The Southern United States is filled with unique attractions.  In fact, this region, more than any other in the US, has a  distinct culture that inspires certain expectations from visitors.  Whether it is the theme parks and beaches of Florida, the rowdy good times of New Orleans or the modern, cosmopolitan Southern culture of Atlanta and Charlotte, visitors seek a certain amount of “southern-ness” when they choose to spend their summertime holiday south of the Mason Dixon Line.

Here are the five best summertime travel destinations in the Southern United States.  In many ways, these places fit the Southern stereotype, but more often than not, visitors find themselves confronted with unexpected – but welcome – surprises.

1. The Barrier Islands of South Carolina are known for their golf courses, beaches, gated communities and water sports.  Nearby Charleston, a city of rich history, is an attraction in its own right.  But the unique geography and natural, untouched beauty are what truly make this part of the Carolinas worth a visit.  Outfitters, such as Aqua Safari, take tourist on cruises to explore the natural side of the islands, allowing them to come in close contact with wildlife, including alligators and dolphins.

Of course, surfers are always at home on South Carolina’s Central Coast, one of the most underrated wave-riding spots in the nation, especially during summer hurricane season.  Or, you can remain dry and just enjoy the area’s laid back version of beach culture.

2. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most popular park in the nation in terms of the number of visitors.  Wander through the wild, rural landscapes and its easy to see why.  The Smokies boast some of the most unbelievably picturesque scenery.  Summers can be hot and hazy, but large parts of the park lie at higher elevation, meaning that the weather is cooler.  The road up to  Clingman’s Dome (more than 6600 feet of elevation) is littered with scenic overlooks, while trails can be accessed from the Oconaluftee Visitors Center, in North Carolina, and the Sugarlands Visitors Center, in the Tennessee portion of the park.

3. Key West proves that sometimes the classic destinations are still the best ones.  Seafood, water sports and, most of all, that un-copyable, frozen-in-time Key West vibe that attracted famous vacationers like Ernest Hemingway in years past.

There are plenty of touristy attractions, such as the Conch Train Tour and the Key West Nature Preserve, but also plenty of opportunities to get away from the city for some diving, fishing or simply for a boat ride or hike.  And Duval Street, though a bit overly-crowded with tourists sometimes, is home to some of the most iconic bars in the Southern US.

Yes, summertime is rainy season in Key West, but most of the showers occur during the morning hours, with the days being perfectly dry.

4. Atlanta is the cultural and economic capitol of the so-called New South.  Yes, the city suffers from all the standard big city woes, but the culture (especially the cuisine and nightlife) and the sense of history make this one of the more interesting and exciting all-around vacation destinations.  Of course, mainstream tourist attractions like the CNN Studio, Coca-Cola World and a world famous zoo are reasons to visit as well.  If you want to mix a bit of high-brow entertainment with your sightseeing, this is one of the better choices in the country, with The Atlanta Ballet, Atlanta Opera, Atlanta Symphony and more than 60 theater groups regularly staging plays and musicals.  Summertime festivals – the Atlanta Jazz Festival, Georgia Shakespeare Festival and the National Black Arts Festival, to name a few – make the warmer months the best time to get a full cultural experience.

5. Charlotte is another Southern city on the rise.  Attractions aside, this is arguably the best city to experience both the excitement and diverse culture of the modern South and a healthy dose of old fashioned southern charm.  Charlotte’s large immigrant population and numerous “new transplants” from other parts of the country give it its cosmopolitan vibe, while museums and art galleries give visitors plenty of high-brow options. Many great Charlotte hotel deals are available while enjoying all the excitement this city has to bring.

Summertime is the high season for golfers and stock car racing fans.  Most of all, though, June and July provide the ideal weather for getting out and experiencing Charlotte’s best trait: its public parks.

Food is always an integral part of a Charlotte vacation.  June’s Taste of Charlotte Festival is the perfect opportunity to find all of the flavors that make Charlotte’s eating scene  unique in one place.

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Saint Louis has more free activities that any other city in the US, save Washington DC.  While it does not usually rank among the most desirable domestic tourist destinations, it does hold some surprises.  There’s the beer, of course, and sites left over from the early days of the Midwest’s history.  But the real magic can be found in the city’s more modern attractions.  Saint Louis is one of the last remaining cities where zoos and museums are free every day of the year.

Add to this mix of freebies gardens, public art and parties and you can enjoy an exciting vacation without ever having to crack open your wallet.

