Nashville, Memphis & Branson Country Christmas November 19 th to December 2 nd, 2019 13 nights, 14 days Summary Itinerary Tuesday, November 19 th Day 1 Portsmouth, NH Meet your Driver and Tour Director and depart on your 14-day Nashville, Memphis & Branson Country Christmas Tour. We begin this morning in Charlottetown and pick up passengers along the way in Borden-Carleton, Aulac, Salisbury, Lincoln, and Woodstock. Transfers are available from Halifax, Dartmouth, Truro, and Saint John. We will stop for lunch (not included) at the Acorn Restaurant in Lake George, NB. This evening we arrive at our host hotel, the Hampton Inn Portsmouth Central. The complimentary hotel shuttle can provide transportation to nearby shopping and restaurants. Overnight: Hampton Inn Portsmouth Central Wednesday, November 20 th Day 2 Carlisle, PA of the hotel and travel to Carlisle, PA. Stops will be made for rest breaks and lunch (not included) along the way. Your Tour Director will help pass the time with onboard entertainment and games. Arrive at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Carlisle-Harrisburg this evening and check in. This evening you are free to explore the area and have dinner (not included) at a local restaurant. Overnight: Holiday Inn Express & Suites Carlisle-Harrisburg Nashville, Memphis & Branson Country Christmas Tour 1
Thursday, November 21 st Day 3 Pigeon Forge, TN of the hotel and travel to Pigeon Forge, TN. Stops will be made for rest breaks and lunch (not included) along the way. Enjoy the scenery as we travel today. Arrive at the Hampton Inn Pigeon Forge this evening and check in. This evening you are free to explore the area and have dinner (not included) at a local restaurant. Overnight: Hampton Inn Pigeon Forge Friday, November 22 nd Day 4 Pigeon Forge, TN Enjoy a complimentary breakfast and meet with your Tour Director. This morning we will be touring Great Smoky Mountain National Park, America's most visited National Park. Our local guide will take us to the top of the mountains and back with an array of history, stories, and legend about the area and the people that inhabited it before the park was formed. Along the way you will see spectacular scenery and maybe even some wildlife! After free time to explore Gatlinburg, TN we will visit Dollywood. Here you will have time to experience the many attractions and shows that this park has to offer. A complete schedule of events for Dollywood s Smoky Mountain Christmas will be available at a later date. We return to the hotel later this evening. Overnight: Hampton Inn Pigeon Forge Nashville, Memphis & Branson Country Christmas Tour 2
Saturday, November 23 rd Day 5 Nashville, TN Enjoy a complimentary breakfast and meet with your Tour Director. This morning we will check out of the hotel and depart for Nashville, TN. After some free time at Opry Mills Mall for shopping and lunch (not included) we check in to the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Nashville- Opryland for a two-night stay. Have dinner (not included) at a local restaurant. This evening we will experience the show that made country music famous, The Grand Ole Opry at the Ryman Auditorium. What began as a simple radio broadcast in 1925 is today a live entertainment phenomenon. Dedicated to honoring country music s rich history and dynamic present, the Grand Ole Opry showcases a mix of country legends and the contemporary charttoppers who have followed in their footsteps. Performers will be announced closer to the date of performance and are subject to change. Return to the hotel following the show. Overnight: Holiday Inn Express & Suites Nashville-Opryland Sunday, November 24 th Day 6 Nashville, TN Enjoy a complimentary breakfast and meet with your Tour Director. This morning we will depart for downtown Nashville where we will meet our local Step-on Guide for a sightseeing tour of the city. Nashville is the home of country music, the Athens of the South, and features landmarks like the Ryman Auditorium, the Parthenon, State Capitol of Tennessee and Bicentennial Park. After lunch (not included) we visit the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum. As the world s largest music museum, the Country Music Hall of Fame gives country music fans the ultimate experience, displaying everything from rhinestone costumes to tear-stained lyric sheets. We will also have free time to check out the many restaurants and honky-tonks on lower Broadway such as Legends Corner, Tootsies Orchid Lounge, The Stage on Broadway, and Tin Roof restaurant. You may also wish to visit the Johnny Cash Museum or the many downtown shops. We return to the hotel later this afternoon. This evening you are free to explore on your own. Stroll the grounds of the Gaylord Opryland Resort where there is shopping, restaurants, carriage rides, and beautiful Christmas decorations to see. Shop at Opry Mills Mall or return to downtown Nashville on your own. Overnight: Holiday Inn Express & Suites Nashville-Opryland Nashville, Memphis & Branson Country Christmas Tour 3
