Natchez Trace Parkway
12 nights
From £1815 per person

Price includes: Flights, accommodation and car hire
 Day 1 -  Fly from the UK to Nashville

Known as ‘Music City’, Nashville’s music history goes back to the late 1700s, but is more recently associated with country music. Today you can hear all genres of music in the variety of venues in the city, from the back-street honky-tonks to the newly constructed Schermerhorn Symphony Center. Take a free dance lesson at the Wild Horse Saloon, tour the Country Music Hall of Fame and RCA’s Studio B. Visit the Grand Ole Opry, the world's longest running radio show and a recommended highlight, and also the Ryman Auditorium, the original home of the Grand Ole Opry.

Stay three nights in Nashville

Day 4 -  Collect a rental car and drive to Florence, approx. 140 miles

Begin your Natchez Trace journey today and south-west into Alabama. The northwest corner of Alabama known as ‘The Shoals’, brings you a cluster of cities bursting with musical talent – Tuscumbia, Florence, Sheffield and Muscle Shoals lining the banks of the Tennessee River. Visit the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in Tuscumbia which showcases some of the state’s famous music icons including WC Handy, Jimmie Rodgers, Sam Phillips, Hank Williams, Nat King Cole, The Temptations, Alabama and the Commodores. As well as music, in Florence you can explore local history at the Pope’s Tavern Museum, visit Frank Lloyd Wright’s Rosenbaum House and enjoy some fantastic southern cuisine in one of the downtown restaurants. There is also a wide variety of outdoor recreation to enjoy at Pickwick Lake, Wheeler Lake, Wilson Lake and Coldwater Falls.

Stay one night in Florence

Day 5 -  Drive to Tupelo, approx. 95 miles

Stay one night in Tupelo

Tupelo is most well known as the birthplace of Elvis, and offers a unique blend of fascinating history, diverse recreation, a variety of shopping venues and interesting attractions. Visit Elvis’ Birthplace, Tupelo Hardware, where Elvis bought his first guitar, or the award-winning Elvis Presley Museum. Tupelo also boasts plenty of Civil War history. Take a scenic drive along the Natchez Trace Parkway, a historic route through some beautiful countryside with places to hike or just take in the view. 

Day 6 -  Drive to Jackson, approx. 175 miles

Continue south today on the scenic Natchez Trace Parkway, to Jackson, the capital city of Mississippi, and known as the ‘City with Soul’. The first thing to do here is to visit the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum which promotes a greater understanding of the Mississippi Civil Rights Movement and its impact, by highlighting the strength and sacrifices of its people. The state- wide Mississippi Freedom Trail runs through the city, encompassing a number of historic sites that were significant in the Civil Rights Movement. Jackson also boasts a vibrant music scene and places throughout the city where you can find live music, as well as a range of dining options, from small ‘mom and pop’ restaurants to nationally renowned chefs.

Stay two nights in Jackson

Day 8 -  Drive to Vicksburg, approx. 45 miles

Vicksburg sits on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi and Yazoo Rivers, and the setting of a bloody 47-day siege during the Civil War. The site of this epic battle is now Vicksburg National Military Park, preserving original fortifications and the U.S.S. Cairo, an iron-clad gunboat that once prowled the waters of the Mississippi River. Vicksburg is also the place where Coca-Cola was first bottled, a fact that is happily immortalized at the Biedenharn Coca-Cola Museum. 

Stay one night in Vicksburg

Day 9 -  Drive to Natchez, approx. 70 miles

The original capital of the Mississippi Territory, Natchez, was at the heart of the slave trade and is the birthplace of the Mississippi Riverboat. Why not go for a self-guided tour through the streets of Natchez' historic district with over 50 antebellum homes and historic churches. Worthy of a visit is the "Under the Hill" area made famous by Mark Twain or explore one of the most interesting cemeteries in the South. 

Stay two nights in Natchez

Day 11 -  Drive to New Orleans, approx. 170 miles and drop-off your car on arrival

New Orleans is a city that marches to the beat of its own drum. A stop at the French Quarter Visitor Center unit of the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park introduces you to the traditions and life in the area. There is music playing every evening in the French Quarter. Try the Maison Bourbon Jazz Club or the House of Blues for music. Also check to see if there are performances scheduled for Preservation Hall. Magazine Street is a great place for shopping, including antiques.

Stay two nights in New Orleans

Day 13 -  Fly from New Orleans back to the UK
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