Arrival in Memphis

We fly to Memphis for a two-night stay.

Graceland & Memphis Music

Memphis is definitely Elvis country, but it is so much more.

We spend the morning at Graceland, the home of Elvis, and then after a lunch hosted by Freedom Tours NW, we tour a record company and watch the ducks walk in a hotel.

The Mississippi Delta & the Blues

We continue to explore the Deep South as we head farther down into Mississippi.

There are only two Grammy Museums in the country, and we visit one of these this morning.

Cleveland, Mississippi, is full of history and blues. We will see historic grounds, an old plantation, the place where the blues were born, and a historical museum before heading to our hotel.

Historic Vicksburg

Vicksburg, Mississippi, sits high on bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River.

Whoever controlled Vicksburg controlled the river. When Ulysses S. Grant captured the city on July 4, 1863, the Union gained full control of the Mississippi River.

This split the Confederacy in two, separating Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana from the rest of the Southern states.

The Biedenharn Coca-Cola Museum is in the building that housed the Biedenharn Candy Company.

In 1894, Joseph A. Biedenharn was the first to develop a process to bottle Coca-Cola, allowing him to make deliveries outside the city.

The museum features bottling works, Coca-Cola memorabilia, and a 1900 soda fountain featuring hand-dipped ice cream and Coke floats.

Port Gibson & Antebellum Natchez

A Day of Southern History & Antebellum Elegance

Today is a day of unparalleled historical beauty as we travel through some of Mississippi's most charming and historic communities.

Our first stop is the quaint town of Port Gibson, a community filled with beautiful Southern architecture and fascinating stories from the past.

As we make our way through the area, take a look around. You may notice that the landscape seems to tell its own story.

This is a place where history isn't just found in museums. It is woven into the streets, homes, churches, and countryside.

We then continue on to Natchez, one of the South's most celebrated historic cities.

Get ready, because today we're stepping back in time!

Natchez is famous for its magnificent antebellum homes.

The word antebellum simply means "before the war," and in this case it refers to homes built before the American Civil War.

Natchez is home to an extraordinary collection of these grand Southern residences, including 17 historic antebellum homes .

These houses give us a glimpse into a very different period of American history, with grand columns, sweeping porches, elaborate interiors, beautiful gardens, and stories that reflect both the wealth and the difficult realities of the antebellum South.

As we tour these beautiful homes today, remember that we're not simply looking at beautiful architecture. We're looking at history.

Each house has its own story, its own families, and its own connection to the people and events that shaped this part of the country.

So sit back, relax, and enjoy the scenery as we make our way into Natchez.

Baton Rouge & Southern Culture

Baton Rouge, the capital of Louisiana, is a mixture of old and new.

It looks like a typical industrial city, but as you look closer, it has a history that dates back to the Civil War.

Enjoy views of the Mississippi River and experience Southern culture.

Plantation History: Two Perspectives

Today is a study in two opposites.

We will visit a home that reflects the grandeur of the South with beautiful gardens and a gracious way of life.

Later, we visit a plantation that shows the cruel system of slavery.

New Orleans & Airboat Adventure

Pronounced "New Or-lins" or "N'awlins" by many locals.

A tour of the town is a must, then we are off for a special experience: an airboat tour!

WWII Museum, Oak Alley & Mississippi Dinner Cruise

We visit the National WWII Museum.

From the beaches of Normandy to Iwo Jima, the story is told of the thousands of men and women who made the Allied victory a reality.

After lunch, we travel out to plantation country.

Oak Alley Plantation is definitely a picture-postcard location.

We tour the "Big House" and the surrounding area before we head back in time for our Mississippi River Dinner Cruise.

Journey Home

After this fantastic motorcoach cruise of the Mississippi River, we make our way to the airport for our flight home.

If you are staying for Bayou Country, we head to our hotel for a couple of days.