Plus: North Carolina’s Crystal Coast, wine shops, and historic Hot Springs

Hammocks on Bermuda’s Sinky Bay Beach.

New nonstop flights out of Atlanta, Nashville, Charleston, and other Southern airports now connect to destinations like Reykjavík, Athens, Aruba, and beyond. From beach escapes to old-world adventures—and plenty of stops in between—here are the latest updates on the departures board.

REYNOLDS LAKE OCONEE

FROM CITY LIFE TO LAKE LIFE: Whether you’re considering a permanent relocation or looking for the perfect weekend retreat, Reynolds Lake Oconee, a private club community just east of Atlanta, combines the scenery and serenity of a waterfront address with all the comforts and neighborliness of home. Experience the best of both worlds during an introductory weekend at The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee. Settle into newly refreshed accommodations and enjoy the vast suite of amenities—seven championship golf courses (and as many outdoor pools), miles of nature trails, a renowned spa, an elegant speakeasy, concerts under the stars, restaurants for every occasion, and so much more—all while exploring the array of real estate offerings, from premier homesites to refined cottages and single-family homes. Starting a new chapter never felt so luxurious. Explore Reynolds Lake Oconee.

MARY CATHERINE MCANNALLY SCOTT

Crystal Coast, North Carolina. As an Alabama native, the beaches I know best are those along the Gulf Coast. But a work trip took me east, and after a decade of living in Asheville, I couldn’t believe what I’d been missing as I visited the coastal gems that pepper this region. Walk with me:

Fresh oysters. Aboard her boat, oyster farmer Nancy Dupuis piloted my friends and me to her family’s floating farm—roughly 450 baskets of the mollusks— where she explained the careful process they’ve cultivated to perfect their signature flavor: salty, vegetal, buttery, and balanced. Two minutes later, Nancy had produced folding tables and filled them with hot sauce, lemon wedges, crackers, and bottles of chilled champagne. Two minutes after that, a basket had been hauled aboard, and we’d gotten a crash course in shucking. Oysters on the half shell never tasted so good. (Bonus: We left with all of our digits intact!)
Surf’s up. I’ve practiced yoga many a-time, but never on a paddleboard. Lulled by the waves lapping softly onto my board and led through a beautiful flow by Ann-Marie Phillips of Emerald Isle Paddle Tours, the closing Savasana sent me to new spaces of meditation. In our group, new and veteran yogis alike left the experience feeling accomplished and spiritually centered, and I left feeling proud that I’d mastered my headstand, even at sea.
“If you’re a bird, I’m a bird.” Maybe most surprising was just how downright charming Beaufort, North Carolina, is, with its historic waterfront homes and shops that felt like I was wandering around the set of The Notebook. Walking to Beaufort Linen Co., I passed a grandmother and granddaughter sitting on a park bench enjoying ice cream cones the size of their faces. The lauded Inn on Turner was just as adorable in person as it was in photos, and City Kitchen’s sticky toffee pudding sent me evangelizing through the streets.