Rhythms of the South Self Drive

Arrive into Atlanta, pick up your hire car and proceed to your hotel. The second day allows you to enjoy a whole day in Atlanta, which started as railroad junction in the 1830s and quickly became the transport hub of the South. Its strategic importance was a large part of the reason it made such an inviting target for General Sherman's Union Army, which razed it during the Civil War. Visit Fairlie-Poplar, the African American Panoramic Experience, Grant Park or the Atlanta History Centre.

Along the way, stop to see the Chattanooga "Choo Choo" train. In Lynchburg tour the legendary Jack Daniel's whisky distillery. Proceed to Nashville in the evening.

Soak up the sounds in the country music capital by visiting the Grand Ole Opry and the Country Music Hall of Fame. Experience the south's tumultuous history at the Tennessee State Museum. Leave the city early enough to arrive in Memphis for a late dinner. 

Explore the birthplace of the blues by taking in a performance in one of the entertaining Beale Street blues bars. Drive out for a tour of Elvis Presley's home Graceland. See the original bomber, Memphis Belle or take the monorail to unique Mud Island. 

Today visit Vicksburg National Military Park which commemorates the campaign, siege, and defense of Vicksburg in 1863. There’s over 1,300 monuments, markers and plaques, a 16 mile tour road and a national cemetery, the nation’s largest burial site of Civil War Union soldiers and sailors with graves totaling over 17,000.

Enjoy a drive through the heart of the old South stopping in Natchez and Baton Rouge en route to New Orleans. The city's unique geography, sandwiched between Lake Pontchartrain and the mighty Mississippi River, shaped the flavours of the only cuisine native to North America.

The Big Easy is a melting pot of European culture and southern charm. Stroll through the French Quarter and admire its distinctive architectural styling, then experience the festive frenzy on Bourbon Street. Steamboat river tours onboard restored paddleboats are a great way to experience the mighty Mississippi.

Drive from city life to beach blankets in only a few short hours. Relax on the white sand beaches of the Gulf of Mexico and enjoy a swim in the warm blue water. Wander through Pensacola's Seville District or head to the premium beaches of Santa Rosa Island.

Travel along the Gulf coast through the untouched wildlife preserves and natural habitats that dot the landscape. Fishing villages and the Emerald Coast provide ample distraction on the way.

Historic Savannah is home to some of the South's most beautifully restored houses. Take a relaxing afternoon walk and picnic in one of the many green parks throughout the city.

Charleston truly represents the grandeur and elegance of the South. Gorgeous tree-lined avenues add to the charm of the antebellum architecture.

Leave South Carolina's coast behind and head inland as you return to Atlanta for the final night of your journey.

Today is the last day on your self drive tour across the southern regions, catch a flight home or to your onward destination. Alternatively, expand your time in Atlanta even more to discover more of what this great city has to offer or head to another U.S. city or hit the road again and venture on another road trip.