Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel....

Festivals, Events, & Spring Values in the Southeast

From North Carolina down to Florida and practically everywhere in between, you’ll find what you want the Southeast! “Our region traditionally offers not only an exceptional value for the money, but a unique brand of festivals and events focusing on food, historic houses, the outdoors, and much more,” says Glenn Couvillon, managing director of Travel South USA, America’s oldest and largest regional marketing organization.

More than 45 million tourists can’t be wrong. That’s the number of annual visitors to North Carolina (www.visitnc.com), thanks to a wide range of attractions. Reaching from the misty Blue Ridge Mountains in the west to the 300 miles of shore on the Atlantic Ocean, North Carolina features natural beauty, sports, adventure, arts and culture, and history, guaranteeing a spectrum of activities for its visitors.

Three geographic regions and four seasons make North Carolina a perfect year-round destination, with spring being ideal anywhere in the state. The climate is moderate, but varies sharply with altitude--the state's Atlantic coastline is warmer than the mountains, which rise to over 6,000 feet and offer skiing during the mild winters. The state's combination of natural resources makes it perfect for whitewater rafting, hiking, camping, fishing, biking, golfing, and other outdoor adventures.

Top attractions are almost too numerous to list, but include: Blue Ridge Parkway (western part of the state); North Carolina State Parks (more than 35 parks state-wide); Great Smokey Mountain National Park; Harrah's Cherokee Casino (Cherokee); Cape Hatteras National Seashore (Outer Banks); State Farmer's Market (Asheville); Lowe's Motor Speedway; Biltmore Estate (Asheville); Guilford Courthouse National Military Park (Guilford County); North Carolina Historic Sites (statewide); North Carolina Aquariums (various sights along the coast); North Carolina Zoological Park (Asheboro); Wright Brothers National Memorial (Kill Devil Hills); furniture-making and shopping (Hickory and High Point); Old Salem (Winston-Salem); kite flying and hang-gliding at Jockeys Ridge State Park (near Kill Devil Hills); golf (more than 600 courses state-wide); Tryon Palace (New Bern); and Potter's Row (near Seagrove).

These attractions and others host a wide range of events, festivals, and activities, including some ‘unique’ springtime ones, like the North Carolina Pickle Festival in Mount Olive, Wilmington’s Medieval Festival at Poplar Grove, the North Carolina Strawberry Festival in Chadbourn, and the Albemarle Potato Festival in Elizabeth City. But anytime is a great time to visit the Tar Heel State--45 million people can’t be wrong!

Georgia also has a host of ideal events and values anytime of year, but springtime is especially popular. Over on the coast, Brunswick & the Golden Isles (www.bgivb.com) are comprised of the charming town of Brunswick and the islands of St. Simons Island, Sea Island, Little St. Simons Island, and Jekyll Island, giving a variety of spring travel choices.

In the center of the Peach State, and just 16 miles east of downtown Atlanta, Stone Mountain Park (www.stonemountainpark.com) is a complete vacation destination, with accommodations, events, activities, dining, and more right on-site. The park is located in Dekalb County (www.dcvb.org), which also features a wide variety of other attractions, including the Fernbank Museum of Natural History, Fernbank Science Center, Michael C. Carlos Museum, and Callanwolde Fine Arts Center. Also just 15 miles outside Atlanta, Clayton County (www.visitscarlett.com) is the ‘Legendary Land of Gone With The Wind,’ including museums, tours, and more attractions related to the famed book and movie.

Blessed with natural beauty and scores of family-oriented attractions, Tennessee (www.tourism.state.tn.us) is an ideal spring destination. Many of the outdoors destinations (including great state parks) and attractions hold festivals and events in the spring, providing the perfect reason to head to the state.

In Alabama, the state’s Gulf Shores area offers great beaches, annual events, dining variety, and lots of accommodations options. From families to golf groups, Brett/Robinson Vacation Rentals (www.vacationgulfshores.com) features a wide variety of properties to accommodate all of your vacation needs. Their website provides details on everything you’ll need to plan a Gulf Shores stay!

Mississippi features a wide range of destinations. The capital city of Jackson (www.visitjackson.com) is centrally located and a great stop, including the State Capitol, museums, and spring draws like the Crawfish Festival and many musical events.

Founded at the turn of the century and located ‘just across the street’ from Jackson, Ridgeland (www.ridgeland.org) has the charms of a small southern town with big-city amenities (including Circus Days, an April event that’s a circus and much, much more). Just 20 miles north of Jackson, historic Canton (www.canton-mississippi) offers the great Canton Flea Market Arts & Crafts Show, the Canton Gospel Fest Homecoming, the Hot Air Balloon Fest, museums, antiquing, and more.

To the west of Jackson, famed Vicksburg (www.vicksburgcvb.org) is a Mississippi ‘must,’ with Vicksburg National Military Park, many museums, historic houses, casinos, unique accommodations, and more. To the north, Greenwood (www.gcvb.com) offers a ‘Delta Experience,’ with the Yazoo river flowing right through the town and area that gave birth to the blues--highlights include Cottonlandia, the Blues Heritage Museum, and Florewood River Plantation. Down on the state’s namesake river, Natchez (www.natchez.ms.us) adorns the banks with gracious homes, friendly people, riverboat gambling, museums, the rustic atmosphere of Natchez Under-the-Hill, and many local events.

Elvis fans will want to head to Tupelo (www.tupelo.net), where the city’s most famous modern landmark is the Elvis Presley Birthplace, which is part of a complex that includes the house and a museum, chapel, and park. Located on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, historic Columbus (www.columbus-ms.org) was the first home of Tennessee Williams and today welcomes tourists with historic pre-Civil War houses, museums, and many events, including the annual Spring Pilgrimage tour of many mansions and homes.

Down in Florida, the season is full of Sunshine State festivals, events, and values. In the quiet Panhandle, Pensacola Beach (www.visitpensacolabeach.com) on Santa Rosa Island is home to the protected Gulf Islands National Seashore, meaning visitors can relax on miles of some of the whitest, most pristine beaches anywhere. Add varied accommodations, dining, activities, and events, and you have a great vacation spot.