With the Great American Bucket List, we bring you the best of the United States by naming the one thing you must do in each state during your lifetime. This edition: things to do in the South. (See our picks for the Midwest, the East Coast, and the West.)

ALABAMA | Little River Canyon

Little River Canyon stretches across northeast Alabama's Lookout Mountain, with forests and sandstone cliffs towering above its namesake river. The best way to see everything is to hop in the car for an 11-mile scenic drive; the Canyon View and Grace's High Falls overlooks are among the best stops.

• Get your feet wet: In warmer months, the water level in the Little River Falls cascade is lower and you can walk around the rocks at the top.
• Thing to bring: Binoculars for spotting hawks and turkey vultures
• When to go: Leaf peepers will love autumn here, but the waterfalls are best in winter and early spring.

ARKANSAS | Hawksbill Crag

As you’d expect from a place nicknamed “the Natural State,” Arkansas is no slouch when it comes to mountains, forests, rivers, and such. But if you’re looking for the single most iconic outdoor spot in the state, make your way to the Ozarks and hike to Hawksbill Crag (also called Whitaker Point), which juts out over wild Buffalo River country.

• Where to stay: The site’s pretty remote, but the cities of Harrison and Fayetteville are both about 90 minutes away.
• What to bring: Definitely a camera
• Best time to go: Fall, when the leaves are changing

FLORIDA | Everglades Airboat Tour

The unique thing about the Everglades is its amphibious nature. This 1.5-million-acre expanse on the southern tip of Florida is caught somewhere between land and water, never definitively one or the other. The best way to see this UNESCO World Heritage Site is on a classic airboat tour through marshes, grassy rivers, and eerie mangrove forests.

• Wildlife: leatherback turtles, alligators, panthers, and hundreds of other species
• Where to stay: Miami is about an hour’s drive east.
• Safety tip: Keep your distance from any animals—use binoculars or a camera lens to get a closer look. 

GEORGIA | Savannah Historic District

Few cities have as much to offer American history buffs. In Savannah’s historic district, you can wander past preserved 18th- and 19th-century buildings, Victorian cemeteries, public squares, and trees draped in spanish moss. It’s all arranged according to a grid designed in 1733—one of North America’s first marvels of urban planning.

• Must-sees: Forsyth Park, the City Market entertainment district, and Colonial Park Cemetery
• Chills and thrills: Take a nighttime ghost tour to see the city’s most haunted sites.
• Where to stay: Mansion on Forsyth Park offers history and luxury within walking distance of some of the best attractions.

KENTUCKY | The Bourbon Trail

There’s no better way to experience the breadth of Kentucky’s more than 200-year-old whiskey industry than a trip down the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Traversing the 200-mile loop will take you to nine distilleries that craft the best Kentucky bourbon, including Woodford Reserve, Jim Beam, and Bulleit.

• Take your time: Allow at least three days if you want to hit every distillery.
• Family friendly?: Visitors must be 21 to sample the spirits, but all ages can tour the facilities.
• Best souvenir: Apply for the free Kentucky Bourbon Trail Passport program and receive a free T-shirt if you go to all nine distilleries.

LOUISIANA | Creole Cuisine

The cuisine of Louisiana is more distinctive than that of any other state, thanks to its complex cultural heritage. Creole cuisine was shaped by French, Spanish, West African, and Caribbean people long before Louisiana became a state. Enjoy feasts of jambalaya or shrimp gumbo in New Orleans or Baton Rouge and you’ll understand why it’s survived all these years.

• Typical ingredients: seafood, sausage, rice, and vegetables (especially peppers, onions, and okra)
• Money-saving tip: Check Groupon for deals on creole food in New Orleans.
• Level up: For even more spice, try Louisiana’s other culinary specialty: Cajun food.

MISSISSIPPI | Rowan Oak

William Faulkner lived in this 1840s Greek Revival home in Oxford for more than 30 years. Bibliophiles can now tour the estate, which looks much like it did in the author’s time. A brick path from the front door leads to 29 surrounding acres dotted with cedar and magnolia trees.

• Don't miss: Outlines for Faulkner's A Fable written on the walls in his study
• What to eat: Big Bad Breakfast’s crispy fried chicken, which is brined in Coca-Cola
• While you're here: Tailgate in the Grove at Ole Miss—it's been ranked as the top spot for college football tailgating by Sports Illustrated and Bleacher Report.

NORTH CAROLINA | Hang-Gliding in Kitty Hawk

Situated on a beautiful stretch of beach on the Outer Banks, Kitty Hawk has become a hot spot for hang gliders. And what could be a more fitting spot to take to the sky than the birthplace of flight? The waves crashing against the shore make for beautiful views, and the surrounding dunes ensure a soft landing.

• Where to stay: Oasis Suites Hotel on quiet Roanoke Sound in Nags Head
• Nearby attractions: Dozens of beaches on more than 100 miles of shoreline
• What to eat: A sugary glazed donut at Duck Donuts

OKLAHOMA | Philbrook Museum of Art

Petroleum magnate and philanthropist Waite Phillips donated this 72-room mansion to the city of Tulsa during the Great Depression. Today, it’s a world-class art museum where you can feast your eyes on works from Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas, representing periods from antiquity to the 21st century.

• Dont miss: The cedar mummiform coffin created in Egypt more than 2,000 years ago, or the Picasso etching Bacchanal
• Photo op: The museum is surrounded by the gorgeous Philbrook Gardens, modeled after an Italian estate.
• Where to stay: The four-star Ambassador Hotel Tulsa, located downtown

SOUTH CAROLINA | Historic Downtown Charleston

If you’re wondering what colonial America looked like, schedule a trip to Charleston. Only Boston rivals the preservation of historic Charleston, a true gem along South Carolina’s palmetto-lined coast. Here, horse-drawn carriages, cobblestone streets, antebellum architecture, and gas lanterns are still the norm.

• Don’t miss: St. Michael’s Church, the 1750s chapel where George Washington once worshipped
• Where to eat: Hominy Grill, featuring shrimp n’ grits and other Lowcountry dishes crafted by a James Beard Award–winning chef
• Photo op: Rainbow Row, a line of colorful Georgian houses; it’s Charleston’s answer to San Francisco’s Painted Ladies.

TENNESSEE | The Grand Ole Opry

Nashville’s known as Music City, but it’s the Grand Ole Opry that’s earned the titles of “Country’s Most Famous Stage” and the “Home of Country Music.” What began as a radio broadcast in 1925 has morphed into a country-music mecca that’s featured the best in the business, from Hank Williams to Alabama Shakes.

• Plan ahead: Book a backstage tour up to two weeks in advance to secure a spot.
• Where to eat: Arnold’s Country Kitchen, which serves authentic Southern cuisine
• Autograph etiquette: Follow the staff’s instructions to a T when it comes to approaching performers after shows.

TEXAS | SXSW

South by Southwest, also known as SXSW or simply “South by,” is a 10-day celebration of music, film, and innovation in Austin. Like Texas, it’s big, comprising 103 venues and stages at last count, which has helped its standing as one of the best festivals in the US. It’s technically a conference, and the panels and keynote speeches are no less important than the after parties, which are often open-bar affairs hosted by startups and attended by thousands.

• Past speakers: Elon Musk, Bruce Springsteen, Lady Gaga, and Matthew McConaughey
• Optimal stay: 4 days
• Sanity-saving tip: Book your accommodations well in advance. Like six months in advance.