Rhythms of the Road (8240)

10 days from Chicago to New Orleans

2025 Tour Details View 2024 Tour Details »

The Heartland of America comes alive 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, includes two nights in Nashville and Memphis, and an overnight in St. Louis. Enjoy a sightseeing or an orientation tour in each of the cities. Highlights of this tour include places near and dear to music lovers’ hearts. In Nashville, visit 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 enjoy 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 film, “Walk the Line,” were filmed and visit Graceland, Elvis’ lavish home and final resting place. Other tour 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 plenty of time to explore on your own or to join optional outings. In Memphis, you may want to visit a blues club on famous Beale Street or join an optional excursion to Sun Studio, followed by dinner and live music. In New Orleans, perhaps enjoy shopping in the French Quarter or have dinner on a Mississippi River paddleboat. For music lovers and those desiring to experience the South, this value-minded tour is the perfect vacation!

Adventure is knocking 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. Enhance your free time to explore like a local with your CosmosGO mobile app!

Dates & Prices Book Online
800.646.5374
Rhythms of the Road map

 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.

Day 2 CHICAGO

Included sightseeing shows off the city’s landmarks, then an afternoon at leisure. Maybe ride the elevator to the top of Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower) or stroll along Michigan Avenue, better known as the Magnificent Mile. In the evening, perhaps enjoy one of Chicago’s legendary blues clubs.

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 Gateway Arch National Park, which commemorates the city’s key role in westward expansion. Visit the museum under the Arch, celebrating Lewis & Clark’s famous expedition 200 years ago.

Day 4 ST. LOUIS–PADUCAH–NASHVILLE

Recross the Mississippi River today and roll southeast to Paducah, Kentucky on the Ohio River. Late-afternoon arrival in Nashville.

Breakfast Breakfast

Day 5 NASHVILLE

Start the day with a sightseeing tour of Nashville’s 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. Tonight, enjoy reserved seating for a show at the world-famous Grand Ole Opry, a mecca for country musicians.

Day 6 NASHVILLE–BROWNSVILLE–MEMPHIS

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 film Walk the Line were filmed. Consider the optional excursion to Sun Studio, where rock ‘n’ roll was first recorded, followed by dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 7 MEMPHIS–VISIT TO GRACELAND

A good portion of the day is devoted to Graceland, Elvis Presley’s beautiful estate. Your guided audio tour focuses on the memorial garden, and the opulent 15,000-square-foot mansion. Also see Elvis’ custom jets and his favorite automobiles! Return to Memphis mid-afternoon and, if you haven’t done so already, get a taste of Memphis with some southern barbecue or visit the Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum near historic Beale Street.

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 the opportunity for exploring this lively city on your own.

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, 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. This evening, perhaps join an optional Mississippi River dinner cruise, and enjoy a delightful buffet dinner complete with live jazz—the perfect finale to a memorable touring adventure of the South.

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.

 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."”

Tour Director - BARBARA BURYIAK

 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)


Nashville
Memphis
New Orleans

Nashville

Dinner with a Nashville Songwriter

Dinner with a Nashville Songwriter

Nashville music is all about the songwriters and tonight you will get your chance to get up close and personal with a professional tunesmith.

Price Range: $$

Memphis

Sun Studio & Dinner on Beale Street

Sun Studio & Dinner on Beale Street

Step back to the early years of rock `n roll on this tour of Sun Studio, where Elvis, Johnny Cash, and other future stars got their start, then enjoy a fantastic dinner on iconic Beale Street!

Price Range: $$

New Orleans

Plantation Tours

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

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

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.

Price Range: $$



The "Starting at" or listed price is based on the lowest price available to book. Price is per passenger based on double occupancy and does not include International airfare; additional fees/charges are not included. If a price is crossed out, the new price includes a limited time promotional offer(s) – please review current promotions or deals for additional information. Some tours require intra-vacation flights (and in some cases intra-vacation segments must be purchased from Cosmos).

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