The
Deep South is like nowhere else in the USA. It
is a land of cotton, molasses and tobacco; antebellum
mansions and shotgun shacks; Civil War battlefields
and Civil Rights conflicts; oak trees draped in
Spanish moss and bayous brimming with crawfish;
sun-drenched beaches, virgin forests and mountains
of Appalachia.
Driving
through the Deep South could not be a more hospitable
experience. There is such a relaxed feel here.
Locals are only too pleased to help out whether
it is giving directions or serving some of those
sumptuous Southern specialties. As
you drive be sure to switch on the radio and listen
to blues, jazz, country, rock’n’roll
and soul that are synonymous with the Deep South.
Inlcuded
Features:
Atlanta
Learn
about the rich history and progress of the
refreshing beverage that was created over
110 years ago at the World of Coca-Cola
See
the home where Margaret Mitchell wrote her
Pulitzer prize-winning novel, Gone with
the Wind
Macon
Visit
the Georgia Music Hall of Fame featuring
Otis Redding, Little Richard, James Brown
& many other Georgia artists.
Montgomery
Tour
the Hank Williams Museum and then go visit
his grave.
North
Alabama
Tour
the Alabama Music Hall of Fame
Visit
the home of the "father of the blues,"
the W.C. Handy Home & Museum
Tupelo
See
the birthplace of Elvis - the King of Rock
'n' Roll
Greenwood
Tour
the B.B. King Museum & Delta Heritage
Center
Tour
the Greenwood Blues Heritage Museum and
Gallery
Clarksdale
Trace
the history of the blues in an old train depot,
now the Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale
Memphis
Tour
Elvis Presley's beloved mansion Graceland
Learn
the roots of "the Memphis Sound"
at the Rock 'n' Soul Museum
Visit
Sun Studio, the actual studio where Rock
'n' Roll was first recorded
Visit
the Stax Museum of American Soul Music
Jackson
& West Tennessee
Visit
the home of blues legend Sleepy John Estes
and the adjacent Delta Heritage Center
Remember
the "roots of Rock" at the Rockabilly
Hall of Fame
Nashville
& Middle Tennessee
Try
Country Dance lessons and two bodacious
drinks at the Wild Horse Saloon
Enjoy
live music daily and learn musical history
at the exciting Country Music Hall of Fame
in the heart of downtown Nashville
Tour
the legendary Ryman Auditorium, the 1940's
home of the Grand Ole Opry
Be
part of a radio broadcast of the Grand Ole
Opry any Friday or Saturday night
Enjoy
a tour of the world famous Jack Daniel Distillery
in the quaint town of Lynchburg
Chattanooga
Witness
Ruby Falls, a 145 foot flowing waterfall
in a cave over 1100 feet underground
Ride
the Incline Railway, the world's steepest
passenger railway, to top of Lookout Mountain
See
seven states from the famous Lover's Leap
Suggested
Itinerary
DAY
1 - Atlanta
Atlanta may be the capital of the Peach State,
but it is also the reigning capital of the Southeast.
Atlanta has more sports teams, restaurants, entertainment
venues and attractions than any other City in
the region. Surrounded by beautiful Georgia countryside,
Atlanta is home to four professional sports teams,
more than 200 entertainment and cultural attractions,
and thousands of restaurants. Atlanta mixes southern
charm and all of the excitement of a big City
for an unforgettable vacation experience.
Consider a visit to Underground Atlanta, where
six City blocks in the heart of Atlanta have been
transformed into a spirited urban marketplace
featuring 12 spectacular restaurants and over
100 specialty shops and entertainment emporiums,
as well as street-cart merchants. Located in a
three-story pavilion adjacent to Underground
Atlanta, the World of Coca-Cola encompasses the
rich history and progress of the refreshing beverage
that was created in Atlanta over 110 years ago.
While Coca-Cola was first served at a small pharmacy
soda fountain, this soft drink can now be purchased
in over 200 countries around the world. In fact,
it is now served over 850 million times a day!
Visitors move at their own pace through an easy-to-follow
series of fun and fascinating exhibit galleries.
