Blues Highway Road Trip: Nashville to New Orleans

Ryman Auditorium – originally built in the 1890s, the legendary Ryman Auditorium became internationally famous when it began hosting the Grand Ole Opry live radio (and then TV) show in the 1920s. The Ryman is “where bluegrass was born,” and where country music went from casual back porch music to worldwide renown. It is also where Johnny Cash met June Cash. The list of musical legends who have taken the stage here is endless and awe-inspiring. The Grand Ole Opry outgrew the Ryman in the 1970s and a larger suburban state-of-the-art theater complex was built several miles from downtown to hold the burgeoning country music crowds. The Ryman sat empty until the 1990s when it was renovated, and it once again became the legendary live music venue it is today where music history is made. The Ryman offers (almost) daily performances by big-name singers and bands in a wide variety of music genres. Tickets for many performances book well in advance, so plan ahead. Tours are also available daily.

Grand Old Opry – known as the “Home of Country Music,” the Opry has a history as rich as the Ryman. Legends perform here and have for decades. The list of performers over the years is a “who’s who” of country music’s greats. The Opry offers performances several nights a week and fun backstage tours daily.

Country Music Hall of Fame – this 350,000 square foot downtown museum and performing arts venue is designed to “preserve, celebrate and share” the cultural asset of country music, and has been called the “Smithsonian of country music.” It has great exhibits and shows.

Live Music – be sure to book a spot at one of the dozens of live performances each night (many serve food and drinks during performances). Now Playing Nashville offers a comprehensive list of live performances around town. Some of the most popular and iconic venues, where both known and up-and-coming singer-songwriters perform, are the Bluebird Café, Robert’s Western World, and Station Inn.

Honky Tonk Highway – located in downtown Nashville, Honky Tonk Highway is the epicenter of Nashville's live music scene. Every night until 3 AM, the dozens of clubs along this street light up with eye-catching signs and thrilling live concerts. Schedule a night stroll to sip and savor the sounds and flavors of this tourist-friendly area.

RCA Studio B – of the many historic recording studios in Nashville, RCA Studio B is arguably the most significant. Artists as diverse as Elvis Presley, Dolly Parton, and David Bowie used this downtown studio at some point in their careers. While RCA Studio B is no longer in use, it welcomes tourists who want to see where artists cut some of America's greatest records.

Johnny Cash Museum – located above RCA Studio B, you can spend an hour or so touring the life and times of the Man in Black. Artifacts, film, media, and recordings – all things Johnny Cash – are on display at this wonderful downtown museum.

Nashville Parthenon at Centennial Park – the Nashville Parthenon displays rotating art and educational exhibits focused on Ancient Greek culture, as well as the Tennessee Centennial Exhibition and the building of the Nashville Parthenon.

Gaylord Opryland Resort – this resort hotel has a huge indoor waterpark open to the public plus restaurants and entertainment. Great for kids and adults.

Beale Street – often called the "Home of Blues," Beale Street is a rowdy, 2-mile street near the Mississippi River. This entertainment district houses Memphis's best-known bars, clubs, and restaurants, most of which host exceptional live music. Whether you're looking for soul food or soulful sounds, a walk down Beale Street will satisfy you.

Sun Studio – Sun Studio may not look like much from the outside, but it’s had significant impact on 20th-century American pop music. While legends like Johnny Cash and Roy Orbison recorded here, this studio will always be linked with Elvis Presley's first single, That's All Right. Anyone who wants to see rock 'n’ roll history can't pass on a guided tour of Sun Studio.

Graceland – just a few miles south of downtown is Elvis Presley's iconic 13-acre Graceland estate. Visitors can tour the mansion where "The King" spent his later years and pay their respects at Elvis's gravesite. You can learn even more about Elvis's life (and admire his luxurious cars, clothes, and planes!) in Elvis Presley's Memphis Museum during your visit to Graceland.

