Travel South: music of the south and the Florida beaches

Almost completely destroyed by general William Sherman during the Civil War – an iconic moment as depicted in “Gone with the Wind” –, today's Atlanta is a beautiful, young, lively city, one of the most important in America. It is home to the headquarters of CNN, Coca-Cola and Delta Airlines, as well as the house where Martin Luther King was born, and his tomb. Atlanta hosted the Summer Olympics in 1996.

Nashville – aka Music City, USA, draws millions of music enthusiasts every year to visit the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Grand Ole Opry, the Ryman Auditorium and the Johnny Cash Museum – the shrines of country and pop music. Nashville and its surroundings are also brimming with typical honky-tonks. The city overlooks the Cumberland river, making for very pleasant riverbank walks.

Memphis in three words: Blues, Barbecue, Elvis. Perhaps even more than Nashville, Memphis is the capital of popular music, with essential pilgrimage sites. Even for those who are not fans of the king of rock, Graceland is worth a visit: the house, the car museum, the private plane, the huge collection of gold and platinum records, the stage costumes, and of course the Meditation Garden, where Elvis is buried. However, the visit to the city must start from the legendary Sun Studio, where in the early 1950s Elvis Presley marked the birth of rock 'n' roll, exciting even for non-experts. Other stops for enthusiasts and non-enthusiasts include the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, the Gibson's Guitar Factory, and the nearby Rock 'n' Soul Museum.

Once home to blues greats like Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, W.C. Handy, Charlie Patton, Robert Johnson and Howlin’ Wolf, Clarksdale is a mecca for modern day fans. Head for the Delta Blues Museum where you can learn more about these musicians’ beginnings and careers. The museum also houses the actual cabin which served as Muddy Waters’ home as a child. While in downtown Clarksdale, check out Ground Zero Blues Club, a restaurant and club dedicated to showcasing the best of today’s Delta blues musicians. Ground Zero features live blues acts Wednesday through Saturday nights.

Natchez is the oldest settlement on the Mississippi River. It still exudes a genuine Antebellum feeling, with quaint plantations and antique houses. The view of the Mississippi is unmatched.

Depart Mississippi and set out for Louisiana. Inhabited by the creole aristocracy descended from Spanish and French settlers, New Orleans embraces a bend in the Mississippi River. At the center of it all is the French Quarter, decadent but still alive, with narrow bustling streets and hidden courtyards. Stop for a few days to soak up the atmosphere, taste the beignets & café au lait at Café du Monde, discover Bourbon Street at night, excessive, raucous, infamous, with music pouring out of every window; board the St Charles streetcar to reach the seductive Garden District and stroll among elegant homes and majestic trees. Exploring the surrounding area, with an airboat tour in a nearby swamp or a visit to a historic plantation, completes the vision of a nostalgic and fascinating South.

The coast of Alabama is less than 100 km long, but in such a short stretch it offers wide beaches with white sand, backed by wild dunes and overlooking an emerald green sea. There are two main towns, Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, which offer visitors typical shops, malls, local breweries, and excellent restaurants.

Pensacola is located in Florida, but only 30 minutes from the Alabama border. It directly faces the Gulf of Mexico and is famous for the US Navy base, as well as its magnificent white beaches and emerald-colored waters.