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Oak Alley Plantation in Vacherie, Louisiana, Deep South, USA

Deep South

The homeland of the formidable historical figures Martin Luther King Jr and Rosa Parks, as well as musical prodigies Louis Armstrong and Elvis, the Deep South is a cultural melting pot deserving of plentiful exploration.

Lasting plantations and antebellum homes from the abominable and infamous period of the slave trade still exist as symbols of pre-Civil War America, while towns like Gainesville in Alabama perform annual Civil War re-enactments in mid-March. A territory known for its mouth-watering soul food, like the Mississippi mud pie, bourbon-spiked pecan pie and the beloved lane cake, it is foodie’s reverie.

Whilst the Deep South of the USA is rightly synonymous with wildlife-dense swamplands, deep-fried delicacies and exhilarating cities like New Orleans, Nashville and Memphis, it is also a region that features a staggering landscape of fields and valleys, and whose widely spiritual population uphold good manners and heartfelt respect for nature as part of their rooted slow living philosophy.

Vintage Mustang, Deep South, USA — USA

Great Drives

Deep South Road Trip by Mustang

Embark on a world-class road trip in a vintage Ford Mustang, navigating between some of the most significant musical and cultural sites in all of the USA and stopping over in the big cities of Nashville, New Orleans and Memphis and the quaint townships of Saint Francisville and Muscle Shoals.

13 days

from £6,210 pp

See holiday idea

Music, banjo, deep south, Nashville, USA — Nashville, USA

History of the Deep South

Historical, Musical & Literary Greats

Despite undoubtedly incorporating the states of Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee, the Deep South is more commonly defined as a cultural territory and not one dictated by state border boundaries. The musical nucleus of the United States, the Deep South packs a powerful punch as the purported source of genres like country, jazz, gospel, blues, soul and rock & roll. Along with its robust cultural and spiritual heritage, the region also boasts a withstanding literary legacy – famed novels like To Kill A Mockingbird, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Gone with the Wind are just a few works that double as commentaries of the Deep South.

Where to Stay

Every captivating tailor-made itinerary needs a perfect base. Our team has handpicked this collection of properties to give you luxury options in styles to suit any adventure.

More luxury accommodation

Blackberry Mountain

Wilderness
£££££

A home away from home within the Great Smoky Mountains, the expansive and luxurious Blackberry Mountain estate reached completion in 2019. A base for exploration and a hub for wellness practises, the property is contemporary yet…

Blackberry Mountain, Great Smoky Mountains, USA

The Peabody Memphis

City
£££££

Peabody Memphis offers a magnificent bridge between this historical Blues City’s colourful and celebrated past and the present vibrant cosmopolitan city. Set half a mile from the iconic Beale Street, this landmark thirteen-story downtown hotel is…

Peabody Memphis, Tennessee, Deep South, USA

The Hermitage Hotel

City
£££££

One of the most iconic and the only five-star hotel in Nashville, this historic property also doubles as a cherished landmark that has hosted the likes of John F. Kennedy, Patsy Cline and Johnny Cash. An…

The Hermitage Hotel, Nashville, USA

Windsor Court Hotel

City
£££££

Nestled somewhere in between the world-renowned French Quarter and the Warehouse Arts District, the 316-room Windsor Court Hotel is a stone’s throw from live musicians, historic architecture, tantalising cuisine and cutting-edge museums. The property features a…

Exterior, Windsor Court Hotel, New Orleans, Deep South, USA

Experiences

Tell us what you love doing and we’ll curate a journey that’s perfect for you.

Beignets and Coffee, New Orleans, Deep South, USA

Beignets at Cafe du Mond

Grab a plateful of New Orleans’ legendary beignets, deep fried nuggets of dough coated in layers of fluffy powdered sugar, and a hot cup of dark-roasted chicory coffee – we recommend that you visit this 24-hour establishment outside of busy hours so as to savour every mouthful in peace and quiet.

Suggested Holiday Idea

Smoky Mountains, Route 441, Newfound Gap, Tennessee, USA

Hike the Smoky Mountains

Head in to the Great Smoky Mountains, a subrange of the Appalachian Mountains, for a day of hiking under its transcendent natural fog.

Graceland, Memphis, Tennessee, Deep South, USA

Visit Graceland

Visit Graceland, Elvis’s private estate in Memphis, to peruse an exhibition of kitsch artefacts, see his collection of cars and private jets and taste his beloved fried peanut butter and banana sandwich.

Suggested Holiday Idea

French Quarter, New Orleans, Deep South, USA

Walk the French Quarter

Explore the celebrated French Quarter in New Orleans to absorb Louisiana’s strong Creole culture, stopping to listen to a busking brass band while sipping on an iced tea.

Suggested Holiday Idea

Peaches, Georgia, Deep South, USA

Peaches, Peanuts and Pecans

Voyage around Georgia in search of the three P’s – peaches, pecans and peanuts – perhaps stopping in at one of the many acclaimed family restaurants to sample a scrumptious peach cobbler.

Suggested Holiday Idea

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Meet our experts

A passion for travel runs right through every one of our experts - meaning they're always ready with first-hand insight about their specialist countries.

Roxy Dukes

Roxy has had many adventures throughout the USA, and has a passion for exploring the spectacular National Parks. Roxy’s tip is to invest in a private guides that take you off the grid, transforming your experience of these epic landscapes.

Talk with our experts

01285 880 980

Sue Grimwood

I was inspired to travel south from an early age. My form teacher when I was nine made us listen to tapes from Shackleton’s expeditions, I didn’t know it at the time, but it obviously left a deep impression on my psyche.

Talk with our experts

01285 880 980

Start planning your trip

Send us an enquiry

Complete our enquiry form and start your next journey.

From my first conversation with Roxy, it was clear that her knowledge was very good indeed. She listened to our ideas and created a fantastic bespoke holiday for us, and the pre-trip information was first class.

Destination: USA
Travel Expert: Roxy

All the way through the process - from us explaining what we wanted through to the programme that Roxy created - everything was excellent. Roxy understood our requirements perfectly and created a trip that exactly fitted the bill.

Destination: USA
Travel Expert: Roxy

Why Choose Steppes?

Our knowledge and expertise set us apart. So too our curiosity. It is this that drives us to create a journey that is really bespoke to you, all the while ensuring we travel and operate sustainably.

Are you ready to discover extraordinary once again?

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