Discovering the American South

Known as 'Music City', Nashville is the home of country music with many venues to explore, including the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Ryman Auditorium and RCA Studio B. This evening, you could get tickets to the Grand Ole Opry, country music's most famous show. Since its opening show in 1925, the Opry has hosted numerous country music legends, including Johnny Cash and Dolly Parton.

Today, you can wander down historic Music Row, the epicentre of Nashville's entertainment industry. Your stay in Nashville isn’t complete without a visit to one of the many honky-tonk music bars to see up-and-coming musicians perform.

This morning, collect your hire car and drive northwest to Memphis, with an opportunity to take the scenic route along the historic Natchez Trace Parkway. Memphis is a city with a fascinating history, offering a wealth of things to explore. Today you'll visit the undeniably unique Graceland, the former home of Elvis Presley.

Explore the musical highlights of the city where the Blues gave birth to Rock 'n' Roll. We recommend visits to the Rock and Soul Museum and the Stax Museum of American Soul Music. Don’t miss a visit to the famous Sun Studios, a living, breathing testament to the heart of soul music.

On your final day in Memphis, visit the National Civil Rights Museum, situated in the former Lorraine Motel that lives in infamy as the location of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. This excellent museum follows the civil rights timeline from the slave trade to the present day, and a visit here’s an incredibly moving experience.

Continuing your journey south, your drive today brings you to the historic town of Vicksburg, the site of some of the most prominent battles during the American Civil War. You may wish to take a tour of some of the historic homes that survived the Siege of Vicksburg, or perhaps enjoy one of the many re-enactments at landmarks scattered throughout the town. Alternatively, visit the Union and Confederate cemeteries, which commemorate the men from both the North and the South who fell during the war.

You'll have the majority of the day to explore Vicksburg before making your way south to the town of Vacherie. You could spend the day discovering the four Mississippi Blues Trail markers commemorating Highway 61 South, the Red Tops, and famous blues musicians Willie Dixon and Marcus Bottom. Alternatively, you could visit historic homes such as the Duff Green Mansion, which served as a hospital for Confederate and Union soldiers during the Civil War. This afternoon, journey to the heart of Cajun Country, a truly unique part of the USA. Named after the exiled French settlers, the area is renowned for its culinary delights, which reflect centuries of cultural heritage.

Today, you'll have the chance to immerse yourself in the complex history of the South, with several restored plantations scattered around Vacherie. One of the most well-known is Oak Alley Plantation, which, despite its characteristic oak tree-lined drive, was a prominent property during the time of slavery. Visit the plantations around the River Parishes to learn more about the poignant stories of people enslaved there.

Set off on the final drive of your trip, heading south to New Orleans and following the winding Mississippi River road downstream through the plantation country. After dropping off your car, you could spend the evening exploring Frenchman Street, lined with intimate jazz bars – perfect for a drink and to watch a live performance.

Spend your first full day exploring the melting pot of culture that’s New Orleans. A good place to start is the famous French Quarter with its distinguished Creole and Caribbean-inspired architecture. This afternoon, join a cookery demonstration led by an expert chef, where you can learn to prepare classic Creole and Cajun dishes, such as jambalaya and gumbo, while also discovering fascinating stories of New Orleans' layered history.

Today, you'll embark on a short journey to the wetlands for a boat tour through Louisiana's biodiverse swamps and bayous. Your local guide will explain the ecology of the swamp, its flora, and fauna as you pass by an authentic Cajun village and observe the nesting grounds of alligators, egrets, and a plethora of other wildlife. After returning to your hotel in the afternoon, you might wish to take a stroll through the Garden District, the "American" part of town built to rival European architecture in the French Quarter. From the formal Italianate houses to the haunting Lafayette Cemetery, you'll experience a whole different side of the city.

Spend your day at leisure or exploring more of New Orleans before heading to the airport for your flight home.