JOIN ECKERD COLLEGE OLLI & JOY KATZEN-GUTHRIE
on an EXCITING MEMPHIS CULTURAL HERITAGE TOUR • November 8 – 13, 2012
This vibrant one-of-a-kind magical & musical 5-day experience of the rich
history, heritage, & hospitality of Memphis, Tennessee features foottapping rhythms and mouth-watering tastes. From the city’s beginnings as
a raucous, rowdy river port to its commercial innovation as center of
America’s cotton industry & hub of America’s first railroad line
connecting North and South over the mighty Mississippi River — from its
tragic 19th century yellow fever epidemics to its development as a worldrenowned center of medical research, care, technology, and cure …
Memphis is home to enormously influential expression, culture, and achievement.
Experience the city’s distinctive meld of Southern hospitality, folklore, cotton,
blues, soul, rock’n’roll, art, BBQ, and river culture. Joy and specialized guides will
direct you along the riverfront for a personalized experience of Mississippi river
history. Through Beale Street and Cotton Row, in visits to B.B. King's Blues Club,
Graceland, Sun Records, the Stax Records Museum, the Rock 'n' Soul Museum,
the Gibson Guitar Factory, W.C. Handy House, Danny Thomas Pavilion at St.
Jude, Pink Palace Museum and other locations of special interest, the colorful
history and creative inspiration of the city will come alive.
An Amazing 5 Nights/Days
in Memphis, Tennessee!
Includes Guided Memphis Tour,
Buffet Breakfasts & Special Meals
Memphis Transportation & Activities,
5 nights 4-Star Hotel, only $1141*
*Transportation to/from Memphis on your own
Reserve Your Space Now!
ACTIVITIES: Dinner/Entertainment at B.B. King’s Blues Club •
Mississippi Riverfront & Bluff • Stax Museum of American Soul •
Downtown District with vintage trolley cars and architectural
landmarks • Pyramid Arena • Beale Street • W.C. Handy House •
Danny Thomas Pavilion at St. Jude • Gibson Guitar Factory •
Victorian Village Historic District • Cotton Row/Cotton Museum •
National Ornamental Metal Museum • Chickasaw Park and Indian
Mounds • Sun Studio • Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum • Peabody Hotel •
Graceland • Wilks Brooks Home • National Civil Rights Museum
at Lorraine Hotel (if open) • Tennessee Historical Society Discussion •
Memphis One & Only BBQ Feast • House Concert • Chickasaw
Oaks Village • Pink Palace Museum … and more.
Contact Today: Jennifer Kruchten, Travelennium
901.762.7048 | 800.844.4924 Ext. 348
[email protected] • www.travelennium.com
JOIN ECKERD COLLEGE OLLI & JOY KATZEN-GUTHRIE
MEMPHIS CULTURAL HERITAGE TOUR • November 8 – 13, 2012
Memphis — Gateway to the Old South — is one of the most beautiful cities in the Southern United States filled with
Southern charm, beautifully restored mansions, & sculptured tree-lined parkways on a setting high on the Fourth
Chickasaw Bluff. Explore with us “The City of Good Abode.” See historic river bridges, Indian mounds, sweeping river
views & moving memorials up close. Enjoy entertainment at B.B. King’s Blues Club & a live historic home concert
with award-winning Memphis musicians & Joy. Feast on Memphis BBQ & authentic southern cuisine. Meet members
of the Tennessee Historical Society. Tour renowned museums, landmarks, & studios in which some of the world’s most
influential blues, jazz, country, & rock musicians have created their recordings. Reserve your space immediately.
Reservations requested by September 3rd to guarantee hotel rooms. Reservations will be accepted up to tour
start based on hotel availability. Reservations also available for day tours only. This tour is appropriate for all ages.
