15 Best Places To Travel In The South This April
ROBBIE CAPONETTO
A mural installation by John Cerney honors the 1956 movie Giant, which was filmed partially in Marfa.By April, spring travel season is in full swing. In the South, the last dredges of chilly winter weather have disappeared, and it’s full steam ahead to explore in the warm sun. If you’re itching to pencil an April getaway onto your calendar, let this list help narrow down the endless options of places to go. You’ll find mild temperatures and plenty to do at each of these Southern locales, but that’s far from all. Several host beloved festivals and sporting events during April, giving you just one more reason to commit to a trip. From the Masters golf tournament in Augusta, Georgia, to Jazz Fest in New Orleans, April is a big month for Southern states. Here are 15 great places to travel in the South in April 2024.
New Orleans, Louisiana
There’s never a bad time to visit the Crescent City but there are a few times a year when the city shines extra brightly. Of course, Fat Tuesday is an obvious choice if you want to experience all the fanfare of Carnival season, but New Orleans’ annual Jazz & Heritage Festival, better known as Jazz Fest, might be just as popular. Held annually for a two-week period spanning the last weekend of April and first weekend of May (April 25 through May 5 this year), Jazz Fest is one huge celebration of everything—music, food, art, and culture— that makes New Orleans the vibrant Southern destination it is. This year’s headlining artists include The Rolling Stones, Foo Fighters, Chris Stapleton, Neil Young and Crazy Horse, The Killers, Anderson .Paak and the Nationals, Hozier, and Jon Batiste. If you go, be sure to try these five very-specific festival eats.
Delray Beach, Florida
It’s practically impossible to resist the tug of vacation mode in South Florida, so why not give in? Delray Beach, a town of nearly 70,000 people tucked between West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale, is the place to visit in April. The colorful coastal town has everything you need for a best-ever version of your favorite beach vacation: pristine white-sand beaches, waterfront dining, and a buzzy main drag. Drop by in April for the Delray Affair, a long-running arts-and-crafts festival where hundreds of talented vendors set up along 10 palm-lined downtown blocks to show off and sell their wares. This year’s festival is April 12-14.
Oxford, Mississippi
Fall may be busy season for SEC football towns, but spring is one of our favorite times to visit. If you head to Oxford in April, spend time wandering the University of Mississippi’s grand campus that’s known for its sprawling acres adorned with ancient magnolia trees, live oaks, and Greek Revival-style buildings. After, take a spin around the Square, the center of historic downtown and the best place to go for everything from local restaurants to art galleries to boutique shopping to one legendary bookstore. April travelers might consider planning their trip during Double Decker Arts Festival, a two-day homegrown celebration (April 26-27) of music, art, and food that’s held in the center of the Square.
Marfa, Texas
ROBBIE CAPONETTO
Horse and cattle ranches flank U.S. 90 near Marfa, which is surrounded by the Davis, Chisos, and Chinati Mountains.Our April 2024 cover stars, Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves McConaughey, adore this speck of a town in way-out West Texas. If you can find your way to this teeny, tiny destination, you’ll be rewarded with a world-class art scene, excellent boutique shopping, and easy access to one of the country’s most underrated national parks in Big Bend National Park. The locale may seem rustic, but Marfa’s accommodations are anything but. Stay in a luxuriously revamped airstream at ultra-trendy El Cosmico, or book a room in the newly renovated Hotel Saint George.
The North Shore, Louisiana
Kevin Garrett for VisitTheNorthshore.com
With all the appeal of beloved Southern destinations like Charleston and Savannah, Louisiana’s St. Tammany Parish is practically begging to be your new go-to weekend destination. Located just north of New Orleans across Lake Pontchartrain, the waterfront communities that make up this sector of Louisiana kick up the Southern charm in major ways. Look to Covington for a classic small-town Southern stay complete with mule-drawn carriage tours, vintage general stores, and neighborhood eateries. Take full advantage of mudbug season by heading to Slidell for its annual Crawfish Cook-Off, on April 20 this year.
Louisville, Kentucky
The Kentucky Derby is celebrating its 150th running on May 4 this year, which means the city is making major preparations to commemorate the landmark anniversary in style. Few will spring for tickets to see the Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports in person, but that doesn’t mean you can’t participate in the fun. Learn about the beloved Southern tradition at the Kentucky Derby Museum, which is rolling out new exhibits throughout the spring and will even bring visitors on tours of Churchill Downs. Horse racing not your cup of tea? Louisville has plenty more to offer by way of first-rate dining, a growing art scene, and plenty of bourbon distilleries where you can whet your whistle.
Augusta, Georgia
Southern Living
Your chances of winning the ticket lottery for the Masters golf tournament may be about a half-percent, but your chances of visiting the charming Garden City (where the tournament takes place) are as high as you want them to be. Augusta bursts into life in April when the famous competition takes place. See brilliant blooming azaleas across the city, stay at a historic inn, and spend time walking Augusta’s scenic riverwalk. If outdoor pursuits pique your interest, you can kayak on the Savannah River, go wildlife spotting at the Phinizy Swamp Nature Park, or bike along the North Augusta Greeneway.
