The Best Guys’ Getaways in the South
Planning your next guys' getaway just got easier. We've found destinations offering picturesque courses, brewery tours, private distillery tastings, and more, sure to please golf lovers, beer enthusiasts, and every guy in between. Image: Explore Ridgeland
Planning the ultimate guysβ getaway? These Southern destinations make it easy to build a weekend around good food, outdoor adventure, live entertainment, and plenty of downtime with your crew. Spend the day on the water, book a bourbon tasting, catch a game, or settle in for a steakhouse dinner and live music after dark. No matter your groupβs travel style, these spots offer the right balance of excitement and laid-back fun for an unforgettable trip together.
Ridgeland, MS
A guysβ weekend in Ridgeland, MS, delivers the perfect mix of outdoor adventures, standout dining, and bustling nightlife. Start your vacation by booking a room at one of the cityβs centrally located hotels, such as the Embassy Suites by Hilton Ridgeland, Hampton Inn & Suites, or the Hyatt Place.
Once youβre settled in, grab a bite to eat at one of the cityβs local eateries. Discover how Ridgeland earned its reputation as βMississippiβs Steakhouse Capitalβ at favorites like Koestler Prime and Ticoβs Steakhouse. New this year, Ridgeland unveiled its culinary and cocktail trails, making it even easier to explore the cityβs best restaurants and bars.
Your days are best spent outdoors. The Barnett Reservoir (also known as βthe Rezβ by locals) offers boating, fishing, and guided crappie trips, providing a memorable way for you and your crew to get on the water.
For the adventure seekers, Ridgelandβs mountain bike trails will get your blood pumping, while Topgolf Ridgeland adds a high-energy stop with games, food, and friendly competition.
When itβs time to wind down for the evening, head back to the water. Pelican Cove Grill is a local favorite for live music and sunset views over the Rez. Nearby, spots like Cock of the Walk and Shuckerβs Oyster Bar keep the evening going with casual, lively energy.
In Ridgeland, a guysβ trip is all about good food, time spent outdoors, and laid-back Southern fun.
Old 96 District, SC
South Carolinaβs Old 96 District is built for groups who crave variety. Centered around a landscape of freshwater lakes and rolling countryside, itβs an easy place to mix adrenaline with downtime.
Time spent on the water is an absolute must here. With miles of shoreline and access to prime fishing waters, the region is known for trophy bass fishing and relaxed days on the lake. Bring your own boat or rent one locally and spend the day exploring at your own pace.
For a different kind of competition, head to the 300-acre Palmetto Shooting Complex in Edgefield, home to skeet, trap, sporting clays, and 3D archery. For an overnight outdoor escape, Wood Widgeon Sportsman Camp offers cabins, camping, hunting, and creek fishing.
When itβs time to refuel, grab a burger and enjoy a game of pool at the legendary Edgefield Pool Room, or head to nearby favorites like Montagueβs and Blue Ocean for hearty plates and casual evenings out. Local breweries and distilleries, such as Good Times Brewing, are ideal for capping off the night.
Golfers are also covered here, with 10 courses across the district, including scenic layouts along Lake Thurmond.
In the Old 96 District, every day can look different, but itβs always built around good company and plenty to do.
Franklin, KY
Franklin, KY, offers a well-rounded guysβ getaway built around bourbon, golf, and high-energy entertainment.
Kick off the weekend along the craft bourbon trail at Dueling Grounds Distillery, where tastings and tours walk you through the distilling process from grain to glass. The laid-back atmosphere makes it easy to linger, especially with pizza on the menu and plenty of space to relax with your group over a round of pours.
If your crew prefers time on the course, Kenny Perryβs Country Creek Golf Course offers 18 scenic holes winding along Drakes Creek. Designed by PGA Tour Champion Kenny Perry, the course combines approachable play with beautiful fairways, making it a solid choice for golfers of all skill levels.
When the sun goes down, The Mint Gaming Hall at Kentucky Downs keeps the energy going. The entertainment complex features gaming machines, simulcast racing, and the Circa Sportsbook β the largest sportsbook east of the Mississippi β plus live thoroughbred racing in the fall. Add in live music, dining, and luxury accommodations, and itβs easy to turn one evening into a full night out.
In Franklin, a guysβ trip can be as relaxed or action-packed as you want it to be.
Heaven Hill Distillery | Bardstown, KY
A trip to Kentucky bourbon country is not complete without a stop at Heaven Hill Distillery in Bardstown, the Bourbon Capital of the World. The area is an ideal spot for distillery hopping, and Heaven Hill is proof of that, offering a full, immersive experience that goes beyond the traditional tasting room.
Here, you can shop a portfolio of award-winning American whiskeys along with bourbon-inspired foods, merchandise, and seasonal releases. Meanwhile, tastings are designed for every level of bourbon enthusiast, with curated flights that range from approachable favorites to rare, top-shelf pours not widely available elsewhere.
