Ku Klux Klan member. Medgar’s commitment to desegregating higher education and expanding voting rights and economic opportunity changed Mississippi forever. 

Dedicated to the timeless contributions of African Americans, the Smith Robertson Museum and Cultural Center uses art, artifacts, photography, and other cultural treasures to demonstrate the crucial impact of Black voices and Black accomplishments in Mississippi and the world. Stroll permanent exhibits spanning a detailed history of Farish Street District to the contributions of Black doctors, scholars and folk artists.

Georgia’s Official Outdoor Adventure Destination offers excitement for the entire family from Air Rifles to Zip Lines.

Spend summer in the water, on Florida’s Adventure Coast, Brooksville-Weeki Wachee. Nature’s Place to Play offers crystal clear rivers running to the Gulf of Mexico, for fishing, scalloping and paddling.

A leisurely drive along the Cherokee Foothills National Scenic Byway corridor will allow you to discover beautiful scenery, majestic waterfalls, rushing rivers, crystal-clear lakes and wonderful parks to explore.

Greenwood, South Carolina in the Old 96 District blends small town charm with luxurious Grab you gal pals and spend a long weekend discovering our Unexpected Wonders.

ROAD TRIP TO THE STARS

Morgan County Tennessee can boast of, among other things, friendly people, a rich heritage, year round beauty and dark sky sites offering crystal clear views of the nighttime sky free of the light pollution that is so prevalent in modern times.

Visitors come to Morgan County for many reasons and enjoy staying in our area bed & breakfasts, Airbnb’s and cabins and campgrounds just for the chance of viewing the stars. ​

Obed Wild & Scenic River has been designated an International Dark Sky Association (IDA) International Dark Sky Park. Obed WSR is now the second National Park Service unit east of Colorado to earn this designation and the 17th national park in the United States to do so.

​Starry night skies are an important part of the special places the National Park Service protects. Our national parks hold some of the last remaining harbors of darkness and provide amazing opportunities to experience this critical resource. Obed Wild & Scenic River is one of these special places with a truly dark night sky.

​The Lilly Bluff overlook and the historic Nemo Bridge are an integral part of our night sky program.

​Are you ready to step back from the noisy, frenetic, and developed world of the 21st century for a night of spectacular wonders? Then grab your flashlight and maybe a foldup chair and head out to view our skies at the Lilly Bluff Overlook or the Historic Nemo bridge.