Southern Byways

25 Things You Must Do This Summer in the South

by Apryl on June 23rd, 2008

So, you survived the first weekend of summer and now you are wondering what to do for the rest of the season. Well, you’ve come to the right place! The South is filled with so much do to during summer. Here’s sampling of a few activities that’ll keep you busy:

1. Swim with the dolphins at Gulf World Marine Park in Panama City Beach, Marineland near St. Augustine, Discovery Cove in Orlando, Dolphin Research Center in Grassy Key, Miami Seaquarium in Miami, or the Theater at the Sea in Islamorada, Fla.

2. Ride a carousel. Take a spin on the Dentzel Carousel in Meridian, Miss., or the carousel at Coolidge Park in Chattanooga, Tenn. 

3. Visit an aquarium.

4. Go on a (southern) safari and see some wild animals in Georgia. You can also see elephants in Greenbrier, Ark.

5. Scream your head off on Led Zeppelin - The Ride, Hard Rock Park’s (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) signature coaster. More on amusement parks and theme parks later.

6. Get wet at Aquatica, Orlando, Fla.’s newest waterpark.

7. Take a hike, literally. Find hiking trails for all levels at any of the state parks through the South, such as Arkansas State Park, Kentucky State Park and Louisiana State Park.

8. Go shelling on Sanibel Island, Fla.

9. Surf’s Up in the South. Okay, it’s not Huntington Beach, Calif. (aka Surf City USA), but some decent waves can be found in the South if you know where to look. If you are longing to hang ten, head for Cocoa Beach, Fla., and the surrounding area, or South Padre Island, Texas.

10. Dig for Gems.

11. Go tubing in Helen, Ga.

12. Soar like a bird. Go hang gliding in Chattanooga, Tenn., or Nags Head, N.C.

13. Master the rapids in West Virginia. 

14. Ride the Ferris wheel at The Wharf in Orange Beach, Ala. At 112-feet, it’s said to be the Ferris wheel in the Southeast.

15. Take an airboat ride through the Everglades National Park.

16. Swim in a Florida spring.

17. Pick blueberries as well as other fruits at U-pick farms throughout the South.

18. Go scalloping in Crystal River, Fla., shrimping in Biloxi, Miss., or  crabbing on Hilton Head Island, S.C.

19. Explore by Segway. Tour Fairhope, Ala., Atlanta, Ga., New Orleans, La., Sarasota, Fla., Bradenton, Fla., Baltimore, Md., Washington,D.C., and  Austin, Texas.

20. Explore lighthouses along Florida’s, North Carolina’s, Virginia’s and Maryland’s Coast.

21. Sample seafood, barbecue and other southern delicacies throughout your weekend jaunt or week-long vacations in the South.

22. Hit the beach on either Gulf or East Coast side.

23. See the bats in Austin, Texas. The Congress Avenue Bridge is home to the largest urban bat colony in North America. 

24. Visit some unusual-named towns.

25. See the outdoor art in Athens, Ga., Norfolk, Va., Belzoni, Miss., Lake Charles, La., Venice, Fla., Germantown, Tenn. , and Gaithersburg, Md.

Photo credits: (top left) Sunny Tree, flickr, creative commons by White88Stripe; (mid-right) She Sells Seashell on the Seashore, flickr, creative commons by elkrusty; (lower left) White Water Rafting on Lower Gauley River, WV, flickr, creative commons by QuiteLucid; (bottom right) Bats in Austin, flickr, creative commons by deadwords

Share This

Related Stories

Longwood Mansion, Natchez, MississippiSaving Money: Deals and More DealsBomb Island, South Carolina

POSTED IN: Aquariums, Beaches, Gem Mining, Nature, Off the Beaten Path, Outdoors, Parks, Small Towns to Visit, Southern Byways, Southern Food, Things to See in Alabama, Things to See in Arkansas, Things to See in DC, Things to See in Florida, Things to See in Georgia, Things to See in Kentucky, Things to See in Louisiana, Things to See in Maryland, Things to See in Mississippi, Things to See in North Carolina, Things to See in South Carolina, Things to See in Tennessee, Things to See in Texas, Things to See in Virginia, Things to See in West Virginia, Things to See in the South, Vacation, Weekend Trip, Wild Life, attractions, barbecue, discover, seashells, tours