My Easter trip for 2026 brought me once again back to the US. Atlanta to Memphis to Jackson to Baton Rouge to New Orleans back to Atlanta have been my city destinations.
Memphis, Tennessee feels deep south even though it was my northernmost and thus starting point with this quick road trip. I flew in and out of Atlanta, Georgia, so I’ll skip on it to jump right away to the road trip destinations. Memphis’ population is for a significant part rather on that poor side and still the city tries hard to keep itself clean and to reduce the high crime rates it saw in the past. Well, I felt safe walking and exploring by myself during the day in all parts of and around downtown, but limited my activity at night time. With all my global & US travels, I have developed a certain gut feeling of how safe an environment might be and usually go along with that. I also recommend secured car parking overnight even though not at all intending to draw a negative picture of this soulful town. The weather was very mild to rather warm during my March of 2026 visit – and I heard that this was rather unusual for March. The Mississippi river provided fresh winds and a watery vibe on top of it all. The mighty Mississippi is one hell of a wide river and flows at a higher speed easily to be observed with the naked eye.
Just, it is deep brown waters mostly. Nicer to look at them boats by the wharf or those passing by which calmed me down nicely. Transport ships going north fighting against that massive flow. Then, I continued my walk alongside the riverfront across Tom Lee Park which is a welcoming community and touristy park free of charge that is also easily accessible. A fully enjoyable walk all across the riverfront is what I therefor clearly advise to arrive in town. Which also leads you close to that main road of town: head to Beale Street, the famous bar and blues music street. A vibing street forming main part of downtown with easy and walkable access to many must-sees nearby. Traffic has been thankfully blocked there and quickly I could spot signs that remind of legends like B.B. King and other legendary musicians. If you make your way up or down left or right in and around downtown, you will find those local joints for fresh food, coffee, creative drinks. In an old warehouse window front, I saw plenty of barrels waiting to be filled or emptied. The National Civil Rights Museum, many statues, other music museums or that FedEx Forum can be found in walking distance. Street art can be spotted here and there in sometimes random places across town, too.
As an automotive enthusiast, I am always on the look-out for interesting places to check out vehicles. The Edge Motor Museum, a small museum dedicated to the American muscle car is found in Memphis, Tenn. as well. And to make for another walkable and perfect combo: it is in walking distance to the must-visit of Sun Studio, where Elvis Presley realized his first legendary recordings. What a combination for folks like me! After checking out all the cars in that museum, I spoke with Ally, their cashier, a young Memphis born woman who has also a heart for the Petrol-powered classic cars. Like the BANDIT (Burt Reynolds back then) car that is on display here. She further told me that Memphis is really not as bad as much of its reputation and that she has always been safe growing up here as a normal girl and young woman. I will go with that, even though I left out the night life in this town; or am I getting old..? Oh, if you come by car to that automotive museum, be it a rental like in my case, you can park and photo it right outside to have an Hot Wheels style of yours.
In town, there is also a fantastic small park to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. which is worth to reflect on. And of course, how can one come to Memphis and not think of Elvis and check out his planes, Graceland and the fuzz they created around him. I have to state, it is all very costly and they squeeze out their hero so to say for his fans coming from all over the world. If you’re not an Elvis maniac, it is rather not worth to check it all out to the fullest. Get some pics, pay your tribute to him and continue exploring town.
When you get hungry, I’d recommend wings for dinner. There is an -rather unspectacular looking- neighborhood restaurant called Mr. P’s that serves ultimate flavors for wings. Most Memphis folks come to pick them up only, so you can just show up and eat in front or inside. That is, should you be able to quickly decide on one or two of their 32 incredible flavors. And then what I learned was that part of town is called Germantown, haha, and actually already is its own city limit. But a quick drive from actual Memphis!
To enjoy the city from “above”, the glass bottom platform atop the BASS PRO SHOP Pyramid is a must. There is a waiting line to get up, but surely worth it as you get to experience the river and the city perfectly. Pics speak for themselves.
To escape the crowds and if you have a 4×4 vehicle, take yourself northwest of Memphis with destination Chickasaw Bluff Trail. From there continue on the small “road” until you reach the wild Mississippi. I got lucky and was there by myself.
Jackson, Mississippi.
Jackson and many parts of Mississippi State gave me the feeling of some more distant relaxation. People wanted every bit more private and also more in order from what I felt and observed. Like those Jacksoners were on a clearly southern mission and dedicated to it, but with a rather small town touch.
