Day 1
Arrival in Nashville
Fly to Nashville and either pick up your hire car or take a taxi to your chosen hotel to check in, then perhaps wander out for a bite to eat in one of the many bars featuring a live band.
Day 2
Nashville
We recommend that we book for you the Nashville Music Attraction Pass giving you admission to the Country Music Hall of Fame, Historic RCA Studio B, the Ryman Auditorium and the Johnny Cash Museum, plus additional discounts. You’ve got a couple of days to discover these great attractions so plan your time.
Day 3
Nashville
Another full day to enjoy the music of Nashville – click here to see our recommended Top Ten Experiences.
Day 4
Drive Nashville to Memphis (212 miles)
Today you’ll be heading west across the state of Tennessee to the city of Memphis - known as the birthplace of rock n roll. You might want to stop for lunch in Jackson – the county seat but also home to some quirky museums you may want to visit, such as Casey Jones Home & Railroad Museum and Rusty’s TV & Movie Car Museum. Once you arrive in Memphis, we recommend you drop off your bags at your chosen hotel and then head straight out to Beale Street to enjoy a cold beer and a live band.
Day 5
Memphis
Again, we recommend booking the Memphis Music Attraction Pass, which will give you admission to Graceland, Rock n Soul Museum, Stax Museum of American Soul Music and Sun Studio. We think that it’s worth dedicating a day to Graceland – as you can wander around Elvis’s house in your own time and explore the other attractions on-site including Presley Motors Automobile Museum, Elvis: The Entertainer Career Showcase Museum.
Day 6
Memphis
Today discover the museums of Memphis and make sure you include Sun Studio, where Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis, BB King, Johnny Cash and Roy Orbison launched their careers. The National Civil rights Museum is a fascinating insight into the movement, located on the site where Dr Martin Luther King Junior was assassinated.
Day 7
Drive Memphis to Natchez then to New Orleans (304 miles + 176 miles)
It’s worth an early start today to get on the road south, so that you have time to detour via the historic town of Natchez, en route to New Orleans. Natchez is filled with “Antebellum” houses – magnificent mansions built before the US Civil War. Reputedly there are 668 of these historic homes, giving a glimpse into the opulence of pre-Civil War life for the American elite. Set on the banks of the mighty Mississippi, this is a lovely place to stop for lunch with a great choice of pleasant cafes. On arrival in New Orleans, you could choose to drop your rental car off at the airport and then take a taxi to your hotel, as you won’t be needing the car for the next few days.
Day 8
New Orleans
A great way to get your bearings in New Orleans and enjoy a few hours entertainment is to book a walking tour, and we can book this for you. Choose from a French Quarter tour or perhaps a Cemetery and Voodoo tour … maybe later in the day you would enjoy a Cocktail Walking Tour. Your biggest dilemma is going to be choosing somewhere to eat as there’s so much choice. And make sure you save some energy for a night-cap and some late night jazz.
Day 9
New Orleans
You might want to spend another day enjoying New Orleans or you could book a tour of a Plantation House such as the renowned Oak Alley Plantation. Or perhaps we could book you an Airboat Swamp Tour for some ‘gator spotting?
Day 10
Fly home
Today marks the end of your holiday. Unless you want to extend with a few days in another inspiring US city, such as Chicago or New York.