Southeast Travel Bucket List: The Most Unique and Best Places to Visit in the South

At Kidding Around, we love to travel with kids, and these are some of our absolute favorite family places to visit in the Southeastern United States.

Where are the best places to visit in the South? Where are the south’s coolest family travel spots? You need some new southern travel ideas, and this is the list with all the answers. You’ll get the travel bug after reading about these awesome places to put on your vacation bucket list!

I’m a master at making lists, and I do it for everything – the grocery store, articles I have to write, packing lists for trips, lists on what to cook for holidays, and my ultimate bucket list. I keep a running list of bucket list items that are specifically within the Southeast part of the United States since it’s where I live and can easily drive to. This saves a ton of money on plane tickets. 

So I’m here to share that list with you. It’s not a comprehensive list, but it does contain things I’ve done because they were on my bucket list already. Some I’ve done because they were so cool, and now I’m telling you about them because they deserve to be on the list. I included a few others because readers said they’re on their own bucket lists.

My definition of a bucket list place is somewhere that my kids and I will be talking about long after we go and is a unique and interesting experience.

Get ready to make some amazing memories with your family at any of these Southeast bucket list places!

North Carolina Bucket List Adventures

Find the best places to visit in North Carolina with your family. Here are some of the coolest and most unique places we’ve been!

Outhouse Races

This is first on our list because I’m almost positive you’ve never been to an outhouse race, and I’m more than happy to tell you that it’s totally worth doing. Groups construct and decorate their own outhouses and then race them down a mountain in Western NC in February in the snow. It’s the funniest thing to watch, and you can cheer for your favorite outhouse to win!

Shadow of the Bear

Shadow of the Bear happens only twice a year – November and February – in the mountains of Western North Carolina. At sunset, the shadow of Whiteside Mountain in Cashiers resembles a bear. Some people think it doesn’t look like a bear, and it’s quite entertaining to talk to people who are watching it to hear what they think. Get there early to secure a somewhat safe spot to watch along the mountain road. 

Linville Caverns 

Hike half a mile deep inside these caverns near the Linville Gorge and learn about the history of the area. You may even see a bat. Be sure to check the hours before you go.

Linville Gorge

Often called the “Grand Canyon of the East,” the Linville Gorge Wilderness Area has rugged terrain, deep valleys, and beautiful waterfalls. Not for the inexperienced hiker, the Gorge offers difficult hikes with incredible views and backcountry camping (permits are required). The gorge is part of Pisgah National Forest.

Blue Ghosts and Synchronous Fireflies

For only a few weeks in late May and early June, the amazing Blue Ghost and Synchronous fireflies come out to mate (and sparkle). Walking amongst a sea of small, lighted fireflies near the ground was an incredible experience. This was one of those things I did with my kids that they talked about for years afterward.

We did the Blue Ghost experience at the Cradle of Forestry in Pisgah Forest near Brevard, NC. You have to enter a lottery at Congaree National Park in SC and the Smoky Mountains National Park in TN/NC to view the synchronous fireflies during peak nights.  

Stay on a Buffalo Ranch in a Caboose

A stay at Buffalo Creek Vacations in Clyde, NC is really unique because you can sleep on a real decommissioned caboose on a buffalo ranch. The cabooses are very comfortable and just plain cool. And you can see buffalo right from the window and watch them get their breakfast.

Outer Banks

More than 100 miles of open shoreline await at the Outer Banks in North Carolina. This area has been on my bucket list for a long time. I need to just go!

Polar Express

The Great Smoky Mountain Railroad’s Polar Express runs in November and December out of Bryson City, NC. It has all the trappings of the popular film, from hot chocolate to Santa to inviting guests to wear their pajamas. It’s a huge hit with families. Stay at Sky Ridge Yurts, just a twenty-minute drive from the train station. 

Bon Ami Mine and Black Light Tour

Not only can you visit an old mine and hunt for gems, but on select dates throughout the year, they offer a black light tour of phosphorous rock that glows in the dark!

The Biltmore

Built by George Vanderbilt in the late 1880s, the Biltmore House in Asheville is the largest privately-owned home in the country. It’s enormous with 250 rooms, but I personally think the Biltmore Gardens are the star of the show. This is especially true in the spring when there are more than 30,000 tulip bulbs, and azaleas in every color line the garden path to the bass pond and waterfall. Biking the Biltmore, walking the trails, and visiting the winery are all wonderful things to do there.

Mount Airy

If you’re ready for a trip that is full of nostalgia, you have to take your family to Mount Airy, NC. This small town near Winston-Salem is the real-life hometown of Andy Griffith, and the entire town really showcases that! You can take a squad car ride around town, go antiquing, and check out a lot of the things you would see in Mayberry.

Tennessee Bucket List Adventures

Yep. The places below are some of the most incredible places to visit in Tennessee.

Lost Sea Adventure

Take a tour of these massive caverns outside Knoxville, Tennessee to learn all about geology. But then take a boat tour in the underground lake. It’s as cool as it sounds. 

Roan Mountain

At 6,285 feet above sea level, Roan Mountain delivers big views over sweeping peaks. It’s perhaps most famous for the gorgeous rhododendrons that bloom in early summer along its ridges. But really, anytime is beautiful here. It’s pretty chilly though, so bundle up!

