ARRIVE NASHVILLE (2 NIGHTS)

Welcome to Music City! Take your complimentary transfer to the tour hotel. Your Tour Director will be on hand this afternoon to greet you and answer any questions you may have about the exciting days ahead. At 6 p.m., gather at the hotel with your Tour Director and fellow travelling companions for a Welcome Reception.

Hotel: Gaylord Opryland Resort (MD)

  Day 2

NASHVILLE - LYNCHBURG - GRAND OLE OPRY

Explore the world's country music capital, starting with Music Row, the heart of Nashville's entertainment industry, and home to the record labels, radio stations and recording studios where such greats as Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Roger Miller and Dolly Parton recorded the hits that defined the Nashville sound. Head out to Lynchburg for a taste of life in the country and an introduction to America’s most famous whiskey — Jack Daniel’s. Embark on a guided tour to see how clear spring water and corn, rye and barley become smooth-sippin’ Tennessee whiskey. At a Be My Guest Lunch, enjoy local specialities – each with a little extra flavour, thanks to Mr. Jack. Return to Nashville to attend a live taping of the Grand Ole Opry, home to America’s longest-running live radio program — in famed Ryman Auditorium.

Meal(s): (Full Breakfast / Be My Guest dinner)

  Day 3

NASHVILLE - MEMPHIS (2 NIGHTS)

No visit to Nashville is complete without a visit to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. See memorabilia from stars such as Hank Williams, Loretta Lynn and Garth Brooks as you explore this shrine to country music. Then travel from the home of country to the birthplace of the blues and rock ‘n’ roll. In Memphis, take a stroll down Beale Street past Sun Studios, see the hotel where Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated and the late-afternoon light on the Big Muddy. Enjoy the evening at leisure to sample some Southern cookin’ and check out some live music.

Meal(s): (Full Breakfast)
Hotel: Marriott Memphis Downtown (SF)

  Day 4

MEMPHIS - GRACELAND EXCURSION

Graceland is as much an object of pilgrimage as a museum dedicated to the late, great Elvis Presley. From the flowers and painted signs outside the gates, to the tear-streaked cheeks of fans inside, see the effects that Elvis and his music had on popular American culture. On a guided tour, marvel at the Jungle Room, the private jets, custom cars and walls full of gold and platinum records. Stroll awhile around the grounds and you just might find yourself humming “Blue Suede Shoes;” if so, don’t worry, there’s free time this afternoon to pick up a pair before joining your travelling companions for a down-home Memphis Barbecue Highlight Dinner.

Meal(s): (Full Breakfast / Highlight Dinner)

  Day 5

MEMPHIS - NATCHEZ

Journey to lovely Natchez, the first settlement on America’s great river. Founded by the French in 1716, Natchez was home to a flowering of antebellum culture. See the gracious homes overlooking the river and enjoy a tour of palatial Stanton Hall, built by a Natchez plantation owner. This evening, don your ruffled gown or frock coat and step back in time at an elegant Highlight Dinner held at one of Natchez’s mansions.

Meal(s): (Full Breakfast / Highlight Dinner)
Hotel: Natchez Eola Hotel (F)

  Day 6

NATCHEZ - OAK ALLEY - NEW ORLEANS (3 NIGHTS)

Along the river lie the great cotton fields of the south. Stop at Frogmore Plantation & Gins to learn about the White Gold of the Mississippi Delta. With your costumed hosts, tour a reconstructed 19th-century plantation and compare it to the modern-day operation that produces more than 900 bales of cotton each day. Then, marvel at Oak Alley Plantation’s canopy of 300-year-old live oak trees. In this grand dame of antebellum mansions, learn about the lives of the plantation owners. Late this afternoon, arrive in New Orleans and enjoy the evening at leisure. Laissez les bon temps rouler!

Meal(s): (Full Breakfast)
Hotel: New Orleans Marriott (SF)

  Day 7

NEW ORLEANS SIGHTSEEING - FREE TIME

Delight in a hearty New Orleans breakfast and coffee to fuel yourself for today’s exploration of the Crescent City. Join a Local Guide and see the atmospheric French Quarter and Jackson Square, originally called Place d’Armes when it was the centre of the old city, and tour one of the city’s above ground cemeteries. Then it’s out to the lovely Garden District, home to one of the best-preserved collections of southern mansions in the United States. This afternoon, enjoy some time on your own: grab a po’ boy or some fresh beignets, stroll down Bourbon Street or hit the lively waterfront area.

Meal(s): (Full Breakfast)

  Day 8

NEW ORLEANS SCHOOL OF COOKING & FREE TIME

Enjoy a leisurely morning before visiting the New Orleans School of Cooking located in the heart of the French Quarter. Discover the secrets of Creole cuisine during a fun and interactive cooking class. Later, enjoy your culinary creations at a Highlight Lunch. The remainder of the afternoon is free to explore on your own. If you’re feeling adventurous, head out to the bayou for a guided tour deep into the swamps and look out for alligators. Or stay downtown and stroll Magazine Street, visit Marie Laveau’s Historic Voodoo Museum or catch a little jazz piano while cooling off and watching the world go by. This evening, join your Tour Director and travelling companions for a Farewell Dinner of traditional Creole cuisine at the famed Court of the Two Sisters, a New Orleans landmark.

Meal(s): (Full Breakfast / Highlight Lunch / Farewell Dinner)

  Day 9

DEPART NEW ORLEANS

Say au revoir to the Big Easy this morning. A complimentary transfer is provided to New Orleans International Airport.

Meal(s): (Full Breakfast)

Sightseeing Highlights

• Nashville Explore the city; visit the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum; attend a live recording at the Grand Ole Opry.
• Memphis Explore the "Birthplace of Rock 'n' Roll.”
• Graceland Visit Elvis Presley's estate, collections and gravesite.
• Natchez Tour the city and visit a historical antebellum mansion.
• Frogmore Plantation Learn about past and present cotton production.
• Oak Alley Visit this historic plantation and tour the beautiful mansion.
• New Orleans Stroll with a Local Guide through the historic French Quarter and Garden District; visit an above-ground cemetery.

Dining Highlights

• Welcome Reception with your Tour Director in Nashville.
• 8 full breakfasts.
• Highlight Lunch at New Orleans School of Cooking.
• Be My Guest Lunch at Jack Daniel's Distillery.
• 2 Highlight Dinners with wine in Memphis and Natchez.
• Farewell Dinner with wine in New Orleans.

First Class Travel Highlights

• Includes all First Class features.
• A qualified Local Guide in New Orleans.
• Airport transfers are provided on Day 1 and Day 9.
• Capture treasured memories of your trip with a complimentary group photo taken at a landmark location

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