Grand Journey from the Deep South to Route 66

Itinerary

• Day 1
  Arrival in Atlanta
• Day 2
  Lynchburg - We'll leave Georgia and head into Tennessee to the quintessential little town of Lynchburg. This is a true slice of unspoilt 50s America (well, the good parts) with its red-brick courthouse, general store and one traffic light. Lynchburg's famous landmark, known as Point of Honor, was home to Dr George Cabell Sr., the doctor of famous patriot Patrick Henry who famously said, 'give me liberty or give me death".  This charming town is a lovely place to just browse shops and grab a bite to eat before we visit Lynchburg's other claim to fame: the Jack Daniels Distillery.   We'll tour the site where Jack Daniel's Whiskey has been made since 1884 and find out what goes into making that signature oaky, sweet taste. What's interesting about the location of the distillery is that the county is 'dry', and locals are not allowed to consume the product they're most famous for. Later, we'll continue across Tennessee's rolling green hills to 'Music City USA', Nashville.
• Day 3
  Nashville - The rapidly growing city of Nashville has a unique, go-getting attitude all of its own. Music drips from every pore, floating on the breeze from bars and restaurants. Today, we'll explore the city's music heritage, starting in 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.  Then, we'll head to the nearby Music Row, 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.  Later, we'll visit Lower Broadway, 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’! 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 £80pp & Tier 2 seats - From £110pp (2024) 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 - Say goodbye to Nashville and head to the far west of Tennessee to 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'll 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 stand in the spot where Elvis first recorded and see priceless memorabilia like Jerry Lee’s piano and Elvis’ microphone!
• Day 5
  Graceland & National Civil Rights Museum - No doubt you've heard his music, now see the place Elvis called home on a visit to one of America's biggest tourist attractions, Graceland. The 'King' bought the Graceland mansion for $100,000 in 1957 when he was just 22 and it was his main home until he died. Today we'll explore the beautiful mansion, walk to the garden where he found peace, tour the aircraft that he travelled in from show to show and see his extensive classic car collection. You can uncover more about the musician's life through the legendary costumes, artefacts and personal mementoes from Elvis and his family. And pay your respects to the man himself at his grave. This afternoon, we'll step back into America's historical milestones, visiting the National Civil Rights Museum at The Lorraine Motel. We'll learn more about slavery, the boycotts, assassinations and black powerhouses that played a part in the history of the uprising that pushed national and international civil rights forward, while looking back on the momentous events that shaped the USA's future.    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 passed a law prohibiting all racial discrimination.  This evening is at leisure but those in the know will want to head down to the Beale Street Entertainment District - three blocks of restaurants, shops and bars in the heart of downtown Memphis. It's a melting pot of delta blues, jazz, rock 'n' roll, R&B and gospel that has played host to some legendary live music - you can see why it's a National Historic Landmark district.
• Day 6
  Journey to New Orleans - After an early start, this morning, we board a trusty coach to the legendary city of New Orleans - nicknamed "The Big Easy". We'll travel the history-laden musical crossroads of Mississippi to New Orleans — the birthplace of jazz. You'll be riding in the shadows of giants of American music like Louis Armstrong, Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters and Elvis Presley. 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 comes alive at night - and no, we're not talking about the ghosts and ghouls - the city stays up late and music is the language of the night. This evening is a chance to enjoy live music, catch a cabaret show or taste the city's traditional fare - crawfish etouffee or a hearty bowl of gumbo are always our go-to's.
• Day 7
  New Orleans - Nestled in a bend on the Mississippi River, the first New Orleans settlers built their community in what is now the French Quarter. Thanks to their foresight, and the relatively high elevations, this historic Quarter has survived for over 300 years - it was even spared the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. So, it's the perfect place to get to know the history of the city, which we'll do on a walking tour this morning with an expert local guide.  The French heritage of the city shines brightest here in the military-style grid design, the central green spaces and street names like Bienville and Iberville. There's also plenty of evidence of its Spanish heritage - after a fire in the late 1700's the Spanish rebuilt many parts of the city in the newer architectural styles. You can see this in the Town Hall and the Presbytere (priests' residence). On our tour, we'll 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, the centre of the city’s nightlife. 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.   Personalise your holiday - Oak Alley Plantation & Louisiana Swamp 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 £69pp (2024) From £49pp (2025) Please contact us for more information and to add the above experience to your booking.
• Day 9
  Houston & Nasa - We’ll leave New Orleans this morning, heading westwards along Louisiana’s Cajun country towards Texas, The Lone Star State. As we enter the outskirts of Houston, our first stop is at NASA’s world-famous Johnson Space Centre. For more than half a century, the Space Centre in Houston has led the USA and the world on a continuing adventure of scientific exploration and discovery, and it's still a working NASA base today. It's from there that the International Space Station is controlled.  On our visit, we'll see Mission Control, now restored to its 1965 look with all the original equipment and furniture – a unique experience - and a full-size Saturn V rocket, which famously has no onboard computer (they were just too big at the time). Plus, we'll gain insight into the testing and training each astronaut undergoes in the huge indoor training facility before they are allowed to visit the International Space Station.
• Day 10
  San Antonio - We’ll continue further into the south Texas plains arriving in San Antonio this afternoon and checking into our hotel for a two-night stay.  Originally settled by the Spanish who built a mission station here, the Alamo, whose name was destined to be one of the most evocative words in American history. It was here in 1836 that a seriously outnumbered group of settlers, including Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie, were besieged by the Mexican army for nearly two weeks before they were overrun.  Today we’ll see the remains of the Alamo on a visit. Behind the church is the Alamo’s living history encampment. There are hands-on demonstrations about daily life at the time of the Texas Revolution – what they wore, medical practises and all the skills you’d need to survive. Tonight, we’ll stay just around the corner from the Alamo and within easy walking distance to the charming River Walk area with its many bars and restaurants, ideal for trying out the region’s famed Tex-Mex cuisine.