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800-781-4040
from $2499.00
Best of the Midwest
Or call 800.781.4040
Day 1 Chicago
Arrive to Chicago at any time. Check into our hotel and enjoy the city. Please arrive before 6pm for an important group meeting where you'll meet your Chief Experience Officer (CEO) and the other group members.
Day 2 Louisville
Drive south to Louisville, Kentucky. Founded in 1778 and named after King Louis XVI of France, Louisville is one of the oldest cities in the Appalachian area. Louisville's claim to fame is the Kentucky Derby, the famous horse race that is the first of the three thoroughbred horse races that make up the Triple Crown. Even if you're not lucky enough to see the race itself, the museum is worth a visit. You may also have heard of this area is due to a certain well-known Kentucky bourbon. Jim Beam is distilled 30 minutes from Louisville and they offer free tours to learn all there is to know about this spirit. We’ll stay in Louisville this night, where the local scene is very progressive, independent-minded and always a good time. Wander the waterfront, enjoy the parks or eat up at one of the "Tastiest towns in the South" for 2013. Approximate Distance: 490 km/300 miles Estimated Travel Time: 8 hrs (with stops)
Day 3 Nashville (1D)
After Louisville, it’s on to Nashville, the country music capital of the world, located in the state of Tennessee. Visit the Grand Ole Opry, the show that made country music famous. You might even catch the next rising country western star as they take the stage before they are famous. Check out the incredible Country Music Hall of Fame and see memorabilia from all of the most famous country singers. Our stay in Nashville ends with an included dinner at a country music bar where you can try your hand at the Electric Slide, one of country music's most popular line dances. Condé Nast Traveller ranked Nashville one of the Top 5 Best Places in the World to Visit in 2013 for its trendy new food scene and its tried and tested music scene. If you're looking for the quirky Americana you can only find in the South, check out the Parthenon. The world's only full-scale reproduction of the famous Greek temple gives Nashville the nickname "Athens of the South". Approximate Distance: 300 km/190 miles Estimated Travel Time: 5 hrs (with stops)
Day 4 Asheville
Nestled between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Great Smoky Mountains, this North Carolinian town has made a name for itself. A lively arts and music scene makes the town a welcoming place to stroll around and window shop the galleries. Lovers of Art-Deco architecture will be happy, as there is plenty to admire here. No visit to Asheville is complete without a trip to a local microbrewery. The area is home to eleven craft breweries, starting with the Highland Brewing Company. You can now enjoy around 50 different brews in this mountain town that has been affectionately dubbed "Beer City USA". Approximate Distance: 490 km/300 miles Estimated Travel Time: 8 hrs (with stops)
Day 5 Atlanta
Morning hike in the Great Smoky Mountains, one of America's most visited national parks. This well-known area offers several great day hikes with plant-covered mountains in the spring and summer and stunning foliage in the autumn months. The range offers a high degree of plant and animal diversity with over 17,000 species recorded in the park so far. Continue the journey by driving to Atlanta, Georgia, home to the world-famous Coca-Cola headquarters. This southern city is the ninth largest metropolitan area in the US and was host for the Olympic Games in 1996. Atlanta is an excellent place to try out some serious southern soul food. Ask your CEO to point you towards the nearest dive and load up on fried chicken, biscuits, grits, collard greens, mac n cheese and more. You won't regret it! Approximate Distance: 320 km/200 miles Estimated Travel Time: 6 hrs (with stops)
Day 6-7 Panama City Beach
Drive to Panama City Beach, Florida, known predominately as a Spring Break destination. But with nine miles of coastline on the Gulf of Mexico, the picture-perfect beach is worthy of visitors year-round. The area offers several optional activities such as Jet Ski rental, boat trips, parasailing and charter fishing trips. Approximate Distance: 490 km/300 miles Estimates Travel Time: 8 hrs (with stops)
Day 8-9 New Orleans (1D)
Head west to Louisiana. Enjoy an orientation tour in New Orleans. Take an optional swamp tour or a steam boat ride on the Mississippi. Smell the amazing Creole food that has defined New Orleans. Taste the local cuisine and enjoy some drinks on Bourbon Street as you listen to live jazz music streaming through the streets. Approximate Distance: 531 km/330 miles Estimated Travel Time: 8 hrs (with stops)
Day 10-11 Memphis
Hear the beat in Memphis, Tennessee. Explore the birthplace of Rock 'n' Roll, home of blues and the starting point of soul. Music legends including Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and B.B.King made their marks on Memphis. Opt to walk in the footsteps of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll at Elvis Presley’s home, Graceland. See how the legend lived and discover videos, pictures, stage costumes and much more. Relive history at the National Civil Rights Museum, located where the assassination of Dr Martin Luther King Jr took place in 1968. We can also take a tour of the legendary Sun Records, where Johnny Cash and Elvis got their start. Enjoy another must-see attraction, "The Peabody Hotel" with the now famous Peabody Duck March. The tradition started when the general manager of the hotel and a friend came back from a hunting trip. After a bit too much whiskey they thought it would be funny to put live ducks in the hotel fountain, turns out the guests loved it and several ducks have had a permanent home in the hotel fountain for the last 80 years. Trained by a professional trainer, the duck march happens at 11am and 5pm daily. In the evening, stroll one of America's most famous streets, Beale Street, to immerse yourself in live entertainment. Approximate Distance: 650 km/400 miles Estimated Travel Time: 9 hrs (with stops)
Day 12-13 St Louis (1D)
Leaving Memphis behind, St Louis welcomes you with open arms. The Gateway Arch Riverfront, highlighted by the majestic Gateway Arch, attracts more than four million guests each year. At 630 ft, the nation's tallest man-made monument has plenty of exciting activities. Opt to take the tram ride to the top, see a documentary film and experience a giant screen movie. In the evening enjoy the best barbeque in St Louis, what some claim to be the home of the best barbeque in the whole US. Approximate Distance: 490 km/300 miles Estimated Travel Time: 7 hrs (with stops)
Day 14 Chicago (1D)
One thing is for sure, you'll never be bored in Chicago. Enjoy your last afternoon with an orientation tour and explore the many attractions Chicago has to offer. Opt to visit the famous Willis Tower (formerly knows as Sears Tower). Enjoy Millennium Park and wander on the boardwalk of the Navy Pier. In the evening, get together with the group for a last fun night with an included pizza dinner Chicago-style! Approximate Distance: 490 km/300 miles Estimated Travel Time: 7 hrs (with stops)
Day 15 Chicago
Depart at any time.
Or call 800.781.4040
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