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 impressive 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 two nights in Nashville

Memphis is renowned as the ‘Home of the Blues’ and the ‘Birthplace of Rock ’n’ Roll’. Spend your evenings on Beale Street, where W.C. Handy first penned the Blues music of the Mississippi Delta. Stretching for several blocks, you can enjoy bars, nightclubs and restaurants offering a variety of food and live music, including traditional Blues, Rhythm and Blues, Jazz and Rock ‘n’ Roll. Be sure to hear live Blues at BB King’s or Rum Boogie Café.

 

During the day visit 'Graceland', the home of Elvis Presley, who is the biggest influence on country, blues and rock and roll music. Also worth visiting is Sun Studio which opened in 1950 and a place where many great names have passed through. Outside of music, you may also like to pay a visit to the National Civil Rights Museum located in the former Lorraine Hotel, where Martin Luther King was assassinated or visit the Gibson guitar factory to completely immerse yourself in the fascinating musical heritage of this city.

Stay two nights in Memphis

Heading out of Memphis across the Mississippi you will immediately arrive into Arkansas, ‘The Natural State’ and its delta region. A short 40 minute drive will put you into Dyess, best known as the boyhood home of country superstar Johnny Cash. Tour the Dyess Museum which outlines the fascinating story of the town and Johnny Cash’s early life, and then tour the boyhood home furnished as it appeared when the Cash family lived there.

 

North of Dyess lies the rural Arkansas community of Walnut Ridge, whose small population turned out to greet a plane carrying the Beatles, the biggest rock band in the World at the time, on 18th September 1964. In downtown Walnut Ridge sits a commemorative sculpture which makes for a great photo opportunity as you take in the town’s unique small town American character, small town diners and coffee shops.

 

Continuing east you will start to see the landscape start to change as you make your way into hills and Ozark town of Mountain view. Established in the 1870s, Mountain View is known for its preservation of folkways and traditional music. In the downtown area you can delight in local fare such as authentic Ozark BBQ and locally caught Catfish. Nearby you will find the stunning Blanchard caves and exhilarating Syllamo Mountain Bike Trail. Visit the Ozark Folk Center State Park for a fascinating insight into the region’s heritage in music, crafts, and herbs. It is also home to a 1,000 seat theatre which hosts live concerts every Thursday through Saturday.

Stay two nights in Mountain View

Heading further east you will reach the charming and eclectic hillside town of Eureka Springs. Nestled deep in the steep Ozark hills, Eureka Springs is a truly unique Arkansas destination. With a network of charming Victorian buildings lining its winding streets, the downtown historic district is awash with boutiques, art galleries and lively bars and restaurants. The best way to explore the city is on a hop-on-hop-off trolley tour that takes in all the key spots. Known for its laid back atmosphere and year round festivals, Eureka Springs is a perfect spot for exploring the surrounding area. 

Stay two nights in Eureka Springs

1886 Crescent Hotel and New Moon Spa perched above the Village of Eureka Springs – a perfect place to stay for a full day in the spa with a many spa treatments to choose from

The 1905 Basin Park Hotel and Spa in the centre of Eureka Springs – a very comfortable hotel with the magnificent Spa1905.  

The Palace Hotel and Bath House, a historic property where guests can enjoy a mineral bath, soothing steam treatment and other spa options. 

In Bentonville you are exploring the very north-west corner of Arkansas. This small rural town is actually home to one of the USA’s largest corporations dating back 75 years – the Walmart Superstore chain. The original store, located on Bentonville’s charming square is now a small museum charting the company’s history and that of its charismatic founder - Sam Walton. Outside of the town is Crystal Bridges a world class museum dedicated to American art and artists. 

Stay one night in Bentonville

The state capital and largest city, Little Rock, is brimming with southern history mixed with contemporary creativity and a bustling downtown area, awash with lively restaurants and bars. Use the charming and extensive streetcar system to see all there is across the city. At the centre of downtown is Riverfront Park, set in 33 acres of urban parkland. Here you’ll discover the original ‘Little Rock’ that gives the city its name. The park is a part of the 14 mile Arkansas River Trail, popular with cyclists, joggers and walkers. 

