Music Cities: Nashville & Memphis

Welcome to Music City, USA! At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome drink.

Studios, Stages & Stars Start the 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. Then, visit [LF] RCA Studio B, known as one of the cradles of the Nashville sound and the region's oldest recording studio. Learn the stories of music titans who recorded here, such as Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, and the Everly Brothers. Free time this afternoon. Tonight, visit the Grand Ole Opry where you have reserved seats for an unforgettable show. (B) LOCAL FAVOURITE CULTURAL GEM The legendary RCA Studio B is a hallowed hall of recording history where legends like Elvis Presley, Chet Atkins, Dolly Parton, and the Everly Brothers laid down classic tracks in Nashville's oldest recording studio. Between 1957 and 1977, more than 35,000 songs were recorded here, making their mark on the musical landscape of America. Make your own recording for a priceless memory of your time in Nashville.

Landmarks & Legends Visit the Country Music Hall of Fame to see its collection of costumes, memorabilia, instruments, and photographs. Next, enjoy a private guided tour of one of America's most treasured music landmarks, the [LF] Ryman Auditorium, a National Historic Landmark. The remainder of the day is free to explore Nashville at leisure. You may want to visit the historic Printer's Alley, shopping for souvenirs on Broadway, or listening to up-and-coming musicians at one of the many music venues in town. (B) LOCAL FAVOURITE HISTORIC SPOT Ryman Auditorium, 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.

Leaders & Legacies Depart Nashville for Memphis, known as "Blues City," where the first stop will be the National Civil Rights Museum, exploring the history of the Civil Rights Movement and its impact on our culture today. Continue to the Guest House at Graceland for a 3-night stay. Located just steps away from the historic home of Elvis Presley, The Guest House blends Colonial design with warm Southern hospitality, reflecting Elvis' style. Your stay here is the perfect way to experience the birthplace of rock 'n' roll and the home of the blues. Tonight, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D) TOUR HIGHLIGHT LEGENDARY LIVES Visit the National Civil Rights Museum for an inspiring and enlightening experience in America's civil rights movement. See fascinating and moving exhibits that trace the movement and milestones from the 17th century to the present. The museum is built around the former Lorraine Motel, the site of Martin Luther King's assassination in 1968.

Singing the Blues See the landmarks of Memphis on a city tour with a Local Guide while they sing festive songs from Memphis' rich musical heritage. Explore Sun Studios-considered the most famous recording studio in the world and where rock 'n' roll was first recorded. Round out the afternoon with a visit the Rock 'n' Soul Museum, which tells the critical story of the musical pioneers who overcame racial and socioeconomic obstacles to create music that changed the world. The evening is free, why not explore Beale Street with its many music clubs? (B) TOUR HIGHLIGHT MUSICAL LEGENDS Ever since the Father of the Blues, W.C. Handy, coined the phrase, 'Memphis Blues,' this Tennessee mecca for American musicians has produced soulful sounds of syncopated rhythms with a blend of early jazz, vaudeville, ragtime, and folk styles with deep roots in the Deep South of the early 1900s. Memphis is also a mecca for rock-and-roll and country music icons throughout history, including artists who've recorded at the legendary Sun Studio - by the names of Elvis, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Roy Orbison - to name a few. Go deeper into music history with a visit to the Stax Museum of American Soul Music to discover the legacies of iconic artists from Otis Redding to Aretha Franklin.

Goin' to Graceland Today is devoted to Elvis Presley's Graceland. Tour the mansion to see his original business office, and his enormous collection of gold records and awards. Also see the "Graceland of the Skies," a remodeled jet named after Elvis' daughter. Tonight, celebrate your time in Nashville and Memphis with a festive farewell dinner at one of Memphis' most famous barbecue restaurants, [LF] Rendezvous. (B,D) LOCAL FAVOURITE LOCAL TASTES Bite into a delicious piece of Memphis history with dinner at the Rendezvous where those who know-from locals to tourists to dignitaries and celebrities-all make their way through the alley across from the Peabody Hotel where the Vergos family has been serving up their world-famous charcoal ribs, brisket, chicken, and red beans and rice for more than 70 years. A quintessential Memphis experience! TOUR HIGHLIGHT LEGENDARY LIVES Tour the mansion at Graceland with access to Elvis' original business office, his enormous collection of gold records and awards, and the Meditation Garden, where Elvis and members of his family have been laid to rest. See Elvis' collection of ornate jumpsuits and capes, the automobile museum, and his collection of airplanes.

Safe travels until we meet again! Your holiday ends with breakfast this morning. Want to explore more in Memphis? Additional nights are available for purchase. (B)