15 Must-Do Experiences in the American South

Think of the Deep South and you’ll find yourself immersed in the sounds of live jazz drifting through warm evening air, the rich aroma of slow-smoked barbecue, and streets steeped in history and character. This is a region that invites you to slow down, listen closely and truly connect, while also exploring diverse landscapes of parks, lakes, and rivers through outdoor activities like hiking and canoeing.

Stretching across the south-eastern United States, the Deep South is home to some of America’s most culturally rich and musically significant cities. From the soulful streets of New Orleans to the rhythm of Nashville and the dynamic energy of Atlanta, each destination offers a distinct perspective on American life, shaped by a rich history and the region’s important role in the Civil Rights Movement.

Whether you’re drawn by music, cuisine or history, a journey through the Deep South promises an experience that is as enriching as it is unforgettable, with Southern hospitality felt especially in its food and warm welcome.

French Quarter, Stephen Young/NewOrleans.com

New Orleans: Culture, Cuisine and Celebration

Experience Mardi Gras

Few celebrations in the world rival the spectacle of Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Held in the weeks leading up to Fat Tuesday (known in the UK as Shrove Tuesday or Pancake Day), this iconic festival transforms the city into a vibrant display of parades, elaborate costumes and time-honoured traditions.

Expect dazzling floats, lively marching bands and the joyful exchange of “throws” – from beads to hand-crafted keepsakes. It’s an immersive cultural experience that captures the spirit and heritage of the city at its most expressive.

Wander the French Quarter

New Orleans’ historic heart and oldest neighbourhood, the French Quarter—also known as the Vieux Carré—spans 13 by 7 blocks and is celebrated for its vibrant nightlife and live music, centred around world-famous Bourbon Street, a name long synonymous with live music. For more live entertainment after dark, nearby Frenchmen Street offers another lively hub for jazz and nightlife.

Founded by the French in 1718, this charming old-world district is best explored on foot and showcases some of the most striking architecture in the United States, including Jackson Square and the impressive St. Louis Cathedral. Visitors can also explore the city’s distinctive cemeteries, such as Lafayette Cemetery No. 1, known for its above-ground tombs, and the historic St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, final resting place of Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau.

Mardi Gras, Pableaux Johnson/NewOrleans.com

Savour Creole Cuisine

The South is renowned for its unique culinary traditions, and New Orleans is the home of Creole cuisine—a style of cooking that blends French, Spanish, Southern, West African and Native American influences. Most dishes use a roux as a base and are based on the use of ‘the holy trinity’ or a mix of bell pepper, celery and onion. Seafood, andouille sausage and rice are staples in Creole cooking and iconic dishes include gumbo, red beans and rice and jambalaya, as well as New Orleans’ iconic sweet treat, beignets. Classic Creole dining can be found at restaurants like Antoine’s, Arnaud’s, Galatoire’s and Café du Monde, while cooking enthusiasts will find in-depth Creole cooking classes around the city.

Take a Mississippi River Steamboat Cruise

Travel from New Orleans up America’s iconic Mississippi River on a historic steamboat cruise. Steamboats played a major role in the 19th-century development of the Mississippi River and its tributaries, allowing large-scale transport of passengers and freight up and down this long body of water—and nowadays you can still take this iconic journey on a 2-hour cruise. Options include a Sunday brunch, a leisurely lunchtime buffet or an evening jazz cruise —each offering scenic views and a taste of one of the USA’s oldest river traditions.

Explore New Orleans’ Garden District

Established in the 1830s, this historic uptown neighbourhood is known for its well-preserved historic mansions, lush gardens and oak-lined streets. Boasting stunning Greek Revival and Italianate architecture, the district is home to many historical sites. Walk down Coliseum and First Streets to view the breathtaking homes like the Buckner Mansion; head to Magazine Street for its boutique shopping, antique shops and cafes, then stay in a nearby boutique hotel that matches the area’s elegant character; and take a ride on the historic St. Charles Avenue Streetcar, which will get you there from downtown.

Concert on Broadway, NCVC Tourism

Nashville: Music, Heritage and Southern Hospitality

Attend a Show at the Grand Ole Opry

Nashville’s legendary music hall has been broadcasting a weekly live country-music radio show and offering live performances several nights a week since 1925. Whether you’re passionate about Country music or a beginner in this distinct style of American music and want to experience it for yourself, it’s a must to attend a performance at the Grand Ole Opry when visiting Nashville. The city’s entertainment scene includes over 250 live music venues from arenas to hole-in-the-wall honky tonks, with music of all genres available for visitors to enjoy. From long-time legends to rising stars, you’ll get to see some of America’s most talented musicians. The Opry also offers daytime and post-show tours to round off the experience.

Explore the Country Music Hall of Fame

Home to one of the world’s most extensive musical collections, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville has a collection of over 2.5 million historic objects spread across two vast floors dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of Country music. Here, you can follow the evolution of America’s vernacular music in the context of American history, as well as through countless carefully selected artefacts and interactive exhibits that feature artists from the past and present, including Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Taylor Swift, Luke Bryan and many others. The curation here is excellent and will easily appeal to music lovers of any genre, and it is an ideal place for a deep dive into country music, its artists and its cultural impact.

