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Wednesday 4 May 2011

America here we come.........



Come Friday (6th May) we will be flying out of Manchester to Atlanta to start our tour of the southern states of America as shown on the map above.


We will be staying in Atlanta overnight before departing for Mobile, taking in a brief sightseeing tour of the city before we leave.

We spend the night in Mobile then continue our journey through the Gulf States, heading to New Orleans for a three night stay. The following day we have a sightseeing tour which includes the French Quarter, the Garden District and City Park.  Of course there are optional tours which we will include in our stay,  such as a dinner jazz cruise on Sternwheel Steamboat Natchez along the banks for the Mississippi River and a visit to Oak Alley Plantatation.   Leaving New Orleans behind we make a stop in Jackson before carrying on to Memphis for a 3 night stay. 


The first day of our stay in Memphis we take a trip to Tupelo to visit the Elvis Birthplace Facility before heading back to the hotel and a free evening.   After a good night's sleep (we hope) we go on a tour of Graceland, home of Elvis Presley and an optional tour of Memphis to see Sun Studio, Beale Street and the Rock-n-Soul Museum.   


Our next destination is Nashville where, after lunch,  we will visit the Ryman Auditorium, the first real home of the  'Grand Ole Opry' and we will also see a show in the evening at the Grand Ole Opry.   I love country music so this is a dream come true for me.   The following day we hope to do a tour of Nashville and visit the Loveless Cafe , where we may sample some of their award winning country ham and red eye gravy and southern fried chicken.


On our final full day in the Deep South, we head back to Atlanta but will be stopping en route for a tour of the Jack Daniels Distillery and Chattanooga, home of the famous 'Choo Choo', with free time to look around before heading for the hotel, where we will stay overnight.  Before making our way to the airport for our journey home, on our last day in America we get to visit the World of Coca Cola and will sample over 60 different refreshing flavours from around the world.     


Our next stop is the airport where we will board the plane for the 10 hour journey home back to the UK.


I'm sure I will have LOTS of photographs and tales to tell you when I get back on the 18th May.   I'm so excited!

37 comments:

Charlene Amsden said...

Wow! Have you started packing yet? I'd be excited to take that tour and I live here!

Commander Zaius said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Commander Zaius said...

Have fun! The trip sounds epic.

Too bad you will not stop by Charleston, South Carolina. I'm bias but its the best Southern city in America.

mrsnesbitt said...

Oh fantastic Pearl! I am looking forward to the pics. The distillery sounds fun - Jack Daniels was my late FIL's tipple - so raise a glass for him when you are there.
have fun! xxx

Valerie said...

What a great time you'll have. I'm jealous so if you can find a small corner in your suitcase I'd be glad to fill it. Remember I've lost weight so I won't need too much room. Gosh, I'm lookikng forward to the pictures.

Empress Bee (of the high sea) said...

when you leave chattanooga for atlanta you will be very close to podunk! (blairsville georgia) if you go through rome georgia, that is where sarge was raised.

i SO wish i could see you. next time?

your package is going out in about an hour (as soon as i get dressed and go! lol)

smiles, bee
xoxoxoxoxoox

MorningAJ said...

I'd love to see "N'Orlins".
Have a WONDERFUL time!

Anonymous said...

That is wonderful. When you are in Chattanooga go see the aquarium downtown. It is two buildings and it is great to see. Ruby Falls is really neat to see too. It is in a cave. I have been to the Jack Daniels tour. It is interesting, but it is a dry county so you can't taste the Jack Daniels there. Be careful buying some Jack because you might not be able to take it on the airplane but maybe you can ship it home. I bought a beautiful bottle of Jack Daniels when I was there, I have never opened it. I have been to the World of Coca Cola, the 3D movie is neat. You get to taste all the flavors of Coke in a tasting room. I didn't like most of them. They give you a glass bottle of Coke when you leave that room. Have a great time on your trip.

Daryl said...

I am excited for you .. pack comfy walking shoes and make sure you take a shawl or light sweater with you everywhere because Southerners love their air cold and they always have the air conditioners on HIGH ... safe travel!!!!

Ron said...

Yes, I remember you mentioning this trip in one of your posts this past year. I can't believe it's arrived!

Yahooooooooooo!

You're going to LOVE Tennessee! My brother went there for a week and said that the people are some of the friendliest, genuine, and down-to-earth indiviuals he's ever met.

Can't wait to see all the photos you take! Have a wonderful time in the States, m'dear!

X

Finding Pam said...

So when are you coming to the great state of Texas?

You will have an awesome trip with so many great cities to see. I can't wait to see your pictures.

Safe journey.

nitebyrd said...

You're gonna love it! Take care drinking Hurricanes and Hand Grenades in NOLA and watch out for the street people trying to clean your shoes - don't let them!

I wish you were making a stop in Florida, I'd love to meet you.

Have a fabulous trip!

Akelamalu said...

I'm packing tomorrow Quilly, I have everything ready and lists, lots of lists!

