Music of America: Nashville to New Orleans

Tour Begins: 5:00 PM, The Four Seasons, Nashville. A transfer is included from Nashville International Airport to the Four Seasons Nashville, located just two blocks from Broadway, Nashville's lively downtown area. For those arriving early, you can walk past the Honky Tonk Highway on Lower Broadway, pop in for a tasting of Nashville's famous hot chicken or visit the Mother Church of Country Music at Ryman Auditorium. Tonight, meet your fellow travelers during a welcome reception and dinner at your hotel.

Welcome to Nashville, Tennessee's capital city and the first stop on your 9-day journey across the American South. Built on a foundation of music, there's a good reason why Nashville is nicknamed "Music City," as music is the very lifeblood of the city. Home to legendary Ryman Auditorium, the United Record Pressing – the largest producing vinyl record plant in North America and Bluebird Café, Nashville's influence and contributions to various genres, such as jazz, country and gospel and music as a whole, is unlike anywhere else. That will become very apparent this morning on an early-morning guided tour of the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum, the world's largest repository of country music artifacts. Stroll its halls, seeing exhibits that detail the past, present and future of the genre… all before the museum is open to the public! Your time at the museum is highlighted by a live songwriting session where a professional songwriter will provide commentary about the songwriting process, their inspirations when writing songs, and other industry insights. Following lunch at the museum, you're off for a guided sightseeing tour across Nashville by motor coach, where over 200 years of music history is on full display. Tonight, join us for a live performance of the Grand Ole Opry. Celebrating its 100th year anniversary in 2025, the Grand Ole Opry is the longest-running radio broadcast in radio history and is sure to be a highlight of your time in Nashville! 

Dating back to the early years of the 19th-century, Belle Meade (which translates to 'beautiful meadow') was originally a log cabin built on 250 acres of land. Over time the property grew, eventually becoming the two-story brick mansion you'll see today. Dedicated to the preservation of Tennessee's history, architecture and hospitality, Belle Meade might be most famous for its equestrian legacy, as the Harding family (who purchased the property) bred a stallion named Bonnie Scotland whose descendants have gone on to win over two-thirds of all Kentucky Derbies, including 11 Triple Crown Winners. Enjoy a Tauck-Exclusive tour of the mansion, including its illustrious gardens, as well as a tasting of its home distilled bourbon followed by a traditional southern lunch. Next, stop at Casey Jones Village & Railroad Museum for a self-guided tour. If you wish, you can also explore the farm, church, old country store, shops and a collection of over 15,000 southern country artifacts. Check into your hotel, The Peabody Memphis, referred to as "the grandest hotel in the south" and famous for its Peabody ducks and their daily walk to the hotel's fountain. Dinner tonight will be served at the hotel followed by a choice of either a Tour Director-led orientation walk of Beale Street (the most famous street in Memphis) or an evening to explore Memphis on your own.

Memphis, Tennessee - home to Graceland, Memphis-style barbecue, Sun Studio and the origins of blues, soul and rock & roll. Learn the rhythms of this historic city on a guided motor coach tour led by a local musician where you'll learn all about Memphis' history and connections to the music that echo throughout. Drive past the original Lansky's, the tailor to the King himself, Elvis Presley, as well as the National Civil Rights Museum, built on the grounds of the former Lorraine Motel, where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968. Visit Sun Studio, the birthplace of rock & roll where many musical legends were discovered including B.B. King, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis. Stand where Elvis Presley first recorded, and step up to the mic where he sang some of his biggest hits. You'll have some free time this afternoon to explore Memphis as you wish before joining us tonight for a Tauck-Exclusive, after-hours guided tour of Graceland - Elvis' former estate turned National Historic Landmark. Explore the mansion followed by another Tauck-Exclusive - dinner at the Presley Motors Automobile Museum, where you'll dine solely in the company of Elvis' extensive car collection including his famous Pink Cadillac, 1973 Blackhawk, 1975 Dino Ferrari and many more.

A short drive this morning brings you to your next stop, Clarksdale, home of storied musician Ike Turner as well as the intersection of highways 61 & 49 where, as legend has it, blues artist Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil in exchange for supernatural musical ability. Your time here begins with a self-guided visit to the Delta Blues Museum, chronicling the story of blues across its many exhibits. Continue along Highway 61 en route to lunch at the historic Club Ebony in Indianola, one of the most famous Blues venues in Mississippi, where legendary musicians such as Ray Charles, B. B. King and Willie Clayton made their mark. Next, continue your foray into the history of Blues with a stop at the B.B. King Museum, highlighting the life and legacy of the "King of the Blues." Later this afternoon, check into your hotel – The Westin Jackson.

Depart early this morning en route to New Orleans, driving along Louisiana's "River Road," culminating with a visit to the Houmas House and Gardens, located along the "big bend" of the Mississippi River. Named for the local Houmas Indians who owned the land until its purchase by planters in the mid-18th century, the land's location in close proximity to fertile soil and lush flora provided excellent opportunities to grow sugar cane, cotton, corn and tobacco. You'll have an opportunity to travel through time on a guided tour of the estate and its spectacular gardens, viewing various artifacts, pieces of furniture and artwork all while learning how the manor grew into the grand estate you see today. Later this afternoon, depart for the final leg of your southern music adventure – New Orleans. Universally considered the birthplace of jazz, many great musicians have come from New Orleans; Louis Prima, Fats Domino, Jelly Roll Morton, Louis Armstrong and many others began their musical journey here, and their legacy permeates across the city to this day. Tonight, join us for dinner at a New Orleans staple, Tujague's, located in the historic French Quarter.

Welcome to New Orleans! Renowned for its Creole cuisine, cross-cultural heritage and distinct musical styles, New Orleans is a one-of-a-kind destination filled with things to do, people to see, food to eat and history to take in. Your explorations today begin with a city sightseeing tour via motor coach. Pass by Canal Street, the Central Business District, City Park and the French Quarter, New Orleans' oldest neighborhood. Your local guide will provide commentary on the city, including its history and recovery efforts following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Following your sightseeing, head over to the New Orleans School of Cooking for a cooking demonstration and lunch. Here, a local chef will introduce you to the flavors of the South as they prepare a classic Cajun/Creole dish, as well as share their vast knowledge on the vibrant history of the cuisine in New Orleans. A private jazz performance by local artists at historic Preservation Hall precedes time to enjoy the magic of this historic city as you wish.

The final day of your journey begins with a guided visit and time on your own at the National World War II Museum. This acclaimed institution, visited by over one million people annually, honors the efforts of millions of everyday Americans and is situated in the neighborhood of the New Orleans factory that produced the ubiquitous Higgins boats, which played a key role in Allied amphibious assaults throughout the war. Your visit is highlighted by a viewing of the award-winning "4-D" multimedia experience Beyond All Boundaries, produced and narrated by Tom Hanks and featuring the voice talents of Brad Pitt, Viola Davis, and more. Tonight, join us at Galatoire's, a New Orleans fine-dining institution, for a farewell reception followed by dinner, listening as the sounds heard throughout your journey are on full display.   

Tour Ends: New Orleans. A transfer is included from your hotel to New Orleans International Airport. Please allow at least 3 hours for check-in.