Rhythms of the Road (8240)

10 days from Chicago to New Orleans

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Take a musical journey of America’s Heartland on this wonderful vacation featuring locations that have played a role in the evolution of American music. This North to South U.S. tour starts with two nights in Chicago, ends with two nights in New Orleans, along with two nights in Nashville and Memphis, and an overnight in St. Louis. Enjoy a sightseeing or orientation tour in each city. Highlights include places near and dear to music lovers’ hearts, like RCA Studio B, Nashville’s oldest remaining recording studio, where Elvis Presley, Dolly Parton, and many more stars recorded their biggest hits. You’ll also experience the world-famous Grand Ole Opry, a must for any country music fan, where you’ll have reserved seating for a show. In Memphis, see where scenes from the movie, “Walk the Line,” were filmed and visit Graceland, Elvis’ lavish home and final resting place. Other highlights include a trip to the top of the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, a visit to the Tina Turner Museum, plus the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center which tells the story of his life and the region that gave birth to the Blues. On this music filled tour, you’ll also have time to explore on your own or join optional outings, like visiting legendary Sun Studio in Memphis, followed by dinner on Beale Street. Enjoying shopping in the French Quarter or having dinner on a Mississippi River paddleboat with live jazz in New Orleans. For music lovers and those desiring to experience the South, this value-minded tour is the perfect vacation!

The world is within reach with everything you need for perfectly affordable touring. Cosmos includes hand-selected accommodations, guided sightseeing, and seamless transportation between destinations—with value-minded travel lovers in mind. Explore with expert Cosmos Tour Directors and Local Guides, and private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi (where available). Enhance your free time to explore like a local with your CosmosGO mobile app!

Dates & Prices Book Online

800.646.5374

Photo Highlights

Meals

Meals & Itinerary

1 breakfast

Itinerary

Day 1 CHICAGO

Welcome to the “Windy City.” Your Tour Director is on hand late this afternoon to answer any questions.

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Day 2 CHICAGO

Chicago is known for its iconic architecture, world class museums, and beautiful waterfront. Sightseeing includes landmarks like the Wrigley Building, Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower), and Navy Pier followed by an afternoon at leisure. Consider visiting the extraordinary Art Institute of Chicago or stroll along Michigan Avenue, better known as the Magnificent Mile. Enjoy an optional river cruise to take in the Windy City’s amazing architecture, then go deep with a slice (or three) of iconic Chicago deep-dish pizza!

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Day 3 CHICAGO–ST. LOUIS

Travel across the fertile Illinois farmlands to St. Louis, “Gateway to the West.” An orientation tour includes a trip to the top of the Arch in Gateway Arch National Park, which commemorates the city’s key role in westward expansion. Visit the museum under the Arch, which celebrates Lewis & Clark’s famous expedition 200 years ago.

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Day 4 ST. LOUIS–PADUCAH-NASHVILLE

Recross the Mississippi River and roll southeast to Paducah, Kentucky on the Ohio River. Have time for lunch there and perhaps pay a visit to the National Quilt Museum to view quilts that truly are works of art. Late-afternoon arrival in Nashville. This evening consider joining the optional dinner with a Nashville Songwriter and hear their songs and stories about being a professional tunesmith.

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Breakfast

Day 5 NASHVILLE

Start the day with a sightseeing tour of Nashville, the Country Music Capital of the World. Visit the famous landmarks and the Music Row recording studios. Then tour historic RCA Studio B, cradle of the 1960s “Nashville Sound” where stars such as Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley, Eddy Arnold, Willie Nelson, and the Everly Brothers recorded many of their biggest hits. Perhaps join the optional excursion to the Country Music Hall of Fame to see glittering costumes, rare instruments, and a king-sized set of wheels a.k.a. Elvis Presley’s “solid-gold” Cadillac. Tonight, enjoy reserved seating for a toe-tapping show at the world-famous Grand Ole Opry, a mecca for country musicians.

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Day 6 NASHVILLE–BROWNSVILLE–MEMPHIS

Depart Nashville and visit the Tina Turner Museum in the one-room schoolhouse attended by a young Anna Mae Bullock (a.k.a. Tina Turner). See the collection of the “Queen of Rock’s” memorabilia, including costumes, gold records and even her high school yearbook! Afterward, cross Tennessee to Memphis, “Home of the Blues” and a city with a distinct Southern flavor. Enjoy an orientation tour on arrival and see where scenes from the movie “Walk the Line” were filmed. Later, consider an optional excursion to where rock-n-roll was first recorded at Sun Studio, followed by dinner on historic and bluesy Beale Street.

