Welcome to Nashville, the home of Country Music! At 6 pm, meet your travelling companions for a welcome drink. Your Tour Director will prepare you for your upcoming adventure.
Start your day with a sightseeing tour of Nashville, including Centennial Park with its full-size replica of Athens' Parthenon, the recording studios of Music Row, and famous Honky Tonk Row. Afterward, enjoy a private guided tour of one of America's most treasured music landmarks, the RYMAN AUDITORIUM, a National Historic Landmark. Known throughout the world as the "Mother Church of Country Music," it served as home to the Grand Ole Opry for over 30 years. Its walls hold the country's history-from Harry Houdini, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Bob Hope to incredible musical artists like Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, and Elvis Presley. Tonight, you have reserved seats for an unforgettable show at the world-famous GRAND OLE OPRY. (B,L)
This morning, visit the COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME to see its collection of costumes, memorabilia, instruments, and photographs. The remainder of your day is free to explore Nashville on your own. You may want to visit the museums of such stars as Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, and George Jones. Other options include visiting historic Printer's Alley, a relaxing cruise on the General Jackson Showboat, shopping for souvenirs on Broadway, or listening to up-and-coming musicians at one of the many music venues in town. Your Tour Director will have suggestions for additional sightseeing, shopping, and dining. (B)
Depart Nashville and enjoy a stop at the DELTA HERITAGE Centre in Brownsville, celebrating the beauty of the Tennessee Delta. Exhibits include the home of blues musician, "Sleepy" John Adams, and Flagg Grove School, the one-room schoolhouse once attended by young Anna Mae Bullock, aka Tina Turner. Arrive in Memphis, known as "Blues City," where the first stop will be at SUN STUDIOS-probably the most famous recording studio in the world and where rock `n' roll was first recorded. This historic studio launched the careers of Elvis, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, and many more. Arrive at your hotel, the Guest House at Graceland, for a 3-night stay. (B,D)
This morning, see the landmarks of Memphis on a city tour, followed by a visit to SLAVE HAVEN UNDERGROUND RAILROAD MUSEUM. Tour the antebellum home and learn about the owner's dedication to help with the anti-slavery movement. The remainder of the day is at your leisure. You may wish to learn how the famous Gibson guitar is made, from binding, painting, and buffing, on a factory tour; visit the National Civil Rights Museum, where you can walk through Martin Luther King's motel room from his fateful night at the Lorraine Motel; or stand on the elite trader's floor of the Memphis Cotton Exchange at the Cotton Museum. Tonight, why not explore Beale Street with its many music clubs? (B)
Today is devoted to Elvis Presley's GRACELAND. Tour the mansion, see his original business office, and his enormous collection of gold records and awards. The tour ends at the Meditation Garden, where Elvis and members of his family have been laid to rest. There's also time to see Elvis' collection of ornate jumpsuits and capes, as well as the automobile museum. Tonight, celebrate your time in Nashville and Memphis with a festive farewell dinner at one of Memphis' most historic and famous barbecue restaurants, Rendezvous. (B,D)
The tour ends after breakfast with guests departing on individual schedules. (B)