The Listening Room Café, NCVC Tourism

Visit Historic RCA Studio B

Nicknamed “The Home of 1,000 Hits”, Studio B became famous in the 1960s for producing what came to be known as “the Nashville Sound”. It was Elvis Presley’s favourite place to record and welcomed a range of artists, including Roy Orbison, Waylon Jennings, Dolly Parton and The Everly Brothers. Guided tours bring this rich musical history to life through the stories and songs created in this prolific studio, located on Nashville’s famous Music Row.

Discover the Heroes Behind the Hits

Often the unsung heroes of Music City, songwriters play a powerful role in putting Nashville on the music map. While their creativity usually takes place behind the scenes, whenever you get the chance to see these artists take centre stage, seize it. The holy grail for songwriters is the Bluebird Café, where they perform their original material in intimate “in the round” sessions every night of the week. The Listening Room Café, 3rd & Lindsley, and countless other writers’ nights across the city are also fantastic places to experience their incredible talent and hear the stories behind some of your favourite songs.

Visit the Ryman Auditorium

A world-renowned concert hall, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame landmark, former home of the Grand Ole Opry, and music’s most iconic stage, the Ryman Auditorium is Nashville’s “Mother Church.” The Ryman’s incomparable acoustics create an authentic and transcendent concert experience for every person in the room (even the performers), and the venue hosts big-name musical acts of all genres. Located in the heart of downtown Nashville, you can tour the Ryman during the day, and secure tickets to a show in the evening.

ONE Musicfest, Discover Atlanta

Atlanta: History, Culture and Modern Energy

National Center for Civil and Human Rights

Located in downtown Atlanta, the National Center for Civil and Human Rights respectfully delves into America’s past examining the achievements of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States and broader human rights movements around the world. Offering exhibits that are equal parts informative, profound, factual, emotional and interactive—if you’ve ever wanted to learn about the civil rights history in the US, this is the place to do it.

Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park

Honouring the legacy of Dr Martin Luther King Jr., one of the most influential leaders of America’s Civil Rights Movement, this important national site spans approximately 35 acres and brings together several key locations connected to his life and work in Atlanta, Georgia. Visitors can explore Dr King’s birthplace at 501 Auburn Avenue, gaining a deeper insight into his early years, as well as visit the Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, where he both preached and continues to inspire, with services still held there today.

The park also includes the poignant final resting places of Dr King and his wife, Coretta Scott King, set within a peaceful reflection pool. Throughout the site, informative exhibits and preserved landmarks help tell the powerful story of the Civil Rights Movement and Dr King’s enduring impact. Free to enter, the park offers a moving and educational experience that is both uplifting and thought-provoking for all who visit.

Atlanta Botanical Garden, ACVB Marketing | Lily Leiva

Atlanta Botanical Garden

Spanning more than 30 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds, the Atlanta Botanical Garden is a true oasis in the heart of the city. Visitors can explore an impressive variety of themed areas, from fragrant rose gardens and tranquil herb collections to striking conifer displays, carnivorous plants and rare orchids housed in carefully curated environments. Highlights include the much-loved Lou Glenn Children’s Garden, perfect for younger visitors, and the unique Kendeda Canopy Walk, which offers a peaceful perspective high above the shady woodland floor.

Art and nature blend seamlessly here, with imaginative sculptures dotted throughout the gardens, adding another layer of interest to every visit. With plenty of outdoor experiences to enjoy throughout the seasons, from family-friendly activities to quieter corners for relaxation, the Atlanta Botanical Garden makes for an engaging and memorable half or full day out for visitors of all ages.

Discover Buford Highway’s Food Scene

Set on a semi-rural two-lane byway roughly 40 minutes northeast of downtown Atlanta lies some of the most authentic, multicultural dining in America. This nationally recognised corridor is home to the highest concentration of foreign-born populations in the country (let alone the South) and makes for one of the most eclectic and delicious dining destinations. Visitors will find food from every country in regions such as Asia, Southeast Asia and Latin America. Where you choose to eat won’t be an easy decision, but highlights include the Buford Highway Farmers Market, Plaza Fiesta, Atlanta Chinatown, Food Terminal and any one of the bakeries along the way.

Visit the World of Coca-Cola Museum

Whether or not you happen to be a fan of the world-famous soft drink, the World of Coca-Cola Museum in Atlanta provides a fun afternoon out. Spread across a 20-acre complex, visitors can learn all about its history through fun interactive exhibits, fascinating artefacts and paraphernalia and of course, beverage samples. If you like soda, this is your chance to taste more than 100 Cola-Cola products from around the world.

Ready to explore the Deep South?

With direct flights from the UK to New Orleans, Nashville and Atlanta, Deep South holidays have never been more within reach.

Whether you’re looking to immerse yourself in the region’s legendary music cities, uncover the best things to do in the Deep South, or discover unique places to stay in the Deep South, Journeyscape offers a range of expertly curated, tailor-made itineraries designed to bring it all together.

Click here to discover the highlights of New Orleans, Nashville and Atlanta with our brand-new Southern Soundtrack holiday—where music, culture and flavour come together at every stop.