I just spent three days on aย perfect deep south road tripย soaking upย theย things that inspire me most. It was a whirlwind tour filled with music and literature and history and a heavy dose of natural beauty. And good food, too.
My perfect road tripย centered around the Alabama Book Festival and while selling books and connectingย with others authors and soaking up words was my primary goal, my two other must-see stopsย were Elvis’s birthplace in Tupelo, Mississippi and the Hank Williams Museum in Montgomery, Alabama.
Judge me if you must.
About Elvis.ย I’ll pauseย right here and announce thatย Elvis’s Birthplace deserves (and shall get) its own separateย blog post. I had a near religious experience, butย you’ll have to waitย to hear about it. Tupelo itself was charming and yet another place I’ve added to my everย growing list of “ohhhh, I couldย live here” places. Blues historyย practically oozes from the cracks in the sidewalks.
Elvis is taller than I realized…
About Old Alabama Town.ย The Alabama Book Festival was fun-filled and busy. Old Alabama Town (much like Old City Park / Heritage Villageย for you Dallasย readers) was one of those authentic, step back in time villages I find fascinating. The whole experience added to my perfect deep south road tripโa sunshiny day, historic buildings shaded by heavy trees, yards and yards ofย books, and the whole idyllic place filled with READERS. Mercy.
Aboutย the Fitzgeralds.ย I doubled down on literature and history by visiting the F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum in Montgomery. Five bright stars from me, for sure! This home is the place the Fitzgeralds lived together as a married coupleย the longest (which was less than a year). They lived a lavish lifestyle, moving from hotel to hotel and traveling internationally, while somehow F. S. managed to write one of the greatest literary works and Zelda helped usherย in the Jazz Age.
More to come on the passionate Fitzgeralds.
About Hank. I refused to leave town without a visit to the Hank Williams Museumย which was a tricky thing because of my schedule and the museum’s hours. But I did it. It’s a small place chockfull of memorabilia and the largest collection of Hank’s personal artifacts including hisย gorgeous 1952 baby blue Cadillac. Pictures aren’t allowed inside (boo!) so you’ll have to take my word for it.
About Rosa Parks.
Simply standing on the spot where Rosa Parks was arrested made the hair on the back of my neck tingle. This lady, who refused to surrenderย her bus seat to a white passenger, spurred on aย city-wide boycott and launched nationwide efforts to end segregation. Although she’d worked a long day in a Montgomery department store as a seamstress, she refused to give up her seat not because she was physically tired, but because she was tired of giving in.ย I felt completely overwhelmed by the weight and importance of her story which I suspect alwaysย hangs in theย Montgomery air. I wondered if that unassuming street corner has an energy field around it or an aura above it because I felt it.
As a people, we owe so so so much to Rosa Parks.
My deep southย road trip included lots of natural beauty with roadsides coveredย withย wildflowers and lush Alabama and Mississippi landscapes. I ate my share ofย delicious food, too, including Alabama sausage in Montgomery and catfish in Wetumpka. I still have much more on my list for next time including Monroeville, the Eudora Welty House, Oxford, and the Natchez Trace to name a few. I alsoย have more to say about this whole weekend, but right now I’m trying to wrap my thoughts around it all. And I need more coffee.
Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.
[tweetthis]My perfect whirlwind road trip through Alabama Mississippi @TweetHomeAla @MyTupelo @AlabamaBookFestival[/tweetthis]
Musical Pairing:
Hank Williams, I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry
Barbara Tate says
You really packed a lot into those few days, and YOU GOT TO SEE ELVIS. Loved the blog.
Colene says
I always enjoy hearing about your adventures and this one was sure packed with interesting information. I look forward to hearing more once you catch your breath and maybe before you take off again.
Talya Tate Boerner says
Thank you Colene! I appreciate you!
Martha Orlando says
Wow! I would have loved that tour myself. Thanks for sharing, and I’ll be looking forward to your post on Elvis. ๐
Blessings!
Talya Tate Boerner says
Thanks, Martha!
pat laster says
Great “travelogue.” A broadening experience as well as a captivating, fun one, too. xoxo
Talya Tate Boerner says
Thanks, Pat!
Dorothy Johnson says
Sounds like a great trip. I’m glad you worked in so many stops. Welcome home.
Talya Tate Boerner says
Always good to be home but it takes me a few days to get back in the groove.