Sharon Battle Travel

11 Day Tour from Chicago to New Orleans
Inside visits and special features are shown in UPPERCASE in the tour description, including admission charges where applicable.

 

Day 1 Chicago
Welcome to the “Windy City.” Your Tour Director is on hand late this afternoon to answer any questions.

 

Day 2 Chicago
Included sightseeing shows off the city’s landmarks, then an afternoon at leisure. Maybe ride the elevator to the top of Willis Tower, formerly known as the Sears Tower, stroll in Grant Park, or cruise on the Chicago River. Tonight, how about dinner on Navy Pier with its delightful shops and restaurants?

 

Day 3 Chicago–St. Louis
Travel across the fertile Illinois farmlands to St. Louis, “Gateway to the West.” An orientation tour includes a trip to the top of the GATEWAY ARCH, which commemorates the city’s key role in westward expansion. Visit the Old Courthouse and enjoy a film on the monument.
 

Day 4 St. Louis–Nashville
Recross the Mississippi River today and roll southeast to Paducah on the Ohio River. Late-afternoon arrival in Nashville. Continental Breakfast

 

Day 5 Nashville
Start the day with a sightseeing tour of Nashville’s famous landmarks and the Music Row recording studios. Tour historic RCA STUDIO B, cradle of the “Nashville Sound” in the 1960s and where stars such as Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley, Eddy Arnold, Willie Nelson, and the Everly Brothers recorded many of their biggest hits. Afterward, visit the COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME with its glittering costumes, rare instruments, and Elvis’ “solid-gold” Cadillac! Tonight, enjoy reserved premier seating for a show at the world-famous GRAND OLE OPRY, a mecca for country musicians.
 

Day 6 Nashville–Memphis
Cross Tennessee to Memphis, “Home of the Blues” and a city with a distinct Southern flavor. Enjoy an orientation tour on arrival and see where the film, “Walk the Line” was filmed. Join the optional excursion to Sun Studio, where rock ‘n’ roll was first recorded, followed by dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 7 Memphis. Visit to Graceland
A good portion of the day is devoted to GRACELAND, Elvis Presley’s beautiful estate. Your guided audio tour focuses on the memorial garden, and the opulent 15,000-square-foot mansion. Return to Memphis mid-afternoon where your Tour Director will have suggestions for your free time. Tonight you may want to visit a blues club on famous Beale Street.
 

Day 8 Memphis–Amtrak City of New Orleans Train–New Orleans
Providing the locomotion for today’s journey through the state of Mississippi and into the Mississippi River Delta is the CITY OF NEW ORLEANS, the famous train of story and song. Cotton fields and catfish ponds slide past on the way to New Orleans. The evening is free to begin exploring this lively city.
 

Day 9 New Orleans
A full morning is dedicated to the sights and sounds of New Orleans, featuring a guided tour that includes the French Quarter landmarks, St. Louis Cathedral, Jackson Square, and a visit to a unique above-ground cemetery. Next, board a boat for a CRUISE through the winding, swampy waterways. The rest of the day is free.
 

Day 10 New Orleans
A free day with a wide selection of activities to choose from, including a visit to a beautiful plantation home. For shoppers, Canal Street and the French Quarter offer an array of specialty shops and boutiques. This evening, perhaps join an optional Mississippi River dinner cruise aboard an authentic steamboat to enjoy a delightful buffet dinner, complete with live jazz—the perfect finale to a memorable touring adventure of the South.

Day 11 New Orleans
The trip ends today with guests departing on individual schedules. Transfers to the New Orleans International Airport are included.