Help requested. My wife and I are planning to travel in the south-

[AlinPA]

TN, MS, LA to tour Civil War sites.
We have read about the beautiful scenery, the great food, places like the Trace and Vicksburg and are really looking forward to the two week trip (We don't have any liberal bumper stickers). We assume there a lot of nice regular Dems and we will be comfortable. Which places do you recommend where our PA tags won't annoy any right wingers and we will feel comfortable? Any towns/places we should steer clear of?

[Goldmund]

1. I don't think that anybody will harrass you for your PA tags

I live in NY but my parents live in TN. Not only do I have a more offending license plate ;), but my car is full of liberal bumper stickers, and not once have I ever been harrassed down there. I drive to TN often to visit them.

[XNASA]

2. Worry not.

I once actually 'lived' in the South for quite a long time. Six years.

There's nothing to fear. Southerners, real Southerners are salt of the earth. Very easygoing and fairminded.

That said, if you see a duelie with a confederate flag in the rear window....then I'd steer clear.

[sinkingfeeling]

3. I think that you can go to any tourist attraction in the South and will

have no trouble. I'm a Yankee who has lived in the South half of my life with plenty of liberal/Democratic bumper stickers and have never had a problem. If you get to Arkansas, you can go to Prairie Grove and Pea Ridge Battlefields in NW Arkansas.

[Shell Beau]

4. I wouldn't worry about that at all!

Check out Natchez, MS. I find it prettier than Vicksburg and it has a lot of history there too. Ride the Natchez Trace; it is very pretty.

[AlinPA]

12. We are planning to vist every battlefeld we can. We went on a diet

to make sure we could "go for it" on all the great food. (Catfish in Arkansas, BBQ in Memphis, and the great food in Louisiana.)

[Shell Beau]

21. Catfish in MS! Belzoni, MS is the catfish capitol.

Who told you Arkansas. Although it is probably good there. MS is the place for catfish. Also try the restaurants that specialize in homecookin'. Memphis for BBQ. New Orleans for Cajun seafood.

[AlinPA]

36. My wife wrote down some names for BBQ in Memphis. Corky's? n/t

[Shell Beau]

46. Yeah that is one place. Ask

some from there though b/c there is a Corky's chain that is just okay. It originated in Memphis so their's may be better. But I have had better BBQ.

[Gormy Cuss]

78. There's also the Rendezvous in dwtn Memphis for BBQ

Heck, if you like bbq, try some in every state because it'll be different in each area.

[NawlinsNed]

85. Bah! Des Allemands, LA is the Catfish Capitol of the UNIVERSE!

Seriously, that's what they claim. :)

[A HERETIC I AM]

67. BOUDIN SHACK!!! BOUDIN SHACK!!! BOUDIN SHACK!!!!!!!!!

G O T O T H E B O U D I N S H A C K !!!!!!!!

I 10, FIRST Exit WEST of the Atchtafalaya Swamp (Mile post 104 or so, i think, just check your atlas) In Louisiana.

Absolutely GREAT Cajun food. The place fits it's name....A SHACK!!! but the family that owns it is true blue cajun and they make the BEST Boudin, Crawfish Etoufee' and Jambalaya you'll eat. Trust me.

Just north of the freeway on the left. If you travel on I 10 and you don't stop there....well......you'll miss out!

Have a Boudin Ball and some Red Beans and Rice for me!!

[AlinPA]

70. Thank you a lot. You people are wonderful. I'm going to gain 15#!

[NawlinsNed]

86. Even better... House of Seafood in Bush, Louisiana

16 bucks, ALL you can eat. Crawfish, shrimp, crabs, duck, alligator, rabbit, etc, etc. It is wonderlicious!

[lateo]

82. I agree with you.

/grew up in Mississippi.

/Laurel native

[LynneSin]

5. Hell, depending on what part of PA you're from...

...they make think you're one of them. I grew up in very rural Pennsylvania otherwise known as 1940 Pennsyltucky

[AlinPA]

6. Me too! n/t

[LynneSin]

10. Perry County here

I was so glad to move away from there

[RPM]

7. i know that part of PA...

it's still Pennsyltucky.

