Covington is full of fun and fascinating things to do. You could spend weeks here and still not see everything. My advice – take it slow and easy. You’ll want to come back again and again.

The history here is one of the things that draws people to visit and to stay. Creating your own walking or driving tour is a great way to get a sense of how the past and present touch each other every day. Let me point out a few places you’ll want to see.

The Twelve Oaks Bed & Breakfast (2176 Monticello St. SW) was built in the 1830s in the Greek Revival style. Originally named Whitehall, it inspired Margaret Mitchell to think of it as Twelve Oaks, the home of Ashley Wilkes, in Gone With The Wind. Whitehall was the townhome of Judge John Harris, who owned a plantation outside of Covington. General Sherman, on his march to the sea during the Civil War, allowed his troops to forage at the plantation. The house is now a B&B, so if you’d like to spend a night in the middle of history, go to thetwelveoaks.com to make a reservation.

The Dixie Manor (3173 Mill St.) is another home built in the 1830s. Many of your favorite TV shows and films have used the Manor for filming. Drive by and you’ll recognize it from In the Heat of the Night, Miss Evers’ Boys, and HGTV’s If Walls Could Talk.

The Cedars (2173 Floyd St.) is a fine example of the Greek Revival style home. It was built in 1880 for Mrs. C.J. Cook and has a beautiful veranda. A Simple Twist of Fate and In the Heat of the Night both used the home as a backdrop.

The Vampire Diaries called the Worthington Manor (2129 East St.) home for several seasons, serving as the show’s Lockwood Mansion. Built in 1850 by Dr. John J. Dearing, the home has a rich collection of American and European antique furniture and art, which you can see on one of Mystic Falls Tours’ exclusive tours. When the Dearings returned from their “Grand Tour of Europe,” they wanted their home to reflect the American South as well as everything they had experienced in Europe. The Mayor of Mystic Falls resides here among the vampires.d experienced in Europe. The Mayor of Mystic Falls resides here among the vampires.

You’ll also want to see the Zachary-Echols House (5160 Echols St. NW), seen in The Dukes of Hazzard, and Isobel’s House (2146 Conyers St. SE) from The Originals. There is a reason Covington is known as The Hollywood of the South®.

I’ve listed just a few of the famous homes in Covington. Before your start your tour, drop by the Welcome Center in downtown Covington (1143 Oak St. SE) to pick up a brochure with all the information you will need to make the most of your day. And remember, many of these locations are private residences, so snap a photo from the street, but please don’t trespass.

Until next time,

Bill Thomas