Why Y'all Shouldn’T Overlook The American South
Posted: 2/18/2019 | Feb 18th, 2019
I beloved the South. Over the years, it has go i of my favorite parts of the United States. Before I went traveling, I ever had this perception that the southern states were backward. They were filled amongst racists, yokels, together with obese, gun-loving, Jesus freaks. It was a perception born out of a quarter-century of living inward New England together with consuming majority media together with stereotypes nigh a people together with identify I truly didn’t know anything about.
Then, at the start of my grand trip inward 2006, I drove across the United States. As I made my agency through the South, I roughshod inward beloved amongst the region. I loved the food, the people, the scenery, the architecture. My perception of the South was wrong.
Yes, it has a lingering history of racism, poverty, together with is to a greater extent than conservative than I personally am, but no identify is perfect — together with no identify is similar the stereotypes y'all see. Driving through the South was the showtime instance inward which I truly confronted the stereotypes nigh people together with places I grew upwards with.
I repeated the route trip inward 2015 together with roughshod deeper inward beloved amongst the region. And I oddly flora Mississippi to hold upwards a consummate hidden gem. As a Northerner, I did non human face that.
I realized that the Southern states — which concealment a massive department of the province — are non equally culturally together with politically monolithic equally they i time were. Every province is different, each offering the attentive traveler an eclectic mix of incredible food, foot-stomping music, together with heart-warming hospitality.
Today, I desire to innovate y'all to Caroline Eubanks. She’s a friend together with boyfriend move author whose run primarily focuses on the American South. Caroline has called the South abode for her entire life, together with inward her novel guidebook, This Is My South, she shatters all the stereotypes nigh the Southern United States spell sharing her goodness tips together with suggestions to aid y'all build the most of your side past times side visit.
In this interview, nosotros speak over all things Southern, why this volume needed to hold upwards written, together with why y'all shouldn’t overlook this part of the country!
Nomadic Matt: Tell everyone a fighting nigh yourself! How did y'all acquire into what it is y'all do?
Caroline Eubanks: I’m Caroline Eubanks, a native of Atlanta, Georgia. I went to college inward Charleston, South Carolina together with it was in that location I truly roughshod inward beloved amongst the American South, peculiarly driving dorsum together with forth from my hometown past times pocket-sized towns on province roads. I started working for a paper when I lived in that location together with started reading move blogs (including Matt’s!) therefore I was inspired to create my own. I leveraged invitee posts into paid run together with i project led to another. I’ve since been published past times BBC Travel, Lonely Planet, Thrillist, Roads & Kingdoms, together with Fodor’s. I also started my ain blog, Caroline inward the City, inward 2009, together with afterwards This Is My South inward 2012. This is basically the entirely project I’ve ever had together with the entirely i I wanted!
How did y'all start writing nigh the Southern USA?
I grew upwards taking route trips around the part amongst my family, whether that was to the Outer Banks or the Panhandle of Florida. After graduating from college, I went on a working vacation inward Commonwealth of Australia where I worked amongst a lot of people from all over the world. I would endeavour to explicate to them where I came from but most of the fourth dimension they were entirely familiar amongst places similar Miami together with New York. And most travelers went to a few well-known destinations but zilch inward between. So I started my website, This Is My South, to enjoin people nigh the lesser-known destinations that I beloved from my corner of the world. I also started focusing on the part inward my freelance writing since the marketplace wasn’t quite therefore saturated.
Why practise y'all intend the southward gets such a bad wrap?
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 lot of it comes from the news. Of course, bad things occur here, but it’s a large part therefore that’s jump to happen. It becomes polarizing amongst elections but in that location are lots of dissimilar opinions, non only the ones that are the loudest.
I also intend people assume that the movies together with television set shows nigh it are accurate. Gone amongst the Wind together with Deliverance are non accurate representations at all. These remain what people most associate the part with, but in that location are large cities similar Atlanta, Charlotte, together with Nashville equally good equally the pocket-sized towns. You wouldn’t assume every Australian is similar Crocodile Dundee or that every somebody from New Bailiwick of Jersey was Tony Soprano, right?