Overnight
Atlanta
DAY
2 - Atlanta to Macon (84 miles / 135 kilometers)
This morning before leaving Atlanta you must visit
the Margaret Mitchell House and Museum. Tour the
home that is on the National Register of Historic
Sites and see where Margaret Mitchell wrote her
Pulitzer prize-winning novel, Gone with the Wind.
Discover how this champion of human rights came
to write the world's most popular book that still
sells a copy once every 2 1/2 minutes! Overnight
Macon
DAY
3 - Macon to Montgomery (186 miles/ 298 kilometers)
Before
leaving Macon tour the Georgia Music Hall of Fame.
From Macon came three musical legends - Little
Richard, Otis Redding and James Brown -
and there’s still much evidence locally
of the town’s most successful rock export,
the Allman Brothers. Delve into the roots of these
and other famous Georgia musicians at Macon’s
Georgia Music Hall of Fame, which features memorabilia,
costumes, instruments and videos. Overnight
Mongtomery
DAY
4 - Montgomery to Florence (165 miles / 265 kilometers)
The legendary Hank Williams is an American music
icon and was country music's first superstar,
selling ten million records from 1947 to 1953.
Montgomery is the center of the Hank Williams
Trail in Alabama. Hank became a well-known performer
while living in Montgomery. It is also Montgomery
where his final resting spot is located a mile
from the Hank Williams Museum, which houses Hank
artifacts including his powder-blue Cadillac he
was riding in when he died.
Visit
The Shoals, the four musical quad cities in northwest
Alabama of Florence, Tuscumbia,
Sheffield and Muscle Shoals. The Alabama Music
Hall of Fame, located in Tuscumbia, showcases
the state's musical heritage. The annual W. C.
Handy Music Festival is enjoyed by tens of thousands
at various venues in the Muscle Shoals area the
last week of July. The many Shoals area music
studios figure prominently in the history of rock
‘n roll and R&B through the 1960s and
1970s. FAME, located in Muscle Shoals, and the
original Muscle Shoals Sound, located in Sheffield,
are studios that proved to be fertile ground for
international superstars like Aretha Franklin
and the Rolling Stones. Overnight Florence
(The Shoals)
Day
5 - Florence to Tupelo (88 miles / 142 kilometers) This
morning tour the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in
Tuscumbia. Whether you like Rock, Rhythm 'n' Blues,
Gospel, Soul, Country, Opera, Classical or Contemporary
music, the Alabama Music Hall of Fame
is full of surprises for you! See the many talented
Alabamians who have influenced the course of music
history. You will learn about the history of the
legendary Muscle Shoals music as you listen to
the legendary "Muscle Shoals Sound".
See the life-size monochrome statues of the guys
from Ft. Payne, Alabama, and board the group's
tour bus and imagine how life was on the road.
Hank Williams, Lionel Richie and Nat "King"
Cole are just a few of the many superstars you
can see when you visit the Hall of Fame. W.C.
Handy, "Father of the Blues" is only
one of the many Rhythm and Blues artists you can
see at the Hall of Fame. "It Starts With
a Song", is a showcase honoring the many
hit songwriters from Alabama. Tammy Wynette rose
from her roots in Alabama to became "The
First Lady of Country Music." See native
Alabamian, Sam Phillips' Sun Records exhibit,
which includes the original RCA recording contract
of Elvis Presley. You can even record your own
hit song in the recording studio.
When you arrive Tupelo tour Elvis Presley's birthplace.
This modest two-room house, where the King of
Rock 'n' Roll was born on January 8th, 1935, has
been restored and is part of the Elvis Presley
Center that also includes the Elvis Presley Museum,
Memorial Chapel and Elvis Presley Park. The museum
is one of the most unique private collections
of Elvis memorabilia in the world. Make time for
the Tupelo Hardware Store, a timeless gem where
Gladys Presley bought Elvis his first guitar.
Elvis wanted a gun but they compromised on the
guitar. And music has never been the same since!
Overnight Tupelo.
