Enjoy a finger-snapping, toe-tapping time on a tour of America’s most famed musical cities – New Orleans, Memphis, and Nashville. Experience New Orleans, where jazz, food and fun are always on the menu. Choose how you explore New Orleans – by foot or by coach. Discover Mardi Gras World, where massive parade floats are crafted. Taste the classic beignets at Café Du Monde. Spend 2 nights in Memphis, “birthplace of the blues.” Choose how you connect with Memphis’ history – with a tour of Elvis Presley’s Graceland or by following the last march of MLK. Enjoy reserved seats at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. See where country legends recorded hit tunes at RCA Studio B. Create your own Goo Goo Cluster Candy at a chocolate-making lesson. You’ll be hummin’ and strummin’ long after you’ve returned home.
Inclusions
- 7 night guided vacation with accommodation
- 7 nights at 3 hand picked hotel accommodations
- 10 Meals: 7 Breakfasts, 1 lunch, 2 Dinners
- Sightseeing as listed in itinerary
- Transportation
- Services of professional Tour Manager
| Mar 10,31,Apr 7,21, 2024 | from $3879 tax included |
| May 12-Oct 27, 2024 | from $4439 tax included |
| Single Supplement | add $950 |
| Option to add pre & post hotel extension | from $165 per night |
| Roundtrip airfare to New Orleans and return from Nashville (or reverse) is additional | |
Note: This tour requires average physical activity. You should be in good health, able to climb stairs and walk reasonable distances, possibly over uneven grounds and cobblestone streets.
Day 1: New Orleans, Louisiana – Tour Begins
Step back in time on a cultural getaway that opens in the “Jazz Capital of the World,” New Orleans! This soulful city abounds with rich history, mouthwatering Cajun and Creole cuisine, and of course, an incomparable soundtrack. Hotel: Sheraton New Orleans (or similar)
Day 2: New Orleans: French Quarter (B/D)
Explore the many sides of New Orleans and how jazz began and thrives here. Join a local guide for a panoramic city tour, seeing the famous St. Louis Cemetery #3 and Esplanade. Then, it’s on to a walking tour of the French Quarter viewing St. Louis Cathedral, Pirates Alley and more. Tonight, get to know your travel companions at a New Orleans-style dinner.
Day 3: New Orleans (B)
Journey through Louisiana’s swamp on a cruise* narrated by the captain himself. Learn about the ecosystem’s history and ecology while keeping an eye out for wildlife including bald eagles, herons, turtles and alligators. Then, celebrate New Orleans’ festive side at Mardi Gras World, the working warehouse where artisans create the floats for the famous parades, and get a tasting of king cake. Tonight, enjoy dinner on your own before meeting your fellow travel companions at Maison Bourbon, a live jazz club in the French Quarter.
Day 4: New Orleans – Memphis, Tennessee (B/D)
Travel north to Memphis, the birthplace of the Blues, Rock ‘n’ Roll, and Soul. Enjoy Southern hospitality at your hotel just steps away from the iconic Graceland.
Hotel: The Guest House at Graceland (or similar)
Day 5: Memphis (B)
This morning, it’s your choice! Jive along to “Jailhouse Rock” as you visit Graceland, the stately mansion of the “King” himself, and tour Elvis’ 14-acre estate, home, private jets and Meditation Garden -OR- embark on a Civil Rights tour and follow the route of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s last march by coach, stopping at Mason Temple where he gave his famous “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech the night before he was assassinated. Enjoy free time to grab lunch on your own before hopping back on the coach with some local musicians, who explain why Memphis embraces its title as the “Home of the Blues.” The remainder of the day is yours. You may opt to join a Memphis Musical History Tour with included dinner, or simply absorb the city’s vibrancy at your own pace!
