Explore the grand houses, historic neighbourhoods and beautiful gardens that shaped the Southern landscape. Beyond the well-worn tourist circuit are private, appointment-only tours, lesser-known stories and places where history is found in the details. Step inside antebellum homes, wander grounds two centuries in the making and spend an afternoon surrounded by architecture, gardens and the enduring character of the Old South.

Head into the Appalachian foothills, where winding roads lead through mountain towns, hidden valleys and communities shaped by generations of tradition. Music remains woven into daily life here, from local venues and front porches to the bluegrass, storytelling and old mountain customs passed down over time. Explore a quieter side of the South through backroads, live music and places where the landscape and local culture are closely connected.

Follow the coastline through fishing villages, barrier islands and Lowcountry marshes where life still moves with the tides. Take an airboat trip out through the creeks, try your hand at fishing or crabbing off the docks, and keep an eye out for the occasional dolphin or manatee. Then settle in at an old fishing village to enjoy fresh caught seafood with a view from a screened-in porch and cold beer.

Plenty of the South's small towns have had their moment on screen. Explore the real places behind familiar scenes, from recognisable storefronts and historic streets to quiet neighbourhoods that continue long after the cameras have gone. Beyond the filming locations, these towns offer their own character, history and reasons to linger.

Explore the Southern traditions of whiskey, music and the places that inspired both. Visit historic distilleries, small-town bars and mountain music venues where local players still tell stories through song. Follow the backroads between tastings and performances, uncovering the small towns and time-worn venues keep Southern traditions alive.

Follow the flavours of the South from Texas smokehouses and Hill Country kitchens to Louisiana bayous and Cajun country. Tex-Mex, tequila, barbecue, boudin and crawfish all tell part of the story, leading eventually to the restaurants, neighbourhoods and unmistakable food culture of New Orleans.