Digital Branch: Summer Road Trips: Southern USA

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Louisiana Ambassadors: Choose Your Own Adventure!
Start with "Choose Your Adventure in Baton Rouge and Lafayette" and travel along with a Zydeco musician who is taking a break.
Mississippi Country Music Trail
Ride the Mississippi Country Music Trail
to discover the state’s contributions to country music are boundless, not confined to a region or defined by a single style or technique.
Mississippi Blues Trail
Welcome to the Mississippi Blues Trail,
your unforgettable journey into the land that spawned the single most important root source of modern popular music. Whether you're a die-hard blues fan or a casual traveler in search of an interesting trip, you'll find facts you didn't know, places you've never seen, and you'll gain a new appreciation for the area that gave birth to the blues.
Elvis Presley's Graceland
Graceland is so much more than a Mansion. It was the private retreat of the King of Rock 'n Roll. It was where his family grew up, spent their time together and enjoyed life. Today, you're invited to explore Elvis Presley’s home, Graceland Mansion, and immerse yourself in his life and legacy at Elvis Presley's Memphis Entertainment Complex.
Alabama Farmers Federation: Catfish Farming
All about the farming and raising of catfish, a large industry in Alabama!
ESSE Purse Museum
ESSE Purse Museum tells the evolution of 20th-century American woman through the bags she carried and their contents. With virtual tours like That 70's Exhibit and a virtual Barbie tour, this museum is sure to excite!
Pea Ridge National Military Park National Park Service
Pea Ridge National Military Park in Pea Ridge preserves and protects the history that took place on its hallowed ground. The Pea Ridge Campaign offers a virtual tour with images and videos, audio and text about several locations on the battlefield, and tells the stories of the men who fought here and other interesting topics.
The Old State House Museum
The Old State House housed a number of other agencies and functions through the twentieth century. It served as the Arkansas War Memorial, became the first home of the Arkansas State Police, and held the offices of a number of statewide patriotic organizations. The Old State House continues to play a vital role in preserving, sharing, and celebrating the history of Arkansas and its people with online exhibits, video collections and virtual tours.
Google Arts & Culture: Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
In partnership with Google Arts & Culture, The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum seeks to collect, preserve, and interpret the evolving history and traditions of country music. Through exhibits, publications, and educational programs, the museum teaches its diverse audiences about the enduring beauty and cultural importance of country music.
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum: Collections and Resources
The Frist Library and Archive represents more than forty years' worth of collecting country music books, periodicals, photographs, fan club newsletters, scrapbooks, sheet music, songbooks, video and film, oral histories, and sound recordings.
Belmont Mansion
Take a self-guided virtual tour of the Belmont Mansion nearly 177 acre estate of gardens and grounds. The grounds included a rose garden, various gazebos, water tower, greenhouse and a large collection of animals. The property served as the first public park and zoo in Nashville, open to the public six days a week. The virtual tour offers sound clips to narrate a walking tour or you can explore the landscape virtually. The links to the virtual tour include historic photographs and a podcast to immerse yourself in the Belmont estate.
The History of Grand Ole Opry
Dedicated to honoring country music’s rich history and dynamic present, the Grand Ole Opry showcases a mix of country legends and the contemporary chart-toppers who have followed in their footsteps. The Opry – an American icon and Nashville, Tennessee’s number-one attraction – is world-famous for creating one-of-a-kind entertainment experiences for audiences of all ages.
George Washington's Mount Vernon Museum and Virtual Tour
Learn more about George Washington and his Mount Vernon Estate through a virtual tour, and explore online collections from the Mount Vernon museum.
Blue Ridge Institute and Museum
The Blue Ridge Institute and Museum in Ferrum offers online exhibits for individuals to learn more about folk heritage in the Blue Ridge region.
Let's Go!: South Carolina Historical Sites
Check out virtual reality tours of some of South Carolina’s most interesting historical sites. Each interactive virtual tour includes an overview video and photo gallery.
Blue Ridge Parkway
Appreciate this famous 469-mile scenic byway through the eyes of the people who love it and know it best with “Explorers of the Blue Ridge Parkway,” an interactive guide designed to look, move and sound like a real-life journey on the Parkway. It also offers tales, trails, top hikes and animated vistas of endless mountain ridges.
SmokiEEEs
SmokiEEEs @ Home is an opportunity for families to take an educational journey to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, online and outside! The site includes Park Ranger-led adventures, virtual experiences at Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont, educational resources and fun activities from park partner programs and GSMNP’s Parks As Classrooms.
The Ringling Museum
The Ringling Museum is a 66-acre museum complex in Sarasota that is home to more than 28,000 works of art, ranging from ancient periods and European middle ages to American art from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.
Memories of Life on an Atchafalaya Houseboat
For a touch of something unexpected, this is an interesting way to see life from a houseboat on a Louisiana swamp. In the 1970s, Gwen Carpenter Roland was about to start work on her doctorate when she decided instead to live off the land -- and water -- in the Atchafalaya River Basin Swamp in south-central Louisiana.
Kentucky Virtual Museums
Kentucky PBS presents the Kentucky Museum at Western Kentucky University. Opened in 1939, this museum is dedicated to the preservation and appreciation of Kentucky’s cultural heritage.
Explore Georgia
Virtual ways to explore the state of Georgia. From digital chats with zookeepers to free concerts online, Georgia's virtual experiences are growing daily!
Georgia Digital Jigsaws
Digital puzzles of amazing Georgia scenes. Experience the stunning beauty of Minnehaha Falls, take in the vast cityscape along the Chattahoochee Riverwalk, and picture yourself soaking up the Southern sun on St. Simons Island. Stay connected to nature and plan your dream Georgia getaway from the comfort of your couch.

