We've spent the past summer partnering with Holiday Inn to find the most epic road trip. To decide on the final route, we had travelers show us their favorite places to visit.
The American Southeast has an amazing cultural heritage with deep roots in the antebellum period. Southern hospitality, Southern charm, and good ol' Southern cuisine are hallmarks of this region. It's also home to quite a few notable roadside attractions and geological wonders. So, grab some fried green tomatoes and a homemade sweet tea, and prepare for an epic road trip through the South.
1151 Petigap Rd, Mcminnville, Tennessee 37110-5213 USA
The Biltmore Estate is the biggest and most opulent home in America... and you can tour it! Built in the late nineteenth century by the wealthy George Vanderbilt, the 250 room French chateau-inspired estate and its grounds will take you most of a day to explore. You can go into 40 of the rooms, all through the extensive gardens, and into the estate's village, where you'll find a winery and some shops. It's not cheap, but it's a (comparatively) small price to pay for a taste of the ultra-rich lifestyle.
Catawba, Virginia, United States
Shenandoah National Park is another iconic Southern stop. If you only do one thing here, make it a mountain hike. The peaks here aren't too intense, but the views from the top are incredibly rewarding: Stony Man and Old Rag are two great climbs. You can camp out, tour the small historic towns around the valley, visit Luray Caverns, and check out the many wineries in the area as well!
You won't find a more detailed living-history village than Colonial Williamsburg. A visit here lets you step back in time to the American Revolution. You can walk the streets and soak in the history without paying for admission, but a ticket gets you access to the shops, reenactments, demonstrations, exhibits, and tons more. You'll want to spend at least a day here... feel free to rent costumes and really enjoy your chance to experience the past!
The coastal Carolinas offer some of the South's best beaches... and with beaches come lighthouses! Bodie Island's lighthouse is about as classic as they come, with a black-and-white-striped paint scheme and an incredible view from the top. The Outer Banks are a great little place to vacation!
1151 Petigap Rd, Mcminnville, Tennessee 37110-5213 USA
The best time for a road trip in the south: It can get very hot and humid during the summer, and there are more crowds since schools are on break. From August to November you could encounter hurricanes. A great time to travel to avoid crowds and inclement weather is March through May.