Rock City

Located in Chattanooga, TN, Rock City boasts a unique and creative atmosphere with a 4,100-foot paved path that winds around amazing natural rock formations, including narrow pathways through large rocks, scenic look-out points, and an underground cavern. Statues, a rope bridge, clever signs, and more accent the garden.

Dollywood and Dollywood Splash Country

Both of these parks are fantastic, clean, and fun for the whole family. Dollywood has lots of roller coasters, a steam locomotive, wonderful shows, and areas for smaller kids to play and ride. And the waterpark is such fun with mat slides, water coasters, and a huge lazy river.

Go Lodge

This 17-room mansion in Gatlinburg has hundreds of games to play, and each room is designed as a famous game. The living room looks like the game, Clue, the kitchen is Mario Brothers themed, there are bedrooms that are designed after Pac-Man, Chess, LEGOS, and a Las Vegas casino. The Go Lodge is a must-do with your family.

LeConte Lodge

The only way to get to LeConte Lodge on the top of Mt. LeConte is to hike up. Reservations for the rustic cabins are hard to come by, but hikers have loved this place for many years for the views, the hospitality, and the feeling of accomplishment standing atop the mountain.

---

South Carolina Bucket List Adventures

The best places to visit in South Carolina are right here.

Lake Jocassee Wild Child

I learned about the Jocassee Wild Child program in 2021, and I think it’s one of the most fun and educational things to do during the warmer months out on Lake Jocassee. Read my Jocassee Wild Child review to learn why this experience is a must-do for families. The same company also offers kids kayak clinics on the lake, which are so much fun as well!

Vanishing Island 

I’ve done dolphin tours with Island Explorer in Hilton Head twice, and I plan to go back because it’s easily one of my family’s favorite things to do. Dolphins are so amazing, and the tour company is fun and knowledgeable. You can also search for sand dollars on Vanishing Island.

Bulls Island

I had seen photos of Boneyard Beach on Bulls Island, which is part of the Cape Romain Wildlife Refuge in Charleston, SC. But nothing could truly prepare me for the experience of walking through the old, weathered trees strewn across the sandy beach. It was an experience like no other. 

Daufuskie Island 

You can only get to Daufuskie Island near Hilton Head Island by boat. There are no cars on the island, only bikes and golf carts. It sounds heavenly, and I want to go.

Cow Cuddling

I didn’t know you could cuddle cows until I visited Moo Cow Farms in Simpsonville, SC. But you can, and it’s every bit as fun as I imagined! They are usually booked solid at least two months out, so plan accordingly.

Whitewater Rafting on the Chattooga River

As seen in the movie Deliverance, the Chattooga River is the crown jewel of Southeastern rafting and offers the best and most challenging whitewater in the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountain region. The Chattooga was named a National Wild and Scenic River in 1974. We recommend Wildwater Rafting for your adventure.

Find Some Ghosts in Charleston

Charleston is a gem of the Southeast for its beautiful architecture, restaurants, and history. But it is also known for its many supposedly haunted places. Take a boat tour or walking tour to learn all about them. 

Florida Bucket List Adventures

Castillo de San Marcos

This fort in the country’s oldest city of St. Augustine has a fascinating history behind it. For kids and their parents, the Junior Ranger Program is a must-do.  Try to go during the spring, fall, or winter since the summer is particularly brutal and hot.

Blue Spring State Park 

Florida has dozens of crystal-clear springs around the central part of the state. Here, uou can see twenty feet to the bottom, go snorkeling, tubing, diving, and even see manatees during the winter. Blue Spring State Park is a beautiful spot near the Eastern side of the state.

Bioluminescent Kayaking Adventure 

Off the Space Coast in Florida near Cape Canaveral, is a super cool spot where the water looks like a sea of glow-in-the-dark sparkling stars. And you can kayak through it! 

Kennedy Space Center Launch

This is a tricky one to make happen because so many things can postpone or cancel a rocket launch. And some launches happen in the middle of the night! A trip to the Kennedy Space Center is definitely worth a spot on this bucket list, but seeing a launch there is even more amazing. A night launch from the beach lights up the whole sky.

Georgia Bucket List Adventures

Georgia Aquarium

This is one of those aquariums that people always say is worth the trip. It’s huge, has a large variety of marine animals, and is wonderful for both kids and adults. 

Jekyll Island

Jekyll Island is definitely the place to escape from the world. It is quiet, serene, and beautiful. 

Providence Canyon State Park 

This unique canyon formed because farmers in the 1800s basically didn’t do a good job of farming. But today, hikers, climbers, casual nature lovers, and backpackers enjoy the stunning cliffs and valleys. 

Okefenokee Swamp

I know a swamp doesn’t exactly sound enticing, but I heard about this place because my kids and I were listening to the book Tree Castle Island by Newberry Award winner, Jean Craighead George. We loved the book as it detailed what the magical swamp was like. The name of the swamp translates to “Land of the Trembling Earth,” and you can take kayak tours, guided boat tours, and even a train ride. 

Tallulah Gorge

Tallulah Gorge offers breathtaking views of waterfalls, cliffs, and a powerful river. At two miles long and nearly 1,000 feet deep, the canyon is one of the biggest in the eastern United States. You can hike rim trails to several overlooks (beware there are LOTS of stairs), or you can get a permit to hike to the gorge floor. Permits subject to weather and availability. Arrive early if you want one!

I hope you’ve been inspired to start your own bucket list or just steal any of these ideas. Now go make some memories with your family!