Rhythms of the South

Good old-fashioned Southern hospitality, charm and big smiles welcome you to 'Music City', Nashville. A hub of country music enthusiasts, Nashville attracts musicians, song writers and performers and ready explorers like you. The careers of some of the biggest names in the music industry started right here in the basement studios of Music Row or on stage at the famous Grand Ole Opry. Meet up with your Travel Director this afternoon, then relax before a big day in this vibrant city to begin your US South value tour.

Nashville is the ultimate traveler’s playground. Visit Riverfront Park, Tennessee State Capitol and Centennial State Park, where you're transported to Athens with their very own Parthenon. Icons checked off, visit Music Row, stopping off at RCA Studio B where legends like Dolly Parton and the Everly Brothers recorded albums. No trip to Nashville would be complete without a snoop around the iconic Country Music Hall of Fame, home to memorabilia from Elvis, Hank Williams and Loretta Lynn and more. Scout out the tastiest hot chicken and biscuits on your own this afternoon before this evening's included visit to hear a live show of America's longest running live radio program.

Ready to continue your deep dive into country music with Choice Optionals on your US South value tour? There's no better choice than the Ryman Auditorium, where you can watch music magic come to life at the 'Soul of Nashville' theatre. On a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, opt to check out Nashville's newest museum - The National Museum of African American Music that tells the story of American music through interactive technology. This afternoon, choose to join a hop-on-hop-off trolley tour to see all the top sites. The night is young! If you’re feeling in the mood, get out into the action and experience a honky tonk under the neon lights of Broadway.

From one music obsessed city to another, your next stop is Memphis! Home to "The King", music is the life blood of this t-tapping city. Dive straight in with a stroll down bluesy Beale St, past the Memphis Pyramid and Peabody Hotel. See the Lorraine Motel, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, was assassinated and one of the most significant sites of the Civil Rights Movement. With the rest of the day free, choose to visit the Rock N' Soul Museum, learning the story of the birth of rock and soul music. Then groove over to Beale Street for a Southern BBQ dinner and live music.

Rise and shine food fanatics, your day starts with a taste of Southern favorites at the popular Memphis spot, The Arcade. Top off the morning at Sun Studio, where Elvis was first discovered back in 1954, learn the legacy left behind by the 'King of Rock n' Roll'. Attention Elvis fans, today you make the pilgrimage to Graceland, touring the King’s iconic mansion and private planes.

How to go big on your final day in the Home of the Blues, Soul, and Rock-n-Roll? Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Choice Experience Civil Rights History & Culture tour led by a local historian including the National Civil Rights Museum and Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum. This tour visits the most significant places of the Civil Rights Movement in Memphis that will leave you reflecting on the tragic history of those that fought tirelessly for equality. In the late afternoon you can join the Backbeats Musical Mojo Tour aboard the nation’s only music bus diving deep into Blues Music.

Today on your US South value tour, pull into Natchez on the banks of the Mississippi where the unique architecture of the South flaunts its style in antebellum homes. Feel like taking a closer look? Visit an Antebellum Classical Revival mansion, Stanton Hall. Thirsty after all this exploring? Wet your whistle with a Choice Experience mixology class learning how to make a Mint Julep on the grounds of the National Historic Landmark, the Dunleith Historic Inn, followed by a delicious Southern feast.

Cute cafes, voodoo and the mansions of the Garden District . . . every day in NOLA is cause for celebration. The world's longest continuous bridge over water marks your arrival in 'The Big Easy'. A Local Specialist shows off the top sights including the city's many unique cemeteries, taking a peek around the elaborate stone crypts and mausoleums. Perhaps hit Burbon Street for a classic Big Easy evening.

Today on your US South value tour discover how everything in New Orleans is larger than life with a full free day. Have your fortune told in Jackson Square, stroll the French Quarter or eat your way around the city. If the swamps and bayous are on your list, a Choice Experience will get out on the water with a pontoon boat trip where a local guide will keep a keen eye out so you can spot 'gators, eagles, snakes and egrets.

It’s your final full day in NOLA, make sure you go out in style with plenty of Choice Experiences to tempt. Why not join a Choice Experience cooking demonstration to learn how you can recreate some of the city’s tastiest Cajun and creole dishes ? The New Orleans School of Cooking is hosted by local chefs who share tips and stories. Or visit the WWII Museum, designated by Congress as America’s official museum about World War II. Jazz fans can opt into a Jazz Dinner Cruise on the Mississippi River accompanied by a live band. What a way to end your trip!

With the bluesy beats of Beale Street and the smiles of Nashville still fresh in your mind, your trip comes to an end. Delicious Southern food still fresh in your thoughts, say goodbye to your new friends as you head your separate ways. If you can't bear to leave NOLA just yet, you can also choose to extend your US South value tour.