Is it safe for me to travel in the southern U.S.?

Question

I'm Canadian, West Coast - "off-white" mixedblood, my wife's WASP.

I've long been fascinated with "The South".. Bourbon, BlueGrass, Memphis, Stax Records, Savannah Ga., New Orleans, The Missisissippi....

I would love to tour through that area, but is it safe there? I'm thinking more about in rural areas, with "good ol boys", klansmen and the like.

I think that's a stereotype, but my wife is from the East and she thinks otherwise - she claims the hicks in the sticks can be very racist and dangerous.

Anybody from there care to share any thoughts? I would love to travel off the beaten track there but don't want to get lynched or dragged behind a truck or some kind of hillbilly "squeal like a pig" Deliverance scenario.

Is there a lot of segregation? What about fact that we're Canadian? Will they be contemptuous of us? Resent our more Liberal values?

not being facetious.. genuine question.

Am I better off with my stylized "fantasy" of polite romanitic South than the reality?

just to clarify.

we're thinking to drive - so not so just cities but "off the beaten track".. I wanted to visit the home of "Maker's Mark" in Loreto Ky.. Sorry if my questions seem ignorant - but that whole Hurrican Katrina footage as I saw it seemed to imply the South is still very segregated.. I am constantly hearing about red state vs blue state acrimony and on our news we've been hearing about quite a few Cdn tourists that have been assaulted driving to/though Florida (because they were Cdn!).. I live on the West Coast - I am only familiar with Wa, Or, Ca, Ha, Az - those sort of states... so yeah a lot of my perceptions will be influenced by stereotypes.. that's why I'm asking....

PS

a lot ot the stereotypes I have heard have actually come from Americans. For instance, my neighbour is from the South originally, although admittedly as a draft dodger from the Vietnam War his persepctive is probably a little "dated" and possibly influenced by his own politics. I also have a friend who is from one of the Virginias (by way of New York). Both men swear they will never return to the south..

I really just would appreciate some honest insight (as a few of your comments have been) and am particularily interested in the persepctive of people of colour.

I realize the South is a big area and cannot be generalized with one big brush - and aside from obvious common sense things like staying out of inner city ghettos are there any specific areas to stay away from?

I really hadn't intended to offend any Southerners with my question - but you must understand - I'm from Vancouver, on Canada's West Coast, practically "another world" .... I have little real knowledge of the South other than what I've read, news, history, etc. So yes, probably much of what I may think are stereotypes.. that's why I'm taking advantage of this forum and ASKING..

- here's an excerpt frm the official Cdn Govmnt "travel advisory" website, as pertains to Florida :

"Attacks on tourists have decreased, but violent crime remains a serious concern. Criminals have demonstrated that they will use violence with little or no provocation. Many attacks have occurred in the Miami area, and others have taken place on rural roads and at interstate highway rest areas...."

http://www.voyage.gc.ca/dest/report-en.asp?country=308000#florida

that's my own government advisory!

see how I might have some legitimate, if not ill-informed concerns?

thanks to all polite responses so far.

Answer 1

Gol-lee some folks are angry on this question. Like a person doesn't have a reason to be concerned? Sheesh! Behave.

A friend was recently working in Atlanta, but left because she (small blonde, white woman) was offended by the casual racist remarks she was hearing. I have always wanted to live in a warmer area but the south is out of the question because I could not fathom living where the KKK has meetings.

You ideally SHOULD be able to travel anywhere. I don't think lynching is all too common down south these days, so travel with a well-tuned car, extra tire or two, a good cell phone and have some good friends to connect with here and there so you have a safe haven. Take care of yourself and I hope you do go and have a fabulous time.

Answer 2

I'm sorry. I just cannot believe this question of yours.

Let me ask you a question. Are all Canadians hockey-playing lumberjacks and trappers? Do you put the word "eh" into every sentence? Do you use sled dogs for trips to the grocery store? Seriously. Because those stereotypes of Canada are as far removed from reality as the ones you apparently hold of the South.

First off, in the rural South, people there are very kind and welcoming of outsiders. Typically, if you're from Canada, they'll ask you lots of polite questions and try to be helpful in your travels. That is, if you're respectful of them and don't act as if they are a bunch of ignorant hillbillies (Which I've found they definitely are not). In fact, many of the cities in the South (Atlanta, Birmingham, Charlotte, Charleston) are surprisingly cosmopolitan. In fact, the only Southern town I didn't like was New Orleans, which pretty much is a dirty, mangy place that acts that way so it can be more interesting to the tourists. In fact, New Orleans is both a dangerous and artificial place. I prefer the real South myself.