Day 1 Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012
3-hr Welcome Dinner with Memphis Blues entertainment, 6-9 PM (D)
[Please Note: Transportation to Memphis on your own] Our tour begins 2 days after Election Day: make plans for early voting if
necessary! You’re in Memphis at the height of color season when autumn colors light up trees into vibrant, fluorescent shades of yellow, orange,
& red. The temperature is unpredictable & can swing from still warm early fall temperatures to jacket or light coat weather,
so be prepared for either. Our tour begins with a family style welcome dinner with entertainment tonight at 6:00 at
the acclaimed B.B. King’s Restaurant & Blues Club (http://www.bbkingclubs.com/) on Beale Street. We’ll dine on authentic southern
cuisine as we hear the authentic sound of Memphis Blues & Jazz. BB King does make regular appearances at his clubs, but they
are unannounced. If we're lucky, we'll have an opportunity to see him at the club.
Day 2 Friday, Nov. 9, 2012
8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
8 Hr Full City Tour (B)
Buffet breakfast, then visit the Mighty Mississippi River Front with its famous cobblestoned landing to Harbor Town, the
Memphis Pyramid Arena, the Danny Thomas Pavilion at St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital where Danny Thomas
is buried (http://www.stjude.org/history), Lauderdale Courts where Elvis & his family lived, the beautiful Victorian Village
Historic District (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victorian_Village,_Memphis) with its 1840’s mansions of wealthy cotton
merchants, Memphis' famous Cotton Row with a tour of the Cotton Museum (http://www.memphiscottonmuseum.org/) in the
old Cotton Exchange. Lunch & sightseeing on your own downtown. Fully restored vintage trolley cars connect downtown &
surrounding areas (http://www.matatransit.com/trolleyService.aspx/). Stop by the Center For Southern Folklore on your own
during your visit (http://www.southernfolklore.com/) for live Memphis entertainment & light food & drink & to view the photo
gallery & gift shop for one-of-a-kind local crafts & Memphis souvenirs. Hop a trolley or stroll to beautiful parks & landmarks (http://historicmemphis.com/memphis-historic/parks2/historicparks.html). Our group continues to the striking vistas of the Mississippi River bluff with a stop
at picturesque Tom Lee Park, the lovely Church of the River, the nearby historic river bridges, Martyrs Park that honors the heroes of the
Yellow Fever epidemics, the Indian Mounds of Chickasaw Heritage Park, the amazing National Ornamental Metal Museum,
(http://www.metalmuseum.org/) & the breathtaking, just-dedicated Native American sculpture, “Legacies,” by African-American sculptress
Vinnie Bagwell, paying homage to the native peoples who originally inhabited this region & the city’s heritage of art & music.
Then enjoy relaxing, sightseeing, dinner, or nighttime entertainment on your own. (http://www.wakesomebodyup.com/ranting/statuesque/)
(http://www.memphisdowntowner.com/restaurants/001.html)
Day 3 Saturday, Nov 10, 2012
9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
6 1/2 hr Rhythms of Memphis Music Tour (B)
Buffet breakfast. We visit the original Stax records, now the Stax Museum of American Soul Music (http://www.staxmuseum.com/), which
includes a reconstructed gospel church, records, Tina Turner’s clothing, Isaac Hayes’s Cadillac & much more. Our Beale Street Walking Tour
(http://www.bealestreetonline.com/) includes the W.C. Handy House, then free time to visit A. Schwbs, a 125-year old variety store & Tater
Reds to pick up your voodoo potion! Lunch on your own on Beale Street or downtown. (http://www.bealestreet.com/wordpress/). Then tour the
Gibson Guitar Factory (http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Locations/RetailCenters/Memphis/) and the Rock n Soul Museum with the story of how
soul, blues, & rock’n’roll developed in Memphis (http://memphisrocknsoul.org/). Free time to sightsee, dine, or return to your hotel. Joy will
walk to the world-famous Peabody Hotel with those who want to see the Peabody ducks be ceremoniously led by the Duckmaster from the
lobby fountain to their penthouse for the night at 5 PM. You may also visit any day on your own, since the ducks are in the fountain throughout
the day. (http://www.peabodymemphis.com/peabody-ducks/)
