Music & Legends with Elvis & Dolly

Welcome to Atlanta! Your Tour Director is on hand from 3-6:00 p.m. to answer any questions.

After taking an orientation tour of Atlanta, head for Tupelo, MS, the birthplace of Elvis Presley. See the two-room house where Elvis was born on January 8, 1935, and the Tupelo Hardware Company store where his mother bought him his first guitar. Continue to Memphis with a late afternoon arrival.

This morning, take an orientation tour of Memphis, known as the “Home of the Blues” and the “Birthplace of Rock ‘n Roll” and then have free time to explore on your own. Perhaps pay a visit to the nearby National Civil Rights Museum that traces the history of the civil rights movement in the United States. Later, join an optional excursion to legendary Sun Studio, where artists like Elvis, B.B. King, and Johnny Cash got their start, followed by dinner. Then perhaps walk over to legendary Beale Street to enjoy some live music at one of the many nightclubs there.

Enjoy a trip to Graceland, the estate where Elvis lived for twenty years. Explore the beautiful mansion full of his personal mementos and legendary costumes on a guided audio tour, go aboard his personal aircraft that he traveled in, see some of his favorite automobiles and spend time in the Meditation Garden where he and his only child, Lisa Marie, are laid to rest. This evening is at leisure. Perhaps venture out for some Memphis BBQ, a regional style of Southern barbecue known for its dry rub and slow-smoked pork & ribs.

Depart Memphis and visit the Tina Turner Museum located inside the one-room schoolhouse the then Anna Mae Bullock attended. See a collection of her memorabilia that includes her costumes and gold records. Then head to Nashville, “Music City USA,” and the place where stars like Dolly Parton and many other country artists got their start. Enjoy an orientation tour upon arrival that includes landmarks like Centennial Park with its reproduction of the Parthenon, the famous recording studios on Music Row, and stopping to see the beautiful mural painted on the side of a local club that pays homage to Dolly.

Have a day at leisure to explore this epicenter of country music. Consider joining an optional excursion to RCA Studio B where hits like Elvis's ‘Are You Lonesome Tonight” and Dolly's “I Will Always Love You' were recorded and to the Country Music Hall of Fame, with its collections of musical instruments, glittering stage costumes, and Elvis's “Solid Gold” Cadillac. Or perhaps pay a visit to the Johnny Cash Museum, Ryman Auditorium, or the African American Music Museum.

Venture north to Louisville, Kentucky situated on the banks of the Ohio river. Louisville is known for many things including being the home to the internationally famous Kentucky Derby horse race, birthplace of boxer Muhammad Ali, home of Louisville Slugger baseball bats, and of course, bourbon! Take an orientation tour upon arrival and then have free time to explore. This evening, perhaps explore Fourth Street Live, Louisville's premier dining and entertainment center or historic Main Street, named “One of the Best Main Streets in America.”

This morning join an optional excursion to world-renowned Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby, the longest-running sporting event in the country, dating back to 1875! Watch the horses during their morning workouts, have a guided track visit, and spend time at the Kentucky Derby Museum which celebrates its tradition and history. Spend the rest of the day discovering Louisville's many attractions, such as the Muhammad Ali Center, the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, or pay a visit to some of the distilleries and tasting rooms along Whiskey Row.

Depart Louisville, making a stop at the Colonel Harland Sanders Café & Museum, in Corbin, KY. This original restaurant of the famous Kentucky Fried Chicken chain is listed in the National Register of Historical Places. Continue to Sevier County, TN, birthplace of Dolly Parton. Stop to see the bronze statue that pays tribute to this beloved country music icon at the Sevier County Courthouse. Settle in for a two-night stay at nearby Pigeon Forge, a popular resort town nestled in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. This evening is free to start exploring.

Enjoy a free day in this family-friendly resort town. Visit the shops, restaurants, and attractions downtown or take a relaxing stroll on the River Walk along the Little Pigeon River. If you're looking for a little more excitement, join the optional excursion to Dollywood, named number one theme park in the United States, and experience over 50 rides as well as live entertainment.

Take a short drive through beautiful Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the most visited national park in the U.S., then stop in Chattanooga, home of the Chattanooga Choo Choo. Continue on to Atlanta with a drop at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport where your vacation ends. Please schedule departing flights for after 6:00 p.m. Those with extra nights will continue to our Atlanta-area hotel.