Feel the rhythm of the South on this tour through America’s musical heritage.
Welcome to the “Windy City.” Enjoy time at leisure to relax or to do some independent exploring. Your Tour Director is on hand late this afternoon to answer any questions.
Included sightseeing shows off the city's landmarks, then an afternoon at leisure. Maybe ride the elevator to the top of Willis Tower, formerly known as the Sears Tower, stroll in Grant Park, or cruise on the Chicago River. Tonight, how about dinner on Navy Pier with its charming shops and restaurants?
Travel across the fertile Illinois farmlands to St. Louis, “Gateway to the West.” An orientation tour includes a trip to the top of the Gateway Arch, which commemorates the city's key role in westward expansion. Visit the Old Courthouse and enjoy a film on the monument.
Start the day with a sightseeing tour of Nashville's famous landmarks and the Music Row recording studios. Tour historic RCA Studio B, cradle of the “Nashville Sound” in the 1960s and where stars such as Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley, Eddy Arnold, Willie Nelson, and the Everly Brothers recorded many of their biggest hits. Afterward, visit the Country Music Hall Of Fame with its glittering costumes, rare instruments, and Elvis' “solid-gold” Cadillac! Tonight, enjoy reserved premier seating for a show at the world-famous Grand Ole Opry, a mecca for country musicians.
Cross Tennessee to Memphis, “Home of the Blues” and a city with a distinct Southern flavor. Enjoy an orientation tour on arrival. Join the optional excursion to Sun Studio, where rock ‘n' roll was first recorded, followed by dinner at a local restaurant.
A good portion of the day is devoted to Graceland, Elvis Presley's beautiful estate. Your guided audio tour focuses on the memorial garden and the opulent 15,000-square-foot mansion. Return to Memphis mid-afternoon. Tonight you may want to visit a blues club on famous Beale Street.
Providing the locomotion for today's journey through the state of Mississippi and into the Mississippi River Delta is the City of the New Orleans, the famous train of story and song. Cotton fields and catfish ponds slide past on the way to New Orleans. The evening is free to begin exploring this lively city.
A full morning is dedicated to the sights and sounds of New Orleans, featuring a guided tour that includes the French Quarter landmarks, St. Louis Cathedral, Jackson Square, and a visit to a unique above-ground cemetery. This afternoon, join an optional cruise through the winding, waterways of Louisiana’s swamp lands. For shoppers, Canal Street and the French Quarter offer an array of specialty shops and boutiques. This evening, perhaps join an optional Mississippi River dinner cruise aboard an authentic steamboat to enjoy a delightful buffet dinner, complete with live jazz—the perfect finale to a memorable touring adventure of the South.
The trip ends today with guests departing on individual schedules. Transfers to the New Orleans International Airport are included.
Hotels included: the Hotel Indigo Chicago Downtown Gold Coast, Chicago, the Pear Tree Inn Union Station, St. Louis, The Inn at Opryland, Nashville, the Crowne Plaza Memphis Downtown, Memphis, and the Wyndham New Orleans French Quarter, New Orleans.
Amtrak accommodations are in Coach class. Coach accommodations include a reclining seat with leg rest. All travelers have access to the Sightseer Lounge.
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