I found out that the Southeastern United States is sometimes given the nickname Dixie. After conducting some research on the origin of this name, I stumbled upon an entry in Encyclopedia Britannica describing it as: “According to the most common explanation of the name, $10 notes issued before 1860 by the Citizens’ Bank of New Orleans and used largely by French-speaking residents were imprinted with dix (French: “ten”) on the reverse side; hence the land of Dixies, or Dixie Land, which applied to Louisiana and eventually the whole South.”

This region had a long sandy coastline along the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico and is composed of 12 states, listed with their capitals:

Mississippi (MS), Jackson

Alabama (AL), Montgomery

Louisiana (LA), Baton Rouge

Arkansas (AR), Little Rock

Virginia (VA), Richmond

West Virginia (WV), Charleston

South Carolina (SC), Columbia

North Carolina (NC), Raleigh

Georgia (GA), Atlanta

Florida (FL), Tallahassee

Tennessee (TN), Nashville

Kentucky (KY), Frankfort

The top 5 largest cities in this region, according to 2015 census are:

Jacksonville, Florida Charlotte, North Carolina Washington, District of Columbia Nashville, Tennessee Memphis, Tennessee

History

The North East has a very reach history, dating back to about 11,000BC. Archeologists have discovered artifacts supporting human presence from the Clovis Culture. This region was mainly inhabited by Native Americans of the Woodland tradition prior to the arrival of Spanish conquistadores in 1541. The English settled in Virginia in 1609.

Weather

The southeast region is located in the Sun Belt which includes many types of climates from desert to tropical and stretches across the southern part of the United States. Southeastern United States is closer to the equator and has very mild and humid hot summers and short winters. Winters are mild ranging from 45 °F in the northern part of the region to 70 °F in central Florida. The Southern portion for Florida is considered to have a tropical climate. All months have a mean temperature above 64.4°F making a great place to escape winter. That’s why many retired Canadians have their winter residence in Florida. Tennessee, and the northern halves of Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia experience a lot of rain in the winter and spring due to Gulf moisture and clashes between warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico and cold, dry air from Canada during the cold season.

Economy

Two of the main natural resources in this region are pine trees and coal. Tabaco was one of the first crops to be commercially grown in this region. It was then shipped to England and many families in the region made a living this way, especially in Virginia. South and North Carolinas being rainy and swampy focused on a different type of cash crop – rice. Eventually, cotton became the most important crop of this region.

Now the Southeastern region is known for auto manufacturing. Many car manufacturers have established plans in this region in the last two decades. Here you will find Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai, Toyota Motors, Kia, BMW, Volkswagen and Nissan producing cars for the North American market. The world-renowned shipping company, FedEx is headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee. This region has some of the lowest unemployment rates in the United States.

This region is also known for Research and Development, housing a few “Research Parks”. Huntsville, Alabama is home to many key government, military and aerospace agencies, Including NASA.

Main attractions

West Virginia

• West Virginia’s Whitewater Rafting – running the rivers of the mountain state.

With some of the highest thrills-per-rapid ratios anywhere in North America, West Virginia’s rivers are regularly ranked among the top ten whitewater runs in the world, passing through a landscape so rugged that it’s often referred to as the West of the East. It is also the world’s oldest river after the Nile.

• The Greenbrier – white sulfur springs.

This place became popular in the 1800s with a cluster of cabins. Now it has a 710-plus-room hotel. The 40,000-square-foot spa continues Greenbrier’s 230-year tradition of hydrotherapy with a vast menu of services.

Virginia

• Thomas Jefferson Trail in Monticello and environs.

Thomas Jefferson was a visionary and the principal author of the Declaration of Independence, founder of the University of Virginia and America’s third president. He designed the house that is pictured on the back of the nickel. Jefferson is buried on the extensive grounds of the estate. 100 miles west, you will find the Hot Springs. There you can soak in mineral-rich 98°F waters. These hot springs were reputed by the native people to have restorative powers.

• Shenandoah Valley for the scenic highway drive.

This is one of Virginia’s most enchanting regions. You can drive along 105-mile Skyline Drive which winds among some 60 peaks, running along the Appalachian Trail. In fall, this place is spectacular, hickories, oaks, and maples put on a riotous display of color, which you can observe from any of the roadway’s 75 scenic overlooks, or from the park’s 500 miles of hiking trails. While you are in the area, check out the Great Stalacpipe (yes, it’s made out of stalactites) Organ in Luray Caverns. Covering more than 3,5 miles, it has earned a listing in Guinness World Records as the world’s largest instrument.

Kentucky

• Bluegrass County – horse heaven

Central Kentucky’s bluegrass county is one of America’s most genteel and elegant landscapes, spread over 15 counties. It is an undisputed international center of Thoroughbred horse breeding. Most farms are closed to the public, but north of Lexington, the 1200-acre Kentucky Horse Park welcomes lovers of all things equine. The nearby town of Berea is an idyllic Appalachian arts and crafts center, where hundreds of potters, painters and other artisans live and work.

• The Bourbon Trail

Thanks to native corn and limestone-rich Springs, Kentucky makes about 95% of the world’s Bourbon, its unique flavor defined mostly by the charred white-oak barrels where it is age and minimum of 2 years or 6 to 8 years for the premium small batch brands. Bardstown the de facto capital of Bourbon Country, which is a cluster of 7 distilleries open for guided tours. Visit the annual Bourbon festival in September for its mix of live music, tastings, and lots of Kentucky hospitality.

