Iconic Southern Music Cities: Nashville Memphis &

Departure Info:

Yankee Trails, Rensselaer -7:00am

Monday, Oct 26

Your Broadway to Beale Street adventure begins as you depart Rensselaer, NY and journey south through the rolling hills of New York's Hudson Valley. Travel past picturesque farmland, charming small towns, and stretches of the Blue Ridge foothills as you make your way into Virginia. The scenery shifts from the northern countryside to the timeless beauty of the Shenandoah Valley before arriving in historic Staunton, VA, a welcoming town filled with old-world charm and Southern hospitality. Tonight's dinner is at the Wood Grill Buffet, known for it's amazing variety of mouth-watering options. The buffet features a wide selection of meats, carving stations, and a magnificent cooking area where you can watch your food being prepared. It's also stocked with plenty of homemade casseroles, garden fresh salads and fruits, country-style vegetables, bread straight-from-the-oven, a wide selection of desserts. Enjoy a one-night stay at Tru by Hilton Staunton, VA, a modern and stylish hotel designed with comfort and convenience in mind. Bright, open spaces and a welcoming lobby create a relaxed atmosphere, perfect for gathering with fellow travelers.

Tuesday: Oct 27

Enjoy a delicious breakfast to start the day off right. Today, depart Staunton, Virginia, and travel south into the scenic beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Your journey takes you along portions of the picturesque Blue Ridge Parkway, often called "America's Favorite Drive." Rolling hills, forested ridges, and sweeping vistas unfold mile after mile, offering countless opportunities to enjoy the changing scenery. Continue through charming mountain towns and lush valleys as you make your way into North Carolina, where the landscape becomes even more dramatic. By late afternoon, arrive in the vibrant city of Asheville, nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge, known for its lively arts scene, historic architecture, and the grandeur of the nearby Biltmore Estate. Indulge in an unforgettable overnight stay at The Village Hotel on Biltmore Estate, where refined comfort and timeless elegance come together in the heart of George Vanderbilt's magnificent property. Enjoy free time on your own in Antler Hill Village, a lively hub on the Biltmore Estate that blends history shopping & entertainment. Step into the renowned Biltmore Winery for a complimentary tasting. Sample award winning vintages crafted right on the estate. Delight in an included dinner at Cedric's Tavern this evening, where rich flavors and elevated tavern classics are served in an inviting yet sophisticated setting.

Wednesday Oct 28

Your hot breakfast this morning will included be at The Village Social on the Biltmore Estate. Visit Biltmore House, America's largest privately owned home, and cross the threshold into a world of beauty virtually unchanged for more than a century Savor a self-guided visit to Biltmore House exploring grand spaces filled with masterpieces of art and stunning antiques. Enjoy a charming dining experience at The Stable Café, located in the beautifully restored 19th-century stables of the Biltmore Estate. Once home to the Vanderbilt family's prized horses, the café now offers a unique blend of rustic elegance and modern comfort. Beneath soaring ceilings and original brick archways, you'll savor hearty Southern favorites and seasonal specialties made with fresh, local ingredients. Visit Dollywood Theme Park, known for its world-class entertainment, amazing thrill rides, and family friendly adventure. At Dollywood you'll enjoy live stage shows, the Dolly Museum, real train rides, the American Eagle habitat. You'll also enjoy watching Dollywood's master craftsmen and artisans at work proudly continuing the centuries-old traditions of hand-making their arts & crafts with daily demonstrations. Dollywood offers you the chance to immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the Smoky Mountains and the incredible spirit of its people. The new Dolly Parton Experience which opened in 2024 with a number of interactive elements to make you feel as if you were alongside Dolly as she journeyed from Locust Ridge to stages around the world. Housed in multiple buildings, the multi-faceted Dolly Parton Experience includes exhibits which span her iconic career, the inspiration and results of her biggest dreams, the importance of her family, and even a curated exhibit that highlights Dolly's signature style through the years. The Dolly Parton Experience provides guests more Dolly than ever, as it is three times the size of the former Chasing Rainbows Museum. The entire Adventures in Imagination area transforms into the Dolly Parton Experience. Delight in a one-night stay at the Hampton Inn & suites in Pigeon Forge, TN. Tonight, join in on some Feudin', Feastin' Family Fun! Become a part of the longest running family feud in history at the Hatfield & McCoy Dinner & Show. Help them solve their differences mountain style. Whether you're city folk or country cousins you'll love the singing, dancing, jaw dropping stunts and the side-splitting comedy!