Day 6: Memphis – Nashville (B)
Roll along Music Highway to Nashville – the “Music Capital of the World.” Along the way, stop in Brownsville at the West Delta Heritage Center to discover the roots of the country blues sound and the hometown of Tina Turner – the Queen of Rock. Arrive in Nashville and tour the historic Ryman Auditorium,** the original home of the Grand Ole Opry. What began as a building where a local radio broadcast show aired once a week in 1925 has grown to become an entertainment complex that attracts music fans from all over the world. This evening, take your reserved seat at the renowned Grand Ole Opry.***
Hotel: Gaylord Opryland Resort
Day 7: Nashville (B/L)
Tour RCA Studio B and gain an insider’s look at Nashville’s oldest remaining recording studio, where Elvis Presley, Dolly Parton, and Charley Pride once recorded classic hits. You may even have the opportunity to record your own hit! Explore the Country Music Hall of Fame, the world’s largest museum of popular music, and check out the vast collections of memorabilia, costumes, recordings, and instruments followed by a farewell lunch at the museum. Then, test your culinary skills at a hands-on chocolate-making lesson at the iconic Goo Goo Candy Shop before enjoying your last evening in Nashville at leisure.
Day 8: Nashville – Tour Ends (B)
Your rockin’ musical journey comes to a close today.
Extend your stay with pre or post hotel nights
It’s Your Choice
- In Memphis, choose to visit Graceland, the stately mansion of the “King” himself. Enter Elvis’ 14 acre estate and begin to explore his home, including his two custom airplanes and the Meditation Garden, where the legendary Rock-and-Roller and his family lay to rest.
- OR choose to embark on a Civil Rights tour of the city by coach. As you follow the route of Dr. Martin Luther King’s Last March, stop at Mason Temple, where the Civil Rights icon gave his famous “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech the night before he was assassinated. Continue to trace the African American experience across time as you visit the Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum, an antebellum home that harbored courageous runaway slaves in search of freedom. Come full circle as you end your tour with a visit to the renowned National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel.
Must-See Inclusions
- Discover historic Ryman Auditorium, the original home of the Grand Ole Opry.
- Explore the Country Music Hall of Fame, the largest museum of popular music in the world.
Cultural Experiences
- Embark on a one-of-a-kind tour of Memphis where local musicians share the story of the city’s musical heritage and history.
- Tour the historic RCA Studio B for an up-close look at Nashville’s oldest remaining recording studio.
- Enjoy reserved seats at the Grand Ole Opry, the “home of American music.”
Culinary Inclusions
- Enjoy Creole delights at a favourite French Quarter restaurant in New Orleans.
- Create your own Goo Goo Cluster Candy at a chocolate-making lesson.
- Indulge in a king cake tasting at Mardi Gras World.
New Orleans Jazz Afternoon – $129
New Orleans Duration: 4.5 Hours Your transportation is included This afternoon, enjoy a jazz brunch at one of New Orleans’ most famous restaurants, The Court of Two Sisters. Relax and enjoy the live jazz music as you soak in the centuries-old atmosphere and the largest courtyard in the French Quarter. Indulge in the expansive brunch buffet, with over 60 items available, including made to order omelets and Eggs Benedict. After lunch, embark on a leisurely cruise aboard the traditional Steamboat Natchez, iconic in New Orleans. The ambience will transport you back in time to the 19th century when steamboats were the mode of transportation of choice to travel along the Mississippi. Sit back and take in your surroundings during your narrated harbour tour, listening to stories of days gone by along the way. As your paddlewheel boat makes its way back, it is time for a lively jazz band to take the stage for some toe-tapping fun! If over a certain weight, there will be an increase of 0 increase in rate.
Memphis Musical History Tour with Dinner – $115
Memphis Duration: 5 Hours Your transportation is included Begin with a visit to Sun Studio, perhaps the most famous recording studio in the world. A guided tour will introduce you to the location that began the careers of musical legends such as Johnny Cash, B.B. King, Jerry Lee Lewis, and of course, Elvis Presley. It was here at Sun Studio in 1954 where Elvis first began recording commer cially, changing the music world forever. View the priceless memorabilia, listen to audio clips from recording sessions, and visit the record store and soda shop at this iconic recording studio. Next, visit the Rock N’ Soul Museum, located on the famous Beale Street. Explore the museum at your own pace, with a self-guided audio tour that highlights Memphis’ musical journey. Complete your tour with dinner at a local restaurant.