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Day 7 MEMPHIS–VISIT TO GRACELAND

Enjoy time today at Graceland, Elvis Presley’s beautiful estate. Your guided audio tour focuses on the opulent 15,000-square-foot mansion and the Meditation Garden where Elvis, and his daughter and grandson, are laid to rest. Also see Elvis’ custom jets and his favorite automobiles. Return to Memphis mid-afternoon and, if you haven’t done so already, perhaps get a taste of Memphis with some southern barbecue or a visit to the Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum.

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Day 8 MEMPHIS–INDIANOLA–NEW ORLEANS

Today, make your way through the state of Mississippi. Visit the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center. Discover the life of B.B. (Blues Boy) King, from his humble beginnings to his big break on Beale Street in Memphis. An evening arrival in New Orleans allows time for exploring this lively city on your own.

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Day 9 NEW ORLEANS

A full morning is dedicated to the sights and sounds of New Orleans, featuring a guided tour that includes the French Quarter landmarks, St. Louis Cathedral and Jackson Square, and a visit to a unique above-ground cemetery. This afternoon, join an optional tour of one of the many plantation homes in southern Louisiana. The architecture and beauty of these homes alone is impressive and the stories that go with them are even better. Or cruise down bayous with moss-draped cypress trees to seek out alligators on a Louisiana Swamp Tour. This evening, perhaps enjoy an optional Mississippi River dinner cruise, complete with live jazz—the perfect finale to a memorable touring adventure of the South.

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Day 10 NEW ORLEANS

Your vacation ends this morning. You may choose to extend your vacation with extra nights and explore the “Big Easy” further.

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Tour Director

With COSMOS, there’s no better way to get to know your destination than through the eyes of a Tour Director. We’d like you to meet one of our Tour Directors, who average over a decade of experience and are representative of the type of expert that will be with you on your vacation.

BARBARA BURYIAK

Escorting tours for more than 20 years

“As a Tour Director for more than two decades, I've always had a passion for travel. At 18, I traveled solo throughout Europe. A few years later, I was one of three youth ambassadors on a cultural exchange to Burkina Faso. As a Tour Director, I enjoy showing off America's Heartland. I encourage my guests to talk to the locals and try the regional foods. Guests often tell me that their fondest memories are of their time spent in small towns with "real Americans."”

Accommodations

Optional Excursions

No matter what you’re into: food, wine, history, art, music or anything else, we give you the freedom to personalize your vacation with optional excursions that speak to your interests.

When you book your excursions with us, you can be assured that every optional excursion that we offer coordinates with the free time that you'll have in your destination, so you'll never have conflicts between included and optional activities. Our team of travel experts carefully selects each optional excursion that we offer to ensure that you receive the highest quality at a great value. Our tried-and-true partners have a finger on the pulse of the city in which they operate so they deliver the very best experiences. We offer experiences you cannot create on your own and because you’re booking with us, we coordinate all your transportation and timing needs.

The following optional excursions are examples only for this vacation. These may or may not be offered, and availability is subject to days of operation and seasonality. Please select a departure date to view optional excursions and pricing for a specific date (due to currency fluctuation, pricing shown is subject to change until purchased). Optional excursions are available for purchase on our MyCosmos site 90 days prior to the tour start date.

Price Ranges

$ ($50 USD and under)
$$ ($51 - $100 USD)
$$$ ($101 - $150 USD)
$$$$ (Over $150)

New Orleans

Plantation Tours

South Louisiana is known for its beautiful antebellum architecture and there are plenty of plantation homes that are within an hours drive from New Orleans. The architecture and beauty of these homes alone is impressive and the stories that go with them are even better. You will learn about the incredible history and culture through a visit to a plantation home.

Price Range: $$

Jazz Dinner Cruise on the Mighty Mississippi

Savor the beauty and romance of the New Orleans skyline aboard the authentic Steamboat NATCHEZ-New Orleans only authentic Steamboat! Please note; while the Steamboat Natchez is being referbished the dinner cruise will be on the Riverboat City of New Orleans.

Price Range: $$$

Louisiana Swamp Tours

Head down to the swamp on a real life adventure. View fascinating plant life, live alligators and many other wild creatures as you cruise down haunting bayous lined with moss-draped cypress trees.