America's Musical Heritage with New Orleans Jazz Festival

Welcome to Music City, USA! At 6 pm, meet your traveling companions for a welcome drink.

Studios, Stages & Stars Start your day with a visit to [LOCAL FAVORITE] RCA Studio B, Nashville’s oldest recording studio. Then, enjoy a sightseeing tour of Nashville with a Local Guide, including Centennial Park’s full-size replica of Athens’ Parthenon. See the legendary recording and performing venues of Music Row and Honky Tonk Row—where music history was made and famous artists got their breaks. We then visit the Country Music Hall of Fame to see its collection of costumes, memorabilia, instruments, and photographs. Tonight, you have reserved seats for an unforgettable show at the world-famous Grand Ole Opry, the mecca for country musicians. (B) LOCAL FAVORITE RECORDING HISTORY The legendary RCA Studio B is a hallowed hall of recording history where legends including 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.

Singing the Blues This morning, enjoy creating your own jewelry with a hands-on workshop presented by [LOCAL FAVORITE] Strings for Hope. Depart for Memphis, “Home of the Blues,” and visit Sun Studio, one of the most famous recording studios in the world and where rock ‘n’ roll was first recorded. Then, visit the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, a celebration of the great Memphis soul music. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant tonight. (B,D) LOCAL FAVORITE CRAFTING THE FUTURE Bring your crafty side to a hands-on jewelry-making workshop courtesy of Strings for Hope—an inspiring organization making a positive impact in Nashville. The organization breathes new life into repurposed musical instrument strings to create jewelry-supporting new lives for survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and addiction by providing jobs, skills training, and economic stability. 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! See all the landmarks of Memphis today. A Local Guide will play and sing selections from the city’s rich musical heritage, along with generous amounts of comedy and interaction. We then travel to Elvis Presley’s Graceland for a tour of the King of Rock-n-Roll's estate. The remainder of the day is at leisure. (B) TOUR HIGHLIGHT LEGENDARY LIVES Tour the mansion at Graceland with access to Elvis’ original business office, his vast 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.

Sweet Home Alabama Depart Memphis for “The Shoals” and discover the rich cultural and music history along the Tennessee River in northwest Alabama. Tour the [LOCAL FAVORITE] FAME recording studios, where Mustang Sally and other chart-topping songs came to life. Explore the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area and discover the music, civil rights, and Native American history. Continue to the Wilson Lock and Dam for dramatic views of the Tennessee Valley Authority’s largest hydroelectric facility, a National Historic Landmark. Enjoy regional specialties while dining at a local restaurant tonight. (B,D) LOCAL FAVORITE MUSIC CITY FAME is the home of the world-famous “Muscle Shoals Sound.” Since the 1960s, many legends have recorded hits at FAME Recording Studio, including Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, Etta James, The Rolling Stones and more. Tour the legendary studio and hear the unique Muscle Shoals sound – a blend of country and soul mixed with rhythm and blues.

Slide Guitars & Steel Magnolias Depart Alabama and venture deep into the heart of the Mississippi Delta, the “Birthplace of the Blues.” From the cotton fields, street corners, and juke joints of the Mississippi Delta came a new kind of music—the blues. Visit the Delta Blues Museum, dedicated to exploring the history and heritage of this unique American musical art form and masters of the art, including Muddy Waters and Sam Cooke. Peruse historical images, artifacts, musical instruments, and the cabin where Muddy Waters lived as a sharecropper. Enjoy a photo stop at the “Crossroads,” where legendary blues guitarist Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil in exchange for the best musical talent. After lunch, continue to Greenwood, where many of its buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Take a guided tour to see the filming locations of the Oscar-winning film, The Help. (B,L) Continue south to beautiful Greenwood. TOUR HIGHLIGHT ACCOMMODATION SPOTLIGHT Enjoy a special overnight stay at the historic Alluvian Hotel. Originally opened in 1917, the renovated hotel is a luxurious respite on the Mississippi Blues Trail in the heart of the Delta. Warm hospitality and charm in the heart of soulful South!

