Deep South USA Plus Texas

Itinerary

• Day 1
  Arrival in Atlanta
• Day 2
  Travel to Nashville - Driving into Tennessee to Lynchburg, this quintessential little town is a true slice of unspoilt 50s America, with its red-brick courthouse, general store and one traffic light. It’s a great place to just browse the shops and get a bite to eat before we visit Lynchburg’s claim to fame: the Jack Daniel Distillery. Obviously, it’s where Jack Daniel’s whisky is made, since 1884 and a tour is a great experience. Interestingly, the county is ‘dry’ and locals are not allowed to consume the product they are most famous for. Continuing across Tennessee’s rolling green hills we soon arrive at ‘Music City USA’, Nashville.
• Day 3
  Nashville - In downtown Nashville we visit the Country Music Hall of Fame. A huge museum of all things ‘Country and Western’, it has floors of fascinating exhibits from the earliest days of country music to the megastars of today. There are films and videos of music’s greatest, with their life-stories and costumes. The famed Music Row is close by, lined with studios and record company offices, where we visit the legendary RCA Studio B, where Elvis recorded many of his greatest hits, followed by a ‘who’s who’ of recording superstars such as Roy Orbison, the Everly Brothers, Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson. Lower Broadway is Nashville’s nightlife centre, with stupendous live music in famous honky-tonk bars like Robert’s Western World and The Stage on Broadway and many more. There’s a fantastic atmosphere along the entire street and an evening here is a real ‘must’! Experience a country music show at the Grand Ole Opry. 'Pre-book only.' Signature experience - Get up close to where musical legends make history and walk in the footsteps of country music superstars on this truly memorable visit to the Grand Ole Opry. In the company of a knowledgeable Opry insider take an exclusive look behind the scenes, visiting backstage areas and the dressing rooms of the stars. Hear entertaining tales of country music greats, past and present and discover some of the Opry’s most memorable musical moments. We may even have the chance to step into the famed wooden circle on the Grand Ole Opry stage – an unforgettable experience. Personalise your holiday - The Grand Ole Opry show Nashville's top attraction and a must for country music lovers, the legendary Grand Ole Opry is dedicated to honouring the genre's rich history and dynamic present. Catch one of the weekly live shows featuring country music's greatest talents, who in the past have included stars such as Garth Brooks, Johnny Cash and Dolly Parton. A return transfer is included from the hotel directly to the venue. Tier 3 seats - From £79pp & Tier 2 seats - From £109pp (2025) Please contact us for more information and to add the above experience to your booking.
• Day 4
  Memphis - Today we say goodbye to Nashville and head to the far west of Tennessee and the city of Memphis and America’s artery, the Mississippi. From its earliest beginnings as a small French garrison, Memphis grew into a magnet for freed slaves after the Civil War and as a cotton trading centre. This afternoon we have a guided tour around the birthplace of Rock n’ Roll – the legendary Sun Studio, where Elvis recorded his first hit. This insignificant, yet iconic 1950s building, was the starting point for Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash and Roy Orbison amongst others and is a designated National Historic Landmark. You can still see Jerry Lee’s piano and Elvis’ microphone!
• Day 5
  Graceland and National Civil Rights Museum - Today we visit one of America’s biggest tourist attractions, Elvis’ Graceland. The ‘King’ bought the Graceland mansion for $100,000 in 1957 when he was just 22 and it was his main home until his death. From the time it opened to the public in 1982, Graceland has expanded to include Elvis’ private airplanes and his extensive car collection. One of the most iconic houses in America, Graceland’s Garden is also Elvis’ final resting place. This afternoon we step back into America’s historical milestones visiting the National Civil Rights Museum at The Lorraine Motel. It was here Martin Luther King was shot on 4th April 1968. Five years previous on 28th August 1963 he delivered his famous ‘I Have a Dream’ speech around the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC to a crowd of 250,000 people. The following year in 1964, King won the Nobel Peace Prize for combating racial inequality through non-violent resistance. In that same year, President Johnson got a law passed prohibiting all racial discrimination. This evening is at leisure to sample the music scene at Memphis’ famous Beale Street.
• Day 6
  Journey to New Orleans - After an early start, this morning, we board a trusty coach to the legendary city of New Orleans. We'll journey through sprawling forests, passing charming farms and catching glimpses of the quaint 'southern' towns that dot the east bank of the mighty Mississippi River, like pearls on a necklace - each with its own story to tell. So sit back, relax, and soak in the scenery as we make our way to the heart and soul of the Big Easy! New Orleans has a unique and distinctive charm. Its heady combination of rich culture, history and a vibrant atmosphere makes the city a must-see destination for any Americanophiles.  In the evening, why not step out and try New Orleans’ famed Cajun cuisine – there are plenty of fantastic restaurants.