DAY
6 - Tupelo to Greenwood (160 miles / 258 kilometers) Depart Tupelo and travel along the scenic
Natchez Trace Parkway, which stretches from the
Mississippi River in Natchez through the Shoals
area in Alabama and across the Tennessee Valley
to Nashville, the Old Trace was first trod by
buffalo, then American Indians. Today, this National
Scenic Byway and All-American Road has emerged
as one of America's most important examples of
our nation's natural and cultural heritage. Administered
by the National Park Service, the road's non-commercial
environment coupled with a wide variety of historic
sites, wayside exhibits and beautiful venues make
it a memorable destination for an unhurried trip
that both reveals and explains a unique time in
our country's history.
In
historic downtown visit The Greenwood Blues Heritage
Museum and Gallery that houses an important collection
of Blues memorabilia. The museum's focus is on
Robert Johnson, who allegedly
sold his soul to the devil for the ability to
play the guitar like no other. Or make time for
a cooking class at the Viking Cookery School and
learn how to prepare traditional Southern dishes
and delicacies. Also take time to visit a great
little museum, Cottonlandia Museum, which also
houses an eclectic collection of items that weave
a fascinating history of the area’s past.
Be sure to have dinner at the famous Lusco’s
- a local institution for more than fifty
years. Overnight Greenwood.
Day
7 - Greenwood to Clarksdale (57 miles / 92 kilometers) This
morning drive east to Indianola for the new B.B.
King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center, which
was built to honor the life and music of one of
the most accomplished musicians of our time. The
museum’s exhibits and educational programs
serve to build bridges between the community and
the world while preserving the rich cultural and
musical heritage of the Mississippi Delta. The
life of B.B. King provides the backdrop for the
Museum to share the rich cultural heritage of
the Mississippi Delta. Through an authentic presentation
of music, art, artifacts and video, along with
our educational programming, the Museum honors
its namesake as an internationally renowned and
influential musician and celebrates Delta blues
music heritage and the local culture.
Continue
on to Clarksdale. From the 30's on through the
50's Clarksdale was a major blues town. John Lee
Hooker, Ike Turner, Little Junior Parker and Sam
Cooke were born here. Robert Nighthawk, Bukka
White, "Gatemouth" Moore, Eddie Boyd,
Son House, and Charley Patton all once lived in
the area. Clarksdale became the center of the
blues world by virtue of its location smack in
the middle of the Delta and Delta blues still
come from this source. Overnight Clarksdale.
DAY
8 - Clarksdale to Memphis (125 miles / 201 kilometers)
Before you leave Clarksdale, visit the Delta Blues
Museum. Here you will enjoy unique displays, videotape
and slide/sound programs, photographs, recordings,
books and numerous other sources of information
about the blues. Nearby on Delta Avenue is the
Sunflower River Trading Company store with many
unusual items for sale. Stop for lunch or evening
drinks at Ground Zero Blues Club, an authentically
reproduced blues "juke joint" owned
by the famous actor, Morgan Freeman. Stop in Stackhouse
Records, a record shop and recording studio for
Rooster Blues Records. Visit "The Crossroads",
the intersection of Highways 61 and 49, where
legend has it that the most famous bluesman of
all, Robert Johnson, made his pact with the devil.
Bluesmen who knew Johnson were all astounded at
how quickly he learned the guitar, and Johnson
himself often claimed his extraordinary prowess
as a gift from the devil.
Arrive
in Memphis: the "Home of the Blues and and
the Birthplace of the Rock 'n' Roll." After
settling in your hotel, "hoof it" around
historic downtown Memphis. Be sure to sample some
of Memphis' most famous food... barbecued pork!
Beale Street and the banks of the Mississippi
River are both must-see spots. Boogie on Beale
Street, where the Blues were born. With its rich
musical heritage, Beale Street is a cool place
for hot entertainment and live music clubs. Unusual
and interesting shops like the ancient A. Schwab's
await you on Beale. Walk Beale Street west to
Tom Lee Park and the banks of the Mississippi,
where you can stroll, gawk at the Riverboats and
barges, and view an awesome sunset. Overnight
Memphis.
DAY
9 - Memphis
First, stride over to Memphis' new Gibson Guitar
factory and there you'll find the Smithsonian's
Rock 'n' Soul Museum. In the quest to identify
the roots of American music, all roads lead to
Memphis, "the holy ground of American music".
