logo
America's most famous river journey is also highly underrated

America's most famous river journey is also highly underrated

The Age16-05-2025

We drive from the ship to Graceland, surely more magical than Disneyland for Elvis Presley fans. Much more than a museum, the former home of Elvis and his family is an invitation to metaphorically step into the king's blue suede shoes for a day. To do it justice takes hours, for the scope and quality of his personal effects on display is vast.
In the Jungle Room, Elvis' tropical man cave, it's not hard to imagine his ghost lounging on the green shag pile carpet. His pink Cadillac gleams in the Presley Motors Automobile Museum, while the bling and dazzle of his stage costumes are an exercise in fabulous maximalism.
At Gladys' Diner (named in honour of Elvis' mother), a peanut butter banana toastie tastes better than I expect it to. I skip the bacon-grease glaze.
Over at Sun Studio, the Elvis tour continues, with a history lesson in how legendary producer Sam Phillips launched the careers of many early rock icons. In 1953, a teenage Elvis recorded two demo tapes as a gift for his mum. Phillips, recognising the kid's talent and charisma, brought him back in for more recording sessions. The rest is history.
Memphis is also a key location in the civil rights movement, and has become a place of pilgrimage, education and remembrance. It was in Memphis that Dr Martin Luther King was assassinated on April 4, 1968, on the balcony of the Lorraine motel. A popular accommodation choice for African-American travellers during the segregation era, the motel has been transformed into the National Civil Rights Museum.
Saddle up for Nashville
It's a three-hour drive from Memphis to Nashville, an interstate highway journey that passes quickly as I enhance it with my iPhone soundtrack of classic Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton and Patsy Cline tunes. The two-night post-cruise Nashville extension tour leans in to the rich musical heritage of the city, a place where countless stars of country, blues, folk, soul and gospel music have found their feet and their fame.
Inspired by Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood and other boot-scooting mega-stars of country, Nashville is a supremely popular destination for bachelorette getaways. Along the neon-lit Broadway strip of live music bars, many of them owned by the biggest names on the Billboard Country charts, we see groups of prancing young women dressed in the cos-play gear of the genre: Western hats, cowgirl boots, denim miniskirts and lots of fringing.
Many of those bar-owning big names are honoured at the Country Music Hall of Fame, an impressive, high-tech, interactive museum. With so many legendary attractions to visit in a couple of days, I trot from one end of Nashville to the other, fuelled by delicious barbecued beef brisket, pulled pork and coleslaw.
The grand dame landmark is the Ryman Auditorium, home until 1974 of the world's longest-running live radio show, the Grand Ole Opry. While the show now has a permanent, 4400-seat home at the Grand Ole Opry House, some 20 kilometres from downtown Nashville, the Ryman remains a must-visit for its incredible acoustics and legacy as the 'mother church' of country music.
Across the street, the National Museum of African American Music tells another story – that of the incredible influence African-American music has had on American culture. If you love the music of Elvis Presley, you can thank the influence of black music, particularly gospel and rhythm and blues. From the earliest spirituals, rooted in African traditions and sung by enslaved people as religious expression and secret codes, to the music world domination of Beyonce and her contemporaries, credit is given where it's due.
Uplifted in the South
Two weeks in the Deep South have flown by, and it's now time for our Viking journey to come to an end. The music, the flavours, the heartbreaking history and incredibly warm welcome create unforgettable memories.
Say what you will about politics in the US, but the charming people of the South and their famous hospitality sure do leave a sweet impression. The person-to-person connections seem stronger and more sincere than ever, even more so when locals hear an Australian accent.
'Thank you for coming, we're so glad you're here,' is a sentiment visitors will hear, over and over. 'Y'all come back soon now.'
Five other great rivers of the world to cruise
Yangtze River
For a taste of Chinese cuisine, culture and spectacular scenery, consider the Yangtze. Most cruises pass through the Three Gorges area, known for dramatic, towering cliffs and lush valleys.
The Nile
Egypt's mighty Nile River is hot, hot, hot this year, and not just in the sweltering summer months. Avid cruisers are seizing the opportunity to explore ancient sites, mystical temples and fascinating museums.
The Danube (and the Rhine)
A river cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam is a classic Europe cruise itinerary for a reason, winding along the Danube and the Rhine rivers past interesting cities, charming small towns and pretty countryside. The hearty food is reliably delicious and the port stops provide enough variety to keep the most inquiring minds entertained: thermal bathing one day in Budapest, classical music the next in Vienna.
The Seine
A cruise that begins with a starry sail-away from moonlit Paris bodes well for a good time. And so it is with Seine River cruise itineraries that typically include visits to Monet's gardens at Giverny, Joan of Arc's old stomping grounds in Rouen, and the Normandy landing beaches. As you would expect in France, there are also visits to flower markets, patisseries and wineries.
The Amazon
The awesomely potent Amazon runs for 6400 kilometres through South America's biodiverse rainforest and jungle. Cruising is a smart choice to cover the most ground, some of which is very remote, with many itineraries beginning in Peru or northern Brazil in a region that is home to about 10 per cent of the world's known animal species.
Loading
The details
Cruise
Discover Southern heritage and quaint towns along the banks of the Mississippi on Viking's eight-day Mississippi Delta Explorer journey. From $6495 a person in a Deluxe Verandah with savings up to $4800 a couple on new 2025, 2026 and 2027 sailings. Available now through to June 30, 2025. Longer cruises on the Mississippi (11, 15 and 22 days) are also available. See viking.com
US entry
The Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade advises travellers that entry requirements to the US are strict. Travellers should be aware that the US authorities have broad powers to decide if you're eligible to enter. Thoroughly check US entry, registration, transit and exit requirements. See smartraveller.gov.au

