Essentially America 109

["Hilton Head Island, SC \nHilton Head Island, SC \nCharleston, SC \nMyrtle Beach, SC \nTravel to a place where there\u2019s always something new to discover. South Carolina\u2019s coast is home to \nsome of the most scenic areas in the country, not to mention some of the most iconic destinations \non the East Coast\u2014the Grand Strand, Charleston and Hilton Head Island. Bask in the Southern \nsunshine, bike along secluded, seaside pathways or dine outside year-round as you enjoy South \nCarolina\u2019s unique coastal culture and Southern hospitality. \nPlan your holiday today at DiscoverSouthCarolina.com\/coast"," ","TravelSouthUSA.com | 25 \nN \nature, uncrowded and pure, a West Virginia getaway awaits you with world-class \noutdoor recreation, rushing waterfalls, charming mountain towns and welcoming \nlocals. Home to America\u2019s newest National Park, New River Gorge National Park \n& Preserve, and 1.5 million acres of parks and public land, the Mountain State has \nbeen named a \u201cmust-visit\u201d destination by TIME, USA Today, Lonely Planet, Conde \nNast, and more. \nKnown as a 4-season destination of world-class outdoor recreation, in West \nVirginia you'll find more than 1,500 miles of trails to hike and bike, pristine waters for \nfishing, the greatest density of whitewater for rafting in the U.S, and three certified \nInternational Dark Sky Parks that will make a getaway here more heavenly than ever. \nWhether you enjoy kayaking on the clear blue waters of the first new state park added \nin over 30 years, Summersville Lake State Park, or heart-pumping adventure of skiing \nor snowboarding at Snowshoe Mountain Resort, West Virginia can deliver. \nLooking for a new, one-of-a-kind experience? Take things underground and discover \nthe West Virginia wonders that await in the incredible caves and caverns. Here, \ntrained guides will lead the exploration of incredible formations and rich histories. \nThe best part \u2013 all this and more can be discovered and explored surrounded by \ncharming mountain towns. In West Virginia, each mountain town is unique, but is \nguaranteed to offer picturesque streets, farm-to-table dining, local shopping and \nentertainment, southern hospitality, and cozy places to stay. \nDiscover rich culture in the mountain town of Harpers Ferry, known for its \nabundance of deep-rooted history, delicious dining, and picturesque landscape. This \ncharming mountain town truly has it all as it\u2019s part of the Harpers Ferry National \nHistorical Park. Here, determining just how to spend your day is a difficult task as \nmuseums, exhibits, and hiking and biking trails are steps away. Visitors are quick to \nrealize why it was named one of the most underrated U.S. travel destinations to visit. \nAnd after adventuring and exploring all day, the only question left is where to stay? \nWest Virginia offers accommodations for every budget, including a range of high-end \nresorts such as The Greenbrier to idyllic cozy cabins hidden within the forest of the \nAppalachian Mountains. \nWith so much endless beauty and adventure, it\u2019s easy to see why John Denver \nreferred to the beloved state as \u201cAlmost Heaven\u201d. \nNEW RIVER GORGE \nHARPERS FERRY \nNIGHT SKY OVER PENDLETON COUNTY \nLONG POINT TRAIL \nSUMMERSVILLE LAKE \nWEST VIRGINIA \nALMOST HEAVEN \nSPECIAL FEATURE","26 | TravelSouthUSA.com \nDISCOVER \nTHE ROMANCE \nT \nhere are so many wonderful reasons \nto embark on an American road trip, \nsome quite realistic \u2013 it's one of the easiest, \nmost-flexible ways to see and experience \nthe country \u2013 and others quite romantic \u2013 \njust picture yourself out on the open road, \nperhaps with the car roof down, breezes \nrippling your hair, American music surging \nfrom the radio, and spectacular scenery, \nmaybe something you have seen in a \nHollywood film, rolling by on either side. \nAnd where better to experience this \nadventure than in the 12 American Southern \nStates that offer such an unrivalled array of \nscenic and cultural attractions? \nGetting there is so easy: the region \nis served by 11 modern, multi-faceted \ninternational gateway airports. Each of \nthem is not only a hub for flights to other \nappealing regional destinations but there \nare many ground transport options: rental \ncars, shuttle buses, trains and, sometimes, \neven longer-distance bus links. \nYou then have a choice: to settle down \nand relax for a few days in your gateway \ncity and then continue on your travels, or \nto hop in a rental car or already-booked \nmotorhome and head out immediately on a \npre-determined itinerary. \nBut how do you decide where to go? Is \nit based upon one or more places you've \nalways wanted to visit, a particular \nadventure or experience you have always \nwanted to have, or perhaps a legendary \nroute you'd particularly like to travel \nalong? Among the options: The Great River \nRoad bordering six of the Southern states; \nthe scenically-spectacular Blue Ridge \nParkway, which soars 469 miles along the \nAppalachian mountaintops from \nVirginia \n's \nShenandoah National Park to the \nNorth \nCarolina \n homeland of the eastern band of \nthe Cherokee Native American Nation; or the \nattraction-rich section of Route 66 bisecting \nMissouri \n \u2013 or something else. \nOF A ROAD TRIP \nSENECA ROCKS, WV","TravelSouthUSA.com | 27 \nNot sure? Then check out the Trips \nsection of Travel South's website: \ntravelsouthusa.com \n. Among its suggested \nroad trip itineraries are \nSouthern Movies on \nLocation Southern Culture and Cuisine \n, \n, and \nsuch state-specific options as \nSmall Towns \nand Country Roads through \nLouisiana \n and \nArkansas \n and \nBarbecue and Blues from \nMissouri \n to \nKentucky \n. \nWhichever way you decide to travel, \ndistances are not always as daunting as you \nmight think. For instance, if you wanted \nto include key destinations in \nGeorgia \n, \nAlabama Tennessee \n, \n and \nLouisiana \n, you \ncould fly to Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson \nInternational, spend a few days in Atlanta, \nthe South's largest city, and then drive \ntwo hours to \nAlabama \n's Birmingham, a \nkey spot on the Civil Rights Trail, as is \nMontgomery, another 1.5-hour drive away. \nOr instead, you could head 1.5 hours from \nAtlanta to Huntsville, Alabama, known for \nits Space Age attractions or 2.5 hours from \nMontgomery to the charming waterside \ncity of Mobile, Alabama. It, in turn, is a \ncouple of hours' drive from New Orleans, \nwhereas Huntsville is only a two-hour drive \nto Nashville. (Both Nashville and New \nOrleans are also served by international \ngateway airports.) \nOnce your itinerary is decided, you \ncould soon be on your way, choosing \nwith the aid of your GPS between a fast, \nefficient interstate highway or a quieter \nhighway, or even a tempting rural road \nthat might lead to a delightful, off-the- \nbeaten-track destination. Particularly \non \u2013 or just-off \u2013 the motorways there are \ntourist information stops, moderately- \npriced, family-friendly motels and diners \nand restaurants that sometimes focus just \non standard fast food but at other times \ndish up delicious local specialities. \nHowever, if your scheduling is \nmore relaxed you should slip away \nfrom the motorways and sample the \naccommodation and cuisine in one or \nmore of the interesting cities or charming \nsmall towns along the way, noting that \nthere's often a local tourist office that can \nprovide guidance on accommodations, \ndining and the place's attractions, \nparticularly useful during the busy \nholiday and school-break periods. \nLINN COVE VIADUCT, NC \nROUTE 66, MO \nTHE ST. CHARLES STREETCAR, NEW ORLEANS, LA \nHILTON HEAD, SC \nVICKSBURG, MS","28 | TravelSouthUSA.com \nThat's not to forget other transport \noptions. If you arrange to collect a \nmotorhome upon arrival, there are many \nRV parks along the way, sometimes within \nor close to recreation-rich national and \nstate parks. And there is also train and bus \ntravel. For instance, northern \nVirginia \n's \nWashington Dulles International Airport not \nonly offers links to Amtrak rail service and \nrail tours to certain Virginia destinations \nbut also the twice-daily Virginia Breeze bus \nservice along three different routes. In fact, \nmany large and smaller cities throughout \nthe region are served by the Amtrak rail \nnetwork and, late in 2023, a long-awaited, \ntwice-daily rail service was launched \nlinking up those two great tourist cities New \nOrleans and Mobile, even as St. Louis and \nKansas City are linked by the Missouri River \nRunner rail service. \nThere is also a wide range of all-inclusive \ntours, which are best booked before you \nleave for the USA, as well as trolley, bus, \nboat and rail excursions you can book upon \narrival and, of course, fabulous paddleboat \ntrips down the Mississippi River. And \nthat's not to ignore options for hikers and \nbikers which are covered in the Outdoor \nAdventures section of this publication. \nTo add some other road trip suggestions to \nthis feature, we asked three of our writers to \ndescribe their personally created motoring \nadventures. We follow on with Jacqui \nAgate's \nA Southern Literary Pilgrimage \n and \nMary Moore Mason's E \nxploring the Great \nRiver Road By Auto and Riverboat \n. Look \nfor Zoey Goto's \nOn The Road With Elvis \nand Dolly \n in the Magical Music section of \nthis publication. \nDOMETOWN TREEHOUSE RENTALS, KY \nAMTRAK, RICHMOND, VA \nFor road trip \ninspiration visit: \ntravelsouth. \nvisittheusa.com\/ \ntravel-south-trips"," ","30 | TravelSouthUSA.com \nYOUR TRIP. \nOUR DESTINATION.","TravelSouthUSA.com | 31 \nA SOUTHERN LITERARY \nPILGRIMAGE \nBY JACQUI AGATE \nI \nwas in college when I first thumbed through F. Scott Fitzgerald\u2019s \nThe \nGreat Gatsby \n, its pages glittering with Long Island mansions and jazz- \nsoaked New York City speakeasies. What followed was a lifelong love \naffair with American \u2013 and, eventually, Southern \u2013 literature that had me \ndelving into William