Full Itinerary - Click Dates for Details
Day 1: Welcome to Louisville
Arrive at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport and transfer to your hotel.
Welcome Dinner and Visit to the Ohio River Front.
Day 2: Churchill Downs, the Kentucky Derby Museum, and Louisville Slugger
Begin the day at Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby. Visit the Kentucky Derby Museum and enjoy a guided track tour introducing the history, traditions, and personalities behind America’s most famous horse race.
Explore interactive exhibits and watch the museum’s immersive film about the Derby. Depending on availability, you may see horses working out on the track.
After lunch, visit the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory. Learn how the famous bats are made, discover their connection to baseball history, and take home a souvenir miniature bat.
End the afternoon with a narrated Louisville sightseeing tour, including historic Old Louisville, Victorian architecture, and the city’s waterfront.
End the day on an Ohio River dinner cruise.
Day 3: Kentucky Horse Country and Lexington
Depart Louisville and travel east through Kentucky’s Bluegrass region.
Visit a Thoroughbred horse farm for a guided look at the traditions and daily work behind Kentucky’s signature industry. Visit A historic 1,200-acre breeding farm known for major stallions, including Into Mischief and Kentucky Derby winner Authentic.
We then continue to the Kentucky Horse Park. Highlights can include the International Museum of the Horse, the Hall of Champions, live horse presentations, and a horse-drawn trolley ride.
Check into your Lexington hotel and enjoy the evening at leisure.
Day 4: A Day at Keeneland
Enjoy a relaxed morning before departing for Keeneland Racecourse, one of the most celebrated racetracks in the country.
On the way, your guide can explain Kentucky’s Thoroughbred breeding industry and the significance of Keeneland’s spring racing meet.
Arrive before the first race to explore the grounds, view the paddock, and watch the horses prepare.
Spend the afternoon enjoying the races at your own pace. Travelers who do not wish to wager can still appreciate the horses, traditions, fashion, and festive atmosphere.
Return to Lexington for a traditional Southern Dinner.
Day 5: Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill and Nashville
After breakfast, depart Lexington for Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill.
Discover the architecture, craftsmanship, music, and agricultural traditions of the Shaker community during a guided introduction to the historic village.
Enjoy lunch at the village’s restaurant before continuing south to Nashville.
Day 6: Music City and the Grand Ole Opry
Meet a local guide for a narrated Nashville sightseeing tour featuring Music Row, Centennial Park, the State Capitol area, and downtown landmarks.
Continue to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum to explore the history of country music through exhibits, recordings, costumes, and memorabilia.
Next, take a guided tour of historic RCA Studio B, where artists including Elvis Presley, Dolly Parton, and Roy Orbison recorded some of their best-known songs.
Return to the hotel for a rest before an early dinner.
That evening, we will attend a performance of the legendary Grand Ole Opry.
Day 7: The Ryman Auditorium and Nashville Traditions
After breakfast, visit the Ryman Auditorium, often called the Mother Church of Country Music. A guided tour introduces its remarkable history and its role in the development of Nashville’s music scene.
Enjoy time for lunch and independent exploration. Your afternoon might include the Johnny Cash Museum, the National Museum of African American Music, or shopping for Nashville-made gifts.
The afternoon will also include a visit to Gaylord Opryland’s indoor gardens.
For the evening, attend a concert at the Ryman theatre.
Day 8: Nashville to Asheville
Depart Nashville after breakfast and travel east toward Asheville, North Carolina.
Arrive in Asheville in the late afternoon.
Check into your hotel and enjoy a brief orientation to the city, known for its mountain setting, historic architecture, arts scene, and connection to the Vanderbilt family.
Day 9: Biltmore Estate and Departure
After breakfast, visit Biltmore Estate, the magnificent Vanderbilt home in Asheville.
Begin with a timed-entry tour of Biltmore House. You can explore the grand rooms with an audio guide and learn about the family, architecture, furnishings, and life on the estate.
After the house tour, we will allow time to visit the gardens, conservatory, and Antler Hill Village. Spring flowers will be a beautiful part of this visit!
Depart for home.