USA Road Trip: Deep South Highlights

Sample the many irresistible flavours of Atlanta on this informative and entertaining food tour. Start your adventure at Grant Park, one of Atlanta's oldest residential communities known for its stately mansions and Victorian-style homes. Learn about the history of Atlanta from your guide while admiring the architecture of these grand bungalows. Learn about the region's culinary history and enjoy regional favourites such as fried chicken, candied yams and cornbread. Gain an insight into the origin of soul food and the influence of West African cooking styles and ingredients in the local cuisine. Head to a local smokehouse, taste test plates of smoked pork belly, and later bite into the juiciest shrimp and savour soul-satisfying grits at a popular diner. Visit a fresh juice manufacturer, interact with fellow guests and strike up conversations with the restaurant managers and even chefs. Bring this satisfying tour to a finish with a visit to a tea boutique and a James Beard award-nominated bakery where you can satisfy your sweet cravings.

Dive into the 125-year-old history of Coca-Cola, one of the best-known brands worldwide, at the World of Coca-Cola, a museum in downtown Atlanta. Start your tour at the Loft, where advertisements, promotional material and artefacts related to the brand are displayed. Rest your legs at the Coca-Cola Theatre and watch a film that takes you through the company’s most historic moments. Don’t miss out on visiting the famous Vault of the Secret Formula, where the drink’s heavily guarded recipe is stored. Quiz your tastebuds with over 100 different varieties of Coca-Cola at the Taste It exhibit and stroll through the colourful Magic Mural exhibit at the Pop Culture Gallery. Browse through the Coca-Cola store for one-of-a-kind memorabilia and clothing items before heading out.

Start your exploration of the rich musical heritage of Nashville at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, a must-visit destination for country music lovers. Visit the historic Ryman Auditorium, which has launched the careers of some of the most recognised country artists. Attend a live country music radio broadcast at the Grand Ole Opry House, considered the home of country music. Attend live shows at restaurants and bars in downtown Nashville - there is something going on almost every day of the year. Check out Nashville’s exciting food scene - there are plenty of chic cafes, restaurants, and distilleries in the area. Those who love nature and the outdoors have several options to choose from. Stroll, hike, or cycle through the city’s lush parks, rolling hills and verdant countryside.

Learn the secrets behind achieving Jack Daniel’s smooth, full-bodied taste on tour through its distillery. Gather at the meeting point and board a vehicle to Lynchburg, where the historic distillery is situated. Take a guided tour of the facilities, with or without a tasting session, and watch the entire process of distilling whiskey, step by step. Find out how Jack Daniel's gets its vanilla and oak flavours and distinct smokiness. Pick up limited edition whiskey bottles as souvenirs before heading downtown for a satisfying meal.

Set off on a one-of-a-kind walking tour through New Orleans's oldest extant grave site, the historic St.Louis Cemetery No.1. Set up in the 1700s, the cemetery serves as the final resting place for many people, including some notable residents of the city. Walk around the cemetery with your guide, who will point out the tombs of famous New Orleanians and learn more about the city's unconventional burial customs. Get an insight into the unusual Voodoo traditions of the Mississippi Valley and how they became such an integral part of the culture of the local communities.

Get a feel for Louisiana’s topography on a relaxing excursion through its network of swamps and bayous. Start this enjoyable adventure at the Gray Line Lighthouse Ticket Office on Toulouse Street in the French Quarter, where you will meet your tour guide. Sit back and enjoy the ride across the Mississippi River on a motorboat. Transfer to a swamp boat and explore Louisiana’s bayou country. Listen to your guide regaling you with fascinating facts about life in the swamps. Learn about the diversity of animal and plant life and local fishing practices that influence Cajun cuisine. Keep on the lookout for local wildlife, such as alligators, raccoons, egrets, snakes and more. Find out about the delicate ecology of the wetlands and what restoration efforts are underway to protect them.

Experience New Orleans from the deck of a 24-foot riverboat on the Lower Mississippi River. Step onto the deck to watch the twinkling lights of the city. Spot the city's most well-known landmarks and explore the ship's interiors, including the fabulous Engine Room. Sit down for drinks and music and groove to the beats of the Grammy-nominated Dukes of Dixieland band. Dine al fresco or find a cosy spot in the opulent, Victorian-style dining room and feast on a classic Creole buffet dinner consisting of prime ribs, gumbo, seafood pasta and chicken. End the meal with a signature New Orleans dessert - decadent white chocolate bread pudding and whiskey sauce!