Travel Souths Best The South's Best Outdoor Adventures 2021 By Caroline Rogers Caroline Rogers Caroline Rogers is the travel and culture editor at Southern Living, where she writes and edits travel stories exploring the American South. She also contributes articles about books, arts, and the outdoors to the brand's digital platforms. She joined the magazine in 2016 and since then has reported on the beaches of the Florida Keys, opera in Houston's Theater District, and waterfalls across West Virginia, among many other spaces and places. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Published on March 9, 2021 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Tim Fitzharris/Getty Images Ready for an outdoor adventure? The South has plenty, and they're just waiting for you to dive in, suit up, climb aboard, and have a once-in-a-lifetime experience in the great outdoors. Our favorite open-air adventures will take you up the highest peaks in Texas, into bioluminescent lagoons off the coast of Florida, past wetlands wildlife in the Everglades, and through freshly fallen snow in North Carolina. How will you get there? On foot, airboat, kayak, snowshoe, and horseback, for starters. Did we mention scuba-diving among the shipwrecks off the Florida Panhandle? We're just getting started. Read on and learn more about the South's greatest outdoor adventures, then grab your sunblock, book your glampsite, and start making your plans today. You're invited to make some new memories across the South's most thrilling landscapes. (Some programs may be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Check with locations and tour companies for updated information and safety guidelines.) 01 of 11 Airboating in the Everglades George Doyle / Getty Images Florida Take a chartered ride into the 1.5-million-acre wetlands preserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to spot wildlife like leatherback turtles, Florida panthers, American alligators, and manatees. evergladesairboattours.com, 561-901-0661, 15490 Loxahatchee Road, Parkland, Florida 33076 02 of 11 Bioluminescent Kayaking on the Space Coast BK Adventure Florida Board a clear kayak along Florida's Indian River Lagoon at dusk to see the waters sparkling with dinoflagellates on one of the BK Adventure Bioluminescence tours. bkadventure.com, 407-519-8711, 485 N. Washington Avenue, Titusville, Florida 32796 03 of 11 Camping on the Appalachian Trail Michael Shi / Getty Images Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland When camping near the Appalachian Trail, pitch a tent at a designated site or book a cabin rental so you can enjoy some of the comforts of home. appalachiantrail.org 04 of 11 Hiking in Guadalupe Mountains National Park Tim Fitzharris/Getty Images Texas To marvel at the stars, visit Guadalupe Mountains National Park, which is the world's most extensive Permian fossil reef and home to the four tallest peaks in the state. You're just one challenging trek away from watching the sunrise from the highest point in Texas. nps.gov/gumo, 915-828-3251, 400 Pine Canyon,Salt Flat, Texas 79847 05 of 11 The South's Best Outdoor Adventures 06 of 11 Horseback Riding on the Beach in Tampa Bay Cypress Breeze Farm Florida Add an afternoon ride on the sand to your vacation. Cypress Breeze Farm offers horseback riding on the beach as well as guided trail excursions. cypressbreezefarm.com, 727-460-0891, North Skyway, I-275, St Petersburg, Florida 33715 07 of 11 Paddling the Mississippi Gulf Coast Blueways Courtesy of the Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area Mississippi Choose your own adventure on a paddling trip along the Mississippi Gulf Coast blueways, mapped water trails made up of miles of beaches, rivers, and bayous with paths for all experience levels. msgulfcoastheritage.ms.gov/blueways, 228-523-4150, 1141 Bayview Avenue, Biloxi, Mississippi, 39530 08 of 11 Snowshoeing in Beech Mountain Sam Dean North Carolina Snowshoes can be checked out free of charge for use on the 30 miles of trails in Beech Mountain, North Carolina. Parks and recreation department staff also offer guided excursions along the routes. beechmtn.com/snowshoeing, 828-387-3003, 403-A Beech Mountain Parkway, Beech Mountain, North Carolina 28604 09 of 11 Swimming at Little River Canyon John Dersham Alabama Find waterfalls and overlooks as well as plenty of places to take a dip in North Alabama's Little River Canyon National Preserve. Be sure to follow all park rules, and check the weather and water-flow levels before swimming. nps.gov/liri, 256-845-9605 x201, 4322 Little River Trail NE, Fort Payne, Alabama 35967 10 of 11 White Water Rafting on the Chattooga River Nantahala Outdoor Center Georgia Suit up in your helmet and personal flotation device for a rapids-rafting trip along the Chattooga River, which runs from North Carolina to Georgia. noc.com/plan-your-trip/whitewater-rafting, 828-785-4847 11 of 11 Wreck Diving in Panama City Beach Walter Sweeney Florida Dive among the shipwrecks along the Panama City Beach coastline during these fun-filled inshore and offshore trips. They reveal what has been abandoned beneath the waves, including The Black Bart, Tarpon, Grey Ghost, and USS Strength. panamacitydiving.com/dive-sites, 850-588-8077, 106 Thomas Dr., Panama City Beach, Florida 32408 Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit