America's Deep South
America's Deep South
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Tour Overview
America's Civil Rights Movement, music heritage and space exploration all came to a head in the explosive and exuberant atmosphere of the nineteen sixties.
Highlights
- Enjoy Nashville, Music City USA
- Audio tour of Graceland, the home of Elvis Presley
- Dinner at BB King's on Beale Street, Memphis
- Visit the National Civil Rights Museum
- Visit a local whisky distillery in New Orleans
- See NASA's Houston Space Centre
Itinerary
Your journey starts with a flight from London's Heathrow on the scheduled services of British Airways directly to Atlanta where our coach and tour director will be waiting to transfer you to your city hotel. Join your fellow travellers in the evening for a welcome dinner.
Day 2 - Atlanta to Nashville
This morning, after breakfast, begin your day with a brief city tour of Atlanta and then head off to Nashville. Stop along the way at the historic Lookout Mountain with its fabulous views across terrain fought over during the America Civil War then later on visit the Jack Daniels Distillery in Lynchburg where the eponymous whiskey has been made since 1884. Interestingly Lynchburg, with its red brick courthouse and quaint general store has just one traffic light and is a dry county! After a break for lunch continue on through Tennessee to 'Music City USA' Nashville, a town set amidst rolling farmland known worldwide as the home of country music.
Day 3 - Nashville
For music listeners, your tour begins here with a visit to the Country Music Hall of Fame, a huge museum of all things Country and Western with films, videos, costumes and home to Elvis Presley's solid gold Cadillac. Next continue to the Johnny Cash Museum to admire never-beforeseen historical documents, awards and costumes. Your group will also have the chance to visit one of Nashville's famous honky-tonks playing live country music as well as the Ryman Auditorium and the impressive Parthenon - the only full scale replica of the Greek Parthenon giving reason for its nickname 'Athens of the South'.
Optional excursion (payable locally): Evening music concert at the Grand Ole Opry
Day 4 - Nashville to Memphis
Following breakfast begin the day with a visit to Studio B, Nashville's oldest surviving recording studio regularly used by stars such as Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and The Everley Brothers to name just a few. The tour will then head for Memphis, yet another highlight of this Southern Musical Medley tour. On arrival in Memphis you will take a trip to the National Civil Rights Museum built on the spot where Martin Luther King was assassinated in 1968. Telling the story of the black fight for freedom from slavery through to the Civil Rights Movement of the early fifties and sixties, prepare yourself for an emotional and unforgettable experience. This evening, after checking into your hotel we've arranged dinner at BB Kings Blues Bar for a great night of Southern food, musical sounds and hospitality amongst the lively atmosphere of Beale Street.
Day 5 - Memphis
Today features another first for the music lover - a visit to Graceland the home of Elvis, one of the most iconic houses in America and final resting place of The King. Enjoy an audio tour through the decadent and quirky rooms including the 'jungle den' where he used to watch football games and Kung-fu movies. Next watch the famous Peabody Ducks march to and from the Grand Lobby at the Peabody Memphis Hotel, a unique tradition dating back to 1933! Then we move onto Sun Studio where Elvis recorded his first hit and where you can still see Jerry Lee Lewis' piano. Admire architectural landmarks such as Court Square Fountain, the Lincoln American Tower and Calvary Episcopal Church whilst your guide entertains you with entertaining tales about this rowdy riverside town and its inhabitants. Tonight is at leisure for you to explore and experience the many bars, restaurants and music scene of Memphis.
Day 6 - Memphis to New Orleans
Today the tour leaves Memphis and follows the path of the mighty Mississippi River and travels deep into the heart of the Mississippi Delta via Jackson before crossing the border into Louisiana. Driving across Lake Pontchartrain on the longest causeway in the world you will arrive in New Orleans, a melange of European style and Caribbean flavours and a city full of flamboyance, festivities and a whole lot of soul. We've arranged to take you to the New Orleans School of cooking this evening for an entertaining demonstration from one of their Creole/Cajun experts with dinner included and the chance to try a New Orleans speciality such as Gumbo, Jambalaya and Pralines.
Day 7 - New Orleans
In the morning, after breakfast visit some of New Orleans highlights including the famous French Quarter taking in Bourbon Street, the art galleries and antique shops of Royal Street and Jackson Square with its many artists, museums and fortune tellers. The rest of the day and evening are for you to enjoy at your leisure, but make sure you live the New Orleans' motto 'Laissez les bons temps rouler' - let the good times roll!
Day 8 - New Orleans
Today is a free day for you to enjoy and relax in New Orleans in your own time. Stroll around the market in the French Quarter, stop for some lunch at one of the many oyster bars and restaurants, shop for antiques and trinkets or book yourself a tour through the Louisiana bayou aboard an airboat. This evening you can take your pick of the many excellent bars, eateries and music venues for where this laid back city, The Big Easy, is world renowned.
Optional excursion (bookable locally): Gray Line Cajun Pride Swamp Tour
Day 9 - New Orleans to Houston
This morning it's time to leave New Orleans and travel to Houston to catch your return flight back to the UK the next day. There will be a stop along the way in Lake Charles for an hour or so for you to stretch your legs and have some lunch. Arriving in Houston in the early hours of the evening there will be a short orientation tour before returning to the hotel.
Day 10 - Houston to the UK
The final day includes a visit to Houston's Space Centre, home to N.A.S.A and the world's largest collection of moon rocks and lunar samples on public view. You'll also see Mission Control that guided the first moon landings as well as original Saturn, Mercury and Apollo rockets that have been at the forefront of space exploration since the early sixties. (We suggest you visit www.spacecentre.org for a full flavour of this fascinating experience). Sadly, your southern tour of music, culture and history is at an end and it is time to depart for the airport to catch your return direct flight back to Heathrow with British Airways.
What's Included
- Fully Escorted Tour with local English Speaking Guides throughout
- Scheduled Flights from the UK
- All internal travel including air-conditioned/heated transportation
- Accommodation, meals as specified and entry fees to all sights
- All airport taxes and security charges
Check out our Q&As
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Can I book airport assistance?
If you need assistance at the airport and haven't made these arrangements at the time of booking, you'll need to let us know before you travel. Please message to arrange this.
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I have particular special requirements - can these be arranged?
We are happy to welcome travellers with disabilities on many of our holidays but regret that in some cases we are unable to do so, due to the travel arrangements and/or the hotels which are featured. The suitability of any holiday will depend on the nature of a disability and in some cases whether the person with the disability is accompanied by an able-bodied companion. In order to ensure the comfort, safety and enjoyment of your holiday if you or any member of your party has any medical problem or disability which may affect your holiday, please tell us before you confirm your booking so that we can advise as to the suitability of the chosen arrangements & where necessary, instruct our representatives accordingly.
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Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend that you and all members of your party are suitably insured as soon as you book your holiday. It is a condition of booking that you must have suitable travel insurance. It is important that you purchase travel insurance that suitably covers your participation in whatever activities you may undertake at the time that you make your booking. Please ensure you provide us with the name of your insurer, policy number and their 24 hour emergency contact number once you have confirmed your trip. Mercury Holidays will not be liable for any costs incurred by you due to your failure to take out suitable travel insurance from the date of booking.
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Low Deposit
Mercury Holidays requires a minimum deposit of 295 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 84 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of mercury holidays charges.
Up to 84 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 43 days before tour starts: Forfeit 70% of booking price.
At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 80% of booking price.
At 15 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.
At 0 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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