Best of the Southeast: The top attractions

Travel

Stone Mountain Park is situated around the world's largest granite dome (823 feet tall). Its most famous feature is the world's largest bas relief, showing three Confederate leaders of the Civil War. Other attractions include a lake, a golf course, a small-town theme park, a scenic train and plenty of nature walking trails.

Think country music and you're probably thinking about Nashville. Among the sites that attract music fans from around the world: the Country Music Hall of Fame (pictured), the Grand Ole Opry, Ryman Auditorium, Bluebird Cafe and RCA Studio B.

Celebrating Alabama's key role in the U.S. space program, the U.S. Space and Rocket Center museum in Huntsville features rockets, space capsules and engines among its collection of 1,500 artifacts.

The most visited entertainment complex in the world, Walt Disney World saw 17.5 million visitors in 2012. The Magic Kingdom opened in 1971, and the complex expanded over the decades to include Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disney's Animal Kingdom.

The Biltmore is an 8,000-acre estate in Asheville that includes the largest private residence in the United States. The mansion was built by George Washington Vanderbilt II between 1889 and 1895.

More than 15 million people visit Myrtle Beach each year, making it one of the most popular beaches in the U.S. Besides the amusements parks, golf courses, theaters and shopping districts, the beach also hosts the longest wooden pier on the east coast, as well as a boardwalk that opened in 2010 and quickly established itself as one of the nations' best.

A popular stretch of beachfront the stretches over three counties, the Gulf Coast includes the cities of Biloxi, Gulfport, Pascagoula, Diamondhead and Long Beach. In addition to its sandy pleasures, the region is also known for its fishing, golfing and casinos.

Jackson Square anchors New Orleans' French Quarter, the city's oldest neighborhood. Designated as a National Historic Landmark district, The Quarter was established with the founding of the city in 1718. Although famous for the alcohol-fueled revelry of Bourbon Street, the Quarter is also the best place for history lovers to sample Louisiana's mix of Spanish, French and Anglo influences.

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Stone Mountain Park is situated around the world's largest granite dome (823 feet tall). Its most famous feature is the world's largest bas relief, showing three Confederate leaders of the Civil War. Other attractions include a lake, a golf course, a small-town theme park, a scenic train and plenty of nature walking trails.

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