Jackson Square

Day 1

NEW ORLEANS

Arrive in New Orleans and proceed to your hotel. “Let the good times roll” is a Louisiana way of life, one that New Orleans is determined to uphold. A city unlike any other American city, New Orleans’ particular melting pot of peoples and cultures make it perhaps the most American of cities. The birthplace of jazz and the home of Mardi Gras, New Orleans is also the perfect place to begin your tour of the South

Day 2

NEW ORLEANS

The capital of the French colony of Louisiana, New Orleans was established as a fortress by French settlers in the 18th Century. Begin with a walking tour through Jackson Square and the heart of the French quarter, which offers all kinds of attractions, sights, restaurants, and of course, music. Experience the intimate and subtle architecture while learning about the history, art, and musical culture that is this city’s unique heritage

Day 3

NEW ORLEANS » VICKSBURG (275 mi / 440 km)

Depart New Orleans this morning to pick up the legendary Highway 61, “The Blues Highway” that carried so many musicians from the cotton towns and plantations of the Mississippi Delta to Memphis and Chicago and, from there, to the rest of the world. The heart of Delta Blues Country begins in Vicksburg, the site of the most important Civil War battle fought in the South, and unofficially the southernmost point of the Mississippi Delta Blues Country

Day 4

VICKSBURG » CLARKSDALE » MEMPHIS (220 mi / 350 km)

Continue through the cotton fields and small towns where blues greats Robert Johnson, BB King, Muddy Waters and many others played their music. In Clarksdale, the epicenter of the Blues, you can visit the Delta Blues Museum, stop by an authentic ‘juke joint’, and sample some of the best BBQ in the South. Arrive in Memphis, Tennessee, in the late afternoon or early evening. Tonight, head down to Beale Street to enjoy the music and nightlife that made Memphis famous, the perfect destination for your Blues Highway journey.

Day 5

MEMPHIS

Memphis’ number one attraction is Graceland, where Elvis fans from around the world make the pilgrimage to the King’s former home and final resting place. An audio tour is available in all languages offered by AlliedTPro’s Fly-Drive program. Sun Studios, the legendary birthplace of Rock and Roll, is a must-see for fans, as is Staxville, home of soul music’s Stax Records. And if that’s still not enough, the Smithsonian Institue, America’s premier museum association, has opened the Rock’n’Soul Museum at the corner of Beale St and Highway 61. Memphis displays a serious side, too. In the former Lorraine Motel, where Martin Luther King, Jr was assassinated, the National Civil Rights Museum tells the story of the struggle for racial equality in the United States.

Day 6

MEMPHIS » NATCHEZ (310 mi / 500 km)

Backtrack down Highway 61 to visit something you may have missed, or take the Interstate to make the most of your time in Natchez. Located on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi, Natchez was the center of the Mississippi Delta’s cotton region and one of the wealthiest cities in the United States before the Civil War. In the historic district above the river, more than a dozen antebellum homes and gardens are open to visitors, while down below on the banks of the Mississippi, a variety of evening entertainments can be found, including restaurants, saloons and a riverboat casino

Day 7

NATCHEZ » LAFAYETTE (175 mi / 280 km)

More time to visit the stately plantations in Natchez before departing for Lafayette, capital of Louisiana’s Cajun Country. Cajuns are descendents of French Canadian settlers who were exiled to Louisiana by the British in 1755, and due to their relative isolation, were able to maintain their language and culture for over 250 years. They are especially well-known for their music (Cajun, Zydeco & Swamp Pop), their cuisine, and their love of festivals. Tonight, enjoy nightly live Cajun music, food and dancing at nearby Mulate’s, or ask at your hotel for their personal recommendations.

Day 8

LAFAYETTE

Today, get deeper into Cajun culture with a visit to the Acadian Cultural Center and Vermilionville, a living history and folklife museum where costumed interpreters recreate the life and trades of the original Cajuns. Explore downtown Lafayette and be sure to try the classic Cajun delicacy, crawfish, a fresh water crustacean known as the ‘poor man’s lobster’. Tonight, try Prejean’s for more Cajun music, or El Sid O’s for Zydeco.

Day 9	LAFAYETTE » BAYOU COUNTRY » HOUMA (125 mi / 200 km)
Today you’ll explore Louisiana’s bayou country, the lush swamps and wetlands that are at the the heart of Cajun Country. At Lake Martin, Louisiana’s largest nesting area for herons, egrets and ospreys, you can observe swamp wildlife and alligators from a hiking trail or your car. Stop at the Tabasco factory and Jungle Gardens on Avery Island, then follow the Bayou Teche to your overnight.

Day 10	HOUMA » NEW ORLEANS (65 mi / 110 km)
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before returning to New Orleans for a final day in the “Big Easy”.

Day 11	NEW ORLEANS
Departure for your return flight home.