Wilmington, North Carolina
LISA CORSON
Voted as our number one South’s Best City on the Rise, there are a million reasons to love this North Carolina coastal city. Situated on both the Atlantic Ocean and Cape Fear River, Wilmington offers the best of two distinct worlds: a historic riverfront city and a laidback beach town. In April, the annual Azalea Festival (April 3-7) brings concerts, a parade, fairgrounds, and a downtown street fair to the already lively city. If seeing spring blooms is high on your travel to-do list, don’t miss the Cape Fear Garden Club’s Azalea Garden Tour (April 5-7), which includes access to the magnificent Airlie Gardens, as well as the impressive gardens at many private homes.
Grapevine, Texas
Getty Images
On Monday, April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will cross North America, meaning the moon will pass directly between the sun and earth and completely block the face of the sun. While all 48 mainland states will experience a partial eclipse, only a few are lucky enough to be in the path of the total eclipse. Texas is one of those states, and the town of Grapevine (just 30 minutes northwest of Dallas) is gearing up to celebrate the landmark phenomenon in a big way. The city is hosting a Solar Eclipse Watch Party in the historic main street district. Enjoy live music, food specials, and games while you wait for the total eclipse to pass at precisely 1:41 p.m. After, stick around for a few days and experience everything else the town has to offer, from vintage railroad rides to an urban wine trail to excellent accommodations at places like boutique property Hotel Vin.
Asheville, North Carolina
Folks often think of fall as prime time for visiting this artsy and eclectic mountain town, but there’s an argument to be made for seeing the city in spring. If you’ve been itching to hit the trails after a long winter holed up inside, nearby hiking opportunities abound in the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains. Asheville is known for its accomplished farm-to-table dining scene, and the fresh produce available in spring gives talented chefs inspiration to create some of their best menus of any season. And while folks love visiting the Biltmore Estate in winter thanks to its incredible holiday displays, its sprawling grounds shine brightest in spring. The incredible gardens and displays of Biltmore Blooms, the estate’s annual flower festival from March through May, is something you absolutely must see once.
Virginia
Gorgeous gardens are put on full display for the Garden Club of Virginia’s annual Historic Garden Week. From April 20-27, visitors can tour private homes, public gardens, and historic sites across the state to see beautifully landscaped gardens all donning their brightest blooms for spring. Choose a region (north, south, east, west, or central), and follow one of Garden Week’s many suggested itineraries to create an easy agenda of optimized garden viewing for the week or weekend. Pepper in a few stops at Virginia’s scenic and celebrated wineries, and you’ll be all set with the trip of a lifetime.
Lafayette, Louisiana
If you’ve never let a spring pass you by without attending or hosting at least one crawfish boil, a pilgrimage to this South Louisiana city during the height of mudbug season is a must. Lafayette takes crawfish seriously, so this is the place to go for some of the freshest harvest you can find anywhere. Stop into Old Tyme Grocery for a fried crawfish po’boy, then make friends with a local and see if you can score an invite to their weekend boil. For a true glimpse into Lafayette’s unique Cajun culture, visit during the Festival International de Louisiane (April 24-28), the largest non-ticketed outdoor Francophone festival celebrating the connections between Acadiana and other French-speaking groups.
Atlanta, Georgia
Sometimes called the capital of the South, there’s always something going on in Atlanta. Between big sporting events, music festivals, and new restaurants opening seemingly every week, it’s impossible to be bored in the city. In April, Atlanta revs up its already busy schedule with events celebrating all kinds of interests. There’s the Georgia Bird Fest, which scatters birding trips, guided walks, and talks throughout the month. The Atlanta Film Festival will debut more than 150 films over 11 days from April 25 through May 5. Beloved brewery Sweetwater holds its annual music festival,Sweetwater 420 Fest, at Pullman Yards on April 20-21, with artists like Beck, Black Pumas, Trombone Shorty, and Grace Potter headlining. Everyone gathers at Piedmont Park for Dogwood Festival (April 12-14), which is the city’s oldest outdoor event and has been going strong for almost 90 years. Live music, food, kids’ programming, art, and a 5K are all part of the fun.
Fredericksburg, Texas
Spring brings wildflower season in Texas, and one of the best places to see the cheery varieties is in Texas Hill Country. Fredericksburg, considered the heart of Hill Country, has become the place to go for a small-town weekend getaway. The town’s history dates to 1846 when German immigrants and settlers first made a home there, and today that heritage is displayed proudly in the many authentic German restaurants, cafes, and biergartens you’ll find around town. For the best wildflower experience, head to Wildseed Farms, where you can pick your own blooms on their 200 acres of fields, then sample another Hill Country speciality in the wine-tasting room.
Paducah, Kentucky
ROBBIE CAPONETTO
Small-Town Treasures, The Oh Brother, Where Art Thou cocktail from Freight House; Barrel & Bond; the bar at Café de Fae; chef Sara Bradley of Freight House; artful offerings at Frenchtown Station; Market House Theatre; the Belle Louise Historic Guest House; beer on tap at Dry Ground Brewing Company; a cozy corner at Barrel & Bond.Another Southern town in the path of totality for the 2024 eclipse, the artsy little town of Paducah would make a wonderful springtime getaway. Enjoy the 19th century architecture in the historic downtown or peruse the galleries, artisan shops, and studios of the modern LowerTown Arts District. Everywhere you turn, you’re bound to see something beautiful. Need a little inspiration for your tastebuds? There are great restaurants like Freight House and Starnes Bar-B-Q, plus equally impressive breweries, distilleries, and local coffee roasters. Paducah is celebrating the eclipse with their X Marks the Spot event, a two-day community festival in historic downtown that will include street vendors, arts and crafts activities, and specials at local restaurants and bars.
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