Deep South USA Reviews
It's always nice to hear when someone's had a great holiday in the Deep South USA and we are proud of the positive testimonials we've received. So if you would like to hear from the people who have been to our region here is a selection of reviews covering the Deep South states of Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi & Tennessee. If you would like further information on any of the Deep South regions you can contact us and we will send you an information pack.
Jayne, Gary & Michael Voisey were competition winners to Alabama in October 2013
We just loved Alabama. This was our first time in America and it has definitely given us the bug to go again. Our first stop was Hunstsville where we visited The Space Centre. This is a full day out and well worth a visit. Thank you for all the free entrance tickets which were all available as advised.
We then stayed in a lodge up in the mountains in Cheaha State Park where the views were wonderful. From there we visited Talladega Racetrack to watch the NASCAR racing, as pictured above. The crowds and atmosphere were unbelievable.
We then travelled down to Orange Beach and stayed in the Hilton, you see the view from our room in the photo above. The sand was white and it was good to chill out for a while. We spotted dolphins and even sharks.
Everyone we met from locals to hotel staff welcomed us without reservation. It was the Alabama Year of Food and we tried everything local we could from crayfish, catfish, prawns and lime pie. Nearly everything was fried but delicious. It was an experience I don't think we will ever match.
Thank you once again, Jayne, Gary & Michael
Jessica Smith & her husband travelled to New Orleans June 2013
"I just wanted to send a quick email to thank you for your help with my recent trip to New Orleans! My husband and I had a wonderful time and felt so spoilt! The ghost walk was a great way to orientate ourselves around the French Quarter with added interest from the spooky (yet no nonsense) stories. We loved the fact that they try to keep things more real and look into the historical facts behind the stories and our guide was very informative. We also really enjoyed the super city tour which allowed us to get a real feel for the city as a whole.
The Natchez Cruise was a must do for us and did not disappoint, it was a great complement to our sampling of the nightlife in the area taking in Preservation Hall the next evening as well as exploring several funky bars offering such great and diverse musical offerings and the Carousel Bar at the Monteleone. The Swamp and Bayou tour was a real highlight for us and we were lucky to encounter lots of wildlife. It was a real change of pace from being in the city and so beautiful.
Music, History, Food and Drink are really important to us and New Orleans really ticked all of the boxes! Just talking about it is making me think about planning my next trip!"
Julia Hammond visited the Deep South in February 2013
"It wasn't the America of insincere greetings like "Have a nice day, now," for this was the Deep South. When people ask "How y'all doin' today?" it's genuine, becoming the introduction to a conversation that lasts beyond pleasantries. it doesn't do to be in a rush. A friendly hello to a man down by Nashville's waterfront led to an impromptu tour outlining the city's early history, with takes of pioneers struggling with frozen rivers and Indian attacks.
It wasn't the America of burgers and fries either. Here, menus needed translating. Grits weren't gritty, they were deliciously cheesy. Duck was never going to be on the menu at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, where the birds walk the red carpet every evening, but who'd want to miss the sticky ribs on Beale Street anyway? In Nashville, gophers weren't furry, they were chock full of caramel and bark was made of chocolate. As for Chattanooga's Moon Pies, let's just say they aren't of this world and leave it at that! In New Orleans, I understood what the famous Cafe do Monde beignets were (like I wouldn't recognise a doughnut?) but there, the fun was in making friends laugh right as the icing sugar got close enough to their nose to make them sneeze!
The Deep South was one of those places that creeps up on you. I wasn't there long, but it got under my skin. And I for one can't wait to go back"...read Julia's full story here.
Sarah and her husband won a trip to Alabama in November 2012
"Just writing to tell you what a wonderful trip to America we had. It's quite unbelievable how much we squeezed in! We started with Talledaga Speedway where we witnessed 'the big one', a huge smash involving 23 cars! In Birmingham we visited the zoo and the botanical gardens in the morning. Then we spent the afternoon in Walmart! The zoo was great and the gardens were lovely. We moved on to the US Space and Rocket Centre (see picture above). We also did Burritt Mountain! It really was the trip of a lifetime and we would like to say a huge thank you to you all for helping organise it. The hotels were lovely and in great locations. Thank you, thank you and thank you again! Best Wishes, Sarah"
James Butler visited Tennessee, Mississippi & New Orleans in October 2012
"We had the most brilliant time, the Deep South is such a diverse and exciting part of the USA.
I was blown away by Nashville, what a great city! The Country Music Hall of Fame is truly excellent and the Studio B tour was great - we had a fantactic guide who really re-created the Elvis era. Just loved all the bars and live music. We sat in Layla's Bluegrass Inn, on Broadway, listening to a very good band for several hours.
Memphis is a very different city to Nashville but we really enjoyed Beale Street and found an excellent Blues band playing in one of the bars. Loved the Cotton Museum at the Memphis Cotton Exchange and walked all along Riverside Drive. Also spent several hours at Graceland which is a great experience for lovers and non lovers of Elvis.
We also drove along the Natchez Trace Parkway for quite a considerable time - what a truly beautiful road.
Loved Greenwood, in Mississippi, a fascinating little town and with distinctive poor and very affluent parts, and also reallly enjoyed touring the Vicksburg National Military Park - well worth a visit. Travelled via Clarksdale to Greenwood, a delightful little town and had lunch at Ground Zero Blues Club - a real highlight! It was atmospheric with friendly staff and great food. Really loved staying at Anchuca Mansion and touring the house in Vicksburg. Very much liked Natchez as well and was surprised by how many antebellum homes remain. We visited Longwood (very poignant of the Civil War Struggle) and several other old antebellum houses on the historic trail.
The Lafayette Swamp Tour in Louisiana was excellent.Also visited downtown Lafayette and had an excellent Cajun lunch at Chicken on the Bayou (I10, junction 15). New Orleans was another highlight, especially as we were there over Halloween.
I was struck by the variety of things to do; history, culture, cuisine and music - just fascinating! All in all a wonderful trip!"
Deborah Elliott and friend were competition winners and travelled to Memphis & Mississippi October 2012
"I just wanted to drop a quick line to say what a great time we have on our trip to Memphis & Mississippi. Everything went very well and we had a fantastic break. Here are some pictures of us at Graceland (we had to go!) in Memphis, then at the Delta Blues Museum and Ground Zero Blues club owned by Morgan Freeman, which had an amazing atmosphere, both in Clarksdale, Mississippi. Thanks again! Deborah and Jo"
