Posted: 5/10/21 | may 10th, 2021
If there’s one thing that I’ve learned in all my travels around America, it’s that the us is more like a collection of small countries than one cohesive cultural unit. The lifestyle, language, and norms of each region differ vastly from one another. and even within states, there are vast differences.
The region that surprised me the most was “the South,” defined as the states that were part of the Confederacy, from the Mason-Dixon line to the Mississippi River and down to the Gulf of Mexico. (Texas was part of the Confederacy, too, but it’s generally not considered part of the “Old South,” because, well, it’s Texas and it’s its own beast!)
Growing up as a northerner, I always kind of looked down on the region as “backwards,” but after a few trips around the area, I found that my perceptions about the region were wrong.
I grew to love my time exploring that part of the country. Sure, the South has its problems, but it has a lot more diversity, history, and natural beauty than my preconceived prejudices had allowed.
I don’t think it should be overlooked.
And since domestic travel is our best option during these COVID times, I thought I’d share my ideas for an fantastic road trip around “the Deep South.”
The South is so big you can’t do it in just three weeks, but you can do what, for this post, I call “the Deep South”: Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, and Tennessee (which isn’t actually part of the Deep South, but hey, it rounds out the route!).
This region has a ton of parks, lakes, rivers, historical sites, and other interesting places to see. You’d need more than three weeks to properly see it but the route below gives you an overview:
Note: There are many, many, many potential routes you can take through this region. This three-week version is just some highlights I like. tailor the route to your needs as you please!
Days 1–3: new Orleans
New Orleans is a unique blend of cultures (African, French, Caribbean, Latin, etc.), which has created one of the most eclectic American cities. It’s filled with tales of ghosts and vampires, fantastic architecture, incredible food, and some of the best music in the world. Bourbon street is always bursting with tourists, Frenchmen street is full of jazz, and there are historic buildings to admire and entertaining tours to indulge in. You can easily spend an entire week here and not get bored.
But we only have a few days, so here are some ideas to help you get started:
Party on Bourbon street – This probably goes without saying, but do check out Bourbon Street. Sure, it’s touristy, but it’s also exciting and home to lots of buskers, live music, and parades. It’s the beating heart of the city.
Wander the garden district and French Quarter – These are two of the most popular and historic districts. spend some time strolling around, taking in the mansions and old French buildings (either self-guided or with Take Walks, which organizes fun and insightful tours around town).
Visit the national world war II museum – This is the largest museum dedicated to the war in the united states — and it’s one of the best museums in the world. Its use of audio, video, artifacts, and personal stories ties the history of the war together in incredible detail. Listening to firsthand accounts makes it all feel that much more intimate and impactful.
Go on a voodoo or ghost tour – NOLA has something of a creepy past, and the best way to learn about it is to take a voodoo or ghost tour. You’ll get to check out cemeteries, explore haunted buildings, and hear all sorts of unsettling anecdotes and ghostly tales.
Listen to live music on Frenchmen street – take in some live music (any night of the week) on this energetic street, the second most popular after Bourbon Street. It has lots of places to listen to blues and jazz; my favorite is the spotted Cat.
For more things to see and do in NOLA, check out this detailed itinerary.
New Orleans is also an fantastic foodie city. some of my favorite places to indulge at are: Lily’s Café, Bearcat, Welt’s Deli, killer PoBoys, jewel of the South, Acme Oysters, and Willa Jean.
WHERE TO STAY
HI new Orleans – This is one of the best hostels in the world and my favorite in new Orleans.
Auberge NOLA – This hostel hosts nightly parties and events, so it’s super easy to meet people.
India house Backpackers Hostel – another wild party hostel, with a swimming pool and live music venue.
Days 4–7: Mississippi & Alabama Gulf Coast
Leave new Orleans, and head east to the Gulf shores of Mississippi and Alabama.
Start with a check out to ocean Springs, Mississippi. It’s a small town with gorgeous white-sand beaches and lots of outdoor activities (such as fishing, stand-up paddleboarding, canoeing, and kayaking). The downtown has lots of little shops and galleries as well.
Next, head to Mobile, Alabama. check out Fort Condé (built by the French in 1723) andTag en rundvisning i USS Alabama (et skib i 2. verdenskrig, der er anbragt i Battleship Memorial Park). Sørg for også at tjekke Carnival Museum (dedikeret til Mardi Gras) for at lære mere om paraden og dets kulturelle betydning.
