Southeast USA Attractions

Located across from City Hall in the heart of downtown Jacksonville. First established as a public square by the City’s founder Isaiah D. Hart around 1857, it is Jacksonville’s oldest park. Known first as City Park and then St. James Park, it was renamed Hemming Park in 1899 to honor Civil War veteran Charles C. Hemming, who donated the park’s Confederate monument (the City’s oldest and tallest) the previous year. At various times the park contained bandstands, fountains, comfort stations, and Tourist and Convention Bureau buildings, along with many beautiful trees. In 1978, the City converted the park into a brick-paved plaza, and completed additional work in 1986 that transformed the area into a single-level, pedestrian-oriented mall. Due to its centralized location, the plaza has long been a part of the downtown experiences for both tourists and local citizens.

Over the past 10 years, Daytona 500 Experience, formally known as DAYTONA USA, "The Official Attraction of NASCAR," has been delivering magical motorsports memories to both hard-core race fans and casual observers through hands-on activities, challenging thrills and one-of-a-kind sights.

Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park, one of 4 Theme Parks at Walt Disney World Resort, is full of attractions, adventures and entertainment that reflect Walt Disney's dedication to nature and conservation, and in doing so, the Park leads the way in animal care, education and research.
Home to more than 1,700 animals from 250 species and sprawling across 500 acres of lush landscape, Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park is the largest animal-themed park in the world! Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park is divided into 7 areas: Oasis * Discovery Island® area * Camp Minnie-Mickey * Africa * Rafiki's Planet Watch® area * Asia * Dinoland, U.S.A.® area

Get to know the Atlanta Botanical Garden's numerous themed plant collections. These gardens grow throughout the Garden and are cultivated for their preservation and in harmony with their place in the ecosystem.

The Birthplace of Elvis Presley in Tupelo, Mississippi is the only location in the world where you can see, feel and touch where the King of Rock & Roll began his musical journey.
Only in Tupelo can you walk into the room where he breathed his first breath, take a stroll to his favorite location as a boy to relax looking over Tupelo, and see first hand how it all shaped this young boy from Mississippi into the international rock & roll music legend he is today.

The Birmingham Zoo is Alabama’s most popular attraction, drawing more than 500,000 visitors annually. Approximately 750 animals of 250 species call the 122-acre Birmingham Zoo home, including sea lions, kangaroos and endangered species from six continents.

Where else in the world do history and the future, nature and technology, young and old meet for an unforgettable and inspirational journey through space and time? The Kennedy Space Center has hosted millions of guests from around the world for more than 30 years -- telling the story of how the United States built a space program that launched men to the Moon, orbited satellites that have improved our lives, and sent probes into distant space to solve the mysteries of the cosmos.

In 1743, the son of Major John Boone planted live oak trees, arranging them in two evenly spaced rows. This spectacular approach to his home symbolizes southern heritage and will take root in your memory for many years to come. It would take two centuries for the massive, moss-draped branches to meet overhead, forming today's natural corridor and a scene that NBC Daytime television says is "a must see stop on any trip to Charleston, S.C."

Located in Broadway-at-the-Beach, an entertainment and dining complex that features restaurants, rides, shops and the 85,000 square foot Ripley’s Aquarium.

Located over 1120 feet beneath the surface, Ruby Falls is the nation’s largest and deepest waterfall open to the public. Hundreds of gallons of water rush over by the minute and amaze visitors.
Learn about Ruby Falls’ commitment to Environmental Sustainability including the installation of LED lighting and solar panels, recycling programs, and becoming the first U.S. attraction to receive the Green Globe certification.

Nestled at the foot of the Great Smoky Mountains in Maggie Valley, Ghost Town offers rides fit for the youngest buckaroo to the bravest outlaw. Ghost Town also features staged gunfights, live music and shows, crafts, food and lots more fun.
Step back into the Wild West at this timeless, family-fun destination located in a beautiful mountain setting surrounded with breathtaking views. Ghost Town in the Sky has something fun for all ages.

