Selected as one of America’s most romantic getaway destinations recently, the resort town of Gatlinburg, Tennessee, resides in the splendor of the Smoky Mountains. A gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg is a popular tourist spot in the summer, but this February, the city is calling all couples for a romantic retreat.

In its list of the Top 10 Romantic Getaways in the United States, Guidebook America suggests a mountain cabin for “wooded seclusion, small-town charm and breathtaking mountain views” as Valentine’s Day approaches.

In other parts of the country, people celebrate New Year’s Eve by drinking champagne, singing “Auld Lang Syne” and popping fireworks. Here in the South, we’ve been known to do some drinking, singing and popping, but only if it’s while also dropping something. New Year’s Eve drops seem to be the norm at celebrations in this region. Some are just …

People might think Mardi Gras is the time to visit New Orleans, but the city is actually much more charming, and less crowded, during the holidays. Lights twinkle down Canal Street, wreaths decorate the streetcars and snow even falls outside Harrah’s Casino. Of course music is always a highlight in New Orleans, but hearing some of the country’s best musicians sing carols in St. Louis Cathedral is an unforgettable experience.

by Judy Smith

As I turn the calendar page to December, Christmas lights are all aglow along the main street in town, ribbons cascade and tumble from the tops of perfectly shaped fir trees and silver bells, wreaths and garlands adorn front doors and lampposts. There’s just a special type of charm that graces a small Southern town during Christmastime. As the whole town is decked out in its holiday finery, the spirit embraces its citizens like nowhere else.

The South is filled with festive, holiday attractions this time of year. Beautifully decorated plantations, lighted tours, a variety of winter wonderlands and several events inspired by Dickens this year stretch across the region, welcoming visitors with heaping doses of Southern hospitality and, if you’re lucky, a cup of hot chocolate or cider.