Your experience unfolds across multiple immersive spaces, including the 1935 Distillery Theater, featuring an 11-minute show sharing the story of the Shapira family (founders of the distillery), and the Heaven Hill Family Gallery, which traces the companyβs legacy since 1935. Additional exhibits, such as the Elijah Craig Gallery and Larceny Gallery, bring bourbon history to life through interactive, story-driven installations.
Nearby, a shuttle takes you to the new Heaven Hill Springs Distillery, where you can experience the full whiskey-making process, sustainability efforts, and guided tastings for a behind-the-scenes look at modern production.
Between tours, carve out time to visit Five Brothers Bar & Kitchen. The fast-casual on-site restaurant serves elevated deli-style fare, plus bourbon tastings and cocktails.
Charlotte, NC
Charlotte, NC, is an easy win for a getaway that blends big-city energy with countless ways to tailor the weekend to your preferred pace. We recommend staying in or near Uptown to keep everything within reach, including top restaurants, bourbon-forward bars, breweries, and sports venues.
Speaking of sports, be sure to catch a Charlotte FC match at Bank of America Stadium or head to Truist Field for a Charlotte Knights game. In cooler months, the Charlotte Checkers bring fast-paced hockey to Bojangles Coliseum, making it easy to build a night around live competition and even livelier crowds.
Beyond the stadiums, the cityβs craft beer scene offers plenty of relaxed gathering spaces. Favorites like The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery deliver classic German-style biergarten energy, while spots like Heist Brewery bring spacious patios and rotating taps.
For bourbon and cocktails, neighborhood staples like The Crunkleton and Dot Dot Dot add a more elevated, tucked-away feel.
For more daytime activities, options range from outdoor adventure at the U.S. National Whitewater Center to golf, axe throwing, or lakeside escapes just outside the city. Add in standout dining (from steakhouses to modern Southern kitchens like Beef βN Bottle Steakhouse) and Charlotte becomes a choose-your-own-adventure kind of trip.
San Antonio, TX
San Antonio, TX, brings together big flavors, easygoing outdoor energy, and plenty of group-friendly ways to fill a weekend. Set along the water and anchored by a vibrant downtown, itβs a destination where meals, activities, and nightlife naturally connect.
The city is known for its barbecue tradition, with standout spots like 2M Smokehouse drawing crowds for brisket, ribs, and inventive sides. Tex-Mex is just as essential, and no visit feels complete without a stop at Mi Tierra CafΓ© y PanaderΓa in Market Square, where colorful plates and around-the-clock energy keep things exciting.
For a more elevated evening, steakhouses across the city serve classic Texas cuts in warm, welcoming settings.
When itβs time to get moving, San Antonio offers plenty of options for groups. Explore the River Walk by foot or boat, rent bikes for a casual ride through downtown or the historic Missions, or add a little friendly competition with golf, Topgolf, or nearby sporting venues.
Outdoor enthusiasts can venture into local parks or head toward the Texas Hill Country for a change of scenery just outside the city.
With an approachable layout, a standout food scene, and a steady stream of activities, San Antonio makes it easy to plan a weekend that feels both relaxed and full of discovery.
Muscle Shoals/Florence, AL
Muscle Shoals and Florence, AL, deliver a guysβ trip with some serious character. River views, legendary music history, and low-key Southern hospitality set the tone here.
Base your group at the newly renovated Renaissance Shoals Resort & Spa, perched on the Tennessee River and home to Alabamaβs only revolving restaurant, live music, and an easygoing, all-under-one-roof setup.
Dinner at the on-site 360 Grille offers skyline-worthy views and a relaxed yet elevated steakhouse feel, followed by live music at Swampers Bar & Grille, just steps away.
You can also dive deep into the regionβs deep musical roots with visits to FAME Recording Studios and Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, where some of the most iconic records in American music history were made. Touring these spaces brings a behind-the-scenes look at the artists and βSwampersβ who helped define the Muscle Shoals sound.
Between stops, downtown Florence offers a walkable mix of boutiques, including Billy Reid, local bars, and spots like the GunRunner Hotel for a quick drink break. A meal at Southern Grocery keeps things classic and unfussy before more exploring.
With riverfront sunsets, live music every night, and a legacy that runs deep, Muscle Shoals and Florence offer a weekend thatβs as easygoing as it is unforgettable.
This article is sponsored by Explore Ridgeland, Old 96 District Tourism, Simpson County Tourism, and Heaven Hill Distillery.
Brianna Goebel
Brianna is StyleBlueprintβs Associate Editor and Sponsored Content Manager. She is an avid fan of iced coffee and spends her free time reading romance novels.