The South is a blanket of various cities which can be distinctive of their choices. These dynamic southern cities are stuffed with adventures, from cultural gems like museums to meals excursions that’ll fulfill. The South is stuffed with surprises in each metro space, and we’re sharing the perfect Southern cities to go to in 2024 that can shock you. They’re up-and-coming locations that can hold your journey itinerary full.
21 Finest Southern Cities To Go to in 2024
Most individuals do not realize how a lot the South has to supply. Cities are stuffed with historical past, and there are totally different landscapes to get pleasure from—the whole lot from mountains to seashores included. A melting pot of cultures means there is a fusion of meals to choose from too. The biggest Southern cities are ever-evolving, and there are smaller cities that’ll shock you. 2024 is the yr to find a recent Southern metropolis to appeal you.
1. Charleston, South Carolina
Colourful structure, fascinating historical past, and harbor views will wow each Charleston customer. It is nicknamed “The Holy Metropolis” for the variety of church steeples on the skyline. Stroll alongside King Avenue and window store boutiques, or journey in a horse-drawn carriage to see colourful historic homes (like Rainbow Row). Daytime is ideal for exploring on the water, and save your evenings for notorious Charleston ghost excursions. Charleston is able to swoon vacationers in 2024, and we’re prepared for it.
2. Key West, Florida
Set your sights on the southernmost trip vacation spot within the continental U.S. if you plan a go to to Key West, Florida. It is a standard cruise port and now even simpler to entry with the brand new Go Brightline prepare operating from Orlando to Miami. The island is a fast ferry journey away when you’re in Miami. With its picturesque streets, nightlife, and numerous watersport adventures, Key West has all of it. Whereas the island is likely to be small, they make up for it in pleasure. Tour the Ernest Hemmingway Home, eat Key lime pie on a stick, and take a sightseeing trolley journey.
3. Greenville, South Carolina
On the smaller finish, Greenville is a metropolis that has a rising popularity for distinctive sights. It seems like a smaller city, however Greenville has an incredible city vibe. Greenville has a waterfall operating instantly via the downtown space, a sizzling meals scene, and plentiful climbing and biking trails, making it a must-visit. Chef-owned eating places line the downtown avenue, attractive friends with decadent desserts, craft cocktails, and hearty breakfast fare. It is an accessible metropolis to discover on foot, and you will by no means get tired of Greenville’s various issues to do.
4. Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Often known as the gateway to the Nice Smoky Mountains Nationwide Park, Gatlinburg is the Southern mountain metropolis of which goals are made. Uncover waterfalls, hike to mountain vistas, or stroll town for extra kitschy vacationer enjoyable. Head to Gatlinburg SkyLift Park to journey the chairlift, stroll alongside the SkyBridge, or hike the SkyTrail. Adults can sip on—and be taught extra about—the area’s signature drink, moonshine, by signing up for a tasting tour. Gatlinburg is one in every of our favourite Southern cities to go to in 2024, and we extremely suggest a fall go to throughout the leaf-peeping season.
5. Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the final word metropolis for Southern appeal. Consider picturesque squares, cobblestone streets, and river views. With a drink in your hand, spend the afternoon strolling alongside River Avenue to reap the benefits of town’s open container legal guidelines. Discover the Historic District by way of sightseeing trolleys or horse-drawn carriages. Benefit from the metropolis’s placing structure, giant oak bushes, and the inexperienced space in Forsyth Park. Whereas Savannah just isn’t on the seashore, it is a fast drive from Tybee Island to get the perfect metropolis and seashore life in a single journey.
6. Orlando, Florida
Should you’re in search of thrills, Orlando is likely one of the greatest Southern cities to go to in 2024. Town is legendary for its nightlife, amusement parks, and procuring, however there’s all the time one thing new popping up in Orlando. Common Orlando Resort will debut an all-new themed land that includes DreamWorks Animations’ animated characters in an immersive and interactive expertise in 2024. Epcot at Walt Disney World is debuting a brand-new park transformation, and SeaWorld Aquatica Orlando is opening a brand new immersive waterslide, the Tassie’s Underwater Twist. These are only a few new Orlando choices that can thrill friends within the New Yr.