Day 4 Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012
9 AM - 3:30 PM The Beat Goes On Tour • 5:15 - 9 PM Historic Home Dinner/Concert (B, D)
Buffet breakfast. Happy Armistice Day & Happy Birthday to Joy! At 9:00 AM we head to the most photographed gates in the world at the estate
of Elvis Presley for our Platinum Tour of Graceland, with the largest privately-owned collection of gold records in the world, Elvis' elaborate
stage costumes & jewelry, the Meditation Garden where Elvis & family are buried, Elvis' two custom airplanes & automobiles. Lunch on your
own, then Sun Studio (http://www.sunstudio.com/), where Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, B.B. King, Rufus Thomas, Howlin' Wolf, Johnny Cash, Carl
Perkins, Roy Orbison, & many others launched their careers. We return to the hotel with free time until 5:15 PM when our bus takes us to a oneof-a-kind evening visit to the historic Wilks Brooks House in Germantown (East Memphis). This historic 1835 home is the oldest example of
Greek Revival architecture in the region & one of the only 19th century dwellings to survive the Civil War. It is L-shaped with a dog-trot design,
built from the property’s elm, poplar, & cedar trees, with bricks & nails constructed on the property. Interior walls are made from plaster fortified
with horsehair. It served as the center of a large plantation located on the Cherokee Trace, the trail once used by American Indians as a major
trading route. Cotton grown here was delivered to downtown Memphis to be sold, first by mule-drawn wagons, later shipped by rail upon the
completion in 1853 of the Memphis & Charleston Railroad—America's first major railroad line linking the South to the North over the
Mississippi River (the Frisco Bridge we visited on our bluff tour). During the Civil War, this home served as a hospital for Confederate soldiers
until Union troops of the 7th Regiment Kansas Volunteer Cavalry occupied it as their headquarters, camping on the grounds, taking miles of
fencing for firewood, & killing hogs & cattle to feed the troops. The house sat empty from 1898 until 1973, when descendants of Wilks Brooks
began reconstruction that was completed in 2002. Suzanne Parker Tagg, who lives here today & who is a member of the Tennessee Historical
Society, along with other members of the historical society, will share the incredible story of this house & how it was saved, of Memphis, the
Civil War, & the Brooks family — one of the city’s most notable families. Enjoy a fantastic Memphis BBQ Sampler Buffet Feast from One &
Only BBQ of Germantown, co-owned by Joy’s brother, Alan Katzen, who will prepare an incredible buffet meal for you that includes classic
Memphis tastes of smoked BBQ Ribs (wet & dry), pulled smoked pork shoulder, smoked chicken, sliced smoked turkey, sliced beef brisket,
tossed salad, BBQ beans, cole slaw, twice-baked potato salad, BBQ sauce, buns, Texas toast, pecan pie, homemade banana pudding, sweet &
unsweet tea, and bottled water. In a May 2012 review, The Memphis Commercial Appeal raved about One & Only BBQ's superb, well-seasoned
smoked ribs, moist smoked turkey breast, flavorful pulled pork & texture, & excellent homemade whipped banana pudding. So arrive hungry!
For those who do not eat meat, vegetarian burgers with vegetarian BBQ beans, tossed salad & fruit are available as a substitution -- just let us
know when you make your reservation. We’ll cap off the evening with a Live House Concert from award-winning area musicians & Joy in a
round-robin concert until about 9 PM, then return to our hotel.
Day 5 Monday, Nov 12, 2012
9:00 AM – 3:30 PM Memphis History, Culture & the Arts (B, L)
Buffet breakfast. This morning's 9 AM tour begins at the extraordinary National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Hotel, site of the
assassination of Dr Martin Luther King (http://www.civilrightsmuseum.org/). The museum is scheduled for renovation around this time; we will
visit all portions that are open to the public or if not open, another morning tour will be substituted. Lunch at Just For Lunch –
(http://www.justforlunchmemphis.com/index111.htm) in charming Chickasaw Oaks Village is included in your tour, then time for some
browsing or shopping in this old-world atmosphere of specialty boutiques. (http://www.chickasawoaksvillage.com/About_Us/about_us.html).