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Brian Wilson, influential pop pioneer and leader of the Beach Boys, dies at 82
Brian Wilson, influential pop pioneer and leader of the Beach Boys, dies at 82

7NEWS

timean hour ago

  • 7NEWS

Brian Wilson, influential pop pioneer and leader of the Beach Boys, dies at 82

Brian Wilson, the musical visionary who captured the optimism of early 1960s youth culture as leader of the Beach Boys and crafted some of the most stylistically adventurous pop music of the era with the seminal album Pet Sounds, has died, his family confirmed Wednesday. He was 82. His family did not immediately specify a cause of death. 'We are heartbroken to announce that our beloved father Brian Wilson has passed away,' Wilson's family said in a post on Instagram. 'We are at a loss for words right now. Please respect our privacy at this time as our family is grieving. We realise that we are sharing our grief with the world.' The artist's legal representatives said last year that Wilson was suffering from a 'major neurocognitive disorder (such as dementia)' and suggested he be placed in a conservatorship. Wilson is widely considered one of the most gifted singers, songwriters, and producers in the history of American pop music. The Beach Boys topped the charts and achieved global acclaim, expressing the spirit of summertime escapism with hits like Surfin' U.S.A., 'I Get Around, and Good Vibrations. (In truth, Wilson was not much of a surfer). The band embodied the popular image of Southern California as a lush paradise on earth, but it also produced wistful, introspective tracks such as In My Room. Wilson's brothers were part of the founding lineup: Carl played lead guitar, and Dennis sat behind the drums. Wilson's cousin Mike Love and friend Al Jardine rounded out the original group. In the middle of the '60s, inspired by the ambition of the Beatles and guided by his own psychedelic visions, Wilson created the landmark concept album Pet Sounds, an idiosyncratic and symphonic fusion of pop, jazz, and avant-garde genres that reached for sonic perfection and helped cement his legacy. Pet Sounds was not originally a commercial success. Still, it dazzled rock critics and wowed many of the recording industry's leading lights — including the members of the Beatles, who credited it with stirring them to make 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.' 'I figure no one is educated musically 'til they've heard 'Pet Sounds,'' Paul McCartney once said. 'I love the orchestra, the arrangements — it may be going overboard to say it's the classic of the century — but to me, it certainly is a total, classic record that is unbeatable in many ways. I've often played 'Pet Sounds' and cried.' Wilson's innovations — including using the recording studio as an instrument — led to greater recognition of pop music as a worthy and potentially revolutionary art form. He was one of the first singer-songwriters and producers to be referred to as an auteur, heralded for his fierce creative control and personal vision. 'Jesus, that ear. He should donate it to the Smithsonian. The records I used to listen to and still love, you can't make a record that sounds that way,' Bob Dylan once said. 'Brian Wilson, he made all his records with four tracks, but you couldn't make his records if you had a hundred tracks today.' Wilson's life was often tumultuous, earning him a reputation in music circles as a tortured genius. He struggled with mental health issues and substance abuse, sometimes channelling his inner turmoil into melancholy lyrics and moody soundscapes. He spent years under the yoke of the celebrity psychologist Dr. Eugene Landy, who attempted to control nearly every aspect of the singer's life. (Landy was eventually barred from any contact with Wilson and died in 2006.) The relationship between the two was dramatised in the 2015 film Love & Mercy. In recent decades, Wilson was less publicly visible as he battled personal demons. However, he continued recording music, releasing various solo albums and sometimes taking the stage. He also loomed large over the modern music landscape, inspiring acts ranging from R.E.M. and Radiohead to Daft Punk and Wilco. He was honored with two Grammy Awards, inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and recognition from the Kennedy Center Honors committee in 2007. Wilson was married twice, first to Marilyn Rovell and then to Melinda Ledbetter, who died last year.