Herfra, krydstogt mod Gulf Shores, Alabama, hvor du finder miles af strande og smukt subtropisk vejr, når du blødgøres i udsigten over Mexicogolfen. Der er også masser af hoteller, resorts og kasinoer, hvis du har lyst til at sprænge. Det er klæbrig, men sjovt.
I nærheden finder du også Gulf State Park, der spænder over 6.500 acres og tilbyder strande, vandrestier, fiskeri, golf, lynlås og sandklitter, du kan klatre (optagelse er $ 9 USD).
Hvor man skal bo
Der er ikke noget vandrerhjem i denne region, så din bedste indsats er Airbnb eller bruger Booking.com til at finde et lavprismotel (eller hotel, hvis du har lyst til at sprænge!)
Dage 8–9: Birmingham
Swing North og på vej til Birmingham stop i Montgomery for at tjekke Rosa Parks Library and Museum samt Legacy Museum, som begge kaster lys over racemæssige uretfærdigheder i Amerikas fortid og nutid.
Tilbring derefter to nætter i Birmingham. Det voksede frem som et industrielt knudepunkt og hovedsageligt var afhængige af ikke -unioniserede indvandrerarbejdere til at undergrave produktionen i det nordlige USA. I 1950’erne og 60’erne blev det et fokus for borgerrettighedsbevægelsen, og det var her, i 1962, hvor Dr. King skrev det berømte “brev fra et Birmingham -fængsel.”
Her er få ting at se og gøre, mens du er i Birmingham:
Lær på Birmingham Civil Rights Institute – åbnet i 1992, dette museum fremhæver kampene for borgerrettighedsbevægelsen i 1950’erne og 60’erne. Det kaster et vigtigt lys over, hvordan bevægelsen påvirkede regionen og ændrede retningen for hele landet – og verden.
Udforsk Pepper Place Saturday Market – dette landmændsmarked er et fantastisk sted at hente lokale fødevarer og kunsthåndværker. Der er også typisk levende musik, madlavningsdemonstrationer og andre aktiviteter i weekenderne.
Besøg det sydlige Museum of Flight – dette luftfartsmuseum har over hundrede fly, samt modeller, motorer, kunst og fotografier. Museet har endda en Wright Flyer, et af de første fly, der er udviklet af Wright -brødrene, såvel som nogle eksperimentelle prototyper, der aldrig startede (ordspil beregnet). Det er et fantastisk sted at tjekke især med børnene.
Gå vandreture eller cykling – der spænder over tusind hektar, Ruffner Mountain Reserve (en bjergkæde, der engang blev udvindet til jernmalm), har alle mulige korte vandreture. De fleste er under to miles og spænder i vanskeligheder fra let til hårdt. Hvis du hellere vil have mountainbike, kan du tjekke Oak Mountain Park i nærheden, der har 50 miles cykelstier.
Se Birmingham Botanical Gardens – for et sted at slappe af og gå en tur, gå til de botaniske haver. Det har over 12.000 planter, 25 forskellige haver, snesevis af skulpturer og flere miles af vandrestier. Bedst af alt, det er gratis!
For en liste over andre vigtige borgerrettighedswebsteder i regionen, se Civil Rights Trail. Det er en omfattende database over sådanne websteder rundt om i hele landet og har masser af værdifuld information og ressourcer.
Hvor man skal bo
Der er ikke nogen vandrerhjem i Birmingham, så brug Airbnb eller Booking.com for at finde dine billigste muligheder.
Dage 10–12: Nashville
Fortsætter nord, er vores næste stop Nashville. Beliggende kun tre timer fra Birmingham, kan det prale af en musikscene i verdensklasse, masser af utrolige restauranter, du kan forkæle dig med, adskillige cocktailbarer, masser af parker og masser af historie.
Her er nogle ting at se og gøre i Nashville:
Besøg Tennessee State Museum – åbnet i 2018, dette museum går i en fantastisk detalje om statens historie. Det har udstillinger om første folk, naturhistorie, den amerikanske revolution og borgerkrigen.
Nyd live musik på Grand Ole Opry – åbnet i 1925, dette er det mest berømte countrymusiksted i verden. Regelmæssige liveoptræden, tv -udsendelser og radioprogrammer afholdes her. Billetter til liveoptræden starter ved $ 45 USD pr. Person.
