12 Southern Trips We Can't Wait To Plan For Next Year

A fresh year on the horizon means it's time to start dreaming of new travel plans. If you're looking to fill up a blank 2024 calendar with some fun, these suggestions for winter trips are sure to give you something to look forward to in the months ahead. Each destination has something new to offer in 2024 and many reasons for you to consider visiting for the first time, or revisiting if you've already been. Here are 12 trips we can't wait to schedule for early next year.

Macon, Georgia

Macon celebrated its bicentennial (200th birthday) in 2023, and the city is bringing the afterglow of such a landmark year into 2024.

What To Do

Celebrate the city's deep musical legacy (Otis Redding, Little Richard, the Allman Brothers, and Jason Aldean are a few of the folks who got their start here) by visiting the more than 50 restaurants, 30 bars and live music venues, five historic theaters, museums, and a planned new amphitheater in the revived downtown. The Cherry Blossom Festival (also known as The Pinkest Party on Earth) will take place in March with 350,000 Yoshino cherry trees in bloom—that's way more than Washington, D.C.

Where To Stay

Downtown Macon's first hotel, Hotel Forty Five, opened in an old bank building in 2022. A second boutique hotel, The Woodward, featuring an on-site speakeasy, followed shortly after.

Bentonville, Arkansas

This artsy city with an outdoor soul (the city has been deemed the Mountain Biking Capital of the World) is a great destination to get inspired for the new year ahead.

What To Do

Head to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, the Momentary (at the site of an old 63,000-square foot Kraft Foods plant), or just take in the vast array of public art all over town. The Bentonville History Museum opened in 2022 and is free to visit. Be sure to nosh on some delicious cuisine while you're in town. Over the past couple of years, three Bentonville restaurants landed James Beard Award semifinalist nominations: The Hive, The Preacher's Son, and Yeyo's El Alma de Mexico.

Where To Stay

Enhance your artistic journey with a stay at 21c Museum Hotel Bentonville, a combination boutique hotel, art museum, and cultural center located right on the town square. 

Richmond, Virginia

A city that doesn't shy away from thought-provoking conversation (as evidenced by provocative public artwork and storytelling), visitors are welcome to join in, listen, and contribute their own ideas.

What To Do

Take a virtual tour of Monument Avenue with Monumental Conversations, an app that tells some of the most pressing and difficult stories of this city's past and present through the use of augmented reality. The Poe Museum celebrated its 100 anniversary just last year and has been a longtime favorite place to learn about the legendary writer. Kings Dominion theme park continues its year-round operations. Another great place to visit is the enchanting Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden.

Where To Stay

For a stay in historic environs, choose Linden Row Inn or The Jefferson Hotel. Quirk Hotel Richmond embraces the city's conversation through art.

Johnson City, Texas

Bourbon connoisseurs will rejoice at the news that longtime Kentucky brand Wild Turkey has let their Texas-inspired Longbranch Bourbon result in a one-of-a-kind Hill Country retreat. One look at the setting, and you'll understand that there's no better place to sip the spirit in the Lone Star State.

What To Do

Head to Walden Retreats in Texas Hill Country for a true glamping experience with Longbranch, complete with safari tent (think: kitchens, full bathrooms with bathtubs and outdoor showers), along with branded swag. You can add on customized experiences like a private mixology experience, nighttime fly fishing, or an outdoor string quartet to complement the beautiful surroundings.

Where To Stay

Longbranch suites at Walden Retreat are available to book now.

Orlando, Florida

Though most people associate Orlando with its theme parks, getting off the beaten path yields its own rewards—including a new beer spa and an alcohol-free wellness resort.

What To Do

Treat yourself to a performance at the Steinmetz Hall at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, as near an acoustically perfect experience as you can get. You'll find Michelin-awarded restaurants in the city, such as Knife & Spoon and Soseki in Winter Park, and Florida recently welcomed its very-first Beer Spa for soaking and sudsing. Over at the theme parks, Walt Disney World will welcome the return of all-day park hopping and a reimagining of classic ride Splash Mountain as Tiana's Bayou Adventure. Don't forget to try the incredibly popular rides over at Universal Orlando (Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure and Jurassic World Velocicoaster are worth the wait in line!).

Where To Stay

For a unique wellness option, stay at ette, a hotel and restaurant built with a dream of promoting health through its innovative nonalcoholic (but nonetheless exciting) beverage program. If you're going the Disney route, Evermore, a brand new resort that features a luxury hotel called Conrad, plus villas, houses, and flats, is a great choice.

Memphis, Tennessee

Start 2024 off on the right note with some sweet Memphis soul music.

What To Do

Head to Crosstown Concourse (a former Sears warehouse now transformed into a mammoth multi-use space) to experience some innovative cuisine and maybe throw a record on the turntable at the nonprofit Memphis Listening Lab. Enjoy drinks at Tiger and Peacock after checking out an independent play offered by Black repertory performance troupe Hattiloo Theater. And for music fans, visits to Stax Records and the Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum are musts.

Where To Stay

Central Station Memphis offers a unique stay at a historic train station, complete with a curated Memphis music soundtrack (head to the hidden listening lounge behind the bar for a cool experience).