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Honey Island Swamp Tour
Just a short drive from New Orleans, Louisiana has many acres of swamp land deep in the Honey Island Swamp that are said to be as uncorrupted, primitive, and untouched by man as anywhere in America.
Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives: Parasol Po' Boy
Guy visits Parasol's Restaurant for the best po' boy in New Orleans.
Cathedral Caverns
Cathedral Caverns State Park is a publicly owned recreation area and natural history preserve located in Kennamer Cove. The state park's main feature, first known as Bats Cave, was developed as a tourist attraction in the 1950s. Cathedral Caverns was declared a National Natural Landmark in 1972 and opened as a state park in 2000.
Buffalo Trace Distillery Tour
For over 200 years, Buffalo Trace Distillery has been defined by a dedication to one craft: making fine bourbon whiskey. By honoring tradition and embracing change, Buffalo Trace Distillery has earned its place of leadership among the legendary spirit makers of the world.
Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum
The Musicians Hall of Fame is a premiere Nashville attraction and the one and only museum in the world that honors the talented musicians who actually played on the greatest recordings of all time. Experience the Stories, History and Memorabilia of Recorded Music at the Musicians Hall of Fame.
Dollywood Roller Coaster
Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, TN is home to the only launched wooden roller coaster in the world and is highly regarded as one of the best roller coasters ever built. We invite you to take a front row seat with this mounted 4K point of view that shows off the true power and force of a Rocky Mountain Construction coaster!
George Washington's Mount Vernon YouTube Channel
Go behind the scenes at George Washington's beautiful and historic Mount Vernon estate in northern Virginia. Learn about how the estate is preserved by experts to resemble the year 1799, and how the grounds are as much a reflection of Washington himself.
Destination: South Carolina Parks
Produced for ETV by WNSC-TV, the Rock Hill regional station, this popular series provides informative programs full of interesting facts on geography, plants, and fauna found in a variety of our treasured South Carolina state parks. Hosted by Susan Collier, the programs have been developed with assistance from the SC Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism.
Great Scenic Railway Journeys: Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
Take a relaxing train ride through the Great Smoky Mountains in this segment out of Great Scenic Railway Journey's special, Trains Around North America.
National Geographic: Everglades National Park
America's National Parks presents: Meet the Residents of Everglades National Park.
Disney Parks YouTube Channel
Welcome to the official YouTube channel for Disney Parks. Watch exclusive videos from Walt Disney World, Disneyland Resort, Adventures by Disney, Disney Cruise Line, Aulani Resort & Spa, Disney Vacation Club and more!
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex YouTube Channel
Come see the gateway to space exploration for the last 50 years at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Get vertical on the new Shuttle Launch Experience, tour behind the scenes, see space shuttle launch pads and walk beneath a moon rocket.
Walls of Jericho Trail
Follow along on this half-mile long trail through a narrow, wooded canyon where walls form natural rock amphitheater.
Kentucky Derby Museum
"The Greatest Race," is the Museum’s epic 18-minute film that puts you at the center of the Kentucky Derby experience. It is projected larger-than-life in one of the world’s only 360° theaters using the highest quality laser projection available today. The movie will send your heart racing and emotions soaring.
WhiteWater Express
GoPro White Water Rafting at WhiteWater Express in Columbus, GA.
Tigris: Busch Gardens, Florida
Florida Tallest Launch roller coaster, Tigris, at Busch Gardens is now open! Here's a real on-ride point of view and an exclusive look at the ride in action in beautiful 4K.

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Check out these National Podcasts!

