For much of my life I’ve enjoyed the musical genres originating in the Southern US. What this trip did was to put it all together – the evolution of music set against the political and economic history of the area. Fascinating and enjoyable.
Deep South Tours & Holidays
Top 5 Deep South Holiday Highlights
Deep South tours
Stretching along the Gulf Coast from eastern Texas to Florida, the Deep South is renowned for music. From the soulful blues and brass bands of New Orleans to the country twang blasting from honky tonks in Nashville, you’ll soon find a holiday to the Deep South means walking in the footsteps of some of America’s biggest musical legends.
On our Deep South tours we visit cities such as New Orleans, Nashville and Memphis representing a fascinating blend of old and new, with must-visit places including the Grand Ole Opry, Graceland, Bourbon Street and Stax Records. But aside from the music, the Deep South is known as the birthplace of the Modern Civil Rights Movement. It also dishes out deliciously hearty Southern delicacies, such as bubbling jambalaya, Creole-style shrimp gumbo, gravy biscuits and more. From it’s fascinating history and refreshing Southern hospitality to its long list of musical legends and iconic dishes, you’ll find it difficult to match the Deep South’s charm and character.
Deep South Holidays & Tours
Helen Bouchami Southern Soul: New Orleans to Nashville
Clair Rogers Southern Soul: New Orleans to NashvilleThe trip itinerary was well thought out. A great journey through some very diverse and fascinating towns and cities, with good food, warm people, amazing music, history, civil rights and varied experiences along the way. I honestly wasn’t expecting to love it as much as I did and I don’t think I’ve ever learned so much on a holiday before. The Mississippi Delta is fascinating.
Michael Nutt Southern Soul: New Orleans to NashvilleThis trip promised a lot on paper, and delivered so much more in reality, exceeding my expectations. Our group leader managed to cram so much in, while at the same time allowing a nice degree of freedom for us to do our own exploration and choose our own optional activities. The tour began with a deeply moving and affecting look at the civil rights movement, covering the life of Martin Luther King Jr (where he was born, the church at which he preached, his memorial garden and tomb; later on we would visit the place where he was assassinated); the slave trade and its role in creating wealth for the plantation owners and the country as a whole; and the continued oppression of the freed slaves after the Civil War and their struggle for basic human rights. As we went on, the focus shifted toward the music that was created on the plantations, the way it developed and seeped into mainstream culture in America before spreading across the world. While this was very informative and educational, there were plenty of lighter moments too and we were a great group who had a lot of laughs along the way. As well as visiting sites that were significant to the music history, there were opportunities to hear live music – jazz, blues and country – at many locations from New Orleans to Nashville. A wonderful experience that we will continue to savour for a very long time.
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