9 places where you can walk in MLK Jr.'s footsteps

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Martin Luther King Jr. was born and raised in the American South, but his dream of racial equality and social justice reverberated out of his region, into the whole country and around the world. And it wasn't just his vision that spanned the globe - the man himself embarked on travels far and wide.

You can honor him on Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Monday, January 15) - or any other time of year - by walking in his footsteps figuratively or literally.

From his homeland in the heart of the South to unexpected destinations far beyond America's shores, here are the places that shaped and inspired the man:

Georgia's busy capital city is King's birthplace and his final resting place. As such, it probably has the biggest claim on his legacy and MLK-related sites.

Many of them are clustered together at the MLK Jr. National Historical Park in the Sweet Auburn neighborhood of downtown Atlanta, including the tombs for MLK and Coretta Scott King.

Some of the highlights include: