Today I went to see “Where the Crawdads Sing” – have you seen this film, set in the Carolinas on the East Coast of the USA? This tale was set in extraordinary country where the skies are blue and the coastal waters merge from marshlands to open ocean, a string of waterways and lakes behind the sand dunes, reminiscent perhaps of Storm Boy country in South Australia?

It took me back to trip to we enjoyed a few years ago. Flying into Charleston, South Carolina and driving south through Savannah, Georgia and on to Florida. An extraordinary part of the States, this is Southern Belle country, land of Gone with the Wind and the Civil War.

The cities themselves are delightful, a feel of yesteryear and old-fashioned values. Charleston’s historical buildings and avenues are still intact and it’s a joy to potter down these boulevards and imagine the residents sipping a mint julep on the porch. The broad verandas are closed to the street so that the elegant ladies of the house could sit in their crinolines in the hot, humid summer and draw up their dresses to cool their legs: how scandalous! Pop into the cathedral: you may be lucky and hear the choir practicing and raising their voices to the heavens.

The inner-city streets are still cobblestone, and you can ride in a horse- drawn carriage. Catch the ferry to Fort Sumter on an island in Charleston Bay to discover the Civil War history, visit the intriguing museum and don’t forget to try ‘shrimp and grits’ in a local restaurant.

Head inland to Atlanta, the capital of Georgia; this sizeable modern city also reflects its history, both the Civil War history and the 1960’s Civil Rights Movement. Don’t miss the museum dedicated to Martin Luther King Junior. One time I was there and it was prom night – think of our year 12 formals. All the belles of the ball were out this night, all couples dressed in matching-colour outfits (yes, girls’ dresses pink, boys’ tuxedos pink; girls’ dresses yellow, boys’ tuxedos yellow). It would seem there were hundreds of couples parading around town mostly in open horse-drawn carriages. We are talking the 1990’s, so not that long ago!

Head south to delightful Savannah – this charming city also reflects the history of days gone by. You can almost see the Civil War soldiers defending the township and the culture they fought so hard to protect. The beautiful parks come alive in spring and provide cooling shade in the hot, humid summers. You can feel the pace of life in these states is not so frenetic but rather calming.

Be sure to stop in the small towns off the highways and capture a sense of the real south. The weather is similar to Brisbane in this part of the world – so, not bitterly cold in winter, but warm and sticky in summer.

This is an area of the States not often visited by Australians, but I can happily recommend it as an authentic part of this diverse country to explore. There are several options – join a tour group to discover the area, drive yourselves around or take a cruise along the coastline, calling into these picturesque cities.

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