Learn why Memphis was the epicenter of Rock n
Roll, Blues and Soul music. The sounds came from
the fields, alleys, juke joints and choir lofts
and collided in Memphis. Here something new was
created, a kind of musical magic that would eventually
transform the hearts, attitudes and ways of the
world.
Next go to Graceland and tour Elvis' beloved Mansion.
Imagine being in the same place where the most
famous musician in
the world hung his hat and made music that mesmerized
the world. In addition to Elvis' home, the mansion
tour includes the Hall of Gold, Elvis' private
office, the Meditation Gardens and the famous
Racquetball Court with its wall of gold and platinum
records and the monument given by RCA Records
proclaiming Elvis as the greatest entertainer
and recording artist of all times. After the mansion,
tour the remaining Graceland attractions at your
own pace. These include: The Elvis Presley Car
Museum, Elvis' Airplanes - The Lisa Marie and
the Hound Dog II, and the Sincerely Elvis Museum
filled with personal items and memorabilia. Of
course, gift shops abound, overflowing with Elvis
souvenirs, cassettes, videos and special keepsakes.
Next
you'll visit legendary Sun Studio, the actual
recording studio and "SPOT" where Rock
'n' Roll was born! You will be able to listen
to recordings of "the Greats" such as
Elvis, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis
and Johnny Cash as they "sit-in" on
a recording session. These were the sounds that
changed American music forever! Overnight
Memphis.
DAY
10 - Memphis to Nut Bush to Brownsville to Nashville
(225 miles / 362 kilometers)
Depart Memphis and drive north through Henning.
Stop and tour the home of Alex Haley, the world-renowned
author of Roots. Motor on through Nutbush, the
birthplace of entertainer Tina Turner, to Brownsville,
Tennessee. Here you may want to stop at the home
of blues singer, Sleepy John Estes, and the adjacent
Delta Heritage Center. Down the road in Jackson,
Tennessee is a great lunch spot: Suede's, operated
by the family of singer Carl Perkins. Tour the
Rockabilly Hall of Fame in Jackson and visit the
Casey Jones Village and the Old Country Store.
After lunch zip down the Tennessee Music Highway
(Interstate 40) toward Nashville. If you've got
the time, mosey over to country star Loretta Lynn's
Ranch before arriving in Nashville, "Music
City USA." After settling in at your hotel
quickstep over to the Wildhorse Saloon. Practice
yelling "Yee HA!" as you chug two not-so-tame
drinks and learn how to "cut a rug"
(do some real country dancin'). Overnight
Nashville.
DAY
11 - Nashville
Located on the west bank of the Cumberland River
just a few steps from
the historic Ryman Auditorium and the authentic
honky-tonks of Lower Broadway is the fabulous
Country Music Hall of Fame. Through the displays
of stage costumes, musical instruments, artworks,
films and photographs, the history of country
music vividly unfolds in this sparkling, new downtown
facility. In a soundproof 75-seat Songwriter's
Theater, songwriters regularly entertain and enlighten
museum guests with in-the-round guitar pulls and
song swaps, a uniquely Nashville tradition. In
this area also, professional "pickers"
will be available to introduce the instruments
typically used on country recordings. The Country
Music Hall of Fame is a shrine inspired by, and
a tribute to the many country music stars that
have gone before and the many yet to come.
Next you'll tour the Ryman Auditorium mother church
of country music and 1940's home of the Grand
Ole Opry. Like to shop? Then you must browse Opry
Mills for Shoppertainment at its finest. Opry
Mills combines outlet, discount and specialty
retailers, themed restaurants and fun-filled entertainment
venues in an energetic and exciting environment
with more than 200 places to shop, eat and play
including Bass Pro Shop's
Outdoor World.
Lucky
you to be in Nashville on a Friday or Saturday
night! Don't miss the Grand Ole Opry, the world's
longest running live radio show. Enjoy superstars,
"Hall of Famers," legends and hot new
stars performing live at this spectacular 4,400-seat
broadcast studio. Overnight Nashville.
