Nashville to New Orleans
This ride is all about immersing yourself in the history and spirit of the Blues that surrounds you in the Deep South. From the Country Music capital of Nashville, you’ll ride roads that sing the history of America. Nightclubs, juke joints, speakeasies, and honky-tonks abound, and the mouth-watering BBQ and bourbon will satisfy the biggest of appetites. You’ll explore the sites where famous musicians were inspired to delve deep into their souls – Memphis, Natchez, and the Devil’s Crossroads. Riding into New Orleans and strolling down Bourbon Street just might be the most magic thing your soul has ever done as well!
Guided Tour – 8 Days / 7 Nights
Day 1
Welcome to Nashville. On the eve of this incredible journey you will meet up with your fellow riders for an orientation meeting at the hotel. Your tour guide will provide you a thorough overview of what to expect in the coming days and answer any last minute questions you may have. I’m sure there may also be cold drink or two to be shared.
Day 2
Today we head south into the southern Appalachian foothills of Tennessee to ride along the beautiful and historic Natchez Trace Parkway. From there, we continue to the famous city of Muscle Shoals. Since the 1960s, the city has been known for music – developing the "Muscle Shoals Sound", as local recording studios (including FAME Studios in the late 1950s and Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in 1969) produced hit records that shaped the history of popular music. Tonight we’ll spend along the shores of the mighty Tennessee River in this lively music and arts district.
Day 3
Today we head to Memphis!! Music lovers around the world know Beale Street, a national historical landmark which showcases the impact Memphis has had on the Blues and Jazz. Legends such as Louis Armstrong, Muddy Waters, Memphis Minnie, and most notably B.B. King, all helped develop the style known as Memphis Blues. One of the city’s most important Rock and Roll icons is Sun Studio, which discovered the talents of Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Roy Orbison. We’ll have plenty of time to explore this amazing city.
Day 4
After a leisurely morning in Memphis, we’ll turn our wheels south once again. And no trip to the South is complete without visiting the blues town of Clarksdale, which preserves and promotes awareness of the Blues. On our way we’ll see more Blues-influenced destinations such as the Gateway to the Blues Museum in Tunica, MS and make a stop at the “Crossroads” where Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil. Tonight, it’s cold drinks and live blues.
Day 5
Today we continue to immerse ourselves in the history of the Mississippi blues. There are tons of Blues Trail Markers to hit today, as well as some incredibly preserved “Juke Joints” such as Po’ Monkeys in Marigold. We’ll ride through plantations of cotton and have lunch where Teddy Roosevelt got his famous name! The food, well, that goes without saying. It’s a menu of soul food, BBQ, and sweet tea. Tonight, we get to explore the great blues town of Natchez, on the banks of the Mississippi.
Day 6
Today we begin our ride rolling through the backroads of Mississippi before dropping into our final state, Louisiana. We’ll roll into New Orleans by way of the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, at 28 miles it is the longest bridge over water in the world! Finally, we’ll end our ride in the heart of the French Quarter where New Orleans retains much of its French colonial influence. This unique American city is famous around the world for its culture, cuisine, and music.
Day 7
Today we will spend exploring one of the Antebellum Plantations and gardens, soaking in the landscape and cultural history of this special region. When we’re done, we will ride back and say a final good-bye to our bikes before being shuttled back to our hotel. Tonight is all about our Farewell Dinner and celebrating the amazing experiences we’ve shared together
Day 8
We hope you had a wonderful tour, and we’ll see you on your next great motorcycle adventure!