What nigh the stereotypes nigh the South?
When I lived inward Australia, I went to an expat July iv political party together with I was talking to a guy from Ohio. When I said I was from Georgia, he joked that he was surprised to run across I had all my teeth. When my parents were traveling inward New York, someone asked nigh their crops. I realized how footling people know nigh this purpose of the world. I started thinking nigh these perceptions of the South from both Americans together with the globe equally a whole.
I wouldn’t say that some of the stereotypes aren’t true. There are manifestly political divides, but I intend there’s a lot to a greater extent than to the South than what y'all read inward the news. The people are overall welcoming together with friendly. The part is abode to some of the nation’s summit universities similar Duke together with Emory. There are immature people creating murals inward their pocket-sized towns (like Kristin!) to drive tourism equally good equally immigrants from everywhere to Korea to India to Syrian Arab Republic bringing their cuisines to meld amongst traditional regional dishes. And I intend there’s something only nigh everyone tin come upwards together on, peculiarly inward the South, similar food.
What are some of your favorite things nigh the south?
I ever say the food, which is surely i element. You’ll uncovering both comfort nutrient similar fried chicken together with collard greens together with “healthy” nutrient equally good equally the cuisines of dozens of cultures. For example, there’s a large Korean community nigh where I alive inward Atlanta therefore I tin pick out authentic Korean barbecue earlier relaxing at a Korean spa. I beloved how nutrient is a agency that people present their affection.
I also beloved the full general mental attitude together with friendliness. People tend to know their neighbors together with offering aid when needed. And the music is unmatched past times anywhere else inward the country. Every genre tin hold upwards flora here. You don’t pick out to go to a stadium to run across impressive artists since there’s normally someone playing at the local dive bar or java shop.
Why did y'all write this book?
It was of import to me that I pick out the flexibility to include the places I had fallen inward beloved amongst inward my travels, non only the pop ones. I pick out a department on the must-eat dishes from every state, quirky roadside attractions, unique accommodations similar historic hotels together with treehouses, together with tours. I tried to emphasize responsible travel together with pocket-sized businesses, therefore y'all won’t uncovering those double decker rider vehicle tours or your large chain hotels.
I also wanted to include elements that I uncovering lacking inward other books, namely the history together with strange pieces of trivia. For example, I pick out sections on the championship of “Kentucky Colonel” together with the legal loopholes that permit for casinos on together with nigh the Mississippi River.
What practise y'all promise travelers volition walk away knowing from your book?
That it’s to a greater extent than than i story. I promise that travelers volition hold upwards inspired to see some of the places they’ve heard nigh equally good equally ones non previously on their radar. I promise they’ll challenge some of their preconceived notions nigh the part together with give it a chance. I promise they’ll come upwards dorsum for to a greater extent than since there’s no agency to run across it all at once. And, of course, I promise that travelers volition see the places I write nigh together with enjoin others nigh them!
What makes the southward special?
So many things. There is unmatched biodiversity including the barrier islands on the North Carolina coast to the swamps of Louisiana to the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. The Appalachian Trail runs through much of the region, starting inward Georgia at Springer Mountain. It’s a part where connecting amongst nature is a purpose of everyday life.
Food is also affordable together with y'all tin uncovering it inward unique places. Similar to the bodega eats inward New York, the South sells surprisingly goodness nutrient at gas stations, including fried chicken, Cajun meats, together with Delta hot tamales. Dining is a major purpose of visiting the part equally it’s abode to many dissimilar styles of cuisine that pick out influenced American food. You tin uncovering “Southern food” inward both award-winning restaurants together with mom-and-pop casual spots, therefore there’s something for everyone.
The part is also of import when it comes to history. It’s where European travelers showtime arrived inward America, specifically South Carolina together with Virginia, together with where they were met amongst Native American tribes. Much of the Civil Rights Movement took identify hither similar the 16th Street Baptist Church inward Birmingham, the Lorraine Motel inward Memphis, together with the Woolworth’s counter inward Greensboro. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 issue of notable politicians, including presidents Jimmy Carter together with Woodrow Wilson, hailed from these states.