Lake Charles, Louisiana

A region that was hit by two hurricanes in 2020 in addition to a freeze and a flood, Lake Charles' comeback story as a city fueled by passion and soul is the inspiration you need to start the new year off strong.

What To Do

Kick off a great year of dining out with Chuck Eats Restaurant Week in January. Later in the year, the Louisiana Food & Wine Festival (held in September) shows off more of the city's culinary treasures. It's always a good time to visit Lake Charles' Kirkman Culinary Mile, a tucked away culinary destination full of beloved restaurants representing international cuisine, such as Area 337 (Latin American) and Cousin's Lebanese Cuisine. Near this area, be sure to grab a gooey sweet potato pie from Mrs. Johnnie's Gingerbread House.

Where To Stay

The city's casino resorts, L'Auberge and Golden Nugget, provide deluxe, comfortable accommodations with many on-site restaurants and amenities—ideal even if you're not into gaming. For those who want to embrace nature, Sam Houston Jones State Park offers deluxe cabins, glamping tents, walking trails, and more.

Chickasaw Country, Oklahoma

Covering 13 counties in south-central Oklahoma, Chickasaw Country is a culturally rich destination ideal for starting off your 2024 travels.

What To Do

Head to the Chickasaw Cultural Center in Sulphur to learn more about the history of the Chickasaw Nation, the 12th largest federally recognized Indian tribe in the U.S. Dine on traditional cuisine at Aaimpa' Café. Head to Chokma'si Gallery, a Native-owned gallery to see and buy unique artwork by local artists. Turner Falls Park in Davis features the largest waterfall in the state and a natural swimming pool, with natural caves and scenic hiking trails ideal for all levels of hikers. Along your drive through Oklahoma's scenic routes, be sure to grab a local delicacy: fried pie.

Where To Stay

NOUN Hotel, a boutique hotel located near Chickasaw Country and University of Oklahoma in Norman is a great place to make home base. Another good option is the Inn at Mulberry in Tishomingo, which features eight guest rooms in a 1901 building. It was purchased and renovated by Miranda Lambert in 2014 before being sold to current owners, Chickasaw native Ezekiel Walker and Kevin Goddard.

Bowling Green, Kentucky

Spring wildflowers abound at Mammoth Cave National Park.

What To Do

Immerse yourself in the splendor of spring wildflowers starting in March and going through fall at Mammoth Cave National Park. Be on the lookout for American columbos, blackberry lilies, eastern bee balm, eastern redbuds, and purple passion flowers that brighten the landscape, which includes more than 80 miles of hiking trails. Free guided wildflower hikes are offered each week by a naturalist. In nearby Bowling Green, you'll find more wooded trails and flowers at Lost River Cave, the only place in Kentucky where you can take an underground boat tour. Daily nature programs include the opportunity to create and take home a native wildflower seed bomb to plant in your home garden.

Where To Stay

The Kentucky Grand Hotel & Spa is a cozy boutique option overlooking Circus Square Park in Bowling Green, with the on-site Derby Piano Bar & Restaurant.

Hilton Head, South Carolina

Looking to recommit to wellness this year? Head to the wellness resort Hilton Head Health for a well-rounded program focused on self care.

What To Do

Hilton Head Health's ReNew Retreat is a wellness experience focused on enhancing your mind, body, and spirit with programs that focus on nature, meditation, and nourishment. Guests meet with a licensed therapist to start an assessment and develop a customized itinerary. Cooking classes, spa treatments, daily yoga classes, and other experiences are included.

Where To Stay

Hilton Head Health offers a three-night Healthy Getaway option and a weeklong individualized program.

San Antonio, Texas

San Antonio is in the midst of a culinary explosion, with new restaurants opening around the city at a dizzying pace. If you haven't been in a while, the city's Pearl District (the site of an old brewery) and vibrant surrounding neighborhoods are sure to draw you and captivate you with exciting flavors.

What To Do

Head to the Pearl and style your own culinary crawl, which could include restaurants like Brasserie Mon Chou Chou (French), Best Quality Daughter (Asian American), and La Gloria (Mexican). Follow your restaurant tour with a nighttime live performance at Jazz TX. No matter what else you explore, a boat ride along the Riverwalk is a must-do activity for first-timers.

Where To Stay

Escape the bustle of the city with a truly relaxing stay at La Cantera Resort & Spa, where the on-site Loma de Vida spa has treatments designed to kickstart your New Year with holistic wellness (we loved the sound bowl meditation experience, offered to guests on select days).

Montgomery, Alabama

New adventures in Alabama's historic capital city await.

What To Do

Visit the Legacy Museum and National Memorial for Peace and Justice for a nuanced looked at the history and legacy of slavery in America. After, take a self-guided tour to see other important landrmaks and locations associated with the Civil Rights Movement. One of the city's newest additions, a 120-acre outdoor recreation complex called Montgomery Whitewater, opens its manmade whitewater rafting course for the season in early March.

Where To Stay

The city’s first boutique hotel, Trilogy honors downtown's history by transforming three historic buildings (two warehouses and a Greek Revival mansion) into one stunning community gathering space.