TRIP PRICE: $4595.00

WHAT’S INCLUDED

• Beautiful, centrally located accommodations with double occupancy; $995..00 Single supplement fee

• Most meals (6 Breakfast, 5 Dinners)

• Sudden Journeys Tour Director

• A small, friendly group of 12 people

• All ground transportation

• All sightseeing, events, and visits as noted in the itinerary

• All entrance fees, service charges, and standard taxes

• Local guides and restaurant gratuities

• Special dinner and welcome drinks

• Custom-designed gifts for your travels

• Fine print: You are responsible for the cost of your drinks and free-time sightseeing. See our Tour Conditions for important details regarding everything listed above.

Arrival/Departure Airport: BNA Nashville

Note: The itinerary is descriptive, not definitive, and is subject to change. There also may be modifications due to weather, restoration works taking place are historic sites, and availability of local activities and guides.

ACCOMMODATIONS

THREE NIGHTS IN NASHVILLE

Located on the edge of Nashville’s

THREE NIGHTS IN FRANKLIN

Set in the heart of historic downtown Franklin, this hotel blends Southern hospitality with understated elegance. From its tree-lined courtyard to its refined rooms and warm gathering spaces, the hotel feels rooted in place.

Kyle Campbell is a seasoned travel guide, tour designer, and the heart behind Sudden Journeys. With over two decades of experience leading tours across Europe and the United States, Kyle has guided thousands of travelers, each journey shaped with care, curiosity, and a deep belief in the transformative power of travel.

Born and raised in Franklin and Nashville, Tennessee, Kyle doesn’t just know this place, she carries it. Every street has a memory, every bend in the backroad a story. Creating Ballads & Backroads has been a long-held dream: a chance to welcome guests not just to a destination, but to her hometown. From hidden honky tonks to historic battlefields, Kyle brings you behind the curtain and into the soul of a place she knows by heart.

Whether she’s guiding travelers through the English Countryside, the ancient forums of Rome, or the rolling hills of Tennessee, Kyle’s mission remains the same: to ensure every guest returns home with a full heart, an expanded worldview and the kind of memories that stay long after the suitcase is unpacked.

Day 1 Sunday, April 19 Welcome to Nashville

Begin your journey in Music City. Settle into your hotel and together we will go for a leisurely guided overview of Nashville’s storied streets. In the evening, we’ll gather for a toast to the days ahead, either in the hotel’s cozy bar or beneath the moody lights of Skull’s Rainbow Room. Our private welcome dinner sets the tone: thoughtful, intimate, and undeniably Southern. End the first night on Broadway listening to music at Robert’s Western World.

Highlights:

• Private guided tour of Nashville’s neighborhoods and historic landmarks

• Welcome drinks in a local bar

• Private Southern welcome dinner in an intimate venue

Day 2 Monday, April 20 | NASHVILLE

Today is all about Nashville’s roots: musical and otherwise. After a biscuit-fueled breakfast at a local favorite, we explore the revered Country Music Hall of Fame and take a peek into the historic Hatch Show Print. After lunch and free time on your own in the vibrant downtown district, we gather for a songwriting storytime led by a local artist—offering a behind-the-scenes look at how the songs of Nashville come to life. The evening unfolds with cocktails at the wonderful East Nashville spot along with, fried chicken done right, and a option for a night of live music at Skinny Dennis and Dee’s Country Cocktail Lounge.

Highlights:

• Breakfast at classic diner for biscuits and more

• Visit to The Country Music Hall of Fame

• Visit Hatch Show Print for a private experience

• Free time for lunch and exploration in downtown Nashville

• Songwriting gathering with local artists

• Drive through Music Row with a storytelling focus

• Pre-dinner cocktails at Urban Cowboy

• Dinner at a beloved local BBQ joint

• Live music at Skinny Dennis

Day 3 Tuesday, April 21| NASHVILLE

The day is yours. Sleep in. Linger at a museum, browse record stores, explore the Parthenon or The Ryman—Nashville is yours to wander. In the evening, we’ll regroup for a night out with a distinctly Southern beat. Whether it’s Honky Tonk Tuesday at Eastside Bowl, expect rhythm, revelry, and maybe a two-step or two.

Highlights:

• Free day to explore: The Ryman, Parthenon, Frist Art Museum, shopping, or relaxation

• Evening dancing and live music at Eastside Bowl for Honky Tonk Tuesdays

Day 4 Wednesday, April 22 smALL tOWNS

After breakfast in Nashville, we leave the city behind and follow a slower rhythm into the Tennessee hills. The Natchez Trace Parkway will guide us, winding past wildflower meadows and quiet forest. We’ll take our time on the Garrison Creek Loop, a scenic route perfect for walking, thinking, or simply breathing in the Southern spring. If the weather welcomes us, we’ll stop for a picnic among the trees. By early afternoon, we arrive in Leiper’s Fork—a village that feels like a memory. You’ll have time to wander its front-porch galleries and local shops, browse antiques, or grab a bite at Country Boy or Puckett’s Grocery, where the locals eat and the music never stops. In the late afternoon, we’ll gather at Leiper’s Fork Distillery for a private whiskey tasting paired with the stories of those keeping old traditions alive. And if the day still has music in it, we may be invited onto a front porch to sit a while with a local guitarist—because in this part of Tennessee, the soundtrack never really stops.

Highlights:

• Breakfast in Nashville

• Scenic drive along the Natchez Trace Parkway

• Walk and explore the Garrison Creek Loop (easy trail + picnic stop)

• Free time to explore Leiper’s Fork

• Private whiskey tasting at Leiper’s Fork Distillery

• Check-in at hotel in downtown Franklin

• Optional live music at Kimbro’s Pickin’ Parlor

Day 5 Thursday, April 23 The Soul of FrankliN

Franklin invites you to slow down. Start the day with homemade pastries at Merridee’s Breadbasket, then explore the charming downtown streets at your own pace. Later, we visit one of several powerful Civil War sites—Carnton Plantation —where history is told with honesty and care. We end the day with steaks and stories at Cork & Cow, followed by a lantern-lit ghost tour through Franklin’s most haunted corners.

Highlights:

• Breakfast at Merridee’s Breadbasket

• Free time to shop and explore downtown Franklin

• Guided tours of Carnton Plantation

• Evening ghost tour of Franklin

Day 6 Friday, April 24 | SMALL TOWNS

Our final full day takes us further off the map. After breakfast, it’s on to Columbia—home to antique shops and creative revival. Along the way, we will pass through several small towns and old country markets for a stop. The tour ends with a celebration under the stars: a slow, soulful farewell dinner at Kindred Farm for affair to remember.

Highlights:

• Free time in historic downtown Columbia, TN

• Farewell farm to table feast

Day 7 Saturday, April 25| Departure Day

After a slow breakfast and heartfelt goodbyes, we’ll arrange your transfers and help you on your way. Whether you’re heading home or onward, you’ll carry Tennessee with you now—in your suitcase, and in your bones.