 

Stroll across the Clinton Presidential Park Bridge, a repurposed former railway bridge, to the William J Clinton Library & Museum, constructed in honour of Arkansas’ most famous citizen. Little Rock was home to Bill Clinton for over 16 years whilst as State Governor and Presidential candidate. The Clinton Presidential Center presents a unique perspective of the work – past, present, and future – of the 42nd President of the United States, William Jefferson Clinton. The library's permanent collection includes an exact replica of President Clinton's Oval Office, the presidential limousine, and a timeline with exhibits for each year of Clinton's presidency.

 

There is also a strong civil rights history and African American Heritage with the Little Rock Central High School Historic Site, a National Park and the fascinating Mosaic Cultural Center. Tour the exhibits at the fascinating visitors centre and be sure to take a park ranger tour that outlines the history and events from the late 1950’s that shook a nation. The Mosaic Templars Cultural Center invites you to explore the achievements of Little Rocks African American community and its strong fraternal organisations, especially in business, politics and the arts.

Stay two nights in Little Rock

Just over an hour’s drive to the south of Little Rock you will come to the elegant spa town of Hot Springs. Nestled in the beautiful Ouachita Mountains, Hot Springs is renowned for its network of thermal waters, eight of which form the Hot Springs National Park. The Hot Springs are particularly famous because they have no sulphur in them. This small urban park includes eight beautiful bathhouses set along what is known as bathhouse row. One of the Bathhouses has been converted into the National Park visitor centre. Hot Springs also has a vivid gangster heritage, having welcomed the likes of Al Capone as a place where mobsters could come for refuge and relaxation. There is a museum showcasing the era when the city played host to the gangsters and bars themed to the period. 

Stay two nights in Hot Springs

The Buckstaff Bathhouse is a traditional thermal water bathhouse in Hot Springs National Park. Enjoy the bathhouse together with massages, manicures, pedicures and facials to further enhance your experience.   

Quapaw Baths and Spa was built in a Spanish Colonial Revival style and was established in 1922, named after a Native American tribe that once held land in the area. It has thermal spas, a natural steam cave and a large variety of treatments.

Hotel Hale is located on Bathhouse Row in Hot Springs. It was one of the oldest Bathhouses but has now been converted into a luxurious hotel with 9 rooms, each with a bath with the geothermal Hot Springs mineral water pumped into them. You will have the the opportunity to try out Hot Springs' famous baths without ever having to leave the comfort of your hotel room. 

The Waters Hot Springs is a newly renovated boutique hotel in the centre of Hot Springs, just a minutes’ walk from both the Buckstaff Bathhouse and Quapaw Bathhouse. It has a rooftop bar with great views as well as a restaurant.

Lookout Point Lakeside Inn is set in a beautiful location on the lake outside of Hot Springs, about 15 minutes’ drive to either the Buckstaff Bathhouse or Quapaw Baths and Spa. It offers a range of activities on the lake, yoga, tranquil gardens and hammocks.

 

Drive via the small town of Hope, where the birthplace home of President Bill Clinton is open for tours. From here you will head to the border town of Texarkana, half in Arkansas and half in Texas. State Line Avenue, the city’s main street and the state’s dividing line is home to the State Line Post Office and Federal Building, the only U.S. post office straddled across two states. This building is the most photographed courthouse in the country after the Supreme Court Building in Washington D.C.

Carry on to Dallas – things are bigger in Texas and Dallas is no exception! Explore the city including some great shopping, the largest urban arts district in the nation, 13 entertainment districts and the famous Pioneer Plaza with the world’s largest bronze monument of 3 cowboys driving 40 long-horn steers. Visit the 6th Floor Museum which presents the life, death and legacy of President John F. Kennedy. You'll find numerous galleries with vast art collections and fascinating museums, as well as some terrific local steakhouses.