8 Days • 12 Meals

Join us on an unforgettable musical journey to America’s Music Cities. From Nashville, the Home of Country Music to Memphis, the Birthplace of the Blues and on to New Orleans with its deep Jazz Roots, you will be entertained and energized every step of the way.

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Highlights

• 12 Meals: 7 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 4 dinners

• Round trip airport transfers

• Spend two nights at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel and enjoy a sightseeing tour of Nashville to see the Honky Tonks, Music Row and the Ryman Auditorium

• Visit the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, called the “Smithsonian of Country Music” because of its collection of artists’ artifacts, photographs and recorded sound

• Reserved seats to the Granddaddy of Country shows, the Grand Ole Opry.

• Tour historic RCA Studio B, once the recording home of popular music titans such as Elvis Presley, Chet Atkins and the Everly Brothers

• In Memphis visit the Stax Museum of American Soul and Sun Studio, known as “The Birthplace of Rock’n’Roll”

• Spend the day at Elvis Presley’s Graceland to tour the mansion, the meditation garden, his custom airplanes, Car Museum and Visitor Entertainment Complex

• Visit the Delta Blues Museum and have lunch at the unique, Morgan Freeman-owned Ground Zero Blues Club in historic Clarksdale

• Tour the BB King Museum and trace the roots of the Blues through the life of the man himself

• Take a narrated tour of Vicksburg National Military Park with a licensed guide

• Tour the majestic Oak Alley Plantation and enjoy a tasty Mint Julep

• Enjoy dinner, cocktails and some New Orleans Traditional Jazz at the Palm Court Jazz Café in the French Quarter

• Narrated tour of New Orleans to see the historic French Quarter, beautiful Garden District, colorful River Walk and famous Bourbon Street

• Farewell dinner cruise along the Mississippi River while enjoying the sounds of traditional New Orleans Jazz music

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Itinerary

May 20 - Arrive in Nashville, Tennessee

Arrive in Nashville, Music City USA and transfer to the glorious Gaylord Opryland Resort. Get to know the property on your own before meeting your traveling companions and Tour Manager in the lobby at 6:00 p.m. for a welcome dinner at the resort. Meal: D

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May 21 - Nashville’s Country Music Hall of Fame and Grand Ole Opry

Begin your musical adventure with a narrated driving tour of Nashville. See the Honkey Tonks, Music Row, the historic Ryman Auditorium and even a full-scale replica of the Parthenon.
Then, visit the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Called the “Smithsonian of Country Music” because of its collection of artists’ artifacts, photographs, recorded sound and vintage video, the museum is highlighted by its core exhibit Sing Me Back Home: A Journey Through Country Music. After time to freshen at the hotel you have reserved seats at the Granddaddy of Country shows, the Grand Ole Opry. Meal: B

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May 22 - Studio B and The Memphis Sound

Get that Nashville feel at historic RCA Studio B. Once the recording home of popular music titans such as Elvis Presley, Chet Atkins and the Everly Brothers. It was here the “Nashville Sound” was born in the 1960’s and helped establish Nashville as an international recording center. Depart for Memphis where your first stop is at the Stax Museum of American Soul. The museum traces the roots of “Soulsville” the neighborhood once called home by the likes of Aretha Franklin, Memphis Slim and Booker T Jones.
Sun Studio is known as “The Birthplace of Rock’n’Roll” as musical legends from the 50s began here. Imagine standing on the very same spot where Elvis was first recorded. Then, enjoy some delicious Memphis cooking at Central BBQ. Meals: B, D

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May 23 - Elvis Presley’s Graceland Mansion and Estate

Today is devoted to Elvis Presley’s Graceland. Tour the mansion, the heart of the 14-acre estate and see the living rooms, music room and “jungle” den. You will also see the meditation garden where “The King” is laid to rest. Also tour Elvis’ two custom airplanes, the Car Museum, The Entertainer Career Showcase Museum as well as the new state-of-the-art Visitor Entertainment Complex. Truly a day of musical history to remember. Meal: B

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May 24 - Delta Blues Museum, Morgan Freeman’s Ground Zero and BB King

Travel south to the town of Clarksdale, located at the intersection of Highways 61 and 49 and known as “The Crossroads.” Clarksdale’s roots with the Blues culture dates back to the 1920s. At the Delta Blues Museum, learn how the Blues was born and grew up in the area thanks to musicians like Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Sam Cooke and Ike Turner. They are dedicated to exploring the history and heritage of the unique American musical art form of the Blues.
Enjoy an included lunch at the unique, Morgan Freeman-owned Ground Zero Blues Club, established in 2001 to celebrate the area’s rich Blues heritage. At the BB King Museum trace the roots of Blues music from the cotton fields and juke joints through the life of the Blues’ foremost ambassador, Riley B.B. King. Meals: B, L

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May 25 - Civil War Memories and New Orleans Jazz

This morning a licensed park guide leads you on a narrated tour of Vicksburg National Military Park. Learn about civilian life and military operations in the defense of Vicksburg in the spring and summer of 1863.
Continue south for a stop at majestic Oak Alley Plantation. This impressive “Big House” sits on twenty-five acres of history and romance. Enjoy a tasty Mint Julep and take in the immense “alley” of 300-year-old live oak trees.

Later, arrive in New Orleans for dinner, cocktails and New Orleans Traditional Jazz at the Palm Court Jazz Café.­­­

Meals: B, D*

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May 26 - New Orleans Sightseeing and Jazz Dinner Cruise

Begin the day with a narrated tour of New Orleans. See the sights you’ve heard about for years such as the historic French Quarter, beautiful Garden District, colorful River Walk along the Mississippi and famous Bourbon Street. Maybe some beignets and coffee at Café du Monde before taking to the water for an exciting dinner cruise aboard the Paddlewheeler Creole Queen. Enjoy the sounds of traditional New Orleans Jazz music while dining on regional cuisine as it cruises along the Mississippi River. Meals: B, D

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May 27 - Travel Home

Following breakfast, a group transfer to the New Orleans International Airport is available for flights out after 11:00 a.m. Meal: B

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Accommodations

Days 1-2  Gaylord Opryland Resort, Nashville, TN
Days 3-4  The Guest House at Graceland, Memphis, TN
Days 5  Hampton Inn & Suites, Vicksburg, MS
Days 6-7  Hampton Inn & Suites Downtown, New Orleans, LA