Stax Museum of American Soul Music – "Stax sound" was synonymous with "soul music" in the Sixties and Seventies. People with a love for soul music will find thousands of items housed inside Memphis's Stax Museum. On a journey through this celebrated museum, you'll learn about the formation of Stax Records and the many artists who helped bring soul music to national prominence.

National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Hotel – located in the old motel where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in 1968, this sobering and thoughtful museum inspires visitors and educates them on the national Civil Rights Movement as well as Memphis’ vital role in it. Learn about Civil Rights heroes such as Rosa Parks and the Freedom Riders.

Delta Blues Museum – created in the late 1970s, Clarksdale's Delta Blues Museum is the city's oldest and largest museum dedicated to preserving musical artifacts. Hundreds of impressive vehicles, instruments, and cars, once owned by legendary Blues performers such as Muddy Waters, B.B. King, and John Lee Hooker, are on display.

Ground Zero Blues Club – this lively dining and music venue opened in 2001 with great fanfare to “celebrate the area’s rich blues heritage and to provide a venue in which it can continue,” and to “showcase the best of today’s Delta Blues musicians.” Its owners include actor Morgan Freeman and other Hollywood bigwigs.

Clarksdale Historic District – fans of Tennessee Williams' work will appreciate a tour of Clarksdale's Historic District. Here, you'll see many buildings that played a crucial role in Williams' plays, including the Cutrer Mansion which helped inspire A Streetcar Named Desire. Tourists can also visit the St. George's Episcopal Church where Williams spent the earliest years of his life.

Tupelo – about two-hours away, you can visit Elvis Presley's birthplace. Tupelo has many monuments of their most famous son. The must-see attraction here is the Elvis Presley's Birthplace and Museum. You'll find other historical attractions, including a replica of DC's Vietnam War Memorial Wall.

French Quarter & Bourbon Street – the French Quarter is the focal point for many visitors to New Orleans. Famous for its ornate Spanish architecture, this culturally-rich area has dozens of the city's busiest bars, clubs, and Creole and Cajun restaurants. No trip would be complete without a stroll down raucous Bourbon Street which is known for its bars, bright lights, and live jazz.

Jackson Square & St. Louis Cathedral – located within the French Quarter, Jackson Square is a great reprieve from the excitement of Bourbon Street. Based on the Place des Vosges in Paris, this charming green space is home to the picturesque St. Louis Cathedral. Be sure to visit Jackson Square later in the day to see NOLA's famous street performers.

Jazz Clubs – be sure to spend time at one of the dozens of jazz clubs in Orleans. If you want to avoid the noisy French Quarter, there are other jazz clubs around town, including on Frenchman Street in the neighboring Marigny area. To find all jazz and other types of performances, check out WWOZ’s Events Calendar.

Garden District – photographers (and everyone else) should schedule a trip to Uptown's Garden District. From its gorgeous mansions to its rolling streetcars, everywhere you turn in the Garden District presents an opportunity for a great photo of this elegant area. Even the district's spooky Lafayette Cemetery No. 1, one of the oldest cemeteries in NOLA with remains of hundreds of German and Irish settlers, has an undeniable NOLA charm!

The National World War II Museum – is one of the highest quality museums in the U.S. Prepare for an informative and moving experience at this massive museum complex. New Orleans was the home of the Higgins Boatyard, which built all of the amphibious landing crafts used in WWII. Listen to some of the hundreds of recorded personal accounts of U.S. servicemen who served during the war. This is a “must see” stop for history buffs and everyone else.

Café du Monde – this iconic open-air New Orleans café has been serving up chicory coffee and beignets (fried dough with sugar) since 1862. It is open 24/7.

Mardi Gras World – nothing can replace the thrill of visiting New Orleans during Mardi Gras. However, visitors at other times of the year can appreciate the city's Carnival celebration at the Mardi Gras World Warehouse. Measuring 300,000 square feet, Mardi Gras World contains many of the floats used in the iconic New Orleans parades. On your guided tour, you'll see how craftspeople assemble and design New Orleans' amazing floats.