Sheridan's Southeast US Travel Blog

Wilmington, North Carolina celebrates life and culture on the Cape Fear River at the 30th annual Riverfest October 3 - 5, 2008. The three-day, family-friendly festival features fun for all ages with activities beginning Friday evening and continuing through Sunday. Enjoy live entertainment, a street fair with more than 200 arts and crafts, exhibits, visiting ships, food vendors and many other special festival events and activities. Read more...

Halloween is just about a month away and much of the fun has already started. If you are looking for some spooky, creepy and all around spirited Halloween fun, there are casketfuls of great choices in the Southeast. From special Halloween events at major theme parks, like Kings Dominion's Halloween Haunt (pictured) to ghoulish ghost train rides, costume contests, street festivals and more, visit Halloween Fun in the Southeast for some very scary and not so scary ideas.

Related Articles - October Festivals and Events - Seasonal Fall Festivals - Ghost Tours of Haunted Places Oktoberfest Celebrations

^{Photo of Kings Dominion's Freakshow in 3D (guaranteed to freak you out): Courtesy of Kings Dominion}

True living legacies of European and American history, the pony-sized wild horses of the southeastern United States coast seem to possess a special mystique that intrigues and enchants thousands upon thousands of visitors each year. Living among the salt marshes, dunes and maritime forests of only a few places in Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and Georgia, these small, sturdy and independent horses have survived for centuries of generations against many odds and can still be enjoyed today.

If you are planning a wild horse outing, be sure to review these important safety tips, and if you would like a little inspiration for your trip, enjoy these wonderful wild horse photographs.

Related Articles - Outer Banks Driving Tour - The NC Birding Trail - Winter Whale Watching

^{Photo Credit: Courtesy of Currituck County Department of Travel and Tourism}

Following a disappointing inaugural season, the owner of Hard Rock Park, HRP Myrtle Beach Holdings, LLC, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Wednesday and the Park will be closed for the rest of the season. The world's first rock n' roll theme park, Hard Rock Park opened just this past spring in Myrtle Beach, North Carolina. Despite the ongoing difficulties, Hard Rock Park's management has announced that they intend to re-open for the 2009 season.

I visited Hard Rock Park in August and found it to be creative, smart, clean, fun and a great addition to Myrtle Beach. I, for one, hope that the attempts to restructure and re-open are successful.

Related Article - About.com's Guide to Theme Parks has more details about the current situation and offers his thoughts about Hard Rock Park.

^{Photo Credit: © 2008 George Alexander, licensed to About.com, Inc.}

The State Fair of Virginia opens on September 25, 2008, followed by the Georgia National Fair on October 2nd, the South Carolina State Fair on October 8th and the North Carolina State Fair on October 17th. During the same time, a number of large county fairs take place as well.

A great American tradition, state and county fairs offer fun for all ages with everything from traditional carnival-style fun and food to educational state exhibits, prize-winning farm animals, grandstand entertainment and concerts by world famous performing artists. With so many fairs taking place during the next month or so, this is the perfect time to plan a fair getaway in the Southeast to enjoy the beautiful fall season while exploring the rich agricultural heritage of the region.

Related Articles - State and County Fairs - Upcoming Fall Food Festivals - Oktoberfest Celebrations - Fall Apple Festivals - Fall Festivals Round-Up - State Fair Photo Tour

^{Photo: Midway Fun - Courtesy of the Georgia National Fair}

Just added to Southeast US Travel's feature News, Deals, Tips and Tidbits, Historic Hotels of America is offering an intriguing promotion for fall travelers. The Fall Back in Time Promotion showcases 50 participating historic hotels across the country, including 12 in the Southeast.
Read more...

From Southern smoked barbecue to fresh-caught seafood, just-picked apples, the world's most famous chicken and more, the Southeast US Travel Fall Events Calendar has a full plate of great food festivals to enjoy during the last few weeks of September and throughout October. Celebrate the Colonel at Kentucky's ever popular World Chicken Festival or head for coastal Carolina for one or more of the several annual shrimp festivals. Here are some tasty ideas to whet your fall travel appetite: Read more...

Attracting thousands of visitors to the North Georgia mountain region each fall, Oktoberfest in Helen, Georgia is the area's number one tourist draw and one of the biggest parties in the Southeast. Lasting for two months, Helen's annual Oktoberfest celebration features authentic German bands, food, beer, dancing and lots of German-style fun at an enormous Festhalle. Helen, Georgia's charming Alpine-style architecture, unique shops and brilliant autumn scenery add up to a great fall trip or day outing destination for visitors to the Southeast.

Related Articles - Oktoberfest Celebrations in the Southeast - Fall Festivals and Events - Atlanta Attractions

^{Photo of the Oktoberfest Parade in Helen, Georgia: Courtesy of the Georgia Dept. of Economic Development}

Wouldn't it be fun to win a trip? As highlighted in the ongoing Southeast US Travel feature, Travel News, Deals, Tips and Tidbits, the deadlines for entering two great travel sweepstakes in the Southeast are approaching rapidly: Read more...

Home to more than 460 bird species from the coastal plain to the mountain regions of the state, North Carolina attracts birders and naturalists of all levels. The new North Carolina Birding Trail is a driving trail developed to provide a convenient network of connecting birding sites. To help with planning your travel itinerary, nearby points of interest found along the way, including historic and scenic sites, tours and guides, events and more, are noted as well.

Related Articles - Fall Foliage in North Carolina

^{Photo of Great Blue Heron: © 2008 George Alexander, licensed to About.com}