After lunch, we’ll visit Memphis' spectacular Pink Palace Museum (http://www.memphismuseums.org/), with its extensive exhibits of
Memphis’ social, cultural and natural history, including a replica of the first self-service grocery store in the country, Piggly Wiggly. At 3:30 PM
we return to the hotel for a free evening of relaxing, evening's entertainment, or sightseeing.
Day 6 Tuesday, November 13, 2012 (B)
Buffet breakfast. Tour goodbyes. [Please note: transportation from Memphis on your own, not included in tour] If you’d like to stay a little
longer, there's much more to experience in Memphis. Consider arriving before November 8th or staying another day or two. Your hotel stay can
be extended & additional special tours can be arranged, or enjoy sightseeing on your own. On this day Joy will be sightseeing in town & you are
welcome to join her to historic Elmwood Cemetery (see a description of Elmwood below) & other museums & sites.
RESERVATIONS FOR THIS TOUR ARE REQUESTED IMMEDIATELY!
TOUR PRICING: $1141 per person, double occupancy • Single Supplement $280
Based on minimum group of 20 • Reservations requested by September 13th to guarantee hotel room.
Reservations will be taken up to tour start based on hotel availability.
Local residents may join day tours only without hotel stay - ask for daily pricing.
Jennifer Kruchten, President & CEO, Travelennium, Ensemble Travel Group, www.travelennium.com
901.762.7048 • 800.844.4924, Ext. 348 • FAX: 901.766.0126 • [email protected]
INCLUDED WITHIN TOUR: HOTEL 5 Nights’ 4-star Lodging with 5 Buffet Breakfasts
5 nights' accommodation at the 4-star Crowne Plaza Downtown Memphis Hotel • http://www.cpmemphishotel.com/
The Crowne Plaza in the heart of downtown Memphis is less than one block from the Memphis Trolley line. Additionally,
the hotel offers complimentary shuttle service to Beale Street & downtown. Complimentary wireless & wired high-speed
internet access. Fitness center, 24-hour business site with computers & printer. Your stay includes a full buffet breakfast
with an omelet & waffle station for 5 mornings. Daily self or valet parking available for a charge (not included in tour
pricing). Shuttle service from airport to hotel & return can be arranged by Travelennium (not included in tour pricing).
ALSO INCLUDED:
•
Charter bus service for each day’s tour
•
Services of a professional guide to handle all arrangements for each day’s tour.
•
Tour scholar Joy Katzen-Guthrie
•
All admissions & Meals (with taxes/tips) noted within itinerary as included
NOT INCLUDED:
•
Domestic travel to/from Memphis: Travelennium will be glad to assist, or make your own arrangements
•
tips for guide (recommended minimum amount $2-3 per day for guide, $1-2 per day for driver)
•
tips for hotel staff - travelers' discretion
•
optional travel insurance
•
Additional meals or activities not noted as included in pricing
ADDITIONAL POSSIBILITIES FOR AN EXTENDED STAY: Memphis' world-renowned zoo features animal
habitats from around the world, including pandas Ya Ya & Le Le (http://www.memphiszoo.org/). See the downtown Belz Museum of Asian &
Judaic Art (http://www.belzmuseum.org/), the opulent 1920’s Orpheum Theatre near Beale St. (http://www.orpheum-memphis.com/),
Memphis Botanical Gardens (http://www.memphisbotanicgarden.com/), Brooks Museum of Art (http://brooksmuseum.org/), Dixon Gallery
& Gardens (http://www.dixon.org/), Shelby Farms Park Conservancy (http://www.shelbyfarmspark.org/), & one of America's most beautiful
public parks, the 342-acre Overton Park (http://www.overtonpark.org/). Don’t miss the extraordinary 80-acre Elmwood Cemetery/Bird
Conservatory & Arboretum, one of America's largest & most historic cemeteries, with veterans of every American war including the
Revolutionary War side-by-side with generals, senators, governors, mayors, madams, & the tragic "no man's land" grounds of Yellow Fever
victims (http://www.elmwoodcemetery.org/). If you wish to arrive early or depart later, Jennifer Kruchten of Travelennium will be happy to
arrange an extended hotel stay & assist with sightseeing requests.