Sunday, April 16, 2023: ARRIVE NASHVILLE

• We fly from our hometowns this morning to Nashville, Tennessee!
• Upon arrival, we transfer to the Gaylord Opryland Resort for a stunning, one-of-a-kind accommodation experience.
• For those who arrive early, choose to join us on an optional visit to the Johnny Cash Museum; a dedication to his life and music career filled with memorabilia and artifacts, costumes, instruments, and stunning graphics.
• Late this afternoon we officially kickstart things with our Welcome Program at the hotel followed by dinner at a legendary Nashville establishment.
• The “Best Day” of our trip (so far) culminates with a private group experience with a successful local songwriter. We'll learn about an insider's view of the recording industry and even have the opportunity to hear some of the hit songs he's written.

Overnight in Nashville (D)

Monday, April 17, 2023: NASHVILLE

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• We begin with a visit to the historic RCA Studio B, where music legends recorded thousands of timeless songs. Revel in becoming a “star for the day” during our own recording session directed by a sound engineer right where Dolly Parton, Charlie Pride and even Elvis himself stood to record over 200 songs.
• Next, we tour the Country Music Hall of Fame. Hear rare recordings of country music's legendary performers, see behind-the-scenes films about today's stars and view a vast collection of memorabilia, costumes, recordings, and instruments
• After some free time for lunch, we tour the Musicians Hall of Fame; a fascinating interactive venue that not only recognizes the stars who are well known to the public, but the musicians who played on hit records as studio players. The Monkeys, for example, sang on their records but used some of the same group of studio musicians as The Beach Boys, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Elvis Presley. The museum also houses the actual instruments used on hundreds of these iconic recordings such as Joe Osborn's jazz bass that was played on recordings with The Carpenters, Mamas and the Papas and Simon and Garfunkel.
• Return to hotel to freshen up.
• Tonight, we enjoy dinner and line-dancing lessons at the famed Wildhorse Saloon accompanied by a special revival of our “hit song” previously recorded at Studio B.
• Later this evening, it's time for some “honky tonk hopping”. We'll head over to Lower Broadway for all the live music and dancing your heart desires. Who knows, you may be watching the next country music rising superstar (entrance fees/drinks on own).

Overnight in Nashville (B, D)

Tuesday, April 18, 2023: NASHVILLE

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• This morning, we enjoy a guided city tour of the greater Nashville area including the sites & sounds of the downtown area such as the State Capitol, The Ryman Auditorium, The Parthenon, the famous Bluebird Café and Music Row's recording studios.
• We continue with a tour, lunch and wine tasting at the Belle Meade Plantation. Founded in 1807 by John Harding, the property started with one log cabin and 250 acres, and quickly grew to a 5,400 acre horse farm and estate, with a Greek Revival Mansion, train station and rock quarry. Five generations of owners, their servants and enslaved workers lived here. Today, 24 acres of the original property remain as an educational resource.
• The rest of the afternoon is at leisure, or you may choose to “follow the leader” to the Ryman Auditorium for a self-guided tour of this National Historic Landmark and the home of the Grand Ole Opry from 1943-1974.
• Early dinner on own this evening, or you can choose to “follow the leader”.
• Tonight, we attend The Grand Ole Opry; a weekly country-music stage concert in Nashville, which was founded on November 28, 1925, by George D. Hay as a one-hour radio "barn dance" on WSM Radio. Today the Opry is the world's longest running live radio show and is a Nashville must-see. As the home of country music, the Opry offers an incredible mix of talent to create an American experience like no other!

Overnight in Nashville (B, L)

Wednesday, April 19, 2023: NASHVILLE - MEMPHIS

• Breakfast and check out of our hotel before departing for Memphis; the birthplace of Blues, Soul and Rock & Roll.
• We arrive in time for a quick lunch break (on own) and then embark upon an exciting introduction to Memphis on a musical journey through the city. Here, the rich musical heritage comes alive with comedy, history, and stories.
• We continue to the Rock ‘n' Soul Museum which is the only museum that tells the complete story of Memphis music history as researched by the Smithsonian Institution. A must-see, this institution tells of the musical pioneers and legends of all racial and socio-economic backgrounds who, for the love of music, overcame obstacles to create the musical sound that changed the world.
• We continue to our hotel - located just a 2-minute walk from the heart of all the action on Beale Street.
• Enjoy an evening on own along Beale Street or choose to “follow the leader”.

Overnight in Memphis (B)

Thursday, April 20, 2023: MEMPHIS

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• You ain't nuthin' but a hound dog. This morning, we celebrate the King of Rock & Roll with the ultimate Elvis Experience! We begin with a visit and tour of Graceland the palatial home of Elvis Presley. Don your blue suede shoes as we tour the 14-acre estate and visit inside the house including his original business office, trophy building and the Meditation Garden, where Elvis and members of his family have been laid to rest. Then we continue to the all-new Graceland Visitor Entertainment Complex offering a fully immersive Elvis and pop culture experience to celebrate the most popular entertainer of all time.
• After some free time for lunch, we visit Sun Studio. The Sun Sound began when Sam Phillips launched his record company in February of 1952. He named it Sun Records as a sign of his perpetual optimism: a new day and a new beginning. Listed among his contemporaries and lab mates were Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and the "Rockin' Guitar Man", Carl Perkins. These four soon became known as the Million Dollar Quartet. Right behind them came Roy Orbison, Charlie Rich, Bill Justis, Harold Jenkins (a.k.a. Conway Twitty) and other equally memorable musical talents.
• We end our afternoon by stopping by the Peabody Hotel for their famous afternoon duck march.
• Return to hotel to freshen up.
• Tonight, we enjoy a farewell dinner at the world-famous Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous Restaurant, followed by an evening of live music at a local blues club!

Overnight in Memphis (B, D)

Friday, April 21, 2023: DEPARTURE

• After breakfast this morning, we visit the Center for Southern Folklore for a little "shop & talk" on Jewish Memphis and the interesting Jewish connections to Elvis, BB King and more.
• Late this morning we check out of the and transfer to airport on own.
• Later today we arrive home and start making plans for our next Best-Day Adventure!