The lookouts are lovely, sure — but what really captures the imagination here are the ghost towns. Two of them are relatively easy to reach: Nuttallburg and Thurmond. The latter is the most striking example. The train station and a few brick buildings along Main Street are still standing. In the early 20th century, Thurmond was a classic boomtown, fuelled by the coal industry. Fifteen passenger trains a day ran through here, carrying 75,000 travellers a year. Now, only the occasional freight train rolls by.
New River Gorge is the youngest National Park in the United States. It became the 63rd addition to the list of federally protected parks in 2020. The gorge cuts through the Appalachian Mountains. Naturally, there is a scenic route with viewpoints — this is still America, after all — but in many places you can also descend to the river itself.
The park's showpiece is the New River Gorge Bridge. Made of steel, it spans the gorge like a toppled Eiffel Tower. Before the bridge was completed in 1977, you had to drive down to the valley floor, cross a small bridge, and climb back up on the other side. These days, the crossing takes just one minute. From the visitor centre, a trail leads to a platform with the best view.
More about New River Gorge National Park
Horn Island is one of Mississippi’s uninhabited barrier islands. There is nothing here: no drinking water, no toilets, no cell signal, no shelter. On Horn Island, nature rules. But the good news is: you are welcome to come play Robinson Crusoe for a few days. Or follow in the footsteps of painter Walter Inglis Anderson (1903–1965), also known as ‘the hermit of Horn Island’.
The narrow island lies about 16 kilometres off the coast. Anderson usually crossed in a rowboat with a makeshift sail. He would stay for weeks, sketching, painting, and writing in extreme simplicity. His watercolours are especially well known: they’re somewhere between prehistoric cave art and Impressionism. The Walter Anderson Museum of Art regularly organises creative weekends on the island.
There are six barrier islands off the Mississippi coast: Cat, Ship, Deer, Horn, Round and Petit Bois Island. Each has its own story. During WWII, dogs were trained on Cat Island; on Ship Island, you’ll find a historic fort that can be reached by ferry. If you want to visit Horn Island, you’ll need to hire your own boat from one of the many marinas along the coast.
Local guides Billy and Jenny love taking guests on kayak tours through Congaree National Park. Preferably after heavy rain, when the water spreads out and you can paddle through vast areas of flooded forest. With luck, you might spot turtles, spiders, snakes, deer — or, rarely, a stray alligator. But paddling in silence is rewarding in itself. As Billy says mid-trip: ‘What a peaceful morning. You can hear the trees growing.’
Drifting with the current, all you need to do is steer. At various stops, Billy and Jenny share stories about the trees, wildlife, the water, and the region's dramatic history. This swampy area was once used as a hiding place by runaway slaves. The most famous of these freedom seekers, known as ‘marrons’, was Forest Joe. To the slaveholders of the day he was a criminal; to others, a kind of Robin Hood. He evaded capture for years, until he was eventually shot.
Congaree National Park is one of the largest remaining tracts of old-growth hardwood bottomland forest in the US, covering 10.5 hectares. At one time, half the coast was covered in these forests, but centuries of shipbuilding, housing and logging stripped the land. Literally. In Congaree, it survives.
Explore Congaree National Park
Little River Canyon is tucked away in northeastern Alabama — and that’s a blessing. If it were more prominent on the map, this pristine area would likely be overrun. Instead, it remains a secret slice of wilderness: canyons, forests, waterfalls, steep cliffs. What’s unusual is that the entire canyon was carved into the flat top of Lookout Mountain.
You can hike, paddle, fish, climb or cycle here year-round, but our favourite season is autumn. The foliage bursts into colour, and for a moment, Little River Canyon rivals even the Smoky Mountains and New England. Drive the nearly 20-kilometre Little River Canyon Rim Parkway and stop at eight lookouts for spectacular views.
Stay the night in Fort Payne, a small, typical American town. Neon lights glow at the historic DeKalb Theatre on Gault Avenue, and at the Roadside ’Que, locals line up for the best sandwiches around. The next day, you can be in Huntsville in 90 minutes to visit the U.S. Space & Rocket Center — one of the best space museums in the world.
With over 7,500 registered caves, Missouri has rightly earned the nickname ‘The Cave State’. There’s plenty to choose from — top picks include Onondaga Cave, Meramec Caverns, and Marvel Cave. But one of the most unique is the Mark Twain Cave Complex, named after the famed author who grew up in nearby Hannibal. Tours have been held here since 1886.
Legend has it the cave was discovered during a panther hunt in the 19th century, a popular pastime along the Mississippi back then. ‘Discovered’ is relative — prehistoric tools have been found inside. No drawings, though.
Over the years, the caves have served many purposes: from saltpetre mining (a key ingredient in gunpowder) to medical research with cadavers. For Samuel Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, the caves were a source of inspiration — especially for The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Multiple guided tours now wind through the maze of corridors, and among the highlights is Twain's own signature. In Hannibal, you can also visit the house he grew up in. Twain is widely regarded as one of America’s greatest writers.
No, the South doesn’t have a Grand Canyon — but that makes the unexpected discoveries all the more exciting. Go kayaking, hiking, or simply enjoy untouched nature from your porch. Create your own tailor-made journey together with a destination specialist.
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