America’s Music Cities Holiday-New Orleans, Memphis & Nashville
America’s Music Cities
America’s Music Cities Holiday featuring
New Orleans, Memphis & Nashville
8 Days
Contact Transair International Travel for a special offer.
Departure Dates: 01 December & 10 December 2017
Take in the sights and sounds of the holidays in America’s most famed musical cities.
Visit New Orleans, Memphis and Nashville as you revel in the sounds of the blues, jazz, country and good old rock ‘n’ roll.
Experience America’s most singular city in New Orleans, home to the French Quarter where the world’s great jazz musicians reside.
Have your choice on tour – either stroll through New Orleans’ famous French Quarter on a walking tour with a local expert or set out on a panoramic motorcoach tour for a different perspective of the city.
Spend one night in Memphis, “birthplace of the blues,” and tour Elvis Presley’s Graceland decked out for the holidays.
Spend three nights at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and marvel at the more than 2 million holiday lights along with acres of stunning décor.
Discover the historic Belle Meade plantation decorated for the holidays and indulge in warm wassail and homemade sweets. Sample Tennessee whisky at a local distillery with a rich history.
Enjoy reserved seats at the Ryman Auditorium, home of the original Grand Ole Opry show.
Tour historic RCA Studio B and see where country legends recorded hit songs.
A visit to the Country Music Hall of Fame is sure to have you humming long after you return home.
Experience a magical holiday dinner and show at the Opryland Resort.
Delight in a choice of a horse-drawn carriage ride or a Grand Ole Opry Resort’s Delta River cruise and marvel at all the holiday lights and décor.
Southern Mansion New Orleans
Christmas-Decorations-Gaylords-Nashville
Grand Ol Opre Nashville
Horse and Carriage
Your tour – at a glance
Tour Map
· Experience the Gaylord Opryland Resort’s magical holiday displays with over 2 million lights and unique Music City inspired décor.
· Embark on a one-of-a-kind tour of Memphis where local musicians share the story of the city’s musical heritage and history.
· Enjoy reserved seats at the Grand Ole Opry, the “home of American music.”
· Tour the historic RCA Studio B for an up-close look at Nashville’s oldest remaining recording studio.
· Choose between a horse-drawn carriage ride or river cruise.
Must-See’s
· Visit Graceland, the palatial home of Elvis Presley.
· Explore the Country Music Hall of Fame, the largest museum of popular music in the world.
· Visit the historic Ryman Auditorium.
· Experience Louisiana’s swamp on a narrated cruise.
Culinary
· Discover how to cook New Orleans-style during a unique cooking demonstration at the New Orleans School of Cooking.
· Stop to taste a true New Orleans favourite — beignets at Café Du Monde.
· Visit Belle Meade Plantation and indulge in a wine tasting along with warm wassail and homemade sweets.
· Celebrate the holidays with a spectacular dinner and show at the Gaylord Opryland Resort.
Your Itinerary
Please note: Tour inclusions and available options may vary based on departure date. Please contact Transair International Travel for further details.
Day 1
New Orleans, Louisiana – Tour Begins
Step back in time on a holiday getaway that opens in the “Jazz Capital of the World” – New Orleans! This soulful city that is alive with holiday spirit reveals its rich history, mouthwatering Cajun and Creole cuisine, and an incomparable soundtrack.
o Hotel: Sheraton New Orleans
Day 2
Choose French Quarter Walking Tour or Motorcoach Tour of New Orleans
Today the choice is yours. Perhaps you’ll choose a walking tour of New Orleans’ famous French Quarter where you’ll see the majestic St. Louis Cathedral, one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks.
Continue to the bustling French Marketplace where you’ll explore Pirates Alley, the Cabildo, the Presbytere and the Pontalba; stop to taste a true New Orleans favourite – beignets at Café Du Monde. Or maybe you’d prefer to set out on a panoramic motorcoach tour of New Orleans with a local guide; begin along historic Esplanade Avenue; see St. Louis Cemetery #3 which opened in 1854 and holds some of the most elaborate crypts found in the city’s cemeteries; then, relax during a drive along the shoreline of Lake Pontchartrain.
This romantic road eventually leads to St. Charles Avenue, whisking you past gorgeous mansions as well as Tulane and Loyola, two world-famous universities.
