AMERICA MUSIC TOUR OF - Travelrite International
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Be part of John Howie’s and Travelrite’s outstanding 2023
MUSIC TOUR OF
AMERICA
Visiting New York, Lancaster (Pennsylvania),
Washington DC, Floyd (Virginia), Bristol (Tennessee),
Pigeon Forge (eastern Tennessee), Nashville,
Memphis, Baton Rouge, New Orleans
8 to 27 October 2023
H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H
with Bryce & Mahney
from The Hillbilly Goats
H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H
MUSIC TOUR OF
AMERICA
H with Bryce & Mahney H
Day 4 Wednesday October 11, 2023 Washington D.C.
Morning: Guided tour of Gettysburg National Military Park (site of Civil War’s
Battle of Gettysburg). Afternoon: Arrive in Washington D.C. See the White
House (and take photos), before checking into our hotel. Evening: Dinner at
one of Washington D.C.’s excellent restaurants, before exploring D.C.’s live
music venues (optional). Overnight: Hotel Harrington, Washington D.C. (B,D)
Bryce & Mahney from The Hillbilly Goats
Day 5 Thursday October 12, 2023 Washington D.C.
The Hillbilly Goats have been Raisin’ a Ruckus for the past Morning: Sightseeing coach tour of Washington D.C., with local guide.
12 years. They use the traditional tunes and tools of oldtime Visit Arlington National Cemetery (see President Kennedy’s grave), the
Appalachian music but apply their own zany, modern twist. Lincoln Memorial, and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. See the Washington
Undoubtedly one of Australia’s most colourful and popular Monument, the Capitol, the Pentagon, and many other famous landmarks.
Afternoon: Free time. You may wish to join John Howie on a visit to some of
country music acts. “Kick Yer Shoes off, Put Yer Hoe Down and the wonderful Smithsonian museums, including the Air and Space Museum,
Hang on to Yer Britches!” the National Museum of American History (see the original Star-Spangled
Banner), and the National Museum of the American Indian. Evening: Visit one
of Washington D.C.’s interesting nightlife precincts; e.g., Georgetown. You
Day 1 Sunday October 8, 2023 New York may like to visit Blues Alley, a supper club in Georgetown, for excellent live
Depart Australia and fly to New York, arriving same day (we cross international jazz (optional). (B)
date line). Travel by coach to our hotel in central New York. Overnight: Hotel
Edison, New York.
Day 2 Monday October 9, 2023 New York
Morning: Sightseeing coach tour of New York, with local guide. Visit Midtown
area, Central Park, Harlem, Wall Street financial district, and 9/11 Memorial.
Afternoon: Enjoy a cruise on New York Harbor, aboard the famous Staten
Island Ferry. See the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island (historic immigrant
processing facility). Then go for a walk on the Brooklyn Bridge (great views
of the N.Y. skyline from the bridge). Then spend some time in New York’s
colourful Greenwich Village precinct. In the 50s, 60s & 70s musicians like Bob
Dylan, Peter, Paul & Mary, & Joan Baez used to perform in ‘the Village’. Evening:
You may like to attend Jim Caruso’s Cast Party, at Birdland Jazz Club. Monday
night is ‘dark night’ on Broadway, and professional performers get together,
on their night off, to perform at this long-running informal Monday night
event. Alternatively, you may prefer to visit: (1) Mona’s Bar N.Y.C. (often has a
bluegrass session on Monday nights); (2) the Rodeo Bar (New York’s longest
running Honky Tonk), for some live country music; (3) Paddy Reilly’s Music Day 6 Friday October 13, 2023 Floyd, Virginia
Bar, for some bluegrass or Irish music. All entertainment, tonight, optional. (B) Travel from Washington D.C. to Floyd, Virginia. Today and tomorrow we
will be travelling through the beautiful Shenandoah Valley / Blue Ridge
Day 3 Tuesday October 10, 2023 Lancaster/Amish region’
Mountains region of Virginia. This region has a very rich folk music heritage.