Thursday, Oct 29

A hot breakfast awaits you this morning. After breakfast, receive a fully guided Great Smoky Mountains Experience, enroute to a mile-high location with epic views, The Newfound Gap! The group will acquire a knowledge of the area plants, animals, pioneers, Native Americans, and of course, hear all the fun-facts about the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the most visited national park in America. Once at Newfound Gap, the passengers will be at a very important historic spot where a national park dedication took place in 1940, right at the North Carolina / Tennessee border, on the Appalachia trail. On the way down the mountain from the Newfound Gap, back to Pigeon Forge, there will be more spectacular photo opportunities, lots of history and local lore stories. Lunch will be on your own before your departure for Nashville, TN. Upon arrival you'll check into th Gaylord Opryland resort for a three-night stay. Tonight you're off to the Nashville Nightlife for buffet dinner followed by "Best of Country" show. Come and experience a celebration of Country Music from both past and present. Hear songs from many of the great artists in country music history along with today's hottest superstars. Enjoy the music of everyone from Hank Williams Sr. and Patsy Cline to the superstars of today like Sara Evans and Toby Keith! Throughout the season we have many guest stars appear at the theater including: (Grand Ole Opry Star) Jeannie Seely, "The Fiddle Man" Tim Watson, Diana Murrell, "Nashville's favorite" Brenda Best, Paula Poe Murrell (from the Tammy Wynette show) and many other celebrities. (2026 show schedule TBD)

Friday, Oct 30

Delight in an included breakfast at the Gaylord Opryland Resort. Then you're off on the Nashville Troubadour tour. Step into the heart of country music with a one-of-a-kind Nashville tour led by a charismatic singing guide! This immersive experience blends storytelling, sightseeing, and live performance into a toe-tapping adventure through the city's most iconic landmarks. Next, enjoy the General Jackson Showboat. This is Luncheon Cruise on the world's grandest showboat that offers a delicious meal and top notch entertainment while cruising Nashville's majestic Cumberland River. After the cruise, experience a guided tour of the Ryman Auditorium, the legendary "Mother Church of Country Music." Step behind the curtain and explore the very spaces where music history was made-dressing rooms once used by country icons, gospel greats, and rock legends alike. Your guide shares fascinating stories of the Ryman's transformation from a historic tabernacle to one of the most revered stages in the world. Then enjoy free time in downtown Nashville along lively Broadway Avenue, where the sound of live music spills out of every honky-tonk. Stroll between legendary bars and music venues, soak up the electric atmosphere, and browse unique shops filled with Nashville souvenirs and local treasures. Dinner is included tonight. In the heart of Downtown Nashville, Ole Red is inspired by Opry member Blake Shelton's clever, irreverent song about the Warden's dog, "Ol' Red