Tonight, roll up your sleeves and prepare to discover how to cook New Orleans-style! During a unique cooking demonstration at the New Orleans School of Cooking, your chef will indulge you in everything that Louisiana cuisine has to offer.
Following dinner, enjoy a jazz revue at a local French Quarter jazz club.
o Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
o Hotel: Sheraton New Orleans
Day 3
New Orleans
Journey through Louisiana’s swamp on a cruise* narrated by your captain.
Learn about the history and ecology of this fascinating ecosystem whilst keeping an eye out for wildlife including bald eagles, herons, turtles and alligators!
Return to New Orleans and spend the remainder of the afternoon at leisure to discover this great city, adorned with countless decorations and lights, your way.
o Meals: Breakfast
o Hotel: Sheraton New Orleans
Day 4
New Orleans – Memphis, Tennessee
Travel north to Memphis, the birthplace of the Blues, Rock ‘n’ Roll and Soul.
This evening enjoy delectable Southern cuisine along with some of the best live music in town. Tonight’s dinner truly captures the essence of Memphis’ music and culinary scene.
o Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
o Hotel: Sheraton Memphis Convention Centre
Day 5
Memphis – Nashville
This morning, embark on a one-of-a-kind tour of the city of Memphis.
Local musicians board the coach and tell the story of Memphis’ musical heritage and history as you view the city’s many highlights…you may even be tempted to sing along!
Then, don your blue suede shoes when you visit Graceland, the palatial home of Elvis Presley.
Behold Elvis’ 14-acre estate and his home decorated in its holiday best with impressive poinsettia displays and Presley family holiday trinkets.
You will have access to Elvis’ original business office, trophy building with exhibits depicting Elvis’ life at Graceland, racquetball building, and the Meditation Garden, where Elvis and members of his family have been laid to rest.
This afternoon, journey to the “Music Capital of the World” – Nashville – and the glorious Gaylord Opryland Resort.
This impressive property is a year-round wonderland but during the holidays it truly sparkles even brighter.
o Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
o Hotel: Gaylord Opryland Resort
Day 6
Nashville
Your day begins with a tour of WSM Radio Station where you will meet a local radio show personality.
A local guide will share the history and lore of Music City during a sightseeing tour where you will view the State Capitol, Music Row and the Parthenon – a full replica of the Athenian original!
Later, immerse yourself in the flavours of the holidays at Belle Meade Plantation and indulge in a wine tasting along with some warm holiday wassail and homemade sweets.
Then it’s on to a local historic distillery where you tour the facility and taste its famous Tennessee whiskey.
This evening, take your reserved seat at the renowned Grand Ole Opry.**
What began as a building where a local radio broadcast show aired once a week in 1925 has grown to become an entertainment complex that attracts music fans from all over the world.
o Meals: Breakfast
o Hotel: Gaylord Opryland Resort
Day 7
Nashville
Venture to the historic RCA Studio B for an up-close look at Nashville’s oldest remaining recording studio where Elvis Presley, Dolly Parton and Charlie Pride once recorded some of their classic hits.
Learn the secrets of how each artist recorded their chart-topping music in this famous studio where you may even have the opportunity to record your own hit!
Next, visit the old Ryman Auditorium.***
Later, explore the Country Music Hall of Fame, the largest museum of popular music in the world.
The museum’s vast collections of memorabilia, costumes, recordings and instruments are artfully presented in cutting-edge exhibits relaying the colourful histories of country music and its artists.
Learn about the Hatch Show Print, the original printer of the concert flyer for famous country musicians, and have the opportunity to see how they are still printed today.
This evening gather for a spectacular dinner and holiday show at the Gaylord Opryland Resort.
Then the choice is yours! You may choose to embark on a cosy horse-drawn carriage ride or perhaps you’d prefer to sit back and take in your resort’s amazing lights and décor on a relaxing river cruise.
o Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
o Hotel: Gaylord Opryland Resort
Day 8
Nashville – Tour Ends
New Orleans’ jazz and food, the sounds of Memphis and the country music of Nashville comprise a holiday journey full of experiences that will have you humming and smiling long after you return home.
o Meals: Breakfast
Things to know
Tour Activity Level
This tour requires average physical activity.
You should be in good health, able to climb stairs and walk reasonable distances, possibly over uneven ground and cobble stoned streets.
Contact Transair International Travel for a special offer.