Mississippi's #1 family attraction, Geyser Falls is a 23-acre water theme park located in Philadelphia MS. After entering the park, the excitement begins as you pass Geyser Flats with bubbling fountains, gurgling water pools and multiple spouting geysers. Inside the park, the endless attractions keep families entertained all day long with the little ones begging to go back.

Marine Life Oceanarium has been educating and entertaining families for over forty-eight years. Interactive exhibits, thrilling shows, educational sessions, train tours of the harbor area, and just plain fun are all part of the Marine Life experience.
No trip to the Mississippi Gulf Coast is complete without spending a few hours at Marine Life. Centrally located in Gulfport, Mississippi, Marine Life is just where you need it to be...close to hotels, beaches, restaurants, shopping, and casinos.
We are open year round, except for Christmas and Thanksgiving holidays, so you will never catch us in an "off season". And don't let unpleasant weather keep you away. Our shows and attractions are sheltered from the weather. So what are you waiting for? Come visit the largest family attraction in Mississippi!

Always something fun for everyone. With over 25 "Wacky" attractions including our three-quarter acre Lost Trail Maze, Panning for Gemstones, and the always popular Wacky Water Golf, we're sure you'll have a great time at Alabama's Big Cave and More, DeSoto Caverns Family Fun Park. Attractions are open year round with the exception of the water attractions. Water attractions close at the end of October and reopen in April.

Unique as its namesake Dolly Parton, Dollywood is a one-of-a-kind Smoky Mountain Family Adventure! Spanning 125 acres and nestled in the lush foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, near Gatlinburg, Dollywood is one of the most popular family vacation destinations. Thrill to spectacular Dollywood theme park rides including the award-winning wooden roller coaster The Thunderhead™-the wildest ride in the woods. Family vacation fun features kiddie rides and 10 new family attractions in our expanded Country Fair area. Dollywood's live entertainment showcases the best in country, bluegrass, mountain and gospel music with more than a dozen stage shows. Master craftsmen demonstrate centuries-old crafts including blacksmithing, glass blowing and wood carving. Dollywood is also home to four of the South's largest festivals-Festival of Nations™, KidsFestsm, the new National Harvest & Music Celebration and Smoky Mountain Christmas. No matter what time of year you visit, Dollywood offers something special for every member of the family! Buy your tickets today!

From elephants and koalas to penguins and sharks, formal gardens to natural woodlands, Riverbanks Zoo and Garden promises new discoveries around every corner!

Seven miles west of Marion, you may visit the site of one of Alabama’s last active plantations, one which has been in the same family since the early 1800s.
Most of the buildings are original to the site, and much of the handiwork of William Moore “the wagon maker” can be seen. Historic papers, a deed signed by Andrew Jackson, and other items of interest may be viewed in the Country Store. Farm equipment, such as wagons, plows, planters, hay rakes, and other pieces, may be seen also.
Come visit and see some some american history up close!

Point Mallard Park offers the great outdoors like you've never experienced it before! Hidden among North Alabama‘s wooded pines, the 500-acre family park lets you stay in tune with nature 365 days a year. Come play 18 holes on one of the South‘s best golf courses, stay in our 25-acre, wooded campground, visit America's first wave pool at our Waterpark, and/or cool off in the indoor ice skating rink!

Welcome to Magnolia Plantation and Gardens. Founded in 1676 by the Drayton family, Magnolia Plantation has survived the centuries and witnessed the history of the nation unfold before it from the American Revolution through the Civil War and beyond. It is the oldest public tourist site in the Lowcountry, and the oldest public gardens in America, opening its doors to visitors in 1870 to view the thousands of beautiful flowers and plants in its famous gardens. So come to Magnolia Plantation to experience the beauty of its gardens and its rich history today.