[youspeakmylanguage]

8. No one will harrass you simply because of a license tag...

And as far as liberal enclaves of the South go, you can't get any more blue than Chapel Hill, NC.

[southlandshari]

9. I don't think you will have any trouble

The nutjobs really are in the minority down here, even in places like rural Mississippi. You will not find nicer folks anywhere than in the Mississippi Delta or southern Louisiana. I'm sure some nice DUers in those states would even give you their phone numbers in case of any problems (like car trouble or illness - I truly wouldn't worry about the other business).

Post something in the Mississippi, Louisiana and Tennessee state forums, I'll bet you get a warm response. And if you think you might drift over into much-maligned Alabama, definitely post a heads up in the Alabama state forum - we have one of the most active forums on DU, believe it or not!

:hi:

[Thtwudbeme]

11. What in the world makes you think Southerners would harrass you

for your car tags?

[Shell Beau]

13. I can't imagine b/c I see all kinds of car

tags here.

[Thtwudbeme]

14. NC here.

you?

[Shell Beau]

16. Good ole Mississippi

[AlinPA]

20. We will be in Vicksburg for three nights. n/t

[Shell Beau]

23. Are you staying at a Casino?

[AlinPA]

26. Nope. Just motels in mostly small towns. n/t

[Shell Beau]

43. Enjoy! Don't forget about Natchez.

And try to go from Vicksburg to Port Gibson. Port Gibson was declared too beautiful to burn by Grant.

[AlinPA]

48. On the list of places to go. Thanks. n/t

[AlinPA]

15. My sister-in-law's truck driver brother was saying that people from "up

in the blue states" are not welcome there. He is a right wing Bush** supporter and drives all over the south.

[Shell Beau]

18. Well that is a bunch of hog wash and I should know.

I lived in the MS Delta for 22 years and now near the state capitol for 4.5 years.

[Thtwudbeme]

27. OK, we do have some jerks down here

Guess he's gonna be crying like hell when the price of gas affects his job, eh.

[southlandshari]

35. Perhaps he has some agenda - who knows?

There really, really is some truth behind the term "Southern hospitality" - most folks will go out of their way to help a visitor around here. I worked for nearly ten years in a job that had me driving all over a 14 state swath of the U.S. that included the midwest, the southwest and the southeast, and I would much rather have a flat tire in a state like Mississippi or Alabama than just about anywhere else I've traveled.

Don't forget the "snowbirds" who spend a good chunk of each year down this way - folks around here are pretty used to seeing license plates from all over. And if you are going to mostly tourist sites, you'll have no shortage of warm welcomes there!

As a wise old friend of mine from Tupelo is fond of saying...

"Come on down for a spell! We'll treat you so many ways you're bound to like one of 'em!"

:D

[AlinPA]

37. Tupelo is on the way we are going. (Trace goes there I think). Elvis

born there. n/t

[AverageJoe]

41. You should tour Elvis's birthplace

It's quite cool.

[southlandshari]

44. The Trace is a beautiful drive.

Best in the spring and fall, but really nice any time of the year. Just be on the lookout for both deer and speed traps, both are usually out in full force along that route.

Are you spending any time in Jackson? Loads of great progressive folks there!

[AlinPA]

49. My wife has been talking about the Trace for two years. I'm ready! nt

[Shell Beau]

50. Yay!! That is where I live! Actually Brandon, but it is

still considered the greater Jackson area. I work in Jackson.

[Wcross]

62. The Natchez trace runs right through Tupelo.n/t

[CottonBear]

39. He must've POed someone, 'cause for the most part, we're all real nice.

Have a good time and enjoy the sights, the food and the people! Ya'll come on down and have a big time, hear? :) :hi:

[AlinPA]

45. We are leaving Saturday AM. Two weeks in the south. I'll probably

gain 10 #.

[Taverner]

17. Stay clear of moon pies!!!

...ducking

[CottonBear]

31. Hey! We already discussed Moonpies today. They are yummy!

;)

[southlandshari]

47. Ok, that's it.

I'm calling a nuke vote in the mod forum right now!

Unless you make a peace offering right quick, darlin'.

