6 Opportunities to Discover the South with Color My Outdoors in 2025

By Cowgirl Candace

Color My Outdoors will hit the road in 2025, traveling across six Southern states where our work is most active to capture the rich and diverse experiences of Black and Brown communities in outdoor spaces. Leading this effort is a talented team of Creatives of Color: writers, photographers, videographers, and illustrators who bring their lived experiences to their craft. Through a for-us-by-us lens, they tell stories that celebrate the resilience, heritage, and leadership of People of Color in the outdoors. This intentional approach to multimedia storytelling is key to our Changing Perceptions (one of our four Pillars of Impact) and ensures our communities can reclaim the narrative, dismantling stereotypes and highlighting histories, ambitions, and contributions that often go unrecognized.

Rooted in the South, our work honors the region’s unique blend of multigenerational traditions, distinctive lifestyles, and stunning landscapes. By telling these stories ourselves, we ensure they reflect authentic perspectives, fostering a sense of connection and belonging that inspires others to explore and engage with the outdoors. A traveler looking for new destinations or a funder eager to support impactful work, these stories invite you to rediscover the South through a fresh, inclusive lens. As we journey through the South, we invite you to explore a rich tapestry of outdoor adventures and cultural experiences with us. These highlights showcase the beauty, history, and diversity that make the South such a moment worth new memories. From serene mountain trails to vibrant multicultural festivals, these states offer endless opportunities to connect with nature, celebrate heritage, and rediscover the outdoor culture of the region. Here’s your peek at what the South has to offer:

Alabama

Known as Alabama the Beautiful because of its natural splendor, localized adventures, and wealth of Southern culture, Alabama offers outdoor recreation in abundance. Believe it or not, this Southern stop features something outdoorsy for every season. Explore this version of nature from its northern mountaintops down to the Gulf Coast.  

Outdoor Activities: river and coastal fishing, canoeing, and rafting; preserve, park, and waterfall hiking; seasonal birdwatching; state park camping; white-sand sunbathing, beach volley balling, and swimming; neighborhood trail cycling; mountain caving and rock climbing; delta and preserve wildlife and bird watching; lakeside horseback riding; mountain lookout and landmark scenic drives; and resort snow skiing and snowboarding.

Multicultural Activities: Alabama hosts a generous amount of heritage and history happenings annually, especially for connections to the Civil Rights Movement and Latinx culture. Tourists flock to Black arts and entertainment performances of Birmingham’s Shout! Festival and Montgomery’s Rosa Parks Museum, Legacy Museum: From Enslavement to Mass Incarceration, and The National Museum for Peace and Justice. Popular Latin experiences: Fiesta Birmingham, Birmingham Latin Jazz & Salsa Festival, and Montgomery’s Latin American Heritage Festival.

Georgia

Designated the Peach State, Georgia produces the juiciest of peaches, arguably the sweetest of Southern tea (and hospitality), and some of the richest cultural stories connected to the Civil Rights Movement. As one of Color My Outdoors’ resource and recreation hubs, this Deep South state delivers in outdoor recreation, education, cuisine, and history. From the Appalachian Mountains to its coastal islands, Georgia offers creeks, forests, summits, hayfields, and a cornucopia of backwoods. 

Outdoor Activities: state park and trail backpacking, hiking, and camping; river and lake waterskiing, paddling, fishing, and swimming; trail and road cycling; public and private horseback riding; bouldering and mountain climbing; highway and backroad scenic drives; resort ziplining, skiing, and snowboarding; forest, gorge, and backyard bird watching; park cultural and cave exploring; rural rodeos and horse shows; and community gardening and gravesite touring. 

Multicultural Activities: Both urban and rural agritours, festivals, landmarks, and exhibits recognize Georgia’s tapestry of ethnic groups and culture observances. The state hosts educational experiences like Savannah’s Asian Cultural Festival, Atlanta’s Global Farmers Markets, Macon’s Tubman Museum and Ocmulgee Indigenous Celebration.

North Carolina

Dubbed the Tar Heel State, North Carolina gained this moniker from becoming a major producer of pitch, tar, and turpentine derived from pine trees. These sticky products helped the naval industry in shipbuilding. On agricultural fronts, the state holds the title as the nation’s leading producer of sweet potatoes. Today, North Carolina is also known for its landscape, including the Blue Ridge Mountains in the west to the Atlantic coastline to the east. The Great Smoky Mountains and Cape Hatteras National Seashore as natural beauty bonuses. North Carolina is a state that boasts an incredible variety of outdoor activities, thanks to its diverse landscapes, which include mountains, forests, beaches, and lakes. Whether you’re into hiking, water sports, or exploring unique natural areas, there’s something for every outdoor enthusiast. Discover some of the most popular outdoor activities in North Carolina.

Outdoor Activities: national, state, and local park hiking and backpacking; forest and trail mountain biking; river and lake kayaking, canoeing, and paddleboarding; national and state park camping; lakeside fishing; beach kiteboarding, beachcombing, surfing, and swimming; gorge canopy touring and ziplining; rock climbing and bouldering; forest and trail horseback riding; and wildlife refuge watching.

Multicultural Activities: North Carolina acknowledges its cultural richness through year-round celebrations. Uplifting Appalachian, Black, Latin, and Indigenous communities, there’s Greensboro’s North Carolina Folk Festival, Cherokee’s Indian Fair, Fayetteville’s Carolina Indian Heritage Festival, Winston-Salem’s National Black Theatre Festival, Raleigh’s Festival of India and American Indian Heritage Celebration. 

South Carolina

Nicknamed the Palmetto State, South Carolina earned the name from the palmetto tree used during the American Revolution to build fortifications. The tree became a symbol of South Carolina’s resilience. Nature saturates the state from its movie scene-worthy coastal areas, Gullah-Geechee culture, golf courses, Southern cuisine, and plantation history. 

Outdoor Activities: beach sunbathing, surfing, boating, sailing, fishing, and paddling; waterfall, national and state park hiking; extensive trail system mountain biking; island golfing; deer, waterfowl, and turkey hunting; cliffside rock climbing; reserve and basin wildlife watching; and gorge and forest ziplining and canopy touring.

Multicultural Activities: The state honors Lowcountry cooking to heritage events that honor a range of cultural experiences. There’s Charleston’s Wine & Food Festival and the Gullah-Geechee Nation International Music and Movement Festival; Mount Pleasant’s Lowcountry Oyster Festival; Myrtle Beach’s BubbaFest; Columbia’s Latin American Festival; and Rock Hill’s Catawba Indian Nation Powwow.

Tennessee

It’s called The Volunteer State because of its strong volunteer commitment to the War of 1812. Tennessee’s willingness to serve the United States remains one of its primary characteristics. Culturally, Tennessee is association with Southern music and food, particularly rock ‘n’ roll, country, bluegrass, and barbecue. Connected to the outdoors, The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visible nature experience providing a hefty blend of biodiversity, trails, waterfalls, and campsites.

Outdoor Activities: national park hiking and camping; lake and river paddling, boating, and fishing; road cycling and mountain biking; underground spelunking; mountain ziplining and rock climbing; backroad road tripping and scenic driving; park horseback riding; and resort golfing.

Multicultural Activities: Tennessee honors global, national, and state cultural experiences across communities. Explore Nashville’s Caribbean Carnival, Latin Festival, and Native American Indian Association of Tennessee Powwow; Knoxville’s Asian Fest; Memphis’ African American Heritage Festival; and Tullahoma’s International Folkfest.

Virginia

Tagged The Old Dominion state, Virginia stayed loyal to the English crown during the English Civil War. Making it one of the earliest and most significant colonies in U.S. history. Considered the birthplace of the nation, four of the first five American presidents called it home. Its nature appeal spans the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah National Park to Chesapeake Bay. Coupled with its colonial history, its world-class wine country experiences attract travelers globally. 

Outdoor Activities: national park hiking, backpacking, and camping; river and lake paddling, fishing, and boating; forest and passage mountain biking; gorge and state park rock climbing; resort snowboarding, ice skating, and skiing; refuge wildlife viewing and photographing; award-winning course golfing; mountain and park horseback riding; coastal jet skiing, kiteboarding, swimming, surfing, and sandcastle building; cavern caving and spelunking; and history and heritage tour driving.

Multicultural Activities: Celebrating its diverse people and Southern traditions, Virginia offers local to global events to educate about the state’s artistic and ethnic landscape. Plan to attend 2025’s Richmond Folk Festival, Festival of India, and Sankofa Festival; Virginia Beach’s National African American Festival; Falls Church’s Hispanic Festival; and Alexandria’s Multicultural Festival.

Appreciated this travel and tourism feature? We surely hope so. If you were inspired by this post, feel free to submit your Southern story here.