Fall in the Southeast is something magical that everyone deserves to experience at least once, if not every year. From the brisk evening walks on the beaches of South Carolina, to road trips through the Great Smokey Mountains as you adventure to Kentucky’s numerous distilleries both large and small, the experience of fall foliage painting a sunset of reds and greens and oranges as the leaves turn is something indescribable and beautiful. There is always a new place to visit and explore each year no matter what type of traveler you are.
Bourbon Trail through Kentucky
Known as the Bourbon Capital of the World, Kentucky produces approximately 95 percent of the global supply, and for a good reason. Of this 95 percent, most can be found in three distinct areas of Kentucky: Louisville, Frankfort, and Bardstown. All three are well worth the visit, but the easiest for a weekend trip will be Louisville.
Whether or not you drink alcohol, Louisville is a perfect trip for anyone. Louisville has a large population of Hispanic families which contributes to the phenomenal food scene. My favorite places are for Hispanic food in Louisville are La Bodeguita De Mima, a fantastic lively Cuban restaurant and rum bar and Señora Arepa, a casual traditional Venezuelan Cafe. Both of which are located downtown and conveniently next to my favorite hotel to stay at while in Louisville: AC Hotel Louisville Downtown.
I will say, when compared to most of Marriott’s other hotels in the AC line, this one is far from the top, but the service is great and the location is phenomenal for the price. Located centrally in downtown Louisville, the AC is walkable to all of the well-known distilleries in the area, great food, and is in a safe area. My suggestion when staying here, skip the hotel breakfast and walk a block over to the Butchertown Grocery Bakery for some of the most creative breakfast sandwiches I have ever had!
Outside of Louisville, Bardstown and Frankfort are the two other big regions in Kentucky for bourbon, though not as large and lively. Personally, I recommend that you spend a three-day weekend in Louisville and come back for another weekend in the future when one day is spent in Frankfort, and the other in Bardstown.
Apple Pick in Hendersonville, South Carolina
In late August to Early October, North Carolina’s mountainous region known as Appalachia is teaming with delicious, locally grown apples. If you time your trip right, you can enjoy your afternoon after apple picking trying all the apple flavored treats that Hendersonville has to offer at the annual Apple Festival.
Fall for Greenville Food Festival
Being a resident of Upstate South Carolina, this is one of my most favorite fall festivals. Formerly a small town located between Charlotte, NC and Atlanta, GA is now an ever-growing city. Despite the growth, Greenville has not lost its small-town feel. Each fall, the city of Greenville shuts down its main street and a few intersecting side streets to hold a local food festival spanning a mile long. As you stroll down the rolling hills of Main Street you experience live bands, local breweries, and tents dotting the sidewalks overflowing with the enticing scents of delicious food prepared by the restaurants.
Where many food festivals include large meals that are too much to finish, or small bites that are not quite enough, Fall for Greenville excels when it comes to snack sized portions perfect to experience a multitude of the delicacies available.
After you spend the afternoon eating, drinking, and listening to the live music, you can saunter back to one of the many hotels within walking distance, or head for a stroll on the Swamp Rabbit Trail and over the Reedy River Falls.
This event lasts 3 days, so my recommendation is to make a long weekend out of it!
Brews through the Blue Ridge Mountains
In Autumn, the leaves begin to turn along the Blue Ridge Mountains. The best way to experience this change in foliage is driving through Asheville and stopping to visit the breweries along the way. Asheville is located in the western part of North Carolina near the upstate region of South Carolina and Georgia. This wonderful town is one of the best beer and food scenes on the East coast and is frequently compared to Denver, Colorado. Asheville is known for its beer, art, and hiking as the weather is quite temperate and snow is rare to experience until late November, allowing visitors to experience the walkability of the city and the many mountainous hiking locations along the way.
If you are unable to travel through Asheville in Late September through Early October when the leaves change, don’t worry! The local breweries host evening screenings of Halloween movies, where you can curl up with a blanket and a fresh pint of beer and enjoy the delightful frights of movies such as Hocus Pocus or The Aadams Family.
(Donut to the left is from Hole Donut in Asheville, NC!)
Treehouse Glamping in Walhalla, South Carolina
When people think of fall, camping tends to come to mind. For me, seasonal allergies is my first thought. The concept of sleeping outside in a tent sounds like sniffles and sneezing, but glamping is somewhat of a solution. It merges the relaxation of the outdoors with the modern luxuries of a hotel, allowing you to take in the crisp fall air without the worry. This unique treehouse camping experience is tucked away in a small town called Walhalla in the upstate region of South Carolina. Here you can spend your time relaxing on the tree-swing bed and reading a book with a warm mug of apple cider or snuggling up by the fire to watch the leaves change colors and fall. If you are looking for more to do, this is also a great jumping point to explore Asheville’s food scene or partake in a Clemson football tailgate.
Tailgate Clemson’s Homecoming Game
In many states, NFL is big. Down here in the southeast, College is King. From intrastate rivalries to intraconference rivalries, to SEC vs ACC, there is never a bad game, but Homecoming is always the best. What’s even better is the tailgating culture, especially at Clemson University in South Carolina. As you pull onto College Avenue in Clemson, SC you can begin to see fans adorned in Orange and Purple and team loyalty only grows as you head further into campus. Tents filled with boisterous fans discuss team strategy and enjoy local Smokin’ Pig brisket, homemade mac and cheese, Brunswick stew, and so much more. As you walk through, these tailgates, don’t be shocked if you are welcomed by strangers to come join and have a plate. The friendly and inviting nature of Clemson fans and alumni makes you feel welcomed and excited for the game.
Visit the Bavarian town of Helen, Georgia for Oktoberfest
Helen, Georgia is a small town where the streets are lined with tradtional timber-framed homes known as Fachwerk, making the town look like it is right out of olde-time Bavaria. This romantic aesthetic was born out of hard times and an attempt to bring tourism to this little town in Appalachia, which clearly was a success. The town does not just have themed buildings, but has a sister town of Fussen in Germany, and hosts traditionally Bavarian celebrations such as Christkindlmarkt and Oktoberfest. Running this year from September 5th to October 27th, Oktoberfest in Helen, Georgia is a nearly 8-week long celebration that runs from Thursday to Sunday during September 5th to 25th, then beginning September 26th the event is celebrated nightly until October 27th brings the festival to a close.
Located less than 2 hours away from Atlanta, Georgia makes this the perfect day trip on your weekend visit to the Hip-Hop capital of the South. With tickets under $20, and a host of traditional German foods and beers to indulge in, this is a perfect event to stop and experience during the fall in the south.
Ghosts, Ghouls, & Gothic Revival Architecture
Established in 1733 by the British sits this centuries old city of Savanah, Georgia. After generations of battles fought during the revolutionary war, and the civil war alike, Savanah is not short of its fair share of ghosts. Summers in Georgia, especially along the coast can be quite hot and muggy, so the fall is the perfect time for a visit. Morning walks on the beach and afternoons strolling down River Street in cool fall breeze makes the city even more enjoyable. For an evening activity filled with history of the city, and tours of fact or fiction, share everything Savanah has to hold, including the skeletons hidden in its closet and ghosts haunting the Spanish moss strewn city.
These eight things are not all that fall in the south has to offer, but instead, is a great way to experience bits of the culture while beating the summer heat and are perfect for weekend vacations.
