I’m all about a road trip — and, admittedly, I have found exploring destinations within driving distance to be one of the greatest opportunities this pandemic provided us. We’ve been fortunate to experience some of the most beautiful places and exceptional meals down (or up) the road in our Roadshow BMW X3.
I’ve compiled my top drive-worthy cities by car from Memphis (or anywhere in the Southeast, really) to add to your 2022 bucket lists. I can’t wait to see where the new year takes us next!
Bentonville, AR
I’ve decided that, if summertime Aspen and Austin had a baby, his name would be Bentonville. I am madly in love with the town, located less than five hours from Memphis. Situated in the tip-top corner of the state in the mountains, the air is pure and the environment is rich. An artful backdrop hangs behind every experience, restaurant and ritual. During our most recent visit, Alex and I found our iPhones showing close to 25,000 steps from the never-ending adventure of a sunny Saturday in town. Full guide here.
New Orleans, LA
New Orleans has and always will have a special place in my heart. Alex and I, with the exception of the pandemic, have visited at least once a year and continue to grow our list of favorite restaurants and experiences, both old and new. Our latest trip included a beautiful, first-time stroll through the NOMA Sculpture Garden and Botanic Gardens and exceptional meals at Paladar 511, Antoine’s, and Saba.
30A Coastal Highway, FL
The coastal highway of 30A, which you’ll reach in less than eight hours (depending on your speed and number of stops!), is my very favorite beach retreat. We held my bachelorette weekend here five years ago and escaped to a secluded Rosemary home during the pandemic in 2020. The Rosemary Beach Farmers Market, live music in Seaside, and homecooked meals with groceries and accoutrements from Destin Ice House are just a few of my favorite to-dos once we’re down there.
Atlanta, GA
I’ve grown up visiting family in the various suburbs of Atlanta, but not until this past year did I experience the urban beauty of the BeltLine, Ponce City Market, and historical treasures in the heart of Downtown.
Photo by Conde Nast
Walland, TN
Home to the renowned sister resorts of Blackberry Farm and Blackberry Mountain, the sprawling mountain town of Walland sits just minutes from Knoxville and within two hours to Chattanooga or Asheville. I hope to experience all of these destinations in 2022.