In my many travels in the South, I've found it a warm and fascinating region that has many nuances. Blacks and whites typically get along well. In fact, far better than in my hometown of Chicago. My wife and I have never had a bad experience there. In fact, I think we'll probably retire there in another 20 years.

So go and soak in the culture. See what geniuses such as Welty, O'Connor, Faulkner, and Percy were all about. And enjoy the experience.

Answer 3

Hey CLBH I'm from San Antonio and...oh, you're right. :P It is scary and run down in so many areas, especially areas around downtown.

I've always wanted to go to the South too, mainly New Orleans but I've always been told it's a very dangerous city and it's even been portrayed that way in movies... and I also have the same stereotypes I guess you could say, about the South, that to do this day make me think otherwise about going in rural areas. (yea Deliverance was scary...)

I'm not from their and never been there but I would take the suggestion of just always having friends with you and a cell phone just in case. I wouldn't be surprised if there are still some crazy old clan members living in shacks in the woods sippin on moonshine waiting for some poor soul wander by.

Answer 4

Thats got to be the biggest stereotype I have ever heard.
"Hillbillies" don't even exist anymore and if they did they'd probably live in the hills like their name suggests.
In some parts of southern towns you may have rednecks, but there's not too many.
There are a lot of classy and friendly people in the south.
People don't drag people off the street and hurt them, and chances are if that did happen, it wouldn't be a hillbilly that did that, if you get my drift.
There is no more segregation at all.
Where the hell have you been for the past 50 years?
I have lived and grown up in the south and everything you just mentioned is hilariously wrong.
Go read something or other to get more educated about the "dangerous" places that you're traveling to.

Answer 5

The cities tend to be much more liberal than the countryside towns. Avoid especially small towns out in the boonies. It really depends on the state and region. I'm lily-white myself, and would rather not travel through the South at all, actually, but it's not nearly as dangerous as all those senationalist Hollywood movies would have you think. You're in a lot more danger from ordinary traffic accidents than from dim-witted hillbillies or from good ol' boy cops trolling for incidents of DWB ("driving while black").

A hint is to talk slowly and carefully, 'cause Southerners talk like that, and tend to bristle at "fast-talkin' Noo Yawkers". Other than that, I gravely doubt being Canadian will bother them any, especially when it's clear you're fascinated by the South and wanted to see it for yourself. Why would these people object to tourism and the money it brings?

Answer 6

With its hill background and metropolitan beaches, Vancouver has got the rightly acquired reputation of being one of the most wonderful towns on the planet, with hotelbye you will have the opportunity to see this phenomenal city. One of many areas you will need to see in Vancouver could be the Downtown Vancouver. Downtown Vancouver is beautifully situated on a peninsula in the Strait of Georgia bounded to the south by the delta of the Fraser River and to the north by a heavy fiord achieving much inland. Here you can also start to see the frequently snow-covered stages of the Coast Mountains. Stanley Park is one of the most visited parks. Is a lavish Peninsula Park of large woods surrounding to Downtown Vancouver. A paved seawall journey encircles the green space, and many visitors take some time to investigate on foot or by bicycle. Inland, the park offers a lot of things to do, and guests may spend a complete time exploring attractions which range from the totem poles at Brockton Point to the west shore sea life at the Vancouver Aquarium. Magnificent opinions certainly are a normal through the park.

Answer 7

While it is true that I am white, I have never encountered any real incidents in the south. I have been stationed there an have visited many times. As long as you behave yourself, obey the laws, especially speeding, and don't look down your nose at the "natives", you will never have an incident. I find these people have lots of regard for tourists and travelers, and great disdain for rowdy trouble makers and hooligans. So I guess they are just like the rest of us. Go to New Orleans and enjoy. They need your money.

Answer 8

Come on down! There are very few places you might have a problem, and they are so far off the beaten path you would need a map to find them.

The major differences in the North and South, is language, food and the slower pace of life style. We have the good and the bad, just like everywhere.

Come one down, we don't bite!

Answer 9

I don't know anything about those areas but you could try eastern Texas (we're from Oregon and just went on vacation there, Dallas Houston and San Antonio) that's kind of like those areas you talked about and they were some of the nicest people we've ever met, except San Antonio was kinda run down and scary in some areas but they do have two major amusement parks, the Alamo, and river front

Answer 10

How ignorant are you? Seriously. Yes, there are KKK in the south, but they are in the North as well. I'm from the "East", and Philadelphia had one of the highest murder rates in the country. Stay away from the drugs and guns, you will be fine. If you go to the south, stay in the bigger cities and stay off dirt roads off the beaten path. Good grief... this isn't the 60s.