Nashville & Graceland 25

Day 1

Welcome Aboard! Travel in comfort aboard our deluxe motor coach towards "The Volunteer State," Tennessee. Soon you will discover for yourself why Nashville, is fittingly called "Music City, U.S.A.". Meanwhile relax, enjoy the changing scenery, and have fun with onboard activities as we travel west. Before checking into our hotel in Knoxville, Tennessee for the night, enjoy a delicious dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 2

After breakfast we depart for Nashville, Tennessee. Upon our arrival we meet our step-on guide, and depart for a tour of Nashville. You will be amazed by Nashville's colorful history, beautiful architecture and hidden treasures that wait to be discovered in "Music City, U.S.A.". Following our tour, we will enjoy an included lunch and live country music at Blake Shelton's Ole Red Restaurant. After lunch we will visit Nashville's Broadway Historic District. Explore and experience the entertainment of Broadway's vibrant musical honky-tonks, including world famous Tootsie's Orchid Lounge, restaurants, local stores, shops, and boutiques, all conveniently located within walking distance of each other. See the street where musical legends were made and discover how the Broadway Historic District came to be known as "Honky-Tonk Highway". You will find Betty Boots and several Western Shops, plus attractions like the Johnny Cash and the Patsy Cline Museums. Later, we check into our accommodations for the next two nights at the Drury Inn & Suites, a perennial favorite of motor coach travelers! After checking into our hotel, you will have time to sit, relax and enjoy a Manager's Reception with free hot food & cold beverages for guests, including beer, wine, and mixed drinks.

Day 3

After breakfast we will get to see and walk in the footsteps where country superstars perform and amazing music is made every week for a national audience, when we are treated to a guided backstage tour of the Grand Ole Opry. Our backstage tour guide will share an insider's stories of the Opry House, it is a place in country music, the stars, and the stage that is home to the unbroken Circle. So, enjoy a peek behind the curtain of Nashville's premier country music stage, hang out backstage, view the dressing rooms, and even stand in the famous center stage circle! Following our tour, we depart for Historic RCA Studio B for an up-close look at Nashville's oldest remaining recording studio where Elvis Presley, Dolly Parton and Charley Pride recorded some of their classic hits. Learn the secrets of how each artist recorded their chart-topping music in this famous studio and hear some great classic country music. Next, we visit the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum. To provide you with the best possible tour experience we have included the official audio guide to bring history to life and tell the story of America's music. Bill Cody, WSM radio personality takes you on a tour through the different eras of country music and shares with you behind-the-scenes stories, insider tips, personal memories and more. Prior to taking our reserved seats for an evening of entertainment at the Grand Ole Opry, we have included a $15.00 dinner voucher for Mission BBQ at Opry Mills.

Day 4

After breakfast we depart for the "Home of the Blues" and the "Birthplace of Rock and Roll," Memphis, Tennessee to tour Elvis Presley's famed home, Graceland. Highlights of our Graceland tour include visiting Elvis Presley's mansion, his original business office, his trophy building, and the Meditation Garden where Elvis and members of his family have been laid to rest. We conclude our tour of Graceland by boarding Elvis' private jet, "The Lisa Marie". A $15.00 lunch voucher is included for Gladys' Diner or Vernon's Smokehouse. Before departing for our hotel accommodations in Horn Lake, Mississippi for the night, we are served a savory dinner at King's Palace Café. Located on world famous Beale Street, King's Palace Café serves appetizing Southern delicacies, such as Memphis style BBQ ribs or Cajun specialties, and for over 30 years it has been a perennial favorite of locals and visitors alike!

Day 5

After breakfast we travel back to Nashville, Tennessee to visit the Gaylord Opryland Resort. Upon our arrival enjoy lunch on your own at one of the hotel's many first-rate restaurants before we meet our Ambassador, and depart for a guided walking tour of this iconic Nashville landmark featuring majestic, climate-controlled glass atriums, surrounded by nine acres of lush indoor gardens, winding rivers and pathways, and sparkling waterfalls. Experience charming southern hospitality and marvel at the many wonders of this extraordinary hotel and the elaborate décor surrounding you. Following our tour, take a relaxed Delta River Flatboat ride on the scenic indoor river, which is included. Later we depart for our hotel accommodations in Knoxville, Tennessee. A dinner stop will be made en route to Knoxville.

Day 6

After breakfast we depart for home taking with us amazing memories of America's "Music City, U.S.A.", it's remarkable history, incredible hand-clappin', toe-tappin' contributions to the diverse American music scene, the unique thrill of Honk-Tonkin' in Nashville, plus a special musical tour to Memphis and Elvis Presley's famed home, Graceland. Today's buffet lunch is included at Michie Tavern, an authentic 1784 pub in Charlottesville, Virginia. Enjoy a delicious lunch in a rustic tavern setting served to you by servers dressed in period attire.

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D =Dinner