Still, you can find of the very finest milkshakes of the entire US right here in Jackson in that state of Mississippi. The place is called Brent’s Drugs.Typically and classic American, surely on sweet point and lovely rich in its full taste worth everything, I enjoyed a simple Vanilla milkshake. Which looked normal, yet tasted absolutely perfect, really. You can also enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner at that place, but their signature shakes are plain awesome.
The city lives off that vibe described and is also a medical city with important surprisingly big hospitals and many medical services. Another sign of great hope and order right there. The city park is absolutely lovely and allows for long walks or short relaxation. I could breathe deeply there as well and enjoy the tranquility of the park and surroundings.
Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Aka Tiger Town because of their sports team or that fast paced city on the Mississippi. Ain’t that a river having so many great cities on its shores..!?
The BR offers a great state university and impressive houses and student body. In that education part of town it comes with all the student city vibes there are. Everything is clean and kept in order like one can ask for.
Just – as soon as you exit the nice parts of town, though, you see that roads are not maintained at all and houses that clearly have seen better times. Yet their owners or occupants proudly chill on that front porch. The Rural Life Museum and the nearby bird and botanical gardens are surely worth a visit to soak in some history. They allowed for great insight and stark contrast to the rest of the city. It is also nice to simply stroll, jog or walk down the Riverwalk and feel that mix of business people visiting, locals walking the dog or working out and other visitors checking it all out. BR mixes the influences of that university with some military heritage and kind of hidden potential lingering in this town despite some problems here and there. The contrast of very old wooden houses and newer architecture also spoke to my mind somehow. Because of the mix of people maybe, there are plenty of good restaurants to be found in the BR, too. Seems like every part of town has its own recommended places from Italian to Deep South, from Asian to Creole.
On my way down to New Orleans, Louisiana or NOLA as I explained after my first visit to this fantastic place, I am making stop and laying low in Mandeville, Luisiana just north of lake Pontchartrain. With my buddy Chris, I enjoyed great food and some good beer called Lucifer. My first trip to NOLA brought me right to the city from a rather touristy perspective. This time I am almost local and had that suburb perspective. Mandeville is really a small town which is located right north of that Pontchartrain Bridge that connects mainland Louisiana with New Orleans. A long bridge ride as you will find yourself driving over open water for almost half an hour. I should then cross that bridge multiple times over the course of some days. One-way is USD 6.00 going into NOLA, leaving it comes for free then – logically or surprising?
I enjoyed exploring some parts of NOLA simply again whilst also taking time for the outskirts and nearby parks. The Jean Lafitte National Park almost hides the Nola Twin Canals swamp walk with phenomenal views just 20 minutes by car south of New Orleans nearing the Gulf. Swamps keep fascinating me aside from deserts, my favorite forms of nature. The swamp mixes the elements of earth and water. Has high humidity and allows for much wildlife to prosper. I think that I did prosper and took a deep breath of that swamp to Mississippi air with a mild taste of the Gulf.
Southern vibes come in lovely and show the truth about many people, be they of whichever color. Hearty food, music and vibes support one’s soul down here. And for a certain thrill: spot the alligator always hiding somewhere. Better relax your mind with Spanish Moss hanging from the trees or place yourself under the Tree of Life in NOLA that reconnects you with nature in a beautiful way. The city park has a concrete-made map hiding on its highest elevation.
Many Plantations like famous Oak Valley are worth a day-trip from NOLA. Check it out. You will learn from the past and how beautiful and big a southern house can be. Or which surely dark history every plantation holds with the many slave lives lived to harvest crop or sugar cane. All just that little bit above the Mississippi shore line. Stark contrast of slavery and other dark history with the given sheer beauty of the main building of a plantation left me astonished. Back on the road, many parts of bigger roads are build on concrete stilts as the swamp is simply everywhere!
Memphis feels that blues, is deeper on music, Nola (New Orleans) seems crazier and actually provides more of a global city feel due to all the people coming in by boat/ cruise liner, plane or road-tripping just like I did this time. NOLA is for sure a city to visit multiple times and so I am thankful to have experienced it another time. Oh, be sure to have a hippie-styled – but surely southern full breakfast at LIZ Where Y’all At in Mandeville. Lunch or dinner can be a Po’Boay in New Orleans, signature sandwiches with fresh fish and salad.
Have a great 2026, all, keep on exploring and travelling.
Stay safe, but curious.
Yours, Sirk