Replying to Who knows about/has been to the South?

Anyone been on a trip through the South? Not so much looking for big tourist attractions, but more of "off the beaten path" southern towns, cool little attractions like alligator parks and shit like that.I'll be heading down to New Orleans from the DC area in the beginning of June amidst our "round the country" road trip and I definitely wanna soak up some of the south on the way. Particularly looking for stuff to do in West Virginia/Virginia area, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama. Any help and/or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks guys!