Columbia is South Carolina's capital and home to the University of South Carolina. Along its wide avenues are historic sites ranging from an antebellum mansion to the former home of a slave who bought her freedom, plus museums, galleries, music venues, theatres and shops. Columbia's three rivers, lake, canal, national park and several city parks offer opportunities for recreation and relaxation. Child-friendly destinations include a zoo and the largest children's museum in the south.

The Red River is the heart and soul of Shreveport, a cultural and gaming centre on the Louisiana/Texas border. Riverboat casinos evoke the glamour and mystery of the past while providing modern travellers with thrills and excitement. If the tables aren't your style, take a trip over the neon-lit Texas Street Bridge to the horse-racing at Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, Shreveport's thriving sister city. Visitors can unwind in one of Shreveport's botanical oases and enjoy the area's fine waterfront dining, shopping and entertainment. Shreveport sizzles in the summertime but has a temperate climate for the rest of the year.

Sandy beaches, golden dunes, and coastal promenades make Southport a popular escape from the nearby cities of Liverpool and Manchester. Add in a fairground, a historic pier, and a thriving nightlife scene, and you have one of the west coast’s most exciting seaside resorts.

If you need a word to perfectly describe New Forest, “welcoming” would be it. The lowland (i.e. no mountains) park is filled with scenic views and wide trails that beg to be explored as they wind through centuries-old woodlands. Visit Bolderwood, a protected forest and deer sanctuary that was once the hunting grounds of the Norman kings. Fish at Moors Valley before heading skyward for a treetops walk. Prefer the country-house life? Head to Beaulieu, where you can get lost in the Victorian-era at the Palace House before following in the footsteps of medieval monks at the property’s abbey.