Music of the South

Your vacation begins today in North Carolina's Queen City, Charlotte. This historic destination sits in the southern part of the state between the beautiful coast and the Appalachian Mountains, making it the perfect place to give us our first look at the South's charms.

As you arrive, make your own way to our hotel, which is located just minutes from the airport. After checking in for the night and meeting the Tour Manager, you are free to get to know Charlotte.

In the early days of America, the colonists chose to settle at the highest point of elevation in this region, conveniently set at the junction of several Native American trading paths. Because visitors were always traveling up the ridgeline to reach it, the center was dubbed Uptown. You may like to head here this evening to explore the local flavors, seek out art or history, or wander the tree-lined streets. Overnight Charlotte.

This morning, we travel by coach to our next destination, Gatlinburg, Tennessee. We stop en route in Asheville, a city nestled in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains along the Appalachian Trail.

Our destination in Asheville is the Biltmore Estate, the largest home in the United States. Once the home of railroad magnate George Vanderbilt and his family, this sprawling 250-room mansion is now a museum, with displays of vintage art, furniture and more. We have lunch at the Stable Café before a self-guided tour of this grand, historic estate.

We continue by coach to Pigeon Forge, where we check into our hotel, Dollywood DreamMore Resort in the Great Smoky Mountains. This resort offers a taste of Southern hospitality, with restaurants serving regional favorites, indoor and outdoor pools and a full-service spa. Touches throughout show the influence of one of country music's biggest icons, Dolly Parton.

Upon checking in, you are free to enjoy the onsite dining options or explore the unique property. Overnight Pigeon Forge.

• Breakfast, Lunch

Today's excursion is a tour highlight: a journey into Great Smoky Mountains National Park on a heritage railway. After breakfast, we board a coach to the quaint town of Bryson City on the edge of the national park, where we have some free time to explore.

This afternoon, we board the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad* on a route following the Tennessee and Nantahala Rivers. We cross a historic bridge over Fontana Lake and venture into the stunning Nantahala Gorge. There is a choice of onboard dining options, or you could pre-purchase a packed lunch. This four-and-a-half-hour round-trip journey includes a one-hour stop by the river, where you can admire the lush forest landscape.

We transfer back to our hotel in Pigeon Forge with a free evening to savor Southern specialties like chicken and dumplings, country fried steak and pecan pie on-site or nearby in town. Overnight Pigeon Forge.

*Please note: For the Mardi Gras departure on the January 30, the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad will not operate. Instead, we drive through Great Smoky Mountains National Park, making scenic stops en route.

• Breakfast

Today, we make our way to the city of Chattanooga, famous as the site of several battles during the American Civil War and for its historic railways. Set on the banks of the Tennessee River and surrounded by the Appalachian Mountains, Chattanooga's official nickname is "Scenic City."

After free time to lunch independently, we board the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway for a trip on one of the world's steepest passenger railways, operating since 1887. As we travel up among the steep forested hillsides above the Tennessee River, we enjoy vistas of Chattanooga and beyond. Atop Lookout Mountain is the site of a Civil War battle, and the visitors' center provides information on the military history of the area.

We return to Chattanooga, and after checking in to our downtown hotel for the night, you are free to explore the city and its many eateries. The city is also known for its bluegrass music, and you may hear the twanging melodies as you wander around downtown. Overnight Chattanooga.

• Breakfast

This morning, we leave Chattanooga by coach, heading to the world capital of country music, Nashville. On our way, we stop in Moore County, Tennessee. Although this area has been "dry" since the days of prohibition, it is also the home of the Jack Daniel's Distillery. During our visit, we enjoy a guided tour and a tasting of the iconic whiskey.

We continue to Nashville, where we check into our downtown hotel. This afternoon and evening, you are free to soak up the city's unique atmosphere and history. Besides its reputation as a music city, Nashville is also known for its vibrant neighborhoods packed with indie coffee shops, breweries and boutiques.

Tonight, you dine independently, and there are outstanding options across the city. While you can take your pick from a fantastic variety of international dishes, the meals that Nashville does best are traditional Southern comfort foods like hot chicken, mac and cheese and mouth-watering barbecue ribs. Overnight Nashville.

• Breakfast

This morning, we delve further into Nashville's musical history on a guided tour that introduces us to the major sights of the city. Nashville has been synonymous with country music since the 1940s, thanks to its collection of famous recording studios on "Music Row" in downtown Nashville.

Afterward, the afternoon is free to enjoy at leisure until this evening's entertainment when we visit one of Nashville's most famous institutions, the legendary Grand Ole Opry*.

Founded as a radio station in the mid-1920s, this popular venue still hosts a regular live music broadcast, in addition to its stage shows. We take our seats for this extraordinary performance, featuring a line-up of eight or more artists, from legendary country music stars to up-and-coming talent. At the end of the evening, we transfer back to our downtown hotel, but the city's bars and venues will still be humming if you are not ready for the music to end. Overnight Nashville.

*Please note: For the Mardi Gras departure on the January 30, we will visit the Grand Ole Opry on Day 7 instead.

• Breakfast

After breakfast, we head out to tour the legendary RCA Studio B, where artists including Elvis, the Everly Brothers and Dolly Parton once cut records and wrote songs. Though it only operated for 20 years, it quickly became one of the world's most famous recording studios, due to the iconic records created within its walls.