Drayton Hall is different. It’s the real thing, and it is the mission of the staff to preserve the property—that is, to keep it in near-original condition just as the National Trust received it from the Drayton family in 1974.
Instead of being restored to the vision of those who lived centuries after it was built, Drayton Hall is an artifact that has survived the American Revolution, the Civil War, the earthquake of 1886, hurricanes like Hugo, and maybe most surprisingly today, urban sprawl.
On top of that, it’s not just that it’s a survivor. The main house is considered one of the finest examples of Georgian-Palladian architecture in the United States. The grounds represent one of the most significant, undisturbed historic landscapes in America. And Drayton Hall’s stories—stories of race, family, culture, sacrifice, innovation, and preservation—reveal who we are and where we’ve come from.

Visit the Tennessee Aquarium on the Chattanooga Riverfront and see why it was rated one of the top aquariums in the country by TripAdvisor. Take a remarkable journey from a cove forest high in the Appalachian mountains to a coral reef in the blue depths of the Gulf of Mexico. Along the way, see thousands of animals and three living forests . . . exploring life above and below the water's surface.

The orchestra performs more than 200 concerts each year, with its main subscription series augmented by pops series, family concerts, and a full summer schedule including classical, pops, and free parks concerts. Its educational concerts for young people are consistently sold out and, along with outreach initiatives in schools and community centers, serve more than 50,000 youngsters annually.
Music Director since 2001, Maestro Robert Spano has led an innovative period for the ASO that has included commissions for video and animated installations in the concert hall as well as video interviews with living composers and a greater emphasis on contemporary repertoire.

Striving to inspire the citizens of Atlanta and Georgia and all visitors to the Zoo to value wildlife on Earth and to help safeguard existing species through conservation.

Since the move to Grassmere in 1996, Nashville Zoo has created many new exhibits, hosted exciting community events and designed a variety of children's programs. Our Jungle Gym playground is the largest community-built playground in the United States and includes over 66,000 square feet for sliding, swinging, climbing, crawling and exploring. From African elephants to Bengal tigers and red pandas, Nashville Zoo provides a home to animals found all over the world. These beautiful creatures can be found in equally beautiful habitats like the new Giraffe Savannah, Alligator Cove, Red River Hog Habitat and many more. Other exciting additions include the Wild Animal Carousel and an interactive Lorikeet Landing exhibit where you can enter an aviary and be surrounded by more than 50 Australian parrots. The Grassmere Historic House and Farm still stand, providing a glimpse into farm life during the 1880s.

Wild Adventures, the nations largest and fastest growing privately owned theme park. The park is continually growing and there is always something interesting to tell the public.

Located just south of Asheboro, the North Carolina Zoo is seated on a 1,500 tract of land in the Uwharrie Mountains. Approximately 500 acres of this property have been developed into one of the largest "natural habitat" zoos in the United States. You won't find cages made of steel and concrete here! Our animals are given enclosures that mimic their natural habitats to include trees, ponds, rocks, grass and dirt.
The North Carolina Zoo grew from an idea initiated by the Raleigh Jaycees in 1967. Through a series of fund-raising events-including at least one professional football game-the site was selected and secured to be close to the center of the state. We are 75 miles east of Raleigh, 25 miles south of Greensboro and 75 miles northeast of Charlotte.

When you think summer, think Wet‘n Wild. The largest water park in both the Carolinas is the place to cool off, get sun and have fun. With over 36 rides and attractions, there's something for everyone…from mild to wild…from tots to seniors. It's family friendly and the young kids (and mom and dad, too) will have a great time in Splash Island and Happy Harbor, our two large children's areas. When you're ready to kick back and relax after enjoying the over 3 million gallons of water fun, Wet‘n Wild Emerald Pointe offers an abundance of lounge chairs and shaded areas.

Bring your child to a play experience unlike any other around!! At Imagination Station the sky is the limit as your children play in a simulated" grown-up" world. Fabulous stations with endless possibilities for fun and learning! The Sun is always shining at Imagination Station, Inc. a creative play experience!!