From the jazz-filled streets of New Orleans to Elvis’s Graceland and the story of civil rights, a journey through America’s Deep South blends rich history, iconic sounds and soulful charm with a depth of culture that’s often as moving as it is memorable.
This popular region is famed for its music, southern hospitality, Creole cuisine and fascinating civil rights history.
Stay near the French Quarter during Mardi Gras to hear jazz played outdoors and parades winding through streets lined with iron-laced balconies.
Head up to Mississippi for Natchez’s well-preserved antebellum homes and the birthplace of Elvis Presley in Tupelo.
Memphis holds Sun Studio, Beale Street and Graceland, while Nashville remains home to the Grand Ole Opry, the world’s longest-running live radio show.
Alabama links music, science and history, from FAME Studios and the US Space & Rocket Center to civil rights sites in Montgomery and Birmingham.
New Orleans is a city like no other – a heady blend of French, Spanish, Creole and Southern styles. Mardi Gras, of course, boasts parades and pageantry but visit any time and you’ll be struck by the narrow, cobbled streets of the lively French Quarter, the sounds of jazz being played on street corners and the paddle steamers plying the Mississippi River. Beyond the ‘Big Easy’, Louisiana’s role in civil rights history is clear to see, especially when following the Civil Rights Trail through the likes of Baton Rouge.
In Mississippi, elegant Natchez is famed for its antebellum homes, while music lovers can follow in Elvis’s footsteps from his birthplace in Tupelo to his Graceland mansion in Memphis, Tennessee, a city also famed for the iconic Sun Studio and neon-lit Beale Street.
For a different kind of tune, continue to Nashville, home of country music and the Grand Ole Opry. Or make for Alabama to visit civil rights landmarks in Montgomery and Birmingham, the FAME recording studio and Huntsville’s U.S. Space & Rocket Center.
In the heart of the vibrant SoBro district, Four Seasons Hotel Nashville blends Southern charm with contemporary elegance, offering sleek river-view rooms, a rooftop pool, destination dining, a world-class spa and effortless access to the city’s iconic music and culture scene.
Part of Hyatt’s millennial-focused Unbound Collection, this boutique Art Deco hotel has a great location in the Central Business District of New Orleans, just two and a half blocks from the historic French Quarter.
Step back in time with a stay at this imposing early-19th-century antebellum mansion set in 26 acres of manicured gardens.
Steps from Elvis Presley’s iconic home, The Guest House at Graceland offers Southern hospitality with a rock ’n’ roll twist. With stylish rooms, themed suites, live entertainment and refined comfort, it’s a unique blend of music history and modern luxury in Memphis.
Perfectly situated for those wanting to be close to the action, The Peabody boasts the best location in downtown Memphis, with Beale Street and other top attractions just a short walk away.
Located in the heart of downtown, Hotel Tupelo offers a fresh take on Southern hospitality with contemporary rooms, warm local character, famed weekend brunches and easy access to live music, cultural sites and the birthplace of Elvis.