How's this? Open wide....eat them all and I'll forgive you:

[Taverner]

54. Noooo!!!! Not my hair!!!!

I don't have so much of it anymore!!!

[AlinPA]

58. This Moon Pie? n/t

http://www.hometownfavorites.com/moon-pie.htm

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

19. I've driven through the south with California tags

Nothing but nice people everywhere I went

[Thtwudbeme]

28. Yeah...but that was because they wanted you.

I mean HELLLOOOOOOOO

[CottonBear]

22. Don't miss Chattanooga, TN and Northeast Georgia.

The Chickamauga National Battlefield and most all of Chattanooga is prime territory for Civil War buffs. Of course there's the Kennesaw battlefield north of Atlanta and the Cyclorama in Atlanta. Here in Athens, GA, we have the famous double-barelled cannon which sits outside of our city hall! (It was a good idea in theory but a total failure when fired!) :)

[AlinPA]

29. Those sites esp. Chattanooga and Chickamaugaare at the top of the list.

[Bossy Monkey]

52. In that case, go here, stay here, eat here. (Talk about gaining 10 lbs!)

http://www.dillardhouse.com/
The food is a buffet they bring to your table. Accommodations are reasonable, views are lovely. The school where the Foxfire books were written is maybe two miles away.

[AlinPA]

56. Thank you for the link. n/t

[AlinPA]

24. Thank you all! Heading on on Saturday. First stop is in KY. n/t

[Trigger Hippie]

25. Visit Lafayette, Louisiana

My hometown. Great people, awesome food, fun music.

:)

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

30. The greatest town in the south! Go to Prejean's

[Trigger Hippie]

33. Yeah, see the big, stuffed gator

and dance to some Cajun music! Eat some crawfish etouffee for me!

:bounce:

[AlinPA]

40. Will look it up in our AAA book. Thanks a million. n/t

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

51. Do not miss it!

[AlinPA]

32. Its on the itineray! n/t

[Trigger Hippie]

34. Really!

Awright! Then you'll definitely have a great trip!

:)

[AverageJoe]

38. If you find yourself anywhere near Oxford, MS

do yourself a favor and go there. Oxford is the home of the University of Mississippi (aka Ole Miss) and of William Faulkner. His home is open to the public for free tours and his grave is easy to find, if you're into that sort of thing.

Oxford is also one of the loveliest towns in America and the people will treat you right.

If you go, make sure to visit Square Books, one of best independent bookstores on the planet!

[AlinPA]

42. Thanks. Wrote it down. n/t

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

53. Go to the Carter Center when you get to Atlanta

Sometimes Jimmy is even there!

[Iris]

55. No one's gonna get upset by a license plate.

For the most part we're pretty civilized down here.

[texanwitch]

57. The only worry you should have is getting fat, we have good food

down here. :hi:

[lildreamer316]

59. Next time you travel this way, please

make a trip to the Outer Banks of NC. That really takes a week in and of itself. The lighthouses, the shipwrecks, the food, the Wright Brothers, the Lost Colony, the accents! ("hoi toiders" are what we call folks from that area; they have a dialect different from anywhere else because they are direct decendants from the original colonists)Biltmore is worth a stop too (other end of the state though) Have fun!

[AlinPA]

72. Been to Outer Banks twice and we also were at Biltmore. Great art in NC.

some of the finest woodcarvings.

[Lars39]

60. Reeeealllly pay attention to the speed limits in construction zones.

TN troopers can hand out $500 tickets for speeding.

[AlinPA]

73. Thank you for the tip! n/t

[Lars39]

79. You're welcome! Hope you have a great trip! : - )

[NC_Nurse]

61. We're not that scary!

Actually Southern hospitality is not a myth...people down here are nice, really!

NC has some great spots too. Chapel Hill is the first public university in the US. Hillsborough, just to the north has some Revolutionary war history....and there are great beaches and mountains too.

You'll be fine. Nobody cares where you're from. :)

[AlinPA]

75. Thank you, we are really feeling good about the trip . n/t

[A HERETIC I AM]

63. Try and include driving on a section of the Blue Ridge Parkway on your

trip. One of the most beautiful roads in the East. It runs along the Appalachians from MD into TN and even though it will take longer than the interstate, it will be well worth it.

