Deep South Holidays | Deep South Music Tours

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Trace the roots of American music along the mighty Mississippi and experience the unique cultural landscape that gave birth to the Blues, Country and Rock-n-Roll. Days move a little slower in the South, as we pass the time with a sweet tea or Jack and Coke taking in the sights and sounds at Music Row in Nashville, on Beale Street in Memphis and along Bourbon Street in New Orleans. Savour authentic cuisine and enjoy southern hospitality as we float down the Mississippi on an included river boat cruise.

You can now check your email and keep in touch with family and friends while on the road with our wi-fi enabled vehicles. (Maximum 5 users at a time. Fair usage restrictions may apply. Only available in USA & Alaska).

• New Orleans jazz clubs US$10-$20
• Country Western saloons US$5-$20
• Swamp tour US$20-$40
• Country Music Hall of Fame US$22-$30
• The Grand Ole Opry US$18-$60
• Sun Studios US$12
• Antebellum mansions US$10-$25
• Scenic and historic walks US$FREE
• Horse and buggy ride US$25
• Ryman Auditorium tour US$13
• National Civil Rights Museum US$13
• Gibson guitar factory tour US$10
• Cotton Museum US$8-$10
• Memphis/New Orleans Streetcars US$1-$2
• Delta Blues Museum US$5-$7
• Ground Zero Blues Club US$7
• Elvis Birthplace Museum US$12
• Local church service: US$Free/donations
• Preservation Hall US$15
• Scandalous Cocktail history tour US$25
• Mardi Gras World tour US$20

Why not arrange your own Grand American Adventures departure? For groups of 8 or more, we can offer private departures on any of our published itineraries enabling friends, families or organizations to enjoy our style of travel at special rates. Although tours will run as per our standard itinerary shown here, slight modifications may be considered and dates can be chosen to suit your needs. (Subject to seasonal/operational restrictions). So contact us today and start planning your own adventure.

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Trip Itinerary

Our routes have been carefully chosen to include the best night stops and highlights. However, as local and operational conditions may vary and unforeseen circumstances can arise, the following itinerary should be used as a guideline.

As this tour departs at 0730 we recommend that you book pre-tour accommodation. Please request hotel details at the time of booking.

Day 1: Atlanta to Nashville

Heading out of Atlanta we take the road towards Nashville. We stop at Lynchburg and pay homage to Tennessee's most famous drop by enjoying a tour of the Jack Daniel's Whiskey Distillery for a serving of southern hospitality before making our way to Nashville - the undisputed capital of country music and home to the famous Wildhorse Saloon where you can try line dancing, and Country Music Hall of Fame.
Accommodation: Hotel included | Meals paid locally

Day 2: Nashville

As well as its indelible country music links, Nashville is also the capital of Tennessee and the state's second largest city after Memphis. Situated on the banks of the Cumberland River it was established as a major river port by settlers in 1779. Our time in Nashville is free for us to enjoy indulging in our choice of some of the many music and entertainment options on offer.

There are varying entrance fees for the various sites and shows that you may wish to visit or attend. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum offers a great introduction into the history and roots of country music. The Grand Ole Opry is the world's longest running radio show. You can enjoy performances at the famous Grand Ole Opry House located 14 kilometres (9 miles) east of the city however, you should book these before arriving to avoid missing out.
Accommodation: Hotel included | Meals paid locally (breakfast included)

Day 3-4: Memphis

Located near the Mississippi River, Memphis has a long and colourful past. Legendary forefathers such as Louis Armstrong, Muddy Waters and B.B. King helped to put Beale Street on the musical map. Located in an area that was traditionally the hub of the Black community, it is a place where we can enjoy street music as well as checking out some blues music in the blues bars in the evening.

