NEW TOUR - MUSIC OF AMERICA, NASHVILLE TO NEW ORLEANS
Hello, ** I don't see a category for this new tour. MUSIC OF AMERICA**
I am a solo traveler on the Nashville to New Orleans tour on
April 17th through the 25th. I plan on arriving a day earlier from
the East Coast?
Anyone taking this tour?
Any info on Nashville/Memphis would be appreciated.
Thank yo!
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Comments
Prini, I grew up in Memphis, but it has changed a lot since I lived there. One constant, however, has been the Peabody Hotel. Twice a day there is a “duck walk” in the lobby.The “duckmaster” leads his charges from their rooftop home to their daytime home in the lobby’s beautiful fountain. He reverses the process in the evening. It is fun to watch. Beale Street has great music, but I would not venture it alone. The best barbecue used to be at Payne’s, but that is off the beaten track. You might have better luck finding a Corky’s.because they are everywhere. At the airport everyone, including pilots and flight attendants, line up to get their Interstate BBQ sandwiches to go. Graceland is tacky fun. I always liked taking a ride on the Delta Queen which traverses the Mississippi River. Have a great adventure!
I grew up in New Orleans. Take some time to get down to Jackson Square. Right on the square is the Cafe Du Monde where you can get a cup of coffee and some beignet. A little further uptown is Frankie & Johnny's where you can get a po'boy or red beans and rice.
I like the oyster po'boy but there are many different varieties - the roast beef po'boy with lots of gravy is also very good. If they ask you if you want it “dressed” don’t panic. That just means with lettuce and tomato.
Take the streetcar that runs on St. Charles Ave. You can catch it on Canal and it runs to Carrollton Ave. Then you can take it back.
My favorite restaurant is Galatoire's on Burbon St. Some people will tell you that Commander’s Palace is good but I disagree.
But what you really need to do it go to New Orleans around Mardi Gras. You can go for the week preceding Mardi Gras and you’ll have a great time. Mardi Gras day can be kinda crazy.
The week of the Jazz Festival is also a good time to go.
Too many other places and things to do – more than I can mention here.
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As far as food in New Orleans goes, I found this website - https://nola.eater.com/maps/new-orleans-25-most-iconic-dishes
Hello SandyFeet,
Thanks for your note and I'm sorry it took a while to respond.
I'm assuming when you say Memphis changed a lot, it's not for the better.....but I hope not.
The tour stays at the Peabody so I'll see the "duck walk".
I won't venture anywhere at night alone.
I wrote down Corky's and Payne's.
Appreciate the website,
Take Care
Hello Mike,
Thanks for all your information.
I booked NOLA a few years ago and cancelled because of Covid.
I hope I finally make it there.
I heard about Cafe Du Monde and beignet.
Ahh, regarding "if they ask you if you want it dressed" - I would have assumed mayo, some type of sauce, so thanks for the heads up.
I like lettuce and tomato. I also like rice and beans.
I'm not crazy about spicy foods so I'll have to ask how hot/spicy food is before ordering.
I already made the reservation for mid April so I won't be there for the two events you mentioned. I really don't want crazy so glad I won't be in Mardi Gras. I have enough crazy here.
Tauck doesn't give a lot of free time on your own, so I'll have to see how to squeeze in all the things you and Sandy Feet or anyone else suggest.
Thanks for the website,
Take Care,
We just came home from an independent trip to NOLA. High points for food were definitely beignets at Cafe de Monde. Best at the original site but the airport also has a place that sells them after you pass security. Not quite as hot but still good. Other good food as well like gulf shrimp. We were often surprised at where some hot spices had been snuck into a dish so if you suffer from heart burn be sure to pack what meds you need.
The World War II museum is excellent. Very well done and a huge complex if you have time to see it all. We also rode the streetcar along St Charles. An amazing and eclectic selection of architecture. We also visited the Mardi Gras World which is run by one of the main companies that design and built floats. The tour explains a lot about mardi gras, the krewes that put on the parades, how much is involved, how the floats are constructed, etc. A bit cheesy but interesting and a nice alternative if you aren't interested in being there for mardi gras itself which we weren't either. They have a free shuttle with several stops along canal street. Their website shows the route and gives you a phone number to call and ask for a ride. Very easy.
When I grew up in New Orleans the food was not hot (spicy). That seems to be a more recent thing (last 50 years).
When we boiled crawfish, they were always spicy but beyond that, the regular food was not spicy.
We always liked the muffulettas at the Central Grocery in New Orleans. Have one along with a Barq’s Rootbeer and walk over to the river and watch the boats pass by. Here is a clip from their website.
Located on Decatur Street in the middle of New Orleans’ French Quarter, we’re a third generation, old-fashioned grocery store founded in 1906 by Salvatore Lupo, a Sicilian immigrant who is famous for creating the muffuletta.
Lined with shelves stocked with imported pasta and olive oil as the aroma of cured pork and aged cheeses fill the air, our shop hasn’t changed over the years. We’ve always made our muffuletta’s with meats sliced in house, locally baked handmade bread and our family’s Italian Olive Salad. The store has remained in the same family for 3 generations, currently owned and operated by Tommy Tusa and Frank Tusa.
I forgot to mention the muffulettas. Up until a couple of weeks ago the Central MIT had been closed for repairs from a hurricane. We did try them. The meat and bread are excellent. The olive relish is pretty strong so you better like olives. Having it with root beer sounds interesting. I grew up in west Texas where the local A&W sold hamburgers with cheese and Chile con carne. To thus day I still crave those with a cold root beer.
Ditto on the Muffaletta, they are great. One is big enough for 2 people. The merchandise in the store is also fantastic, almost certain you will find things that are not in your local supermarket.
Hello Claudia,
I am definitely going to Cafe de Monde. Hope the line won't be too long.
I never had gulf shrimp and I love shrimp. I looked it up and it is bigger than the shrimp I eat back east. There's white, pink, red, and brown.
Heartburn is one thing I don't get but I'll pack something just in case.
I travel with a lot of OTC stuff and my usual meds. I like to have everything with me.
World War II museum is on Tauck's itinerary.
The itinerary includes a lot. I'll definitely do the streetcar. I'm sure the tour will take us down that route, but I've never rode a streetcar so that's a def. We stay at the Ritz. The old NOLA tour stayed at the
Hotel Monteleone which I want to go to (heard there's a revolving bar).
Thanks for the info.
TravelGuy,
That sounds like a nice peaceful day. I don't see the clip.
Never had muffulettas - I love root beer.
Seems like I'm going to gain weight on this tour.😜
Thanks for the info.
Prini, the revolving bar at the Hotel Monteleone is great fun! Have a Sazerac, the official drink of NOLA!
In Nashville the Frist Art Museum is walkable from your hotel.
In Memphis the Rendezvous BBQ Resturant ( one of the best!) is across the street from the PeabodyHotel.
In New Orleans, there is no bad food! Muriel’s on the square is a unique restaurant . Royal Street in the French Quarter has antique stores and other fun shops !
Looks like a great itinerary!
Enjoy!