Faulkner\u2019s imagined \nMississippi \n, following Harper \nLee to the fictitious \nAlabama \n town of Maycomb, and joining Tennessee \nWilliams in fizzing New Orleans. \nMore than a decade later, I threw a few dog-eared Southern tomes into \na suitcase and hit the road to \nLouisiana Alabama \n, \n and \nMississippi \n \u2013 with \ntheir rich literary heritage they promised to be a real page turner. \nWhere better to begin, I decided, than in New Orleans, a city that\u2019s been \nhome to a Who\u2019s Who of literary greats for many a decade. After swilling a \nSazerac cocktail or two at Hotel Monteleone\u2019s Carousel Bar \u2013 the likes of \nTennessee Williams and Truman Capote were regular barflies \u2013 I headed \nout into the French Quarter in search of Williams\u2019 many former places of \nresidence and then ducked into Faulkner House Books, a quaint bookstore \nin a building where the \nAs I Lay Dying \n author once lived. \nFrom 'The Big Easy' I headed north-east to \n Alabama \n\u2019s Monroeville, the \ninspiration for the fictional town of Maycomb in Harper Lee\u2019s \nTo Kill a \nMockingbird \n. The courthouse, the town\u2019s showpiece, contains displays on \nLee and her work and hosts annual theatre performances that bring her \nnovel to life. \nAnother drive 100 miles or so north-east and I was in Montgomery, the \nhometown of Zelda Fitzgerald, F. Scott\u2019s great love and an author and artist \nin her own right. The city\u2019s literary highlight is the Fitzgeralds\u2019 former \nhome, whose ground floor is now a museum focused on the couple, and \nwhere I spent a memorable night in one of the house's two sumptuous \nsuites enhanced by period furniture, artwork and books. \nMy all-too-short literary safari ended with a four-hour drive north-west \nto Oxford, \nMississippi \n, and Rowan Oak, the elegant Greek Revival home of \nWilliam Faulkner. Long his residence and now preserved as a museum, it is \ncrammed with books, newspaper cuttings and the writer\u2019s own typewriter. \nIt was the perfect conclusion to the ultimate literary pilgrimage. \nMONROEVILLE COURTHOUSE, AL \nWILLIAM FAULKNER HOME, OXFORD, MS \nCAROUSEL BAR, NEW ORLEANS, LA \nTHE AUTHOR IN MONROEVILLE, AL","E \nver since childhood, I was fascinated by the Hollywood film \nShowboat \n I have wanted to explore the mighty Mississippi \nRiver if not by boat at least by car. And a few years ago my wish \nwas granted. I'd just finished a visit to St. Louis, \nMissouri \n, its \nwaterfront dramatised by the welcoming 630ft Gateway Arch, \nwhen I checked my calendar and discovered I surprisingly had \ntime on my hands. Time to drive down the southern portion \nof the legendary Great River Road, which stretches around \n3,000 miles from the river's Minnesota headwaters to the \nGulf of Mexico. \nAlas, there was no time to head upriver to Hannibal, the \nMissouri hometown of Samuel Clemens, aka Mark Twain, whose \npicturesque 19th-century novels about the boyhood adventures \nof Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn put Ole Man River on the \ninternational literary map. Instead, I headed downriver, passing \nthrough Missouri's oldest town, Ste Genevieve (1735), and Cape \nGirardeau, its impressive history depicted in massive murals. \nThen I couldn't resist heading off-route to Paducah, \nKentucky \n, \na UNESCO Creative City, with its own Ohio Riverside murals as \nwell as the outstanding National Quilt Museum. While there, I \nalso toured Hotel Metropolitan, one of the 'Green Book' houses \nhosting African Americans \u2013 in its case, the likes of Duke \nEllington and Bessie Smith \u2013 during the racially-segregated \nJim Crow era. Back on route, my next stop was Memphis, \nTennessee \n, where I focused on such waterfront attractions as \nthe river's longest pedestrian bridge and Mud Island Park's \nscale model of the Lower Mississippi. Next came the cotton- \ngrowing Mississippi Delta Country where another bridge led to \nArkansas \n' riverside Helena, home to impressive pre-Civil War \nand Victorian mansions as well as the Delta Cultural Center, \nhost to the King Biscuit Time radio show launched in 1941 and \nthus America's longest-running daily radio broadcast. \nEXPLORING THE \nGREAT RIVER ROAD \nBY AUTO AND RIVERBOAT \nBY MARY MOORE MASON \nDELTA CULTURAL CENTER, HELENA, AR \nNATIONAL QUILT MUSEUM, PADUCAH, KY \nST. LOUIS ARCH AND SKYLINE","TravelSouthUSA.com | 33 \nNow back in the Mississippi Delta, known \nas 'The Birthplace of the Blues', I stopped by \nClarksdale's Delta Blues Museum, with its \ncolourful tributes to such iconic musicians \nas Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters, and \nIndianola's BB King Museum and Delta \nInterpretive Center. \nNext came Vicksburg, where the National \nMilitary Park highlights the 18-month Civil \nWar battle and brutal siege which, when \nwon by the Union Army, sped the demise \nof the Southern Confederacy. Seventy-four \nmiles downriver I lingered in seductive \nNatchez, the river's oldest (1716) permanent \nsettlement and home to majestic, open-to- \nthe-public mansions built by cotton barons \nprior to the Civil War when this was the \nwealthiest town in America. \nMoving into \nLouisiana \n I was also \nenchanted by St. Francisville, home to \nhandsome garden-surrounded Rosedown, \nthe reputedly-haunted Myrtles Plantation, \nand Oakley, where John James Audubon \npainted 32 of his finest 'Birds of America' \nseries. At Baton Rouge's Art Deco-style \nState Capitol, a guide regaled us with \ntales of the life and times of colourful, \ncontroversial State Senator and former \nGovernor Huey Long who, on September 8, \n1935, was assassinated there. There was \nalso time to visit some of the outstanding \nLSU (Louisiana State University) Rural Life \nMuseum's 32 historic structures, which \nevocatively tell the story of the state's rural \nworking people, both black and white. \nThen I was lucky enough to overnight \nacross the river at White Castle's Nottoway, \nonce the plantation home of a sugar- \ncane magnate and now the South's \nlargest existing antebellum mansion. \nFollowing a tour, a couple of mint juleps, \na delicious meal, and a good night's sleep, \nI was ready for the adventures awaiting \nme in New Orleans, 80 miles down The \nGreat River Road. \nBACK FOR A VISIT ON \nTHE \nAMERICAN QUEEN \nBack in 'The Big Easy' a few \nyears later, I booked myself on a \n10-day \nAmerican Queen \n cruise to \nreunite with some of the places \npreviously visited. As the huge red \npaddle wheel churned up the mighty \nMississippi in its wake, we made \nour stately journey up-river to St. \nFrancisville, Nottoway Plantation, \nNatchez, Vicksburg and Memphis. \nThis time I obviously didn't have \nto do the driving, consult a map or \nGPS, stop for petrol or search for \nsomewhere to eat and to overnight. \nInstead, I relaxed in a comfy chair \nwatching the scenery roll by, \nconsulted the ship's story-telling \nRiverlorian for added information, \ndisembarked to stroll, bike or take \nhop-on, hop-off bus tours, enjoyed \ndelicious meals and jolly evening \nstage shows and then snoozed the \nnights away in my comfy stateroom. \nVICKSBURG NATIONAL MILITARY PARK, MS \nBIG RIVER CROSSING, MEMPHIS, TN \nNOTTOWAY PLANTATION, LA \nTHE \n AMERICAN QUEEN","34 | TravelSouthUSA.com \nATTRACTION- \nFILLED CITIES \nCHARMING \nSMALL TOWNS \nFOURTH STREET LIVE! LOUISVILLE, KY","TravelSouthUSA.com | 35 \nROCKET \nCITY \nUSA \nHUNTSVILLE, AL \nLaunch into \nAdventure \nAt the crossroads of the Southeast lies \nHuntsville, AL, a beacon of Southern \nhospitality and innovation. Home to the \nworld\u2019s largest space museum, \u201cRocket City\u201d \nhas much to explore. Featuring world-class \nattractions and amenities, breathtaking \noutdoor vistas, a diverse culinary scene, and \ntours and trails for everyone, Huntsville is \nmore than a destination, it\u2019s a discovery. \nDiscover More in Rocket City \nhuntsville.org \nHuntsvilleCVB \nVisitHuntsvilleAL \nGo2HuntsvilleAL \nALABAMA \nCITIES \n\u2014 \n While visiting \nHuntsville, the state's largest city, \nmake sure to check out the US \nSpace and Rocket Center, the world's \nlargest space museum. \nBirmingham \nis best-known for its prominent role \nin the Civil Rights movement \u2013 learn \nmore in its Civil Rights Institute and \nin the nearby cities of Selma and \nstate capital \nMontgomery \n, where \nDexter Avenue played a pivotal \nrole in both the American Civil \nWar and the American Civil Rights \nmovement. Then check out colourful, \ncoastal \nMobile \n, where the fun and \nfunky Mardi Gras Museum is a \nreminder that the first such festivity \nwas held there in 1703, 15 years \nbefore New Orleans was founded. \nSMALL TOWNS \n\u2014 Monroeville \nin the south-west is a must-visit \nfor lovers of Harper Lee's book \nTo \nKill a Mockingbird \n \u2013 scenes from \nit are performed each spring on the \ngrounds of the local courthouse and \nthe work went on to inspire both \nthe 1962 film starring Gregory Peck \nand, more recently, a lauded stage \nplay. Pretty \nFairhope \n on Mobile \nBay not only has a lovely public \nbeach but is also a centre for arts \nand crafts, celebrated at an annual \nMarch festival. \nFOUR SPIRITS STATUE, BIRMINGHAM","The City in the Forest is an unforgettable destination to discover. \nAtlanta is \nTHE GATEWAY \nTO THE SOUTH \n2023 \nATLANTA \nDESTINATION PAR TNER","TravelSouthUSA.com | 37 \nARKANSAS \nCITIES \n \u2013 \nLittle Rock \n, the state capital, \nis the home of both a museum celebrating \nthe life and times of former US President \nBill Clinton and the Little Rock Central \nHigh School National Historic Site, a \nmajor stop on the Civil Rights Trail. \nHot Springs \n' natural thermal springs, \nnow part of a national park, inspired \nthe creation of historic Bathhouse Row, \nand Sam Walton put \nBentonville \n on the \nmap when he established the home \noffice of his Walmart shopping empire \nthere in 1962. Make sure to visit Walton's \nfascinating museum on the town's Main \nSquare when it reopens after renovation \nearly next year, the soda fountain next \ndoor and the stunning Crystal Bridges \nMuseum of American Art founded by his \ndaughter, Alice. \nSMALL TOWNS \n \u2013 \nWilson \n, near the \nMississippi River, has a picturesque main \nsquare, some Tudor-style architecture, a \nstate park showcasing Native American \nartefacts \u2013 and is only 15 minutes' drive \nfrom the Dyess boyhood home of Johnny \nCash. And the hilly streets of fun and \nfunky \nEureka Springs \n, tucked away in the \nstate's north-west corner, are lined with \nart galleries and interesting buildings, \nincluding an allegedly haunted hotel. \nGEORGIA \nCITIES \n \u2013 \nAtlanta \n, acclaimed as \u2018The \nGateway to the South\u2019 and home to the \nworld's busiest airport, is particularly \nwell known for sites associated with \nCivil Rights leader Dr. Martin Luther \nKing Jr. and the National Center \nfor Civil and Human Rights. Also of \nnote: the outstanding High Museum \nof Art, the World of Coca-Cola, the \nGeorgia Aquarium, 1,000 vivid street \nmurals and some beautiful residential \nneighbourhoods. Coastal \nSavannah \n, \nthe state's oldest city, is graced by 22 \nlovely garden squares and elegant \nhomes set in one of America's largest \nNational Historic Landmark Districts, \nas well as such sites as Bonaventure \nCemetery, which featured in John \nBerendt's best-selling, non-fiction \nnovel \nMidnight in the Garden of \nGood and Evil \n. \nSMALL TOWNS \n\u2013 \nThomasville \nin the state's south-west corner is \nknown for its Rose Garden, handsome \nVictorian-era architecture and a range \nof independent shops and restaurants. \nCentrally-located \nMilledgeville \n \u2013 one \nof the state's oldest towns (founded in \n1803), a former state capital and home \nto the Clement Railway Museum \u2013 \noffers narrated Millie the Trolley \ntours, and, from \nBlue Ridge \n, known \nfor its brewery and vineyards, \nyou can take a scenic railway trip \nthrough the Appalachian foothills \nof north Georgia. \nCRYSTAL BRIDGES MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART, BENTONVILLE \nFORSYTH PARK FOUNTAIN, SAVANNAH","No place embodies America\u2019s natural beauty, warm \nhospitality and sense of adventure better than Lexington, \nKentucky. Tour majestic horse farms and award-winning \nBourbon distilleries, dine on Southern classics, and \nimmerse yourself in the rich culture of the Horse Capital \nof the World. \nPlan your trip today at VisitLEX.com","TravelSouthUSA.com | 39 \nLOUISIANA \nCITIES \n \u2013 There's life \u2013 and lots of it \u2013 \nbeyond \nNew Orleans \n' fab, fabled French \nQuarter. For panoramic views of the city and \nthe Mississippi River, soar up to the top of \n34-storey Vue Orleans, along the way viewing \nunique exhibits depicting local life. To indulge \nin the beauty of the romantic Garden District, \nhop on the St. Charles Streetcar. For insight \ninto one of the modern world's most-defining \nperiods, tour the Arts\/Warehouse District's \nfascinating World War II Museum. Then head \nwest to \n Lake Charles \n, which celebrates its \ncolourful pirate heritage with a flamboyant \nannual festival and is popular with lovers of \ngaming casinos, good food and water sports. \n(For the capital city \nBaton Rouge \n, visit our \nGreat River Road driving feature.) \nSMALL TOWNS \n\u2013 For an insight into the \nstate's unique French Canadian-originating \nCajun heritage head west to \nNew Iberia \n. \nFounded by Spaniards in 1779, its attractions \ninclude the Bayou Teche Museum and the \nmajestic Shadows-on-the-Teche pre-Civil \nWar mansion. If you are a fan of the 1989 film \nSteel Magnolias \n, check out its location sites \nin \nNatchitoches \n, founded in 1714 on the Cane \nRiver in north-western Louisiana. \nKENTUCKY \nCITIES \n \u2013 \nLouisville \n may be best known for one of the world's most-famous equine events, the Kentucky Derby, which celebrates its 150th \nanniversary in May 2024, and as the home town of World Heavyweight Boxing Champion Muhammad Ali, whose charisma and career are \ncelebrated in the local namesake centre. However, it's also home to a myriad of bourbon bars, a rich performing arts scene and, under the \ntown centre, a massive limestone cavern containing a zip-line and the world's largest indoor bicycle park. \n Lexington \n, the 'Horse Capital of the \nWorld' and home to the renowned Keeneland racecourse, is surrounded by beautiful horse farms, some of which you can visit. \nSMALL TOWNS \n\u2013 Only 40 miles south of Louisville, \nBardstown \n has two major claims to fame: as the hub of 11 unique area distilleries, it's \n'The Bourbon Capital of the World', and its Old Kentucky Home State Park is the site of the annual \nStephen Foster Story \n musical and of Federal \nHill, frequently visited by the famous 19th-century composer. \nMaysville \n, located on the Ohio River in north-eastern Kentucky, is full of \nhistoric buildings and offers great sightseeing and shopping. (For \nPaducah \n see our Great River Road driving tour.) \nBOURBON BARRELS, BARDSTOWN \nRIP VAN WINKLE GARDENS, NEW IBERIA","40 | TravelSouthUSA.com \nGET LOST IN THE VIBRANT CULTURE \nVisit New Orleans to ride the historic streetcar under a \ncanopy of live oak trees, taking in breathtaking views of \nmansions along St. Charles Avenue. Discover art, history \nand culture at world-class museums or pose for pictures in \nfront of colorful parade floats at Mardi Gras World. Watch \nthe sunset from the mighty Mississippi River on a lively \nriverboat cruise. Wine and dine your way through eateries \nspecializing in traditional Cajun and Creole cuisines or \nmodern fusion restaurants featuring globally inspired \ndishes. Follow the brass bands to live music venues along \nFrenchmen Street and end the evening with a horse-drawn \ncarriage under the stars. However you choose to dive in, feed \nyour soul in Louisiana and start creating your New Orleans \nstory today! \nTo learn more, visit NewOrleans.com \nROYAL STREET \nEXPERIENCE THE JOIE DE VIVRE \nFor more than 300 years, New Orleans has been \ninspiring stories. Our Spanish, French, African and \nCaribbean influences create a cultural gumbo of \ndistinctive architecture, cool jazz and celebrated \ncuisine that only New Orleans knows how to dish out. \nFrom second line parades to centuries-old streetcars, \nthis timeless city offers something amazing around \nevery cobblestone corner. We invite you to stay in our \nhotels that once served as inspiration for renowned \nliterary figures and performance venues for jazz greats. \nSee the French Quarter come to life over a cup of caf\u00e9 \nau lait and a plate of powdered sugar covered beignets. \nTake in the exquisite European architecture as you \nstroll down Royal Street, browsing antique shops and \nart galleries. Explore the city\u2019s mystical side with an \nabove-ground cemetery tour or a fortune teller reading. \nSEAFOOD GUMBO \nJACKSON SQUARE \nROYAL STREET \nDANCING AND BUSKERS \nROYAL STREET \nNEW ORLEANS \nLOUISIANA \nSPECIAL FEATURE","TravelSouthUSA.com | 41 \nAscension Parish is a rare gem located between \nBaton Rouge and New Orleans and lies on both sides \nof the mighty Mississippi. Rich in history, it\u2019s the ideal \nspot for those interested in the perfect mix of \nLouisiana\u2019s history and culture. \nvisitlasweetspot.com | @visitlasweetspot \nDISCOVER \nLOUISIANA\u2019S SWEET SPOT \nLARiverParishes.com \nWhere History, Adventure, \nand Flavor Collide \nVisit Louisiana\u2019s River Parishes and experience our authentic \nCreole and Cajun cultures along the East and West banks of \nthe Mississippi River. Out here, our heritage connects with \nFrench, German, African, Native American, Spanish, and Italian \nhistory, and our cultures present our traditions through our \nhistoric homes, beautiful architecture, unique agriculture, and \nour own gourmet Creole and Cajun cuisine. We offer a distinct \ncollection of museums and a cluster of festivals and events \nthat tell the stories of our past and present uniqueness. \n Elsa Hahne \n800 346 1958 \nSeasoned to Celebrate \nLOUISIANA \nLAFAYETTE \nLafayetteTravel.com\/Seasons \nWhatever time of year you come, there\u2019s \nalways something to celebrate in Lafayette. \nCome on over, we\u2019ll add the spice. \nSeasoned \nto \n elebrate","42 | TravelSouthUSA.com \nMISSOURI \nCITIES \n \u2013 Best known for America's \ntallest public monument, the 630ft- tall \nwaterfront Gateway Arch, \nSt. Louis \n is also \na major stop on legendary cross-country \nRoute 66. In addition to the fascinating \nmuseum at the Arch's base, it is home to \nsuch attractions as the weirdly-wonderful \nCity Museum and the renowned Anheuser- \nBusch brewery. \nKansas City \n, 253 miles to \nthe west, is the home of the outstanding \nNelson Atkins Museum of Art, and \nAmerica's only World War I Museum, \nwhereas \nBranson \n, near the state's southern \nborder, is a mecca for those who love \nextravagant live music shows and such \nfamily attractions as Silver Dollar City, a \nrecreated mining town offering thrill rides \nand shows. \nSMALL TOWNS \n \u2013 Located on the \nMissouri River west of St. Louis, \nHermann \nis best known for its German heritage and \nnumerous wineries. \nWeston \n, just north \nof Kansas City, offers a variety of local \nshops and restaurants, a brewery and \ndistillery, museums and Green Dirt Farm, \nwhich features a tasting room known for \nits delicious home-made cheese. And in \nMarceline \n, north-west of St. Louis, you can \nvisit the Walt Disney Hometown Museum \ndocumenting the famous film-maker's \nchildhood days. \nMISSISSIPPI \nCITIES \n\u2013 Located on the Pearl River in central Mississippi, the state capital, \nJackson \n, is home to America's first state-founded Civil Rights \nMuseum \u2013 its premises are shared with the interesting Mississippi History Museum, and the Medger and Myrtie Evers House National \nMonument, dedicated to the courageous, assassinated Civil Rights leader and his wife. \nBiloxi \n, founded on the Gulf of Mexico coast by the \nFrench in 1699, is known for its wide sandy beaches, photogenic Old Lighthouse and Beauvoir, the