Tastes and Sounds of the South

Prices

Two people travelling from: £2,764
(Prices shown per person)

Dates: March-November departures available

Your holiday includes

• Sightseeing
• 9 full breakfasts and 5 dinners
• Luxury air conditioned coach transportation and experienced tour director for duration of tour
• Accommodation – 9 nights

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Day 1
Arrive Nashville 

The beating heart of America’s Music City will chart your pace as you prepare to embark on a leisurely pilgrimage to discover the sounds of the South. This evening, join your tour manager and fellow travellers for a Welcome Reception.

Hotel:
Renaissance Nashville

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Day 2
Nashville Sightseeing

The famous Nashville Sound comes alive this morning as RCA’s Studio B reveals the legends of Elvis Presley, Jim Reeves and Roy Orbison.Take a Cultural Insight into the life and music of Johnny Cash during a discussion and private performance of original and popular Cash tunes with Johnny and June’s son, John Carter Cash (or another family member). Our acoustic journey continues with a visit to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum to see Elvis’ Solid Gold Cadillac limousine and Jim Reeves’ tuxedo jacket-an extraordinary collection of memorabilia on display to admire. You’ll have some time to yourself to continue your discovery of Nashville on a choice of sightseeing experience, exploring either the Johnny Cash Museum or the Ryman Auditorium, the original home of the Grand Ole Opry.

Optional Experiences

Backstage at the Grand Ole Opry:

There’s nothing like a backstage tour of the Grand Ole Opry House – it’s a must-see for everyone in Music City! Walk in the footsteps of country music’s superstars and get an exclusive look at what happens behind the scenes of the show that made country music famous! Your knowledgeable guide will share stories about the Opry and country music greats, past and present (from Minnie Pearl to Carrie Underwood, you might say), show you photos from the Opry’s biggest moments in history and take you to the artist entrance – where legends, new artists, and superstars alike enter the Opry House on the night of an Opry show. You may even have the chance to step on stage and into the famed wooden circle as decades of artists have done. Tours may also make a stop in Studio A, a live television studio and former home of HEE HAW. Approx. duration: 2 hours.

Adult price: US$28.00

Hotel:
Renaissance Nashville

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Day 3
Nashville At Leisure and Sightseeing

Use day however you please! You might amble through Broadway’s honky-tonk scene or perhaps enjoy the gut-busting flavours of homegrown hot chicken and biscuits. This evening, the sounds of country music fill the air as we head to the Grand Ole Opry to watch a performance of America’s longest running live radio programme.

Hotel:
Renaissance Nashville

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Day 4
Nashville – Memphis

Winding your way along the vast Mississippi Delta, head for the birthplace of Rock ‘n’ Roll, with the sounds of Blues on Beale Street to meet a musician and Local Specialist. The former Lorraine Hotel, where civil rights activist Martin Luther King, Jr. was gunned down in cold blood, is the backdrop for the National Civil Rights Museum, which you will have an opportunity to explore. The evening is at leisure.

Hotel:
Sheraton Memphis Downtown

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Day 5
Graceland Excursion

Worship at the altar of the King and head to Graceland, a tribute to the man who changed the face of American popular music and culture forever. See Graceland’s Jungle room and visit the grave of Elvis as you stroll the grounds where the music giant once walked. Pay a visit to Sun Studios, whose noble aim was to capture the raw energy of Beale Street, recording the first Rock ‘n’ Roll single in 1951. This evening, embark on a Your Choice dining experience where you choose from a selection of local eateries.

Optional Experiences:

Graceland – Elvis Experience Upgrade

True fans of The King may want to upgrade their homage to Graceland with the Elvis Experience Tour. In addition to the interactive, audio guided tour of Elvis’ estate and final resting place the Elvis Experience pass will provide you with access to the brand new Visitor Entertainment Complex, tours of Elvis’ two custom, private jets – the Lisa Marie and the Hound Dog II, Elvis’ Car Museum, the Elvis: the Entertainment Career Showcase Museum, and the Elvis Discovery Exhibits.

