Travel South - From the Ozark Mountains to the Mississippi Delta

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.

Noted for being the hometown of former President Bill Clinton, Little Rock, the capital of Arkansas, has an important past linked to the civil rights movements. A must-visit is the Central High Museum, which tells the powerful and painful history of the racial struggles that took place in the city. The Clinton Presidential Center is also interesting to explore, and the River Market area offers a relaxing atmosphere with numerous shops and restaurants.

Natchitoches is the oldest city in the state of Louisiana, founded in 1714 by the French, and still showcases French and Spanish influenced architecture today. The city is famous for its annual Christmas lights festival, called the Natchitoches Christmas Festival, which attracts tourists from all over the country.

Sleepy capital of Louisiana and one of the most important ports in America, Baton Rouge is an industrial and university city, once with a vibrant music scene, now more subdued and low-key. The view of the Mississippi from the new Capitol is beautiful.

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.