Country Roads Of The Deep South

Welcome to Nashville, the capital of Tennessee and the USA’s glittering center stage. From the Everly Brothers' “Bye Bye Love," to Roy Orbison’s “Oh, Pretty Woman," the streets are paved with talent. Relax and unwind before meeting your travel director and mingling with guests at 6 p.m. followed by a welcome dinner with wine..

Start your day with an orientation tour of music city. You'll visit the picturesque Riverfront Park, Tennessee State Capitol and the 132-acre Centennial State Park, where you'll encounter an exact replica of the Parthenon. Pass by the city's lively honky-tonks and street performers on Broadway. Make your way to historic RCA Studio B, Nashville’s oldest remaining recording studio for a guided tour. Studio B became a cradle of the Nashville Sound in the late 1950s and early 1960s with over 35,000 songs being recorded here by iconic artists such as Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, and even more recently, Martina McBride and Carrie Underwood. On this guided tour, you will hear the fascinating stories behind the legendary recordings and view some of the original instruments used in producing over 1,000 hit records. We then continue to another home to Nashville royalty, The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum for a self-guided tour. The museum helps to preserve, celebrate, and share the important cultural asset that is country music. Along with changing exhibitions, you'll discover the enlightening "Sing Me Back Home: Folk Roots to the Present." Which tells the story of country music from its pre-commercial roots in the 19th century through its life today. See original artifacts, photographs and recordings. Tonight, head to the famous Grand Ole Opry, the world-renowned country music stage and longest-running radio broadcast in U.S. history for even more Country fun.

Today we make a stop at the Nashville Farmer’s Market to explore its artisanal crafts and produce. You decide how to discover Nashville this afternoon. Choose to visit Nelson’s Green Brier, a local Tennessee distillery and home of the Original Tennessee Whiskey for a guided tour of the distillery and tasting of the product. Or join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience with a visit to The National Museum of African American Music, the only museum dedicated to preserving and celebrating the many music genres created, influenced and inspired by African Americans. This is for music lovers of all generations, inspiring, educating and transforming your appreciation of American music - all while celebrating the central role African Americans play in creating the American soundtrack.

This morning you'll head to Memphis. Whether it’s your first or hundredth time visiting this vibrant city, you’ll be drawn in by the lively melodies coming from Beale Street. Spend the morning on a sightseeing tour of the city, followed by your first of two MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences today. The first is a visit to the National Civil Rights Museum for a guided tour through centuries of the Civil Rights Movement and its impact on our culture today. The second is your private evening at the Stax Museum of American Soul Music. The museum is part of The Soulsville Foundation, which aims to prepare young adults for life success and inspire future artists.

This morning it's off to Graceland, where you will get to explore the mansion, the private retreat of the King of Rock 'n Roll, where he went for reprise when not on the stage or in the movies. The tour of Graceland Mansion includes the living room and the famous Jungle Room. Then visit the Entertainer Career Museum with hundreds of artifacts and photos from significant events in Elvis’ life as well as the Presley Motors Automobile Museum. Then we continue onto Sun Studios for an authentic guided tour led by a local musician. Learn all about the recording studio where Elvis got his start along with so many of the greatest and therefore known as "The Birthplace of Rock'n'roll." Dinner this evening will be served at The Beauty Shop, a former parlour turned whimsical New American eatery where Elvis’ ex-wife, Priscilla, was said to get her hair done.

Travel through the Mississippi Delta down the Mississippi Blues Trail, a route that tells the stories of businessmen and women. Your travel director will give you background information on Greenwood’s significance in the Civil Rights Movement, being a center for protests and voter registration struggles from 1962 to 1965. We then head to the Viking Cooking School, for a hot-tamales cooking class. Where we learn how it became a regional specialty, end the experience with a delicious three-course dinner with wine, before heading back to your hotel.

Learn more about Southern history and hospitality as you head to Natchez. Tour a historic Antebellum mansion and discover the preservation efforts of later generations to tell the story of African-Americans through the decades, understanding that slavery and cotton allowed plantation owners to build these mansions. Test your mixologist skills as you concoct a traditional Southern cocktail, the Mint Julep. Minty, cooling and with a touch of sweetness, you're sure to learn a few party tricks to bring back home with you. Arrive at your hotel where you will enjoy an evening to yourself. Ask your travel director for restaurant suggestions and discover one of the wonderful options in town.

Move on to Lafayette for a taste of the Cajun and Creole Countryside. Get ready for a boat tour of a lifetime through moss-draped cypress trees, where graceful egrets perch just out of the reach of lingering alligators. Explore the diverse natural beauty and rich ecological systems of America's largest and most mysterious swamp ecosystem, the Atchafalaya Basin Swamp. A Native Cajun tour guide will explain from personal experience what it is like to live on a houseboat or survive off the swamp, while pointing out the abundant plants of the area and getting you up close and personal with the wildlife.

After breakfast, start the day with a visit to the Acadian Cultural Center to learn more about the people, music, and sounds that give Lafayette its distinct and charming character. This evening you will join a local expert for a tour of their crawfish pond. If you visit during Crawfish season, catch your dinner the old-fashioned way, using hand nets, then enjoy a cooking demonstration before your authentic Cajun meal.

New Orleans is a lively and dynamic city, known for its vibrant culture and electric jazz festivals. On the way down south, take a spicy stop at the Tabasco® Factory for a self-guided tour and discover how the world-famous red hot pepper sauce is made. A family recipe - TABASCO® Brand products are made by McIlhenny Company, founded by Edmund McIlhenny in 1868 on Avery Island, Louisiana. This afternoon, enjoy a regional meal highlighting the flavors of New Orleans. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Get to know the city with a local expert, as you discover each neighborhood's unique architecture and explore the vibrant art scene. See how the community comes together through celebration. Enjoy an exclusive behind the scenes tour of Mardi Gras World, where the magic happens and the extravagant, vibrant floats are built each year. One of the Mardi Gras World certified artists will lead you through designing your very own Mardi Gras mask and creating your masterpiece, premium felt backed mask with glitter, feathers and more to take back as an eclectic memento of your time in The Big Easy. Show off the piece of art you just made by enjoying a masquerade themed dinner on the Mardi Gras Plaza, which boasts a stunning view of the Mississippi River.

Depart New Orleans It’s time to say goodbye to your fellow travelers as your adventure comes to an end. Departure to the airport will be at leisure.