Carolinas Georgia & the South Trips

Cajun Country conjures up a scene of fun and real joy. This is the 3rd Lonely Planet Travel Book I have reviewed. I absolutely love them- they are full of brightly colored pictures, the most unusually named tours, the best experts and tips I have found. The South in this travel book means both Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee and Kentucky. Not many travel books could cover this large an area with such a complete look. As you open this book, on the inside cover is a preface on how to use the book. All trips are themed using icons, and an explanation of each is shown. Best trips and Expert-Recommended trips are the ones to follow. The south has always beckoned me, Let's start with North Carolina. There is a map, and the Outer Banks are specified and then on to 48 Hours in Asheville. The book talks about the highlights from tours to take, the Malaprop Book Store and Cafe most of us have heard about, and on to the Tupelo Honey Cafe that looks like one of the better restaurants. This is all before lunch. Then on to some parks and walks and arcades. The two days are filled with marvelous things to see and do including the Biltmore Estate. You learn how to get there, what to do, what to eat and drink and where to sleep. Then there are links to other parts of the state. Am Eclectic Americana in the Triangle-Raleigh- Durham and Chapel Hill, moves on to a University Tour of UNC, and then, from Dirty Dancing to Dawson's Creek. A number of wonderful places to go, see and do. There are maps, iconic places to see, the best in food, the most fun and a guide to the cities in-between. The lonely planet, asks the local experts what they advise, their favorite places. The must-do trips for the iconic places. How to tune-in to the local music play lists. Family friendly and pet friendly places. And, best of all a Green index for the most environmentally friendly options. Highly Recommended, prisrob 05-17-09 Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2009 (General Reference) The Travel Book: A Journey Through Every Country in the World

I've lived in the South (Atlanta) all of my adult life, and watched the region grow explosively while still retaining most of its regional character. This new trip guide from Lonely Planet does justice to both the old and new south, capturing the traditions (and quirks) without sentimentality, and giving due coverage to the contemporary culture that keeps the region alive and not a mausoleum. I've traveled extensively in the region for both business and pleasure, and the observations and selections of food, lodging, and attractions ring true to me in most cases. Scott Peacock's quick survey of cuisine in Atlanta helps correct the popular conception of the place as a "white bread" city, and the excursions in search of Po-boys and Voodoo experiences in New Orleans make for entertaining and enlightening reading. One place I have not been is Oxford, Mississippi, and the write-up here has made me put it on my short list. Alabama, that largely unknown and underappreciated territory, also gets friendly coverage. The writing is lively, the detail level about right to whet your appetite, and the content is right up to the minute. Great guide whether you're looking for outdoorsy or urban experiences, barbecue or haute cuisine. Highly recommended.

This tour book has 65 themed itineraries and 1192 places to see. It includes North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee and Kentucky. It is set up with easy to read icons and gives you a starting and ending point for each tour. It has tidbits on each place and a little history and set up by your likes and dislikes. For instance there are tours for people that like to visit the Civil War sites, the Antebellum south, Appalachian Trail, or follow in the footsteps of Martin Luther King, Jr, Mark Twain, William Faulkner, and Dale Earnhardt. There's a Southern Gothic Literary Tour, Beach Getaways, Musical tours, etc. Offbeat places include Bill Clinton's birthplace in Hope, Arkansas or Elvis Presley's Graceland. It gives you ideas on what to do for 48 hours in Nashville, Atlanta and New Orleans. Great places to eat and offbeat places to visit in those cities. Hotels are listed, bars, eateries, etc. Here is an example of the Southern Gothic Literary Tour. The tour is for 7 days and covers 1274 miles and starts in Savannah, Ga and ends in New Orleans. It begins at the Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil in Savannah (written by John Berendt) and gives a short history of the murder that took place there. While there you can tour the Mercer-Williams House Museum. From there Carson McCullers fans can continue on to Columbia, Georgia and see her home where The Heart is a Lonely Hunter was inspired. Then on to Monroeville which gave us Truman Capote and Harper Lee (To Kill a Mockingbird). Rowan Oak in Oxford, Mississippi is next where William Faulkner 33 acre estate is located. While there you can visit Square Books which has autographed copies of Faulkner's books and some other authors from area like Larry Brown and Tom Franklin. You can then detour through Tupelo and see Elvis's birthplace. Then on the French Quarter. It lists the history of the area, local places to visit, hotels, beds and breakfasts and out of the ordinary eating places. The trips in this book are from 1 day to over a week trips. A really neat book!

