Southern Sights and Sounds

Atlanta • Chattanooga • Lynchburg • Nashville • Graceland • Memphis • Vicksburg • Natchez • Baton Rouge • New Orleans • Houston

Dinner on day 11

The rich musical heritage of America’s deep south is the theme of this popular tour, which has been earning plaudits from Titan clients for over a decade. We visit the birthplaces of jazz, blues, country and western music, the home of the legendary king of rock ‘n’ roll Elvis Presley and the music capitals of Nashville, Memphis and New Orleans. We enjoy a jazz cruise on the Mississippi, and visit one of the grand mansions of the ‘Gone with the Wind’ days. In all, a truly unique medley of Sights and Sounds.DAY 1 LONDON • ATLANTA
We begin with Titan HiTours Home Departure Service to London Heathrow Airport and your scheduled British Airways flight direct to Atlanta in Georgia. On arrival our coach transfers you to the Hilton Hotel or Hyatt Place.

DAY 2 ATLANTA • CHATTANOOGA
This morning we take a tour of the city forever associated with “Gone With The Wind” which includes a visit to the Martin Luther King Memorial. Our interesting tour concludes at Underground Atlanta where you take lunch before we journey to Chattanooga. On arrival we check into the Holiday Inn Chattanooga Choo Choo, the converted railway station of Glenn Miller fame.

DAY 3 CHATTANOOGA
Although there is no longer a Chattanooga Choo- Choo, the hotel commissioned a life-sized model, which is permanently parked in their back yard. Railway enthusiasts still flock to this town, which has the largest old-time steam railroad in the South. Today we board an equally exciting means of transport - The Incline Railway which runs steeply up Lookout Mountain and affords wonderful views of terrain fought over during the American Civil War. The rest of the day is free for you to make your own discoveries.

DAY 4 LYNCHBURG • NASHVILLE
This morning we travel to the small town of Lynchburg to tour the Jack Daniels Distillery where every bottle of the famous sippin’ whiskey has been produced since 1866. Interestingly, no liquor can be bought from this famous location due to a law held over from the prohibition era. Later we travel to the “Queen of Tennessee Plantations”, Belle Meade, located on the outskirts of Nashville, where our tour centres around the 1853 Greek Revival mansion. After our tour we transfer to the Opryland Resort located next to the famous Grand Ole Opry and our base for the next two nights.

DAY 5 NASHVILLE
Nashville is a city of contrasts famous as the country music capital of the world and also called the ‘Athens of the South’ having, as it does, the only full scale replica of the Greek Parthenon. Our morning tour introduces you to the facets of the city including the Parthenon replica and the Country Music Hall of Fame. You may wish to take an optional excursion to the mecca of Country and Western Music, The Grand ’Ole Opry, which is America’s longest running scheduled show having never missed a Saturday performance since it was first broadcast on radio in 1925. This excursion is available on day four or five (depending on availability) and is bookable ‘Natchez’ Paddle Steamer prior to departure.

DAY 6 NASHVILLE • TUPELO • MEMPHIS
Today we travel south to Tupelo, Elvis Presley's birthplace. Here we have time to explore the humble two-roomed shack where Elvis lived in his early years and the small museum. Later we continue to Memphis, home of Elvis Presley and W.C. Handy who, after publishing "Memphis Blues" in 1912 followed by "St Louis Blues" and "Beale St Blues," became known as the "Father of the Blues". On arrival we check into the Holiday Inn Select or the Marriott for the next three nights.

DAY 7 MEMPHIS
This morning we take a short orientation tour before experiencing a true highlight of the holiday as we visit legendary Graceland, home of Elvis Presley. Explore the mansion and grounds of his estate on a well presented audio walking tour which has an emotional conclusion at his final resting place, adorned with many donated mementos which the Presley family still regularly receive. Your ticket also includes the Elvis Presley Automobile Museum, the Lisa Marie and Hound Dog II JetStar planes. This afternoon you are free in Memphis and you may wish to take afternoon tea at the famous Peabody Hotel or watch the famous daily parade of ducks at the lobby fountain.

DAY 8 MEMPHIS
A free day at your leisure. You may wish to take one of the optional excursions available, including a cruise on the Mississippi, a visit to Mud Island River Park where you can visit the Mississippi River museum or a visit to Sun Studios, the famous recording studio where stars such as Elvis, Johnny Cash and BB King first recorded.

DAY 9 MEMPHIS • VICKSBURG
South to Vicksburg, whose Mississippi location gave control over shipping to the Confederate forces during the Civil War until General Grant’s victory following a 47- day siege. These events are commemorated at the handsomely laid-out Vicksburg National Military Park, which we tour. Some equally handsome antebellum homes and the restored candy shop where Coca Cola was first bottled in 1894 can be seen in this district. We overnight at the Rainbow Casino Hotel.

DAY 10 BATON ROUGE • NEW ORLEANS
We follow Ol’ Man River to Natchez, central port for the cotton trade in the early 18th century, whose many grand mansions and estates bear witness to the wealth of those days. These homes indicate the sumptuous scale of society life, reminiscent of a film set from ‘Gone with the Wind’. After visiting one of these mansions, we cross into Louisiana and the old plantation town of Baton Rouge, with its charming river front, before arriving in New Orleans for a brief orientation tour. Our hotel is the Marriott or Intercontinental, ideally located for exploring the city.

DAY 11 NEW ORLEANS
New Orleans is Nashville’s natural rival as Southern America’s great city of music - though here the traditional jazz has a flavour of its own. The Quarter has a number of pleasant bars and restaurants with patios for dining al fresco. A free day to sample its delights by day and by night. This evening we cruise, wine and dine and enjoy a traditional jazz band on board The Natchez, the only genuine paddle steamer on the Mississippi River at New Orleans.

DAY 12 NEW ORLEANS • HOUSTON
We drive through Louisiana into the ‘lone star’ state of Texas to Houston, oil capital of the USA and space capital of the world. We check in to the Sheraton Suites Hotel and your evening is free to explore.

DAY 13 HOUSTON • LONDON
This morning we visit Space Center Houston. Here you will see the huge rockets, space shuttles and other exhibits. NASA still train American astronauts and control all manned space flights here. In the afternoon we transfer to Houston Airport for our direct scheduled British Airways flight to London Heathrow.OR EXTEND YOUR STAY - CALL FOR DETAILS

DAY 14 LONDON
Arrival at London Heathrow Airport where our staff will greet you and transfer you to Titan transport for your journey home to your own front door.Duration 14 days, 12 nights in hotels –1 Atlanta, 2 Chattanooga, 2 Nashville, 3 Memphis, 1 Vicksburg, 2 New Orleans, 1 Houston & 1 in flight.

Titan HiTours VIP Home Departure Service™

Check-in service by Titan staff.

Scheduled British Airways direct flights

Transfers to and from American airports.

First class air-conditioned coaching with experienced drivers

Accommodation as specified in brochure or of a similar standard.

Excursions, tours and entrances as detailed in the itinerary.

Hotel porterage (1 bag per person).

All airport taxes, security charges and the UK Air Passenger Duty and applicable fuel surcharges