Louisiana and the Deep South holidays

Who is New Orleans and the Deep South best for?

A music lover's paradise, the Deep South is pulsing with rhythmic beats from soulful blues and swinging jazz to foot tapping country and cajun. More than just catchy tunes, the melodies tell stories of the country that will move and stir, staying with you long after your Louisiana holiday has ended. Foodies will love the freshly caught shrimp and okra while lovers of history and culture will be well accommodated for with the region’s rich melting pot of French, African, American and French-Canadian cultures. Bookworms will see their favourite novels come alive from readers of James Lee Burke and James Sallis to lovers of Lew Griffin and Nicholas Sparks.

Which experiences are New Orleans and the Deep South holidays best for ?

Following the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, part of what makes New Orleans holidays so special is the strong ties of its communities which has strengthened the spirit of the region and given the cities a welcoming atmosphere. Head to New Orleans and feel at home while you stroll through narrow streets, kick back in a bar and listen to some lively cajun music played by a live band. Wander along the famous Magazine Street and enjoy miles of eclectic shops selling everything from pottery and period furniture to books and jewellery. Afterwards, rest your feet in one of the many charming cafes and coffee shops ideal for a late afternoon caffeine hit. Architecture admirers will find plenty to delight from the French Creole townhouses to the huge plantations and its mansions which are a reminder that the Deep South was once the beating heart of America.

Special things to do in the Deep South

New Orleans, America’s “Big Easy” is the place to go for vibrant live music, round-the-clock nightlife and an unparalleled feeling of festivities. Duck down a narrow lane and into a low-lit bar where you can sit back and enjoy the melancholic melodies of Louisiana’s very own brand of blues.

New Orleans

We think New Orleans should be the starting point for any exploration of the Deep South. The food is sensational, and we can advise on the best places to consume the finest examples of those southern staples of gumbo (a spicy stew made with pretty much whatever ingredients the chef chooses), jambalaya (paella's American cousin) and beignets (delicious deep-fried pastries). Add into the cast iron cooking pot an all-pervasive jazz and blues soundtrack, a soupcon of voodoo juju and creole culture, a pinch of nightlife like nowhere else and a healthy slug of liquors to fuel those nights out, and the new New Orleans is an intoxicating brew. If you can drag yourself away from the city visit quintessential plantation houses and The Bayou, Louisiana's iconic swamps and wetlands. The waterways of the Barataria Preserve are within easy reach of New Orleans and full of alligators.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

More wilderness awaits in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park straddling the border with North Carolina, and named for the fog that sometimes shrouds the mountains of this UNESCO World Heritage Site and Biosphere reserve. Don't worry - despite the occasional fog there's plenty to see here. This hugely diverse ecosystem consists of spruce and hardwood forest covered mountains, meadows, coves and valleys that were once home to Cherokee Indian communities and are now the preserve of the largest density of black bears in the eastern USA. The National Park is a great spot for walking on many of the well-marked trails, with areas such as Cades Cove famed for their natural beauty and a number of 19th Century settlers' homes. Visitors can also rent mountain bikes to explore, while the Smokies (as the Park is affectionately known) is also home to a staggering 1500 types of wildflower, with many - thoughtfully - in bloom throughout the months (April to October) when most people visit.

South Carolina

From here you can extend your fly drive Deep South holiday to take in the other (South) Carolina and some coastline. Charleston is one of the Southeast's most charming cities, with well-preserved colonial architecture, green spaces full of tropical palms and fragrant jasmine and honeysuckle. Taking time to amble around the streets of Charleston is much of the appeal, as is the colourful civil war history at sites such as Fort Sumter, where the first shots were fired. Charleston is also blessed with some fantastic restaurants, so loosening your belt buckles and relaxing riverside with a cool beer and some hearty southern cuisine is an absolute must.

Georgia

Nearby, as the first settlement of the British colony in Georgia, and later at the heart of plantation agriculture and the slave trade in the 18th century, the town of Savannah has a rich history. It's also easily one of the more beautiful southern cities, but unlike more elegant Charleston, Savannah lacks a little grace but knows how to have a good time, like a mini New Orleans. And so to Atlanta, a sprawling city of over five million souls. Known as the 'capital of the south', this progressive city has left its leisurely Southern past in the dust as it expands at a rapid rate, and can also proudly boast of its status as the hometown of Martin Luther King. Enjoy one last blast of southern comfort thanks to a multitude of fantastic restaurants and museums celebrating African American history and more before flying home, no doubt with a determination to revisit one of the most intriguing regions on earth.