Texas & South

Texas and the US South carry the country's musical and gastronomic soul — region of deep American authenticity, miles from the polished East Coast metropolises or the bling Florida beaches. From Texas (2nd largest state after Alaska, 696,000 km², 30 million inhabitants, formerly independent republic 1836-1845) to French Louisiana (Louisiana Purchase 1803, unique French colonial heritage), this is where jazz was born (New Orleans 1900-1920), where the world's most renowned Texas BBQ is cultivated (Franklin Barbecue Austin), where Cajun creole, Tex-Mex, soul food cuisines mingle. It's also one of the most history-laden American regions — Spanish colonisation (Alamo San Antonio mission 1718), Texas independence war (Alamo 1836), Civil War, segregation, civil rights, Hurricane Katrina (2005, 1,800 deaths, 70% of NOLA flooded) and Harvey (2017, Houston).

The region organises around four complementary hubs. Austin (1 million inhabitants, Texas capital, nicknamed Live Music Capital of the World) — musical and tech hub: 250+ live music venues (6th Street, Red River, South Congress), Austin City Limits Festival (October), SXSW (March), Franklin Barbecue (one of the world's best BBQ, 4-6h queue), Lady Bird Lake (kayak, paddle), Texas State Capitol (1888, largest state Capitol, taller than Washington), UT Austin (rebel university, Longhorns football). Houston (2.3 million inhabitants, 4th largest US metro after NYC, LA, Chicago) — space and energy hub: NASA Johnson Space Center (heart of manned space programme, Houston, We've Had a Problem), Museum of Fine Arts, Menil Collection, Buffalo Bayou, ultra-diverse culinary scene (Tex-Mex, Vietnamese, Chinese, African — Houston hosts the most diverse US population). San Antonio (1.5 million inhabitants) — historical and Mexican hub: Alamo (1718 Franciscan mission, emblematic site of 1836 Texas independence battle where David Crockett and Jim Bowie died), River Walk (5 km landscaped canals at city heart, restaurants, bars), San José and Concepción missions (UNESCO). New Orleans (Louisiana, 400,000 inhabitants) — jazz cradle and Cajun creole capital: French Quarter (Vieux Carré, founded 1718, Spanish colonial and creole architecture, wrought iron balconies, Jackson Square, Saint Louis Cathedral 1789), Bourbon Street (bars, live jazz, daiquiris), Frenchmen Street (authentic jazz, Bourbon alternative), St Charles Streetcar (1835, world's oldest continuously operating streetcar line), Garden District (antebellum mansions), Mardi Gras (February-March parades), Cajun creole cuisine (gumbo, jambalaya, étouffée, po'boy, Café du Monde beignets).

The pitch is clear: Texas + South is the par excellence US musical, gastronomic and cultural trip option for 10-14 days. The classic formula combines Austin + New Orleans (2 pivot cities, 1,100 km, recommended domestic flight), with extensions San Antonio + Houston (Texas) and/or Memphis + Nashville (Tennessee, 700 km north-east, for the complete music pilgrimage — Memphis Elvis + Beale Street blues, Nashville country). It's the most authentic US region, where you still meet the America of films, songs and novels.