post-Civil War home of Confederate \nPresident Jefferson Davis. \nSMALL TOWNS \n\u2013 \nColumbus \n, near the state's eastern border, is known for around 100 antebellum homes, some open to visitors during \nthe annual spring pilgrimage. \nOxford \n is renowned as the home of the famous Southern author William Faulkner and of the University of \nMississippi. And book-ending the state's 44-mile stretch of gulf shores is the charming \nOcean Springs \n, particularly known for its museum \ndevoted to the work of artist Walter Anderson. (For \nNatchez \n, see the Great River Road driving tour.) \nSILVER DOLLAR CITY, BRANSON \nCOLUMBUS, MS"," ","Experience the timeless charm and unrivaled hospitality found only in \nCharleston, South Carolina. The perfect stay awaits. \nEXPLORECHARLESTON.COM","TravelSouthUSA.com | 45 \nNORTH CAROLINA \nCITIES \n \u2013 Served by a major \ninternational airport, \nCharlotte \n is \nnot only the state's largest city and \na major business hub but also home \nto the NASCAR Hall of Fame and \nthe Carowinds theme park. Another \ninternational airport is shared by the \nuniversity cities of state capital \nRaleigh \nand \nDurham \n, the former tobacco- \nmanufacturing hub, both of which offer \na selection of attractions. Both Raleigh \nand Durham are home to interesting art \nand science museums and outstanding \noutdoor spaces. Raleigh's parks \nencompass pedal boats, a miniature \ntrain, a 1911 carousel and a still-working \n1750 grain mill, and \nDurham \n is home to \nthe splendid Sarah P. Duke Gardens and \nthe Duke Lemur Center, which houses \nthe largest collection of lemurs outside \ntheir native Madagascar. Crowning the \nwestern Appalachian Mountains, lively, \nartistic \nAsheville \n is best known for its \n8,000-acre Biltmore Estate, home of the \nmajestic Vanderbilt Mansion, America's \nlargest private home. \nSMALL TOWNS \n\u2013 Reached by the \nscenic Blue Ridge Parkway, mountain- \ntop \nBlowing Rock \n's quaint downtown \nis full of unique shops and among the \nstate's coastal treasures is \nEdenton \n, \nknown for its 1767 courthouse \nand photogenic 1886 Roanoke \nRiver Lighthouse. \nSOUTH CAROLINA \nCITIES \n \u2013 Acclaimed as one of the \nSouth's most beautiful and historic \ncities, \nCharleston \n is home to an array of \nsplendid antebellum mansions, lovely old \nchurches and a colourful street market, \nall of which can be seen via a horse- \ndrawn carriage tour. The International \nAfrican American Museum, opened in \n2023, is set on the waterfront site where \nthe enslaved ancestors of 45 percent of \ntoday's African Americans first arrived \nin America. Centrally-sited \nColumbia \nattracts visitors to its impressive State \nCapitol, university, museum, zoo and \ngardens, and Atlantic coastal \nMyrtle \nBeach \n is home to numerous waterfront \nand other attractions including exciting \nlive shows and the 187ft-tall SkyWheel, \nwhich offers picture-perfect views of \nland and sea. \nSMALL TOWNS \n \u2013 Harbourfront \nBeaufort \n, 132 miles south of Charleston, \nis known for its beautiful 18th-century \nhomes and film sites, some of them based \non the books of local author Pat Conroy \n( \nThe Prince of Tides \n, etc.). It's also a \ngreat launching pad for visits to Hilton \nHead and other resort islands just down \nthe coast. Set near the state's western \nborder, \nAiken \n is not only home to lovely \nHoplands Gardens but also to a range \nof equestrian events, including polo \nmatches and horseback-riding tours. \nROANOKE RIVER, EDENTON LIGHTHOUSE \nMYRTLE BEACH SKYWHEEL","46 | TravelSouthUSA.com \nTENNESSEE \nCITIES \n\u2013 There is much more than music to \nNashville \n and \nMemphis \n (both covered in our Magical Music section). For Nashville, it's the \nState Capitol, Fine Arts Center and replica of the Athens Parthenon in Centennial Park, and for Memphis, it's the impressive National Civil \nRights Museum at the Lorraine Motel, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968, and the Slave Haven Underground \nRailroad Museum located in the house that harboured slaves attempting to escape along the Mississippi River. \nKnoxville \n, gateway to the \nscenic Smoky Mountains region of eastern Tennessee encompasses interesting museums, art galleries, a historic theatre and the grounds of \nthe 1982 World's Fair featuring the golden dome-topped Sunsphere. \nSMALL TOWNS \n\u2013 Easily reachable from Nashville are three small towns of note: \nGranville \n, known for its Sutton Homestead and Pioneer \nVillage; \nBell Buckle \n, which features alluring antique and arts shops; and \nDickson \n, home to the Clement Railway Museum and a shop- and \nrestaurant-lined historic downtown Main Street. That's not to forget \nJonesborough \n in the north-east corner of the state as it is Tennessee's \noldest town (1779) and home to the acclaimed October National Storytelling Festival. \nVIRGINIA \nCITIES \n\u2013 Riverside \nRichmond \n is graced \nby its elegant, hilltop State Capitol, designed \nby Thomas Jefferson and doubling as \nthe Capitol of the Confederacy during the \nAmerican Civil War, which is impressively \ncovered by the city's American Civil War \nMuseum. Also, check out the wealth of \ncolourful street murals, the acclaimed \nVirginia Museum of Fine Arts and such \ndiverse and colourful neighbourhoods as \nThe Fan District, Church Hill, Ginter Park \nand Windsor Farms. Sited beside the wide \nPotomac River, with Washington, DC on \nthe horizon, \nAlexandria \n, a treasure house \nof beautifully preserved 18th- and 19th- \ncentury buildings, offers free trolley service, \ntempting shops and restaurants along \nbuzzy King Street, an interesting waterfront \narea and cruises downriver to George \nWashington's stately waterfront Mount \nVernon plantation. \nSMALL TOWNS \n\u2013 Take a walking or \nhorse and buggy tour through eastern \nVirginia's 18th-century colonial capital \nWilliamsburg \n, now the world's largest living- \nhistory museum, and then tour nearby \nJamestown \n, the birthplace (1607) of English- \nspeaking America, and \nYorktown \n, site of \nthe conclusive battle of the American War \nof Independence. Then head to the state's \nsouth-western tip for delightful \nAbingdon \n, \nsite of the Barter Theatre, America's longest- \nrunning professional theatre. \nNATIONAL CIVIL RIGHTS MUSEUM, MEMPHIS \nHORSE AND BUGGY TOUR, WILLIAMSBURG","life. at your pace.","48 | TravelSouthUSA.com \nWEST VIRGINIA \nCITIES \n \u2013 Impressively dominated by the \ngolden dome of its State Capitol, Kanawha \nriverside \nCharleston \n is enhanced by historic \narchitecture, an eclectic music scene \nand a wide range of dining and drinking \noptions. \nHuntington \n, on the Ohio River \nwest of Charleston, is home to the Heritage \nFarm Museum and Village, a prestigious \nSmithsonian affiliate, and \nMorgantown \n, on \nthe state's north-central border, owes much \nof its youthful spirit, range of restaurants \nand vibrant nightlife to the presence of West \nVirginia University. \nSMALL TOWNS \n \u2013 Sited along the \nPotomac River in the Eastern Panhandle \nand the state's oldest (1762) community, \nShepherdstown \n has award-winning \nrestaurants and a thriving music, arts \nand theatre scene. Not far from the south- \neastern border with Virginia, historic and \neasily walkable \nLewisburg \n features dozens \nof boutiques, antique stores and art galleries \nand is close to the renowned Greenbrier \nResort offering great golf, a spa and much \nmore. The tiny mountain town of \nDavis \n, \nperched on the edge of the Monongahela \nNational Forest in eastern West Virginia, is \nan ideal base for such outdoor pursuits as \nhiking, biking, hunting, fishing and skiing. \nCAPITOL STREET, CHARLESTON \nLOST WORLD CAVE NEAR LEWISBURG, WV \nInterested in a marvellous medley of big city and small town adventures? Check out the Travel South road trip \nNorth \nCarolina and the Virginias Loop: Small Towns and Exciting Cities \n( \ntravelsouth.visittheusa.com\/trip\/north-carolina-and- \nvirginias-loop-small-towns-and-exciting-cities Beginning in North Carolina's lively state capital, Raleigh, and \n). \nending in its largest city, Charlotte, it includes Virginia's lovely capital city, Richmond, and such enticing West Virginia \nsmall towns as Shepherdstown and Lewisburg, gateway to the renowned Greenbrier Resort.","TravelSouthUSA.com | 49 \nNatchez has it all! \nExperience \nthe magic of Southern \nhospitality and get face-to-face with Natchez's \nhistory and cultural legacy. \n500 Main St. Suite 1 \n601.492.3000 \nvisitnatchez.org","50 | TravelSouthUSA.com \nD \no you love the Great Outdoors? Then \nyou've come to the right place. The 12 \nSouthern states have it all: thousands of \nmiles of golden sand beaches along the \nAtlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts; great \nstretches of the mighty Mississippi River \u2013 \nand of the country's most-famous footpath, \nthe Appalachian Trail; North America's \nlargest blackwater swamp; eastern \nAmerica's tallest mountains; deep, clear \nlakes and spectacular rivers; the country's \nmost-visited and most-recent national \nparks; and a myriad of state parks that \noffer everything from hiking and mountain \nbiking to camping and canoeing. \nIf sand, sea and sun are at the top of \nyour agenda, head for the Atlantic coast; \nit's lined with such family-friendly, \nattraction-packed waterfront communities \nas Virginia Beach and \nSouth Carolina \n's \nMyrtle Beach. And if you prefer more \ntranquillity, you can opt for the numerous \njust-offshore islands that range from \nNorth Carolina \n's Outer Banks, known for \ntheir picturesque lighthouses and wild \nhorses, to \nSouth Carolina \n's Sea Islands and \nGeorgia \n's Golden Isles, popular for their \ngolf, tennis and boating resorts. And that's \nnot to forget the beaches, hiking trails, \nbirdwatching sites and great fishing found \nalong \nMississippi \n's and \nAlabama \n's Gulf of \nMexico coasts \u2013 or the fact that there are \nsailing and other boating opportunities \nin \nVirginia \n's massive Chesapeake Bay \nand \nNorth