A highlight of our stay in Memphis is an included excursion to 'Graceland', the home of Elvis Presley and influence on country, blues and rock & roll music as well as the second-most visited private home in the USA after the White House! We also have the chance to visit Sun Studio which opened in 1950 and a place where many great names have passed through. Outside of music, you may also like to pay a visit to the National Civil Rights Museum located in the former Lorraine Hotel, where Martin Luther King was assassinated.
Accommodation: Hotel included | Meals paid locally (Breakfast included)

Day 5: Clarksdale

In the morning you can visit the Cotton Museum in Memphis and then it's on to the Robert Johnson's legendary Crossroads at the junction of Highway 49 and the fabled Highway 61 in Clarksdale. Many say this city is the very birthplace of the blues boasting the likes of Sam Cook, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker and Son House. Admire the cotton fields of Mississippi which pave your way en route to Clarksdale with the chance to stop at one en route to visit. Within the city you'll find the Delta Blues Museum, a literal blues shrine of artefacts and memorabilia and actor Morgan Freeman's Ground Zero Blues Club.
Accommodation: Hotel included | Meals paid locally (Breakfast included)

Day 6: Natchez

We drive to Tupelo in the State of Mississippi where on the 8th January 1935 a certain Elvis Presley was born. You can experience the first part of Elvis' incredible story by visiting his birthplace home and the hardware store where he bought his first guitar. Follow the river road south to the very first established settlement on the Mississippi River. The original capital of the Mississippi Territory, Natchez, was at the heart of the slave trade and birthplace of the Mississippi Riverboat. Why not go for a self-guided tour through the streets of Natchez' historic district with over 50 antebellum homes and historic churches, check out the "Under the Hill" area made famous by Mark Twain or explore one of the most interesting cemeteries in the South. There may be time today to visit a local community's church to experience Gospel music.
Accommodation: Hotel included | Meals paid locally (Breakfast included)

Day 7: Lafayette

Travel deep into the Mississippi Delta in Louisiana to the city of Lafayette, where live Cajun and Zydeco music fills the air. Visit a local restaurant later and hear some live music to get the blood pumping.
Accommodation: Hotel included | Meals paid locally (Breakfast included)

Day 8-10: New Orleans

Our next stop is that major metropolis of the Deep South - New Orleans, otherwise known as 'the Big Easy'. An eclectic mix of European, Creole and Cajun culture manifests in every aspect of the architecture, cuisine and musical scene. Take in the sights and sounds of Bourbon Street, relax in the Garden District and absorb the ambience of the French Quarter, known also as just 'the Quarter'. Founded by French traders in 1718, there are many layers of history in this city and all its many attractions combine makes it one of the most visited cities in USA - a trend that was only momentarily halted by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. You may opt to enjoy the sights of a Louisiana swamp tour.

We step back in time to when life was slow and graceful and enjoy an included Mississippi riverboat dinner cruise, dining on the famous and delicious local cuisine buffet that is directly influenced by the myriad of cultures that together make up Louisiana. Our evenings in New Orleans will be easily spent as there is much to do, not least of all continuing our indulgence and appreciation of American music by enjoying some of the many live performances that take place nightly in this vibrant city. This includes the famous Preservation Hall where top-drawer jazz musicians play every evening to a small and intimate audience - be prepared to queue!
Accommodation: Hotel included | Breakfast and dinner included (riverboat dinner cruise)

Day 11: Birmingham

We continue east into Alabama and on to the state's largest city - Birmingham. This city was the primary site of the Civil Rights Movement and is where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. began his campaign of civil disobedience. Today it is home to the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and Museum next to Kelly Ingram Park, which documents the civil rights movement and its struggles during the 1950s and 1960s. We visit this museum and reflect on the events of the not so distant past when the world we live in seems a different place to what it is today.
Accommodation: Hotel included | Meals paid locally (Breakfast included)

Day 12: Birmingham to Atlanta

The journey through the musical history of the Deep South ends in the modern day metropolis of Atlanta, known as the New York of the South.
Meals: Breakfast included

This tour ends at our gateway hotel at approximately 17:00 hrs. We can book you post-tour accommodation at our gateway hotel if required. If you are planning to fly tonight, please do not book a flight that departs before 21:00 hrs.

• You only need to pay a 10% deposit or (whichever is greatest)
• Full payment is due 8 weeks before the tour departure
• We are fully financially bonded so your money is 100% safe at all times
• If you prefer to book by telephone please contact our UK sales office
• Prices below are land only. Call us on 0844 576 1370 for a flight inclusive quote

There are no forced supplements for single travellers. Accommodation is based on twin-share, so if you're travelling on your own, you'll share with a fellow passenger of the same sex. However, if you would prefer your own space our Solo Sleeper Option can be requested from per person. This will guarantee you your own room for every night of the tour. The number of single rooms we can offer is limited, so it's best to book early. Simply select the "Solo Sleepers" check box on the booking form or request over the phone.

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