15 Day Nashville to New Orleans Self-Drive

Upon arrival, pick up your rental car and start off your trip with a tour of Ryman Auditorium –the “Birthplace of Bluegrass.” Nashville has many places to hear bluegrass music while you are in town. Pair your musical experiences with a tour of Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery. Learn about the distillery’s German founder and taste some of the hand-crafted Tennessee whiskey.

A full day to discover the variety of attractions  Nashville has to offer, such as the Country Music Hall of Fame, Grand Ole Opry, Opryland U.S.A. and world-famous Printer’s Alley (extra charges).

Nashville and even Memphis is known for their contribution to America’s music. But today you are headed a few miles south and directly between those two cities to discover a magical place formed by four small adjacent Alabama cities. Florence, Muscle Shoals, Tuscumbia, and Sheffield make up the area known as the “Hit Recording Capital of the World” and is the place that The Rolling Stones, Aretha Franklin and others came to record their hit records. It’s also where the Father of the Blues, W.C. Handy was born and where Native American’s said the river sang. Tour the famous Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, see W.C. Handy’s log cabin birthplace, visit the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, see Helen Keller’s home, visit an Indian mound, and tour the only Frank Lloyd Wright home open to the public in
the Southeastern USA. Those attractions and more are included in this area’s All-In-One attraction ticket package (optional extra charge). Driving Distance: 216 KM

Travel just a few miles east to Huntsville. The city is nicknamed “The Rocket City” for its role in U.S. space missions. Huntsville’s close proximately to Muscle Shoals has allowed it to become the live music center for the area that includes local music halls, and a roman style Amphitheater called The Orion. This vibrant southern city is full of rocket scientist and brewpubs. Four of the 10 attractions on the Huntsville and North Alabama All-In-One Ticket package (optional - extra charge) are located in the city of Huntsville: The U.S. Space & Rocket Center (world’s largest space museum), Huntsville Botanical Garden, Buritt On The Mountain and Early Works Children’s Museum. If you only visit those 4 attractions, the ticket is a great value, but you can also choose from any or all the other attractions in North Alabama
including a Tiger Preserve, two State Parks with caves, the museum to Olympic winner Jesse Owens and more. Driving Distance: 98 KM

Today explore Huntsville and the surrounding area using your Huntsville and North Alabama All-inOne Ticket (optional) and visit the many restaurants and nightlife in the area.

Today, we head to Birmingham, known as the “Dinner Table of the South.” From America’s best barbecue to southern-influenced global dished from James Beard Award-winning chefs, Birmingham’s dining scene is one to relish. The city has four entertainment districts in the downtown area, Uptown, Five Points South, Avondale and Pepper Place with restaurants, bars, and music halls. Also, downtown is a network of parks, including the 10-city block CityWalk. As Alabama’s largest city there is plenty to see and do. Driving Distance: 142 KM

Full day to enjoy all that Birmingham has to offer when you include this area’s All-In-One attraction ticket (optional - extra charge). More than ten attractions included including the world’s largest motorcycle collection, an airplane museum, a railroad museum,
the Birmingham Zoo, Alabama’s largest state park, and five downtown Birmingham attractions including U.S. Civil Rights sites, a science center, and the largest cast iron statue in the world, Vulcan.

Travel south to Montgomery, a historic city on the banks of the Alabama river has a very walkable downtown. Voted as the best historical city in the United Stated because of the events that happen related to the American Civil War and Civil Rights movement. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., lived and preached in Montgomery. Hank Williams played guitar on the streets, Rosa Parks walked, and Jefferson Davis was sworn in as president of the Confederates States of America. Driving Distance: 147 KM

Explore the Montgomery region with the All-In-One attraction ticket package (optional - extra charge) for this area that includes more than 10 museums and attractions for one price. Four of the attractions are within walking distance of any downtown Montgomery hotel, Civil Rights Memorial Center, Freedom Rides Museum, Hank Williams Museum, and the Rosa Parks Museum. Free to the public attractions include the Alabama State Capitol, the Alabama Museum and Alabama Artists Gallery. Three more Montgomery attractions in your ticket package are a short car ride, the W. A. Gayle Planetarium, Montgomery Zoo, Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum. As an extra bonus, this ticket includes admission to several Civil Rights sites in Selma and a Vineyard outside of Tuskegee.

 Travel to Gulf Shores/Orange Beach for a vacation along America’s best coastline. With white sand beaches and warm Gulf of Mexico waters there is no better place to relax than Alabama’s twin resorts cities. Gulf State Park, located between the two cities, offers 6,100 acres with 28 miles of paved trails, over 2 miles of sugar sand beaches, seven unique ecosystems and accommodations to suite a variety of travel styles. Beach bars, live music and great seafood can be found in the two resort cities, that combined offer 51 km of enjoyable beaches. Driving Distance: 309 KM

Whether you’re in the mood for fun and adventure or lazy days on the beach, you can do it all in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. Stroll along the sugar-white sand or spot frolicking dolphins on a cruise. If you’re craving an adventure location experience, cast your line into one of the country’s largest artificial fishing reefs during a deep-sea fishing trip. Buy the All-In-One attraction ticket package (optional - extra charge) for this area and visit the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo, ride the Ferris Wheel at The Wharf and discover history when you explore
the 200-year-old Fort Morgan.

It’s just a short drive to the historic port city of Mobile. Known as the birthplace of Mardi Gras in America, Mobile was founded in 1702 as the original capital of the Louisiana Territory. Mobile is a melting pot of people, flavors cultures and traditions. Stroll Bienville Square, named after the city’s founder, where you will find a wonderful city park square shrouded by trees with a light breeze. It is said Bienville’s housekeep first mixed an Africa fruit in a fish stew and the dish that was later called Gumbo was born. Another dish born in Mobile you should try is West Indies Salad made with crab meat and onions soaking in oil and vinegar. The last slave ship to arrive to America arrived in Mobile and later those aboard founded the Mobile community of Africatown. Attractions within walking distances of downtown Mobile hotels are Gulf Quest Maritime Museum, History Museum of Mobile & Fort Conde and the Conde Charlotte Museum. This area’s Allin-One attraction ticket package (optional - extra charge) includes these attractions and more for one price. Driving Distance: 83 KM

Enjoy a full day exploring. A short drive from downtown Mobile are the Bragg-Mitchell Mansion and Oakleigh House, two antebellum homes; Bellingrath Gardens, one of the south’s best; the World War II USS Alabama Battleship, and Historic Blakely State Park, location of one of the last battles of the American Civil War. These attractions are all included in your All-In-One Ticket package (optional - extra charge). Minutes south of Mobile is Bayou La Batre, the shrimping village mentioned in the book and movie, Forrest Gump, and scenic Dauphin Island where the Alabama Aquarium at Dauphin Island Sea Lab is located, also part of the ticket package.

On to New Orleans, the city on the bayou and one of the most fascinating cities in the world, famous for riverboats, jazz, Creole cuisine and a seemingly endless parade of festivals. Discover the unique atmosphere of this city tonight, when spicy  Cajun cuisine thrills the senses, and the sounds of blues and jazz bring the French Quarter to life. Driving Distance: 230 KM

Return your car at the airport before your departure flight.