Culture and Lifestyle

Southerners are known for their charisma, poise, and welcoming demeanor. It’s ingrained in our Southern culture. Southern Living is the insiders’ guide to Southern culture, from discovering the best new Southern food joints to sharing new takes on classic sweet tea. We cover the music, the flavor, and the fun of the South. Welcome—we hope you stick around.

Discovery at Dusk Canoe Tour
14 Things On Our Editors' Old-Fashioned Summer Bucket List
Caftailing
'Caftailing' Is The Summer Entertaining Trend Your Grandma Would Approve Of
Jenny_Reimold_Dorm_Room-Evin_Photography-2
10 Things You’ll Only Find In A Southern Dorm Room
Polite Hair Salon Habits
9 'Polite' Salon Habits That Hair Stylists Actually Dislike
Young and old family members playing the guessing game 'who am I?' Notes stuck to their foreheads with an animal name written on it. Everyone laughing out loud.
We're Bringing Back Parlor Games This Summer
Happy child sprinkler, vintage 1990s child summer fun.
6 Nostalgic Reasons We're Bringing Back The '90s This Summer
Emily Painter Outdoor Entertaining
6 'Polite' Habits Hosts Actually Dislike
Hydrangea Arrangement
Why Your Southern Grandmother Always Sprayed Her Hydrangeas With Hairspray
Hummingbird at feeder
Where To Hang Your Hummingbird Feeder For The Best Backyard Show
library
Bakers Will Love This Unexpected Item You Can Borrow From The New Orleans Library
Moore and Giles Seven Hills Collection - Lynchburg, Virginia
This Nearly 100-Year-Old Virginia Leather Brand Proves You Can’t Beat A Classic
Woman wrapping a gift
Is It OK To Give A Thrifted Gift? Here’s What Etiquette Experts Say
Southerners Say On Vacation
6 Ways To Make This Summer’s Beach Trip Feel Like Your Childhood Again
a bowl of sweet-and-sour watermelon salad alongside cups of A Mockery
North Carolina Chef Ricky Moore Brings The Community Together With A Picnic On Juneteenth
summer corn being shucked
If You’re Doing This At The Grocery Store, Bless Your Heart
Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier
These Classic Southern Boardwalks And Piers Define Nostalgic Summer Fun
Drive In Movies
This 1950s Summer Tradition Is Still Just As Fun In 2025—And Costs Next To Nothing
Lemonade Stand
5 Things Southern Kids Grew Up Selling In The Front Yard During Summer
Goodland, Florida
This Legendary Bar In A Florida Fishing Village Wards Off Hurricanes With A Wacky Contest
library
This Southern Library System Allows You To Check Out A Nostalgic Childhood Treasure
Silver Springs Kayakers
10 Screen-Free Adventures For A Classic Southern Summer
Sunrise on Horn Island
Don’t Forget To Watch A Sunrise This Summer—Science Says It’s A Good Idea
Two children buying ice cream from an ice-cream truck
8 Places To Experience An Old-Fashioned Southern Summer
Fried chicken skewers served in a wire basket lined with paper
Chicken On A Stick Is The Best Reason To Stop For Gas In Mississippi
Two little boys running through the sprinkler in the backyard
10 Ways Kids Can Still Have An Old-Fashioned Summer In 2025
Child with his grandmother in the garden
11 Things Your Southern Grandmother Always Said In The Summertime
Marta Galaz Cancio tablescape
7 Old-Fashioned Entertaining Trends That Are Making A Comeback
An open book resting on a striped towel near the sea
25 New Beach Reads For 2025
Farm Stand
It’s Not Summer In The South Without This Nostalgic Roadside Snack
brown bear
What To Do If You Encounter A Bear, According To An Expert
Active senior citizen grandmother playing with granddaughter outside in baby pool. Conceptual image for togetherness, family bonding and grandparents love.
