Itinerary

Arrive in one of the USA’s most iconic Southern cities: Nashville! The capital of country music, the city is known for striking a chord with music lovers of any genre, and visitors will find the city also has strong cultural and historic character shaped by its role in publishing and the development of American music. You’ll collect your rental car on arrival to take you to your hotel and get settled in. You’ll be staying in downtown Nashville just a few blocks from Broadway and the historic Printer’s Alley. If you have energy, head out to Broadway for a first taste of what Nashville is known for—but make sure to get some Southern food for dinner before you get a good night’s sleep.

Whether you are a Country music aficionado or simply interested in music in general, you’ll find yourself spoiled for choice when it comes to sightseeing. Nashville has multiple outstanding museums, including the Country Music Hall of Fame, which traces the evolution of Country music in the context of American history; the renowned Studio B, where artists still record to this day; and the National Museum of African American Music, which is devoted to the contributions of African-American musicians from Gospel, Blues and Jazz.

Come the evening, head out to Broadway’s renowned honky-tonks to catch a round or two of live music, or book tickets for a show at the world-famous Grand Ole Opry, where both legendary artists and rising stars have been taking the stage since 1925. Broadway is equally enticing during the day with its neon signs, historic buildings, rooftop stages and sounds of country, rock and blues drifting at all hours onto the street.

Leave Nashville this morning and head east toward Abingdon, Virginia. The driving time is around 4 hours and you’ll break up the journey with a stop in Bristol, right next to the Tennessee-Virginia border for a tour of the Bristol Caverns. Here, you’ll take a guided walk through three levels of underground chambers filled with fascinating geological formations, gradually making your way 180 feet below the surface to the banks of the Underground River. It’s one of Tennessee oldest attractions and an opportunity to see the region’s subterranean environments.

Afterwards, you’ll continue your drive to the historic town of Abingdon, where you’ll spend the night. The town has a 20-block historic district – recognised by the US National Register of Historic Places – and preserves more than two centuries of history, with hand-laid brick sidewalks, beautifully maintained buildings and a distinctive collection of Federal and historic architecture. Head out to explore the independent shops, art galleries, locally run restaurants and cultural landmarks along Main Street.

This morning you’ll continue on your journey to Floyd—the drive is about 2 hours and incorporates a scenic stretch of the Blue Ridge Parkway along the way. Stop at Mabry Mill, one of the Parkway’s most recognisable historic landmarks with a short trail, where the original gristmill, waterwheel, blacksmith shop and surrounding mountain landscape offer a glimpse to rural Appalachian life.

When you arrive in Floyd, spend some time exploring this characterful Blue Ridge town. Browse the independent shops and galleries along Main Street, stop for a locally brewed beer or coffee, or simply wander around town and soak up Floyd’s relaxed, creative atmosphere before the evening’s entertainment begins..

Come evening, head to the weekly Friday Night Jamboree at the renowned Floyd Country Store. This longstanding gathering brings local musicians, dancers, visitors and regulars together around the region’s old-time music traditions. The evening begins at 6.30pm and offers an intimate glimpse into Floyd’s living Appalachian music culture and the community that keeps these traditions going.

Today, you’ll continue to the city of Roanoke via the breathtaking Blue Ridge Parkway. Designed as a scenic 1.5 hour drive along the crests and contours of the Blue Ridge, you’ll get to see changing perspectives across forested ridges, valleys and distant peaks—and as you approach Roanoke, you’ll get several opportunities to pause and get out in nature before arriving in the city.

Start with a stop at the Roanoke River Overlook, where the Blue Ridge Parkway opens onto views of the river, surrounding mountains and Niagara Dam, a hydroelectric facility built in 1906 that still supplies power to Roanoke to the day. For those who would like a short walk, the roughly half mile Roanoke River Trail descends toward the river, offering additional views.

Next, take in the Roanoke Valley from the overlook beneath the city’s famous star that lights Mill Mountain. First illuminated in 1949 as a seasonal decoration, the 88.5-foot star is now a permanent landmark whose overlook provides sweeping views across downtown Roanoke and the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains.

Once in Roanoke, round off the day by exploring the city’s thriving food scene. With its Blue Ridge setting, menus often draw on Southern and Appalachian flavours, from comforting classics and locally sourced ingredients to more refined regional cooking.

