Sounds of the South

New Orleans

Arrive at New Orleans International Airport and pick up your hire car for the 20-minute drive to the Astor Crowne Plaza, New Orleans which is right next to the French Quarter. Spend your first night here experiencing the wide range of restaurants and bars that this fascinating city has to offer.

Explore New Orleans including the US Mint Jazz Museum, Jackson Square, Bourbon Street and the French Quarter. No other city in America can boast such intrigue or romance.

Another full day to get to know the Big Easy and its many sights and - more importantly - sounds. You might choose to take a steamboat trip along the Mississippi or you might decide to sample the city's Creole cuisine; New Orleans is also famous for its food.
Stay 3 nights.

Lafayette

137 miles

Drive across swampy Louisiana on Highway 61 and then route 10 to Lafayette, capital of the French-speaking Cajun South and home to Cajun and zydeco music. Go in search of the Cajun way of life at Vermilionville or hone your dance moves at a local club.

A full day in Lafayette to explore this sleepy, Southern town where music and dancing are part of everyday life. Go to a Cajun jam session or visit one of the many nearby antebellum plantation houses.
Stay 2 nights.

Natchez

147 miles

From Lafayette head north into Mississippi take the I-49 to Opelousas, highway 190 to Livonia then head north on minor roads through soft and sylvan Louisiana landscape to New Roads where a free ferry takes cars across the Mississippi River to St Francisville. Highway 61 will then take you onto Natchez, a cotton centre and once the richest town in the US. Natchez is still dripping in antebellum finery; explore the many plantation houses and indulge in some of the best restaurants on this tour.
Stay 1 night.

Jackson

116 miles

From Natchez, head north Vicksburg on your way to Jackson. From Vicksburg take the I-20 east to Jackson, the state capital of Mississippi. You have one night here to explore Farish Street, where the likes of Sonny Boy Williamson II and Robert Johnson were discovered, and the city's many blues clubs.
Stay 1 night.

Clarksdale

188 miles

Leave Jackson and head across the Delta to join Highway 61 - the 'Blues Highway' - to Clarksdale. On the way you might want to use our 'Deep Delta Guide' to find the graves of Charley Patton and Robert Johnson and Dockery Plantation where Charley Patton defined the Delta blues. Clarksdale is America's most significant blues town. Illustrious one-time Clarksdale residents include John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters and Ike Turner. Spend 2 nights at the unique Shackup Inn, a faithfully-restored plantation worker's shack (now rather more luxurious than the original).

A full day to get to know Clarksdale. Visit the outstanding Delta Blues Museum and drive out to Stovall Plantation where Muddy Waters grew up. This evening you might tour the town's many 'juke-joints' - authentic blues bars - or you could dine at Hollywood star and local Morgan Freeman's restaurant.
Stay 2 nights.

Memphis

79 miles

Continue north along the 'Blues Highway', Highway 61, to Memphis, the place where blues came of age and where rock & roll was born. We recommend you park the car at your centrally-located hotel and walk over to Beale Street for a night of great music. Beale Street was a key arena in which bluesmen from BB King to Howlin' Wolf made their names. BB King's Blues Club is now one of Beale Street's best clubs. Spend 3 nights in Memphis.

A full day to explore Memphis. Tour Graceland and Sun Studios or visit the exceptional Rock 'n' Soul Museum in the new Gibson Guitar factory. Here you'll learn about the incredible contribution Memphis has made to blues, soul and gospel music.

Another full day in Memphis - you'll find it easy to fill your time. Drive out to the Full Gospel Tabernacle where Al Green is the resident preacher or explore the city's many musical sites. You might choose to visit the National Civil Rights Museum housed in the old Lorraine Motel, the place where Dr Martin Luther King was assassinated. It's one the most moving and insightful museums in the States.
Stay 3 nights.

Nashville

210 miles

From Memphis go east on the I-40 through Jackson across the Tennessee River to Nashville, 'Music City USA', home of country music and some of America's biggest recording companies. Trawl the outstanding music venues of Second and Broadway or head out to the Grand Ole Opry, the 'church' of country music.

A full day to explore Nashville. Visit the famous Ryman Auditorium, the new Country Music Hall of Fame or RCA's Studio 'B' where Elvis Presley recorded over 200 of his best-loved hits. Or you might choose to wander Music Row hoping - like thousands before you - to be 'spotted' by a talent scout!
Stay 2 nights.

Nashville/Home

Drive to the airport to turn in your hire car and to catch your flight home.