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Issue Nº 1•Oct. 29, 2026
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Stars of the South
Consider dinner the destination.
Dakar NOLA’s ever-changing menu stretches seven courses, including a bread course, farmers' market salad, Louisiana rice course, and fish course. | Jeremy Tauriac
More than a century after Michelin created its guide to encourage road trips, its stars have become one of the most powerful forces in hospitality. The 2026 Michelin Guide American South features three newly starred restaurants that live up to the original idea: They’re worth taking the long way around for. Dakar NOLA | New OrleansChef Serigne Mbaye spent his childhood cooking alongside his mother in Senegal — memories palpable in the tasting menu at his restaurant on the Mississippi River levee. Inside the cottage, guests are welcomed with teranga, a Senegalese tea ceremony rooted in generosity. Its intimate dining room seats 18, though many more faces adorn the walls in a collection of West African tribal masks. Drawing on local seafood and produce, Mbaye brings Senegalese and Creole influences together in pescatarian plates that tell a story of cultural exchange, a reminder that a meal can be both an exploration of somewhere new and a way to understand the place you’re in. Michelin inspectors lauded the shrimp skewers with mustard sauce, Gulf crab with black-eyed peas and cassava, and soup with shrimp and okra.
Plus, two new stars in Georgia →
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| The Dispatch |
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Charlotte
American Airlines will soon begin construction on its largest Admirals Club lounge yet. The 40,000-sqft space at Charlotte Douglas International Airport will include shower suites, bars, and food-service areas inspired by the Queen City.
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The Blue Ridge Parkway
Repairs to Blue Ridge Parkway roads and visitor services following Hurricane Helene are now complete in several areas, making it easier to take in the region’s fall foliage from the scenic route. (National Park Service)
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South Carolina
Nearly 28 miles of the Grand Strand have been renourished, adding sand to widen beaches and uncovering an abundance of shark teeth and fossils for beachcombers in the process.
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In The Sky
Southwest Rapid Rewards members will have new ways to earn and redeem points starting Jan. 1, including a new Platinum status tier with unlimited Companion Pass trips. More rewards will roll out throughout 2027.
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Texas Hill Country
Enchanted Rock State Natural Area has nearly tripled in size with the addition of 3,703 acres of ranchland, adding new lookouts for hikers to marvel at the ancient pink granite dome known for its supernatural lore. (Texas Highways)
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| Worth the Trip |
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The National Folk FestivalJackson, MS · Nov. 13-15 · Free 
Founded in 1934, The National Folk Festival is the country’s longest-running multicultural celebration of traditional arts. | Remsberg, Inc., courtesy NCTA Archives American culture doesn’t have a singular sound, and nowhere is that clearer than at The National Folk Festival. Now in its 83rd year, the traveling festival soon returns to Jackson for the second year of a three-year residency, bringing together artists carrying traditions from across the country and around the world. New York beatboxing, Texas country, Hawaiian falsetto, Filipino rondalla music, and more will echo across multiple stages. Between performances, sample Southern favorites like catfish and pulled pork, save room for gourmet banana pudding and handcrafted lemonade, and browse a marketplace of handmade wares from Mississippi artisans and makers from beyond the state’s borders. Pro tip: Set aside time for an afternoon in Fondren, a historic district lined with independent shops and local eateries. Stop at Brent’s Drugs, a 1940s soda shop where Emma Stone filmed a scene for “The Help.”
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Dolly Parton's SongTeller HotelNashville, TN 
See how many rhinestones you can count during the Sunsets & Sequins Twilight Property Tour. | Dolly Parton's SongTeller Hotel, Dolly's Life of Many Colors Museum Dotted with butterflies and drenched in sparkle, Dolly Parton’s namesake hotel is now accepting reservations in Music City. The downtown destination offers fans both a dazzling place to stay and a chance to celebrate the country icon’s legacy. Its entire third floor houses Dolly’s Life of Many Colors Museum, billed as the world’s largest exhibition dedicated to Parton. Guests can wake up to lattes in the cafe, spend afternoons mingling in the Listening Lobby, and catch live performances at Parton’s Live or Jolene’s by night. |
Don’t Miss
A song from Parton's discography plays at the top of every hour
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Pack for: Your next dinner reservation
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Chic denim dress | $105 | Keep it effortlessly polished with this Oxford silhouette dress complete with flattering vertical paneling and a softly flared skirt.
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No-iron dress shirt | $79.95 | Never show up to dinner with wrinkles again thanks to this button-down’s wrinkle-free fabric that stays smooth for 50 washes.
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Satin blouse + textured skirt | $45 and $58 | Pair this perfect-for-fall funnel neck blouse with an asymmetrical tiered skirt for an elevated look that’s sure to stun.
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More for the road →
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Hi, y’all. I’m Morgan O’Neal, and Southern travel has always been part of my story. I grew up in Memphis, spending summers at my family’s cabin in Bay St. Louis or with my grandparents in the Great Smoky Mountains. These days, I call Austin home, and I still love finding new reasons to get out of town. With Southward, we’re celebrating the South in all its forms — its storied places, remarkable foods, and hidden gems worth a detour. I’ll be working closely with our contributors across the region to bring their local expertise and favorite discoveries to your inbox each Thursday. Thanks for being here from the beginning. 
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