USA Road Trip: Music City to the Big Apple

Now's the time to explore the United States on your terms with this tour that's affordable for young travellers. What has insatiable wanderlust, two weeks of free time, and a healthy appetite? You do, my friend. Which is precisely why we've put this 14-day East Coast road trip together. Please the eyes, ears, and the soul in equal measure by visiting charming Charleston, listening to live jazz in New Orleans, and digging into iconic Philly Cheesesteak in its hometown. Did someone say om nom nom nom?

Day 1 Nashville
Arrive at any time.

Put on those dancing shoes and get ready to bust a move. Take to the streets in the home of dive bars and honky tonks and let the music guide you to your next destination. Get to know the locals, swap travel stories, sip some Tennessee Whiskey, and get ready to sing your heart out as the night goes on.

Day 2 Nashville/Memphis
It’s time to head south through Tennessee to explore the vibrant musical and cultural melting pot of Memphis. Good ole’ Elvis may have left the building, but get ready for a ‘hunk of burning love’ and take an optional tour of Graceland.

Feeling more historical than musical? Delve into the past at the National Civil Rights Museum and learn how Memphis played a role in this historical movement, or jam out on a tour of the Rock ’n’ Soul Museum. As the sun begins to set head to Beale Street for an evening out. Experience mouth-watering cuisine, live music, and a buzzing energy that will have you out spinning on the dance floor in no time.

Day 3 Memphis
Ready...set...go! Today is your free day in Memphis—a chance to experience the “Home of Blues, Soul & Rock ‘N’ Roll” the way you have always wanted. Pay your respects to Martin Luther King Jr, feel the wind in your hair as you ride a bike along the Mississippi River, or catch a world-class show at one of the theatres in Memphis.

Day 4 Memphis/New Orleans
Drive through the bayous, crank up the jazz and head into the Big Easy. Home of Mardi Gras, Voo Doo, and Gumbo. Get ready to head out and explore the French Quarter, where you'll join fellow revellers on Bourbon Street until the early hours.

Day 5 New Orleans
Get ready to take on NOLA all on your own today! Grab a buddy or head out solo— just make sure to soak up as much as you can. Trust us there’s plenty to do: from taking part in a creole cooking demonstration, to taking a bike tour around the city you’re sure to find your own way to make your New Orleans experience unique and special. But, if all else fails and you can’t decide what to do; simply grab some beignets at Café du Monde and wander the streets downtown soaking up the music and culture as you go.

Day 6 New Orleans/Panama City Beach
Hop across the state line and arrive at Panama City Beach—the quintessential Florida getaway. What’s here you ask? Well for starters there’s 27 miles of pearly white beaches and a subtropical climate that practically guarantees warm sunny days. On top of that it’s a great place to enjoy an afternoon on the water before hitting the town in the evening. Bonus fact: because Panama City Beach has the highest concentration of bottlenose dolphins your chances of watching some play in the waves are pretty high.

Day 7 Panama City Beach/Orlando
Let your inner child run wild as you head to the home of ‘The Most Magical Place on Earth’, Orlando. With endless shopping, nightlife, and famous amusement parks like Disney World and Universal Studios there’s plenty to explore. So take that selfie you’ve always wanted with Cinderella’s Castle or sip on a butterbeer from Harry Potter World and make the most of your day together!

Day 8 Orlando
It's a full free day in Orlando, so get busy folks, because there's loads to see. Meet Mickey Mouse at Disney World, feel your stomach drop on the Tower of Terror, or drink/eat your way through Epcot.

Day 9 Orlando/Savannah
Head to historic Savannah, stopping along the way in America's oldest city, St. Augustine. Once in Savannah you can enjoy free time to explore alone or with a travel buddy. Walk around this Southern Belle of a town, admire the architecture and oak trees covered in Spanish moss, head out to Bonaventure Cemetery, or stroll along the waterfront.

Day 10 Savannah/Charleston
Journey to the city of Charleston, known for its historic, romantic charm. Once you arrive, if you aren't too beat enjoy a free afternoon in this southern charmed city with your friends. Make sure to sample some catfish stew or shrimp and grits from The Glass Onion. Get to know the locals and enjoy the home-cooked comforts of soul food in your new home away from home.

Day 11 Charleston/Richmond
Sit back, relax, and reflect as you travel north. Then history buffs unite once you arrive in Richmond, Virginia — a city that played a large part in the U.S. Civil War. With a buzzy craft beer scene, a loyalty to the homegrown, and locally owned shops you just may find yourself yelling the famous quote "Give me liberty or give me death" with your fellow tour buddies as the night goes on.

Day 12 Richmond/Washington DC
Next stop: the U.S. capital! Along the way enjoy time to explore Georgetown, a historic waterfront D.C. neighbourhood lined with cobblestoned streets, 19th-century architecture and a flare for blending the past and present. As the sun sets get ready to embark on a moonlight monument tour to some of Washington DC's memorials as they light up the night.

Day 13 Washington DC
Spend your day immersed in the Nation's capital with plenty of free time to see the sights. Meander through exhibits at the Smithsonian Museum and along the National Mall, see where the President lives on Pennsylvania Avenue, tour the Capitol Building, eat something delicious on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, and get lost on the streets of DC's quaint neighbourhoods.

Day 14 Washington DC/New York City
Today, let history guide you through Philadelphia along the way to New York City. See the room where the Declaration of Independence was signed, stuff your face with a famous Philly Cheesesteak, get up close and personal with the Liberty Bell and feel the freedom of America in your veins before making your way to the final destination—NYC!

Welcome to The Big Apple! From the Statue of Liberty to Ground Zero to Chinatown, New York City is full of things to do and see. We recommend spending extra time here before you head home.