Southbound

Throughout the South, amusement parks of all shapes and sizes draw visitors in search of classic summer fun. Florida lays claim to many of them, hence its nickname: the Theme Park Capital of the...

Keitaro Harada, the music and artistic director of the Savannah Philharmonic, spends a lot of time on the road. But all that travel only makes him appreciate his adopted home that much more. Here he shares his perfect day in Savannah.

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” could reasonably be considered Mother Nature’s approach to American alligators, prehistoric holdovers that have remained largely unchanged for at least 8 million years. With a range extending from coastal North Carolina across to East Texas, these lords of the bayou are symbols of a wild, untamed South—and its preservation.

Plus: three properties that draw inspiration from the past and the reopening of the Forbes Five Star Ritz-Carlton, Naples.

Roanoke finds itself in good company these days. Locals describe their former railroad town as Southwest Virginia’s version of Asheville, North Carolina. And indeed, both cities dazzle visitors with hiking, shopping, mountain biking, and...

Everyone kept telling me about the Salt Life. The ubiquitous decals were everywhere, promising a secret world of unbridled summer loafing and easygoingness. When I moved back to North Carolina for a job at a university in the middle of the state, I listened to my colleagues’ enthusiasm as they planned their annual two-week, intergenerational trips to Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, or Fort Fisher.

I had a great childhood in Tampa, but I think I really developed an appreciation for the city after I moved away. I just love the low-key, super-chill vibe of it all. It’s totally different from what you get in Miami Beach or Fort Lauderdale, let alone what I experience living in Los Angeles.

After years of working in kitchens in Florida, New York, Asheville, and Napa Valley, Chef Paul Smith returned home to the hills of West Virginia in 2020. “I absolutely love it,” he says. “The people are fantastic. The hospitality is Appalachian. We’ve never met a stranger.”

President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964 on July 2, 1964—60 years ago this summer. America’s paperwork finally matched its ideals: Discrimination based on race, color, religion, or national origin became illegal. None of this could have happened if Black Americans hadn’t pressed their case for enfranchisement, as they have done since the nation’s founding. On the South’s officially recognized Civil Rights Trail, towns across the region showcase curated stories of power and courage.

Unplug and unwind at these pastoral properties, each blending rural charm with modern luxuries.