Matthews Cafeteria, opened in 1955, is the best old-school meat-and-three in the Atlanta area. Because it’s just a short hop east of town, most visitors miss it, but I make the effort to take all of my guests here. —Gretchen H.
Paddling Beaver Creek in Powell, Tennessee, is special for our family. It is such a beautiful and peaceful waterway with many opportunities to see wildlife and farm animals up close. —Whitney M.
A Lowcountry Backyard Restaurant on Hilton Head Island has, unequivocally, the best shrimp and grits I have ever enjoyed! —Chuck R.
The Interbay Market (aka “The Green Store”) in South Tampa. Pick up picadillo, boliche, or ropa vieja for lunch, then talk with the butcher, and he’ll cut steaks and chops to order for your weekend cookout—and provide his secrets on how to grill the meats to perfection. —Don O.
Darnell Farms in Bryson City, North Carolina, is a hidden gem in a wide open valley near the southern boundary of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It’s a working farm with an extensive produce stand, creative frozen desserts, an impressive annual slate of mini-festivals, live music, seasonal pumpkin patches and Christmas lights, and the most delicious strawberries and tomatoes you have ever tasted. —Judy R.
Vereen Memorial Gardens in Little River, South Carolina. It has a park-like setting with trails through the woods, a boardwalk through the marsh, and a beach area along the Intracoastal Waterway. —Stephanie D.
