Deep South Holidays
Sample itineraries
Alabama Legends of Music Tour!
From £875
It’s no wonder US rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd raved about “Sweet Home Alabama” in their 70's hit. Nestled in the heart of the Deep South, Alabama is regarded as one of the America’s best kept secrets with a diverse mix of landscapes, a rich array of historical attractions and miles of untouched golden beaches.
It’s the music we’re concentrating on in our 9-night Alabama Legends of Music Trail! Follow in the footsteps of Nat King Cole, Hank Williams,W C Handy and Tammy Wynette on a journey through the rich musical heritage that Alabama has to offer you.
Highlights:
- Jazz and Blues Cafes
-
Huntsville and the USA Space Rocket Centre
- Muscle Sounds Studios
- Fame Studios
- Alabama Music Festivals throughout the year
- Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame
-
Alabama Music Hall of Fame
- Montgomery
-
Honky Tonk Bars
- Hank Williams Trail
-
Mobile, one of the oldest cities in America & the Lo Da Entertainment District
-
Untouched golden beaches, friendly people and delicious southern cooking!
Price per person includes:
- Return flights into Huntsville and home from Mobile
- Airport taxes
- Compact size car hire for the duration
- 9 nights accommodation
Ideal time to travel: March-November
Day 1-2 Huntsville
Arrive Huntsville, North Alabama and hit the ground running! Enjoy a great night out in one of the many Jazz Cafes or Blues Bars, like the Crossroads Cafe of the Jazz Factory.
Huntsville hosts one of the state's largest music events, the Big Spring Jam every September. Washington Square is the city's downtown area and has a mini entertainment district with fabulous live music nightly.
Days 3-4 Muscle Shoals
Distance: 69 miles
Muscle Shoals is your
next stop and home to two of the most influential recording centres in America. Renowned for their huge contribution to rock, country and R&B music throughout the 60’s and 70’s, Muscle
Sounds Studios and FAME Studios were used
frequently by superstars like Aretha
Franklin, The Rolling Stones, Paul Simon and Otis Reading who all made classic recordings here. In nearby Florence, legendary figure W C Handy the“father of the Blues” was born and composed tunes like “St Louis Blues” and “Memphis Blues”.
If you are in the area in July be sure to stop by at the W C Handy Music
Festival.
This northwest corner of Alabama has a cluster of music cities-Tuscumbia, Florence and Sheffield as well as Muscle Shoals, that line the banks of the Tennessee River. The Alabama Music Hall of Fame in Tuscumbia show cases the state's famous music icons that include-Dinah Washington, Jimmie Rogers, Sam Phillips, Nat King Cole, Tammy Wynette, The Temptations and the Commodores. Exhibits include costumes, historical anecdotes and the original recording equipment from Memphis Music Service, home of Sun Studios.
Days 5-6 Birmingham
Distance: 112 miles
You'd expect your next stop, Birmingham to add its own stamp to the music world and it surely does with its famous City Stages Festival every June. This 3-day event features around 150 acts and boasts nine festivals for the price of one!
Three of this year's classic acts are The Doobie Brothers, REO Speedwagon and STYX. A real treat for the Jazz enthusiat in Birmingham is the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame which pays tribute to great artists with ties to Alabama like Nat King Cole, Duke Ellington and Lionel Hampton.
Day 7 Montgomery
![Hank_Williams_autograph[1]alabama](/img/uploads/4152_fit588x588.jpg)
Distance: 91 miles
Moving on south to Montgomery, Alabama's State Capital, is where Hank Williams lived from 1937 to 1948. The Hank Williams Museum documents the life of this Country Music pioneer famous for such classics as "Hey Good Lookin" and "Cold Cold Heart".
Follow the Hank Williams Trail south to Mount Olive where he was born and to Georgiana his boyhood home. The Jubilee Cityfest held here in May is a great fun filled treat for all music lovers.
Days 8-9 Mobile
Distance: 170 miles
Moving south to the historic port city of Mobile which is one of the oldest cities in America. It’s home to the original Mardi Gras which started in 1703 and is still celebrated every year two weeks before Lent.
Mobile features delicious seafood and an
array of bars, restaurants and live music venues which is what you would expect
from Jimmy Buffet’s hometown.
The Lo Da Enterntainment District has over 20 establishments with live music on different nights of the week. If you’re visiting in the Fall, you’ll be lucky enough to see the city’s 3 day BayFest Music Festival. This has jazz as it’s main ingredient but there is continuous music for every taste.
During your two night stay, take a trip a few miles down the road to Gulf Shores and Orange Beach which provide 32 miles of pristine white sandy beaches along the Gulf of Mexico. Live bands perform at beachfront bars like the Florabama, Pink Pony Pub and The Hangout. LuLu’s at Homeport Marina known as Jimmy Buffett’s Sister’s Place is also great for local bands. The Wharf Ampitheatre, located at the Wharf shopping and dining complex in Orange Beach, has various acts Wednesday through Sunday.
Day 10 Mobile
Time to leave Sweet Home Alabama behind and make your way back home!
