New Orleans to Memphis

Visit the Memphis Rock ’n’ Soul Museum and witness some of the city’s historic music-related landmarks. Travel by motor coach through the city, passing the Memphis Pyramid, the world’s sixth-largest pyramid, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Then, view legendary Beale Street, its nightclubs a melting pot of delta blues, jazz, rock ’n’ roll and R&B; and Sun Studio, the “Birthplace of Rock ’n’ Roll” where pioneers such as Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, B.B. King and Jerry Lee Lewis recorded their early records. Then, stop to explore the Smithsonian-affiliated Memphis Rock ’n’ Soul Museum, its array of exhibits tracing the development of Memphis, Mississippi Delta and Midsouth music. At the end of your tour, you will have free time to explore on your own, perhaps visiting the historic Peabody hotel to watch the duck march.

Roam the storied streets of Memphis during a guided tour highlighting the city’s history and musical heritage. You will meet your knowledgeable local guide, who will plot your course to several of the city’s most important landmarks. Set out on foot to admire views overlooking the Mighty Mississippi River from atop the bluffs that Memphis calls home. Stroll down iconic Beale Street, learning more about the city’s musical pedigree and its crucial role in the development of rock ’n’ roll, blues, jazz and R&B over the past century. Walk along Cotton Row, the historic hub of the important cotton industry, and gaze upon the historic neoclassical and Beaux-Arts style buildings that once housed merchants and brokers that line the waterfront. Cap your tour with an opportunity to browse the shops and assorted businesses along bustling Main Street.

Make a rock ’n’ roll pilgrimage to Graceland, the legendary, memorabilia-filled home of Elvis Presley. The moment you pass through the sheet-music-shaped wrought iron gates, you will find yourself immersed in the world Elvis inhabited between 1957 and 1977. See the living room with its 15-foot-long couch; the famous Jungle Room, where many songs were composed; the Pool Room, covered in hundreds of yards of pleated paisley fabric; and the Trophy Building showcasing dozens of gold and platinum records as well as other Presley family mementos. You will also see Elvis’s collection of cars and his private planes before spending some reflective time near his grave in the Meditation Garden. This tour is for all Elvis fans—and anyone interested in the history of American music.

Discover the timeless sounds and legendary performers from two seminal genres of American music. Head to historic Sun Studio, “the Birthplace of Rock ’n’ Roll,” where legendary producer Sam Phillips launched the careers of Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, Ike Turner and more. Hear session outtakes and see priceless memorabilia of the pioneers who blended blues and country into a new and electrifying genre. After, continue to the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, standing on the site of the onetime recording studio dubbed “Soulsville USA.” Started by siblings Estelle Axton and Jim Stewart, Stax Records is where artists like Otis Redding and Wilson Pickett brought Memphis soul to a worldwide audience. Tour the studio, then browse the museum’s expansive collection of vintage equipment, costumes and personal items. After, return to your hotel.

Experience a night of live music and Southern-inspired fare at the legendary Lafayette’s Music Room. Originally opened in 1972, during its short, four-year existence, this historic venue on Madison Avenue played a crucial role in shaping Memphis’s vibrant music scene, playing host to up-and-coming artists, as well as superstars from a diverse range of genres. Reopened in 2014 at a new location in lively Overton Square, today’s incarnation continues in the tradition of its predecessor. Upon arrival at this intimate setting, take a seat at your reserved table and prepare to dine on delicious Southern cuisine that draws on dishes from the Delta down to New Orleans. While you eat, enjoy a rousing live music performance as some of the area’s best musicians take to the stage. At the end of the evening, you will return to your hotel.

Explore the legacy of the Memphis Blues on a journey through the city’s legendary music scene. Drive into the city, to meet your guide—filmmaker, author and historian, Will Bearden—and set off on foot down Beale Street, a National Historic Landmark and the heart of Memphis’s jazz scene. See the neon lights of blues clubs as you walk and learn how the street was once a hub for Black-owned businesses and culture during the early 20th century. Arrive at Mr. Handy’s Blues Hall, named for W. C Handy, the “Father of the Blues,” and one of the last real juke joints of Beale Street. Here, sit down for a dinner of Southern fare and a live performance by a local musician. Continue next door to the Rum Boogie Café to watch their house band play the Blues. While you listen, see the Guitar Wall, including autographed guitars from B. B. King and Stevie Ray Vaughan.