Depart New York and travel to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. This region Morning: Visit the impressive Virginia Military Institute, followed by lunch
is home to the ‘Pennsylvania Dutch’, including the Amish people, many of in Lexington’s historic and charming town centre. Afternoon: Arrive in the
whom wear plain clothing and travel in horse-drawn buggies. Enjoy a coach Blue Ridge Mountains town of Floyd. Visit the Floyd Country Store. Floyd
tour of the Amish region, with local guide. Have lunch with an Amish family Country Store is a wonderful general store (over 100 years old), dedicated
in an Amish farmhouse. We will also visit an Amish farmers’ market. Evening: to the preservation and promotion of local old-time, bluegrass and gospel
Enjoy an informal performance by our hosts, Bryce and Mahney. Overnight: music. Bryce & Mahney, and some local musicians, will perform a few songs
Bird-in-Hand Family Inn. (B,L) for us during the afternoon, on the stage at the rear of the store (if possible).
Evening: Attend the Floyd country store’s famous, long-running Friday Night
Jamboree, a weekly gathering of musicians, dancers and visitors from all over
the world. Overnight: Comfort Inn & Suites Christiansburg I -81 (approx. 30
mins drive from Floyd). (B)
Day 7 Saturday October 14, 2023 Bristol, Tennessee
Today we travel south, to Bristol, Tennessee. Travel along the scenic Blue
Ridge Parkway, to Galax, Virginia, where we visit The Roots of American Music
Museum, at the Blue Ridge Music Center. We then continue on to Bristol.
Visit the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, which celebrates the historic
1927 Bristol Sessions, where Ralph Peer made recordings of early American
country music acts, including The Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers. Evening:
Attend a bluegrass or old time music performance at the Carter Family Fold,
in Hiltons, Virginia (35 kms from Bristol). Overnight: Courtyard Hotel Marriott,
Bristol. (B)
Day 8 Sunday October 15, 2023 Pigeon Forge
Morning: Travel south, to Pigeon Forge, eastern Tennessee. Pigeon Forge has
an outstanding music-related theme park (Dollywood) and numerous live
music ‘theaters’. Afternoon: Visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The trees can be a blaze of colour at this time of year, as their leaves change
colour (it’s Autumn in the US). Evening: Attend the outstanding live show, Dolly
Parton’s Stampede. Fabulous dinner & show, including great horse riding,
buffalo and/or longhorn cattle, etc. (Note: Dolly Parton does not appear in this
show.) Overnight: Best Western Plaza Inn Hotel, Pigeon Forge. (B,D)
Day 9 Monday October 16, 2023 Pigeon Forge Beale Street, Memphis’
Today we visit Dollywood, including Dolly’s excellent Chasing Rainbows
Museum, fabulous live music shows, craft displays, Wings of America (birds Day 14 Saturday October 21, 2023 Memphis
of prey show), etc. Dollywood’s Harvest Festival should be in progress; we will Morning: Visit the Tennessee Welcome Center (excellent Memphis Visitor
hear some outstanding live southern gospel, Americana, bluegrass & country Information Center, on the banks of the Mississippi). Then visit the Bass Pro
music. Evening: Enjoy an informal singalong ‘session’ with Bryce, Mahney, John Shops at the Pyramid (amazing hunting/camping/fishing superstore in
Howie, & Gill Delaney. Please bring your instruments and voices and join in! (B) impressive glass, pyramid-shaped building). 11am: Visit Sun Studio (famous
recording studio where Elvis, Johnny Cash, & others recorded). Afternoon:
Visit Graceland, Elvis Presley’s famous mansion. Our Elvis Experience Tour
tickets provide admission to all the main attractions at Graceland, including
the mansion, grave site, automobile museum, Elvis’s airplanes, etc. Evening:
Dinner at an excellent Memphis restaurant, followed by further exploration of
the live music venues in Beale St. (B,D)
Day 15 Sunday October 22, 2023 Baton Rouge
Depart Memphis and travel to Baton Rouge, the capital of Louisiana. Most
of today’s trip will be in the state of Mississippi, where blues music emerged.
Overnight: Drury Inn & Suites, Baton Rouge. (B)
Day 16 Monday October 23, 2023 New Orleans
Morning: Travel to Breaux Bridge, a charming Cajun town in the western
Louisiana swamp country. Near Breaux Bridge, enjoy a Swamp Tour, by boat.
See amazing wildlife (alligators & birdlife) and distinctive swamp vegetation.
Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, Nashville
Afternoon: On the way to New Orleans, visit antebellum homestead at Laura
Plantation, including original slave quarters. On arrival in New Orleans, check
Day 10 Tuesday October 17, 2023 Nashville into our hotel in the famous French Quarter. Evening: Enjoy a Cajun/Creole
Today we travel to Nashville, the home of country music. On the way, stop group dinner, including an informal performance by Bryce and Mahney.
in Lynchburg for a guided tour of Jack Daniel’s Distillery and lunch at Miss After dinner explore the French Quarter, including a walk along colourful
Mary Bobo’s Boarding House (beautiful Southern home-cooked meals). Bourbon Street. You may wish to take in the outstanding traditional jazz
Evening: Explore the honky-tonks in Nashville’s downtown Broadway district. music at Fritzel’s jazz bar and/or Preservation Hall (both optional). Overnight:
Excellent country music in venues like Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, Robert’s Wyndham French Quarter Hotel, New Orleans (B,AfternoonCoffee;D)
Western World, & Layla’s Bluegrass Inn. Overnight: Embassy Suites by Hilton
Nashville at Vanderbilt. (B,L)
Day 17 Tuesday October 24, 2023 New Orleans
Morning: Sightseeing coach tour of New Orleans, with local guide. Visit
Day 11 Wednesday October 18, 2023 Nashville St. Louis Cathedral and an above ground cemetery. See the mansions on
Morning: Travel to Hendersonville (29 kms from Nashville). Visit the graves St Charles Ave., and visit areas ravaged by Hurricane Katrina. See street
of Johnny Cash & June Carter Cash. Then enjoy a mid-morning performance performers Hack Bartholomew and Doreen Ketchens (the ‘Clarinet Queen’),
by outstanding Australian/NZ musicians, The French Family Band (formerly if available. Afternoon: Free time. Evening: Enjoy a cruise, dinner & jazz music
Camille & Stuie). (They currently live in Hendersonville.) Afternoon: Sightseeing aboard a majestic Mississippi paddle-wheeler. (B,D)
coach tour of Nashville, with local guide, including the downtown area, Music
Day 18 Wednesday October 25, 2023 Depart New Orleans
Row area (recording & publishing companies), and exclusive residential area
(see homes of the rich & famous). Evening: Attend the Grand Ole Opry show, Free time for shopping and packing. Mid-day approx.: Transfer to airport, to
featuring country music’s biggest stars. (B) commence return trip to Australia. (B)
Day 12 Thursday October 19, 2023 Nashville Day 19 Thursday October 26, 2023 In flight
Morning: Visit the excellent Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum. Then Day 20 Friday October 27, 2023 Arrive Australia
visit the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center. This amazing hotel Arrive back in Australia and the tour concludes.
features a huge glass atrium and 9 acres of beautiful indoor gardens. We will
then visit the Opry Mills Shopping Mall (excellent shopping & food court [for
lunch]). Afternoon: Travel to Nashville’s downtown Broadway area, where
you will have free time. You may wish to visit the Johnny Cash Museum, the
Patsy Cline Museum, or the impressive Ryman Auditorium (Grand Ole Opry
venue, 1943 – 1974). Or you may like to spend time listening to outstanding
country music in the many honky-tonks in this area. All visits, this afternoon,
optional. Evening: Free time. You may wish to attend the Opry Country
Classics show, attend a show at The Station Inn (famous bluegrass venue), or
explore the interesting area around our hotel (lots of nightlife & restaurants).
All entertainment, tonight, optional. (B)
Day 13 Friday October 20, 2023 Memphis
Morning: Depart Nashville and travel west to Memphis, home of the blues
and the birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll. Afternoon: Visit the excellent National Civil
Rights Museum (the motel – now museum – where Dr. Martin Luther King,
Jr. was assassinated). If you would prefer to visit the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul
Museum, or the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, instead of the Civil
Rights Museum, please advise John Howie. Evening: Visit colourful Beale Street,
including live music venues such as B.B. King’s Blues Club & the Rum Boogie Doreen Ketchens (the ‘Clarinet Queen’)
Café (all venues optional). Overnight: Holiday Inn Downtown Memphis. (B) New Orleans
MUSIC TOUR OF NEW YORK
AMERICA
USA LANCASTER
BRISTOL WASHINGTON DC
NASHVILLE FLOYD
MEMPHIS
PIGEON FORGE
H with Bryce & Mahney H BATON ROUGE
NEW ORLEANS
8 to 27 October 2023
Tour Price
Not included in the price:
The tour price $ 12,895 per person, twin-share • Insurance. Travel insurance is strongly recommended.
