Your journey through the Deep South starts in the home of country music and the vibrant capital of Tennessee, Nashville. Music can be heard all around the city, whether that is on ‘Broadway’ the lively entertainment area filled with honky tonk bars or at the famous Grand Ole Opry at a music concert. If you like Johnny Cash, visit the museum that celebrates his life and successful music career or the Country Music Hall of Fame, an expansive museum showcasing legendary to current country music artists, and their stories and how they impacted the music industry. A must visit whilst in the city is RCA Studio B, where Elvis Presley and Dolly Parton amongst others recorded their hits which put Nashville in the centre of the world music stage.

Experience more music and learn about the Civil Rights Movement as we head to Memphis today, home of the ‘blues’, soul, and rock ‘n’ roll. Like Nashville, music is at the heart of Memphis with so many musical highlights to choose from. The Stax Museum of American Soul Music tells the story of soul music as well as gospel and R&B. Hit the interactive dance floor and see fascinating exhibits from soul legends including Otis Redding and Al Green. Visit world famous Graceland, the second most visited home in the USA and Sun Studios where legends including Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash recorded hits. Another recommended visit is to the moving National Civil Rights Museum that incorporates the Lorraine Motel where Dr Martin Luthur King was tragically killed. Delve deep into the history of the Civil Rights Movement and the courage of the people involved.

Learn more about Elvis’ life today as we travel to Tupelo, Mississippi where he was born and spent his early life. Visit his small shotgun childhood home, the family church, and the Tupelo Hardware Store where his Mum Gladys bought him his first guitar. Continue to ‘The Shoals’, the four musical quad cities of Florence, Tuscumbia, Sheffield, and Muscle Shoals that sit in the north-west corner of Alabama. The Shoals area music studios figure prominently in the history of rock ‘n roll and R&B including the Fame Recording Studios which put artists including Aretha Franklin and Otis Redding on the map. There’s also the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio where the Rolling Stones and Tina Turner recorded hit songs.

Spend this morning visiting the birthplace of the ‘Father of the Blues’ W.C Handy in Florence, before travelling to the ‘Rocket’ city of Huntsville. Regularly voted one of the most desirable places to live in America, Huntsville oozes charm and has a great craft brewery and restaurant scene. One of the biggest attractions in Huntsville is the U.S. Space and Rocket Centre which houses over 1500 artefacts from America’s space programme. Exhibits include America’s first satellite, Explorer 1, an amazing Saturn V moon rocket amongst many other interesting exhibits that tells the story of space exploration.

Leave Huntsville this morning, perhaps taking a slight detour east to Unclaimed Baggage in Scottsboro, a one-of-a-kind department store that sells a wide range of items that have been unclaimed or lost by airlines. From clothes, cameras and jewellery, there are bargains to be picked up. Arrive in Birmingham known at the ‘Magic City ‘and to help get your bearings start by visiting Vulcan Park and Museum. This is home to the world’s largest cast iron statue, which plays homage to the iron ore miners and stands at 56 feet tall and has fantastic views of Birmingham’s skyline. Visit the powerful Civil Rights Institute to learn about the rise of the Civil Rights Movement and the important part Birmingham played. Just a short walk away is the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, the city’s most famous civil rights landmark when on the 15 September 1963, a bomb planted by the Ku Klux Klan tragically killed four young girls. After two days of exploring the city, see a show at the iconic Alabama theatre or taste award winning cuisine, Birmingham is home to some of America’s best restaurants.

Travel to Montgomery today, the capital of Alabama, visiting the town of Selma on the way to learn more about the towns struggles during the Civil Rights Movement. Selma was the start point of the historic march lead by Dr Martin Luthur King to Montgomery, Alabama’s capital to protest for African Americans right to vote which resulted in deadly violence. Continue to Montgomery, the birthplace of the Civil Rights Movement where the Bus Boycott took place, initiated when Rosa Parks famously refused to give up her seat. Visit the interesting Rosa Parks Library and Museum to learn about her story and the positive changes her brave actions led to. You can also visit the church where Dr Martin Luthur King was a pastor. For a drink and a delicious dinner head to the lively Alley entertainment district.

Head to the Gulf Coast today and the city of Mobile, known as the ‘birthplace of Mardi Gras’. With a melting pot of cultures including French, Spanish and African districts showcased in architecture, museums, and restaurants. Mobile is unique and utterly charming, home to the first Mardi Gras in 1703, February is a magical time to visit the city and experience this world-famous carnival. If you can’t visit in February, head to the Mobile Carnival Museum to soak up the revelry with colourful costumes and floats on display. You can also enjoy exploring a US battleship at the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park as well as submarines and military aircraft.

End your charming fly-drive holiday relaxing on white sand beaches and swimming in blue turquoise waters at Orange Beach that lies on the Gulf of Mexico. With some of the best beaches in the USA, spend your time lying on the picture-perfect powdered sands, playing a game of golf, or enjoying a cruise in search of dolphins.

Drive back to New Orleans passing Mobile and either drop your car off at New Orleans airport, in time for your flight back to the UK or choose to extend your stay in the electric city of New Orleans.