- I grew up in the Midwest and visited Tennessee and Georgia for the first time.
- I was amazed by the linguistic and cultural differences between the two regions.
- I also saw variations in local foods, and new chain restaurants and grocery stores.
After growing up in the Midwest and moving to the East Coast 10 years ago, I recently visited two Southern states for the first time.
Last summer, I flew to Knoxville, Tennessee, to see Dolly Parton's theme park and hotel empire. In November, I went to Atlanta, Georgia, to visit friends and stop at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library.
I hadn't spent time in the South before, and a few things surprised me during my visits to Knoxville and Atlanta. Of course, visiting these cities for a few days isn't enough to get a full picture of the South, which also includes states like Louisiana, Mississippi, North and South Carolina, Alabama, and Virginia, but I came away having learned more about the area.
Here are five small differences I've found between the Midwest and the South.
