Join us for a toe-tapping trip of rock, jazz and country music, as you delve into the sumptuous soul of America. You'll start in Chicago, a great food city also known for its jazz and blues, before heading south to the musical meccas of Nashville and Memphis. End your trip with a little jazz as you head to the Mississippi Delta and on to zesty New Orleans. From visiting the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville to the iconic Graceland mansion, this trip not only comes with behind-the-scenes experiences, but with its own memorable soundtrack.
Join us for a toe-tapping trip of rock, jazz and country music, as you delve into the sumptuous soul of America. You'll start in Chicago, a great food city also known for its jazz and blues, before heading south to the musical meccas of Nashville and Memphis. End your trip with a little jazz as you head to the Mississippi Delta and on to zesty New Orleans. From visiting the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville to the iconic Graceland mansion, this trip not only comes with behind-the-scenes experiences, but with its own memorable soundtrack.
Welcome to Chicago. Upon arrival, you will be met and taken to your exclusive retreat near the Magnificent Mile. At 6:00 pm, join your Traveling Concierge for a scrumptious Welcome Dinner with wine at your hotel.
Start your exploration during a 90-minute architectural river cruise and discover how the Great Fire of 1871 paved the way for the birth of the skyscraper. Continue your discovery with one of the Windy City's greatest highs—the 360 Chicago Observation Deck. Enjoy a Highlight Dinner with wine at Gibson's Bar and Steakhouse, a classic Chicago-style chophouse. You'll be served with a fixed steak menu that comes with roasted corn, potatoes and seasonal veggies.
Journey to St. Louis where you'll take an exclusive guided tour of the Fabulous Fox Theater which opened in 1929. This vibrant city played host to the World's Fair and Olympics of 1904, with both being held at St. Louis' prestigious Washington University.
Get a bird's-eye view of the city with a visit to the top of the famed St. Louis Gateway Arch standing 630 feet tall. Next, head east through the Hoosier National Forest to Louisville, before enjoying a dinner with wine at The English Grill in the evening. This elegant venue is situated at your hotel and offers a refined menu of contemporary American cuisine with a Kentucky twist.
Continue your immersion into Louisville culture with an up-close look at some of Kentucky's celebrated four-legged residents during a visit to a retired horse farm. Enjoy a guided tour of the grounds where you will learn about some of the horses before taking time for lunch. Later, visit a bourbon distillery, where you will discover the secrets and meticulous details involved in the making of the South's signature spirit, before indulging in a sampling. The evening is yours to enjoy.
The fun continues with a guided historic walking tour of Churchill Downs to learn about the history of the Kentucky Derby, followed by a visit to the Kentucky Derby Museum. Once here you'll gain an insider's perspective during a private visit with retired jockey, Charles Woods Jr. Next, discover the history behind one of America's favorite sports cars at the National Corvette Museum, where you'll have lunch. The museum features over 80 Corvettes in periodic settings, including mint classics, one-of-a-kind prototypes and modern-day wonders of engineering and design.
Enjoy a tour of historic Studio B with a professional sound engineer in a 30-minute, choir-style recording session. You'll be able to take home a copy of the recording as a one-of-a-kind souvenir. Head on to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, full of memorabilia from stars such as Hank Williams, Loretta Lynn and Garth Brooks. Once there, you'll join your Local Expert, a songwriter and singer, who will tell you the stories behind the biggest hits sung by well-known country music stars. End your day with a trip to the Grand Ole Opry or "country's most famous stage" for a live performance.
Travel from the home of country music to the birthplace of blues and Rock 'n' Roll. The evening is devoted to a private, after-hours, and docent-led tour of Graceland—as much an object of pilgrimage as a museum dedicated to the late, great, Elvis Presley. From the flowers and painted signs outside the gates, to the tear-streaked cheeks of fans inside, see the effect that Elvis and his music had on popular American culture. Enjoy a memorable dinner with wine at the Graceland mansion itself.
Experience Memphis Your Way by visiting Sun Studios or the Memphis Rock n' Soul Museum. Later, visit the National Civil Rights Museum and trace the history of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States from the 17th century to the present. Offering over 260 artifacts and more than 40 new films, you'll be guided through five centuries of American history.
Depart for Natchez, founded by the French in 1716 when it became home to a flowering colonial culture. There you will experience a private, owner-led tour of Sunnyside, a restored antebellum cottage. At your charming luxury country mansion inn, whet your palate during a mixology class and learn the 'science' behind the signature drink of the South, the Mint Julep. Then enjoy a delectable three-course Highlight Dinner with wine, in the stunning main house.
