Best Places to Go for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Any three-day weekend is a good excuse to plan a quick getaway, but some holidays lend themselves to visiting specific destinations. Such is the case when Martin Luther King, Jr. Day rolls around each January.

It’s after the holidays, for many it’s the dead of winter, and you’re longing for a break. You want to take a quick trip, but maybe you’d like it to be more meaningful in light of the occasion. Here are a few places to go for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day where being a tourist can be an educational experience.

>> Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is on January 21, 2013. 

Martin Luther King, Jr., National Historic Site & King Center – Atlanta

Dr. King was born in Atlanta, and the National Historic Site bearing his name includes several places from his life in the city. The house where King grew up, the church where both King and his father were pastors, and King’s tomb are among the locations under the National Historic Site umbrella.

The King Center was established by Dr. King’s wife after he died in 1968, and today the dedicated building hosts regular exhibits. It’s across the street from King’s tomb, and is the site for large gatherings (including prominent speakers) every Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

>> Look for cheap flights to Atlanta and cheap hotels in Atlanta

Dexter Avenue Baptist Church – Montgomery

One of Dr. King’s first jobs after leaving Atlanta was as the pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. He took the position in 1954, and by 1955 he was among those organizing the famous Montgomery Bus Boycott from the church’s basement.

The Dexter Avenue Baptist Church was renamed Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church in 1978, and it remains a working church to this day. The church is a National Historic Landmark, as is the nearby Dexter Parsonage Museum, and guided tours are available at both places.

>> Look for cheap flights to Montgomery and cheap hotels in Montgomery

Lincoln Memorial – Washington D.C.

Dr. King’s March on Washington in 1963 produced one of the most iconic images of the man, as well as one of his most famous speeches. Estimates of how many people took part in the march range from 200,000 to 300,000, but either way the numbers were significant.

The route of the 1963 march went from the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial, and culminated with King’s “I Have a Dream” speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Other speakers and performers that day included Mahalia Jackson, Josephine Baker, Peter, Paul and Mary, Joan Baez, and Bob Dylan.

>> Look for cheap flights to Washington D.C. and cheap hotels in Washington D.C.

National Civil Rights Museum – Memphis

Hotel stays are common when traveling, but hotels as tourist attractions are less common. In this case, the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tennessee is partially housed in the former Lorraine Motel where Dr. King was assassinated in 1968.

The museum was opened in 1991, and although the balcony outside room 306 where Dr. King was killed is the main attraction for visitors, there are exhibits in the museum covering the civil rights movement all the way back to the 1600s.

>> Look for cheap flights to Memphis and cheap hotels in Memphis

Voluntourism – Anywhere

While Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was made a federal holiday in 1986, it wasn’t until 1996 that it became a national “Day of Service.” The bill signed in 1996 doesn’t require that Americans do volunteer work on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, but it’s encouraged – and what better way to incorporate the ideals of Dr. King into your travels than to do volunteer work wherever you are?

Voluntourism is by no means restricted to Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and it’s becoming more popular with people all over the world. So if you want to travel over the long weekend but you don’t want to go to any of the places listed above, you can still honor Dr. King’s legacy by seeking out volunteer opportunities wherever you are.

>> Learn more about how to do voluntourism

photo by Inspired N 07