9-Day Soul of the Deep South 2027

Highlights

• Nashville: Nashville is a treasure trove of country music. See where it all started, taking in a live performance at the Grand Ole Opry, the show that made country music famous. Discover how the Grand Ole Opry is dedicated to honoring country music’s rich history and dynamic present, showcasing a mix of country legends -- including Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson -- and the current chart-toppers who have followed in their footsteps. Learn how the Opry has been the home to country music’s growth and change, from the first broadcast in the National Life Building on WSM’s Barn Dance in 1925 to the move into the new Opry House in 1974 and on to host the 55th Annual ACM Awards in 2020. 
• Nashville: On a guided tour walk the hallowed halls of Historic RCA Studio B, Nashville’s oldest remaining recording studio.  It became a cradle of the Nashville Sound (country) in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Over 35,000 songs were recorded here by artists such as Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, and even more recently, Martina McBride and Carrie Underwood. 
• Nashville: The famous Nashville Sound comes alive as guests learn about the country music legends, such as Jim Reeves and Roy Orbison, at The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on a self-guided tour. The museum helps to "preserve, celebrate, and share the important cultural asset that is country music." 
• Memphis: Explore Memphis with civil rights activist Elaine Lee Turner, one of the famed Lee Sisters who led over 30 sit-ins during the 1960s. See Mason Temple, Beale Street and the Lee Sisters Marker, as Elaine shares powerful personal stories of the protests. Discover how Memphis became a flashpoint in the civil rights movement, from student-led protests to the tragic assassination of Dr King, making this city a lasting symbol of courage, resilience and change. 
• Memphis: Explore the mansion which served as the private retreat for royalty, the King of Rock 'n Roll himself, Elvis Presley.  Graceland, a National Historic Landmark, is an exciting opportunity to get to know the personal side of "The King" in his most intimate setting. Seeing Graceland Mansion’s living room, his parents’ bedroom, the kitchen, TV room, pool room, the famous Jungle Room, his father’s office, the newly enhanced Trophy Building, the Racquetball Building. See where he and his family lived their daily life. If only the walls could talk. 
• Memphis: Visit Sun Studio, also known as the “birthplace of rock and roll," where music legends, including B.B. King, Johnny Cash and Elvis recorded some of their iconic hits.
• Indianola: In his hometown of Indianola, deep in the Mississippi Delta, explore the life and legacy of B.B. King. A guided visit to the B.B. King Museum reveals the story of the “King of the Blues,” from his early days in the cotton fields to international stardom.
• Destrehan: Visit Destrehan Plantation, the oldest documented plantation home in the Lower Mississippi Valley. On a guided tour, explore the main house and a restored slave cabin while learning about the lives of both the free and enslaved who lived here.
• New Orleans: Discover what makes New Orleans—the birthplace of jazz legend Louis Armstrong—so unique with a Local Expert. Stroll through the Garden District beneath shady oak trees, where charming cottages stand alongside grand mansions and lush gardens along the Mardi Gras parade route. Then, take in the energy of Bourbon Street, lined with lively jazz clubs and authentic Cajun eateries.
• New Orleans: Discover the heart of New Orleans’ jazz scene at Fritzel’s Jazz Club, the city’s oldest continuously operating venue on the famous Bourbon Street. Jazz has been the soundtrack of the French Quarter for over a century, and here, musicians keep that tradition alive. With VIP front-row seating, enjoy a pre-dinner drink and interact with the performers as they improvise, just as early jazz pioneers once did.
• Nashville: Relax and unwind before meeting your Travel Director and fellow guests to mingle before sitting down to a Welcome Dinner with wine.
• Memphis: Dinner this evening will be served at The Beauty Shop, a former beauty parlor turned whimsical New American eatery, where Elvis’ ex-wife, Priscilla, was said to get her hair done.
• Indianola: Experience the soul of the blues over a delicious lunch at the legendary Club Ebony, a cornerstone of the South’s African-American music scene since the late 1940s. Built by Indianola entrepreneur Johnny Jones, this storied venue hosted icons like Ray Charles, Count Basie and B.B. King, who later purchased the club to preserve its legacy. A local musician will guide you through the 12-bar blues, share tales of the club’s vibrant past and help craft an original song before bringing the music to life in an intimate performance.
• New Orleans: End your day with a Celebration Dinner with your fellow travelers.
• Nashville: Visit Nelson’s Green Brier, Nashville's most historic distillery and home of the Original Tennessee Whiskey. Learn more about the process that creates this drink's unique taste.
• Nashville: Visit the National Museum of African American Music, the only museum dedicated to preserving and celebrating the many music genres created, influenced, and inspired by African Americans. For music lovers of all generations, this museum inspires, educates, and transforms the appreciation of American music all while celebrating the central role African Americans play in creating the American soundtrack. 
• Memphis: End your day with an exclusive after-hours private tour at the Stax Museum of American Soul Music. The Stax Museum of American Soul Music is the world’s only museum dedicated to preserving and promoting the legacy of Stax Records and American soul music. The museum is part of The Soulsville Foundation, which aims to help young people prepare for life success and inspire future artists. Your experience advances UN Global Goal 4: Quality Education.
• New Orleans: Enjoy an exclusive behind the scenes tour of Mardi Gras World, where the magic happens and the extravagant, vibrant floats are built each year. One of the Mardi Gras World certified artists will lead you through designing your very own Mardi Gras mask and creating your masterpiece, premium felt backed mask with glitter, feathers and more to take back as an eclectic memento of your time in The Big Easy.
• Choose between two carefully selected activities
• Nashville: Visit Nelson’s Green Brier, Nashville's most historic distillery and home of the Original Tennessee Whiskey. Learn more about the process that creates this drink's unique taste.
• Nashville: Visit the National Museum of African American Music, the only museum dedicated to preserving and celebrating the many music genres created, influenced, and inspired by African Americans. For music lovers of all generations, this museum inspires, educates, and transforms the appreciation of American music all while celebrating the central role African Americans play in creating the American soundtrack.