8 immersive cultural experiences in North America
Looking for one-of-a-kind experiences on your travels? North America is brimming with them. Journeyscape’s itineraries include authentic cultural encounters for an insight into different regional traditions. Whether you’re looking to connect with Canada’s cowboy culture, discover the Deep South’s musical and culinary heritage, gain a more meaningful understanding of indigenous traditions and historic events or just have a darn good time at fun-filled festivals, read on…
1: Listen to live music in Nashville
Nashville – aka Music City – really lives up to its name. Get into the rhythm of this lively Tennessee city on Journeyscape’s Music of the Deep South tour. Hop between historic establishments and hip new venues and watch performances by established stars and up-and-coming acts. It’s not all country music, you’ll find gigs of all genres here. Must sees include the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, including a tour of Studio B where Elvis Presley and Dolly Parton made hit records, and The Johnny Cash Museum. Don’t miss a performance at the Ryman Auditorium and the Grand Ole Opry, the world-famous weekly live music show. You can also take backstage tours of these iconic institutions. Feeling inspired? Sign up for songwriting workshops. Be sure to fuel your explorations with Nashville’s other cultural icon, its fiery hot chicken.
Experience live music in Nashville on a Journeyscape holiday
2: Visit the Calgary Stampede
Saddle up and channel your inner cowboy or girl at the yearly Calgary Stampede. This iconic cultural event takes place in Calgary, a fun-loving city on the prairies of Alberta over 10 days in early July. This joyful celebration of Canada’s western heritage, culture and communities can be included as part of Journeyscape’s Gems of Alberta tour. You can expect rodeo contests, livestock shows, chuck wagon races, parades and large-scale line dancing events, along with live music performances by big name stars. The nightly grandstand show is not to be missed for its live music and dance acts, horse parades and fireworks. While the Stampede Powwow showcases First Nations dancing, singing and drumming. Visit the Elbow River Camp with its 26 tipis to hear the story of the western plains’ Indigenous people and their traditions from crafts to their cuisine. Then swing by one of the food venues to sink your teeth into a bison burger.
Visit the Calgary Stampede in Alberta on a Journeyscape holiday
3: Attend a Newfoundland kitchen party
Community spirit, music, food and an all-round love of a good time are entrenched in the culture of Newfoundland and Labrador, which is why social gatherings, often referred to as Newfoundland kitchen parties, are an iconic part of life in this part of the world. This maritime province on Canada’s wild Atlantic coast has a fascinating history with Irish, English and Scottish settlers blending with Indigenous cultures over the centuries. Storytelling and seafaring run deep in the fishing communities here too with seafood a hallmark of a Newfoundland kitchen party. You can experience all that Newfoundland has to offer on Journeyscape’s Newfoundland Explorer holiday. Newfoundland’s capital and one of the oldest cities in North America, St John’s is a great place to attend these intimate soirees that are hosted in the heart of the home. The locals are famed for their friendliness, so if you are invited to one of these parties, be sure to accept the invite, and don’t be shy about joining in the traditional jigs and reels.
Whether in someone’s home or at one of the many pubs and restaurants, the local food is worth savouring. Expect seafood and hearty local dishes like fish and brewis (salt cod and hard bread) and toutons (bread pancakes).
4: Walk with a foot soldier from the Civil Rights Movement
As home of the Civil Rights Movement, Montgomery in Alabama has many historic sights and must-see museums from the Rosa Parks Museum to the Civil Rights Memorial. But it’s the people who have the most engaging tales to tell around the pivotal moments of social change that the city was part of, something you can experience on Journeyscape’s Cultural and Musical Journey through the Deep South tour. Listen to first-hand accounts of this seismic period in US history and hear poignant stories about those who fought tirelessly for equality and justice on a guided walk by guides who actively participated in momentous moments such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott. This is a history lesson as it should be. They’ll take you around landmarks of the movement including the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church, the Alabama State Capitol and the moving National Memorial for Peace and Justice.
Learn about the Civil Rights Movement on a Journeyscape holiday
5: Experience Mi’kmaq Culture in Nova Scotia
With a rich Indigenous heritage, historic towns and national parks, Novia Scotia has all the ingredients to satiate both cultural and active travellers. According to Mi’kmaq legend, a hero called Glooscap transformed into a giant beaver and created this peninsula by slapping his tail in the sea. The Mi’kmaq people have lived in the Eastern Maritime region for 10,000 years and the current generation are keen to share their history and celebrate their traditions with visitors. Visit the Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site, a protected coastal wilderness, on Journeyscape’s Highlights of the Maritimes holiday to learn how these First Nation people lived on the land, as well as following hiking trails through forests and ancient canoeing routes. Guided walks take visitors to see the park’s impressive collection of petroglyphs. You can also join drum circles, crafting workshops and learn how to make traditional staples like Mi’kmaq bannock (a flatbread).
6: Follow the Kentucky Bourbon Trail
For an all-American experience follow the Kentucky Bourbon Trail from Lexington to learn about the history and craftsmanship behind this uniquely US whiskey. Join Journeyscape’s Bluegrass, Bourbon and Country tour and you’ll be able to do just that. As you explore key stops around Kentucky’s cities, towns and rolling bluegrass hills, there’ll be plenty of opportunities to try it. Among its 46 distilleries are large and well-known brands such as Wild Turkey and Woodford Reserve and smaller craft distilleries. It’s not all tours and tasting flights; however, you can join in cocktail classes (mint julep anyone?) and enjoy gastronomic dinners to see how well bourbon pairs with food. You can even bottle and label your own single barrel bourbon. Intersperse your time swilling and sipping with visits to the stud farms around Lexington – AKA Horse Capital of the World – to uncover another of the state’s proud traditions.
7: Join the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
Head to Albuquerque in October to witness the desert city’s famous fiesta when colourful balloons float in cloudless blue skies above the New Mexico desert, an incredible experience that can be enjoyed as part of Journeyscape’s Real Route 66 holiday. What started as a small gathering in 1972, ballooned into the world-famous nine-day festival that is officially the world’s biggest balloon event. Things start early with drone light displays lighting up the dark skies before the Dawn Patrol pilots take off in a choreographed inflation and launch set to music. As dawn breaks, the other balloon pilots get ready for the mass ascension which takes place in two waves at around 7am. Spot the funny faces and surreal-shaped balloons amid the traditional ones and be sure to return in the evening to see illuminated balloons during the night glow. When you’re not spellbound by the skies, revel in the lively atmosphere this joyful event brings to Albuquerque as a whole. Dating back to the 1700s, its Old Town oozes charm with its narrow winding streets and adobe architecture.
Experience the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta on a Journeyscape holiday
8: Discover gold rush history in the Yukon
The Yukon’s Dawson City has a rich history, quite literally. In the late 1800s, local miners stumbled across gold in the Klondike region, triggering one of the biggest ever gold rushes. People arrived in their tens of thousands to attempt to dig for their riches. Dawson City was one of the boom towns created to support the new arrivals, and many of the original buildings still stand today. Join Journeyscape’s Highlights of the Yukon holiday to discover Dawson City for yourself. You will also visit the nearby Dredge No. 4 Historic Site where you can have a go at panning for gold in the Bonanza Creek.