Secrets and lies: This ABC thriller will make you look at your mother's group differently
Secrets and lies: This ABC thriller will make you look at your mother's group differently

Sydney Morning Herald

timean hour ago

  • Sydney Morning Herald

Secrets and lies: This ABC thriller will make you look at your mother's group differently

LITTLE DISASTERS ★★★★ The darker side of new motherhood, once barely whispered about, has proven a fruitful starting point for any number of psychological parenting thrillers in which mothers fall under suspicion – think Jenna Coleman in The Cry, or Jessica De Gouw in The Secrets She Keeps. This six-part drama, adapted from Sarah Vaughan's novel by Ruth Fowler (who created 2022 corporate thriller Rules of the Game), stars Diane Kruger as Jess, an American living in the comfortable bosom of the middle-class UK, with a young son and a newborn daughter. The series takes the distressing premise of implied post-natal depression and spins outwards to give a gripping account of judgment, betrayal, mistrust and a burning ethical dilemma. The model of neo-maternal perfection in her circle of female friends, whose children were raised alongside one another, from cloth nappies to organic rusks, Jess would seem the last mother to screw up even the tiniest dietary detail. But when she presents her baby, Betsey, to the emergency ward with an unexplained bruise, questions must be asked. And who should be the attending doctor? One of Jess' closest friends, Liz (Jo Joyner). It's here that the narrative goes nuclear in a manner not unlike The Slap – the expected chain of events shattering their friendship and dividing the community, with fingers swiftly pointed in both directions, mothers of all descriptions being so easy to blame. An interview device more commonly used in mockumentaries and reality programs breaks the fourth wall and draws us back to the victim – baby Betsey – and encourages reflection on the conflicting moralities of the situation. While it can initially be jarring to be faced with Liz in scrubs, explaining her side of the story to camera, these interludes serve to ground the swirling emotional fallout. Loading As the unthinkable is investigated, it turns out that – shock! – no mother is perfect. Or father, for that matter. The ensemble (which includes Patrick Balardi, Shelley Conn, Ben Bailey Smith, JJ Field, Stephen Campbell Moore and Emily Taaffe) explores the herd response to such a bombshell dropped in the middle of a seemingly innocuous and untouchable group. How an atmosphere of fear and accusation permeates this polite society is intriguing to watch.

Secrets and lies: This ABC thriller will make you look at your mother's group differently
Secrets and lies: This ABC thriller will make you look at your mother's group differently

The Age

timean hour ago

  • The Age

Secrets and lies: This ABC thriller will make you look at your mother's group differently

LITTLE DISASTERS ★★★★ The darker side of new motherhood, once barely whispered about, has proven a fruitful starting point for any number of psychological parenting thrillers in which mothers fall under suspicion – think Jenna Coleman in The Cry, or Jessica De Gouw in The Secrets She Keeps. This six-part drama, adapted from Sarah Vaughan's novel by Ruth Fowler (who created 2022 corporate thriller Rules of the Game), stars Diane Kruger as Jess, an American living in the comfortable bosom of the middle-class UK, with a young son and a newborn daughter. The series takes the distressing premise of implied post-natal depression and spins outwards to give a gripping account of judgment, betrayal, mistrust and a burning ethical dilemma. The model of neo-maternal perfection in her circle of female friends, whose children were raised alongside one another, from cloth nappies to organic rusks, Jess would seem the last mother to screw up even the tiniest dietary detail. But when she presents her baby, Betsey, to the emergency ward with an unexplained bruise, questions must be asked. And who should be the attending doctor? One of Jess' closest friends, Liz (Jo Joyner). It's here that the narrative goes nuclear in a manner not unlike The Slap – the expected chain of events shattering their friendship and dividing the community, with fingers swiftly pointed in both directions, mothers of all descriptions being so easy to blame. An interview device more commonly used in mockumentaries and reality programs breaks the fourth wall and draws us back to the victim – baby Betsey – and encourages reflection on the conflicting moralities of the situation. While it can initially be jarring to be faced with Liz in scrubs, explaining her side of the story to camera, these interludes serve to ground the swirling emotional fallout. Loading As the unthinkable is investigated, it turns out that – shock! – no mother is perfect. Or father, for that matter. The ensemble (which includes Patrick Balardi, Shelley Conn, Ben Bailey Smith, JJ Field, Stephen Campbell Moore and Emily Taaffe) explores the herd response to such a bombshell dropped in the middle of a seemingly innocuous and untouchable group. How an atmosphere of fear and accusation permeates this polite society is intriguing to watch.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store