Rhythms of the South - 11 Days

Good old-fashioned Southern hospitality, charm and big smiles welcome you to 'Music City', Nashville. A hub of country music enthusiasts, Nashville attracts musicians, song writers and performers and ready explorers like you. The careers of some of the biggest names in the music industry started right here in the basement studios of Music Row or on stage at the famous Grand Ole Opry. Meet up with your Travel Director this afternoon, then relax before a big day in this vibrant city to begin your US South value tour.

Nashville is the ultimate traveller’s playground. Visit Riverfront Park, Tennessee State Capitol and Centennial State Park, where you're transported to Athens with their very own Parthenon. Icons checked off, visit Music Row, stopping off at RCA Studio B where legends like Dolly Parton and the Everly Brothers recorded albums. No trip to Nashville would be complete without a snoop around the iconic Country Music Hall of Fame, home to memorabilia from Elvis, Hank Williams and Loretta Lynn and more. Scout out the tastiest hot chicken and biscuits on your own this afternoon before this evening's included visit to see a live performance of the Grand Old Opry, America's longest running live radio program.

Ready to continue your deep dive into country music with Choice Optionals on your US South value tour? There's no better choice than the Ryman Auditorium, where you can watch music magic come to life at the 'Soul of Nashville' theatre. This afternoon, choose to join a hop-on-hop-off trolley tour to see all the top sites. The night is young! If you’re feeling in the mood, get out into the action and experience a honky tonk under the neon lights of Broadway.

Optional Experiences: (Optional Experiences are enhancements to your tour and can be booked through your Travel Director while on tour).    

Afternoon - Old Town Trolley Tours - Nashville - $66 pp

Hop on and dive into Nashville's rich tapestry with Old Town Trolley Tours, perfect for history enthusiasts and Nashville lovers alike. Spend your day hopping on and off this tour, exploring 13 iconic spots around the city. From the soulful Country Music Hall of Fame to the historic Ryman Auditorium, and the innovative spirit at Marathon Motor Works, there's a story at every stop. With the freedom to join the tour wherever and whenever you like, you're in for a treat as you uncover the heart and soul of Nashville, one landmark at a time.

Afternoon - Soul of Nashville - $33 pp

Discover the heartbeat of Nashville's music scene with a self-guided tour of the Ryman Auditorium, an iconic venue brimming with history. Get up close with stories of music legends—from Elvis to Emmylou Harris, Johnny Cash, B.B. King, to Kings of Leon—who've left their mark on its hallowed stage. Not just a venue but a journey through music history, the Ryman was the cradle of the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 to 1974 and has been honoured in the National Register of Historic Places. Dive into the legacy of artists, rebels, and innovators who've shaped the sounds of the ages.

From one music obsessed city to another, your next stop is Memphis! Home to "The King", music is the life blood of this toe-tapping city. Dive straight in with a stroll down bluesy Beale St, past the Memphis Pyramid and Peabody Hotel. See the Lorraine Motel, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, was assassinated and one of the most significant sites of the Civil Rights Movement. With the rest of the day free, choose to visit the Rock N' Soul Museum, learning the story of the birth of rock and soul music. Then groove over to Beale Street for a Southern BBQ dinner and live music.

Optional Experiences: (Optional Experiences are enhancements to your tour and can be booked through your Travel Director while on tour).    

Afternoon - Rock and Soul Museum & Blues City Cafe - $60 pp

Dive into the rhythms that changed the world at The Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum. This self-guided visit, crafted by the Smithsonian Institution, celebrates the trailblazers of rock and soul music. Uncover the tales of musical legends who broke through racial and socio-economic barriers, all for the love of music. Experience the stories, the sounds, and the soul of the pioneers who gave the world its soundtrack. Inspired with new ideas, dine in the footsteps of former musicians like BB Kings, Ike Turner and Jerry Lee Lewis at the famous Blues City Cafe on Beale Street.

Rise and shine, food fanatics, your day starts with a taste of Southern favourites at the popular Memphis spot, The Arcade. Attention, Elvis fans, today you make the pilgrimage to Graceland, touring the King’s iconic mansion and private planes. Top off the afternoon at Sun Studio, where Elvis was first discovered back in 1954, learn the legacy left behind by the 'King of Rock n' Roll'. 

How to go big on your final day in the Home of the Blues, Soul, and Rock-n-Roll? Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Choice Experience Civil Rights History & Culture tour led by a local historian including the National Civil Rights Museum and Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum. This tour visits the most significant places of the Civil Rights Movement in Memphis that will leave you reflecting on the tragic history of those that fought tirelessly for equality. In the late afternoon you can join the Backbeats Musical Mojo Tour aboard the nation’s only music bus diving deep into Blues Music.

Optional Experiences: (Optional Experiences are enhancements to your tour and can be booked through your Travel Director while on tour).    

Morning - Memphis Civil Rights History & Culture Tour - $69 pp

Get the full story of the Civil Rights movement in Memphis with a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience that not only educates but inspires. On this three-hour deep tour, a Local Guide will talk you through the pivotal tales of the city's heroes at the National Civil Rights Museum and the Slave Haven Underground Railway Museum. This experience directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.

Afternoon - Backbeats Musical Mojo Tour - $40 pp

Get ready to groove through the Home of the Blues on a one-of-a-kind city tour aboard the nation's only music bus, the Backbeats Musical Mojo Tour. Led by a pro Beale Street musician, you'll dive into Memphis's rich musical heritage with live performances, laughter, and tales of the city's legends. As you explore the iconic sights that made Memphis famous, you'll be tapping your feet and singing along.

Today on your US South value tour, pull into Natchez on the banks of the Mississippi where the unique architecture of the South flaunts its style in antebellum homes. Feel like taking a closer look? Visit an Antebellum Classical Revival mansion, Stanton Hall. Thirsty after all this exploring? Wet your whistle with a Choice Experience mixology class learning how to make a Mint Julep on the grounds of the National Historic Landmark, the Dunleith Historic Inn, followed by a delicious Southern feast.

Optional Experiences: (Optional Experiences are enhancements to your tour and can be booked through your Travel Director while on tour).    

Afternoon - Natchez Pilgrimage - Stanton Hall - $25 pp 

In 1857, Irish immigrant and cotton merchant Frederick Stanton began construction on the home of his dreams: a palatial Greek Revival style residence in the heart of Natchez. Marble mantel pieces were imported from New York, ornate gasoliers were purchased from Philadelphia, and immense mirrors were ordered from France. The facade of Stanton's home was equally impressive with its Corinthian columns and delicate cast iron railings. Officially designated a National Historic Landmark in 1974, the building is now furnished much as Frederick originally intended and offers a glimpse into the domestic life of a wealthy Natchez family. Enjoy a 30 minute walking tour of the home, plus time to enjoy the picturesque grounds at your leisure.

Evening - Southern Mixology Class and Dinner - $138 pp

Cheers to an evening of Southern charm and flavours! Dive into a mixology class where local bartenders turn fresh ingredients into art in a glass. Then, feast on specially prepared local bites just for you. Take your turn behind the bar to whip up an iconic Mint Julep, blending bourbon, mint, and crushed ice into the perfect warm-weather treat. Get ready for a night where every sip and bite is a toast to the South's vibrant culinary scene. Is your mouth watering yet?

Cute cafes, voodoo and the mansions of the Garden District... every day in NOLA is cause for celebration. The world's longest continuous bridge over water marks your arrival in 'The Big Easy'. A Local Specialist shows off the top sights including the city's many unique cemeteries, taking a peek around the elaborate stone crypts and mausoleums. Perhaps check out Bourbon Street for a classic Big Easy evening.

Discover how everything in New Orleans is larger than life with a full free day. Have your fortune told in Jackson Square, stroll the French Quarter or eat your way around the city. If the swamps and bayous are on your list, a Choice Experience will get out on the water with a pontoon boat trip where a local guide will keep a keen eye out so you can spot 'gators, eagles, snakes and egrets.

Optional Experiences: (Optional Experiences are enhancements to your tour and can be booked through your Travel Director while on tour).    

Morning - Swamp & Bayou Tour With Transportation - $69 pp 

Take a fascinating boat journey into the heart of the Louisiana swamps and bayous, cruising through the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park. Let native Local Guides unlock the secrets of this mysterious landscape, where you'll spy the nesting grounds of alligators, egrets, raccoons, nutria, and countless other creatures.

Evening - Steamboat Natchez Jazz Dinner Cruise - $113 pp

Don't miss a night to remember with the Steamboat Natchez on the Mississippi. This jazz dinner cruise is your ticket to sip, savour, and swing to the rhythms of the Grammy-nominated "Dukes of Dixieland." Feast on a fresh dinner and soak up the stunning downtown New Orleans backdrop, all set to the soundtrack of live jazz. It's an unforgettable blend of flavours, sights, and sounds.

It’s your final full day in NOLA, make sure you go out in style with plenty of Choice Experiences to tempt. Why not join a Choice Experience cooking demonstration to learn how you can recreate some of the city’s tastiest Cajun and Creole dishes? The New Orleans School of Cooking is hosted by local chefs who share tips and stories. Or visit the WWII Museum, designated by Congress as America’s official museum about World War II. Jazz fans can opt to visit an authentic New Orleans jazz club to enjoy live music over dinner and drinks. What a way to end your trip!

Optional Experiences: (Optional Experiences are enhancements to your tour and can be booked through your Travel Director while on tour).    

Morning - New Orleans School of Cooking - $39 pp

Foodies, this one's for you! Seize your chance to see chefs put on a show, whipping up classic Cajun/Creole dishes while dishing out the history of New Orleans' legendary cuisine. Get ready to indulge in mouth-watering classics like Chicken & Andouille Sausage Gumbo, Chicken & Smoked Sausage Jambalaya, or dive into the rich flavours of Chicken and/or Crawfish Etouffee, a signature Cajun and Creole masterpiece served over rice.

Afternoon - Visit the National WWII Museum in New Orleans - $37 pp

All history enthusiasts, listen up! Don't pass up the opportunity to explore the National WWII Museum, where the American saga of the global conflict that reshaped our world unfolds. Dive deep into history with immersive exhibits, from life-sized dioramas to personal stories, powered by cutting-edge technology. Get ready to see the war from every angle: the home front hustle, the soldiers' gritty realities, and the worldwide aftermath. There's a treasure trove of insights waiting for you.

Evening - Authentic Jazz Club Experience and Dinner - $82 pp

Immerse yourself in New Orleans' music scene at The Jazz Playhouse on Bourbon Street. Enjoy "Funkin’ it up with Big Sam," an electrifying show led by renowned trombonist Big Sam Williams, all while indulging in a delicious dinner and drinks. The night culminates with a meet-and-greet with Big Sam, where he’ll share insights into New Orleans' rich music culture and its influence on his sound. This is more than just an evening out—it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience that captures the true essence of New Orleans. 

With the bluesy beats of Beale Street and the smiles of Nashville still fresh in your mind, your trip comes to an end. Delicious Southern food still fresh in your thoughts, say goodbye to your new friends as you head your separate ways. If you can't bear to leave NOLA just yet, you can also choose to extend your US South value tour.