Due South: The Best New Cruises for Southern Travelers

Plus: John Grisham’s Charlottesville favorites; a delicious Dallas detour

If I’ve learned one thing as an editor, it’s to find the right experts for a piece. This week’s newsletter includes a few perfect examples, starting with Amanda Eyre Ward, who travels the world on ships large and small. She rounded up cruise news that Southerners will particularly enjoy, including international itineraries for gourmets and river cruises with stops in bourbon country. Next up, none other than author John Grisham shares his picks for what to see, do, and eat around his Virginia stomping grounds. Then, the Texas artist Jon Flaming takes us home with big love for the Southwest, including the small-town hotel bar he can’t get enough of.

These seven lines are rolling out updated ships, routes, and itineraries.

The best-selling author shares where he eats, shops, and unwinds around the Virginia city’s pedestrian mall.

Beat the heat with chilled noodles at a decades-old Chinese food landmark.

Artist Jon Flaming’s colorful modernist renditions of Texas motifs include snake-wrangling cowboys and Stetson hats (he’s a longtime collaborator with the iconic outfitter). His artworks adorn everything from hotel lobbies to music festival posters, and lately, his paintings are sharing the screen with actress Annette Bening in Dutton Ranch, Taylor Sheridan’s latest Yellowstone spin-off series. Perpetually on the road for gallery openings and event launches—including an upcoming show at the Branch Museum of Design in Richmond, Virginia, and a new partnership with Pendleton—Flaming knows exactly where he hopes to kick back after a busy season. He shares his favorite Texas haunts, dream-destination hotels, and most treasured rusty souvenir.

What place has inspired you the most creatively?
West Texas: Big Bend and the Chihuahuan Desert.

Best travel advice you’ve ever gotten?
Take only a carry-on bag—but I’ve never followed this advice!

Go-to travel gear or attire?
A Stetson Open Road hat, Tecovas Ranch boots, a Levi’s denim shirt, and a vintage Western belt from Stidham Saddlery.

Favorite hotel in the world?
It’s a tie: La Bandita Townhouse in Pienza, Italy, and Hotel Emma in San Antonio.

Favorite mode of transportation?
A road trip to West Texas with my wife.

Favorite small town?
Marathon, Texas.

Where do you return to again and again?
The Gage Hotel in Marathon, built in 1927. It has one of the most iconic bars in Texas, the White Buffalo Bar.

Where do you go for fun?
Los Cabos, Mexico.

What are you reading on your travels lately?
High Performance Habits, by Brendon Burchard; The Worst Hard Time, by Timothy Egan; The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield; and the book of Proverbs.

What’s a memorable souvenir from a trip?
A rusted Mobilgas Pegasus sign, found buried in the Chihuahuan Desert.

Dream destination?
Amangiri, in the Utah desert.

Rapid-fire!
Carry-on or checked? Both.
Aisle or window? Aisle.
Hotel or rental (Airbnb, etc.)? Hotel.
Repeat visit or somewhere new? Both.
Planned to the hour or spontaneous adventure? Planned with room for adventure!