DAY
12 - Nashville to Chattanooga (135 miles / 217
kilometers)
Drive south out of Nashville to the quaint little
historic town of Lynchburg, where you will tour
the Jack Daniel Distillery, the oldest registered
distillery in the U.S. While visiting the Jack
Daniel Distillery, you will be taken on a personally
guided tour through each step used in making Jack
Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey since 1866. Leave time
to visit the Lynchburg Square, which is the social
center of the area. It is a place to take care
of business, shop or sit all day sharing fishing
stories while whittling on a red cedar stick.
The whittlers can be found down on the square
most any day. They will be more than glad to share
a bench with any traveler. You may also want to
call ahead and make a reservation for lunch at
Miss Mary Bobo's Boarding House (phone 931-759-7394)
located just off the town square underneath the
outstretched branches of an old maple. Since 1908
this simple white Federal-style house has served
as home to traditional Tennessee cooking and a
gracious taste of Southern hospitality. You are
seated at a large table with other guests and
served family style.
Chattanooga is a vacation destination with family-friendly
appeal and a variety of unique attractions
that are conveniently located in close proximity
to each other. Lookout Mountain's Rock City Gardens,
Ruby Falls, the Incline Railway the Tennessee
Aquarium, the Creative Discovery Museum, and the
Chattanooga Choo Choo are just a few of the many
attractions that cannot be found anywhere else
in the world.
Your
tour in Chattanooga begins with Ruby Falls, a
145 foot flowing waterfall located in a cave over
1100 feet down in Lookout Mountain. Next enjoy
the Incline Railway, which is the world's steepest
passenger railway and also known as "America's
Most Amazing Mile." After this, visit Rock
City Gardens, a 14-acre natural and scenic attraction
with unique rock formation and gardens. Finally,
climb to the top of Lookout Mountain and "See
Seven States" from the famous Lover's Leap.
Overnight Chattanooga.
DAY
13 - Chattanooga to Atlanta (120 miles, 193 kilometers)
Depart for Home
Atlanta, the World of Coca-Cola encompasses the
rich history and progress of the refreshing beverage
that was created in Atlanta over 110 years ago.
While Coca-Cola was first served at a small pharmacy
soda fountain, this soft drink can now be purchased
in over 200 countries around the world. In fact,
it is now served over 850 million times a day!
Visitors move at their own pace through an easy-to-follow
series of fun and fascinating exhibit galleries.
Overnight
Atlanta
Tuscumbia,
Sheffield and Muscle Shoals. The Alabama Music
Hall of Fame, located in Tuscumbia, showcases
the state's musical heritage. The annual W. C.
Handy Music Festival is enjoyed by tens of thousands
at various venues in the Muscle Shoals area the
last week of July. The many Shoals area music
studios figure prominently in the history of rock
‘n roll and R&B through the 1960s and
1970s. FAME, located in Muscle Shoals, and the
original Muscle Shoals Sound, located in Sheffield,
are studios that proved to be fertile ground for
international superstars like Aretha Franklin
and the Rolling Stones. Overnight Florence
(The Shoals)
Fame
is full of surprises for you! See the many talented
Alabamians who have influenced the course of music
history. You will learn about the history of the
legendary Muscle Shoals music as you listen to
the legendary "Muscle Shoals Sound".
See the life-size monochrome statues of the guys
from Ft. Payne, Alabama, and board the group's
tour bus and imagine how life was on the road.
Hank Williams, Lionel Richie and Nat "King"
Cole are just a few of the many superstars you
can see when you visit the Hall of Fame. W.C.
Handy, "Father of the Blues" is only
one of the many Rhythm and Blues artists you can
see at the Hall of Fame. "It Starts With
a Song", is a showcase honoring the many
hit songwriters from Alabama. Tammy Wynette rose
from her roots in Alabama to became "The
First Lady of Country Music." See native
Alabamian, Sam Phillips' Sun Records exhibit,
which includes the original RCA recording contract
of Elvis Presley. You can even record your own
hit song in the recording studio.
When you arrive Tupelo tour Elvis Presley's birthplace.
