Southern Grace

Depart the UK on your chosen flight to Nashville, Tennessee. Upon arrival, you will be met and taken to your hotel for the next two nights at the Union Station Hotel. In the evening, join your Travelling Concierge for a scrumptious welcome dinner with wine.

Please note dependent on your flight time from the UK, you may need to arrive one day earlier in order to attend the welcome dinner. Please check with our sales person at the time of enquiry.

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, an esteemed singer/songwriter, 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. If you are traveling on a Chairman’s Collection departure, you will meet one of two music legends, either Country Hall of Fame musician Charlie McCoy or Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Brenda Lee, for a special introduction to the city’s impressive musical history.

Travel from the home of country music to the birthplace of Blues, Soul, and Rock ’n’ roll – Memphis. This afternoon you’ll visit Graceland. See the effect that Elvis and his music had on popular American culture as you marvel at the mansion set on 13.8 acres of land.

Learn about Memphis’ history and culture through music. Choose to visit Sun Studio, “The Birthplace of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” as you hear intimate stories of American soul legends B.B. King, Elvis, and Johnny Cash and walk through the very rooms that they first recorded in. Alternatively, you can stop by the Stax Museum of American Soul, a former studio that pays special tribute to soul music, through interactive exhibits, films, and vintage recording equipment. Later, join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience as you visit the National Civil Rights Museum for an immersive journey through the history of civil rights in America, from the 17th century to the present day.

Depart for Natchez, founded by the French in 1716 when it became home to a flowering colonial culture. Choose to learn about the history of the many Natchez mansions on a tour to explore their interiors and grounds. Alternatively, enjoy a beer tasting and tour at a family-owned brewing company and learn about the beer of the south. 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.

Today offers another encounter with American history at Frogmore Plantation and Gins. As you explore the property, from the original gin through to the modern-day you’ll learn about the history of slavery in the south. Next, you’ll visit Houmas House Plantation and Gardens to understand daily life on this sugarcane plantation and get a deeper understanding of what life what like in the era of wealthy Sugar Barons. Finally, you’ll learn about Creole Cuisine during a cooking demonstration before you indulge in a highlight dinner with your fellow travelers.

Join your local xxpert 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 neighbourhood 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 the uniquely joyful perspective on life and death. You can then choose to embark on a Creole and Cajun food tour of New Orleans while learning about the city’s unique blend of worldly influences. Alternatively, you can mingle over a traditional Jazz Brunch, where you’ll take in the lively music scene.

Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience with a bayou expert on a unique and immersive eco-excursion for an insider’s perspective of the Great Mississippi River and how it has shaped the rich tapestry of land, people, and cultures of this region. Meet the local fishermen and sample some of the fresh seafood. This evening, toast to lifelong memories during a Celebration Dinner with wine at the famous New Orleans restaurant, Arnaud’s, with lively jazz as your backdrop.

Today you will bid ‘au revoir’ to the Big Easy in the morning. A complimentary transfer will take you to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport where you check-in for your flight back to the UK.