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Kentucky’s Bourbon & Bluegrass Plus Memphis & Nashville
Kentucky’s Bourbon & Bluegrass Plus Memphis & Nashville
From £2,255 pp
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13 nights
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Economy flights
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Available May - October
Drive from Northern Kentucky taking in cultural Covington before learning about bourbon and horses in Lexington and Louisville. The authentic sounds of Bluegrass music and its history await in Rosine and Owensboro and the UNESCO Creative city of Paducah. Finish your journey in the ‘country music capital’ Nashville and the 'home of the blues’ Memphis.
What's Included?
- International flights from the UK in economy class
- Accommodation for 13 nights
- 11 days compact car hire with insurance coverage, unlimited mileage and taxes
Start
Finish
Stops
Point of interest
Your day-to-day plan
Day 1-3
Arrive in Cincinnati/Covington
Fly in to Northern Kentucky/Cincinnati airport and collect your car and drive across the Ohio River to Covington where you will spend the next three nights. Culture, interesting history, and engineering marvels are all waiting to be explored. Stroll across the Roebling Suspension Bridge (a prototype of the Brooklyn Bridge) spanning the Ohio River and take in the incredible city views. Covington is known for its historic neighbourhoods including Licking-Riverside and the pretty preserved German buildings in Mainstrasse Village. Nearby Newport used to be the premier gaming destination before Las Vegas came onto the scene, where big-time gangsters came to gamble and hang out in speakeasies. Join a Newport Gangster tour and learn about the city’s prohibition history and its connections to some of the most well-known criminals in America.
Day 4-5
Cincinnati to Lexington, 83 miles
Drive south to Lexington, Kentucky, the ‘Horse Capital of the World’ and its over 450 Horse Farms where some of the world’s best Thoroughbred horses live. For an authentic equine experience, visit the Kentucky Horse Park, the world’s only park dedicated exclusively to the horse. Visit the Ark Encounter, 90 minutes outside of Lexington, 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. Bourbon is served in every bar in the vibrant downtown area where you can listen to the distinct sound of bluegrass music.
Day 6-7
Lexington to Louisville, 75 miles
Just a short drive west you will arrive in Louisville, the largest city in Kentucky and the home of the famous Kentucky Derby horse race. The 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. The city is also the birthplace of Muhammad Ali, and you can learn about his road to fame and fortune as one of the world’s greatest boxers at the Muhammad Ali Centre. Downtown Louisville rolls gently down towards Main Street then abruptly lunges down to the river where the historic Belle of Louisville leaves for daily sightseeing cruises. Don't miss the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory where the famous baseball bats are made and be sure to sample the Urban Bourbon Trail along Whiskey Row and around town.
Day 8
Louisville to Owensboro, 108 miles
Travel to the heart of Kentucky Bluegrass music stopping at the birthplace and homestead of the Father of Bluegrass, Bill Monroe, in Rosine. In Owensboro visit The Bluegrass Hall of Fame and Museum which is dedicated to the international history of bluegrass. There is a wide variety of tours, jam sessions, concerts, and festivals. For dinner, head to the Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn. Foodies, celebrities, and even former president Bill Clinton love the barbecue here.
Day 9
Owensboro to Paducah, 127 miles
Drive south-east to Paducah, a UNESCO Creative City, and see the colourful revitalization of the Lower Town Arts District and its 19th-Century architecture in the historic downtown. Visit 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.
Day 10-11
Paducah to Memphis, 178 miles
Head to Memphis, Tennessee where music is the heartbeat of the city and listen to ‘blues’, soul, and rock ‘n’ roll music. With so many musical highlights to choose from including the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, world famous Graceland, the second most visited home in the USA and Sun Studios where legends including Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash recorded hits. Another recommended visit is to the moving National Civil Rights Museum that incorporates the Lorraine Motel where Dr Martin Luther King Jr was tragically killed. Delve deep into history of the Civil Rights Movement and the courageous acts its participants undertook.
Day 12-13
Memphis to Nashville, 212 miles
Your final stop is Nashville – ‘Music City USA’ which is home to over 180 live music venues. Drop your hire car off and start sightseeing with a first stop at the memorable RCA Studio B where many hit songs were recorded by artists including Dolly Parton and Elvis Presley. Head to one of the largest music museums in the world, the Country Music Hall of Fame and end your holiday with a country music concert in the iconic Grand Old Opry. Another recommended stop is Fifth + Broadway home to an array of shops and restaurants and the fascinating National Museum of African American music.
Day 14
Homeward Bound
This is your last day to revel in true southern hospitality before boarding your flight back home to the UK.
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Please note selected national parks in the USA require reservations for vehicles in order to enter the parks. Reservations are required in advance. This is in addition to purchasing a national park entrance ticket. Early booking is recommended.
Further information on the parks, where vehicle reservations are required and how to book can be found on:
USA National Parks
This holiday requires an ESTA for entry to the United States, for full details and to apply please see below:
