USA: Boot, Scoot 'N' Blues
Experience Overview
Looking for the ultimate southern road trip? Take a venture to the deep south for 13 days of mouthwatering eats, bright lights, breathtaking national parks and music-filled late nights. This trip will see you shimmying around the sights and delights of New Orleans, Nashville, Memphis, Austin and more – all to the sultry sound of sweet southern jazz and twittering songbirds.
Highlights
Dining Summary
- 10 Breakfast (B)
- 3 Dinner (D)
Included Experience
- Austin: Historic building, the only known surviving moon towers in the world, plus a paragon of Texas hospitality. What more could you want here in Austin?
- Austin: Follow in the footsteps of Farrah Fawcett and Matthew McConnaughey on a trip to the University of Texas.
- Austin: See the buildings, bridges, barbershops and more!
- Austin: From ribs to sausages, the steaks may be high – but nowhere does BBQ like Texas, and tonight we’ll experience it for ourselves.
- San Antonio: Get to know San Antonio on foot, with visits to the Alamo and the famous San Antonio Mission River Walk.
- New Orleans: Sample the delicious doughy goodness that is a staple of the city's food culture.
- New Orleans: Get to know New Orleans, with an orientation tour including the French Quarter – and the chance to sample the doughy and delightful New Orleans beignets.
- New Orleans: Tonight we’ll sample local creole specialties, plus the famous Southern hospitality.
- Memphis: Follow in the footsteps of B.B. King, Johnny Cash and Elvis as we sway from the riverfront to rock ‘n’ roll studios.
- Memphis: Visit the birthplace of rock ’n’ roll. Where Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash recorded their major records.
- Nashville: Whiskey fans, prepare to be whisked away on this unique distillery tour.
Trip Details
Product Code: 17408
Tour Type: Group Tour
Accommodation: Deluxe
Transport: Private
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
Family, 55+, Luxury
Tour Operator:
Contiki (CA)
Supplier Code: 77.2048A
Starts: Fort Worth, United States Of America
Finishes: Nashville (TN), United States Of America
Duration: 13 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Easy
Includes
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $4,654 ($358 /day)
Itinerary
Feel the famed Southern hospitality as we meet up with the rest of our Contiki family in the ‘bigger is better’ scene of Dallas. From Fort Worth we’ll head to the decidedly more laid-back vibes of Austin. You can't say we don’t treat you. This evening you’ll have a chance to get to know your new travel crew with a free night of exploring.
Accommodation: Holiday Inn Express Austin Downtown (or similar)
Today is all yours baby so take it easy as you experience the Texan Life. You have the option of taking a kayaking trip on Lady Bird Lake to view those skyscrapers from a new angle, picking out some new cowboy boots for yourself, or taking a paddle board ride on the water. In the evening you’ll enjoy an authentic & mouthwatering Texan BBQ. You can't say we don’t treat you! Make sure to preserve your energy for a night on the town - Austin has a world famous music scene for a good reason.
Accommodation: Holiday Inn Express Austin Downtown (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Having conquered Austin, we'll venture onto San Antonio... Welcome to a charming melting pot of Spanish, Mexican & American infusions. After eating our way around the largest Mexican market outside of Mexico and enjoying a walking tour to get our bearings, the evening is yours to soak up and enjoy shops, restaurants & music.
Accommodation: Holiday Inn Express & Suites San Antonio Rivercenter (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
Leaving San An feeling like a local, it's time to make our way to Texas' largest city. With huge belt buckles & portion sizes to match, Houston city certainly lives up to its larger than life reputation.
Accommodation: Holiday Inn Houston Downtown (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
Bellies full of BBQ, we'll head to the romantic metropolis of New Orleans. The love-child of French & Caribbean culture, New Orleans will steal our hearts as soon as we arrive.
Accommodation: La Quinta Inn and Suites New Orleans Downtown (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
We'll kick off the festivities today with a swoon-worthy walking tour of the French quarter, jamming in Jackson Square before sampling beignets & marveling at elegant, pre-war mansions, all to the sweet sounds of Southern jazz, of course. Then it's time to head for the New Orleans school of cooking to trade tales with your new friends over some traditional gumbo.
Accommodation: La Quinta Inn and Suites New Orleans Downtown (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Now that you know New Orleans like one of the locals, it's your day to do your own thing. Stroll down Frenchmen street for the sounds of jazz and funk, head to the vast grassy oasis of the city park or check out the New Orleans museum of art for an extensive collection of gorgeous French masterpieces.
Accommodation: La Quinta Inn and Suites New Orleans Downtown (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
Bidding farewell to New Orleans, we're off to another musical mecca... Welcome to Memphis. It's time to pay homage to 'The King' today, as we're going to Graceland, the iconic home of Elvis. We'll head to sun studios, the place where Elvis recorded his very first song. What a day; and we're not even done with Memphis yet.
Accommodation: Crowne Plaza Memphis Downtown (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
Now we're nice and intimate with Memphis, it's your own day to explore. Take a taste of traditional food in downtown, visit the museum of soul music, check out the famous zoo and aquarium or take a tour of the Wiseacre brewery. No matter what you choose to do today, you'll fall in love with this melodic city.
Accommodation: Crowne Plaza Memphis Downtown (or similar)
Meals: Dinner
See ya, Memphis, Nashville is calling! Pull those boots out. Home to some of the musical greats, this city also played a crucial role in the civil rights movement.