As other posters suggest, Americans are Americans and i can't imagine a situation where your PA plates should be any more of a concern to you except that you will have to anwser the same question repeatedly, namely;
"Where ya'll from?"

Enjoy your trip. I have traveled all through the South and can't remember a time when the folks i met were anything but kind, decent, polite, hospitable and courteous.

You must admit however, there are probably assholes in your own neighborhood, just like everywhere. Those you just ignore.


Happy Motoring!!!!!!!!

[AlinPA]

74. We have been on the Blue Ridge Pkwy three or four times. Fabulous!

Thanks for replying.

[Wcross]

64. Stones river & the battle of Franklin on your agenda?

You should be able to do both in one day and then head over to Shilo (driving down the Natchez trace part way).

[AlinPA]

69. Both are on the list. Shilo of course is tops on the Thanks for the tip!

[merh]

65. As a Mississippian, I can tell you that we welcome snow birds

(folks from the north). We are used to you all coming down from states like PA to escape the cold and play some golf.

Mississippi Gulf Coast has casinos, great seafood and home cooking and Beauvior, the last home of Jeff Davis and his Presidential Library. Our scenery can't be beat and we are known to be quite hospitable.

I recommend McElroys Seafood Rest in Biloxi for casual dining and great food. If you want fancy dining with great food, Vrazel's in Gulfport is the best to go.

I would recommend staying at the Emerald Beach Hotel in Biloxi, it is right on the beach, so you can appreciate the Gulf - the scenery.

If you can, plan a trip on the Ship Island Ferry to the Barrier Island. On the south side of the island, the water is as blue as anything Florida has and there is surf and white sand. Fort Massachusettes is out there and that is loaded with history.



http://www.beauvoir.org/

[enigami]

66. You will be just fine about anywhere as long as

You don't go around pissing on Confederate Memorials, and burning battle flags and such. Have fun

[Maddy McCall]

68. Here is a must-do. You must visit Natchez, MS and stay at the Eola.

You HAVE to do this, or you have not experienced good Southern hospitality.

I can give you all kinds of pointers about Natchez.

Please consider doing this and let me know how I can help. Seriously, no visit to the South is complete without visiting Natchez. The French and Spanish architecture in the town still stands, and you can take a carriage ride with experts on Natchez history. and no visit to Natchez is complete without a visit to Natchez Under The Hill, where you can sit in rocking chairs and drink mint juleps on the bank of the Mississippi River.

And, if you stay in Vicksburg, you need to visit the Old Courthouse Museum in town. It's the least politically correct museum in the United States, according to the book Confederates in the Attic, which you must read before your southern journey. You also need to visit the Coca Cola museum in Vicksburg.

There are no places you should steer clear of. The south is trying to build its tourism industry and welcomes people from anywhere and everywhere.

[AlinPA]

76. We only set aside two nights in Natchez, but we have it as a "must visit "

[Maddy McCall]

77. Great!

Either stay at the Eola, or across the river in Vidalia, LA, on the new riverwalk at the Comfort Suites there. Either is a great place to stay.

[AlinPA]

80. Looked up the Eola; 80-105/night. Good price. Great reviews by

past visitors. Thanks again.

[Maddy McCall]

81. You will love the elevator and the courtyard.

The staff waits on you hand and foot. I'm telling you, staying at the Eola is taking a step back to the 1920s. It's a great place.

Rooms are small, but the overall ambience of the whole hotel makes up for it.

And make sure you eat at the King's Tavern and shop at Darby's while you are there.

Google the King's Tavern. Some great stories!

Oh, and tamales at Fat Mama's Tamales is also a mandatory Natchez stop!

[AlinPA]

83. Thanks much. Will look at King's Tavern.

[AlinPA]

84. Great reviews on King's Tavern. Must stop there for sure next week.

[Bouncy Ball]

71. Don't worry about your plates.

No one cares, honestly.

I drive around Texas with big time anti-bush, anti-war stickers all the time and not a single middle finger, nothing.

Have fun!