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Passions and Places

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Seeing History Repeat Itself: An Alabama Road Trip

June 7, 2017 By Ryan Victor Leave a Comment

This Alabama road trip was the final segment of a longer trip through the Deep South, focused on human rights and social justice. A historical itinerary like this one is a great way to travel through Alabama. Birmingham, Montgomery, and all Selma offer great museums and opportunities to learn about the Civil War, the history of slavery, and the Civil Rights Movement.

The final state on our road trip through the South was Alabama, home of a gigantic steel statue, some delicious bagels, and several amazing museums. From protests to voting rights to immigration, it turns out Alabama has a lot to teach us about history and about issues facing the country today.

Filed Under: Alabama, North America, Off the Beaten Path, Road Trips, U.S. Tagged With: American South

Learning about History and Culture on a Mississippi Road Trip

June 3, 2017 By Ryan Victor Leave a Comment

As part of a longer route through the Deep South, our Mississippi road trip included historical sites and museums that taught us all about slavery, race issues, the Civil Rights Movement, and even Muslim culture. This historical road trip itinerary includes Natchez and Jackson, MS, and follows part of the famed Natchez Trace.

Mississippi might not be high on your bucket list, but it’s a great place to learn about civil rights history. The state’s capital of Jackson also surprised us in a lot of ways, from its museum on Muslim culture to its delicious vegan restaurant.

Filed Under: Mississippi, North America, Off the Beaten Path, Road Trips, U.S. Tagged With: American South

Exploring Louisiana from Baton Rouge to Bayou Country

May 21, 2017 By Jen Ambrose and Ryan Victor 2 Comments

Many people who travel to Louisiana only visit New Orleans, but it’s not too representative of the rest of the state. As it turns out, Southern Louisiana is a great place to learn about history, politics, climate change, and oft-forgotten communities. Follow along on our road trip to see the best things to do in Baton Rouge and then explore the Louisiana bayou. Stops include Houma, Thibodeaux, Cocodrie, Montegut, and Isle de Jean Charles, the setting of the film Beasts of the Southern Wild.

As much fun as New Orleans is, there’s more to see in Louisiana. Our road trip took us to the highlights of Baton Rouge and then to Houma and the bayou, a place where land becomes water.

Filed Under: Louisiana, North America, Off the Beaten Path, Road Trips, U.S. Tagged With: American South

What To Do in New Orleans Beyond Bourbon Street

May 6, 2017 By Jen Ambrose 9 Comments

During our human rights and social justice-themed road trip through the American South, we weren’t too sure how New Orleans would fit in. The Big Easy not only gave us a great time, it also turned out to be a really interesting place to explore history, culture, and ecology – a few of the things we’d come to the South to learn about.

Filed Under: Louisiana, North America, Off the Beaten Path, U.S. Tagged With: American South

The Ghost Town of Rodney, MS: A Photo Essay of Stories in Ruins

April 28, 2017 By Ryan Victor 10 Comments

What’s a road trip through the American South without a stop at a ghost town? This photo essay tells the story of Rodney, Mississippi, a formerly important port town with some interesting Civil War history. Today, it offers a unique and quiet beauty to the few visitors who head that way. But at only an hour from Natchez, a visit to Rodney is a fun thing to do if you’re in the area.

The ruins of Rodney, Mississippi, tell the story of a thriving Southern town decimated by the Civil War and the changing course of a nearby river. The churches and houses are abandoned now, and we loved experiencing their quiet beauty.

Filed Under: Mississippi, North America, Off the Beaten Path, U.S. Tagged With: abandoned places, American South, ghost towns, photo essay

A Human Rights + Social Justice Road Trip in the American South

April 25, 2017 By Jen Ambrose 18 Comments

Road trips just might be the best way to travel in the American South. Our trip through Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama was focused on history, civil rights, human rights, social justice, and the environment. The route included New Orleans, Natchez, Birmingham, Selma, and more, with stops at some of the region’s best museums and monuments. See our full road trip itinerary, and get our best tips to plan your own visit to the South.

The South might not be too touristed, but it’s full of sites all Americans should see. Our Southern road trip taught us so much about this country’s past and about human rights and social justice, both historically and today. Relive the journey with us, and get some tips for planning a trip of your own.

Filed Under: Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, North America, Off the Beaten Path, Road Trips, U.S. Tagged With: American South

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Hi! We’re Jen and Ryan, an American couple on a journey to travel the world while working from the road. We’re passionate about outdoor adventure, responsible travel, and getting off the beaten path. Passions and Places is a space for us to share our stories and tips with you, but most importantly, we hope to inspire you to seek your own adventure.

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