Tennessee

• Memphis, TN – Graceland, and the Elvis Trail and the pork capital of the world

Elvis Presley fans visit Graceland, remaining frozen in 1977, the year when Elvis was laid to rest in the Meditation Garden outside. Unlike Texas BBQ, which is all about the beef, BBQ in Memphis means pork and it comes in two versions: pulled pork shoulder and ribs served either “wet” (with sauce) or “dry” (with a rub of spices and herbs). BBQ lovers have to time their visit with the Annual World Championship Barbeque Cooking Contest which is held in May. Memphis is also popular for its, music scene, home of blues and the birthplace of rock’n’roll.

• Nashville, TN- the house of country music.

Nashville has been known as “Music City, U.S.A.” for the better part of a century since the Grand Ole Opry began its weekend broadcast here in 1925. You can see a variety of live shows in small cafés around town.

Tennessee and North Carolina

• The Great Smoky Mountains

Rolling across 800 square miles of the southern Appalachians and straddling the Tennessee- North Carolina Border, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is most visited national park in the country. Gaze at the 16 peaks rising higher than 5,000 feet. This park has earned a designation of an International Biosphere Reserve due to a large variety of native plant, animal and fish species. You can explore the park on horseback or by car on the Newfound Gap Road.

North Carolina

• Baltimore – America’s Grandest Estate, Asheville, NC

Baltimore – Still owned by Vanderbilt descendants- can be visited on tours that explore about 100 or 250 rooms decorated with some 1,600 works of art as well as a bowling alley and a 10,000- volume library.

• The Outer Banks- World’s Longest Stretch of Barrier Islands

Some of the most beautiful beaches on America’s Atlantic coast are in North Carolina’s Outer Banks, a string of skinny barrier islands that stretches 130 miles from the Virginia border south to Cape Lookout and Beaufort. This area consists largely of seasonal beach towns popular with fishermen, swimmers and windsurfers.

South Carolina

• Beaufort and the Lowcountry – Where the old times aren’t forgotten

The honeycomb coastline south of Charleston stretches for 200 miles, dissolving into peninsulas, channels, and subtropical Sea Islands that make up the South Carolina Lowcountry. If you love golf, you should visit Kiawah Island in the proximity of Charleston.

• The heart of Charleston – Nothing could be finer

At the time of the American Revolution, Charleston stood as one of the young nation’s largest, wealthiest, and most dynamic communities. Its wonderfully walkable historic district contains one of the nation’s largest collection of antebellum architecture, and a fair share of distinctive Victorian buildings as well.

Georgia

• The Golden Isles – History, aristocrats and splendid isolation

In the 19th century, rich and famous American families began the tradition of vacationing on Georgia’s stunning barrier islands to flee snowy northern winters. These islands are now known as the Golden Isles.

• Savannah’s Historic District – Georgia’s Jewel

Savannah is America’s best walking city, a living museum with the country’s largest National Historic Landmark District: more than 2,300 Colonial and Victorian buildings within 2.5 square miles. It is America’s first planned city! Some of the city’s most impressive historic homes are not charming B&Bs and inns.

Florida

• Kennedy Space Center- Cape Canaveral, FL

Kennedy Space Center has been the headquarters of American rocketry a space exploration since the launch of the unmanned Bumber8 research rocket in July 1950. There, you can see a collection of rockets and the world’s largest collection of astronaut personal memorabilia. Sit at a mission control console or take a virtual ride on Mars in the G-Force Trainer and feel the pull of 4 G’s.

• The Florida Keys- The American Caribbean

Stretching in a graceful arc from mainland Florida southwest into the Gulf of Mexico, the 800 islands, only 30 of which are inhabited, known as the Florida Keys are connected by the awe-inspiring 128-mile-long extension of Route 1 called the Overseas Highway.

Mississippi

• Natchez and the Natchez Trace – Antebellum life in the Old South

Once a bustling port, Natchez, on banks of the Mississippi, is a living museum of antebellum architecture. More than 500 historic treasures remain intact, many still inhabited and lovingly preserved by the original owners’ residents. This place is also the southern terminus for the Natchez Trace Parkway, an old American Indians trappers trail.

Louisiana

• New Orleans

Melding French, Spanish, Italian and Afro-Caribbean cultures, New Orleans is a city that is at once elegant and debauched. It is a popular attraction, well known for its French Quarter, The Garden District, Mardi Gras, music and restaurant scenes.

I hope you enjoyed this post. I have included helpful links in the “other resources” sections below.

Other Resources

Official U.S.A. travel guides

U.S.A. visa requirements

Car rentals in U.S.A.

Professional Help in the Southeastern United States:

West Virginia

Virginia

Kentucky

Tennessee

North Carolina

South Carolina

Georgia

Alabama

Mississippi

Arkansas

Louisiana

Florida

References & Citations

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f2/US_map-South_East.png

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southeastern_United_States

http://us-state-facts.com/US-State-Facts-Southeast-Region/US-State-Facts-Southeast-Region.html

https://www.britannica.com/place/Dixie-region

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_the_Southern_United_States

By Aviator31 – English Wikipedia, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7916951

By Richard Rosendale – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15776447