Saturday, Oct 31

Delight in an included breakfast at the Gaylord Opryland Resort. Then step inside the legendary RCA Studio B, the birthplace of the "Nashville Sound" and one of the most famous recording studios in the world. On your guided tour, you'll hear stories of the countless music legends who recorded here, including Elvis Presley, Dolly Parton, Roy Orbison, and The Everly Brothers. Walk through the historic studio where over 35,000 songs were brought to life, and learn how the unique sound shaped country and popular music. Your guide will share behind-the-scenes details and fascinating anecdotes that make this studio a true landmark in music history. Next, discover the heart and soul of country music at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, one of Nashville's most iconic attractions. Known as the "Smithsonian of country music," the museum features dynamic exhibits, rare recordings, historic photographs, and countless artifacts-including stage costumes, instruments, and personal treasures from the biggest names in the industry. Stroll through interactive galleries that trace the history and evolution of the genre, from its roots to today's superstars. Free time on Broadway will follow for lunch, honky tonkin' & shopping. We will then return to the hotel for free time to freshen up before our included dinner at Paula Deen's Family Kitchen located right near the Grand Ole Opry. Tonight, enjoy the Grand Ole Opry. For 100 years, country's best have mesmerized audiences at the Grand Ole Opry Live Radio Show, the show that made country music famous. Each Opry show features an array of performances by new stars, superstars and legends of country music as well as great bluegrass, comedy and more. Opry shows are never rehearsed and never the same show twice. (2026 Show subject to availability.)

Sunday, November 1

Delight in an included breakfast at the Gaylord Opryland Resort before our departure for Memphis, TN. First, visit the Tina Turner Schoolhouse Museum celebrating the music, cotton and beauty of the Tennessee Delta. It features the home of Blue pioneer "Sleepy" John Estes and Flagg Grove School, the childhood school of Tina Turner. This one room schoolhouse attended by a young Anna Mae Bullock (aka Tina Turner), is now home to a collection of the Queen of Rock's personal memorabilia including costumes and gold records. Even her high school yearbook is included among the treasures. Then it's on to Graceland. Your Graceland experience begins with lunch on your own at one of the estate's inviting restaurants. Choose from Vernon's Smokehouse, where slow-smoked Southern barbecue takes center stage, or Gladys' Diner, a nostalgic 1950s-inspired spot serving burgers, fries, and hand-spun milkshakes. It's the perfect way to fuel up before your tour! After lunch, continue to the mansion audio tour, where you'll step inside Elvis Presley's private world. Guided by a narrated audio experience, you'll walk through rooms filled with personal treasures, iconic décor, and stories of the King's life. From the famous Jungle Room to exhibits highlighting his career and legacy, the tour offers a captivating glimpse into the home and history of the man who changed music forever. After the tour you'll go to your accommodations, at the Hampton Inn & Suites Beale Street in the heart of downtown Memphis. The hotel is just steps from the music, dining, and nightlife of famous Beale Street. Dinner will be your own at your leisure. Choose from a variety of lively restaurants and eateries offering everything from authentic Memphis barbecue to Southern specialties, all with the sounds of live blues and jazz filling the air.

Monday, November 2

Breakfast is included at the hotel this morning. Depart Memphis, TN and begin your journey north toward Cincinnati, OH. As you leave Memphis, you'll cross the wide Mississippi River and travel through the rolling farmland of western Tennessee. The route carries you into Kentucky's bluegrass country, where you'll pass miles of gently sloping hills, horse pastures, and stretches of lush countryside dotted with small towns. Approaching Cincinnati, the scenery shifts to more wooded hills and the Ohio River Valley, offering glimpses of the river and the city skyline as you arrive in Ohio. Tonight's accommodations are at the Drury Inn. Enjoy dinner on your own this evening at the Drury Inn & Suites Manager's Kickback Reception that is included & available between 5:30 and 7:00pm. This casual evening social features a rotating menu of hot food, freshly prepared appetizers, salads, and tempting snacks, along with complimentary beverages. It's the perfect way to relax, unwind, and enjoy a light meal at your leisure after a day of travel.

Tuesday, November 3

A hot breakfast is included to start your day off right! We will continue homeward, and travel to our hotel, the Springhill Suites in Erie, PA. Enjoy a memorable farewell dinner at 1794 Cork Restaurant in Erie, PA. Set in a warm and inviting space, the restaurant blends historic charm with contemporary elegance. Whether you're reflecting on the journey or raising a toast to new memories, the evening promises to be a fitting, delicious finale to your travels.

Wednesday, Nov. 4

A buffet breakfast is included at the hotel before we depart for home. Stops will be made with an approximate arrival back in the Capital District at 3pm.

LU=Lunch, DN=Dinner, FB=Full Breakfast