Musical South: A Road Trip in the United States

Day 1: NASHVILLE
Arrival in Nashville and pick-up of the automatic car at the rental office. Drive to the hotel and accommodation for 3 nights.

Nashville, Tennessee, is a city that harmoniously combines southern culture and modernity. Known as the “Music City”, Nashville is the epicenter of the country music industry, where countless famous artists took their first steps in their careers. In addition, it is possible to enjoy a diverse dining scene, explore the elegant Germantown neighborhood, and take advantage of the warm atmosphere and characteristic hospitality of the South.


Day 2: NASHVILLE
Self-presentation at the Nashville Visitor Center, located on Lower Broadway.

Meeting with a guide for a private walking tour, lasting approximately 3 hours in the center of the “Music City”. It includes a visit to the Walk of Fame, the Country Music Museum and Fame Gallery, and the famous Ryman Auditorium, a world-renowned concert hall. It was the former home of the Grand Ole Opry and is considered the “Mother Church” of Nashville.

Return to the hotel on your own.


Day 3: Nashville Free
day for independent activities.

In the evening, an opportunity to experience first-hand the legacy and tradition of the Grand Ole Opry, the legendary Nashville concert venue, with access to an exclusive pre-show. It includes unlimited drinks and appetizers made by the chef, in a restricted space for guests.

Then watch the world's oldest radio show, known as the “Show that made country music famous.”

Return to the hotel on your own.

Suggested optional activities (not included):

• Visit to the Johnny Cash Museum;
• Visit to the Opry Mills complex;
• Visit to the Parthenon, located in Centennial Park;
• Visit the Jack Daniel's factory.

Day 4: NASHVILLE - MEMPHIS
Check-out at the hotel and drive for about 3 hours (343 km) to Memphis. Arrival and accommodation for 2 nights.

Memphis is famous for its rich musical heritage, being the birthplace of the blues and a milestone in rock 'n' roll history. It is known for its distinctly Southern cuisine, highlighted by its barbecue. The city is home to the famous Beale Street and the iconic Graceland museum.

In the afternoon, take about 3 to 4 hours to Graceland to see the property that once belonged to Elvis Presley. Visit Elvis Presley's home, the Presley Motors Automobile Museum, the Career Museum, and the Discovery Exhibits.

At the end of the tour, possibility to sign the famous Graceland wall. Return to the hotel on your own.


DAY 5: MEMPHIS In
the morning, meet your guide for a private 4-hour tour to learn about the Memphis civil rights movement.

Visit the National Civil Rights Museum, located at the Lorraine Motel, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was murdered, and the Withers Collection Museum and Gallery, with photographs that document more than 60 years of African-American history in the segregated South.

Then, a panoramic tour of the city to discover various places related to important moments in history.

Free time for lunch (not included).

In the afternoon, visit the Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum. A museum dedicated to the history of how slaves were transported to freedom through a series of “safe harbours”, dark and damp structures, and hidden passages modeled after real locations where slaves would have hidden themselves on their journey to the north. Return to the hotel on your own.


DAY 6: MEMPHIS - NATCHEZ
Check-out at the hotel and drive, for about 5 hours (490 km), to Natchez. Arrival and accommodation for 1 night.

Natchez, located on the iconic Mississippi River, is one of the hidden gems of the southeastern U.S. Known for its well-preserved antebellum architecture and its annual looting festival, the “Natchez Pilgrimage,” which celebrates the region's cultural heritage.

Free afternoon to explore the hotel's gardens, which were designed by Bill Garbo, a renowned Mississippi horticulturist who specializes in garden designs in the antebellum period.

Optional activity suggestion (not included):

• In the evening, enjoy dinner at Restaurant 1818, where you can sample traditional Southern cuisine. Located in what used to be the Men's and Women's Hall of the Main House. These two halls are decorated with authentic period crystal chandeliers.

DAY 7: NATCHEZ - NEW ORLEANS
Check-out at the hotel. Drive about 3 hours (343 km) to New Orleans. Arrival and accommodation for 3 nights.

New Orleans is a unique city. With a diverse cultural influence, which combines French, Spanish, African and American elements, it offers a rich gastronomic experience, highlighting dishes such as gumbo, jambalaya and beignets. The city is famous for its live music, especially jazz.


DAY 8: NEW ORLEANS Free
morning for independent activities.

In the afternoon, meeting with the guide for a private gastronomic tour of the city. Visit 4 to 5 restaurants, accompanied by the guide, each offering different specialties, the possibility of tasting popular dishes, such as grilled oysters, lobster pie, crayfish with shell, blue crab and much more.

During the city walk, the guide will explain the history and gastronomic culture of New Orleans.

Suggested optional activities (not included):

• French Quarter tour;
• Visit to Preservation Hall;
• French Market tour.

DAY 9: NEW ORLEANS - WHITNEY PLANTATION - NEW ORLEANS Free
morning for independent activities.

In the afternoon, drive on your own to Whitney Plantation for about an hour's tour of the plantation, to explore the exhibits, and the history and legacy of slavery in the United States.

At the end of the tour, return on your own to New Orleans and the rest of the evening free for independent activities.


DAY 10: NEW ORLEANS
Check-out at the hotel. Driving to the airport and returning the rental car.