15 Things You’d Always Do At Your Southern Grandma’s House During Summer
Stacks of Kirkland Premium Towel paper towel packs in a warehouse setting
14 Kirkland Signature Products From Costco That Reviewers Love
HART OF DIXIE
12 Things No One Ever Tells You About Moving To A Small Southern Town
Mother and daughter are taking selfies
When Did We Start Becoming Our Daughters’ Best Friends?
The beach at Coligny Beach Park in Hilton Head Island, SC
Why Craig Melvin Returns To This South Carolina Beach Year After Year
Rabbit Looking at Garden
8 Foolproof Ways To Keep Animals Out Of Your Garden
Traditional Relish Tray
The Retro Serving Dish That Every Southern Host Needs
Closeup of Thanksgiving Table Setting with Feathered Placemats, Monogrammed Napkins, and Photos as Place Cards
The History Of Monograms And How They Became So Beloved By Southerners
mom and child in kitchen
Southern Chefs Reveal The Best Cooking Advice They've Ever Received From Their Moms
Happy hour cocktail tray
The Super-Southern Serving Utensil Every Host Needs
Bathroom sink with toiletries and brushes
Why You Should Always Take A Photo Of Your Bathroom Before Going On Vacation
Hearse adorned with flowers. Memorial funeral. Concept of death and burial. Death day
Why We Should All Pull Over For Funeral Processions
Kids playing on rope swing
6 Surprising Things No One Ever Tells You About Southern Summers
Hope Floats
10 Life Lessons We Learned From Our Southern Moms That Will Never Go Out Of Style
Raccoon in Flowers
How To Keep Raccoons Away From Your Home And Garden
Sally Field and Julia Roberts in Steel Magnolias
12 Hilarious Things That Made Us Realize We're Becoming Our Mothers
Baby Loggerhead Sea Turtle, Caretta caretta, running from its nest to the sea, turtle project, Lara Beach, Akamas, Cyprus
5 Ways To Protect Sea Turtles On Your Summer Vacation, According To An Expert
Kentucky. State Librarian, Archives and Records Management Division – Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives
Before Dolly's Imagination Library, There Were The Appalachian Bookwomen
Houston Texas rodeo
7 Things No One Ever Tells You About Attending Your First Rodeo
Aldi grocery store cashier sitting
ALDI Is The Only Grocery Chain That Gives Cashiers A Seat—Here's Why
Woman washing birdbath in a garden with a hose
How Often Should You Clean Birdbaths To Keep Them Safe For Birds To Use?
man playing banjo
The Forgotten History Of The Banjo Any True Bluegrass Fan Needs To Know
1970s Dinner Party
The Retro Entertaining Trend We Want To Bring Back
Two cheerful elderly neighbors exchange friendly greetings over a picket fence in a suburban neighborhood
The Southern Accent Was Just Named The 'Friendliest' In The Country
Barbara Kingsolver at home in Appalachia
Barbara Kingsolver Reflects On The Resilient Appalachian Community Months After Hurricane Helene Tore Through the Region
Peony and tulip door swag flower arrangement
Why The Tradition Of May Day Baskets Should Make A Comeback
Closeup of woman looking at restaurant menu on her smartphone
Should You Look Up The Menu Before Visiting A Restaurant? A Southern Chef Weighs In
Close-up of female holding glass with redwine
The Proper Way To Hold A Wine Glass
Birmingham, Alabama
15 Cheap Thrills In Birmingham, Alabama, That Cost Next To Nothing
1950s Housewife Cooking
This 5-Minute Trick Keeps Me Organized When Hosting A Dinner Party
Family eating fast food in car
8 Fast Food Signs Southerners Always Pull Off The Highway For, According To Our Readers
Yard Sale
5 Yard Sale Etiquette Rules To Know Before You Go, According To An Avid Shopper Of Over 25 Years
Porch at Preserved Restaurant in St. Augustine, FL
The Divisive Restaurant Trend We Hope Goes Away