These 2 Surprising Southern Cities Have Become Must-Visit Destinations, According To Local Experts

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Think you already know The South? Think once more!

If you thought Florida’s sunshine, Charleston’s European vibes, and Savannah Banana shenanigans had been the perfect methods to expertise this huge area of shoreline and historical past, Southern Living is throwing you an enormous yellow curveball in your subsequent journey.

(*2*)

It’s true, a pair of cities largely neglected have turn into must-visit locations within the eyes of those revered native consultants.

After a heavy dose of analysis, we at Travel Off Path could not agree extra ourselves.

That’s why we’re skipping out on extra notable names and revealing 2 true surprises we discovered to be rising to the event when it comes to affordability, sensational delicacies, quintessential southern hospitality, and fewer crowds than you’d probably expertise elsewhere.

These 2 shocking southern cities have turn into must-visit locations:

Charlotte Is Far More Than An Airport Hub

No longer the sleepy pass-through metropolis you might have crossed in your travels as an American Airlines hub, Charlotte has shortly remodeled into what seems like a model new metropolis you’ve got been lacking out on — myself included.

While I can solely personally attest to Charlotte’s flawless AMEX lounge, Southern Living claims that they had the pleasure of visiting town for the primary time in years and had been shocked by what they discovered.

So, what’s North Carolina’s greatest metropolis all about these days?

It’s protected to say you may now not dread having a layover right here. In reality, Charlotte is properly price being your vacation spot of alternative.

Boasting a vibrant revitalized Uptown, buzzy neighborhoods like NoDa and South End, a booming beer scene, and an more and more assured meals and humanities tradition have reshaped Charlotte’s id, pair all the above with a handful of professional sports activities groups and this metropolis is rockin’!

Better but, Charlotte is broadly thought of each protected and inexpensive, so you will not break the financial institution, whether or not it is on inns or regional delicacies that can absolutely have you ever drooling days later simply fascinated by what you ate.

We discovered the Hilton Charlotte Uptown within the $120s this January — a steal of a deal!

Some of Southern Living’s favourite stomping grounds embrace:

Want Travel Off Path’s decide? WE bought you!

Definitely make a reservation at McNinch House Restaurant, set in a mystical Victorian residence for a novel environment and prix-fixe fantastic eating definitely worth the splurge.

Tulsa: This Famous Route 66 Stop Is No Longer A Snoozefest

“Tulsa? Really?”, is likely to be what you are considering. But hey, if it is ok for Sylvester Stallone, it is ok for us.

Dare we are saying it is…a knockout? Okay, flawed Sly, however hear us out…

Tulsa has turn into a must-visit for an array of peculiar causes, particularly its charming museums and scrumptious South-in-your-mouth delicacies serving up soulful consolation meals.

Southern Living raves about its meals and humanities scene, with one editor quoted as saying, “I really loved visiting Tulsa. The food and arts scene is incredible. You must buy a ticket to a show at Cain’s. It doesn’t matter who is playing, it will be fun.”

While downtown can really feel a bit ghostly, there’s nonetheless a lot to be desired throughout town, whether or not it’s wide-open inexperienced area at Gathering Place or domestically liked pockets like Brookside, however one completely must-visit is the Philbrook Museum of Art (scroll again as much as the primary photograph on this article — is not it fairly?!).

I’ll not have stepped outdoors of Charlotte’s AMEX lounge, however I’ve been to Tulsa. I can inform you Southern Living is totally proper, saying Tulsa is an underrated must-visit.

One of my private favorites is Utica Square, a captivating open-air purchasing middle anchored by native boutiques and upscale eating.

Unfortunately the Tulsa Zoo now not provides camel rides the place I pretended I struck it wealthy in Arabian oil (one can dream, proper?), however that is nonetheless one in every of America’s most underrated zoos and chock-full of enjoyable for all ages.

As far as eating places go, Southern Living is a large fan of those:

You know we gotta give our take too! Don’t sleep on century-old staple Ike’s Chili, particularly in the course of the throes of winter. What higher strategy to heat up?