Adult Price: US$24.00

Graceland – VIP Tour Upgrade

Die-hard fans will want to make the most of their visit to Graceland with this VIP Tour upgrade. In addition to all of the added features accessed with the Elvis Experience, VIP guests at Graceland will have access to an exclusive, VIP Exhibit, and front-of-the-line privileges for the Graceland Mansion tour which can be reused anytime during your stay.

Adult price: US$46.00

Hotel:
Sheraton Memphis Downtown

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Day 6
Memphis – Natchez

Kick off this morning’s musical interlude at the legendary Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum before saying so long to Memphis, bound for the city of Natchez. With a little French flair and a flowering antebellum culture, Natchez is the perfect spot for a leisurely exploration of Southern history and hospitality, which you’ll have an opportunity to experience during a Be My Guest dinner beginning with a reception at the private residence of Joe Stone, whose gracious 1850’s home features a gallery collection of rare maps, a quaint billiards hall, and exquisite ornamental glasswork. Joe performs on his 1903 Steinway grand piano and delves into the inspiration behind each piece of music before you are treated to a glass of wine and are free to tour the expansive collection. Head over to the 1804 residence of Esther Carpenter, a former Four Seasons chef once named one of the Top 20 female chefs in America by USA Today, to enjoy a traditional four-course Deep South dinner with wine.

Hotel:
Natchez Grand

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Day 7
Natchez – Oak Alley – New Orleans

Join costumed Local Specialists to discover the Mississippi Delta’s cotton plantation heritage that produces over 900 bales of white gold each day. The slave customs, secret music and an authentically reconstructed 19th century plantation are yours to explore at Frogmore Plantation and Gins, before meandering through the charming Louisiana countryside to Oak Alley Plantation, along a quarter mile canopy of 300-year-old oak trees, overlooking the sleepy Mississippi River. The spicy scents of Creole cuisine linger on this evening’s visit to the New Orleans School of Cooking where we will enjoy a fun cooking demonstration before tucking in to a Regional Meal of culinary Creole creations.

Hotel:
Sheraton New Orleans

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Day 8
New Orleans Sightseeing and At Leisure

Let the good times roll in New Orleans today, tracing the cosmopolitan history of one of America’s oldest cities with a Local Specialist, stopping at City Park and one of the ornate above-ground cemeteries, a unique feature of this city built on swamplands. Spend the afternoon soaking up the laid-back vibes of The Big Easy.

Optional Experiences:

Steamboat Natchez Jazz Dinner Cruise

Enjoy your evening in New Orleans aboard the authentic Steamboat Natchez for a jazz dinner cruise on the Mississippi River. Enjoy a freshly prepared dinner while taking in lovely views of downtown New Orleans all while enjoying the sounds of the Grammy nominated “Dukes of Dixieland”. A full bar is also available for your pleasure. Approx. duration: 2 hours

Adult Price: US$83.00

Hotel:
Sheraton New Orleans

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Day 9
New Orleans At Leisure

Today is yours to explore the French, Spanish and Creole sights and sounds of New Orleans. If you’re feeling adventurous, visit Marie Laveau’s Historic Voodoo Museum which traces the mysteries, legends and traditions of voodoo. This evening, join your Travel Director and new friends for a Farewell Dinner at the famed Court of Two Sisters.

Optional Experiences:

Swamp And Bayou Tour

After a short motorcoach ride across the Mississippi River, take a fascinating boat trip into the Louisiana swamps and bayous through part of the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park – Barataria Preserve. Native guides will reveal the mysteries of the swamps and bayous and you will discover how the seafood from these bountiful waters provides a wide assortment of delectable local dishes! Observe the nesting grounds of alligators, egrets, raccoons, nutria, and many species of snakes. Transportation included. Approx. duration: 2.5 hours

Adult Price: US$52.00

Hotel:
Sheraton New Orleans

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Day 10
Depart New Orleans

Take a transfer to New Orleans International Airport or extend your stay in New Orleans at the Sheraton New Orleans.