Monday, November 25 th Day 7 Memphis, TN of the hotel and travel to Memphis, TN. Enjoy the scenery as we travel. This afternoon we arrive at Graceland for a self-guided tour. The mansion tour will begin with a new, brief orientation film about Elvis life and career before boarding a shuttle to drive through the famous musical gates up to the front door of Graceland Mansion. This portion of the tour includes the living room, his parents bedroom, the kitchen, TV room, pool room, the famous Jungle Room, his father s office, the newly-enhanced Trophy Building, a newly-restored Racquetball Building, which looks as it did in 1977, and the Meditation Garden. Following the mansion tour we will visit Elvis Presley s Memphis Entertainment Complex. This is a brand new state-of-the-art facility that showcases interactive and immersive pop culture experiences that connect Elvis personal interests and activities throughout his life. Following our visit to Graceland we will head to downtown Memphis for an included group dinner at Blues City Café. Following dinner we will check in to our host hotel, the Drury Inn & Suites Memphis Southaven. The remainder of the evening is at your leisure. Overnight: Drury Inn & Suites Memphis Southaven (B, D) Tuesday, November 26 th Day 8 Branson, MO of the hotel and make our way to Branson, MO. Stops will be made for rest breaks and lunch (not included) along the way. Your Tour Director will help pass the time with onboard games and entertainment. Later this afternoon we will arrive at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Branson 76 Central and check in. Have free time to explore the area and have dinner (not included) at a nearby restaurant. Enjoy one of Branson s original shows on the strip, Presley s Country Jubilee Christmas Show. The Presley family built the very first theater on the famed Highway 76 Strip, just a country road at the time in the middle of what seemed like nowhere. Enjoy country favourites, southern gospel and hilarious Ozarks comedy, featuring Branson's first family of entertainment. Overnight: Holiday Inn Express & Suites Branson 76 Central Nashville, Memphis & Branson Country Christmas Tour 4
Wednesday, November 27 th Day 9 Branson, MO Enjoy a complimentary breakfast and meet with your Tour Director. This morning and afternoon you are free to explore the area. Shop at the Tanger Outlets, visit the Titanic Museum, or take in another one of the many shows and attractions Branson has to offer. This evening we will enjoy a performance and four-course feast at Dolly Parton s Stampede. This amazing tribute will warm your heart and touch your soul. Snow falls softly as the breathtaking scenes fill you with tidings of good cheer. Dolly Parton s Stampede arena is magically transformed into a true fantasy land complete with twinkling lights, evergreens, poinsettias, old-fashioned holiday costumes and familiar holiday music. Overnight: Holiday Inn Express & Suites Branson 76 Central (B, D) Thursday, November 28 th Day 10 Louisville, KY of the hotel and travel to Louisville, KY. Along the way we will stop for rest breaks and lunch (not included). Enjoy the scenery as we travel. This evening we arrive at the Drury Inn & Suites Louisville East. After checking in in you are free to have dinner (not included) at a local restaurant and relax at the hotel. Overnight: Drury Inn & Suites Louisville East Friday, November 29 th Day 11 Hagerstown, MD of the hotel and make our way to Hagerstown, MD. We will stop for rest breaks and lunch (not included). Your Tour Director will help pass the time with onboard games and entertainment. This evening we arrive at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Hagerstown and check in. This evening is at your leisure. Overnight: Holiday Inn Express & Suites Hagerstown Nashville, Memphis & Branson Country Christmas Tour 5
