Traveling through the South is an exercise in contrast. One day might call for a surfboard and salt air, the next, a trip to an antique fair to pick up a carefully chosen armoire. Every new adventure demands a vehicle that rises to the occasion, whether that means racing to the region’s best snow tubing site before the powder melts or navigating a rugged mountain valley en route to a horseback ride at dawn.
Toyota understands that no two drivers have the same relationship with their trucks, so the Tundra is built for versatility. Standard features like Road Sign Assist1 keep you informed, ensuring that you never miss the exit for that legendary barbecue festival, while available upgrades like Crawl Control2, which automatically adjusts throttle and braking, and the Trailer Backup Guide3, which uses cameras and sensors to make towing easy, help you tackle demanding terrain en route to your next Blue Ridge hike or boat ride. And for the soundtrack to your summer (with simple Standard Apple CarPlay compatibility), there’s the nine-speaker JBL stereo system.4 Reliable, capable, and refined, the Toyota Tundra is engineered to take on whatever the Southern road—and your next adventure—throws your way.
1Road Sign Assist: Toyota Safety Sense™ effectiveness is dependent on many factors including road, weather and vehicle conditions. Drivers are responsible for their own safe driving. Always pay attention to your surroundings and drive safely. See Owner’s Manual for additional limitations and details. 2Crawl Control: Crawl Control is designed for driving on difficult terrain at low speeds and assists the driver by controlling acceleration and braking, allowing the driver to focus on steering. See Owner’s Manual for additional limitations and details. 3Trailer Backup Guide: The backup camera does not provide a comprehensive view of the rear area of the vehicle/trailer. When using straight path assist, driver should confirm clearance and is still responsible for safe operation. See Owner’s Manual for limitations. 4JBL speakers: JBL® is a registered trademark of Harman International Industries, Inc.
Photo: CHRIS GRANGER
Say ahoy to your new favorite hobby
Where: Fairhope, Alabama
SailTime Alabama, a highly regarded sailing school and charter service on the central Gulf Coast’s Mobile Bay, specializes in demystifying a timeless mode of transport. Whether through private instruction or group classes, this esteemed outfitter equips both novice and seasoned mariners with the skills to navigate keelboats—sleek, small- to mid-size vessels that trace back to the nineteenth-century waterways of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. Under the expert guidance of a seasoned captain, SailTime Alabama ensures that every student gains confidence at the helm and learns to skipper their own boat by the time instruction is over.
Photo: Cora Wagoner
Sing along at Riverfront Revival
Where: North Charleston, South Carolina
Darius Rucker, Charleston’s hometown music hero, won over listeners in the 1990s with his Grammy-winning band Hootie and the Blowfish. But the singer has earned a new generation of fans with hits like “Wagon Wheel” and “Comeback Song.” With that kind of longevity, it’s no wonder Rucker knows how to put together a stellar concert lineup. See for yourself at Riverfront Revival, a two-day outdoor show bringing the best country and “country-adjacent” artists to the banks of the Cooper River each October.
Photo: visit florida
Cast off in the Panhandle
Where: Apalachicola, Florida
There’s a magical place—spanning roughly two hundred miles of coastline between Pensacola and Panacea—where schools of redfish practically explode off the Gulf’s surface. The Florida Panhandle is one of the world’s undisputed fishing meccas, with its bays and inlets harboring as many riches as an ocean. Beyond redfish you’ll find speckled trout, Spanish mackerel, tarpon, cobia, bluefish, and jack crevalle, not to mention grouper and red snapper swimming in the reefs and wrecks. Farther offshore await mahi-mahi, wahoo, tuna, marlin, and sailfish. In other words, it’s a big fish story in the making.
Photo: jim beaugez
Discover the Land of 1,000 Waterfalls
Where: Mount Hope, Alabama
At the convergence of Alabama’s Highland Rim and Cumberland Plateau is Sipsey Fork, a geological marvel where turquoise waters have carved out ancient sandstone canyons. Estimated to be between 250 and 550 million years old, this breathtaking stretch of the Bankhead National Forest is a prime winter hiking destination thanks to spring-fed streams and seasonal waterfalls at their most spectacular. Seek out the region’s renowned cascades—Kinlock Falls and Turkey Foot Falls—for a sensory encounter with nature’s raw beauty.
Photo: Patricia Lyons
Boone’s Antiques.
Throw priceless finds in your truck bed
Where: Wilson, North Carolina
Scouring for vintage treasures is a timeless Southern tradition, and seasoned collectors guard their favorite spots as closely as anglers protect their prized fishing holes. But some spaces are worth sharing—like Boone’s Antiques in Wilson, North Carolina. Located on U.S. Route 301, this sixty-plus-year-old institution has sold wares to the likes of Andy Griffith and Johnny Cash. Considered one of the best sources for continental furnishings on the East Coast, it’s a trove of grandfather clocks, Georgian chests of drawers, delicate porcelain, and much more.
Photo: FWC
Another world awaits beneath the surface
Where: Williston, Florida
Don’t be misled by its ominous name—Devil’s Den is a hidden paradise. This prehistoric sinkhole-turned-spring in Florida’s heartland offers an extraordinary setting for scuba diving, spelunking, swimming, and snorkeling. Carved within a 120-foot-wide subterranean cave, its crystal-clear, 72-degree waters invite the bold to dive into an otherworldly aquatic escape, illuminated a deep blue by the sun pouring in through a natural skylight.
Photo: Blue Ridge Blues and BBQ Festival
Don’t miss this finger-lickin’ festival in Georgia
Where: Blue Ridge, Georgia
The art of barbecue is firmly rooted in the South, and its practitioners take their innate or learned talents seriously. Catch their pulled-pork proficiency in action at the Blue Ridge Blues and BBQ Festival, a tradition as tasty as it is tuneful. Each September, local and regional vendors gather in this picturesque mountain town to show off their slow-cooking skills in front of the Fannin County Courthouse, to the accompaniment of live blues bands. Beach chairs, blankets, and your best dancing shoes are strongly encouraged, and proceeds go to local community and children’s organizations.
Photo: courtesy of Georgia Safari Conservation Park
All the perks of a safari without a transatlantic flight
Where: Madison, Georgia
A safari experience is closer than you think. Visitors can encounter more than eighty species of animals at the newly opened Georgia Safari Conservation Park in Madison, Georgia, including rhinos, zebras, and water buffalo. Climb aboard an open-air vehicle and traverse the park’s lush landscapes, where residents like Condo, an African spurred tortoise, and Clover, the elusive addax, roam freely. To fully maximize your visit, opt for a stay in the Giraffe Suite (summer rates start at $449 per night) with its views of the resident giraffes, or book the Safari Encounter Tour ($125 per adult and $85 per child), which includes special animal encounters.
Photo: courtesy of visit mobile
The Azalea City is brimming with possibilities
Where: Mobile, Alabama
Mobile, Alabama, is in the midst of a renaissance. In the past few years it has seen the opening of Clotilda: The Exhibition in a museum located in Africatown—one of the nation’s last surviving communities established by West Africans; welcomed its first food hall, the Insider, with six chef-driven concepts, from pizza to poke; and unlocked the doors to the Admiral, a gorgeously renovated hotel that happened to serve as one of Jimmy Buffett’s original performance venues. Of course, there are plenty of already proven reasons to visit the birthplace of Mardi Gras. Salute a soldier at the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park. Eat at the Hummingbird Way Oyster Bar, helmed by Jim Smith of Top Chef fame. And stroll seven districts, each with its own distinct architecture—like De Tonti Square, a nine-block neighborhood typifying Greek Revival and Federal style.
Photo: Visit Folly
Catch the swell in South Carolina
Where: Folly Beach, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina, may be best known for its historic homes and high-end dining, but trek to nearby Folly Beach and you’ll find one of the most convivial surf scenes in the South. The Washout, an area formed by Hurricane Hugo in 1989, is especially famous for its strong winds and subsequent strong waves. Even more alluring is the laid-back beach town’s welcoming vibe. Minutes from the shore on Center Street are a host of flip-flop-friendly restaurants, bars, and local shops, where you can rehash the day’s best rides over a fresh seafood platter.
Photo: Julie Duncan/Georgia DNR
Discover an unsung avian oasis
Where: Kingsland, Georgia
Keep your eyes peeled for painted buntings at Kingsland’s Crooked River State Park, a five-hundred-acre portion of the Colonial Coast Birding Trail. Avian enthusiasts flock to this rich habitat of pine flatwoods, salt marsh, and maritime forest to see that vibrantly hued songbird along with ospreys, bald eagles, and wood storks. Regulars recommend making a night of it at one of the park’s cottages or campsites, but when you hit the trails by day, don’t forget to look down. There are plenty of terrestrial species to spot, including fiddler crabs and gopher tortoises.
Photo: ben finch
Hit the trail for a journey just below the clouds
Where: Maggie Valley, North Carolina
Perched on a crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains on the far side of the Cataloochee Divide Trail, this down-home horseback ride offers a serene escape in the heart of the High Country. With the luxury Cataloochee Ranch as their home base, guests and their equine escorts trot at an unhurried pace behind experienced guides, soaking up postcard-perfect views of the vast peaks of the Great Smoky Mountains. The journey ends with a picnic, a cocktail, and an Adirondack chair.
Photo: Pinehurst Resort
Explore an epicenter of American golf
Where: Pinehurst, North Carolina
Heralded as one of North America’s premier golf destinations, Pinehurst is a must-play for any dedicated golfer. With twelve courses, it offers an unparalleled variety of holes. Still, the legendary No. 2 course is the ultimate proving ground. Recently restored by Bill Moore and Ben Crenshaw, this iconic layout hosted the 2024 U.S. Open and remains a pilgrimage-worthy challenge. Equally demanding, No. 4 has been masterfully reimagined by architect Gil Hanse, delivering another world-class experience. Beyond the fairways, dive into the sport’s heritage at Golf House Pinehurst, the USGA’s new campus at this storied setting.
Photo: Sam Dean/Beech mountain Ski Resort
Who’s ready for an adrenaline-packed winter ride?
Where: Beech Mountain, North Carolina
As the highest ski area in the eastern United States, North Carolina’s Beech Mountain Resort offers an unrivaled winter escape in the South. But you don’t need to be a seasoned powder hound to revel in its charms. Snow tubing is just as revered here, drawing up to a thousand thrill-seekers daily. Glide down eight 700-foot-long lanes, each promising an exhilarating rush, before gathering around the firepits to thaw out in the glow of crackling flames.
Photo: Vasha Hunt/AP Photo
The Iron Bowl is the stuff of SEC legend
Where: Auburn and Tuscaloosa, Alabama
The annual Alabama-Auburn showdown known as the Iron Bowl is far more than just a game—it’s a fierce battle bound to be replayed in the hearts and minds of fans for the next 364 days. Whether you pledge allegiance to Roll Tide or War Eagle or you’re just there for the tailgate, the Thanksgiving weekend tradition all but guarantees gridiron fireworks. In fact, the Kick Six that led to Auburn’s stunning 2013 victory ranks as one of the top college sports moments ever.