See new places in our 2024 road trips issue.
In my family, road trips are an excuse to pack a lot in. We make it a journey—multiple stops, multiple destinations, and plenty of people to see along the way. One of our regular routes takes us from our home in Nashville down to Hilton Head, South Carolina, where my parents live, up to Charleston for something delicious (OK, and a little work), and then over to Fort Mill, South Carolina, where my sister lives. It’s a path of interstate so well-worn, our kids know exactly what exits provide the best breakfast and lunch options.
But as I was reading through writer Jennifer Kornegay’s story on page 94, I was thankful for her father’s reminder that the adventure might be more fun if we were to reroute toward county roads and byways. Once you get off the interstates, he says, “you see where life really happens in this country.” It’s true. And this issue, dedicated to Southern road trips, is a tribute to that sentiment. We’ve filled it to the brim with scenic routes, country roads, quiet corners, and, naturally, any number of places to find something delicious to eat.
There might be no more gastronomical way to get to New Orleans than by the route from Little Rock, as writer Kevin Shalin maps out on page 80—take his advice, as well as a few stops to walk it all off. There’s also Layla Khoury-Hanold’s meandering weekend-long exploration of Bath County (page 108), where mineral springs await in Virginia. I personally love our Worth the Drive columns in each region—from a jazz bar in Florence, South Carolina (page 45), to a Lebanese mainstay in Fairhope, Alabama (page 63), these are the spots worth seeking out during an afternoon drive.
And if you’re looking for a playlist for the road, get to know The Red Clay Strays, an Alabama band who kindly offered up their favorite haunts when they’re touring the Southeast on page 120. Because what’s the point of a road trip if it’s not accompanied by good music?
Happy travels.
Subscribe Now to the Local Palate
share
Erin Byers Murray
Erin Byers Murray has been digging into stories about food and wine for more than twenty years. Based in Nashville, she is the editor-in-chief of The Local Palate and has authored or co-authored half a dozen books, including deep dives into oysters and grits, as well as several cookbooks. Her work has been published in multiple publications, including Food & Wine, Wine & Spirits, the Boston Globe, and three editions of Best Food Writing.
trending content
-
New Myrtle Beach Restaurants Making Waves
-
FINAL VOTING for Your Favorite Southern Culinary Town
-
New Restaurants in Arkansas
-
Shrimp and Grits: A History
by Erin Byers Murray -
Tea Cakes, A Brief History
by TLP Editors
More From From the Magazine
-
Our Fall 2024 Issue is Here!
-
Our Insider’s Guide to South Carolina Is Here!
-
What’s in New York Times Food Correspondent Kim Severson’s Fridge?
-
Grill Essentials
-
Asian Food Booms In the South