Living on the coast means enjoying easy access to all of the area’s beautiful barrier islands. South’s resident traveler uncovers the secrets behind another one of Georgia’s gems.

Sometimes I pull a Rhett Butler and wander off into the world in search of what is left of charm and grace in life, and although oftentimes I find an adventure, it’s rare that I run across these particular attributes. Recently, however, I headed out in search of a little seaside delight and discovered this Holy Grail of elegance, in a city not so far south of Savannah.

South discovers the hidden delights of the historic, happening and heavenly Holy City: Charleston

In Charleston, every building has secrets. The long staircases groan beneath their pressure. The thick carpets lay length to length against them, absorbing footfalls and cushioning echoes. The oak doors fall solidly shut, fastening them tight.

I sensed it as soon as I came into the city. I drove slowly; I saw the buildings pressed against an autumn sky the color of frosted glass. Their shapes represented more than a collection of secrets; they illustrated the character of the city itself: the vast array of succulent foods, the thriving nightlife and music scene, the throaty tones of a saxophone, somewhere, drifting, the gentle courtesy of the locals and their lulling accents, discernible from Savannahians’ only to the close listener.

I listened closely.

In the lobbies of hotels, at elbow-polished bars, in the corners of dimly lit restaurants—I listened. What I heard were the harmonies characteristic of the South: laughter that carries, the ringing of crystal, forks cleaning plates, doors swinging open and the footsteps of children. I heard the quiet unidentifiable sounds unique to historic homes. I heard the pleasant din of many conversations inhabiting a single space. I heard voices lowered to whisper.
In Charleston, every building has a secret. It just needs to be discovered.

When the travel bug bites, and you just gotta get goin’, let The South be your guide to a mini-getaway that will cure any cabin fever.

Barkin’ Bulldogs
Athens, Georgia
Travel Time: 4 hours

Spend a football-filled weekend in Athens and watch the Dawgs kick off the 2009 season at their first home game on September 12. As the Classic City transforms into a sea of red and black, enjoy the view from the comfort of Georgia Gameday Center, just a short walk to the stadium and packed with Georgia style. Insider’s tip: Southerners keep it classy; so don’t forget the pearls and suspenders.

For rates and availability at Georgia Gameday Center, check out www.gagamedaycenter.com

Antiquity meets authenticity on this captivating barrier island.

I can’t remember my first time on Amelia Island. The 18-mile long stretch of sand on Florida’s northeast coast has been part of my family for generations. My parents grew up vacationing there, renting ramshackle beachfront cabins on the island’s north side for $40 a week. In 1980, my young parents bought a house—for $35,000—across the street from those cabins, and I have a very vivid memory of standing on the front porch of that house one summer night, watching some of the little white clapboard shacks burn to the ground.

Like those cabins, Amelia Island has evolved in its 4,000-year history, but remained constant: You can no longer buy an ocean view house for $35,000, but you can still find that small-town beachy charm without looking too hard. Amelia, and its city center Fernandina Beach, have the distinction of being the only communities in the United States to be ruled by eight different political groups. The island’s nickname, “Isle of Eight Flags,” boasts of its rather chaotic past, and its 50-block waterfront historic district celebrates it.

You may not believe it now, while you fanaticize about a spring vacation to some exotic getaway, but sometimes the best trips happen when you just stay home. Times are tight, and our wallets are even tighter. Layoffs, recession, and the ever-spiraling economy seem all consuming, forcing many of us to redefine our money-spending choices. In effect, the economic climate has altered the way in which we travel: People are staying close when leaving home, saving on time, money, gas and perhaps even guilt. But just because you’re staying local doesn’t mean you have to skimp on excitement. Who says that luxury can only be found by hopping on a plane to the Caribbean?

To remind you that the lap of leisure is closer than you think, we offer some fun, creative, affordable (and some splurge-worthy) ideas on where to stay, play, eat and shop, all in your own backyard. Read up on ideas to inspire, invigorate, enlighten and even ease the “guilt of travel” during such unstable times. So kick back, relax and enjoy; You’re on staycation.

Nashville, Tennessee, is the home of country music, all-night jam sessions and your next high-energy, foot-stomping vacation.

Nashville is a gambling town. But unlike Las Vegas, where people gamble with money, folks in Music City gamble with their souls. Man quits job, sells car and packs guitar and a couple of shirts along with some rhyming lines about life, written on everything from folded up napkins to old check stubs; he hops on a Greyhound bus with a big sign on the front that’s lit up like heaven and reads “Nashville.” This story occurs in some form or another every single day. Only the minor details vary. Sometimes it’s a woman driving in. Sometimes the guitar is a fiddle. The common thread, though, is that they always come to Nashville with some innate wisdom about life and a melody to go with it.