Our guided tour ends at the Country Music Hall of Fame, the world's largest music museum. We are free to explore and learn more about the stars that have shaped country music, from its roots to today. There are various interactive exhibitions, and the center houses an unrivaled collection of country music recordings dating to the 1930s.

Once our tour of this famous institution concludes, the remainder of the day is free to explore Nashville at your own pace. Attractions include the Johnny Cash museum, which has a beautifully curated collection of memorabilia on "the Man in Black" and the Honky Tonk Highway, a vibrant stretch of Broadway with live music and traditional honky tonk bars. Overnight Nashville.

• Breakfast

Leaving Nashville this morning, our journey through Tennessee continues. On our way to Memphis, we stop at Jackson, famous for its railway culture and as the birthplace of rockabilly music. We have free time to find lunch independently in this interesting town, and you may choose to grab a bite at Brooks Shaw's Old Country Store, a nostalgic ice-cream parlor and Southern soul food buffet.

From Jackson, we continue to the West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center in the historic town of Brownsville for a guided tour. The center is dedicated to the diverse history of Tennessee, from the rich musical traditions to the area's history of slave labor. There is also a dedicated Tina Turner museum located inside her childhood schoolhouse.

Arriving in Memphis, we check into our accommodation at The Guest House, steps from Elvis Presley's legendary home, Graceland. This evening, we have a Memphis-style barbecue dinner at the hotel. Well known for being cooked "low 'n' slow," this three-course feast is presented in traditional family-style buffet. Overnight Memphis.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today, we are introduced to the main attractions of Memphis' musical history, beginning with a visit to Graceland, the mansion Elvis Presley called home. As we walk through his preserved living quarters, we get an insight into the King of Rock'n'Roll, viewing the eclectic mix of artifacts on display and admiring his incredible car collections. 

In the afternoon, we tour the iconic Sun Studio, where legendary blues artists Howlin' Wolf and B.B. King first cut records. The studio also claims the title of "the birthplace of rock'n'roll," as both Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash recorded here during their careers. Learn about Memphis' history while browsing priceless memorabilia of the legends who created here.

Returning to the hotel, the rest of the day is at leisure. Head to the famous Beale Street to experience the energy of "the home of the blues." History and culture flow through the street, with blues, jazz and rock music spilling out of the venues, and statues paying tribute to blues icons like W.C. Handy and B.B. King. Overnight Memphis.

• Breakfast

This morning, we take a trip into the past aboard Amtrak's City of New Orleans train. The story goes that blues music spread along this route by rail, and we retrace the journey from Tennessee, through Mississippi and to Louisiana. The views from the train are captivating, as verdant hills lead into the Louisiana Bayou.

This afternoon, we arrive in the Louisiana town of Hammond, where a coach takes us to the Oak Alley Plantation for a guided tour. We learn the history of this estate, standing as a testament to the privileged lives of Louisiana landowners and to the suffering of those who were enslaved and worked in the plantation's sugar cane fields.

We continue to New Orleans, where we check into our hotel in the heart of this sensational city. Our hotel is a short distance from Bourbon Street, which comes alive at night with the blast of jazz trumpets, lively cocktail bars and flamboyant dance shows. Overnight New Orleans.

For departure October 1 we will stay at the Virgins Hotel New Orleans.

• Breakfast

Officially a National Historic Landmark, the renowned French Quarter is one of the best-known areas of New Orleans, and the hub of the party during Mardi Gras. Touring the area with a local guide this morning, we stop at the Café du Monde open-air café to enjoy a beignet (a delicious, deep-fried choux pastry) and a café au lait.

After free time to explore this UNESCO-listed city, we regroup and board a traditional paddle steamer, the Creole Queen, for a sightseeing cruise along the Mississippi River. We see the site of the Battle of New Orleans and views of the "Big Easy' that only the river can provide.

After disembarking, you are free to enjoy your evening your way. This is a carnival city, and during Mardi Gras, the party never stops! Overnight New Orleans.

Please note: For the Mardi Gras departure on the January 30, today is the parade day, and you have tickets to enjoy the show. The French Quarter guided tour and the Mississippi River sightseeing cruise will take place on Day 12 instead.

Your day is free to soak up New Orleans, a UNESCO Creative City of Music. Known as the South's party city due to its Mardi Gras celebrations, there is a year-round sense of spirited adventure and playfulness. A stroll through the colorful streets offers an introduction to NOLA's eclectic architecture that stretches back centuries, like the stunning St. Louis Cathedral, the oldest cathedral in North America.

For an authentic New Orleans experience, you could hop on a streetcar on St. Charles' Avenue, taking in the city sights as you travel from uptown to downtown. Alternatively, you could spend some time in the peaceful green space of one of the city's great parks.

The French Quarter has an endless choice of eateries for your last evening in the South. Most places offer traditional Southern food, from po-boys (meat, seafood or crawfish-filled bread rolls) and jambalaya to fresh oysters - served raw, baked or chargrilled. Overnight New Orleans.

From the enchanting Great Smoky Mountains and musical heritage in Nashville and Memphis, to the Mardi Gras energy of New Orleans, every moment of this vacation has showcased the spirit of the South. We traveled by heritage rail through the mountains, traced the story of blues music on the City of New Orleans train and saw views that only the water can provide while drifting along the Mississippi on a traditional paddle steamer.

Your Southern explorations come to an end this morning as you check out of the hotel and begin your travels home independently.

• Breakfast