The sixth annual Southern Travelers Explore (STE) Conference kicked off with a warm welcome at South Cove County Park near Seneca, South Carolina, on Friday, March 7. The welcome set the stage for an incredible weekend of networking, education, and exploration. With four trip giveaways, curated gift bags featuring Southern-made products, and a welcoming #STE family atmosphere, this year’s conference celebrated collaboration over competition. Visit Oconee proved to be an exceptional host, showcasing the undeniable beauty and hospitality of South Carolina’s Upcountry.
Charlotte Waters of Visit Oconee SC thanked “all the writers and destination marketing organizations who joined us for the Southern Travelers Explore Conference in Oconee County, South Carolina. It was our pleasure to showcase Oconee County’s beauty, adventure, and charm. We hope you enjoyed your time here, made lasting connections, and discovered stories worth sharing. We look forward to welcoming you back soon!”
STE Award Winners
STE enjoys giving away trips, but these trips are not vacations. Instead, they provide a chance for the donating destination marketing organization (DMO) to host a working travel writer to spread the word about their attractions.
Trip winners were:
- Atlanta travel writer Jana Soli of Its Jana Soli received a trip to Visit Shipshewana, an exploration of Indiana’s charming Amish Country.
- Chelsea Barton-Kelly of Visit Tuscaloosa, Alabama, will head to the luxurious Turquoise Place Resorts. Its parent company Spectrum Resorts, donated the relaxing coastal getaway.
- Minnesota’s Kelly Ratliff of Dining Duster are set to Explore Siouxland. Siouxland says it’s the Midwest’s best tri-state area, where Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota join at the confluence of the Missouri and Big Sioux Rivers.
- Bob Bales of The Traveling Fool will experience Northwest Kansas hospitality with a trip to Visit Hays.
The conference also recognized exceptional talent and dedication within the travel community through the #STE Superstar awards. This year’s #STE Superstars were Atlanta’s Paige Watts of Paige Minds the Gap and Heather Montgomery, from Knoxville, Tennessee. She owns Through Heather’s Looking Glass. They were celebrated for their outstanding contributions to travel writing and promotion. Lydia Weigel of LostWithLydia.com received the #STE Family Award, which includes a complimentary ticket to the 2026 Southern Travelers Explore Conference.
Friday: Welcoming, Networking, and Enjoying
As the conference opened, attendees were treated to a spectacular welcome party at Off the Alley at Nimmons Hall, hosted by Visit Oconee and its partners, with delicious catering from the Blue Ridge Grill. Many continued the evening at Keowee Brewing Company, enjoying craft drinks and a laid-back atmosphere.
Saturday: Learning, Exploring, and Adventure
Saturday morning brought an exciting first for STE—offsite educational and speaker sessions at Chattooga Belle Farm. On the ride there, attendees enjoyed homemade bagel sandwiches from Wildwater’s Gauge Coffee House and a beautifully curated snack spread from Chattooga Belle while engaging with insightful industry speakers.
The afternoon was all about exploring Oconee County, with attendees splitting into four immersive tours:
- A museum crawl and walking tour through historic sites.
- A scenic boat ride on Lake Jocassee, chasing boat-access-only waterfalls.
- A downtown Seneca walking and shopping tour, discovering local boutiques and businesses.
- A waterfall-chasing adventure, a must-do in this picturesque region.
Saturday evening featured an exclusive Dine Around event, where attendees tasted the best of Oconee County’s culinary scene at Traditions on the Lake, Ram Cat Cellars, Sole Sushi, Paesano’s Italian Restaurant, Lighthouse Lake Keowee, and Vangeli’s Bistro.
To top off the night, Hoedown Oconee at McLadke Orchards provided a lively atmosphere with clogging and shagging lessons, horse-drawn carriage rides, and an adorable meet-and-greet with mini animals from Seven Daugherty Farm.
Sunday: Business, Breakfast & Building Connections
Sunday’s agenda included insightful speaker sessions and a face-to-face marketplace, fostering valuable relationships between content creators and CVB representatives. The morning began with a delicious Southern breakfast catered by Sherry Lay Catering and sponsored by Visit Alabama Beaches.
The event venue—the Seneca Water Filter Plant—turned out to be a hidden gem on the southern end of Lake Keowee, surprising attendees with its scenic and serene setting. Fairfield Inn and Suites Seneca Clemson University Area was the host hotel and provided excellent service and hospitality.