To the Best of Our Knowledge: Amusement Parks
It doesn't matter whether you grew up going to Coney Island, Six Flags, or Pacific Park — to a kid, all amusement parks are magical. Each episode takes a trip to the land of funnel cake, freak shows and fast rides.
American Innovation: Ferris Wheel | Wheel in the Sky
Episode: Ferris Wheel | Wheel in the Sky from the Podcast, American Innovations.
American Road Trip Talk
This unique broadcast is an extension of AMERICAN ROAD, an internationally distributed magazine, which celebrates the people and places along America's two-lane jewels.
The Abandoned Carousel
Each episode describes a defunct, or abandoned, or an amusement park that is still in business, but barely, and it's history.
Vacation Mavens
Vacation Mavens is a family travel podcast offering destination inspiration and travel tips for traveling with kids. Co-hosted by Family Travel bloggers, friends, and moms Kimberly Tate from Stuffed Suitcase and Tamara Gruber from We3Travel. Each week we chat about our recent travels and interview fellow parents and family travel experts about destinations or travel tips to provide the info you need to jumpstart family vacation planning and tips to get you out the door. Be sure to check out episodes 28 & 102 - both about vacationing in the Western part of the United States with families.
Our Americana
Our Americana is a podcast that explores the extraordinary stories, from Small Town America, that impact, cultivate, and challenge community. In 2015, my partner and I bought a camper van and set off to see America. We spent six months, forty states, three provinces, and countless American towns traveling through the histories and communities of this vast land of ours. Our Americana are the stories discovered and inspired by those travels.
The Modern West
Explore the evolving identity of the American West.
Spotify: 70s Road Trip
Enjoy Spotify's playlist, 70s Road Trip!
Spotify: Classic Road Trip Songs
Enjoy Spotify's playlist, Classic Road Trip Songs!
Spotify Playlist: Family Road Trip
Enjoy Spotify's playlist, Family Road Trip!
Spotify: Drake White's Campfire Playlist
Enjoy country artist Drake White's campfire playlist on Spotify!

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Check out these Southern podcasts!

Gravy: Southern Food Alliance
Gravy shares stories of the changing American South through the foods we eat. Gravy showcases a South that is constantly evolving, accommodating new immigrants, adopting new traditions, and lovingly maintaining old ones. It uses food as a means to explore all of that, to dig into lesser-known corners of the region, complicate stereotypes, document new dynamics, and give voice to the unsung folk who grow, cook, and serve our daily meals. Start with one of these for the true flavor of what Gravy is all about: "Mahalia Jackson's Fried Chicken," or "Biscuit Blues".
Georgia Public Radio: Bitter Southerner Podcast
The Bitter Southerner Podcast is a co-production of The Bitter Southerner and Georgia Public Broadcasting. Each episode, hosted by our editor-in-chief, Chuck Reece, explores Southern culture and the South’s contributions to American life, painting a very different — and truer — picture of our region.
Curious Nashville
In Curious Nashville, we answer your questions about the city and Middle Tennessee region. We investigate oddities, share local history, tell stories of interesting people, and explain how local institutions operate.
NPR: Louisiana Eats!
Louisiana Eats! is a radio show for people who cook and people who love to eat well — all with a Louisiana point of view and Poppy's distinctive Louisiana voice. In each program listeners join Poppy as she meets people who produce, cook, and eat the foods we enjoy and treasure — exploring kitchens and stores, farms and waterways where favorite foods are produced and prepared. And because Louisianans love all kinds of food, Poppy wont limit herself to shrimp creole and hot sauce!
Away Message
A podcast that goes the distance to reveal hard-to-find stories across North Carolina. Join Our State magazine's Jeremy Markovich as he travels across the state to uncover remote places, lost artifacts, overlooked people, and forgotten stories.
NPR: Inside Appalachia
Inside Appalachia, from West Virginia Public Broadcasting, tells the stories of our people, and how they live today. Host Jessica Lilly leads us on an audio tour of our rich history, our food, our music and our culture.
Spotify: Southern Rock 101
Enjoy Spotify's playlist, Southern Rock 101 which features the early pioneers and current favorites in Southern Rock.
Spotify: New Orleans Brass
Enjoy Spotify's playlist, New Orleans Brass!

Explore these national road trip resources!

Find Your Park
Find Your Park's YouTube channel where you can watch virtual tours and learn about National Parks across the country.
Smithsonian Channel
Now offering their Aerial America series free to watch!
Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives with Guy Fieri on Food Network
Join Guy Fieri from Diners, Drive-ins and Dives on Food Network as he road trips across the country to check out classic greasy spoons.
Atlas Obscura
Our mission is to inspire wonder and curiosity about the incredible world we all share.
Roadside America
Your Online Guide to Offbeat Tourist Attractions.
Google Arts & Culture
Google Arts & Culture is a non-profit initiative. We work with cultural institutions and artists around the world. Together, our mission is to preserve and bring the world’s art and culture online so it’s accessible to anyone, anywhere.
Silly America
Home of the best road side attractions in America, searchable by state!
Food Channel's United Plates of America
Visit each state by preparing and eating some of food that state is known for!