The Deep South

Best time to visit the Deep South

The Deep South’s climate is generally warm and moist, particularly once you hit the subtropics of Mississippi and Louisiana, but there are distinctive seasons.

A visit during the long, gentle springtime (mid-March-June) will treat you to spectacular bouquets of dogwood, azaleas, and magnolia blossoms whilst the summers are hot and humid, with rainfall and humidity tend to increase towards the end of the summer. 

Autumns are pleasant with changing colours in the Appalachians and the beaches along the Gulf Coast still warm enough to swim up until November. Southern winters tend to be short with a mix of warm and cold days, but it is not completely unheard of to encounter truly wintery conditions including heavy snowfalls.

Ultimately, the best time to visit the Deep South depends on your preferences and priorities. Consider the weather, crowds, and activities you want to enjoy when making your decision.

Discover the Deep South

If culture and the arts were the main staple of a thriving economy, you could be assured that The Deep South would be one of the wealthiest hot spots in the entire United States. It’s a region richly portrayed and characterised by its very own brand of literature, having unleashed a profusion of literary greats from Faulkner to Lee.

When it comes to American music, you’ll find all roads lead to the South. The Mississippi Delta gave birth to the blues and to jazz - a legacy that is celebrated throughout the region, particularly in Memphis, Nashville and New Orleans. The sweet and authentic sound of Bluegrass music is at the heart of Kentucky, whilst the beat of Cajun music captures the very essence of Louisiana from the heat and spice to the mystery of its bayous, and its infectious French rhythms. Shrines to Southern-born musicians can be found throughout the south and adoring pilgrims flock to a land that gave us the legends of Louis Armstrong, Bill Monroe, W.C. Handy, B.B. King and Elvis.

Whether you want to wander amongst the live oaks laden with Spanish moss, cruise through wildlife-stocked backwaters or explore the many historical sites, make sure you have your party shoes to hand. No matter when you come, the south finds excuses for festivals and celebrations at the drop of a hat - invariably accompanied by great food and music and, of course bourbon and lashings of obligatory Southern hospitality.

Highlights of the Deep South

What is the Deep South famous for?

• Alabama
• Louisiana
• Mississippi
• Tennessee
• Kentucky

Swipe left or right to learn more about each destination.

Sweet Home Alabama

In the heart of America’s Deep South, Alabama’s residents are friendly and offer a warm welcome. There is so much to love about Alabama, including its civil right history, space exploration, award winning food, and musical attractions. Muscle Shoals is as important as Memphis and Nashville when it comes to the world music stage with its two recording studios - Fame Recording Studios and Muscle Shoals Sound Studio producing hit records for artist such as Tina Turner, Aretha Franklin, Etta James and many more.

The state played a pivotal role in the Civil Rights Movement, and you can follow its fascinating history in Montgomery, Selma, and Birmingham. Home to some of America’s best restaurants, miles of white sandy beaches on the Gulf Shores and its most visited attraction the US Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama will no doubt surprise you!

Louisiana

Bordering the Gulf of Mexico, Louisiana offers a diverse range of cultures including French, African and Spanish, tasty and distinctive cuisine, beautiful plantation homes, bayous and swamps brimming with wildlife, quaint towns, and plenty of outdoor activities to keep you entertained including hiking and golf.

New Orleans, ‘The Big Easy’ is Louisiana’s most well-known city and is overflowing with beautiful architecture, old world charm, energy, colour and music. Stroll around the interesting French Quarter and listen to jazz music and see marching brass bands or enjoy a lunch or dinner cruise on a paddle wheeler along the Mississippi River.

Mississippi

With borders on each of the other three Deep South states, the legendary music and civil rights attractions continue in the ‘birthplace of the blue’s’. Mississippi gives you a real taste of what life was like in the Deep South in its charming, elegant, and authentic river towns including Natchez, the oldest settlement on the Mississippi River and one of the wealthiest and Vicksburg, a key site where the American Civil War was fought. 

Indianola is home to the blues legend B.B. King, and you can learn about his life in the museum named after him. Get a sprinkle of Hollywood glamour at the Grammy Museum in Cleveland and visit Tupelo where Elvis Presley was born and see his simple childhood home and the hardware store, where he bought his first guitar.

Tennessee

Rich in musical history, Tennessee’s biggest claim to fame is for being the ‘birthplace of rock n’ roll ‘and for being the home of country music. Both Memphis and Nashville lead the way in the states’ long list of world class musical attractions including the Country Music Hall of Fame, RCA Studio B and the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville and Sun Studios and Elvis’ beloved Graceland in Memphis.

Apart from the music, Tennessee has some beautiful hidden gems including the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the historic railroad town of Chattanooga, Lynchburg, home of Jack Daniels Bourbon and the fun and thill rides at Dollywood – Dolly Parton’s unique theme park.

Kentucky

Experience the uniquely Southern qualities of Kentucky, from its storied history of racehorses and bourbon to the thrill of cave exploration and down-home cuisine. Discover Southern hospitality in the Cincy Region, which offers a strong brewing heritage and fascinating history. Visit Louisville, most famous for the ‘fastest two minutes in sports’ - the Kentucky Derby - but also home to Muhammad Ali and the Slugger Museum and Factory, maker of the famous baseball bats.

Marvel at Mammoth Cave, the world’s largest cave system, and delve into the USA’s love affair with its quintessential sports car at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green. Over 95% of the word’s bourbon is made in Kentucky, make sure to visit its many distilleries, travel the Kentucky Bourbon Trail or enjoy a few glasses in a local bar whilst listening to live bluegrass music.