Take a leisurely morning before setting out by e-bike with an expert local guide for a city tour and local brewery tastings in the afternoon. You’ll ride along the Roanoke River and Mill Mountain Greenways, through local neighbourhoods and downtown Roanoke, with sweeping Blue Ridge views. Electric assistance on the bike makes the route approachable, while your local guide helps you get to know the city from both its outdoor and urban angles.

Along the way, you’ll also get to experience Roanoke’s growing craft beer scene, stopping at three local breweries for flight-sized tastings. From independent neighbourhood breweries to lively taprooms, Roanoke is home to a diverse collection of breweries that form part of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Cheers Trail.

This morning, you’ll make the hour-long drive over to Lexington, a historic university town originally founded in 1778. If you’re interested in a scenic detour on your way, head through Goshen Pass, where the Maury River has carved a dramatic gorge through the surrounding Allegheny Mountains over millions of years. Here, the 936-acre natural preserve protects steep, rocky slopes, mature chestnut-oak forests, cliffs and riverside habitats, creating a striking stretch of Shenandoah Valley wilderness just outside Lexington.

Follow the road alongside the river, stopping to take in the rocky gorge and clear stretches of water. There’s a swinging bridge and a short trail by the river, but for those who want to really stretch their legs, there’s the 3.5-mile Preserve Loop hike.

When you arrive in Lexington, you’ll be staying in the town’s historic heart, which still follows much of the original 1778 street plan and features beautifully preserved brick buildings, former residences, churches and civic landmarks.

Head out to wander among locally owned shops, galleries, bookstores, cafés and restaurants, with time to pause around the historic courthouse and explore the quieter streets branching off Main Street. From downtown you can also walk toward the adjoining campuses of Washington & Lee University and Virginia Military Institute, where historic buildings and landscaped grounds add another layer to Lexington’s architectural and cultural character.

Take a leisurely morning to further explore Lexington. For those who want to stretch their legs beyond the town, follow a section of the level Woods Creek Trail which winds behind the local universities and through several of Lexington’s local parks.

For those who prefer an even more active outing, head into the Blue Ridge for the climb to Humpback Rocks, one of the Blue Ridge Parkway’s most distinctive overlooks. The mile-long trail is fairly strenuous and climbs roughly 700-800 feet toward exposed rock formations. From the top, sweeping views open across the Shenandoah and Rockfish Valleys with surrounding ridges stretching toward the horizon.

Alternatively, visit nearby Natural Bridge State Park. Offering more than 1,600 acres of forest, meadows and mountain scenery, one of the park’s highlights is the remarkable 200-foot limestone arch that was carved by Cedar Creek into the surrounding gorge.

Today, you’ll leave for Shenandoah National Park and its Skyline Drive, which runs along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains, stopping at overlooks for expansive views across the Shenandoah Valley and the surrounding ridgelines. The 105-mile road is the park’s only public route and was designed to give no less than 76 different perspectives across the valley, mountains and Virginia Piedmont.

Afterwards, you’ll make your way to former US President and Founding Father, Thomas Jefferson’s mountaintop home, Monticello, for a guided tour. A designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, the distinctive property with its gardens and 5,000-acre plantation called Mulberry Row, is well worth exploring, and even offers historical context into the lives of the dozens of free and enslaved people who worked there.

Spend the day exploring Virginia’s wine country with a small group tour through the rolling Piedmont countryside. You’ll be following the Monticello Wine Trail, where vineyards, farms, wooded hills and Blue Ridge views create the backdrop for a relaxed day of tasting. The trail encompasses more than 40 wineries within the award-winning Monticello American Viticultural Area, and tasting rooms range from intimate farm settings to contemporary spaces overlooking the vines.

A professional chauffeur and friendly, knowledgeable guide will be handling the driving and logistics so you can sit back, relax and enjoy the excellent wines and scenery from this lesser known region.

This morning, you’ll head to your next stop: Virginia’s capital, Richmond. The drive is just over an hour and you’ll start your time in the city with a guided food tour exploring Richmond’s historic and eclectic Arts District. This 2.5-hour experience covers approximately 2 easy miles with tasting stops at up to six establishments. You’ll pass through Broad Street and parts of historic Jackson and Monroe Ward, getting to hear how Richmond’s architecture, arts scene and food culture have evolved together throughout the city’s history.