• Day 7
  New Orleans - This morning we have a walking tour of New Orleans’ famous French Quarter with an expert local guide. We see the charming art galleries and antique shops along Royal Street, the white stucco St Louis Cathedral and Jackson Square, full of artists, musicians and fortune tellers, and walk up the iconic Bourbon Street, centre of the city’s nightlife. The afternoon is free for you to explore this charming city at your leisure. This evening, you have the opportunity to enjoy an evening jazz cruise with dinner on board the Steamboat City of New Orleans. Personalise your holiday - Steamboat New Orleans Dinner and Jazz Cruise The graceful steamboats of the south have long been a colourful part of America's history, so what better way is there to experience New Orleans by taking an evening jazz cruise with dinner on board the Riverboat of New Orleans. Admire stunning views of the city while rollin’ down the river enjoying the casual buffet-style dining. Stroll the decks as well as enjoying the live sounds of New Orleans swing style music. From £89pp Please contact us for more information and to add the above experience to your booking.
• Day 8
  Free day in New Orleans - A free day to relax in the ‘Big Easy’ and explore further afield.   Alternatively, you may choose to personalise your holiday with visit some of the most impressive Antebellum Plantations outside New Orleans combined with a fascinating boat tour of the nearby Louisiana swamps, known for their alligators and snapping turtles, and where you can admire the fauna, such as the moss-draped cypresses native to the bayous of Louisiana.   Signature experience - Today we’ll discover Oak Valley Plantation which is a National Historic Landmark, learn about the complex history of the inhabitants that used to live and work here during it’s time as a sugar plantation, including the enslaved men, women and children that built and kept the plantation. Later take a fascinating boat tour of the nearby Louisiana swamps - known for their alligators, snapping turtles and moss-draped cypresses - and enjoy a mint julep is the Deep South in a glass. This classic cocktail made of mint, sugar syrup and bourbon make for a refreshing interlude during this splendid day. Personalise your holiday - Oak Alley Plantation & Louisiana Swamp - Classic itineraries only Journey back in time to the most famous historic plantation of New Orleans' antebellum south, iconic for its photogenic walkway of magnificent, centuries-old oak trees. Tour the stunning 'Big House' with a guide and hear the stories of its compelling history. Complete your experience with a 1.5-hour-long boat tour of the Louisiana bayou to discover the wetlands, its inhabitants and the unique history of the Manchac Swamp. From £49pp (2025) Please note, this is included on the Signature Tour option Please contact us for more information and to add the above experience to your booking.
• Day 9
  Houston and NASA - We leave New Orleans this morning heading ever westwards along Louisiana’s Cajun country towards Texas. As we enter the outskirts of Houston, our first stop is at the world-famous NASA Johnson Space Centre, still a working NASA base from where the international space station is controlled. We visit ‘Mission Control’, now restored to its 1965 look with all the original equipment and furniture – a unique experience. We also see a full-size Saturn V rocket which famously has no on-board computer, they were just too big at the time, plus the huge indoor training facility for the astronauts of the International Space Station.
• Day 10
  San Antonio - We continue further into the south Texas plains arriving in San Antonio this afternoon and checking into our hotel for a two-night stay.   Once a frontier settlement in the Wild West, San Antonio has become a city full of modern amenities. There's plenty of shopping to be done with upscale boutiques multiple shopping malls and the largest Mexican market in the USA. Just around the corner from our hotel is the city's famous River Walk stretching for more than 24km, The River Walk has shaded pathways that connect you to hundreds of shops, restaurants and hotels as well as historic landmarks, museums and attractions.  In the North, you'll find museums filled with everything from Picasso to eastern memorabilia. To the South you'll find four UNESCO-protected Spanish missions that once provided shelter for the frontier settlers - and still provide some of the best birdwatching spots around.   Tonight, we stay just around the corner from the Alamo and within easy walking distance to the charming Riverwalk area with its many bars and restaurants, ideal for trying out the region’s famed Tex-Mex cuisine.  Signature experience - We’ll step into the soul of San Antonio on a vibrant, eco-friendly electric river boat and delve into the history and culture of San Antonio learning about the city’s architecture and fun points of interest.