Day 1 – Home to Rock Island, IL
Nashville at Springtime here we come! Today we make our way to Rock Island, IL and check into our hotel. Then we head to the Circa 21 Dinner Playhouse for a wonderful dinner followed by a fantastic show by The Letterman! To their credit, The Lettermen have over 50 albums — nine certified gold as well as myriad of hits including: When I Fall In Love, Put Your Head On My Shoulder, Goin’ Out Of My Head, Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You, Hurt So Bad, Shangri-La! The Lettermen are truly universal entertainers whose music speaks louder than words!
Included Meals: Dinner
Hotel: Holiday Inn Express
Day 2 – Rock Island to Paducah, KY
Enjoy the colors of springtime today as we travel south through Illinois to Paducah, located just across the Ohio River in Kentucky. After checking into our hotel, this evening we’ll partake in the Drury’s Kickback Reception, which is a complete light meal. Paducah is home to the incredible floodwall murals that capture the city’s rich history, so today we’ll enjoy a driving tour to view these masterpieces!
Included Meals: Breakfast, Drury Kickback
Hotel: Drury Inn
Day 3 – Paducah to Franklin, TN
Breakfast is served before we depart for Tennessee, stopping at the Tennessee Welcome Center as we cross the border into the “Volunteer State.” Arriving in historic downtown Franklin, we’ll enjoy some shopping time and lunch on our own. Then we check into the wonderful Drury Plaza Hotel for a three-night stay. Our evening will be fabulous with The Jason Coleman Show planned right at our hotel in a private room! Jason is the grandson of legendary country recording artist Floyd Cramer. Floyd is generally considered by most as the “Father of The Nashville Sound.” From a young age, it was evident that Jason had inherited his grandfather’s “slip note” touch at the piano. Jason’s keen ability to play music by ear, led to a childhood spent arranging his own renditions of the songs he loved, just as his grandad did throughout his storied career.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Drury Kickback
Hotel: Drury Plaza Hotel (3 Nights)
Day 4 – Nashville, TN
After a tasty Drury breakfast, we’ll spend the day experiencing Nashville. First we’ll enjoy a guided tour of the Ryman Auditorium, a historic 2,362-seat live-performance venue in the downtown core of Nashville. A National Historic Landmark, and the former home of the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 to 1974, it is one of the most influential and revered concert halls in the world. Originally built to be a church, it is affectionately called “The Mother Church of Country Music.” After lunch on our own, we’re treated to a Backstage Tour of the Grand Ole Opry House. Take it all in…the sights, the sounds, and the stories that only happen backstage, before the magic happens on stage. Hang out behind-the-scenes with stories about the Opry and country music greats, complete with exclusive photos from the Opry’s biggest moments. See the Artist Entrance where stars walk into the world famous Opry House every night. A wonderful dinner is then served at the Opry Backstage Grill. Next we head back to the Opry where we are privileged to attend the Thursday Country Classics Show. This live music radio show allows us to enjoy some of the “Back in The Day Greats” of country music.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5 – Nashville
Another fine Drury breakfast prepares us for exploring “Music City” today. Enjoy the Country Music Hall of Fame, one of the world’s largest museums dedicated to the celebration, preservation and interpretation of American music. For an artist in the country music field, induction into the CMHOF is the highest honor that can be attained. The very first inductees in 1962 were Hank Williams, Jimmie Rodgers, Fred Rose, and Roy Acuff. Lunch is included in downtown Nashville before we head to the nationally rated Johnny Cash Museum, which graphically relates the life and musical journey of June and Johnny Cash. Opening in 2013, it honors the life and music of the country music superstar often referred to as the “Man In Black.” Next is the Patsy Cline Museum. Though she left the world tragically at the age of 30 in 1963, Patsy Cline made an indelible mark on the music scene and remains one of the biggest names in Country Music history. The museum celebrates the life of the legendary singer and features hundreds of artifacts, personal belongings, videos and much, much more. Our day ends aboard the General Jackson Showboat, a riverboat designed to recreate the showboats that cruised the rivers of America in the 19th century. It is one of the largest and most elegant showboats ever launched. Our dinner cruise features some of the finest southern-style cuisine you’ve experienced, plus the entertainment will be fantastic!
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 – Franklin to Creve Coeur/St. Louis, MO
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before we check out and depart for St. Louis, MO. Upon arriving, we’re stopping at well-known Ted Drewes Frozen Custard for an extra tasty treat! Then we make our way to nearby Creve Coeur to settle into the Drury Inn & Suites and enjoy their Kickback Reception.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Treat, Drury Kickback
Hotel: Drury Inn & Suites
Day 7 – Creve Coeur to Des Moines, IA
We depart after breakfast for Hannibal, MO where we’ll wander through some of Sam Clemens’s most famous novels at the Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum. Let your imagination take you for a ride on a raft with Huck and Jim, explore a cave with Tom and Becky, pilot a steamboat and paint the famous whitewashed fence! This afternoon we’ll make our way to Des Moines, IA for the night. Another Drury Kickback Reception is waiting for you to enjoy.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Drury Kickback
Hotel: Drury Inn & Suites
Day 8 – Des Moines to Home
One last breakfast and then we are on the road, making a special stop in Boone, IA for the unique Rail Explorers experience! A rail explorer is a pedal powered vehicle that rides on railroad tracks. They have 4 steel wheels, hydraulic disc brakes, pedals for each seat, and are comfortable, fun and easy to ride. There is no need to steer as we pedal along, making it easy to take pictures of the beautiful Des Moines River Valley views. The showstopper will be Bass Point Creek High Trestle, at 750’ long and 156’ high, crossing this bridge provides us panoramic views of the valley & creek below! Wow!! Then we make our way home filled with wonderful memories of Nashville at Springtime, the adventures we’ve had, and the new friends we’ve made!
Included Meals: Breakfast
Motorcoach Per Person Pricing Information
Motorcoach Travel Protection Per Person
Travel Bucks
Deposit Due
Passport Needed
Tour Pace
Price Includes
11 Meals & 4 Kickbacks, Activities & Hotels as stated, Luxury Motorcoach
05/12/2025 05/19/2025
Tour Map
Tour Highlights
* “The Letterman” Concert
* 3 Nights in Franklin, TN
* Jason Coleman Private Show
* Ryman Auditorium Tour
* Backstage Tour of Grand Ole Opry
* Grand Ole Opry Country Classics Show
* Country Music Hall of Fame
* Johnny Cash/Patsy Cline Museum
* General Jackson Showboat Dinner Cruise
* Ted Drewes Custard
* Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum
* Rail Explorers Pedal Ride
