DAY 1 | May 14. Memphis, Tenessee
Your journey begins with a two-night stay at The Peabody Memphis hotel. Located in the heart of the city, the hotel offers easy access to many premier attractions.
DAY 2 | May 15. Memphis, Tenessee
Perched on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi, Memphis has been welcoming steamboats since before the Civil War. Today the city abounds with Americana, from legendary Beale Street to Elvis Presley’s Graceland.
Exclusive Excursion: Visit the renowned Shiloh National Military Park.
DAY 3 | May 16. Memphis, Tenessee
Morning at leisure. Embark on your river cruise aboard the graceful American Queen in the afternoon.
DAY 4 | May 17. River Cruising
Discover river cruising – a lifestyle born of both restless ambition and the pursuit of pure relaxation. Aboard the American Queen, the richness of this timeless river culture comes with plenty of added modern luxuries as you cruise the day and night away at one of the distinctive dining venues, the impressive Grand Saloon, or your elegant stateroom.
DAY 5 | May 18. Vicksburg, Mississippi
Billed as the “Red Carpet City of the South,” Vicksburg is a unique blend of old and new and displays its antebellum heritage with tremendous pride. The site of a dramatic siege and major turning point in the Civil War, Vicksburg is now a center of Southern hospitality with a vibrant downtown area.
Included Excursion: The coach tour stops at the Church of the Holy Trinity; Anchuca Mansion, a Greek Revival antebellum home; the Old Court House Museum, which showcasesartifacts from the pre-Columbian times to Civil War implements; the Washington Street shopping area, home to the Biedenharn Coca-Cola Museum; and the Old Depot Museum that highlights the Siege of Vicksburg.
DAY 6 | May 19. Natchez, Mississippi
One of the oldest European settlements in the lower Mississippi River Valley and former capital of the state, Natchez is a charming and authentic Southern town with a rich heritage shaped by Native Americans and those of French, African, British and Spanish descent.
DAY 7 | May 20. St. Francisville, Louisiana
With over 140 buildings and plantation homes on the National Register, this quaint town is a window to the past. Here are the legacies of the Butlers, the Forts, the Barrows and the Turnbulls—families who helped build the South.
Included Excursion: The hop-on, hop-off coach tour takes you to historic and modern sites, including the Republic of West Florida site; the Old Market Hall, where you can browse through art, jewelry, and handmade items; Commerce Street; the West Feliciana Historical Society Museum and the Grace Episcopal Church.
DAY 8 | May 20. Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Boasting a storied past and vibrant present, Baton Rouge lives up to its motto, “Authentic Louisiana at Every Turn.” The capital city’s unique political history is reflected in a collection of memorable landmarks, from the elegantly furnished Old Governor’s Mansion to the imposing neo-Gothic Old State Capitol.
Included Excursion: Your tour includes the USS Kidd and Veterans Memorial Museum;
the beautiful St. Joseph Cathedral; the historic Old Governor’s Mansion; Capitol Park Museum; Louisiana’s Art Deco State Capitol, renowned as the nation’s tallest state capitol building; the Old Arsenal Museum; the LSU Museum of Art in the new Shaw Center for the Arts; and Louisiana’s Old State Capitol.
DAY 8 | May 22. Plantation Road (Great River Road)
Experience living history through the romantic antebellum mansions of the Deep South.
Included Excursion: Enjoy a guided tour of Nottoway Plantation, the South’s largest
remaining antebellum mansion.
DAY 9 | May 23. New Orleans, Louisiana
Where the Mississippi River ends, the French, Spanish, Creole and Haitian medley thrives in New Orleans. Disembark and bid farewell to the American Queen. Note: Return flights should be scheduled to depart after 10:30 a.m. If you are interested in an optional Premium Choice Tour of New Orleans, your return flight should be scheduled to depart after 2:00 p.m.
