ATLANTA
Atlanta is widely considered the cultural capital of the South, and it’s hard to dispute this claim when you find yourself bouncing from the historic Fox Theatre, which hosts a wide range of live entertainment events, to the SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film, a brilliantly curated sartorial showcase. Outdoor enthusiasts can explore the Atlanta BeltLine, an ambitious urban parkway still under development, but with plenty of hiking trails and art installations. The city’s place in the history of the Civil Rights movement is honored at the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Park, where Dr. King and his wife, Coretta Scott King, are buried and memorialized alongside the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame.
AUSTIN
To really “do” Austin, embrace its weirdness. You’ll find all sorts of opportunities, starting with the urban bat migration that takes place nightly from May through October. Crowds gather on the Congress Avenue Bridge at sunset to watch the nocturnal creatures take to the air for their nightly feeding (and since they eat mosquitoes, they’re also doing a public service). Your next stop might be the dance floor at The White Horse, where an eclectic crowd comes out to enjoy nightly live music and whiskey on tap. A trip to Allens Boots may be in order, to ensure you’re properly shod and accessorized; the South Congress bootmaker is an Austin icon. But if you think the artistry of this Texas town is limited to Western stitchery, a trip to The Contemporary Austin will convince you otherwise. A multidisciplinary art museum in two venues, it encompasses the downtown Jones Center as well as Laguna Gloria, an art-filled Italianate villa on Lake Austin.
SAN DIEGO
Does perfect weather ever get old? That’s a question to ponder as you bask in San Diego’s great outdoors, whether on a vigorous hike in Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, taking a surfing lesson (or just playing in the surf) at Tamarack Beach, just north of charming Encinitas, or browsing and shopping your way through delightful neighborhoods like the Cedros Avenue Design District. We’re guessing you won’t get tired of the sunshine and sea breezes—but on the off chance you do, rest assured that San Diego offers plenty of indoor temptations, too, including a superb collection of museums conveniently clustered around beautiful Balboa Park, the city’s cultural heart.
