America's Music Cities

Step back in time on a cultural getaway that opens in the “Jazz Capital of the World,” New Orleans! This soulful city abounds with rich history, mouthwatering Cajun and Creole cuisine, and of course, an incomparable soundtrack. Take in the sights, flavors, and sounds of New Orleans on your own today before meeting your group in the morning.
Hotel Name: Sheraton New Orleans Hotel

Explore the many sides of New Orleans and how jazz began and thrives here. Join a local guide for a panoramic city tour, seeing the famous St. Louis Cemetery #3 and Esplanade. Then, it’s on to a walking tour of the French Quarter viewing St. Louis Cathedral, Pirates Alley and more. Tonight, get to know your travel companions at a New Orleans-style dinner before continuing on to Maison Bourbon, a live jazz club in the French Quarter.

Breakfast Included
Dinner Included

Visit Area: French Quarter
One of the most unique city scales in the country, New Orleans French Quarter is a harmonious blend of French, Spanish, American and African cultures. The Vieux Carre, as it is known, is characterized by wrought iron balconies, courtyards, Creole restaurants and jazz music.

Leave New Orleans on a high note and head to the next music landmark. Explore the history of one of the world’s most prestigious awards in music at GRAMMY Museum Mississippi. Later, arrive in the charming college town of Oxford for a laid-back evening.

Breakfast Included
Dinner Included
Hotel Name: The Inn at Ole Miss

Admittance: Jazz Revue
Discover why New Orleans is known as the “Birthplace of Jazz” when you take in a spirited jazz revue at a local French Quarter jazz club. Listen to the world famous sounds that emanated from New Orleans!

Travel north to Memphis, the birthplace of the Blues, Rock ‘n’ Roll, and Soul. Enjoy Southern hospitality at your hotel before jiving along to “Jailhouse Rock” as you visit Graceland, the stately mansion of the “King” himself, and tour Elvis’s 14-acre estate, including his home, private jets, and Meditation Garden.

Breakfast Included
Dinner Included
Hotel Name: The Guest House at Graceland

Admittance: Grammy Museum

This morning, embark on a civil rights history tour via coach and follow the route of Martin Luther King Jr.’s last march, stopping at Mason Temple where he gave his famous “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech the night before he was assassinated. Take time to explore the National Civil Rights Museum and grab lunch on your own. Later, get acquainted with the musical history of Memphis with a visit to Sun Studio, perhaps the most famous recording studio in the world before continuing on to the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum, highlighting the musical journey of this popular city.

Breakfast Included

Admittance: Graceland
Located in Memphis, Tennessee, this 13-acre estate was the last home of music legend Elvis Presley. Originally established as a farm during the American Civil War, Elvis purchased the property in 1957 and spent two decades here before his death in 1977. Graceland has become a modern pilgrimage site for fans.

Roll along Music Highway to Nashville – the “Music Capital of the World.” Arrive in Nashville and tour the historic Ryman Auditorium,* the original home of the Grand Ole Opry. What began as a building where a local radio broadcast show aired once a week in 1925 has grown to become an entertainment complex that attracts music fans from all over the world. This evening, take your reserved seat at the renowned Grand Ole Opry.**

Breakfast Included
Hotel Name: Gaylord Opryland Resort

Admittance: Civil Rights Tour

Explore the Country Music Hall of Fame, the world’s largest museum of popular music, and check out the vast collections of memorabilia, costumes, recordings, and instruments. Tour RCA Studio B and gain an insider’s look at Nashville’s oldest remaining recording studio, where Elvis Presley, Dolly Parton, and Charley Pride once recorded classic hits. You may even have the opportunity to record your own hit! After one more lunch together, it’s your choice! Join a hands-on chocolate-making lesson at the iconic Goo Goo Candy Shop -OR- visit the Johnny Cash Museum where you’ll be immersed in the life and legacy of Johnny Cash, a "100 Greatest Artists of All Time" honoree and the biographical inspiration for the blockbuster film, Walk the Line.

Breakfast Included
Lunch Included

Admittance: Ryman Auditorium
One of Nashville's premier entertainment locations, this live performance venue was completed in 1892. Nicknamed the "Carnegie Hall of the South," the auditorium's history includes performances from Harry Houdini, speeches by Theodore Roosevelt and concerts from Enrico Caruso. Home of the Grand Ole Opry for three decades, the Ryman is at the center of Nashville's musical legacy.

Your rockin’ musical journey comes to a close today.

Breakfast Included

Admittance: Grand Ole Opry Show
The Grand Ole Opry was created by an insurance company as a radio show in service to the public as a means to advertise insurance policies. Launched in the 1920s, the Opry quickly became the launch pad for many music greats. Today the worlds longest running live radio program, the Grand Ole Opry is the backbone of American Country Music.