Music Cities: Nashville & Memphis

Welcome to Music City, USA!

At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome drink.

Studios, Stages & Stars

Start the day with a sightseeing tour of Nashville, including Centennial Park with its full-size replica of Athens' Parthenon, the recording studios of Music Row, and famous Honky Tonk Row. Then, visit RCA Studio B, known as one of the cradles of the Nashville sound and the region's oldest recording studio. Learn the stories of music titans who recorded here, including Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, and the Everly Brothers. Free time this afternoon. Tonight, visit the Grand Ole Opry where you have reserved seats for an unforgettable show. (B)

LOCAL FAVORITE - CULTURAL GEM: The legendary RCA Studio B is a hallowed hall of recording history where legends like Elvis Presley, Chet Atkins, Dolly Parton, and the Everly Brothers laid down classic tracks in Nashville's oldest recording studio. Between 1957 and 1977, more than 35,000 songs were recorded here, making their mark on the musical landscape of America.

Landmarks & Legends

Visit the Country Music Hall of Fame to see its collection of costumes, memorabilia, instruments, and photographs. Next, enjoy a private guided tour of one of America's most treasured music landmarks, the Ryman Auditorium, a National Historic Landmark. The remainder of the day is free to explore Nashville at leisure. You may want to visit the historic Printer's Alley, shop for souvenirs on Broadway, or listen to up-and-coming musicians at one of the many music venues in town. (B)

LOCAL FAVORITE - HISTORIC SPOT: Ryman Auditorium, known throughout the world as the “Mother Church of Country Music,” served as home to the Grand Ole Opry for over 30 years. Its walls hold the country's history—from Harry Houdini, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Bob Hope to incredible musical artists like Hank Williams, B.B. King, Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, and Elvis Presley. The Ryman experience is a hit with performers and guests, featuring outstanding acoustics and unique architecture still attracting today's hottest performers from all styles of music.

Leaders & Legacies

Depart Nashville for Memphis, known as “Blues City,” where the first stop will be the National Civil Rights Museum, exploring the history of the Civil Rights Movement and the impact on our culture today. Continue to the Guest House at Graceland for a 3-night stay. Located just steps away from the historic home of Elvis Presley, The Guest House blends Colonial design with warm Southern hospitality, reflecting Elvis' personal style. Your stay here is the perfect way to experience the birthplace of rock ‘n' roll and the home of the blues. Tonight, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. (B/D)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT - LEGENDARY LIVES: Visit the National Civil Rights Museum for an informative and inspiring experience in America's civil rights movement. See fascinating and moving exhibits that trace the movement and milestones from the 17th century to the present. The museum is built around the former Lorraine Motel, the site of Martin Luther King's assassination in 1968.

LOCAL FAVORITE - ACCOMMODATION SPOTLIGHT: The Guest House at Graceland delivers an extraordinary resort hotel experience just steps away from the iconic Graceland Mansion. Music fans and Memphis visitors from around the world find Southern hospitality and luxurious amenities that would make the King of Rock-n-Roll himself proud. Special touches, including PB&J sandwiches served in lobby at bedtime, favorite snack of Elvis himself.

Spend your day your way in Memphis

See the landmarks of Memphis on a city tour with a Local Guide while they sing festive songs from Memphis’ rich musical heritage. Explore Sun Studios—considered the most famous recording studio in the world and where rock ‘n’ roll was first recorded and is still going strong recording legendary artists.

Explore more of Memphis with your choice of included Globus Choice Excursions. (B)

• THE MEMPHIS SOUND - Visit the Rock `n' Soul Museum for a comprehensive Memphis music experience. Explore the birth of rock and soul music, the evolving sounds of Memphis music, and hear stories of musical pioneers at the Rock `n' Soul Museum, a Smithsonian Affiliate, located on historic Beale Street.
• THE HORSELESS CARRIAGE & BEYOND - While Henry Ford said, "You can have a Model T in any color as long as it is black," you'll see much more as you buckle up for a guided tour of the Edge Motor Museum. Peruse a proud collection of automobiles selected for their historical and cultural significance where museum collection focuses on preservation over restoration to learn about America's past and present from Model Ts to Thunderbirds!

TOUR HIGHLIGHT - MUSICAL LEGENDS: Ever since the Father of the Blues, W.C. Handy, coined the phrase, ‘Memphis Blues,’ this Tennessee mecca for American musicians has produced soulful sounds of syncopated rhythms with a blend of early jazz, vaudeville, ragtime, and folk styles with deep roots in the Deep South of the early 1900s. Memphis is also a mecca for rock-and-roll and country music icons throughout history, including artists who’ve recorded at the legendary Sun Studio such as Elvis, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Roy Orbison. Go deeper into music history with a visit to the Stax Museum of American Soul Music to discover the legacies of iconic artists from Otis Redding to Aretha Franklin.

Goin' to Graceland

Today is devoted to Elvis Presley's Graceland. Tour the mansion to see his original business office, and his enormous collection of gold records and awards. Also see the “Graceland of the Skies,” a remodeled jet named after Elvis' daughter. Tonight, celebrate your time in Nashville and Memphis with a festive farewell dinner at one of Memphis' most famous barbecue restaurants, Rendezvous. (B/D)

LOCAL FAVORITE - LOCAL TASTES: Bite into a delicious piece of Memphis history with dinner at the Rendezvous where those who know—from locals to tourists to dignitaries and celebrities—all make their way through the alley across from the Peabody Hotel where the Vergos family has been serving their world-famous charcoal ribs, brisket, chicken, and red beans and rice for more than 75 years. A quintessential Memphis experience!

TOUR HIGHLIGHT - LEGENDARY LIVES: Tour the mansion at Graceland with access to Elvis' original business office, his enormous collection of gold records and awards, plus the Meditation Garden, where Elvis and members of his family have been laid to rest. See Elvis' collection of ornate jumpsuits and capes, the automobile museum, and his collection of airplanes.

Safe travels until we meet again!

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. Want to explore more in Memphis? Additional nights are available for purchase. (B)