DAY 1 Covington
Arrive at Northern Kentucky/Cincinnati Airport before transferring to Covington, Kentucky, overlooking the Ohio River and the cityscape of Cincinnati.
O/N: Covington, Kentucky Suggested Hotels: Hotel Covington | Embassy Suites by Hilton
DAY 2 Covington
Must-dos
1. Stroll across the Roebling Suspension Bridge (a prototype of the Brooklyn Bridge) spanning the Ohio River and take in the Cincinnati River Front with its parks, baseball and American football stadiums, plus neighbouring entertainment and dining districts.
2. The banks of the Ohio River in Cincinnati meant freedom to entrapped enslaved people, and the striking National Underground Railroad Freedom Center portrays three centuries of slavery from its introduction into the Americas to its abolition at the end of the American Civil War.
3. Before there was Las Vegas... there was Newport, Kentucky. Rising from the profits of bootlegging during Prohibition, this little town quickly became the premier US gaming destination. Join a raucous, high-energy Newport Gangster Tour to discover how Newport gave birth to the modern gaming industry.
O/N: Covington, Kentucky Suggested Hotels: Hotel Covington | Embassy Suites by Hilton
DAY 3 Covington to Lexington
Depart Covington and head south toward Lexington, the Horse Capital of the World.
Must-dos
1. The Ark Encounter is a large, state-of-the-art representation of Noah's Ark based on the Genesis flood narrative contained in the Bible. It is 510 feet long, 85 feet wide, and 51 feet high and brings Noah’s story to life.
2. Enjoy Lexington, home to over 450 Thoroughbred and Standardbred farms with many open to the public. For an authentic equine experience, visit the Kentucky Horse Park, the world’s only park dedicated exclusively to the horse.
3. In April or October, make an afternoon of racing at Keeneland Race Course, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
O/N: Lexington, Kentucky Suggested Hotels: 21c | DoubleTree by Hilton Lexington | Griffin Gate Marriott Resort & Spa
DAY 4 Lexington to Louisville
Depart Lexington and head west to Louisville.
Must-dos
1. Louisville is the home of the Kentucky Derby held each May at Churchill Downs. There is racing at Churchill Downs in April, May, June, October and November, and the track is open for tours year-round. The next-door Kentucky Derby Museum offers an excellent hands-on experience and a magnificent audio-visual display that captures the Derby Day atmosphere on a 360° screen.
2. The Ali Center details the life and legacy of the great Muhammad Ali.
3. Don't miss the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, and be sure to sample the Urban Bourbon Trail along Whiskey Row.
O/N: Louisville, Kentucky Suggested Hotels: The Brown Hotel | Galt House | 21c
DAY 5 Louisville to Owensboro
Travel to the heart of Kentucky Bluegrass Music, Owensboro.
Must-dos
1. Visit the birthplace and homestead of the Father of Bluegrass, Bill Monroe, in Rosine.
2. The Bluegrass Hall of Fame & Museum is dedicated to the international history of bluegrass and honours bluegrass pioneers and other legends. There is a wide variety of tours, jam sessions, concerts and festivals.
3. For dinner, head to the Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn in Owensboro. Foodies, celebrities and even former president Bill Clinton love the barbecue here. Try the Kentucky speciality – mutton Bar-B-Q.
O/N: Owensboro, Kentucky Suggested Hotels: Holiday Inn Owensboro Riverfront | Hampton Inn & Suites Downtown Waterfront
DAY 6 Owensboro to Paducah
Follow the Ohio River to Paducah, a UNESCO Creative City.
Must-dos
1. Discover the National Quilt Museum – a truly global destination. Here, you can experience the art of today's quilters, but you can also take part in a quilt-making workshop that will bring you even closer to this amazing art.
2. See the colourful revitalization of the Lower Town Arts District of 19th-century architecture in Historic Downtown.
3. Tour the Hotel Metropolitan and learn of its famous guests such as Billie Holiday and B.B. King.
O/N: Paducah, Kentucky Suggested Hotels: Holiday Inn Paducah Riverfront
DAY 7 Paducah to Memphis
This morning, continue your journey along the Mississippi River to Memphis.
Must-dos
1. Walk in the footsteps of the King of Rock 'n' Roll at Elvis' home, Graceland. The full Graceland experience will take you from Elvis' humble beginnings through his rise to superstardom.
2. Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison and B.B. King all recorded at Sun Studio. Founded by Sam Phillips in 1950, this studio became the heart of the Memphis sound.
