The Mississippi Blues Trail

Founded in 1718 and named New Orleans in honor of the Regent Philippe D'Orléans, the city is bustling and endearing. Between its "Vieux Carré" with its Latin-Creole architecture, its Moon Walk along the Mississippi, and the Victorian avenue St. Charles, we discover the treasures of its history. Let's also indulge in some dancing in the excitement of Bourbon Street, the Faubourg Marigny, or Frenchmen Street.

Baton Rouge gets its name from the red sticks planted by the Indians to demarcate their territory. We ride towards the land of the Natchez Indians and the birthplace of cotton culture. A pause in the heart of the historic districts. Via the Natchez Trace Parkway, whose history dates back to the 17th century, we reach Vicksburg. Classified as a "Scenic Byway," it was used by the first Bluesmen, settlers, and merchants to connect Nashville over more than 700 km.

In Indianola, the land of Riley Ben King, a stop at the BB King Memorial is a must. We continue to the heart of the Mississippi Blues Trail towards iconic places like Dockery Farm or the Grammy Museum. Yesterday as today, the souls of the blues still fill the plates of the restaurants, calling for humility. We reach Memphis, the boundary of the Mississippi Blues Trail, which, after the war, capitalized on the blues to become the capital of Rock'n'Roll. Party lovers will enjoy an immersive evening on Beale Street - a must for bikers.

Since the post-war period, Memphis has also been at the forefront of the civil rights movement; a stop at the "National Civil Rights Museum" before our departure for Savannah. Before arriving in this other southern city, where neoclassical, Victorian, and Federal-style residences intersect, we make a short stop at Shiloh National Park, another emblematic site of the Civil War.

End of the musical journey; more mechanical melodies welcome us at the Corvette Museum. The adjacent restaurant offers delicious burgers in a 1960s-themed decor. Slowly, along the back roads of Tennessee, we cover the distance to the Crossville area. Along the way, in bourbon country, we may not escape a small taste, but with great moderation.

In the heart of the Appalachians, the "Blue Ridge Parkway," another "Scenic Byway," will enchant us all day long. Lost in the wilderness, we will make a stop at a unique place to see more than 350 vintage and rare motorcycles or other means of transportation from the early 1900s. A must-see! After lunch, until we reach our destination, we rediscover the Blue Ridge Parkway with its magical landscapes and viewpoints over this mountainous region.

We take advantage of our morning in Atlanta to rest or participate in a tasting of the most famous Georgian nectar. Known as Coca-Cola, we will glean some secrets that have led to the success of the company since 1894. Departure for our next stop in Montgomery.