Carolina \n's Albemarle and \nPamlico Sounds. \nTHE GREAT \nOUTDOORS \nFIND YOUR \nADVENTURE \nELK RIVER FLY FISHING, AL","TravelSouthUSA.com | 51 \nTHOUSANDS OF MILES OF \nGOLDEN SAND BEACHES ALONG \nTHE ATLANTIC AND GULF \nOF MEXICO COASTS; GREAT \nSTRETCHES OF THE MIGHTY \nMISSISSIPPI RIVER \u2013 AND OF \nTHE COUNTRY'S MOST-FAMOUS \nFOOTPATH, THE APPALACHIAN \nTRAIL; NORTH AMERICA'S \nLARGEST BLACKWATER SWAMP; \nEASTERN AMERICA'S TALLEST \nMOUNTAINS; DEEP, CLEAR LAKES \nAND SPECTACULAR RIVERS; THE \nCOUNTRY'S MOST-VISITED AND \nMOST-RECENT NATIONAL PARKS; \nAND A MYRIAD OF STATE PARKS \nTHAT OFFER EVERYTHING FROM \nHIKING AND MOUNTAIN BIKING \nTO CAMPING AND CANOEING. \nAlabama \n is also known for its Robert \nTrent Jones Golf Trail, which links 26 \ncourses on 11 sites and thus joins such other \nfamous golf destinations as \nNorth Carolina \n, \nwhere the Pinehurst-Southern Pines- \nAberdeen area offers 30 courses, \nSouth \nCarolina \n, where Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head \nand Kiawah islands are renowned for their \ngolf courses, and Augusta, \nGeorgia \n, home to \nthe prestigious Masters Tournament. Not \nto forget \nMissouri \n's claim to fame: Payne's \nValley, the first public course designed \nby Tiger Woods. \nWhen it comes to hiking, \nVirginia \n claims \nthe longest stretch \u2013 550.3 miles \u2013 of the \nfamous 2,200-mile Appalachian Trail. \nOriginating in Maine and also passing \nthrough \nWest Virginia North Carolina \n, \n and \nTennessee \n, it terminates near northern \nGeorgia \n's Amicalola Falls, one of the South \nEast's tallest waterfalls. Other spectacular \ncascades include \nKentucky \n's seven-storey- \nhigh Cumberland Falls, the only one in \nthe Western Hemisphere that can boast a \nmoonbow on certain clear, moonlit nights, \nand it's worth noting that \nWest Virginia \n has \na Waterfall Trail leading to two dozen of the \nmore-than 200 in the state, whereas \nNorth \nCarolina \n's Sliding Rock waterfall offers a \n60ft slide into a deep mountain pool. \nAs for other hiking opportunities, \nMissouri \n's 240-mile Katy Trail, which \nruns along a former rail bed, is the longest \ndeveloped rail trail in the USA; the \nAlabama \ncoast offers a 28-mile hiking, biking and \neven Segway trail; \nLouisiana \n's 180-mile \nCreole Nature Trail leads to Gulf of Mexico \nbeaches, small fishing communities and \ngreat wildlife viewing \u2013 watch out for \nthe Alligator Crossing notices along the \nway; and the 444-mile Natchez Trace \nParkway, which stretches from Nashville, \nTennessee \n, to Mississippi Riverside \nNatchez, \nMississippi \n, and is ideal for both \nhikers and bikers. \nMountain bikers on the other hand might \nwant to head for the Ozark Mountains of \nArkansas \n, where there are five International \nMountain Bicycling Association EPIC routes; \nthe Brevard area of western \nNorth Carolina \n, \nwhich refers to itself as the 'Cycling Capital \nof the South'; and the Little River Blueway \nin \nSouth Carolina \n's Sumter National Forest, \nwhich offers 21 miles of single-track trails. \nOUACHITA VISTA TRAIL, AR \nOKEFENOKEE NATIONAL \nWILDLIFE REFUGE, GA \nBADIN LAKE, NC \nELAKALA TRAIL, BLACKWATER FALLS, WV","Adventure awaits you! \nSeeCoastalMS \nCoastalMS \n\/ \nWith miles of scenic shoreline, endless \nattractions and activities, and the most delightful \nGulf-to-Table seafood, you\u2019re sure to find just \nwhat you\u2019re looking for in Coastal Mississippi. \nCOASTALMISSISSIPPI.COM \nExplore more!","TravelSouthUSA.com | 53 \nEscape to Alabama\u2019s 32-mile island and \nexperience a vacation like no other. Relax \non sugar-white sand beaches, indulge in our \ncoastal cuisine and discover one-of-a-kind \nadventures, all in one unforgettable place. \nGET YOUR FREE \nVACATION GUIDE \nEngulfed in memories. \nThe mountainous areas are also a great \nsource of beautiful and sometimes-turbulent \nrivers, which can offer everything from \ngreat canoeing, kayaking and fishing up \nto thrilling level IV whitewater rafting \nexperiences. Among them is the Bryson \nCity area of \nNorth Carolina \n, where Olympic- \nbound athletes train before heading to the \nstate's largest city, Charlotte, to qualify at \nthe thrilling Whitewater Center. Other great \nboating and outdoor activity bases include \nMontgomery, \nAlabama \n's new Whitewater \nPark, located along the Alabama River and \nfeaturing not only boating but also zip- \nlining and rock climbing, and Columbus, \nGeorgia \n, which claims the world's longest \nurban whitewater course as well as three \nzip lines spanning the Chattahoochee River \nbetween \nGeorgia \n and \nAlabama \n. \nFor additional thrills, head for \nWest \nVirginia \n, home to the highest density \nof whitewater runs in the country. Of \nparticular note are the New River (actually \none of the oldest rivers on earth), where \nyou get everything you need for up-to a \nlevel IV experience from the outfitters \nin Fayetteville, and the Gauley River, \nwhich from September until mid- \nNovember reaches its thrilling heights \nwith a dam release. \nAs for more tranquil water experiences, \nKentucky \n's Lake Cumberland on the \nsouth-central border with \nTennessee \nis the 'Houseboat Capital of the World'. \nHouseboating is also available on \nTennessee's Center Hill and Hollow Lakes, \nand there are numerous water sports \nexperiences in the western Land Between \nthe Lakes area shared by the two states. \nMissouri \n's Lake of the Ozarks, near the \nlive entertainment hub of Branson and \nbordered by two state parks, is popular \nwith boaters, rafters and tubers, and you \ncan scuba dive into an underground lake \nin the state's former Bonne Terre Mine. \nWestern \nNorth Carolina \n's Lake Lure and \nsouth-west \nVirginia \n's Mountain Lake \nLodge were key locations for that popular \n1987 lakeside romantic film \nDirty Dancing \n. \nLouisiana \n offers a variety of swamp tours \nthat feature alligators and other wildlife \nin its Atchafalaya Basin National Heritage \nArea and you can not only take a boat tour \ninto \nGeorgia \n's Okefenokee National Wildlife \nRefuge, North America's largest blackwater \nswamp, but also sleep there overnight on \nan open-air platform. \nMississippi \n provides \nboat rental and launching facilities along \nits famous namesake river, and \nAlabama \noffers kayaking in its Mobile-Tenshaw Delta, \ndubbed 'America's Amazon'. \nOther great freshwater fishing \nopportunities can be found along \nArkansas \n's \nBuffalo River, and in \nTennessee \n's Bill Dance \nSignature Lakes. There is also fabulous \nsaltwater fishing along Mississippi's and \nAlabama \n's Gulf of Mexico shorelines. For \ninstance, \nAlabama \n's Orange Beach is known \nas the 'Red Snapper Capital of the World' but \ngrouper and amberjack are also options ... \nand if you catch a big one, many of the local \nrestaurants will cook it for your dinner. \nGREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK, TN \nMOUNT MAGAZINE STATE PARK, AR \nOCEAN SPRINGS, MS \nKENTUCKY HORSE PARK, LEXINGTON, KY","With 60 miles of wide-open beaches and more than \n2,000 restaurants to choose from, there\u2019s a reason \nwe\u2019re known to Americans as simply \nThe Beach. \nMake Waves at America\u2019s Best Beach. \nVisitMyrtleBeach.com \nScan to start \nplanning your trip. \nYOU BELONG \nAT \n.","TravelSouthUSA.com | 55 \nThere's skiing in the Appalachian \nMountains of \nNorth Carolina \n and \nVirginia \nand particularly in \nWest Virginia \n, where the \nSnowshoe Resort and other destinations are \nsaid to offer some of the best winter sports \noptions in both the south-eastern and mid- \nAtlantic states. \nKentucky \n and \nSouth Carolina \n, both \nknown for their equine spectator events, \nalso offer horseback riding experiences. \nYou can rise to the heights by hang-gliding \nnear \nNorth Carolina \n's Kill Devil Hill, where \nthe Wright Brothers launched the world's \nfirst powered flight on December 17, 1903, \nor descend into the depths in \nKentucky \n's \nMammoth Cave, at the heart of the world's \nlargest cave system, in \nVirginia \n's Luray \nCaverns, known for their fantastic stone \nformations, or at numerous sites in the 'Cave \nState' of \nMissouri \n. \nThere are beautiful gardens to visit, \nnotably at Magnolia Plantation and \nMiddleton Place outside Charleston, \nSouth \nCarolina \n; great birding areas \u2013 \nAlabama \nalone claims more than 430 species; and \nseductive star-gazing opportunities in \nVirginia \n's and \nWest Virginia \n's International \nDark Sky Parks. And then there are all \nthose outdoor activity options as well as \ncamping facilities in America's most-visited \nNational Park, the Great Smoky Mountains \nin \nTennessee \n, or \nWest Virginia \n's New River \nGorge, America's newest National Park. And \nbest of all are the hundreds of state parks \nfound throughout the South, each with its \nown unique appeal. For instance, you can \nzip-line through the trees in \nAlabama \n's \nLake Guntersville State Park, and \nArkansas \n' \nCrater of Diamonds State Park is the only \nplace in the world where the public can \nsearch for naturally-occurring diamonds \u2013 \nand keep what they find. \nONONDAGA CAVE STATE PARK, MO \nTUSCARORA TRAIL, VA \nMCGEE'S ATCHAFALAYA BASIN SWAMP TOURS, HENDERSON, LA \nAre hiking, mountain-biking, whitewater \nrafting and trail riding your thing? \nThen you might want to opt for the \nMountain Escapes Through Georgia and \nSouth Carolina \nroad trip (travelsouth. \nvisittheusa.com\/trip\/mountain-escape- \nthrough-georgia-and-south-carolina). \nBeginning and ending in Atlanta, it \nincludes the spectacular mountains of \nGeorgia, resplendent with waterfalls, \nwhitewater rivers and the final stretches \nof the famous Appalachian Trail, and \nthen moves on to the \nhighlands of South \nCarolina, known for \nthe biking, hiking and \ntrail-riding options \naround Greenville \nand Aiken. \nMYRTLE BEACH, SC","56 | TravelSouthUSA.com \nMAGICAL \nMUSIC \nLEGENDS & \nLOCATIONS \nSTAX MUSEUM OF AMERICAN SOUL MUSIC, MEMPHIS, TN","TravelSouthUSA.com | 57 \nT \nhe culturally-rich American South is \nthe region where most of America's \nnumerous genres of popular music were \nborn and fine-tuned and where they \ncontinue today to be celebrated with \ngreat style and sentiment. In fact, there is \nmuch to decide when planning a Southern \nAmerican Safari of Sound \u2013 should it \nbe based on a preferred venue, artist or \ngeographic location? \nLet's start with \nMississippi \n's Delta \nCountry, for it was there that the musical \nlaments of the African slaves labouring \nin the cotton fields of such plantations as \nDockery Farms gave birth to \u2018The Blues\u2019. You \ncan follow their story by visiting Cleveland's \nGrammy Museum, Clarksdale's Delta Blues \nMuseum and Indianola's BB King Museum \nand then settle down for some magical \nmusic at the latter city's Club Ebony or a \nchoice of two venues in Clarksdale: Ground \nZero Blues Club, co-owned by actor Morgan \nFreeman, and Red's Juke Joint. \nFor complete immersion in the local \nscene, stay overnight in a former cotton- \nworker's cabin such as Clarksdale's Shack \nUp Inn or Greenwood's Tallahatchie Flats. \nThen continue to Tupelo for a visit to Elvis \nPresley\u2019s unpretentious birthplace, now a \nmuseum, and the hardware store where his \nmother bought his first guitar. \nIn neighbouring north-western \nAlabama \n's \nMuscle Shoals you can both listen to live \nmusic and tour part of the FAME studios, \nwhich, along with the site's Sound Studio, \nrecorded the chart-topping creations of the \nlikes of Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner and \nthe Rolling Stones. And in nearby Florence \nyou can view the log-cabin birthplace, now a \nmuseum, of \u2018Father of the Blues\u2019 WC Handy, \ninspiration for an annual blues festival. \nNot far away in Tuscumbia, the Alabama \nMusic Hall of Fame honours more than \n1,000 state musicians, from jazz visionary \nSun Ra to one of the great country groups, \nAlabama. The venue also pays tribute to \nHank Williams, a superstar of country music \nsongwriting and performances, as does the \nHank Williams Sr. Boyhood Home & Museum \nin the small south-central Alabama \ntown of Georgiana and his namesake \nmuseum in Montgomery. \nDOCKERY FARMS, CLEVELAND, MS \nHANK WILLIAMS MUSEUM, MONTGOMERY, AL \nWC HANDY MUSIC FESTIVAL, FLORENCE, AL \nBB KING MUSEUM, INDIANOLA, MS","Memphis, the destination for blues, soul, and rock 'n' \nroll. Let us help you plan an unforgettable experience \nin our legendary city. Discover the best attractions \nand activities, stay updated on what's new in \nMemphis, and get valuable planning tips. Start your \nadventure now! \nMEMPHISTRAVEL.COM","TravelSouthUSA.com | 59 \nSUN STUDIO, MEMPHIS, TN \nAn optional music-themed itinerary \ncould take you north from the Mississippi \nDelta Country into \nTennessee \n's Mississippi \nriverside Memphis, home to buzzy Beale \nStreet's BB King Club, Sun Studios \u2013 where \nsuch music superstars as Elvis Presley, \nJohnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Roy \nOrbison met \u2013 the Memphis Music Hall of \nFame and other genre-specific museums \ncovering soul, rock 'n' roll and blues. \nAnd, of course, you will want to visit \nElvis's Graceland mansion and museum, \nexuding the personality of the \u2018King of \nRock-and-Roll\u2019. \nIf you are a Tina Turner fan, you may want \nto drop by the tiny West Tennessee Delta \nHeritage Center & Tina Turner Museum in \nBrownsville, which is based in her former \nNutbush school house, before you head about \n200 miles east to Nashville, 'Music City USA', \nmaking sure to visit its latest attraction, \nthe National Museum of African American \nMusic, which covers everything from the \nAfrican roots of gospel, rhythm, blues and \njazz up to today's funk, disco and rap. \nThen make sure to visit such hallowed \nsites as the Ryman Auditorium, fronted \nby a statue of Bill Monroe, \u2018The Father of \nBluegrass Music\u2019, both the Country Music \nand Musicians Halls of Fame and Museums, \nand tribute museums to such superstars \nas Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, George Jones \nand Glen Campbell. For live music, head \nto the Grand Ole Opry, which has been \nshowcasing such top stars as Dolly Parton, \nLoretta Lynn, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson \nand Garth Brooks for decades. To enjoy \nperformances of even more present-day and \nwould-be stars, cruise along the Honky Tonk \nHighway, book yourself into the Bluebird \nand Listening Room cafes, and check out \nCannery Row venues famed for great rock \nshows and the Nashville Palace where \nyou can both listen to live music and line \ndance. And if you are a Dolly fan, you will \nwant to make for her eastern Tennessee \nhometown, Sevierville, and the nearby \nDollywood Theme Park. \nJust across the border in \nVirginia \n, \nBristol's Birthplace of Country Music \nMuseum celebrates the fact that it was \nthere in 1927 that a team from a New York \nstudio made the first recordings of such \nthen-unknown regional country and \nmountain musicians as Jimmie Rogers \nand the Carter Family. June Carter and \nher husband, Johnny Cash, visited and \nperformed at nearby Hiltons' quaint Carter \nFamily Fold, still a lively music venue \nand one of the stops on the Crooked Road, \nVirginia \n's Heritage Music Trail. Along its \nway northwards you can enjoy an evening of \npickin\u2019, strumming and clogging festivities \nat the Floyd General Store, and drop by \nGalax's Rex Theater, which has been hosting \nlive old timey and bluegrass music since \n1940s as well as the weekly Blue Ridge \nBackroads Live radio show. \nAt the upper end of \nVirginia \n's legendary \nShenandoah Valley, Winchester is home to \nthe Patsy Cline Historic House Museum, \nand near Washington, DC, Wolf Trap is \nthe only National Park dedicated to the \nperforming arts. \nBROADWAY, NASHVILLE, TN \nHERITAGE MUSIC TRAIL, VA \nMOUNTAIN STAGE, WV","60 | TravelSouthUSA.com \nWest Virginia \n's Mountain Stage, based \nin Charleston's Cultural Center Theater, \nhas, for more than 30 years, staged live \nperformances that are transmitted \nthroughout the USA via National Public \nRadio. And music lovers visiting Thomas \nin the state's eastern ski area can drop by \nthe Purple Fiddle for music and dancing on \nFriday and Saturday nights. \nWestern \nNorth Carolina \n's buzzy Asheville \nis known for such venues as the Orange Peel \nand Rabbit Rabbit (national and regional \ntouring acts) and the Grey Eagle (indie \nrock and other genres), and Raleigh, 247 \nmiles to its east, is home to the Red Hat \nAmphitheatre, which hosts major new acts \nand touring superstars, as well as to the \nLincoln Theatre, Pour House Music Hall & \nRecord Shop and Slim's Downtown. \nCharleston, \nSouth Carolina \n, on the other \nhand, has two special music claims to \nfame: the inspiration for America's most- \nfamous home-grown opera, \nPorgy and Bess \n, \ncomposed in 1935 by George Gershwin, \nand the home of the unique late-April\/ \nearly-May Spoleto Festival, which features \nopera, jazz, classical music and more. Last \nyear, a Pulitzer Prize was awarded to a \nSpoleto-premiered opera, \n Omar \n, inspired \nby the memoir of an African man sold into \nslavery in Charleston. You can also find a \ngreat music scene at the Windjammer on the \nnearby Isle of Palms. \nUp the coast, North Myrtle Beach Fat \nHarold's Beach Club, OD Pavilion, Duck's \nand other venues feature music inspired \nby the area's 1940s Shag dance craze. And \nMyrtle Beach itself is home to musical \nextravaganzas, including Legends in \nConcert and the Carolina Opry. \nAthens, \nGeorgia \n is the birthplace of rock \n\u2019n\u2019 roll superstars R.E.M. and the B-52s and \nhome to the acclaimed 40 Watt Club and \nhistoric Georgia Theatre, venue for many \ntop music performances. To its south, \nMacon, home to Otis Redding and Little \nRichard, has such attractions as the Allman \nBrothers\u2019 Big House Museum and Capricorn \nSound Studios and Museum. And, of course, \nAtlanta, known for its lively rap scene, is \nhome to numerous music venues. \nNew Orleans, \nLouisiana \n, is not only the \n\u2018Birthplace of Jazz\u2019 and home to such major \nannual events as the late-April\/early-May \nNew Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and \nthe August Summer Satchmo Fest, inspired \nby the late\/great Louis 'Satchmo' Armstrong, \nbut it is also full of great music venues. \nCAPRICORN SOUND STUDIOS, MACON, GA \nBLUEGRASS MUSICIANS, ASHEVILLE, NC","North Carolina\u2019s capital city is an undiscovered gem of the Southern \nUnited States. Visitors to Raleigh will find more than a blossoming \nmetropolis. It\u2019s a place passionately creative, diverse and energizing, \nwith the most live music in N.C. Immerse yourself in outdoor \nconcerts, charming street festivals, world-class (free) museums \nand globally inspired cuisine. \nIt\u2019s never been easier to jump into \neverything this East Coast hub has to offer. \nvisitRaleigh.com\/international","62 | TravelSouthUSA.com \nFrom world-famous barbecue and essential music history to some of the \ncountry\u2019s most dynamic sports teams, it\u2019s all here in the heartland. \nVISITKC.COM \nHeart of it all. \nFeel the beat.","TravelSouthUSA.com | 63 \nBest known are the French Quarter's \niconic Preservation Hall, a mecca for lovers \nof traditional jazz since 1961, the convoy of \nclubs along lively Frenchmen Street and \nTipitina's, located in an old warehouse \noff Napoleon Avenue and which featured \nProfessor Longhair as its artist-in-residence \nuntil his death in 1980. \nMandeville, on the other side of Lake \nPontchartrain, has been home to Ruby's \nRoadhouse, a popular venue for African \nAmerica performers since the 1930s, as \nwell as to the Dew Drop Jazz & Social Hall, \nlocated in a 1895 wooden building and \nstaging traditional jazz concerts. \nWestward in the steamy, scenic bayou \ncountry there's Cajun music at Lafayette's \nBlue Moon Saloon, Mamou's Fred's Lounge, \nwhich is presided over by the frisky widow \nof its founder, and Breaux Bridge's Buck and \nJohnny's, where you can begin the day with \na zydeco breakfast and enjoy music and \ndance until late evening. \nAlso west of New Orleans, Lake Charles's \nPanorama Music Hall is known for its \nsometimes-wacky events \u2013 you can attend \nsome performances in your pyjamas \u2013 while \nup the Mississippi River, Baton Rouge's \nManship Theatre hosts Cuban, Motown \nand Grammy Award-winning groups, \nand, in the far north-west corner of the \nstate, Shreveport's Municipal Auditorium, \nbest-known for staging Elvis' first major \nperformance in 1954, is still a music venue \noffering backstage tours. \nCross the river near Memphis to \nArkansas \nand you can continue to Mountain View's \nOzark Folk Center State Park where the \nBlacksmith Stage and the Ozark Highlands \nTheatre host performances of Southern \nmountain music featuring mandolins, \ndulcimers and autoharps as well as fiddles, \nbanjos and guitars. To its east, in Dyess, is \nthe bungalow-style Johnny Cash Boyhood \nHome. North-west across the \nMissouri \n state \nline lies Branson, the \u2018Live Entertainment \nCapital of the World\u2019 and home to more \nthan 100 live performances, including such \ndinner shows as Dolly Parton\u2019s Stampede, \nShowboat Branson Belle and Mel\u2019s Hard \nLuck Diner, the latter enhanced by \nsinging servers. \nJazz lovers may then want to head to \nKansas City, 216 miles north, as it is home \nto the historic 18th & Vine jazz district, the \nAmerican Jazz Museum and such lively \nclubs as The Gem. Across the state in \nriverside St. Louis you can enjoy the scene \nin Blueberry Hill's Duck Room, where the \nlate\/great Chuck Berry used to perform \n(his statue is nearby), and then drop into \nthe National Blues Museum to create your \nown music via interactive exhibits before \nheading for such live music venues as Blues \nand Soups and BB's Jazz. \nAnd back down the Mississippi and \neastward along the tributary Ohio River lies \nOwensboro, \nKentucky \n, home to the Bluegrass \nHall of Fame & Museum, where you may just \nhappen upon a live music performance \u2013 \nit's also home to the annual ROMP bluegrass \nfestival. And, of course, \nLouisville \n is \nalso home to numerous festivals and \nlive music venues. \nTHE KING BISCUIT BLUES \nFESTIVAL, HELENA, AR \nNATIONAL BLUES MUSEUM, ST. LOUIS, MO \nBLUEGRASS MUSIC HALL OF FAME MUSEUM, OWENSBORO, KY \nIf you like your music enhanced by great American food and life-affirming \ndrink you'll want to follow the \n Bourbon, Bluegrass and Barbecue \ntrail \n( \ntravelsouth.visittheusa.com\/trip\/bourbon-bluegrass-and-barbecue- \ntouring-louisville-ozarks through Kentucky, Arkansas and Missouri, \n) \nalong the way sampling world-renowned barbecue, seductive Bourbon \ncocktails and a medley of bluegrass, soul and jazz. Or for more bluegrass \nand old- time country music opt for the road trip \nMusic Cradles \n( \ntravelsouth.visittheusa.com\/trip\/music-cradles including Bristol \"The \n) \nBirthplace of Country Music;\" straddling the Tennessee\/Virginia state line, \nand other buzzy places in the tri-state area, also including North Carolina. \nTHE CAROLINA OPRY THEATER, MYRTLE BEACH, SC","I \nt was \nElvis Presley \n, that hip-swivelling \nKing of Rock \u2019n\u2019 Roll, who first tempted \nme to \nTennessee \n. But it\u2019s \nDolly Parton \nand her ever-expanding entertainment \nempire that keeps me returning. \nIt's no coincidence that both of \nthese legendary songbirds nested in \nTennessee \n, a state that\u2019s famed for \ncreating the rootsy soundtrack of \nAmerica \u2026 and thus perfectly pitched for \na music-themed road trip. Blues music \nis still drifting from \nMemphis \n clubs and \njuke joints even as the twang of steel \nguitars resounds all along \nNashville's \nHonky Tonk Highway. \nI started by paying my respects to \nElvis in his beloved \nGraceland \n mansion, \nsituated in Memphis in the south-west \nof the state. In recent years, a sprawling \ncomplex of shifting exhibits and retail \nstores has sprung forth in the mansion's \nshadows but it\u2019s the inside of the house \nthat remains the unrivalled main act. \nIn the \nJungle Room \n \u2013 Elvis\u2019s ultimate \nman cave \u2013 a neon-lit waterfall trickles \ngently down the wall, while a river of \ngreen shag-pile flows across the floor \nand ceiling, vividly reminding us of \nElvis\u2019s distinctive flair for the theatrical. \nI then checked out the \nLauderdale \nCourts \n apartment where Elvis lived as \na teenager \u2013 you can book an overnight \nstay via its Facebook page \u2013 before \ntaking a seat in The King\u2019s booth at \nthe \nArcade Restaurant \n to feast on his \nfavourite treat, fried peanut butter and \nbanana sandwiches. \nGRACELAND, MEMPHIS, TN \nTHE AUTHOR ON THE STEPS OF GRACELAND \nON THE ROAD WITH \nELVIS AND DOLLY \nBY ZOEY GOTO","TravelSouthUSA.com | 65 \nTHE AUTHOR IN DOLLY PARTON'S FORMER TOUR BUS, DOLLYWOOD, TN \nLIVING ROOM AT GRACELAND, MEMPHIS, TN \nFrom Memphis, I zipped three hours \ndown the highway to explore Nashville \nsites fulsome with Dolly Parton\u2019s sparkly \nlegacy. Beginning at RCA Studio B on Music \nRow, where the songstress laid down her \nCoat of Many Colors track, I then headed to \nthe Grand Ole Opry to hear country music \nenthusiastically performed by some of \nthe young artists who have taken Dolly\u2019s \nmusical baton and run with it. No time, alas, \nbut I could have bedded down for the night \nat the Graduate Hotel, where the hotel\u2019s \nkitschy-cool interiors have taken the Queen \nof Country as their inspiration. \nInstead, I headed around 200 miles east to \nTennessee\u2019s Great Smoky Mountains, Dolly\u2019s \nbirthplace and home to her Dollywood \ntheme park, which attracts a staggering \nthree million visitors each year. After riding \nthe vintage wooden rollercoasters, I visited \na replica of Dolly\u2019s humble childhood cabin \nand admired her razzle-dazzle costumes \nin the Chasing Rainbows Museum before \nstopping off in her hometown, Sevierville, \nwhere a statue of the star \u2013 barefoot and \ncradling a guitar \u2013 takes centre stage. \nThen, as night fell, I headed to Dollywood\u2019s \nDreamMore Resort & Spa, where, in return \nfor a queenly fee, guests can now stay the \nnight on Dolly\u2019s former tour bus; waking up \nin her dinky, fuchsia bed under a ceiling of \ntwinkling rhinestones. It doesn\u2019t get more \nrock \u2019n\u2019 roll than that! \nDOLLYWOOD\u2019S DREAMMORE RESORT & SPA, WHERE, IN RETURN FOR A QUEENLY FEE, GUESTS CAN NOW \nSTAY THE NIGHT ON DOLLY\u2019S FORMER TOUR BUS; WAKING UP IN HER DINKY, FUCHSIA BED UNDER A \nCEILING OF TWINKLING RHINESTONES. IT DOESN\u2019T GET MORE ROCK \u2019N\u2019 ROLL THAN THAT! \nDOLLY PARTON STATUE, SEVIERVILLE, TN","66 | TravelSouthUSA.com \nM \nusic is the universal language, and it all comes together \nin Nashville where the music is written, recorded and \nperformed. Home to more than 180 live music venues, from \nthe historic Ryman Auditorium and the Grand Ole Opry to \nindependent venues such as The Bluebird Cafe and EXIT\/IN, \nthere is a unique experience for everyone in Music City. \nWith more music museums than anywhere in the world, \nvisitors can experience the rich history of music from any \ngenre at the National Museum of African American Music or \nthe Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Just west of \ndowntown, visitors can hear the legendary sound recordings \nof Dolly Parton and Elvis Presley at Historic RCA Studio B, \nlocated on Music Row. \n In recent years, there has been an evolution in both the \nquality of hotel rooms and quantity of rooms\u2014from boutique \nto 5-star properties such as the Four Seasons Nashville, the \nConrad Nashville and the 1 Hotel\u2014which has broadened \nNashville\u2019s appeal and the visitor\u2019s experience. \nThe culinary scene is also hotter than ever with award- \nwinning chefs putting their mark in Music City and making \nNashville a premier culinary destination with over 300 new \nrestaurants opening in the past three years. Nashville has \nalso become a hot bed for breweries and distilleries while \nsouthern staples such as Hot Chicken, meat-and-three, and \nTennessee pork barbeque remain deeply embedded in the \ncity\u2019s food culture. \nNashville is a year-round sports destination with four \nprofessional teams. In the fall, the excitement starts on \nSundays with the city\u2019s NFL team the Tennessee Titans who \nare set to move into a new stadium in 2027 on the East Bank. \nThe action continues downtown at Bridgestone Arena, home \nto the NHL\u2019s Nashville Predators. Nashville is also home to the \nlargest soccer specific stadium\u2014GEODIS Park\u2014in the United \nStates and Canada, and claims the Nashville Sounds, a MiLB \nteam that recorded the highest total attendance of any team in \nthe MiLB this past year. \nGrowing at a sensational pace, there\u2019s something new to \nexperience at every corner in Music City. Come see for yourself \nat \nVisitMusicCity.com. \nNASHVILLE, \nTENNESSEE \nWELCOME TO \nMUSIC CITY \nNATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSIC \nMARTINS BBQ RIBS \nRYMAN AUDITORIUM \nNASHVILLE PREDATORS \nSPECIAL FEATURE","As a city known for its exceptional restaurants, cafes and bistros, Birmingham continues to set the \nstandard for what a food scene should be. But aside from our award-winning dishes, what you\u2019ll also \nfind here is a place rich with history, filled with music, art, culture and southern hospitality. So pull up \na chair at \nThe Dinner Table of the South. \n And dig in to everything we have to offer. \nCULTURE, COCKTAILS, \nAND CORNBREAD.","68 | TravelSouthUSA.com \nN \no American region can claim to be \nhome to more creative cuisine and \nlyrical libations than the South. The climate \nhelps: months of sunny skies, usually \nample rainfall and often mild winters. \nAnd then there's the largess of nature: \nthousands of miles of marine-rich coastal \nwaters, lakes and rivers, vast cattle-grazing \npastures, and fertile farmlands that produce \neverything from wheat and corn to orchards \nand vineyards. \nBut perhaps most important is the rich \nmixture of people and cultures. When \nthe first European explorers and settlers \narrived, they discovered often previously- \nunknown Native American ingredients \u2013 \nsucculent corn and tomatoes, potatoes and \nbeans, pumpkins and peanuts, peppers and \nmelons. They then added their own favourite \ningredients, as did the enslaved African \npeople \u2013 yams, watermelon, okra, black- \neyed peas and kola nuts, the important base \nfor both coffee and cola, plus their skill in \nrice cultivation. \nCREATIVE \nCUISINE \nLYRICAL \nLIBATIONS \nSEAFOOD GUMBO, NEW ORLEANS, LA","TravelSouthUSA.com | 69 \nFood is how we share our story with everyone who comes to Baton \nRouge. Every crispy, powdery bite is a representation of the creativity \nthat makes the food scene here in \nThe Capital City \nunlike any other. \nVisitBatonRouge.com\/restaurants \nwith a captial S. \nVBR23-11 Travel South USA Half-Page Print Ad_FINAL.indd 1 \nVBR23-11 Travel South USA Half-Page Print Ad_FINAL.indd 1 \n7\/31\/23 1:19 PM \n7\/31\/23 1:19 PM \nToday, many a southern state boasts that \nit has the very best pork or beef barbecue, \nfried chicken or pecan pie, but each state \nalso extols the virtues of its own favourite \ndishes and drinks. And where better \nto begin a Creative Cuisine Safari than \nLouisiana \n with its medley of distinctive \nFrench\/Spanish\/African-influenced Creole \nand Cajun dishes often labelled with \nintriguing French names. \nYou can start your day at New Orleans' \nlandmark Cafe du Monde with a cup \nof strong black coffee and a \nbeignet \n, a \nsquare-shaped piece of dough topped with \npowdered sugar or stuffed with savoury or \nsweet ingredients; proceed at lunchtime \nto Mother's Restaurant for a special roast \nbeef \npo'boy \n sandwich served on crusty \nFrench bread with debris (pronounced \nduh bree) gravy or at the French Quarter's \nCentral Grocery with a \nmuffuletta \n sandwich \ncrammed with Italian salami, ham, \nminced garlic, olives and cheese. And for \ndinner there's a wealth of places serving \nLouisiana's Official Dish, \ngumbo \n, a rich, \nroux-based stew of rice, seafood and or \nchicken and sausage plus onions, bell \npeppers and celery, and\/or \njambalaya \n, a rice \ndish with meat and vegetables mixed in \nwith tasty spices. \nBut, of course, delicious dining is not \nlimited to New Orleans. To the west, in the \nlow-lying Bayou Country, communities such \nas Lafayette are known for their delicious \nCajun and Creole cuisine and Lake Charles \nhas more than 25 restaurants specialising in \nboudin \n \u2013 rice, pork and spices in a smoked \nsausage casing \u2013 whereas the Andouille \nTrail running along the Mississippi River \nfrom the outskirts of New Orleans to the \noutskirts of Baton Rouge celebrates its \nnamesake dish, which features smoked \npork seasoned with salt, garlic and \ncracked black pepper. \nAnd where better than in New Roads' \nHot Tails restaurant north of Baton Rouge \nto indulge in another Louisiana specialty, \ncrustaceans known as crawfish, possibly \nserved in a succulent \n\u00e9touff\u00e9 \n stew of rice, \nherbs and vegetables? Hot Tails is owned \nby husband-and-wife chefs Sam and Cody \nCarroll, who also have two other restaurants \nof that name in the same area. \nCAFE DU MONDE, NEW ORLEANS, LA \nHIGHLANDS BAR AND GRILL, \nBIRMINGHAM, AL \nTUJAGUE'S, NEW ORLEANS, LA","70 | TravelSouthUSA.com \nFor more sensational seafood, head just \nacross the \nAlabama \n border to Mobile's \nHummingbird Way Oyster Bar. Among \nthe unmissable offerings of owner and \nexecutive chef Jim Smith are crab claws and \nseared Alabama shrimp and grits in a Creole \nsauce. (The stone-ground white hominy corn \nknown as grits is a Southern staple.) Other \nstate specialties include barbecue cooked \nin a mayonnaise rather than a traditional \ntomato-based sauce, fried green tomatoes, \npork chops and collard greens. \nLike Alabama, neighbouring, coastal \nMississippi \n benefits from its easy access \nto the rich marine life of the Gulf of Mexico \nas well as from the culinary leadership \nof people like award-winning chef Nick \nWallace. Based in Jackson's Nissan Caf\u00e9, his \nmenu features such things as wild berries, \nmicrograins, garlic, onions and mushrooms \nthat are foraged from the surrounding area. \nAmong his special dishes is one featuring \ncollard greens, hoe cake (friend cornbread \nencompassing eggs and buttermilk), \nand pickled onions served in a hot sauce \nfeaturing chilli peppers, cloves and a \nchoice of vinegar. \nMoving up the \nGeorgia \n coast, Atlanta's \npopular Busy Bee restaurant has been \ndishing out such specialties as meatloaf \nand chicken giblets and rice since 1947 \nat its establishment on Martin Luther \nKing Jr. Drive. And in coastal Savannah, \nchef Mashama at The Grey restaurant, \nset in a former 1938 Art Deco Greyhound \nBus Terminal, won the 2022 James \nBeard Outstanding Chef award for his \ncreative cuisine. \nLong celebrated as a fab food destination, \nCharleston, \nSouth Carolina \n, has a litany \nof star-studded dining spots, some run \nby James Beard Award winners such as \nchef Mike Lata of FIG (Food Is Good) and \nchef Rodney Scott, who elevates barbecue \nto gourmet status at Whole Hog BBQ, plus \nthe convoy of such East Bay Street area \nrestaurants as Magnolias, High Cotton, \nSlightly North of Broad, and Husk. \nFor great barbecue, head to Roy's Grill, \nlocated in the small town of Irmo just north \nof Columbia. It's presided over by chef Chris \nWilliams \u2013 while there, check out the divine \npeach cobbler, enhanced with nutmeg. \nAnother state specialty is Frogmore Stew, \nwhich consists of shrimp, corn, sausage \nand seafood seasoning. It originated \nfrom St. Helena, one of the just-offshore \nislands inhabited by the descendants of \nthe enslaved West African Gullah people \nwho have contributed so much to Southern \ncuisine. Other South Carolina specialties \ninclude shrimp and grits and crab cakes. \nPIG AND PINT, JACKSON, MS \nHUSK, CHARLESTON, SC \nED'S BURGER JOINT, HATTIESBURG, MS \nSTRAIGHT TO ALE \nBREWERY, HUNTSVILLE, AL","TravelSouthUSA.com | 71 \nNorth Carolina \n's Oyster Trail not only \nencompasses such coastal dining shrines as \nWilmington's Seabird and Catch restaurants \nbut also leads to award-winning Durham \nchef Ricky Moore's acclaimed Saltbox \nSeafood Joint. Of particular note: his \ncharcoal-grilled Oyster Pamplico, garnished \nwith chopped bacon, pimento cheese and \ntoasted cracker crumbs. \nThe state is also renowned for its \nsmoked-pork barbecue served in such \naward-winning places as The Skylight Inn, \nlocated in Ayden east of Raleigh, sweet \npotato dishes and hush puppies, aptly \nnamed fried cornmeal balls, created by \nhunters from left-over dough to placate their \nnoisy hound dogs. \nWith its expansive frontage along \nAmerica's largest estuary, the marine-rich \nChesapeake Bay, \nVirginia \n, is the East Coast's \nlargest producer of wild and farm-raised \noysters. Sample them at places along its \nOyster Trail while checking out the Bay's \nsucculent blue crabs, either in-shell or out \nduring the moulting season. \nSmithfield, in the state's south-eastern \ncorner, is particularly known for its \npeanut and ham production \u2013 enjoy some \npeanut soup and\/or ham served on hot, \ncrumbly buttered biscuits. The lovely, \nfertile Shenandoah Valley is full of apple \norchards \u2013 sample the creamy apple \nbutter sold in local shops \u2013 and up in the \nwestern mountains they are still tapping \nthe trees for maple syrup, delicious on \nbuckwheat pancakes. \nKIMBALL'S KITCHEN \nRESTAURANT, DUCK, NC \nPERSIMMONS WATERFRONT RESTAURANT, NEW BERN, NC \nPLEASURE HOUSE, VIRGINIA BEACH, VA \nSHRIMP AND GRITS, CHARLESTON, SC \nBOATHOUSE, HILTON HEAD, SC","72 | TravelSouthUSA.com \nNeighbouring \nWest Virginia \n is \nparticularly proud of its numerous farm-to- \ntable restaurants, among them centrally- \nlocated Buckhannon's Fish Hawk Acres. \nAnd for something really special try out \nPork Chop Milanese served with a sweet \npotato pur\u00e9e and a mulled cider glaze at \nCharleston's 1010 Bridge restaurant. It's a \ncreation of chef Paul Smith, a semi-finalist \nin the prestigious 2023 James Beard Awards. \nFood guru James Beard himself had \ngreat respect for barbecuing and his first- \never America's Classic award to a barbecue \nrestaurant went to Harold Jones's Jones's \nBar-B-Que Diner in the small east- \nArkansas \ntown of Marianna. In business for more \nthan a century, it is considered to be the \nSouth's oldest black-owned restaurant in \ncontinuous operation. Then, for something \ncompletely different, head to Little Rock's \nBoulevard Bread Company, where award- \nwinning chef\/owner Scott McGehee dishes \nout Arkansas Caviar, a perky combo of corn, \nfield peas, peppers, tomatoes, onions, garlic \nand jalapeno. It's served with cornmeal- \nbased pone bread and green tomato pickle. \nOther state specialties include fried \ncatfish and wild duck. \nKentucky \n, as we all are aware, is best- \nknown for fried chicken and bourbon. You \ncan pay tribute to the former by dropping \nby Harland Saunders Caf\u00e9 and Museum in \nsouth-central-sited Corbin, for it was there \nthat the colonel first tested his famous \nchicken recipe, later to be franchised \naround the world. As for bourbon, head \nfor Bardstown, home of the Bardstown \nBourbon Company, where you can top up \nyour tipple with a delicious selection of \nfood \u2013 according to chief commercial officer \nHerb Heneman, this was the first distillery to \nopen a restaurant. \nHeaded for Louisville instead? Then check \nout the historic Brown Hotel's signature \ndish, the Hot Brown, which is layered toasted \nbread, turkey, bacon and tomatoes topped by \na rich Mornay sauce. \nEQUUS JACK'S BOURBON RESTAURANT, LOUISVILLE, KY \nHOT BROWN, LOUISVILLE, KY \nJONES'S BAR-B-QUE \nDINER, MARIANNA, AR \nARTHUR BRYANT'S \nBARBEQUE, KANSAS CITY, MO \nCORDUROY INN, SHOWSHOE, WV"]