Discovering the American South

Known as Music City, Nashville is the home of country music where you can tour such shrines as 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 played host to numerous country music legends, from Johnny Cash to Dolly Parton.

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

Collect your hire car and drive northwest to Memphis. You may wish to take the scenic route along the historic Natchez Trace Parkway. Memphis is a city with a fascinating history, and there's a lot 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. Your country specialist will be able to make reservations for you based on your preference.

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 is 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 of the American Civil War. You may wish to take a tour of the graceful antebellum homes that stood proudly through the Siege of Vicksburg, or perhaps enjoy one of the many re-enactments at landmarks dotted throughout the town. Alternatively, visit the Union and Confederate cemeteries, which commemorate the men from both the North and the South that 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 for the night. 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 exiled French settlers, the area is famed for its culinary delights which reflect centuries of cultural history. Tonight you stay in one of the grandest of the plantation homes.

Today, you will have the chance to immerse yourself in the history of the Antebellum South, as there are a number of restored plantations around Vacherie. One of the most well-known is Oak Alley Plantation, which despite its beautiful and characteristic oak tree-lined drive, was a prominent property during the time of slavery in the American South. Visit the plantations around the River Parishes to learn more about the people enslaved there.

Set off on the final drive of your trip, heading south to New Orleans. Follow the winding Mississippi River road downstream through fascinating plantation country. Explore the many plantation homes that have become renowned antebellum landmarks. You could spend the evening exploring Frenchman Street, which is lined with intimate jazz bars where you can enjoy a drink and watch a live musical performance.

Spend the day exploring New Orleans, one of the USA's most captivating cities. A good place to start is the famous French Quarter with its Caribbean-colonial architecture. This afternoon you will watch a cookery demonstration; marvel as top chefs create Creole and Cajun dishes such as jambalaya and gumbo, as well as telling stories of New Orleans' colourful history.

Today you can visit 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 will experience a whole different side of the city.

Spend the morning at leisure before heading to the airport for your flight home.

Arrive home today to complete your journey.