Stop at Frogmore Plantation and journey back to a time when cotton was king. With your costumed hosts, tour a reconstructed 19th-century plantation. Next, get a glimpse into the sweet side of the South with a visit to Houmas House plantation, once the largest producer of sugar in the country. In the evening, you'll visit the New Orleans School of Cooking to learn about Creole cuisine during a lively cooking demonstration. Enjoy these culinary creations over a special Highlight Dinner with wine.
Join a Local Expert for a tour of the city as you learn about its rich history steeped in the myriad of cultures that have found a new home here. See Jackson Square and the Treme neighborhood before exploring City Park. Take in this picturesque scene and admire the oak trees with a warm café au lait in hand. Next, visit one of the city's famous above-ground cemeteries and learn about their uniquely joyful perspective on life and death.
Start the day with a bayou expert on the rural side of the Crescent City, as you board a boat to meet the resident alligators and other fauna and flora. Enjoy some free time before gathering with your new friends and toasting to lifelong memories during a Farewell Celebration Dinner with wine at the famous New Orleans restaurant, Arnaud's, with toe-tapping live jazz as your backdrop.
Bid 'Au Revoir' to the Big Easy in the morning. A complimentary transfer is provided to Louis Armstrong Airport or choose to extend your stay at Hotel Monteleone.
Start Date | Return Date | Price | Discount | Availability | Price | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
26 May 19 | 8 Jun 19 |
![]() |
$6,375pp | Request Quote Book Now | |||
Special Small Group Departure
|
16 Jun 19 | 29 Jun 19 | $6,875pp | Request Quote Book Now | |||
8 Sep 19 | 21 Sep 19 | $6,450pp | Request Quote Book Now | ||||
15 Sep 19 | 28 Sep 19 |
![]() |
$6,425pp | Request Quote Book Now | |||
6 Oct 19 | 19 Oct 19 | $6,425pp | Request Quote Book Now | ||||
13 Oct 19 | 26 Oct 19 | $6,450pp | Request Quote Book Now |
Price is per person and is based on two people sharing a twin bedded room. Single rooms are available at a supplement.
Single Room Supplement: from $2,475.
Gratuities: Option to pre-pay gratuities for Traveling Concierge and Driver $177 per person.
Private Door to Door: Private door-to-door transfer service is available for guests traveling in a party of three or fewer on vacations to Europe, US, Latin America, Africa, Asia, and India. Private door-to-door transfers are not available on vacations to Australia and New Zealand. Private door-to-door transfers are limited from/to one address within a 50 miles radius of an international airport within the USA and include the gratuity for the driver with 1 suitcase and 1 carry-on bag per person permitted. No additional stops and/or drop-offs are permitted. All private door-to-door transfers are subject to availability and must be confirmed at time of booking. If private door-to-door transfers cannot be provided, a credit will be applied to the booking.
AARP Members are entitled to an exclusive Member Benefit Discount on all Grand European Travel vacations. Plus receive a free travel gift! Call Toll Free: 1-866-847-3858 for details.
13 Breakfasts, 1 Lunch, 8 Dinners with Wine.
We suggest bringing a variety of lightweight clothing items that can be layered to save space in your suitcase and give you more options for how to dress. For more helpful information please refer to our Packing Tips & Packing List.
At the end of your guided vacation, it’s customary to offer your motor coach driver and Travel Director a gratuity. We recommend $4-5 per person/per day for your driver and $6-7 per person/per day for your Travel Director. Recommended gratuity for a Local Host and Local Specialist is 1-2 dollars per person, paid at the conclusion of each guided visit. A convenient option is to prepay your tips before your departure.
Baggage on our trips is restricted to one large suitcase per person with dimensions not exceeding 30x19x10 inches and a maximum weight of 50 pounds. You are also permitted one piece of hand luggage, which should be small enough to fit under your coach seat or on the small overhead shelf compartment. Please note that luggage with an adjustable handle and wheels will not fit in the overhead compartment of the coach. Hotel porterage is included in your vacation.
You will need to be comfortable on your feet, walking and standing for up to three hours in various weather conditions. All of our vacations involve walking, often on cobblestone and uneven surfaces in historic city centers. In order to get the most out of your vacation you need to be able to comfortably walk 1-3 miles unassisted in one day, be in good condition and be able to keep pace with the group.
If you need any medications, it is important that you bring enough to last you the whole trip and keep them in your carry-on bag while you travel.
We highly recommend our optional Travel Protection Plan, which allows you to cancel for any reason up to 24 hours before departure. The plan also includes trip interruption, baggage loss or delay, and medical and emergency assistance. Click here for a summary of coverage details, terms and conditions.