A Southern Sojourn

On arrival in Atlanta, make your way to your downtown hotel, and the rest of the day is then free for you to get to know the area.

Today, you should visit the birthplace and burial site of the one-time leader of the Civil Rights Movement, Martin Luther King. Make time also for the World of Coca Cola and a CNN Studio Tour.

Before leaving Georgia, take a ride on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway. Then head for the Tennessee border and visit Chattanooga to experience its 13-mile paved Riverwalk and maybe cruise the Tennessee River.

Head west towards Nashville, allowing time to stop at Knoxville for a stroll around the historic Market Square.

Be sure to take a tour of the Country Music Hall of Fame, Ryman Auditorium, where Johnny Cash met June Carter, and definitely try to take in a show at the world-famous country music venue, Grand Ole Opry.

Before leaving Nashville, tour the stunning Belle Meade Plantation, dating back to 1807 and a true representation of Tennessee’s architecture and history. Arrive in Memphis to spend the evening in lively Beale Street.

A full day in Memphis to visit Sun Studio – the birthplace of Rock ‘n’ Roll – the Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum and of course, Graceland, Elvis Presley’s one-time home and now his legacy.

Once over the state border into Mississippi, there’s time to stop in Indianola for a visit to the museum of the legendary Blues singer, BB King, before driving through the cultural and historical sites of the Delta’s backroads.

Set on the banks of the mighty Mississippi River, a full day in Natchez will allow you to step back in time. Visit magnificent Longwood, a historical antebellum octagonal mansion, Natchez National Historical Park and the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians.

Your drive along the Mississippi River will pass many plantation homes, any number of which are worth stopping off at for a tour.

Discover the appeal of the Big Easy as you wander through the historic French District, cruise on an authentic paddlewheeler, sample the amazing Cajun food or simply listen to the music drifting out of countless bars and clubs.

You should aim to arrive in Mobile by lunchtime, allowing time to visit such sights as the USS Alabama, Mobile Bay, site of one the Civil War’s most famous battles, and Historic Oakleigh House.

Time spent in Montgomery will remind of the Civil Rights Movement era, with many sites bearing testament to high profile activists such as Martin Luther King Jr and Rosa Parks.

Before leaving Montgomery, dip into 19th-century Old Alabama Town, then head back to Atlanta, your journey’s end. Depending on your return or onward travel times, you may wish to spend an extra night in Atlanta.