2022 & 2023 Guided Tours - Cosmos® Affordable Tours

Rhythms of the Road (8240)

10 days from Chicago to New Orleans

2027 Tour Details View 2026 Tour Details »

Take a musical journey through America’s Heartland and discover the places that helped shape the soundtrack of a nation. Begin with two nights in vibrant Chicago before traveling south through St. Louis to Nashville, the capital of country music. Enjoy a city tour and free time to explore “Music City” on your own before taking your reserved seat at a performance at the legendary Grand Ole Opry.

Continue to Memphis, known as the “Home of the Blues” and the “Birthplace of Rock ’n’ Roll.” Along the way, stop in Brownsville to visit the Tina Turner Museum, housed in the one-room schoolhouse once attended by a young Anna Mae Bullock, later known around the world as Tina Turner. In Memphis, explore historic Beale Street and learn about its role in the development of blues music. Tour Graceland, Elvis Presley’s iconic home, and see his favorite automobiles, custom jets, and the memorial garden where he and members of his family are laid to rest.

Travel into the Mississippi Delta to visit the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center, dedicated to the legendary musician and the region that gave birth to the blues. Then spend time in New Orleans, where guided sightseeing introduces you to the highlights of the “Big Easy.” Enjoy free time to explore the French Quarter, sample local favorites like beignets, po’boys, and gumbo, or join an optional swamp or plantation tour.

Complete your musical journey with an optional Mississippi River paddlewheel dinner cruise featuring live jazz—the perfect finale to this music-filled, value-minded vacation.

The world is within reach with everything you need for perfectly affordable touring. Cosmos includes hand-selected accommodations, guided sightseeing, and seamless transportation between destinations—with value-minded travel lovers in mind. Explore with expert Cosmos Tour Directors and Local Guides, and private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi (where available).

Your Tour Includes:
• Guided city sightseeing in Chicago, Nashville, and New Orleans
• Visit to Gateway Arch National Park
• Orientation tours of St. Louis and Memphis
• Ticket to a live performance at Nashville’s legendary Grand Ole Opry
• Visit to the Tina Turner Museum
• Audio tour of Graceland including access to Elvis Presley’s private jets
• Admission to B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center

Dates & Prices Book Online
800.268.3636
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Rhythms of the Road map

 Photo Highlights

 Meals

 Meals & Itinerary

1 breakfast

 Itinerary

Day 1 CHICAGO

Welcome to the “Windy City.” Your Tour Director is available from 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. to answer any questions.

Once settled, perhaps begin exploring Chicago with a stroll along the 1.25-mile Riverwalk that follows the Chicago River through the heart of downtown. Or browse the shops, restaurants, and attractions along Michigan Avenue, better known as the Magnificent Mile.

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Day 2 CHICAGO

Chicago is known for its iconic architecture, world-class museums, and beautiful lakefront setting. Your sightseeing tour features landmarks such as the Wrigley Building, Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower), and Navy Pier, followed by an afternoon at leisure. Perhaps enjoy an optional river cruise for a closer look at the city’s remarkable architecture or visit the renowned Art Institute of Chicago. Then treat yourself to a slice – or three – of Chicago’s famous deep-dish pizza.

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Day 3 CHICAGO–ST. LOUIS

Travel across the fertile farmlands of Illinois to St. Louis, known as the “Gateway to the West.” An orientation tour includes Gateway Arch National Park, which commemorates the city’s important role in America’s westward expansion. Visit the museum beneath the Arch, where exhibits explore the stories of Lewis & Clark, westward migration, and the people who helped shape the American frontier.

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Day 4 ST. LOUIS–PADUCAH-NASHVILLE

Recross the Mississippi River and travel southeast to Paducah, Kentucky, situated along the banks of the Ohio River. Enjoy time for lunch and perhaps visit the National Quilt Museum, home to an impressive collection of quilts that showcase extraordinary artistry and craftsmanship.

Continue to Nashville, arriving in the late afternoon.

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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 5 NASHVILLE

Enjoy a sightseeing tour of Nashville, the “Country Music Capital of the World.” See landmarks including Centennial Park, home to a full-scale replica of the Parthenon, and Music Row, where generations of artists have recorded some of country music’s biggest hits.

Join an optional excursion featuring historic RCA Studio B, birthplace of the “Nashville Sound” where legendary performers such as Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley, Willie Nelson, and the Everly Brothers recorded. You’ll also visit the Country Music Hall of Fame, home to an extensive collection of memorabilia, costumes, instruments, and Elvis Presley’s famous “solid gold” Cadillac.

Tonight, enjoy reserved seating at a live performance at the world-famous Grand Ole Opry, one of country music’s most celebrated stages.

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Day 6 NASHVILLE–BROWNSVILLE–MEMPHIS

Depart Nashville and travel to Brownsville, Tennessee, to visit the Tina Turner Museum, housed in the one-room schoolhouse once attended by a young Anna Mae Bullock, later known around the world as Tina Turner. Explore exhibits celebrating the life and career of the “Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” including costumes, awards, photographs, and personal memorabilia.

Continue to Memphis, the “Home of the Blues,” where an orientation tour introduces you to iconic Beale Street and the former Lorraine Motel, site of Martin Luther King Jr’s assassination, and now part of the National Civil Rights Museum.

Later, consider an optional excursion to legendary Sun Studio, where Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, B.B. King, and other music icons recorded followed by dinner.