This modest two-room house, where the King of
Rock 'n' Roll was born on January 8th, 1935, has
been restored and is part of the Elvis Presley
Center that also includes the Elvis Presley Museum,
Memorial Chapel and Elvis Presley Park. The museum
is one of the most unique private collections
of Elvis memorabilia in the world. Make time for
the Tupelo Hardware Store, a timeless gem where
Gladys Presley bought Elvis his first guitar.
Elvis wanted a gun but they compromised on the
guitar. And music has never been the same since!
Overnight Tupelo.
allegedly
sold his soul to the devil for the ability to
play the guitar like no other. Or make time for
a cooking class at the Viking Cookery School and
learn how to prepare traditional Southern dishes
and delicacies. Also take time to visit a great
little museum, Cottonlandia Museum, which also
houses an eclectic collection of items that weave
a fascinating history of the area’s past.
Be sure to have dinner at the famous Lusco’s
- a local institution for more than fifty
years. Overnight Greenwood.
n
the world hung his hat and made music that mesmerized
the world. In addition to Elvis' home, the mansion
tour includes the Hall of Gold, Elvis' private
office, the Meditation Gardens and the famous
Racquetball Court with its wall of gold and platinum
records and the monument given by RCA Records
proclaiming Elvis as the greatest entertainer
and recording artist of all times. After the mansion,
tour the remaining Graceland attractions at your
own pace. These include: The Elvis Presley Car
Museum, Elvis' Airplanes - The Lisa Marie and
the Hound Dog II, and the Sincerely Elvis Museum
filled with personal items and memorabilia. Of
course, gift shops abound, overflowing with Elvis
souvenirs, cassettes, videos and special keepsakes.
home
of blues singer, Sleepy John Estes, and the adjacent
Delta Heritage Center. Down the road in Jackson,
Tennessee is a great lunch spot: Suede's, operated
by the family of singer Carl Perkins. Tour the
Rockabilly Hall of Fame in Jackson and visit the
Casey Jones Village and the Old Country Store.
After lunch zip down the Tennessee Music Highway
(Interstate 40) toward Nashville. If you've got
the time, mosey over to country star Loretta Lynn's
Ranch before arriving in Nashville, "Music
City USA." After settling in at your hotel
quickstep over to the Wildhorse Saloon. Practice
yelling "Yee HA!" as you chug two not-so-tame
drinks and learn how to "cut a rug"
(do some real country dancin'). Overnight
Nashville.
from
the historic Ryman Auditorium and the authentic
honky-tonks of Lower Broadway is the fabulous
Country Music Hall of Fame. Through the displays
of stage costumes, musical instruments, artworks,
films and photographs, the history of country
music vividly unfolds in this sparkling, new downtown
facility. In a soundproof 75-seat Songwriter's
Theater, songwriters regularly entertain and enlighten
museum guests with in-the-round guitar pulls and
song swaps, a uniquely Nashville tradition. In
this area also, professional "pickers"
will be available to introduce the instruments
typically used on country recordings. The Country
Music Hall of Fame is a shrine inspired by, and
a tribute to the many country music stars that
have gone before and the many yet to come.
Shop's
Outdoor World.
Jack
Daniel Distillery, you will be taken on a personally
guided tour through each step used in making Jack
Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey since 1866. Leave time
to visit the Lynchburg Square, which is the social
center of the area. It is a place to take care
of business, shop or sit all day sharing fishing
stories while whittling on a red cedar stick.
The whittlers can be found down on the square
most any day. They will be more than glad to share
a bench with any traveler. You may also want to
call ahead and make a reservation for lunch at
Miss Mary Bobo's Boarding House (phone 931-759-7394)
located just off the town square underneath the
outstretched branches of an old maple. Since 1908
this simple white Federal-style house has served
as home to traditional Tennessee cooking and a
gracious taste of Southern hospitality. You are
seated at a large table with other guests and
served family style.
attractions
that are conveniently located in close proximity
to each other. Lookout Mountain's Rock City Gardens,
Ruby Falls, the Incline Railway the Tennessee
Aquarium, the Creative Discovery Museum, and the
Chattanooga Choo Choo are just a few of the many
attractions that cannot be found anywhere else
in the world.