There’s also a lot to offering music lovers since nearly every type of American music has roots inward the blues of Mississippi. Icons similar Elvis Presley together with Johnny Cash were influenced past times these musicians together with infused their styles into their ain music. In add-on to stone together with blues, the mountains of the South were where bluegrass together with “old time” music started, eventually becoming modern province music. And, of course, Atlanta is known for its music industry, peculiarly when it comes to hip hop together with R&B. Artists similar TLC, Usher, Goodie Mob, together with Outkast rose to fame there.
What are some budget move tips for the area?
The South is mostly a fairly inexpensive identify to travel. The top dog expenditures are shipping together with accommodation. Flights into major airports similar Atlanta, Charlotte, Orlando, together with New Orleans volition hold upwards cheaper than smaller ones. The same goes for motorcar rentals. Once inward the South, it is possible to acquire around without a motorcar past times taking Amtrak together with Megabus, but past times motorcar is surely the preferred method of travel.
Certain cities volition hold upwards to a greater extent than expensive for accommodations, peculiarly Charleston. But y'all tin human face for alternative options similar pocket-sized bed together with breakfasts, campgrounds amongst cabins, hostels, together with Airbnb rentals. Keep inward take away heed that rentals are express inward cities similar New Orleans because of how it affects the local housing market. New Orleans is also swell because y'all tin remain at a trendy boutique hotel for nether $100 per night.
Meals are inexpensive at most places unless you’re visiting a fine dining restaurant. If you’re looking for a repast on the go, see a grocery store to relieve money. Most pick out deli counters together with prepared foods. Lunch is a goodness fourth dimension of 24-hour interval to endeavour the to a greater extent than expensive restaurants, peculiarly those award-winners that tin hold upwards tough to acquire a reservation at.
What are some of your favorite off the beaten path destinations?
You don’t pick out to go far from the well-known destinations similar Charleston, New Orleans, together with Nashville to run across places non inward most of the guidebooks. One of the places I ever say is a favorite of mine is the Mississippi Delta, which is a issue of towns that follow the river southward of Memphis. This purpose of the province is highly of import when it comes to music. It was hither that artists similar BB King together with Robert Johnson flora their audio together with where the blues was developed. There are some funky accommodations similar the Sh4ck Up Inn, a collection of sharecropper cabins transformed into invitee suites.
I was also surprised past times Northwest Arkansas. This part is known for mount biking, amongst trails connecting the towns, but also has an incredible arts and crafts brewery scene. Crystal Bridges Museum of Art has i of the best collections inward the nation, if non the world, focusing on American industrial plant similar those past times Andy Warhol together with Frank Lloyd Wright. Eureka Springs is a funky mount town that looks straight off out of a postcard from the 1800s.
I’ve also flora some off-the-beaten-path areas inside well-known destinations. In my hometown of Atlanta, I ever recommend that visitors cheque out Buford Highway, the city’s international dining corridor. When I lived inward Charleston, I spent most of my fourth dimension downtown, but on subsequent visits, I halt upwards inward the Park Circle surface area of North Charleston, an underrated purpose of the city. Just exterior of Nashville is Franklin, a town amongst deep ties to the Civil War. It’s only off the Natchez Trace Parkway together with hosts musicians nearly every nighttime of the calendar week at Puckett’s Grocery. They also host Pilgrimage, an annual music festival that has hosted the likes of Justin Timberlake together with Jack White.
In every pocket-sized town inward between, in that location are quirky museums together with landmarks y'all powerfulness immature adult woman if y'all boundary your trip to the “big” destinations, similar a museum devoted to ventriloquism inward Kentucky together with a memorial to the victims of the Trail of Tears inward Alabama. You never know what y'all powerfulness find!
Caroline Eubanks is a move author together with the author of This Is My South: The Essential Travel Guide to the Southern States. She writes nigh all things Southern at ThisisMySouth.com. You tin also uncovering her on Facebook, Twitter, together with Instagram.
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