Louisiana Legacies First stop today is Jackson, Mississippi, a city known for legendary music heritage and pivotal Civil Rights history. Continue to Lafayette, Louisiana and partake in a unique musical experience at [LOCAL FAVORITE] Cypress Cove Landing on the banks of the Atchafalaya Basin. (B) TOUR HIGHLIGHT CITY WITH SOUL Named for U.S. President Andrew Jackson and largely destroyed during the Civil War, Jackson recovered, rebuilt, and became the state capital. Jackson was a significant center during American Civil Rights Movement and is now home to the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum. Today, Jackson thrives as a cultural and economic center and hub for gospel and blues music. LOCAL FAVORITE LOUSIANA FRENCH Listen to rich Creole and Cajun music and storytelling by Yvette Landry and Soko Music. Learn the dances of Mardi Gras and Fais do-do on the banks of the Atchafalaya Basin while enjoying live music. Ready to join the band? Play Cajun percussion instruments like the T-Fre or try the accordion and take part in the rich Louisiana French musical traditions.

Southern History & Tradition Enjoy a morning visit to St. Martinville to see the famous oak tree named for the heroine of Longfellow’s poem, Evangeline. Then, cruise through the swampy waterways of the Atchafalaya Basin. Larger than the Florida Everglades, the picturesque yet mysterious Atchafalaya Basin is home to moss-draped trees, a wealth of wildlife, and gators, of course. On to the Great River Road, where wealthy plantation owners built their monumental homes. Visit Houmas House Plantation and Gardens, called the “Crown Jewel of the Great River Road.” Enjoy lunch at the plantation followed by a mansion tour, which is filled with period antiques and Louisiana artwork. Enjoy free time to stroll the magnificent gardens, gift shop, or have a Mint Julep at the Turtle Bar. Continue to exciting New Orleans for a 2-night stay. (B,L) TOUR HIGHLIGHT CULTURE & TRADITION Located between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, the Houmas House Estate allows visitors to experience the history of life on a sugarcane plantation. The mansion has been restored to the antebellum era, reflecting the opulence and wealth this sugarcane farm boasted in the 1880’s. The guided tour walks through the 250-year history, highlighting the architectural evolution from manor house to grand estate. See rare artworks and artifacts that explore life on the plantation.

Spend your day your way in New Orleans Say, ‘Yes, Ma’am’ to Southern hospitality in New Orleans with a guided sightseeing tour of the French Quarter. Stop at an above-ground cemetery and learn about the city’s unique funeral customs and drive along tree-lined St. Charles Avenue to see the stately homes bordering the historic Garden District. Explore more of New Orleans with your choice of included Globus Choice excursions LAISSEZ LES BONS TEMPS ROULER! Let the good times roll in historic New Orleans during a craft cocktail walking tour. Visit the French Quarter's famous bars and restaurants and discover the best spirits of The Big Easy.

The Big Easy Wave goodbye to your Tour Director and Driver and continue your stay in captivating New Orleans with a one-day pass including transportation to the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. (B) ENHANCED FREE TIME POWDERED SUGAR & SWEET JAZZ Explore more in New Orleans with a powdered plate of beignets at Café du Monde, ride a New Orleans streetcar, shop for souvenirs, or learn to cook Cajun specialties at the New Orleans School of Cooking. Sample some of the country’s finest restaurants or listen to some local jazz musicians at Preservation Hall. Your GlobusGO mobile app has all the maps and tips on where to dine, shop, and sway.

The Big Muddy Today, join a 2-hour lunch cruise along the Mississippi River, featuring great jazz and delicious food. The remainder of the day is free. (B,L) TOUR HIGHLIGHT OLD MAN RIVER From its headwaters of Minnesota's Lake Itasca to its delta at Louisiana’s Gulf of Mexico, the mighty Mississippi River courses through 10 states and 2,350 miles (3782 km) to release more than 4 million gallons of water in the gulf each second. The widest spot is 11 miles across, and this legendary river is a vital source of hydroelectric energy and drinking water. The Mississippi’s rich history and folklore are as deep as the Big Muddy itself - from Old Man River’s paddlewheels as the setting of America’s first musical, Showboat, to the beloved tales of Mark Twain’s mischievous Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer, the Mississippi River is a force of nature, legend, and lore.

Safe travels until we meet again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)