Tastes and Sounds of the South

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

The famous Nashville Sound comes alive this morning as RCA Studio B reveals the legends of Elvis Presley, Jim Reeves and Roy Orbison. Dive Into Culture and gain insights into the life and music of Johnny Cash during a private performance of original Cash tunes with one of Johnny’s family members. 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. Then, you will have the opportunity to watch the Grand Ole Opry.

Continue our discovery of Nashville on a Your Choice sightseeing experience, exploring either the Johnny Cash Museum or the Ryman Auditorium. With an afternoon on your own, amble through Broadway’s honky-tonk scene or perhaps enjoy the gut-busting flavours of homegrown hot chicken or biscuits.

Head to Memphis’ famous Beale Street, the birthplace of Blues, Soul, and Rock ‘n’ Roll, for a tour where we’ll meet a musician and Local Specialist to learn about the musical heritage of Memphis. Continue your Memphis sightseeing with a visit to the Lorraine Motel where civil rights activist Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was tragically assassinated and one of the most significant locations of the Civil Rights Movement. Then explore one of the most significant sites in town and one of the premier heritage and cultural museums, the National Civil Rights Museum. “Walk through history” in interactive exhibits that show how the heroes and lessons from the civil rights movement continue to impact equality all over the world. Enjoy a Regional Dinner of Southern cuisine this evening, capping off your tour of Memphis, past and present.

Worship at the altar of the King, Elvis Presley, and head to Graceland, paying tribute to the man who changed the face of American popular music and culture. Then, pay a visit to Sun Studios, which sought to immortalize the raw energy of Beale Street, recording the first Rock ‘n’ Roll single in 1951. This evening is free.

Kick off the day’s sightseeing with a musical morning at the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum exploring the blues, country, and gospel of the rural South before leaving for Natchez, Mississippi. Follow the path of the famous Natchez Trace scenic road, originally established as a footpath by Native Americans and later used by explorers, traders and travelers. You’ll arrive in Natchez on the banks of the Mississippi, surrounded by the antebellum homes. The best way to experience Natchez is with a taste of Southern hospitality and you’ll experience all this and more at tonight’s memorable Be My Guest experience at one of the region’s beautiful historic, private homes for a meal. Connect With Locals as hosts who have lived in the area for generations open their doors and share their stories as you enjoy backyard cocktails like Planter’s Punch paired with elevated Southern fare.

Today your travels take you deeper into an important part of Southern history. On this morning’s visit to a working cotton plantation, Frogmore Plantation and Gins, learn about Natchez planters and slavery in the South. Tour the property boasting 19 restored antebellum structures and equipment dating from the early 1800’s including a Smithsonian quality steam gin listed on the National Register. You’ll learn how cotton was made and most importantly gain a better understanding of slavery in the South. Your tour brings you back into the present with a stop at its currently operating 900 bales-per-day cotton gin. Next up: The Big Easy, where we will be stopping for the evening.

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. Spend the afternoon soaking up the laid-back vibes of The Big Easy. The afternoon is yours to explore on your own.

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. This evening, join your Travel Director and new friends for a Farewell Dinner.

For now, it’s ‘Au Revoir’ New Orleans, but not ‘Adieu’. Take a transfer to New Orleans International Airport or extend your stay in New Orleans at the Sheraton New Orleans.