A Southern Story Sounds & Specialties

A Southern Story Sounds & Specialties

Discover the culture, music and cuisine of the Southeastern United States on this 8-day journey through the Deep South. Steeped in history and tradition, get to know the plantations, museums and architecture that make the South so distinctive. American Experiences small group, multi-day tours provide you with authentic, in-depth experiences not found elsewhere. Your trip includes more than just the basics-- a welcome reception, one or two unique specialty meals, three and four star quality boutique hotels, multiple guided tours with opportunities to choose your activity as well as free independent exploration, and transportation. Plus, our knowledgeable tour guide stays with you for the duration of the trip and can personalize your experiences to meet the needs of both you and the group. Get to know like-minded people from all over the world who enjoy similar experiences and enrich your appreciation of America's special Southern culture with American Experiences small group tours.

Itinerary

Day 1: New Orleans

Stop At: New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana
Make your own way to the hotel and check-in. Those passengers extending their “A Taste of Texas” tour arrive at the hotel and meet with passengers just arriving for “A Southern Story”. This evening, mingle with other group members at a meet and greet reception hosted by your Tour Manager, a destination specialist for an overview of your 8-day exploration of Southern culture, music and food.
Duration: 4 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: 1 night accommodation at the Hotel Indigo, or similar.

Day 2: New Orleans

Stop At: New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana
Steeped in a history of influences from Europe, the Caribbean, Africa and beyond, New Orleans is one of America's most culturally and historically rich destinations. This morning you will visit some of the city’s varied neighborhoods and meet the locals who will engage you with fascinating stories of “their” New Orleans. The Garden District homes are still known by the names of the families that built them over a century ago, and the Tremé is a vital American landmark for African-American and Creole culture. There are 20 historic districts on the National Register in New Orleans, more than any other city in the United States. There is no better way to get acquainted with a city than by tasting some of its acclaimed foods, so this afternoon you will experience New Orleans through its cuisine. Your walking and tasting tour of the French Quarter, led by a local culinary expert, will teach you to appreciate the differences between Creole and Cajun cooking and of the varied ethnic influences that contribute to New Orleans cuisine. The evening is free to enjoy some of New Orleans's vibrant nightlife.
Duration: 10 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: 1 night accommodation at the Hotel Indigo, or similar.

Day 3: New Orleans - Jackson - Memphis (395mi/640km)

Stop At: Jackson, Jackson, Mississippi
You will depart for Memphis this morning, visiting Jackson, the capital of Mississippi, en route.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum, 191 Beale St, Memphis, TN 38103-3715
Memphis is the home of American blues music, legendary musicians, famous barbecue and historic landmarks. You will enjoy a little bit of each during your stay, beginning with a visit to Sun Studio, the birthplace of Rock ‘n Roll, followed by a visit to the Rock ‘n Soul Museum. The museum offers a comprehensive Memphis music experience from its beginnings in the 1930s to its global musical influence of today.
Duration: 4 hours

Stop At: Beale Street, Memphis, TN 38103
Tonight, stroll along iconic Beale St for a dose of authentic blues, soul and rock n’ roll at one of the many music clubs where you can dance to the early hours.
Duration: 3 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: 1 night accommodation at the Hotel Napoleon, or similar.

Day 4: Memphis

Stop At: Graceland, 3717 Elvis Presley Blvd., Memphis, TN 38116
No trip to Memphis would be complete without a tour of Graceland. Purchased in 1957, Graceland was home to the King of Rock ‘n Roll until his death in 1977. It is one of the most visited homes in the United States, second only to the White House. The Experience Tour will include the Mansion, exhibits showcasing Elvis' career, his automobiles, his wardrobe, his gold records and much more from the Graceland Archives.
Duration: 4 hours

Stop At: Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee
What piques your interest more? A walking tour of Memphis that includes authentic, mouth-watering BBQ like dry-rubbed or saucy ribs and pulled pork with a sprinkling of history and culture? Or visiting the Gibson Guitar Factory for an intimate viewing of Gibson's skilled Luthiers crafting some of the finest guitars in the world? The choice is yours and neither experience will disappoint as a local BBQ connoisseur and guitar craftsman impart their knowledge on your preferred program.
Duration: 4 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: 1 night accommodation at the Hotel Napoleon, or similar

Day 5: Memphis - Nashville (212mi/342km)

Stop At: Ryman Auditorium, 116 Fifth Ave N, Nashville, TN 37219-2309
Upon arrival in Nashville, you will visit the Ryman Auditorium, most famous as the home of the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 — 1974. A special Backstage Tour has been arranged for the group. Learn how the Ryman became known as the "Carnegie Hall of the South" and get to stand on the stage and in the wings, soaking up every drop of music history in the very spots where Louis Armstrong, James Brown, Katharine Hepburn and so many others stood under the lights. You will even have the chance to take home your own Ryman Records CD that you record in the Ryman Recording Studio. After dinner, enjoy the area between Broadway and 2nd Avenue, filled with entertainment venues and night clubs, known locally as “honky tonks”.
Duration: 6 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: 1 night accommodation at the Hutton Hotel, or similar.

Day 6: Nashville

Stop At: Nashville, Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee
The choice of activity is yours this morning. Enjoy a driving tour through the neighborhoods of country music greats and famous Nashvillians who call Music City USA their home. See the homes of such stars as Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks & Trisha Yearwood, Ronnie Milsap, and more. Or visit Belle Meade Plantation where you will tour the Mansion, gardens and outbuildings of the Plantation once known as the “Queen of Southern Plantations”.
Duration: 6 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: 1 night accommodation at the Hutton Hotel or similar.

Day 7: Nashville – Muscle Shoals - Birmingham (248mi/400km)

Stop At: Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, 3614 N Jackson Hwy, Sheffield, AL 35660-3516
The music of Muscle Shoals is some of the most important and resonant of all time. "I'll Take You There," "Brown Sugar," "When a Man Loves a Woman," "Mustang Sally," "Kodachrome," and "Freebird" are just a few of the tens of thousands of tracks created
there. While in Muscle Shoals you willl see FAME Studios, home of the Muscle Shoals Sound, among the elite in American musical history.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Alabama Music Hall of Fame, 617 Highway 72 W, Tuscumbia, AL 35674-8711
You will also visit the Alabama Music Hall of Fame to discover the stories behind the songs from Alabama’s music legends.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
You will end the day in Birmingham which gained national and international attention as a center of activity during the Civil Rights Movement.

Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Dinner: Final night includes dinner because there’s nothin’ like authentic Alabama BBQ from Dreamland, cooked up low and slow.
Accommodation included: 1 night accommodation at the Tutwiler hotel or similar.

Day 8: Birmingham – Atlanta (146mi/235km)

Stop At: Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, 520 16th St N, Birmingham, AL 35203-1911
You will tour the heart of Birmingham’s Civil Rights District this morning to see important sites in the city’s fight for Civil Rights and you will visit the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute where a series of galleries tells the stories of daily life for African-Americans, the Civil Rights Movement and the “walk to freedom”.
You will arrive in Atlanta late afternoon for airport and city drop-offs.
Duration: 4 hours

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.