A Month in The Deep South

By Murray Gough

A book for travellers, actual or armchair, interested in America's southern states. 70 quality photos from a month-long independent road tour highlight the wide range of what the Deep South has to offer. These are supported by travel notes, route maps, and the author's accommodation and restaurant selections. The book provides a useful template for anyone considering a similar road tour.

"We were not short of reasons to visit the South. We wanted to know more about the Civil War and the long battle for civil rights that followed; we liked the idea of southern plantations and mansions, warm sultry nights, Spanish-moss-laden trees, swamps and bayous; and there was country music in Nashville, Elvis Presley’s home in Memphis, and the wealthy and historic colonial towns of Natchez, Savannah and Charleston. We would also enjoy the walking and scenery of the Great Smoky Mountains. More than enough to justify an extended visit.

An independent road journey looked to be the best way to travel, and three to four weeks about the right length of time. While there are many ways to visit the South, a circular route starting and ending in Nashville seemed best to experience the full variety of what we wanted to see. We decided to start in late September – the weather then is still warm but not oppressive, and fall colours in the mountains are at their best from mid-October. Hurricanes can still occur, but the worst of the season is past."

• Language: English
• Publisher: Murray Gough
• Release date: Jan 6, 2018
• ISBN: 9781370450534

Murray Gough

Chief executive for several years of a large corporation, then retired and worked as a professional director for a further 20 years.Have been extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to travel through some of the most interesting parts of the world. Two journeys have resulted in books, while most have resulted in videos (Channel xtr717346 on YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/user/xtr717346) .

Book preview

INTRODUCTION

In the fall of 2017 my wife and I spent nearly a month travelling through the southern states of the USA. This book is aimed at sharing our experiences, and perhaps encouraging others to consider a similar journey.

Due in no small part to the South’s troubled history, we found it an unexpectedly interesting place to visit. And the culture and visual attractions of the region make it a wonderful opportunity for a road tour, one with particular appeal for people like ourselves, retired and looking for new experiences.

In contrast to many tourist destinations round the world, America’s South is still relatively uncrowded. And we encountered surprisingly few travellers from foreign lands - the charms of the South are probably well appreciated by most Americans, but it seems they have yet to register with overseas visitors. For those foreigners who do visit it is a genuinely American experience.

Websites and travel books provided most of the planning information we needed. Deciding when and where to go, and what to see and do, involved considerable research - but the time invested was invaluable. We were happy as we travelled with virtually all aspects of our itinerary, and felt we saw a good cross-section of what the South has to offer.

Our route and accommodation selections, and the restaurants we liked, are detailed in the following chapters, while the sights and experiences of the journey are conveyed through photos and notes. The