Afterwards, head for a leisurely afternoon around Cary Street and Richmond’s riverfront before following the Canal Walk along the historic Haxall and James River & Kanawha Canals. The mile-long route traces the waterways that once connected Richmond with the interior of Virginia, with more than 20 historic markers, bronze medallions, monuments and exhibits revealing how the canals shaped the city’s growth and industrial development.

After breakfast you’ll leave Richmond behind and make the hour-long drive to Williamsburg, following the route east toward Virginia’s historic capital, Colonial Williamsburg. You’ll then spend the day exploring its 301-acre Historic Area, where original 18^th century buildings, carefully reconstructed sites, gardens and working trades create a vivid picture of life in Virginia’s colonial capital.

Follow the streets between landmarks like the Governor’s Palace, Capitol, Courthouse and Raleigh Tavern, stepping inside selected historic sites with interpreters who share stories of the people who lived and worked there.

Then continue into the historic trade shops where modern craftspeople use 18^th century tools and techniques to demonstrate trades such as blacksmithing, woodworking, tinsmithing and other traditional skills. Costumed interpreters also portray people from 18-century Williamsburg, offering a more personal perspective on the daily lives and experiences of the diverse communities who lived here before and during the American Revolution.

Today, you’ll go back even further in early US history to visit the archaeological remains and surrounding James River of the first 1607 settlement at Historic Jamestowne. Follow the grounds of the original fort and later New Towne, where excavated foundations, artefacts and historic markers help piece together how Jamestown developed from a small outpost into Virginia’s first capital. Along the way, you’ll also get to learn about the English colonists, the Indigenous communities who had long inhabited the region, and the African’s whose presence became an important part of the colony’s history.

In the afternoon, you’ll continue to the American Revolution Museum at neighbouring Yorktown, where you’ll get to visit immersive galleries, interactive exhibits, see period artefacts and watch films that trace the American Revolution from its origins in the 1750s through to the victory at Yorktown and to the early years of the new United States.

You’ll also get to step outside into the recreated Continental Army encampment, where historical interpreters demonstrate military drills, camp life, food preparation, medical practices and the use of historic weaponry. Before you leave, don’t miss the Revolution-era farm, based on an actual 18^th century family, for visitors to see how farming, cooking, household work, and the lives of enslaved people were part of everyday life during the Revolutionary era.

Depart Williamsburg and begin the 2.5 hour drive north toward Alexandria. The journey gradually transitions from the quieter countryside toward the more developed communities along the Potomac River outside of Washington, D.C.—with Mount Vernon providing a natural stopping point along the way.

The home of Founding Father and first president of the United States, George Washington, Mount Vernon offers fascinating insight into the practical working and personal history of the more than 250 year-old estate. You’ll enjoy a 75-minute In-Depth Tour, taking you through available rooms in the Mansion, surrounding outbuildings and gardens, with behind-the-scenes access to areas normally closed to visitors, including the Old Tomb. Learn about George and Martha Washington, their family, the estate’s agricultural operations and the enslaved community who lived and worked here.

Afterwards, continue to Alexandria. You’ll be staying right in the heart of the historic Old Town which was founded back in 1749. Alexandria originally developed as an important port and trading community on the Potomac River, and much of that history remains visible in the preserved brick building, narrow side streets, and historic homes and storefronts that line the district to this day.

Wander past independent boutiques, galleries, cafés and restaurants as you make you way along King Street—you’ll find historic details and landmarks on every corner. Then head towards the river, where the streets open onto Old Town Alexandria’s Waterfront. You’ll find former warehouses and port buildings give way to parks, public art, restaurants and sweeping views across the Potomac.

You’ll start today setting out from Belle Haven Marina just south of Old Town Alexandria for a relaxed sail on the Potomac aboard a small sailboat. An experienced skipper will handle the boat so you can sit back and relax as the boat settles in to the rhythm of the river.

Once underway, you’ll get to take in views of the Potomac shoreline and surrounding wetlands, enjoying the changing perspective that comes from being on the water rather than exploring by land. This two-hour sail is intentionally unhurried, giving you time to enjoy the scenery with the wind and river at your back.

Return to Old Town after your sailing experience for a leisurely afternoon to explore the neighbourhood at your own pace. Stroll more of King Street, take time to sit by the river, enjoy a drink or meal, or simply watch life go by along the waterfront.

Today, you’ll make the 45-minute drive to Washington Dulles International Airport – allowing extra time for traffic – to return your rental car and take the complimentary shuttle to the terminal for your flight home.