Here are ten great activities in Saint Louis that won’t cost you a penny.
1. The Saint Louis Zoo is recognized as one of the premiere zoos in the US.  There are more than 5,000 animals on display, representing 700-plus species.  It is, arguably, the best zoo in the country that doesn’t charge admission (though the adjoining Children’s Zoo is $4 per person).  Popular residents include elephants, lions, primates, penguins and butterflies.

2. The Muny Outdoor Theater is a summertime institution in Saint Louis.  It bills itself as the largest and oldest outdoor theater in the United States.  Broadway shows are the most common type of performance, with Cats, Titanic – the Musical, Beauty and the Beast, and Damn Yankees among the 2010 offerings.  There are 1,500 free seats for each performance.  They are awarded on a first come, first served basis (doors open at seven p.m., but it is best to get in line earlier to assure yourself of a seat).  Hate standing in line more than spending money? Tickets are for sale on the Muny web site.

3. The un-ignorable Gateway Arch is the most prominent piece of public art in Saint Louis, but it is not the only one.  The Saint Louis Public Art Consortium maintains a list and map of the best public art installations in Saint Louis.  Bronze statues can be found at University Park and the Saint Louis University, and more modern sculptures and art installations are located in other public places around the city (including the metro transit stations).

4. Few people outside of the Saint Louis area know that it hosts the second largest Mardi Gras party in the US, after New Orleans, of course.  The festivities are centered in the Soulard area, just outside of Downtown Saint Louis.  There are plenty of different parades that take place in the days leading up to Fat Tuesday.  These range from kid-friendly events with floats and prizes to more fleshly bead tossing bacchanals that are strictly adults only.  Mardi Gras makes Saint Louis a good late-winter destination.

5.  Budweiser might be the king of beers, but beer enthusiasts always seek more flavorful options.  There are other breweries in the city besides the one producing “the king of beers.”  Schlafly Brewery makes a popular line of micro-brews and, better yet, offers free tours of their facility that culminate in the sampling of several of their most popular beers.  Tours take place hourly between 12 and 5 p.m. every weekend afternoon.

6. The Saint Louis Museum of Art is another high-brow attraction that does not charge admission.  The rather imposing building and the grounds, with statues and fountains, are as impressive as the galleries.  The highlights of the exhibit halls include Egyptian artifacts, a collection of impressionist paintings and a collection of historic African and Native American art.  Admission is free, but there is a charge to enter some featured exhibits.  However, all exhibits are free each Friday.

7.  Despite what you might think of its flavor (or lack thereof) Budweiser is the most famous beer in the US.  Even non-beer-drinkers can appreciate the Anheuser-Busch brewery tours because of the architecture and history of the brewery compound.  Yes, the tour even passes through the famous stables where the Budweiser Clydesdales are kept.  Of-age tourists can sample the famous breweries products at the end of the tour.  Tours are offered seven days a week.

8. Union Station in Saint Louis is worth a visit even if you do not plan to take a train.  Built in 1890, its vaulted ceilings and the intricate decorations that adorn the walls are stunning, even by today’ standards.  There is also stained glass, a clock tower and an expansive train shed.  The station is definitely a place to bring your camera.

9. The general exhibit hall at the Saint Louis Science Center is free (though there are numerous additional attractions, such as a Lego exhibit and an OmniMax Theater, that charge admission).  The most popular features include dinosaurs, a hands-on/high-tech “Cyberville” exhibit and activities that explore engineering and flight.

10. Laumeier Sculpture Park offers visitors a chance to see some of the best outdoor art in the city without having to travel from site to site (see #3 above).   Aside from works made from metal or stone, there are other media represented as well.

San Antonio is one of the fastest growing cities in North America.  The famous Alamo, along with several other lesser-known (but equally old) missions, hearken back to the days when Texas was not yet a state.  Some residential neighborhoods, such as the King William District, are more than a century old.

But San Antonio, like any growing metropolis, has plenty of modern features: a vibrant nightlife, cutting edge music and eating scenes and, yes, lots and lots of free attractions.  Perhaps SeaWorld and Six Flags will not be on a budget traveler’s itinerary, but there are more than enough cost-less sights and sounds to fill a trip to this modern city.

Here’s is a list of all things good (and free) in San Antonio.

1. San Antonio’s Japanese Tea Garden recently reopened.  The well-manicured, highly-stylized gardens would not be out of place in Tokyo or Osaka.  This authentic feel makes the garden a great place to explore.  In addition to the trees, rocks and pathways, there are koi ponds and a rather impressive 60-foot waterfall.