Saturday, November 30 th Day 12 Lancaster, PA of the hotel and travel to Lancaster, PA. Before arriving in Lancaster we will make a stop at Kitchen Kettle Village for free time to explore and have lunch (not included). Kitchen Kettle Village features 40 distinct merchants offering everything from locally-made art, pottery and PA Dutch quilts to name-brand favorites like Brighton, PANDORA Jewelry, UGG and Minnetonka moccasins. It also showcases the best of Lancaster County including homemade baked goods, jams and relishes, and good food with unexpected touches. Later this afternoon we will check in to our host hotel, the Fairfield Inn & Suites Lancaster East at the Outlets. Have free time to freshen up before tonight s dinner. This evening we will enjoy an included group dinner at Plain & Fancy. Following dinner we will return to the hotel. Overnight: Fairfield Inn & Suites Lancaster East at the Outlets (B, D) Sunday, December 1 st Day 13 Portsmouth, NH of the hotel and make our way to Portsmouth, NH. Stops will be made along the way for lunch (not included) and rest breaks. Enjoy the scenery as we travel today. This evening we arrive at the Hampton Inn Portsmouth Central and check in. The complimentary hotel shuttle can provide transportation to nearby shopping and restaurants. Overnight: Hampton Inn Portsmouth Central Monday, December 2 nd Day 14 Home of the hotel and travel back home. Stops will be made for rest breaks, lunch (not included) and at Duty Free along the way. Arrive back home in the Maritimes this evening and say goodbye to your Driver, Tour Director and new-found friends with many happy memories of your Nashville, Memphis & Branson Country Christmas Tour. Nashville, Memphis & Branson Country Christmas Tour 6
Includes: Deluxe motor coach transportation from the Maritimes 13 nights of accommodation including breakfast daily 3 group dinners Guided tour of Great Smoky Mountain National Park Entrance to Dollywood Guided tour of Nashville Ticket to the Grand Ole Opry at Ryman Auditorium Entrance to the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum Entrance to Graceland and Elvis Presley s Memphis Entertainment Complex Ticket to Presley s Country Jubilee Christmas show Ticket to Dolly Parton s Stampede dinner show Visit to Kitchen Kettle Village in Lancaster, PA Free time in Pigeon Forge, Nashville, Branson and more All taxes and fees Services of a professional Tour Director Nashville, Memphis & Branson Country Christmas Tour 7
Important Notes: Mobility Requirements This tour will require moderate amounts of walking and a slightly active pace. This tour is suitable for individuals who can manage walking and standing for short to moderate lengths of time. Certain aspects of the tour may be difficult for individuals with mobility impairments. Tour Director and Driver Your Tour Director and Driver play an important role in making your vacation as memorable and hassle-free as possible. While optional, gratuities are a great way to show your appreciation. The suggested industry guideline is $3.00 to $6.00 per person, per day for your Tour Director and also your Driver. This should be extended on a voluntary and individual basis at the completion of the tour. Travel Insurance Your tour price does not include travel insurance. If you are covered, we advise you to look into coverage details, if there is a deductible, if you need to pay up front, and where to call in case of emergency. We highly recommend medical, trip cancellation and trip interruption coverage. If you would like a quote, please call our office at 1-877-214-5367. After Booking We will send you your receipt and proof of reservation via email or mail. Before final payment we will reach out to you via phone or email to remind you of your final balance and determine final method of payment. About 2-3 weeks prior to departure we will send you your Detailed Itinerary which will feature exact times and locations as well as details on your Tour Director. Around one week before departure you will be contacted by your Tour Director via email or by phone to introduce themselves and ask if you have any questions before departure. Target Tours P.O. Box 2693 Charlottetown, PEI C1A 8C3 1 877 214 5367 info@targettours.ca Nashville, Memphis & Branson Country Christmas Tour 8