Besøg Country Music Hall of Fame og Museum – med over 2,5 millioner varer (inklusive plader, instrumenter, fotografier osv.), Er de facto hjem for dette mærke amerikansk musik et af de største museer overalt dedikeret til genren.
Se Parthenon-bygget i 1897, dette er en fuldskala replika af Parthenon i Athen, Grækenland. Det blev bygget til at fejre byens hundredeårsdag og blev valgt, fordi Nashville kaldes ”The Athens of the South” (på grund af dens fokus på videregående uddannelse).
Lyt til musik på Broadway – Hvis du stadig higer efter live musik, skal du gå til Broadway, byens vigtigste gennemfartsvej, hvor du finder alle slags barer og live musiksteder. Bedst af alt, der er normalt ingen dækning, så du kan bar-hop og virkelig nyde så meget musik, som du vil.
Hvor man skal bo
Music City Hostel – A Social Backpacker Hostel med masser af afslappende udendørs fællesarealer (inklusive en gårdhave og BBQ).
Hostel i centrum af byen – Comfy, Clean, and with lots of common space. The social atmosphere makes it easy to meet other travelers.
Day 13: Franklin
As it’s located just 25 minutes outside of Nashville, most people assume Franklin is just another suburb. It’s not — far from it, in fact! Franklin is bursting with small-town charm and delicious food and drink (it’s where I discovered my favorite Bourbon, HC Clark). The city is full of history (there was a major Civil war battle here), a historic main street, and some really delicious bars and restaurants.
To be fair, I didn’t expect much when I first visited, but Franklin really overdelivered. If you’re a foodie or a fan of live music, a stop here is a must!
Here are a few things to see and do while you’re here:
Attend the Pilgrimage music festival – This enormous annual festival brings many world-class musicians to Franklin. It combines big-name bands with small-town charm. Don’t miss it!
Explore the Master & makers trail – This tourist trail takes you to the region’s breweries, wineries, and distilleries. You’ll get to sample the best Franklin has to offer while learning a bit about how each drink is made.
Learn about the Civil war – The battle of Franklin was fought here in 1864. check out the Civil war museum to learn more (you can even still check out an old building with original Civil war bullet holes!).
Hvor man skal bo
Since Franklin is quite small, Airbnb is your best option here.
Days 14–16: Memphis
Today, we head to Memphis, which is just three hours away. It is another historic city, a major stop on the Mississippi cotton-trade route, and now the home of blues music and incredible BBQ. Leave early though, so along the way you can stop at the Civil war memorial for the battle of Shiloh, as well as cut through small-town Tennessee.
Here are a few things to see and do while you’re here:
Visit the national Civil Rights museum – Housed in the former motel where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, this museum explores the civil rights movement from the 17th century to today, its struggles, and the impact it’s had on the country. It is powerful and poignant and one of the best museums in the country. Don’t miss it!
Tour sun Studios – This is the studio where Elvis got his start. You can take a tour and learn about the King’s origins and how his humble roots eventually led to over a billion records sold. many other famous musicians also recorded here, such as Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, and Carl Perkins.
Wander Beale street – known as “America’s most iconic Street,” this is where you’ll find Memphis’s best live music. There are numerous bars hosting live performances, as well as street buskers.
Enjoy the rock ’n’ soul museum – located on iconic Beale Street, this museum highlights the pioneers and contributions of blues, rock, and soul musicians from the 1930s to the 1970s. There are costumes and recordings from some of the most famous soul musicians, interactive media, and exhibitions on famous performers from Memphis.
See Graceland – Graceland, the home of Elvis Presley, is located a few miles south from the city. even if you’re not a diehard Elvis fan, it’s worth a check out to see just how impactful his life and music has been. You’ll see all kinds of lookalikes and fans while also learning about his life and contributions to the music industry.
Memphis is also another amazing foodie city (see a pattern here?). some of my favorite places to eat are: Gus’s world famous Fried Chicken, central BBQ, Loflin Yard, Bounty on Broad, and the Rendezvous (a delicious BBQ place).
Hvor man skal bo
Hostel Memphis – With free breakfast, a shared kitchen, and plenty of common space, this hostel has everything you’ll need!
Day 17: Oxford
Oxford, Mississippi, is located just over an hour from Memphis and makes for a pleasant place to spend a day enjoying smal
