USA: Southern States
...whistling down in Dixie
The states that make up the southern wedge of the US – and its southernmost point, Florida – are linked together not just by geographic proximity but also by a shared sense of history, culture, food and music, says Steve Hartridge
S
elf-drive tourists exploring a region as diverse as Kentucky in the north and Alabama
in the south will discover one- off attractions and jaw-dropping scenery whichever state boundaries their rental cars cross, but it is the common themes binding the south that make it a unique touring destination.
This is the birthplace of some of America’s greatest music; it’s a region dominated by vibrant cities, charming towns, attractive beaches, stately 19th century homes
ringed by azaleas and magnolias, authentic jazz and blues bars and
34 February 2013 •
www.sellinglonghaul.com
restaurants serving up delicacies like fried green tomatoes, blue crab cakes, jambalaya and grit fritters. This compelling regional identity was recognised at last December’s Travel South USA Intrnational Showcase in Atlanta, where a common refrain was increased joint promotion of music festivals, history trails and food events Georgia’s Deputy Commissioner of Tourism, Kevin Langston, said: “Each southern destination has its own story to tell but by working together we can offer a much more powerful and authentic appeal to our international audiences.”
Movie-goers who see the multi- Oscar nominated Lincoln receive not only a crash course in US Civil War history but also a taste of the South’s ‘sense of identity.’ Virginia featured, in the shape of Richmond – where the state capital fi lled in for the White House in Washington DC – along with Petersburg.
The fi lm also provided a glimpse of some of the ante-bellum
grandeur on offer across the South. Stretching over 1700km from Arkansas’s western border to Key West in Florida, the southern states cover too much territory for most to cover on a single trip, and agents should suggest ways to make a fl y- drive holiday manageable. Malcolm Davies, Product
Administration Manager, Funway Holidays, suggests a combination of Georgia, North and South
Carolina as the perfect Southern fl y -drive for fi rst-timer visitors.
“I did it myself last year. Starting in ultra-modern Atlanta, there is an immediate contrast as you
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