Lonely Planet Civil War Trail Road Trips

CIVIL WAR TRAIL HIGHLIGHTS

Most of the Old Souths mansions were torched in the war, which is why the examples in Charleston and Natchez are so compelling.

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Think soul music museums, Beale St clubs, the Country Music Hall of Fame (above) and hell-raising honky-tonks.

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The legacy of this conflict is imprinted on the landscape, especially in places such as Antietam, Manassas and Vicksburg. In summer, many sites host reenactments.

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CITY GUIDE

Washington
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The nations capital is best known to tourists for its superlative monuments and museums, but theres so much more to DC. A staggering amount of the young, ambitious and talented are drawn here, and a burgeoning food, arts and nightlife scene grows every day to accommodate this demographic.

The DC metro (subway) system is the easiest way around town. Five lines green, red, yellow, orange and blue connect across town, and fares are based on the distance traveled between stations. The metro is open until midnight Sunday through Thursday and 3am on Friday and Saturday nights.

Garages are expensive and street parking is a hassle. Numerous restrictions mean its hard to park longer than two hours anywhere, and many streets are too crowded with cars for parking anyway. Some hotels provide parking for a fee.

There are great restaurants, generally midrange to high-end (DC has few budget eateries) within easy walking distance of the following metro stops: Gallery Place-Chinatown; U-Street/African-Amer Civil War Memorial/Cardozo; Columbia Heights; Eastern Market; Capitol South; Dupont Circle; Woodley Park-Zoo and Cleveland Park. Georgetown is also a good bet.

Hotels are sprinkled across town, especially near the following metro stops: Metro Center, Farragut West, Georgetown, Gallery Place-Chinatown, Dupont Circle and Capitol South, as well as Georgetown, off the metro. Try Arlington and Alexandria for cheaper chain-hotel options.

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority ( www.wmata.com )

Washington Post Going Out Guide ( www.washingtonpost.com/gog ) Events, dining and entertainment.

The Washingtonian ( www.washingtonian.com ) Covers all elements of DCs cultural scene.

Road Trip through Washington, DC:

Memphis ) on historic Beale St
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Memphis is alive with blues, soul and rock and roll, pulsating out of bars, concert halls andmuseums? Its a gritty city of warm smiles, smoky barbecue and deep history,

Memphis best sights are huddled close and demand a stroll. MATAs vintage trolleys ($1, every 12 minutes) ply Main and Front Sts Downtown. Amtraks Central Station ( www.amtrak.com ; 545 S Main St) is right downtown.

Metered street parking is available. Parking garages are also abundant, especially around the major sights.

Locals come to blows over which of the citys chopped-pork sandwiches or dry-rubbed ribs are the best. Barbecue joints are scattered across the city; the ugliest exteriors often yield the tastiest goods. Hip young locals head to the South Main Arts District or Midtowns Cooper-Young or Overton Square neighborhoods, all fashionable evening enclaves.