2. Fiesta San Antonio, held in April, is the city’s biggest festival.  Actually, with more than two and a half million attendees, it is the largest outdoor festivals in the entire US.  The events take place in mid-April (the 15th to the 25th this year).  This year’s festivities will include parades, outdoor concerts, fireworks, cultural performances and food-related events.  Though not all events are free, most of those that take place in public places do not charge admission.  Others, such as the popular Taste of New Orleans ($10 admission), are reasonably priced.

3. The San Antonio Missions Trail is a 6-mile walkway that runs between four of the area’s historic Spanish-built missions.  Yes, it is one of the better places to walk if you are in search of an urban hiking venue, but the missions, which are part of a national historic park, are the real attraction.  They are among the oldest in North America, dating back to the early 18th Century.  These lesser known missions are a great alternative to often-crowded, more touristy Alamo.

4.  When they return home, San Antonio tourists can expect to repeatedly be asked: “Did you see the Alamo?”  It is hard to pass up the mission, even though it is bound to be crowded (2.5 million people pass through the site each year).  Luckily, it is possible to arrive at early, at 9 a.m. Monday through Saturday, to avoid the peak-time crowds.  Also, during summer weekends, the building remains open until 7 p.m.  Of course, it’s free to enter.
5. The Riverwalk is San Antonio’s lengthy entertainment promenade.  The shaded walkways, water and laid-back atmosphere make is a great place for a stroll.  Of course, the restaurants, bars and shops on the riverbanks aren’t free, but Riverwalk is a great place for window-shopping and there are several art galleries and museums in the area.

6. El Mercado is one of the largest Mexican markets north of the border.  Aside from the virtually unlimited amount of goods up for sale, there are musical and cultural performances, kids’ activities, and crafts during Primer Sabado, First Saturday.  The area in and around El Mercado is a great place to get a taste of the Mexican culture that is so much a part of San Antonio’s identity.

7. Art is a major part of San Antonio’s culture.  San Antonio Art Walk is usually held on the first Friday of every month.  It takes place in the Arts District, which is located in the Southtown area of the city. Aside from the art  (and free snacks, if your lucky), there are usually local bands, of all genres, performing.

8. Though they typically charge admission, several San Antonio museums waive entrance fees at certain times during the week.  Chase Bank sponsors a free night at the San Antonio Museum of Art.  It takes place between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. each Tuesday.   The Witte Museum, an exhibit hall featuring the natural history, culture and artifacts of Texas, offers free admission between 3 and 8 on Tuesday evenings.

9. San Antonio Summer Jazz and Art Festival, often shortened to San Antonio Summer Fest (or just SAS Fest) is a three day event that takes place on the first weekend in June.  Though it has not reached to same attendance numbers as springtime’s Fiesta, SAS Fest is worth a visit.  There are a dozen jazz concerts, music workshops, a craft fair and plenty of food.  It’s free to listen to music.

10. San Antonio’s Main Plaza, located in front of the Alamo and near the Riverwalk, is the heart of the city.  There is a series of free concerts held each year.  But it doesn’t stop with music.  There are dances, theater performances, movie screenings and fashion shows.  Most of these events take place during the warmer months, between April and October.

The Belgian city of Bruges oozes atmosphere.  It has a combination of historic buildings, unique Belgian culture and plenty of  festivities.  People have been coming to this city, sometimes referred to as the Venice of the North (because of its old buildings and network of canals), to shop at the many boutiques, taste the gourmet locally-made chocolates and take in the historic ambiance.

The Heritage Hotel, a four-star venue in the center of the city, has a special deal for travelers who want to spend part of their holiday season in Bruges.  The hotel is offering rates 20% below regular price to visitors who book a room for a day or more from now until January 10th of next year.  The discount means that room prices start at 364 Euros.

That’s still quite a steep price, but the Heritage offers a pure luxury experience.  Guests are treated to a daily champagne breakfast and a four-course dinner at the in-house restaurant, Le Mystique.  A horse-drawn carriage ride and tickets to the Bruges Ice Sculpture Festival are also part of the package.

Bruges is a city of living history.  The 13th century belfry that sits in the center of the city, not far from the Heritage Hotel, has a resident carillonneur whose full-time job is to work the tower’s 48 bells.  He regularly gives free concerts.  There are dozens of other buildings dating back well over 500 years.  More modern attractions include the many boutique-style chocolate shops and micro-breweries that are found throughout the city.

The Heritage Hotel deal makes it possible for luxury hotel aficionados to save a little money while experiencing the holidays in one of Western Europe’s most atmospheric cities.