Air taxes as of 1/11/22 $ 270 • All items of personal nature, such as drinks, room service, laundry and
Total tour price $ 13,165 per person, twin-share phone calls.
Single supplement $ 2,650 • Meals and drinks, unless specified in itinerary. Breakfasts, lunches,
dinners, and morning teas that are ‘included’ are marked B, L, D, and
‘Morning Tea’, in the itinerary.
Included in the tour price: • Entry to concerts/entertainment events, other than those listed in the
• Return economy-class airfare to USA from Sydney/Melbourne/ Brisbane. itinerary. Entry to any other musical entertainment to be paid direct.
Economy-class air travel within the USA. Some entertainment venues, in places such as Beale Street (Memphis),
• 17 nights’ accommodation in well-located first-class and moderate first-class hotels ‘Broadway’ district (Nashville), and the French Quarter (New Orleans)
with private facilities, on a twin-share basis. Hotel taxes and service charges. may have a modest cover charge, but many have free admission.
• Meals: Breakfasts daily (mostly Full breakfasts; maybe a small number of good • International airport and departure taxes above the rate quoted.
quality Continental breakfasts); 5 dinners (evening meals); 2 lunches. • Domestic flight connections to and from departure & arrival cities.
• Entry to all sightseeing attractions mentioned in the itinerary, except for those
marked ‘optional’.
John Howie
• Admission to all music concerts/events mentioned in the itinerary, except for those
John Howie will be the tour leader/manager. Since 1995
marked ‘optional’. John has led many successful music tours of Ireland,
• Transport by first-class chartered coaches throughout. All airport/hotel transfers. Scotland, Europe, the U.S., New Zealand and the Australian
• Tour escorted throughout by well-known Australian & international entertainers, outback. He has also led many successful music cruises.
John is a musician and former secondary school music
Bryce & Mahney Wearne, from The Hillbilly Goats. teacher. He and his twin brother, Graeme, perform as
• Tour managed throughout by John Howie, of The Howie Brothers, including The Howie Brothers, one of Australia’s leading country
organisation of excursions, almost every night of the tour, to hear the best of music / easy listening / vocal harmony acts.
American music. John has been leading outstanding annual music tours to America
for 19 years. Gill Delaney will be assistant tour leader, as long as we receive a
reasonable number of bookings on the tour. Gill Delaney
Gill Delaney (accordion/ piano/ukulele/mouth organ
Please Note: If any of the musical entertainment in the itinerary is unavailable, we player from Wangaratta) has played in dance bands most
will make every effort to replace that entertainment with similar performers/events. of her life, and knows a million tunes! She will join the tour
as an assistant tour leader and musician (as long as we
Extending: You can extend your stay in America at a small additional airfare cost. receive a reasonable number of bookings on the tour), and
will be involved in lots of fun-filled informal music sessions
Please check with us for optional tours, car hire, hotels, bed & breakfasts, etc. with John, Bryce, Mahney, and the tour group.
General information and booking conditions Exchange rates: The tour prices are based on
an exchange rate of 1 Aussie $ being worth US$0.68.
International touring can involve a considerable amount of walking and stair climbing in If, 60 days before the commencement of the tour, the
the places visited and it is important that all tour participants have a level of physical fitness Aussie dollar is worth less than US$0.68, we may need
that allows them to take part in this activity without the need of assistance from others. to impose a surcharge on the tour prices.
