Details of my Southern States Tour of America with an added extra couple of days in New York afterwards. Going from Los Angeles across Southern America to Florida, back to Atlanta and then for a few days in New York City, with my Uncle Dave.
Location: Los Angeles, California, USA
Summary: The tour began in Los Angeles, where we explored Hollywood, revisited familiar places, and discovered how much Long Beach had changed since my last visit. Sharing the experience with my Uncle Dave, who was seeing it all for the first time, gave the start of the trip a fresh sense of excitement.
Location: San Juan Capistrano, California, USA
Summary: A brief stop at Mission San Juan Capistrano brought back memories of my first visit as a teenager. We explored the peaceful gardens, the old adobe walls, and learned more about the famous swallows that return each year. The Mission’s long and complex history, from its founding in 1775 to its preservation today, makes it one of California’s most fascinating historic sites.
Location: San Juan Capistrano, California, USA
Summary: A brief stop at Mission
Location: Tucson, Arizona, USA
Summary: A brief visit to the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum left me wishing we had more time to look around the different exhibits and to walk around its amazing gardens.
Location: Tombstone, Arizona, USA
Summary: A brief visit to the Boothill Cemetery had me wandering around looking for graves & names I recognised from the old cowboy films I used to watch, specifically Gunfight at the OK Coral.
Location: Houston, Texas, USA
Summary: A very brief visit to the Houston Space Centre although interesting, left me comparing it to the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.
Location: Biloxi, Mississippi, USA
Summary: An overnight stay and a visit to, President of the Confederate States of America, Jefferson Davis, Beauvoir estate. It made an interesting stop on the tour and meant I got to dip my feet in the Gulf of Mexico.
Location: San Diego Zoo, California, USA
Summary: A brief visit that left a mixed impression. The zoo felt dated, with enclosures that were far too small and animals showing signs of restlessness. After a short guided walk and a ride on the overhead cable car, it was clear this wasn’t an experience we wanted to linger on.
Location: Yuma, Arizona, USA
Summary: We stopped at the Yuma Territorial Prison not knowing what we’d find, but it turned out to be one of the most interesting parts of the trip. The old cells and riverfront setting offer a vivid glimpse into Arizona’s early frontier history, full of tough stories and unexpected twists.
Location: Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico, USA
Summary: Today we visited Carlsbad Caverns, heading down into the cool darkness beneath the desert heat. With limited time I followed the main route to the bottom of the cave, passing through huge chambers and incredible rock formations that made the visit well worth it.
Location: Tombstone, Arizona
Summary: A fun and memorable visit to Boothill Graveyard, the OK Corral and Big Nose Kate’s Saloon, with plenty of Old West history, humour and a surprise encounter with a Spurs fan.
Location: Tucson, Arizona, USA
Summary: A hot but fascinating day exploring the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and the historic Mission San Xavier del Bac, with plenty of wildlife, history, and stunning desert scenery.
Location: White Sands National Monument, New Mexico
Summary: Visiting the surreal gypsum dunes of White Sands.
Location: San Antonio, Texas, USA
Summary: We stopped overnight in San Antonio and I enjoyed my brief look around. I would love to go back and explore more someday.
Location: Galveston Island, Texas, USA
Summary: We spent a few nights on Galveston Island during our journey through Texas. I enjoyed exploring the historic districts, seeing the carved tree sculptures, and learning about the island’s long and dramatic history.
Location: Vermilionville, Lafayette, Louisiana, USA
Summary: On our way to New Orleans, we stopped in Lafayette overnight. Before stopping for the night, we had a brief visit to Vermilionville, it was quite interesting, but we only stopped to look around for about an hour.
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Summary: Sightseeing New Orleans by coach, Segway, and on foot with Uncle Dave, exploring post‑Katrina neighbourhoods, enjoying the French Quarter, and learning about the city’s rich French and Creole history.
Location: Atchafalaya Basin, Louisiana, USA
Summary: A small‑boat tour through the largest wetland and swamp in the United States, filled with wildlife, cypress–tupelo forests, and more alligators than I ever expected to see in one place.
Location: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Summary: A mixed visit that included grand neighbourhoods, the CNN Centre, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, and Centennial Olympic Park, with the memorial and the park standing out as the most memorable parts of the day.
Location: Jekyll Island, Georgia, USA
Summary: A peaceful and beautiful stop on the Southern States tour, with lush surroundings, wildlife, and a memorable sunrise swim in the Atlantic Ocean.
Location: Savannah, Georgia, USA
Summary: A two-night stay exploring Savannah by tram, Segway, and on foot, including River Street, the famous Forrest Gump filming location at Chippewa Square, and an attempted visit to the historic Pirates House Tavern.
Location: New York City, New York, USA
Summary: A few extra days added to the Southern States tour, giving us the chance to explore Central Park, Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty, Battery Park, and the 9/11 Memorial. This visit changed my opinion of New York and made me want to return.
