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What would be some good places in the Deep South (Georgia or Mississippi) to get a real "southern" feel, like Civil War battlefields, old plantations, monuments, southern hospitality (if it's real) and whatnot?
Maybe some southern and transplant users can help me out.
I am also kind of un-used to traveling across the country, and I have never been outside the west (but I have if you count Texas as south).
What would be some good places in the Deep South (Georgia or Mississippi) to get a real "southern" feel, like Civil War battlefields, old plantations, monuments, southern hospitality (if it's real) and whatnot?
Maybe some southern and transplant users can help me out.
I am also kind of un-used to traveling across the country, and I have never been outside the west (but I have if you count Texas as south).
DK
Milledgeville, Georgia
Natchez, Mississippi
Oxford, Mississippi
Nashville, Tennessee (yeah I know it's not in the Deep South, but it's still a very Southern city with Civil War battlefields, plantations, and, of course, "Southern" music).
to oversimplify the south, you have two subregions - the hills and the coastal plain.
the coastal plain will be where your plantations are. lots of swampland, really not much to look at to be honest. Charleston, SC Montgomery, AL, Memphis, TN New Orleans, LA are cities in this region. this region has more of a historic feel, and a lot of these places are close to the beach. My personal opinion - and I stress that this is subjective - is that this is the "real south".
the hills are going to be prettier - and you'll get a slightly different vibe. Nashville, Birmingham, Chattanooga, Atlanta, Greenville SC are these types of places. Generally cleaner and better-run, but not quite as much visible history for a tourist to soak up.
Vicksburg, MS is great. There use to be a nice Holiday inn right across form the battlefield if you need a place to stay a few nights.
I really recommend Natchez, MS whihc is a few miles down the road from Vicksburg. I use to be a Confederate Civil War reenactor. I was lucky enough to be an extra in "North & South Book II" in 1985. A large part of the movie was filmed in and around Natchez. It is the Old South you seek and not as big and congested as say Atlanta or Charleston, SC. the people there were super nice and open -friendly. This was in 1985, but I doubt its changed into a bustling New York by now...ha ha
New Orleans can be what you'd like as well, but it can be very bad / rough down there. Murder is a common thing in the Big Easy.
I, too, recommend Vicksburg, Natchez, and also Columbus, MS. (Columbus for the antebellum homes.)
In Tennessee, I recommend the Shiloh National Battlefield...one of the largest civil war battlefields that is left relatively much like it was at the time of the battle. Compared to a battlefield such as Gettysburg, there aren't a lot of tourist traps and overt crass commercialism. Many other battlefields have been developed and built on, while much of Shiloh's is intact.
(As an example of encroaching development, while on a tour of the Stones River Battlefield, I heard the guide say..."The cavalry charged across the Samsonite factory parking lot over there..." You won't hear that at Shiloh.
I would also take a look at Ft. Morgan outside of Mobile, AL for a wonderfully intact, preserved Civil War fort.
For older plantations, I would recommend Bellingrath Gardens in Alabama. Beautiful. Also check out to see what Nashville, TN has in this regard...wonderful examples such as Cheekwood, the Hermitage (Andrew Jackson's home) and many others there and in the vicinity, such as in Franklin, TN.
There's a lot of intact historical places throughout the south...please let us know where you go and what you liked/didn't like. Hope you have a good trip.
My dad and step mother live 15 miles from Shiloh near Counce, TN. I've been to Shiloh many times; its very peaceful. A really nice place indeed. You are correct about Franklin, Tn too from I've heard. it was the Gettysburg of the western theater...a bad Confederate loss due to John Bell Hood's terrible decisions.
I strongly recommend Vicksburg, Natchez, and St. Francisville, La. Follow the "river road" US 61 or La 1. Plenty of southern antebellum history in these places.
My dad and step mother live 15 miles from Shiloh near Counce, TN. I've been to Shiloh many times; its very peaceful. A really nice place indeed. You are correct about Franklin, Tn too from I've heard. it was the Gettysburg of the western theater...a bad Confederate loss due to John Bell Hood's terrible decisions.
General Hood, ya he ranks right up there with the worst of the generals fighting for dixie. He was in good company with Bragg and pemberton ( and his boss, "no show Joe"). These fellas lost the war for the confederacy..
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