3. Enjoy the live music, sizzling soul food, exotic gift shops on Beale Street and a chance to dance the night away.
O/N: Memphis, Tennessee Suggested Hotels: The Peabody Hotel | Hilton Garden Inn Downtown | Central Station Hotel | Hotel Indigo | ARRIVE | Hu. Hotel
DAY 8 More Memphis…
Must-dos
1. The Stax Museum of American Soul Music winds and twists through a labyrinth of exhibits that promote and preserve the legacy of American soul music and its contributions internationally, highlighting musical giants such as Isaac Hayes, Otis Redding, the Staple Singers and Booker T. & the MGs.
2. Located at the historic Lorraine Motel where civil rights leader Dr Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, the National Civil Rights Museum is the only museum of its kind in the country that gives an overview of the American Civil Rights Movement from 1619 to the present.
3. Watch the biggest light show on the Mississippi River and enjoy cocktails at the Hu Rooftop. Mighty Lights takes place every hour on the hour from sundown to a 10 pm finale.
O/N: Memphis, Tennessee Suggested Hotels: The Peabody Hotel | Hilton Garden Inn Downtown | Central Station Hotel | Hotel Indigo | ARRIVE | Hu. Hotel
DAY 9 Even more Memphis…
Must-dos
1. The Memphis Music Hall of Fame honours many of the greatest musicians of all time, who created this city's musical legacy and shook the world to it core!
2. Visit the former Memphis Pyramid arena that reopened in 2015 as one of America's largest retail stores. Take a ride on the tallest first standing elevator in the nation and catch the amazing view of the mighty Mississippi and the city of Memphis from the glass observation deck.
3. Enjoy a farewell drink at Earnestine and Hazel’s with its legendary jukebox and reputation as the inspiration for The Rolling Stones’ Honky Tonk Women.
O/N: Memphis, Tennessee Suggested Hotels: The Peabody Hotel | Hilton Garden Inn Downtown | Central Station Hotel | Hotel Indigo | ARRIVE | Hu. Hotel
DAY 10 Memphis to Cleveland
Follow historic Highway 61 from Memphis to the Mississippi Delta.
Must-dos
1. Begin your Mississippi Delta tour at the Gateway to the Blues Museum & Visitor Center, located on Blues Highway 61 and housed in an original 1895 train depot. It is the perfect start for your journey into the unique blues music heritage of the Delta.
2. Clarksdale’s Delta Blues Museum houses exhibits that focus on the musical legacy that bluesmen have left for the entire world to enjoy.
3. The state-of-the-art GRAMMY Museum Mississippi in Cleveland covers all genres of music and tells the story of the GRAMMY and its winning artists through interactive exhibits.
O/N: Cleveland, Mississippi Suggested Hotels: The Cotton Hotel | Hampton Inn & Suites
DAY 11 Cleveland to Jackson
Continue Highway 61 to Vicksburg and take I-80 west to Jackson.
Must-dos
1. The Vicksburg National Military Park stands in commemoration of the 47-day campaign for Vicksburg and to those who served as well as the thousands who lost their lives. Step-on guides, licensed by the National Park Service, are available for tours of the park and the city.
2. The Mississippi Civil Rights Museum in Jackson promotes a greater understanding of the Mississippi Civil Rights Movement, while the next-door Museum of Mississippi History showcases 15,000 years of history in the state.
3. Explore the Historic Fondren District, Highland Village and the new development at The District at Eastover, all with a wide array of Jackson-owned eateries and boutique shops.
O/N: Jackson, Mississippi Suggested Hotels: The Westin | Old Capitol Inn | Fairview Inn
DAY 12 Jackson to Natchez
Follow the scenic Natchez Trace Parkway from Jackson to Natchez
Must-dos
1. Natchez, the jewel of the Mississippi River, is a "must" on any Southern road trip. It is the oldest permanent settlement on the Mississippi River and in the 1850s had more millionaires per capita than anywhere else in America.
2. Many of the historic homes in Natchez are open daily for tours, and additional homes and gardens are opened to visitors during the annual Spring and Autumn Pilgrimages.
3. Perched on a natural bluff above the Mississippi River with 30-mile views of the river both north and south, Natchez has some of the best sunsets on Ol' Man River, which are best enjoyed while sipping a beverage in a rocking chair on the porch of one of the bars in Natchez-Under-The-Hill.
O/N: Natchez, Mississippi Suggested Hotels: Dunleith | Monmouth | The Grand Natchez
DAY 13-14 Natchez to New Orleans
Follow the Southern section of Highway 61 from Natchez to New Orleans and spend two nights in the Big Easy.
