Whether you’re just getting into bourbon or consider yourself a connoisseur, this is the weekend for whiskey lovers, at least if you’re anywhere near Kentucky. Bardstown, known as the “Bourbon Capital of the World,” will be hosting the 28th annual Kentucky Bourbon Festival (September 18–22), with events and seminars that cover everything from the science of barrel maturation to cocktail mixing, along with Saturday night’s Great Kentucky Bourbon Tasting & Cocktail Party. Less than an hour away, Louisville’s Highland Festival Grounds will be home to Bourbon & Beyond (September 20–22), which blends America’s native spirit with food from chefs around the region and performances from the likes of Robert Plant, Foo Fighters, Alison Krauss, Hall and Oates, Leon Bridges, and lots more. Meanwhile, for collectors looking to add a rare bottle to their reserves, the Speed Art Museum in Louisville will hold its Art of Bourbon auction on September 19 (in-person tickets have sold out, but online bidding is available). Highlights among the 54 items on offer include a 1942 bottle of T.W. Samuels Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (estimated at $10,000-$15,000), a 1909 Overholt Rye (estimated at $15,000), and not one but eight coveted bottles of Pappy. All proceeds benefit the museum’s exhibitions and programming. We’ll drink to that.

Earlier this month, two cherished Southern authors died within days of one another: Dorothea Benton Frank and Anne Rivers Siddons. Both were best-selling novelists and pioneers in the Southern Women’s Fiction genre, writing about what Siddons dubbed “that sinuous Southern life.” As two other best-selling novelists who were inspired by their work, Mary Alice Monroe and Patti Callahan Henry, wrote for G&G, “They shared a captivation with Southern lifestyles, culture, and food, and an unrelenting honesty in their portrayals of the people who inhabited this regaled region.” But their books were only part of what made them an inspiration. “Their brilliant lives also affected us as readers, writers, and women.” Read their tribute to the two authors here.

Just twenty-two miles north of bustling Atlanta, the city of Alpharetta, Georgia, is quietly making a name for itself as an ideal weekend escape. The food and drink scene may be one of the Peach State’s best kept secrets, from the polished Branch & Barrel to neighborhood favorite Coalition Food and Beverage, along with homegrown breweries such as Jekyll Brewing and Currahee Brewing Co. The city is pulsing with live music, too. The intimate Velvet Note hosts jazz acts year-round, while Ameris Bank Amphitheatre has become a major stop on national tours. Add in a hike or bike ride on the Big Creek Greenway and a stroll through the downtown boutiques, and you’re bound to discover something great. Learn more about planning a visit. 

I’ve been looking forward to Kelsey Waldon’s new album, White Noise, White Lines, since she announced it in July. But I've been following the native of Monkey’s Eyebrow, Kentucky, since I caught her set at Wildwood Revival in 2015. Her authentic twang and wry lyrics turned me into an immediate fan, so it was no surprise to me when I heard that John Prine had signed her to his label. I’m counting the minutes until the new album comes out on October 4, but in the meantime, check out her recent interview with G&G and the album’s first single, “Anyhow.”

I always have a cup of coffee or tea on my desk, and lately, I’ve been on the hunt for a new go-to mug. Two Southern artists are making it a tough decision: The perpetually wait-listed vessels from Jess Cheatham, of Nashville’s Salt Ceramics, seem sure to make me smile—even before that first cup o’ Joe—but I also love the understated designs from Atlanta’s Charlotte Smith Studios, which look the way a quiet Sunday morning feels. 

We recently asked, “What’s your favorite place in the South to enjoy fall foliage?”  Some of your responses:

Asheville, North Carolina, and surrounding environs, hands down. Get on the Blue Ridge Parkway or just drive down Broadway and through the old neighborhoods around Grove Park Inn. Eye candy! —Nancy H.

Hwy. 70 from Carthage to Cookeville, Tennessee. 👍 —Carol W.

The Pig Trail (Hwy. 23) in Arkansas and the Talimena Scenic Drive in Oklahoma/Arkansas. Both by motorcycle, of course. —Michael M.

For me, it’s the rolling hills of Athens, Georgia, covered with light, medium, and dark red leaves. It’s like the trees are rooting for the Dawgs, too! —Kendra L.

Southern foliage viewing heaven is sitting in the Pisgah Inn restaurant on the Blue Ridge Parkway, enjoying a smoked rainbow trout filet and a cold brew and looking out over a spectacular view. —Larry B.

The Birmingham area is the first place I’ve ever lived with four real seasons (I grew up in Florida), so it’s my favorite place. There are so many parks to hike in and hills of lovely curving roads that allow for beautiful fall views. —Angie B.

Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountains National Park. —Charles R.

Highland and Bath counties in Virginia. Incredibly beautiful autumn scenery. —Kathleen M.

Has to be driving on Skyline Drive through Shenandoah National Park and looking down on the magnificent Shenandoah Valley in Virginia. —Gordon B.

Alabama’s Lake Martin. Fall is my favorite time there. The air is cool, the water is calm, and the colors are as spectacular as the sunsets. —Betsy I.

The North Georgia Mountains, particularly Helen, where you can surround yourself with beautifully colorful fall foliage while finishing off a stein of German beer at Helen’s Oktoberfest celebration. —Paul F.

Jackie Robinson runs the design studio 42 Pressed, based in Charleston, South Carolina, and her work reflects an appreciation of the South with a decidedly modern bent. This month she debuted an exclusive decorative map with Fieldshop by Garden & Gun that includes distinctive symbols for every Southern state, from Maryland to Texas. I collect maps of different places I’ve lived, and this would look great as part of a collage or leaning on a mantel. $115, ggfieldshop.com

Texas chefs go head-to-head in Port Aransas during the Texas Super Chef Throwdown Series, competing at various restaurants around the city before the championship round on Saturday. 

More than eighty country music artists, including Rodney Atkins, Kristian Bush, and Jerrod Niemann, gather in and around Fort Myers, Florida, for ten days of music at the annual Island Hopper Songwriter Fest. 

Bentonville, Arkansas, hosts the World Champion Squirrel Cook Off, a “tree to table” event where past dishes have included everything from stuffed pickles to squirrel sausage. 

Celebrate the ingredients that go into craft beer at the National Herb Garden in Washington, D.C., during Botanical Brews, which includes tastings from local breweries and picnic-style food.