Well designed and organized, this book contains 65 themed itineraries and 1192 places to see. Broken down into regions of the South, each section contains 11 to 16 multi-day trips as well as day trips from the larger city destinations and provides the distance, the number of days required, the best time of year to go, and how to get to your starting point. The numbered itineraries focus on some aspect of interest like the Southern Gothic Literary Tour, Memphis Music Tour, New Orleans Voodoo Tour, and at the end of each is a list of related trips in the book with page numbers for easy reference. At the beginning of each chapter is a music playlist to get into the proper frame of mind for your trip, an overview of what each region has to offer and what the editors consider to the best trips from the offerings. Faced with the mind-boggling task of choosing a handful of restaurants in say, New Orleans or Atlanta, this book has done a great job of providing a wide range of cuisines and prices, though any savvy traveler knows how to find wonderful local food. Strong points are the themed routes--you can make the Natchez Pilgrimage, go in search of the perfect barbecue, follow NASCAR, track the progress of the War Between the States, or go beach hopping--to name a few. There are very informative sidebars containing locals' comments and defining perplexing colloquialisms. The maps are helpful, and if each doesn't contain all the destinations described, at the end of each itinerary is a list of places mentioned with websites, street addresses and price range. Of course, the iconic destinations are featured, but there are also quirky, off the beaten path recommendations, as well as non-touristy local hangouts. I'm thinking the Coon Dog Cemetary in Tuscumbia, Alabama is a must-see, though the Cape Fear Serpentarium--not so much. For a quick and amusing overview of destinations in the Southern states, this is a great book. Just remember that there are many worthwhile places to visit (and eat) in the South not listed. For example, the only destination listed in Macon, Georgia was the H & H. That lovely city is worth a day or two on its own, especially during the Cherry Blossom Festival in March (and there is other fine eating to be had there, as well), and no one should pass through Cookeville, Tennessee (Tennessee Oddities) and not visit Bobby Q's Barbecue and Catfish. Their 'cue is some of the best around, and the banana pudding is To Die For. Speaking of barbecue, the sublime Jack's in downtown Nashville was shamefully omitted, and it's the perfect starter for a long night of Broadway bar hopping. Use this book and a handful of Post-its to plan your trip, but be nice to people when you get there and be sure to ask for recommendations of both things to see and places to eat. Lonely Planet ensures you won't waste valuable travel time or go hungry, but it never hurts to ask around. Any travel book is just the beginning of an adventure.

This book has a really neat format. You can select guided tours or pick and choose your own activities. For those who prefer guided tours but want to travel on the cheap, there are many themes trips already planned for you in this book, from outdoor adventures to history and culture, to cities, iconic trips, offbeat places...you name it. But if you prefer to plan your own agenda you can use the glossary to look up the places or activities that catch your fancy. From caving and rock climbing to a visit of the real, honest-to-goodness Mayberry from the Andy Griffith Show (called Mt. Airy in real life but has places mentioned on the show where you can still eat), there's a trip or a slew of interests for everyone. So no matter who you're traveling with (children, elderly parents, college friends, other couples...) this book will cater to you. Of course, all the regular stuff is covered-places to eat, places of interest, and lodging, but you get a little bit of history and background information as well, which helps me make better decisions about what I'll really enjoy. I'm very pleased with this book.