The South’s Best Museums 2017

Follow us to your favorite spaces to relax, explore, and reflect. Valerie Fraser Luesse

What’s the #1 museum in the South? We’ll give you a hint: It houses Judy Garland’s ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz, Harriet Tubman’s Bible, Ancient Egyptian art, and remnants of a sunken slave ship.

RELATED: The South's Best Small Towns 2017 The Smithsonian 1 of 11 Jon Hicks/Getty Images 1. Smithsonian

Washington, D.C.

With 19 museums and galleries, a zoo, and more, the Smithsonian has something for everyone. Newly opened: the National Museum of African American History & Culture.

RELATED: The South’s Best Museum 2017: The Smithsonian Advertisement Biltmore 2 of 11 Robbie Caponetto 2. Biltmore

Asheville, North Carolina

The former chateau-style mansion, formal gardens, and working estate that once was home to George and Edith Vanderbilt now welcomes more than 1 million visitors each year. 3 Clever Hacks to Reduce Food Waste

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From Glad Colonial Williamsburg 3 of 11 Courtesy of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation 3. Colonial Williamsburg

Williamsburg, Virginia

Williamsburg has an impressive historic district billed as “the world’s largest living history museum.” Meet interpreters and crafts people in period costume and watch 18th Century America come to life. Advertisement Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum 4 of 11 Courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and Dove Wedding Photography 4. Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Nashville, Tennessee

A $100 million expansion doubled its size to 350,000 square feet. The museum is anchored by the permanent exhibition Sing Me Back Home: A Journey Through Country Music. Advertisement The National WWII Museum 5 of 11 Courtesy of The National WWII Museum 5. The National WWII Museum

New Orleans, Louisiana

One of the most interesting facets of this amazing museum is its oral history program, working to capture the personal stories of the Greatest Generation. Advertisement High Museum of Art 6 of 11 Art Meripol 6. High Museum of Art

Atlanta, Georgia

Permanent collections of this Southeastern treasure include American, European, and Modern/Contemporary Art, African Art, Photography, and more. Advertisement The South's Best Winners 2017 We asked, and you voted – we've rounded up the all-time best restaurants, hotels, islands, resorts, barbecue, bars, shops, museums, breweries, cities, and tailgates in the South. If you're in town, stop in at one of these local favorites. You Might Like Travel Through the South With Books Set in Your Favorite States Stories Of The South: Back to the Beach Top 5 Most Valuable College Football Programs 7 of 11 The South's Best Winners 2017

We poured through your more than 22,000 online votes to bring you the best-of-the-best Southern spots. Check out our roundup of the best restaurant, hotel, island, inn, resort, barbecue, bar, shop, museum, brewery, city, and tailgate in the South. Each of these Southern gems is absolutely worth the trip – from the picturesque views of the Outer Banks to the juicy pulled pork of Southern Soul Barbecue. Sip on a cold brew at Wicked Weed Brewery, have a nightcap at Callaghan's, or find your next heirloom at The Paris Market & Brocante. Take a vacation to Asheville to stay at the extravagant Inn on Biltmore Estate, or enjoy the picturesque history of Savannah at the charming Foley House Inn. If you're in town (or, making the trip!), stop in at one of these local favorites chosen by our readers.

View all of the South's Best 2017 winners here.

SOUTH’S BEST BAR Callaghan’s Irish Social Club; Mobile, AL

SOUTH’S BEST BARBECUE Southern Soul Barbeque; St. Simons Island, GA

SOUTH’S BEST BREWERY Wicked Weed Brewing; Asheville, NC

SOUTH’S BEST CITY Charleston, SC

SOUTH’S BEST HOTEL The Inn on Biltmore Estate; Asheville, NC

SOUTH’S BEST INN Foley House Inn; Savannah, GA

SOUTH’S BEST ISLAND Outer Banks, NC

SOUTH’S BEST MUSEUM Smithsonian; Washington, D.C.

SOUTH’S BEST RESORT Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center; Nashville, TN

SOUTH’S BEST RESTAURANT Commander’s Palace; New Orleans, LA

SOUTH’S BEST SHOP The Paris Market and Brocante; Savannah, GA

SOUTH’S BEST SMALL TOWN Beaufort, SC Advertisement Kennedy Space Center 8 of 11 7. Kennedy Space Center

Titusville, Florida

You can still witness liftoff at the Florida facility named for a President who convinced us we could beat the Russians to the moon in the 1960s. Advertisement Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art 9 of 11 Robbie Caponetto 8. Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

Bentonville, Arkansas

This striking museum exhibits works from Colonial America to today and includes such masterworks as Andy Warhol’s Coca-Cola and Norman Rockwell’s Rosie the Riveter. Advertisement Monticello 10 of 11 Robbie Caponetto 9. Monticello

Charlottesville, Virginia

Thomas Jefferson’s astounding home and gardens reflect his skills as an architect and gardener, not to mention his boundless curiosity. Advertisement Rothko Chapel 11 of 11 Hickey-Robertson 10. Rothko Chapel

Houston, Texas

Part art museum—with 14 murals by artist Mark Rothko—part spiritual space, and part cultural center, the chapel is open to people of all faiths, 365 days a year, and promotes mutual understanding and human rights.