Geographically this distinctive region is typically considered to include 16 states, though culture and history plays at least as large a role today in determining “what is the South”. With roots stretching back to British colonists in the early 17th-century, the South is steeped in tradition and has long enjoyed a graciousness that sets it apart from the rest of the country. It has a rich musical heritage including jazz, rhythm and blues, bluegrass and rock n’ roll.

Its cuisine is unlike any other - barbecue, Cajun and Creole, Tex-Mex. Though the perception of its climate is hot and steamy, the South actually has many zones ranging from tropical to arid. Its flora is among the most beautiful in the world with live oaks, magnolia blossoms and flowering dogwoods scenting the air. Mixed with modern skyscrapers, antebellum mansions dot the southern landscape, reminders of another age when time moved more slowly and life was savored.