Charleston isn't on the itinerary unfortunately Beach, maybe we can do that another time. :)

If we get to taste the Jack Daniels I will be sure to raise a glass to you late FIL Denise x

I could do with a trunk to fit in all the people who want to come with us Valerie LOL

I'll definitely look out for Blairsville and Rome on the way back to Atlanta from Chattanooga Bee. What a shame you don't still live there, we could have met up! I'll let you know when we get back if the package has arrived. xx

I am so looking forward to seeing New Orleans too AJ, just wish it could have been before all the floods.

Wow, thanks for all the information Conniemeraldeyes. It seems silly to tour a distillery and not be allowed to taste the results doesn't it? :(

I have comfy shoes all ready Daryl and a couple of cardis. :)

I can't believe we're going on Friday Ron, it's ages since we booked the holiday. :)

I'd love to visit Texas Pam, who knows, it could be our next trip! ;)

Akelamalu said...

Thanks for the tips Nitebyrd. We have had experience of folk wanting to clean our shoes in Turkey, they even wanted to polish canvas sandals! LOL Florida is a place I would like to visit so you never know we may meet up eventually. :)

Saz said...

oh have so much fun...can;t wait to hear of all your travels and tales...


luv saz x

Grandpa said...

Wow how exciting!

I've been wanting to do this (go away for a tour somewhere) for a long time. Blame it on my durians and goats that I haven't got around to doing it.

Have a fantastic trip!

Grandpa
Life on The Farm

Linda said...

Darn! I wish you were coming to the northeast as I'd love to meet you in person. Maybe next time you hop across the pond you can come this way instead!

Sounds like a lovely trip, though, and I will keep my fingers crossed that the weather cooperates for you!

Travis Cody said...

Now that sounds like a full vacation! Welcome to the USA!

Akelamalu said...

Thanks Saz :)

Can't you get someone to look after the farm for you Grandpa and take that trip?

I'd love to visit your neck of the woods Linda, maybe in the future, you never know. :)

Thanks for the welcome Trav :)

Anonymous said...

You lucky so and so's!! If you need someone to carry your suitcases, I could find a window in my diary, lol.

Have an absolutely fantastic time. And take care while you're out there.

CJ xx

p.s. thanks for your comment on my post today; I'm glad you said that because the commenter before you seemed to think this kind of thing should be brushed under the carpet, which is, in my opinion, the reason why kids are like they are today.

CG said...

Have a WONDERFUL time...can't wait to hear all about it!!

katie eggeman said...

What a wonderful trip, is it the first to the US? I have always wanted to go to New Orleans too! Been to Tennessee! It can be beautiful this time of year. Have a great time!~

Smalltown RN said...

Hope you have a fantastic trip! I have many blogging and FB friends who live down that way and have heard of their stories of some of the places you mention. I am sure you will have a wonderful trip and won't be disappointed. Looking forward to seeing your photos!

Maude Lynn said...

I hope that you have a wonderful trip, Ake!

Maggie May said...

Wow! Have a great time.
Maggie X

Nuts in May

Unknown said...

Oh wow! Sounds like you're off on a proper adventure. Looking forward to the piccies and stories from your trip x

bindhiya said...

Dear Akelamalu,
Wow! I came back to see this!!!
I love to see you too.. :))
am 1 1/2 hours away from Memphis!!
love and ((hugs))
bindi

Dianne said...

sorry I missed your departure
bet you're having a great time

Julia Phillips Smith said...

Have a WONDERFUL time, Akelamalu!!

My sister had a chance to visit New Orleans before Katrina, during Mardi Gras, and also visited Oak Alley. She said it was gorgeous.

Flowerpot said...

Have a really fabulous trip Ak!

Anonymous said...

Every time I come here you seem to be on holiday or planning one! Jealous.com. I am hoping that you are not avoiding me as my annual trip home is coming up SOOOOON!!!! ;0)

Lorraine said...

You're back today (the day I write this) I hope you have had a truly magical time. What a wonderful trip - quite envious.
Can't wait to hear about it and see all the photo's. I'm away in the morning till Monday so will have to wait till then. xxxxxxxx

Cloudia said...

can't wait to see your posts!!

remember, this is just one region of the nation...



enjoy, yo!



Aloha from Waikiki

Comfort Spiral

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Akelamalu said...

Ah, sorry I couldn't take you with me CJ x

Thanks CG x

Yes, it is our first trip to the US Bankerchick.

It was wonderful Smalltown RN :)

Thanks Mama Zen x

Cheers Maggie :)

It was indeed an adventure Sharon

What a shame I didn't know you lived so close to Memphis before I went Bindi we could have met up!

We did have a great time Dianne x

Your sister was right Julia!

Thanks Flowerpot x

LOL I do seem to be away a lot don't I SD&BS?

We have a truly fabulous time Lorrain, can't wait to share all the photos.

Oh yes, there's so much more to see Cloudia I know. In fact we're already planning the next trip! ;)

Suburbia said...

Hope you had a fab time :-)

Akelamalu said...

We did thanks Suburbia :)

Mimi Lenox said...

I can feel your excitement. Can't wait for the report on Opryland. I went there as a teenager and we camped in the mountains on the Parkway. It was beautiful.

I think you should start a travel blog.