Travel in county Live Oak

It’s a running joke in the South that how you greet someone can reveal volumes about where you are from. For instance, in Atlanta, they ask, “What do you do for a living?” In Charlotte, they ask, “Where are you from?” In Charleston, it’s “What’s your mother’s maiden name?” and in Savannah, it’s “What are you drinking?”

The best mother-daughter trips tend to have a Goldilocks element to them: They’re not too romantic or too metropolitan; they don’t call for too many logistics—travel or otherwise—but they’re not boring; they’re not all-or-nothing: buzzy or sleepy, business or pleasure. But rather, they’re just like motherhood is: just right. The best mother-daughter jaunts blend a little bit of everything: great cities, historic museums, delicious food, and the best company.

If you amble down Legare (pronounced Luh-gree) Street, one of the prettiest streets in Charleston’s South of Broad, you pass filigree ironwork gates and secret gardens, antebellum mansions and live oaks. Then suddenly, in front of one of the mansions, there’s a large stone half circle on the street.

If most of your outfits come from Ralph Lauren, you prefer a hunter-jumper show to football, you appreciate polite applause rather than an uproar, and you have an appreciation for a good mint julep, you may be an equestrian.

In Drive-Away Dolls Ethan Coen has made what he dubs “filthy fun,” and what his wife and co-writer Tricia Cooke calls a “queer road trip movie.” Whatever you want to call it, the film—the director's first written and directed without his brother Joel—is a fast-paced journey that follows lesbian heroes and friends Jamie and Marian (Margaret Qualley and Geraldine Viswanathan, respectively) on a road trip from Philadelphia to Tallahassee, Florida, with stops in states like North Carolina and Georgia along the way (and cameos from Pedro Pascal and Matt Damon). Why Tallahassee, you ask? “Tallahassee is actually beautiful,” explains Marian to an unconvinced Jamie at the start of the movie. "They have live oaks, Spanish moss, birding…”

It’s no secret that New Orleans, the 300-plus-year Louisiana port town situated along the banks of the mighty Mississippi River is known for it’s spirited revelry, jazz music, butter-rich food, buzzy cocktails (the Sazerac was born here) and annual Mardi Gras celebration — commencing this February. For leisure and business travelers looking for a quiet respite, you’re in luck. Below, the best of Crescent City’s outdoor spaces, leafy parks, natural beauty boutiques, healthy eats, spas and hotel offerings.

Charleston, S.C. boasts an abundance of charms, from its perfectly-preserved architecture to gorgeous beaches, top-tier food festivals, historic landmarks, and one of the country’s buzziest dining and nightlife scenes. So it’s no wonder the city has become one of the country’s top travel destinations in recent years.

It’s not a stretch to say that The Alfond Inn at Rollins, a boutique hotel in the heart of historic Winter Park, Florida, is unlike any other hotel in the country. Currently celebrating its 10th anniversary, the property unveiled a $36 million expansion last week, including a lavish spa, a chic Café, and 71 additional rooms, totaling 183 guestrooms. A light-filled seven-story atrium connects the expansion with the original building. Guestrooms in the original building have undergone complete upgrades with contemporary interiors, and the existing lobby, library, and bar have also been renovated.

Leave the daily grind at home and treat yourself to a grownup good time in Wilmington, NC, and its beaches this fall. Whether you’re looking forward to a solo getaway, a trip sans kids, a romantic retreat, a retirement adventure, or a friend meetup, this is an ideal destination for mixing the sun and sea with historic charm, coastal cuisine, and city sightseeing year-round — especially after Labor Day, when kids are back in school. Dive into live tunes by the water, ride the waves on scenic cruises, dig into authentic history and culture, and savor coastal eats all on one trip.

With gloriously sunny days and balmy nights well into the fall, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is the ideal place to treat yourself to a sun-soaked autumnal escape and keep those vacation vibes alive. There’s no better way to start your fall getaway at The Beach than with a hearty morning meal to keep you fueled up and ready for adventure. The Grand Strand is home to a burgeoning brunch scene that rivals many a culinary mecca. “The myriad of top-notch and delectable culinary offerings in Myrtle Beach from breakfast to brunch and beyond allows visitors to sample some of the region’s most iconic and unique dishes while traveling along the Grand Strand’s 60 miles of sunny coastline,” said Karen Riordan, President and CEO of Visit Myrtle Beach. “With new restaurant concepts being launched every month and an impressive line-up of food-related events showcasing seasonal cuisine, The Beach offers the perfect balance of stunning fall weather and flavorful fare for all.”

Savannah is the fifth-largest city in the Peach State but its historic district is compact and easily walkable. Most streets and walkways are pedestrian-friendly and well-marked with helpful signage. 

When you arrive at Post House Inn, the chic and cheerful boutique hotel and restaurant situated in the historic Old Village area of Mount Pleasant, S.C., you might think it looks right out of a movie set. And you’d be right. With its tidy 18th-century white clapboard houses, streets shaded by live oaks dripping with Spanish moss, and old-fashioned storefronts bearing vintage neon signs, the village was actually a prominent filming location in The Notebook.

“We believe this is where freedom began for African-Americans,” says Ahmad Ward, gazing across a tranquil forest clearing on the northeastern edge of Hilton Head. This South Carolina island is famous for its world-class golf courses, sandy beaches and top-end resorts. But it is also a place with great historical significance. In the shade of towering live oak trees, their branches draped with wispy Spanish moss, Ward explains that we are standing on the site of Mitchelville, the first self-governed town of freed slaves in America.

A region rich in history and culture, natural beauty, southern hospitality, gorgeous white-sand beaches, forest-smothered mountains and NASA’s first moon rockets – Alabama is full of surprises.