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Day 7 MEMPHIS–VISIT TO GRACELAND

Spend time today exploring Graceland, Elvis Presley’s iconic estate. Your self-guided audio tour includes the 15,000-square-foot mansion and the Meditation Garden where Elvis Presley and other members of the Presley family, including his daughter Lisa Marie Presley, are laid to rest.

Step aboard Elvis’ custom jets and see a collection of his favorite automobiles and personal memorabilia. Return to Memphis mid-afternoon and enjoy free time to experience the city’s famous barbecue, vibrant music scene, and legendary Beale Street.

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Day 8 MEMPHIS–INDIANOLA–NEW ORLEANS

Today, travel through the heart of Mississippi to Indianola, hometown of legendary blues musician B.B. King. Visit the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center to learn about his remarkable journey from humble beginnings in the Mississippi Delta to international fame. Discover how the Mississippi Delta helped shape the development of blues music and influenced generations of American musicians. Later, continue to New Orleans, arriving in the early evening with free time to begin exploring the “Big Easy” on your own.

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Day 9 NEW ORLEANS

This morning, discover the sights and sounds of New Orleans on a guided tour featuring the French Quarter, St. Louis Cathedral, Jackson Square, and one of the city’s distinctive above-ground cemeteries.

The afternoon is free to explore on your own. You may choose an optional excursion to one of southern Louisiana’s historic plantation homes, where impressive architecture and compelling stories offer insight into the region’s past. Or join an optional Louisiana Swamp Tour and cruise through bayous lined with moss-draped cypress trees in search of local wildlife, including alligators.

This evening, consider an optional Mississippi River dinner cruise featuring live jazz—the perfect finale to your musical journey through America’s Heartland.

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Day 10 NEW ORLEANS

Your vacation ends this morning. Or choose to extend your vacation with extra nights and explore the “Big Easy” further.

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 Tour Director

With COSMOS, there’s no better way to get to know your destination than through the eyes of a Tour Director. We’d like you to meet one of our Tour Directors, who average over a decade of experience and are representative of the type of expert that will be with you on your vacation.

BARBARA BURYIAK

Escorting tours for more than 20 years

“As a Tour Director for more than two decades, I've always had a passion for travel. At 18, I traveled solo throughout Europe. A few years later, I was one of three youth ambassadors on a cultural exchange to Burkina Faso. As a Tour Director, I enjoy showing off America's Heartland. I encourage my guests to talk to the locals and try the regional foods. Guests often tell me that their fondest memories are of their time spent in small towns with "real Americans."”

Tour Director - BARBARA BURYIAK

 Accommodations

 Optional Excursions

No matter what you’re into: food, wine, history, art, music or anything else, we give you the freedom to personalize your vacation with optional excursions that speak to your interests.

When you book your excursions with us, you can be assured that every optional excursion that we offer coordinates with the free time that you'll have in your destination, so you'll never have conflicts between included and optional activities. Our team of travel experts carefully selects each optional excursion that we offer to ensure that you receive the highest quality at a great value. Our tried-and-true partners have a finger on the pulse of the city in which they operate so they deliver the very best experiences. We offer experiences you cannot create on your own and because you’re booking with us, we coordinate all your transportation and timing needs.

The following optional excursions are examples only for this vacation. These may or may not be offered, and availability is subject to days of operation and seasonality. Please select a departure date to view optional excursions and pricing for a specific date (due to currency fluctuation, pricing shown is subject to change until purchased). Optional excursions are available for purchase on our MyCosmos site 90 days prior to the tour start date.

Price Ranges

$ ($50 CAD and under)
$$ ($51 - $100 CAD)
$$$ ($101 - $150 CAD)
$$$$ (Over $150)


Nashville
Memphis
New Orleans

Nashville

Step into the heart of Country Music: Tour Studio B & Country Music Hall of Fame®

Step into the heart of Country Music: Tour Studio B & Country Music Hall of Fame®

No trip to Nashville would be complete without a tour of the Historic RCA Studio B and The Country Music Hall of Fame.

Price Range: $$

Memphis

Sun Studio & Dinner at a local restaurant

Sun Studio & Dinner at a local restaurant

Step back to the early years of rock `n roll on this tour of Sun Studio, where Elvis, Johnny Cash, and other future stars got their start, then enjoy a fantastic dinner.

Price Range: $$$

New Orleans

Plantation Tours

Plantation Tours

South Louisiana is known for its beautiful antebellum architecture and there are plenty of plantation homes that are within an hours drive from New Orleans. The architecture and beauty of these homes alone is impressive and the stories that go with them are even better. You will learn about the incredible history and culture through a visit to a plantation home.

Price Range: $$$

Louisiana Swamp Tours

Louisiana Swamp Tours

Head down to the swamp on a real life adventure. View fascinating plant life, live alligators and many other wild creatures as you cruise down haunting bayous lined with moss-draped cypress trees.

Price Range: $$$$



The “Starting at” or listed price is based on the lowest price available to book. Price is per person based on twin occupancy and any applicable port charges, non-commissionable taxes and fees and intra-vacation flight are included in the price shown. Any included overnight stay in Canada, applicable GST/HST is also included in the price shown. International airfare, however, is not included. If price is crossed out, the new price shown includes a limited time promotional offer(s). Please review current promotions or deals for additional information.