American South Holidays

A holiday to the Deep South will take you to one of the USA’s most fascinating regions, where its historical chapters include the American Revolution, the American Civil War, the abolition of slavery, and the Civil Rights movement. There are dozens of interesting sites to visit during your trip, but there are a few key cities in particular which should be on your list. 

If you want to know more about the Civil Rights Movement, take a trip to Atlanta in Georgia, or Memphis in Tennessee. The former was the birthplace of activist Dr Martin Luther King Jr., whose work you can learn about at the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site. And in Memphis, the National Civil Rights Museum showcases the journey from slavery to the Civil War to the Civil Rights Movement.

Elsewhere, in Montgomery in Alabama, you’ll find the only church that Martin Luther King Jr. ever pastored in. And Rosa Parks also started the Montgomery Bus Boycott, when she famously refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a bus. 

Deeply connected to the region’s heritage, music is in the Deep South’s DNA. Cities like Nashville, Memphis and New Orleans are synonymous with toe-tapping rhythms – whether it’s jazz and blues, or country and rock ‘n’ roll.

If you’re into music, make sure you spend some time in Tennessee during your Deep South holiday. Nashville is a must-do for any country music fans. This city boasts hundreds of live music venues and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, where you can see exhibitions dedicated to Johnny Cash, George Jones and Willie Nelson. Memphis, meanwhile, is the home of rock ‘n’ roll. Elvis fans can take a trip to the King’s home, Graceland, and discover Sun Studios where Elvis, Johnny Cash, B.B. King and Roy Orbison recorded some of their most famous records. You could also visit the town of Muscle Shoals in Alabama – known as the Hit Recording Capital of the World – where legends like Aretha Franklin and the Rolling Stones recorded major hits.

Louisiana is another Southern state famous for its live music and festivals, especially Mardi Gras. Originally high society balls in the 1740s, this celebration has evolved into a two-week carnival in the city of New Orleans. Every year – usually in February or March – the city becomes a-buzz with colourful parades, dance troupes, live music and much more.

A holiday to the USA’s Deep South gives you the opportunity to explore a number of fascinating cities – so why not consider a road trip? Even if you just focus your attention on one state, you’ll be able to cover a lot of ground. You could drive around Texas, for instance, visiting exciting cities like Austin, Dallas and Houston, and learn all about cowboy culture in Fort Worth. 

Or, if music is more your thing, why not spend two weeks driving between the Deep South’s most musical cites? You could start your journey in Atlanta, before continuing on to Memphis and Nashville. Stop off in Charleston and Savannah for a quick history lesson, before returning to Atlanta.
Alternatively, you could combine fantastic music, great food and historical attractions into one big trip. We’d recommend driving in one long loop – starting and ending in Atlanta – with stops in Charleston, Savannah, Selma, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Memphis and Nashville.

This part of the USA is famous for its hot, humid summers. So, to avoid the uncomfortable heat, it’s best to plan your Deep South holiday for March, April or May. At this time of year, it’s generally warm and sunny with temperatures hovering around 19°C at the start of spring, and climbing to 29°C by the end of May. As a general rule, New Orleans tends to be a couple of degrees hotter than other popular cities, such as Atlanta, Charleston and Nashville.

Spring is also a great time to experience some of the Deep South’s biggest festivals. New Orleans’ Mardis Gras is usually in February or early March, while April sees New Orleans Jazz Festival. Over in Georgia, meanwhile, there’s the Atlanta Film Festival in April and Atlanta Jazz Festival in May.
Alternatively, you could plan your holiday for autumn, when the trees show off their fiery foliage. You might get some rain – mainly in coastal areas – but, generally, the Southern states remain warm and pleasant. Plus, you can enjoy live music at Austin City Limits Music Festival, or take part in fun events for Halloween and Thanksgiving.