You can stand on the Battery in Charleston, feeling the salty breeze on your face, and easily imagine yourself in a throng of boisterous Charlestonians that fateful evening in 1861, gossiping of how the Yankees would be taught a lesson they’d never forget. Or you can walk the squares of Savannah and imagine yourself in cotton’s heyday, walking from your townhouse through the squares to the river, seeing a forest of masts rise into view as the tall ships take on their precious cargo.

But contrary to stereotype, history is not all that’s here. The Lowcountry and the Georgia coast comprise the largest contiguous salt marsh in the world and one of the most unique ecosystems on the planet. Kayakers are at home paddling in the blackwater of the ACE Basin or the vast Okefenokee Swamp. Sun-worshippers and beachcombers are often amazed at the underrated quality of the area’s expansive, serene strands.

And then there are the people. It’s one of the enduring ironies of America that deep in the heart of our most conservative region lie some of our most fun-loving cities. New Orleans heads the list of course, but Charleston and Savannah are hard on its heels. It’s not just the fabled Southern hospitality, it’s a joie de vivre born out of great weather and proximity to the ever-invigorating, all-encompassing water of the rivers, marshes, and ocean.

History, nature, good times — it’s all here.