Day 1: Arrive in Nashville, Tennessee
At 6:oo p.m., meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome drink.
Day 2: Nashville
Experience historic RCA Studio B, Nashville's legendary recording studio and a landmark of American music history. Here, generations of artists helped create the iconic "Nashville Sound," producing timeless recordings that continue to influence music today. Continue with a guided sightseeing tour of Nashville, including Centennial Park and its impressive full-scale replica of the Parthenon, along with Music Row and Honky Tonk Highway—the heart of Music City's vibrant past and present. Delve deeper into Nashville's rich musical heritage at the Country Music Hall of Fame, home to an extraordinary collection of artifacts, instruments, costumes, and exhibits celebrating the artists and songs that defined generations. This evening, take your reserved seat at the world-famous Grand Ole Opry, an iconic American institution where country music's legends and rising stars continue a tradition that has captivated audiences for nearly a century. (B)
Day 3: Nashville - Memphis
This morning, take part in a meaningful hands-on experience with Strings for Hope, a social enterprise that transforms repurposed musical instrument strings into handcrafted jewelry, supporting pathways to stability for survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and addiction. Continue south to Memphis, a city defined by its musical legacy and cultural depth. Visit Sun Studio, the birthplace of early rock ’n’ roll and a landmark where artists such as Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Jerry Lee Lewis first recorded. Continue to the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, where the story of Memphis soul is told through original recordings, artifacts, and the artists who helped shape its sound. This evening, enjoy dinner at a local Memphis restaurant. (B,D)
Day 4: Memphis. Excursion to Graceland
Explore the landmarks of Memphis today with a Local Guide. Then continue to Graceland, the former home of Elvis Presley, for an in-depth visit to the estate of the “King of Rock ’n’ Roll.” The remainder of the day is at leisure. (B)
Day 5: Memphis - Muscle Shoals, Alabama
Depart Memphis and travel into northwest Alabama, following the Tennesee River into “The Shoals.” Discover the area’s rich cultural and music history on a guided tour of FAME Recording Studios, an unassuming space that became one of the defining studios of the American South.Explore the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area, where music, civil rights history, and Indigenous heritage intersect along the river landscape. Continue to the Wilson Lock and Dam for dramatic views of the Tennessee Valley Authority’s largest hydroelectric facility, a National Historic Landmark. Enjoy regional specialties while dining at a local restaurant tonight. (B,D)
Day 6: Muscle Shoals - Clarksdale, Mississippi - Greenwood
Travel south into the Mississippi Delta, a landscape widely regarded as the birthplace of the blues. Shaped by its agricultural history and river geography, this region gave rise to a distinctive musical tradition that continues to influence artists around the world. Visit the Delta Blues Museum, a curated collection of artifacts, photographs, and instruments that trace the evolution of the blues. Exhibits include the original sharecropper cabin of Muddy Waters, offering insight into the early life and environment that shaped his music. Continue to Greenwood, a Mississippi town known for well-preserved architecture and deep cultural history. Enjoy a guided tour highlighting the historic districts and filming locations of the Oscar-winning film and book, The Help. This evening, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant featuring regional Southern cuisine.(B,L)
Day 7: Greenwood - Jackson - Lafayette, Louisiana
Travel through the cultural heart of the Deep South, beginning in Jackson, Mississippi, a city shaped by its Civil Rights history and enduring musical traditions. Continue south into Louisiana, where the landscape shifts toward bayous, waterways, and the distinct rhythms of Cajun country as you arrive in Lafayette. Experience live Cajun and Creole music at Cypress Cove Landing along the banks of the Atchafalaya Basin, where (LF) local musicians share the traditions, stories, and sounds that define Louisiana French culture. (B)
Day 8: Lafayette - St. Martinville - Houmas House Plantation - New Orleans
Begin the day in St. Martinville, home to the Evangeline Oak, a landmark tied to Longfellow’s classic poem and Louisiana’s Acadian heritage. Continue into the Atchafalaya Basin, a vast wetland ecosystem larger than the Florida Everglades, where moss-draped cypress trees and winding waterways reveal a quieter, atmospheric side of Louisiana. Continue along the Great River Road to Houmas House Plantation and Gardens, one of the region’s most notable riverfront estates. Enjoy lunch on the grounds before touring the mansion, known for its period architecture, curated antiques, and expansive gardens. Journey on to New Orleans for a two-night stay, where music, culture, and river history converge in one of America’s most distinctive cities (B,L)
Day 9: New Orleans
Experience the centuries of French, Spanish, and Creole influence in New Orleans on a guided sightseeing tour including the French Quarter. Continue to one of the city’s distinctive above-ground cemeteries for insight into local burial traditions shaped by geography and history.
Travel along St. Charles Avenue, lined with live oaks and stately homes, as you pass into the Garden District, known for its preserved mansions and timeless residential character.(B,D)
Day 10: New Orleans
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.(B)