Tour Operator: Travelrite International Pty Ltd. ACN 005 817 0781 (Travel- As a result we cannot accept liability for any act or omission whatsoever, booster requirements imposed by airlines, cruise lines and/or authorities in
rite International) is the tour operator. whether negligent or otherwise of those carriers, hoteliers or other persons the destinations visited, as well as requirements for accessing restaurants
Tour Costs: The tour’s costs are based on transport, accommodation costs providing services in connection with the tour over whom we have no and venues, which may be more restrictive than the above. No refunds will
and entrance costs at 1 October 2022. Travelrite reserves the right to alter direct or exclusive control. We do not accept responsibility for any injury, be given if you are unable to undertake some or all of your vacation due to
the costs if any of these factors change, giving any passenger that has damage, loss, delay, change of schedule or any other events which are failure to comply with these requirements.
booked the right to withdraw with full refund of monies paid or modify beyond our direct control, such as, but not limited to, war, flood, fire, civil How to Book: Bookings can be made by completing a booking form and
arrangements. No alterations to costings will be made within 60 days prior disturbance, acts of God, acts of government, or any other authorities, sending it with a deposit of $500 per person to:
to departure. terrorism, accidents to or failure of machinery or equipment, or industrial
Deposits and Payments: A deposit of $500 per passenger is required at the action. The passage contract in use by the carriers concerned, when issued, Travelrite International Pty Ltd
time of booking. Full payment will be required 60 days prior to departure. shall constitute the sole contract between the transportation companies or
firms and the purchasers of these tours and the passengers. Baggage is at
423 Whitehorse Road
A 1.5% administration fee will be charged on payment by Visa, Mastercard
and Amex Cards. own risk throughout the tour. The contract shall be construed in accordance Balwyn, Victoria 3103
with the laws of the State of Victoria, Australia and any legal action must be
Cancellations: Cancellations within 60 days of departure will result in the loss taken in the State of Victoria. Further information or a booking form can be obtained by contacting Travelrite
of all monies paid. Cancellation outside 60 days from departure will result in a International on the following numbers:
cancellation fee of $500 per person. Travel insurance is recommended to cover Delays and Unforeseen Events: You engage Travelrite International
the costs of cancellation fees due to illness, death in family, etc. to book this tour on your behalf and you acknow-ledge that Travelrite
International acts as your agent for the purpose of making contracts Toll Free: 1800 630 343
Changes to the Tour Itinerary: Travelrite International reserves the right to
make changes to the tour itinerary to fit in with operational requirements.
between you and the various providers of accommodation, transportation
and other services that comprise the tour. Travelrite International may
Phone: (03) 8803 6868
Any changes to the itinerary will be replaced with similar arrangements without reference to you provide or make available to you, or may as your Email: balwyn@travelrite.com.au
with an equal or greater value.
Minimum Tour Numbers: The tour has been costed on the basis of a
agent engage any third party to provide or make available to you, any good
or service which Travelrite International reasonably believes is necessary
www.travelrite.com.au
minimum number of passengers having booked 60 days prior to departure. for your benefit to maintain the tour itinerary, repatriate you or otherwise www.musictours.com.au
Travelrite reserves the right to cancel the tour, giving a full refund of all accommodate, transport or sustain you in circumstances in which the
monies paid or offer arrangements to proceed with the tour at a modified tour itinerary fails wholly or partly for any reason. You appoint Travelrite
cost if the minimum number is not achieved. About Travelrite International: Travelrite International Pty Ltd
International your attorney for this purpose. You agree to pay Travelrite
Baggage: All passengers qualify for 1 piece free baggage allowance. (ABN 64 005 817 078) is a well-established travel company which
International any cost thereof and you indemnify Travelrite International
Refunds: The tour is based on arrangements which do not allow for any has been marketing throughout Australia for over 37 years. It has
in respect of any cost it incurs in this regard. Travelrite International advises
refunds in respect to sightseeing, accommodation, meals or other services a fully ATAS accredited (No. A10538) office at Balwyn. As such it
you to obtain travel insurance generally including in respect of the risk that
directly represents the major airlines of the world and all major
HOWUSA23 – GLG0893
not utilised after the tour has commenced. any such good or service may become required.
domestic and international hotel, tour and transport operators.
Responsibility: Travelrite International Pty Ltd. (Licence number 30858) Vaccination Policy: While highly recommended, COVID-19 vaccinations Travelrite International Pty Ltd is a full member of the Australian
is the tour organiser. Travelrite International acts only as agents in and boosters are no longer required for guests traveling with Travelrite Federation of Travel Agents – AFTA.
making of arrangements with carriers, hoteliers and others for the tour. International. It is your responsibility to comply with specific vaccine and/or
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