7. Birmingham, Alabama
As Alabama’s largest metropolis, Birmingham presents one thing for each kind of traveler. Tour probably the most vital Civil Rights Motion landmarks, comparable to Dynamite Hill, Bethel Baptist Church, the Sloss Furnaces Nationwide Historic Landmark, and the Civil Rights Institute. If that is sufficient to work up an urge for food, Birmingham has a flourishing meals scene with seven eating places honored with previous James Beard awards. If you need extra informal delicacies, go to town’s many BBQ joints and take a look at the well-known Alabama White Sauce. Birmingham is a food-lover’s dream metropolis.
8. Roanoke, Virginia
Virginia’s Blue Ridge contains the biggest metropolitan space within the state’s Western portion–Roanoke. It is thought of the “Star Metropolis of The South,” and it definitely lives as much as its identify with a lot to do. The realm is legendary for out of doors adventures however has loads of laid-back enjoyable. Take a scenic drive via Blue Ridge Parkway, hike up Mill Mountain to see the well-known Roanoke Star, or go to 5 museums in a single constructing at Heart in The Sq.. An awesome multi-generational attraction is The Virginia Museum of Transportation, the place little ones can climb aboard trains and adults can step again in time for a nostalgic go to. Roanoke is likely one of the greatest southern cities to go to in 2024 in order for you a mixture of cultural and out of doors enjoyable.
9. Asheville, North Carolina
With scenic mountain biking trails, craft breweries, and an eccentric artwork scene, Asheville will certainly wow each customer in 2024. It is already probably the most standard southern cities to go to as a result of it is an incredible weekend vacation spot from many metro areas. Should-do’s embody the grand Biltmore Property, foodie strolling excursions, and the award-winning spa on the Grove Park Inn. Asheville is a superb metropolis for {couples} who need a romantic metropolis escape.
10. Lake Charles, Louisiana
With cajun aptitude and big-city leisure, Lake Charles is a playground for adults in search of Southern enjoyable. The on line casino resorts take playing to new heights, with over-the-top swimming pools to splash in, mile-long buffets, and golf programs to play on. Do not miss the Creole Nature Path All-American Highway for an journey in your personal automobile. You may see alligators and quite a few fowl species that decision Louisiana’s coastal marshlands. If you’ve labored up an urge for food, nosh on Jambalaya, gumbo, spicy crawfish, boudin, and bread pudding. Louisianna is a superb state for meals, however Lake Charles is the state’s up-and-coming metropolis for enjoyable.
11. Natchez, Mississippi
A quaint downtown space with lavish pre-Civil Struggle mansions makes Natchez, Mississippi, a captivating southern metropolis to go to in 2024. Take a basic cruise of the Mississippi in a ginormous steamboat, or stroll alongside the downtown space for a little bit of historical past. As you sightsee your means via town, be sure you carve out time to cease at historic sights such because the Forks of the Highway Nationwide Park (a former slave market) and the Natchez Museum of African American Historical past and Tradition. It is riveting historical past that’ll transfer you to your core, the kind of journey that modifications you.
12. Nashville, Tennessee
Should you’re in search of a honky tonk journey, look no additional than Nashville, Tennessee. It is a favourite for bachelorette and bachelor events since you will have a great time. Broadway is the road you need to be on for twenty-four/7 music, multi-story bars, and celebrity-owned eating places. Attend a reside present on the Grand Ole Opry, the place Nashville’s most well-known artists have sung, or enterprise onto Tennessee’s Whiskey Path to quench your thirst. It is a metropolis that gives around-the-clock enjoyable.
13. Austin, Texas
The capital of Texas is catching vacationers’ consideration for mouthwatering tacos, artwork, and nation music. You may stumble throughout pop-up dance classes on the streets, the place you possibly can be taught the two-step. It is obtained a laid-back vibe that guests love, however there are a number of ca n’t-miss issues we love. Fill your Instagram feed with pictures of Austin’s murals, kayak on Woman Hen Lake, and seize avenue tacos whereas strolling downtown. If you need one thing that will not break the financial institution, head to Blanton Museum of Artwork, the place admission is free each Thursday.
14. Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is nicknamed “bourbon nation” as a result of it has the biggest bourbon manufacturing than wherever else on this planet. It is a metropolis stuffed with museums, baseball, out of doors adventures, and artwork. They’re happy with their horse racing heritage, sizzling brown sandwiches, and bourbon. Mix all of it, and it is probably the most sought-after Southern cities to go to in 2024. We suggest scoring a ticket to the Kentucky Derby and planning a go to throughout the well-known race weekend in Might.
15. Tampa, Florida
Located on the Gulf of Mexico, Tampa is a rising sizzling spot within the Sunshine State. The historic Ybor Metropolis neighborhood, developed by Cuban and Spanish cigar manufacturing unit staff on the flip of the twentieth century, is an especially standard eating and nightlife vacation spot for grownup vacationers. Should you’re visiting with youngsters, take a look at Busch Gardens amusement park, which presents a mixture of thrill rides and zoo areas. After all, everybody will love a day on the water in Tampa Bay, whether or not you choose a dolphin cruise or a pirate cruise.
16. Atlanta, Georgia
The traces of the place Atlanta begins and ends are a endless debate as town grows additional into the metropolitan areas. Atlanta has three totally different neighborhoods. Downtown is residence to The World of Coke, Georgia Aquarium, and the Atlanta Civil Rights Museum. Buckhead is town’s premier neighborhood for luxurious procuring, and Midtown is thought for the Excessive Museum of Artwork and the Fox Theatre. Decide a neighborhood that fits your journey wishes and stroll to the sights. It is the easiest way to keep away from Atlanta site visitors.
17. Huntsville, Alabama
Huntsville is affectionately often called “Rocket Metropolis,” however it presents way more than the area exploration reveals at The U.S. House & Rocket Heart. This northern Alabama metropolis is turning into a sizzling spot vacation spot as companies transfer in. The Lowe Mill Arts & Leisure is a hub for arts and creativity. It is a spot the place you possibly can seize a chew to eat, watch the artistic strategy of native artists, and hearken to reside music. There’s additionally a effervescent brewery scene in Huntsville that is attracting shoppers of effective hops. It is a various metropolis that gives equal quantities of enjoyable and tradition.
18. Little Rock, Arkansas
Situated on the Arkansas River, Little Rock presents loads of leisure out of doors actions. It is the state capitol and residential to the Clinton Presidential Heart, which homes one of many largest archival collections in presidential historical past. The River Market District is crammed with eating places, bars, and museums. Throughout the day, it is an incredible place to stroll round (particularly on the weekly Farmer’s Market), however it involves life at night time with leisure. Discover the 14 miles of riverside trails of Little Rock for superb views and a exercise. Or get on the river and see town by way of kayak.
19. Dallas, Texas
Of the entire southern cities to go to in 2024, Dallas is likely to be the one which lives as much as its stereotypes. Town goes huge for the whole lot, and do not maintain again. It is the house to the flagship Neiman Marcus retailer, the enormous Dallas Museum of Artwork, and the George W. Bush Presidential Library. The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Backyard is 66 acres of inexperienced area in the midst of town, making you’re feeling miles away. Go to Dallas for margaritas and tacos, however benefit from the quite a few sights that reside as much as the phrases: All the things Is Greater In Texas.
20. Tallahassee, Florida
Not many cities nonetheless characterize Previous Florida, however Tallahassee does. It is the state capitol and residential to Florida State College. Mixing school city vibes with state capitol staples, Tallahassee presents nightlife amongst museums and parks. Head to Mission San Luis to witness historical past come to life and see how Florida’s settlers as soon as lived. Take in the solar at Wakulla Springs State Park and cruise to see extra alligators than you possibly can think about. Spherical out your Tallahassee itinerary with a Seminole sport, and you will get town’s greatest in a single journey.
21. Chattanooga, Tennessee
The mountains of Southeast Tennessee will put a spell over you if you go to Chattanooga. Town has been revitalized over the previous decade and now presents varied sights that households will love. Children will likely be in awe of the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, Tennesee Aquarium, and Rock Metropolis Gardens. For a unique perspective, see town on water by venturing up the Tennessee River. The meals scene options scrumptious BBQs that may be washed down with whiskey from one of many native distilleries. Chattanooga is undoubtedly an up-and-coming metropolis to look at for journey.