Accommodation: Comfort Inn Stadium (or similar)
Today you have the day for yourself to really get down and dirty with Nashville. Tour and taste all the southern delicacies, some classic whisky at Uncle Nearest Distillery is the perfect place to start.
Accommodation: Comfort Inn Stadium (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
Today is yours to explore Nashville - truly a musical paradise. Whether you choose to take a trip to the Ryman Auditorium or a tour around the Country Music Hall of Fame, you'll get the low down on this city's musical past.
Accommodation: Quality Inn Nashville Downtown Stadium (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
Thanks for the hospitality Nashville! Tissues on deck & souvenirs in tow, it's time to say our goodbyes. This has been the journey of a lifetime, so make sure to keep in contact for a reunion trip soon…
Meals: Breakfast
Similar Tours
Tour Operator
Contiki (CA)
Contiki is a New Zealand-based tour company that caters to 18 to 35-year-olds, offering over 350 different tours in over 75 countries in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, North America, South America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.[1] It is a subsidiary of The Travel Corporation. Its tours historically had a reputation for partying;[2][3] however, it also operates wellness trips culturally immersive experiences that focus less on alcohol, which are more popular with Generation Z.[4] The company owns lodging facilities in Europe, including the Chateau De Cruix, a 16th century castle in the Beaujolais wine region, and the Gasthof Schoneck in the Austrian Tyrol. The name "Contiki" comes from the portmanteau 'Con' from the word 'Continent' and 'Tiki'; from the Māori referring to the first man, often symbolised as a pendant known as hei-tiki. It can also be attributed to the New Zealand slang 'Tiki-tour' describing taking a longer route to a destination in order to explore.[5]
In Business Since 1931
Reviews
Anonymous - Traveled, January 2024
We ended up with a small group and it was fantastic to travel together through all of the cities. The tour manager tailored the trip to his own tastes, so we saw a lot of dirty dive bars rather than the best of the cities. He was also a predator with an alcohol problem, and I am yet to work out if this is the kind of person Contiki employs regularly or if he is a one-off. Book in pairs and be prepared to have your trip ruined by your tour manager - that is my only advice if you go ahead with a Contiki tour. The stress of having a hungover tour manager driving our van ruined the trip for me and I will not book with Contiki again. I booked online and found it easy. Would not do it again, though.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 01/30/2024
Anonymous - Traveled, February 2024
Absolutely loved it! So much fun. Absolutely loved it!!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/29/2024
Mairi - Traveled, March 2024
My favourite aspect of the trip was how well I bonded with my group. My favourite experience was the airboat on the bayou. Everything was very smooth-we were able to change the dates of our trip easily after putting down our deposit, and contiki helped us to book accommodation prior to the tour beginning, which was incredibly helpful.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/28/2024
Anonymous - Traveled, April 2024
I would highly recommend this trip. The tour manager always went above and beyond to make sure everyone on tour was looked after and made it feel like a family environment, the bus driver added another element of hospitality that completed a perfect trip. Was the best holiday I've ever been on. The manager made the trip so much more enjoyable, and the coach driver just topped the whole experience off. Booked another trip as soon as I got home.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/27/2024
Anonymous - Traveled, May 2024
Had a great time on my first contiki, organised well Lots of fun and enjoyable. Was a great tour manager! I was expecting my trip information a few days/a week earlier than I got it. I didn’t receive a proper itinerary until the day before and I had to ask for it.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/25/2024
Emily - Traveled, June 2024
The tour itself wasn’t as fast paced and had plenty of time to do things Brittni was amazing, easy to chat to and ask questions She gave us clear information about things in regards to safety and what to expect and loved how she offered extra activities as we happened to be in the right location at the right time. Clear communication.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/26/2024
Anonymous - Traveled, July 2024
Absolutely loved this Contiki trip. My Contiki team (Trip Manager and Driver) were awesome! They did a great job and were an amazing team. I loved the itinerary and included activities along with the optionals. It was a great trip. Booking the trip was really easy. Communication and information provided was good. I have travelled with Contiki many times before and each trip I book is awesome.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/24/2024
Anonymous - Traveled, August 2024
A whirl wind of places in 14days! Perfect amount of time in each. A variety in just one Contiki! Definitely worth it. An amazing group of people. Contiki was a awesome way to travel! A great group of people. And the online portal very handy when it loads… would definitely recommend and if I do more travelling I’d book with them again!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/23/2024
Anonymous - Traveled, September 2024
The entire trip was absolutely incredible, I enjoyed everything and made some friends for life for which I am extremely grateful!! Our trip manager Brittni was insanely amazing and I consider myself very lucky to have had her planning our trip! All her extra optional S that she provided us were without a doubt the highlights of the trip so I am incredibly grateful!! Would definitely recommend this to anyone and everyone. I would without a doubt recommend this to everyone! The communication was a little scary at the start because I booked so far in advance and the trip details weren’t released until a couple of weeks before the beginning of the trip but besides that everything was perfect.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/22/2024
Anonymous - Traveled, October 2024
Out of all my contiki trips I have ranked this the worst trip. I felt that the tour manager wasn’t completely honest with what activities were good and bad, meaning I got pressured into doing activities which were not worth my time or money. I also had two men on the trip make me and other girls uncomfortable, this included inappropriate touching and comments. The tour itself was also pretty boring and disorganised it seemed. More a tour for older generations. My original trip was canceled last minute and I had already booked my flight so I had to choose a tour within my original dates. This was the only tour available and I got charged the highest rate out of all other travellers on my tour even when it wasn’t my fault that contiki stuffed me around.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/20/2024
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