Southeast in July

March through May brings perfect weather and blooming dogwoods, but also spring break crowds in beach towns. September through November offers the same mild temperatures with bonus fall colors in the mountains. Summer means heat, humidity, and afternoon thunderstorms. But it's also festival season—New Orleans Jazz Fest in April, CMA Music Festival in Nashville in June. Beach towns like Myrtle Beach and Gulf Shores hit their stride. Winter stays mild compared to the rest of the country. Savannah in January feels like spring elsewhere, and hotel rates drop by 40%. Just know that some mountain attractions close, and hurricane season runs June through November along the coast. Avoid major college football weekends if you're not there for the game. Auburn, Alabama, and Athens, Georgia, become impossible to navigate when the home team plays.