Autumn in Nashville, Tennessee 2026

Tennessee, Iowa & Illinois

October 1-6, 2026

Six days and five nights

 

     You will not want to miss ”Autumn in Nashville 2026”, when we experience Tennessee in the Fall. This is a beautiful time of year to visit Tennessee.  Laura and Gary Block invite you to join them for six days and five nights of fun and adventure. There are reservations for two nights of great music in Nashville, including floor seats at the Grand Ole Opry and the newly renovated Nashville Nightlife Dinner Theater plus the Goo Goo Chocolate Company tasting and making candy. Also included is dinner at Santa Fe Cattle Company.  We’ll be visiting the Fall Festival at Historic Granville, Tennessee’s Mayberry Town, a private city  tour with the Redneck Comedy Bus, plus free time downtown on your own. Most Minnesota tour companies only spend two nights in Nashville, but we’ve decided to stay three days and three nights making it a vacation packed with three full days in Nashville.  As a result, you’ll get more for your money; lots more. You won’t believe what we’ve all included, making this the trip of your dreams.  

     Our comfortable North Star motor coach departs Little Falls at 7:00 a.m., October 1st, from the northeast corner of the Wal-Mart parking lot.  We’ll also pick up in Royalton, Rice, Waite Park or anywhere else along our route.  We travel through the nation’s heartland as we head south to Tennessee.  Lunch is on our own today. Our first night will be spent in Quincy, Illinois at the Stoney Creek Inn. Dinner is on our own this evening.                                            

     Day two begins with a breakfast at the hotel. Our destination today is “Music City”, Nashville, Tennessee and meeting our step-on guide, Renee Binkley. Our evening accommodations for the next three nights will be at The Club-Hotel  in Nashville. Dinner is included tonight at the Santa Fe Cattle Company.  What began as a simple radio broadcast in 1925 is today a live-entertainment phenomenon dedicated to honoring country music’s rich history and presented with a mix of country legends and the contemporary chart-toppers who have followed in their footsteps.  This evening, we have reserved main floor seating for that phenomenon, the Grand Ole Opry and a very special 100th Birthday Celebration that will feature the Oak Ridge Boys. The show is at the Opry’s most famous stage. These main floor seats sell for close to $200 each and are located in Section 1, rows F, G & H.  We also have seats in Section 13 beginning in Row T.  A list of the stars appearing on stage with the Oak Ridge Boys, is usually announced a few weeks before the date.  This is the show that made country music famous.  After the show, we head back to our hotel for a well-deserved night of rest.                                                                                                                

        Day three starts with a full hot Southern Buffet breakfast at the hotel. Following breakfast, our day traveling will begin. Our morning in Nashville begins with a chocolate-tasting experience and hands-on class at the Goo Goo Cluster Store.  During this stop, you’ll learn about chocolate and the history behind Nashville’s official candy bar.  Enjoy tasting several confections, including the original Goo Goo cluster candy bar that was invented in 1912 – a mound of caramel, marshmallow nougat, fresh roasted peanuts and milk chocolate.  Then, use your imagination as you create your own candy bar during a hands-on cluster making class where you will be given a variety of toppings to select from and guided by your instructor.  And you you’ll receive classic Goo Goo clusters and an apron to take home, plus a 10% discount off any purchase. Lunch will be on your own in downtown Nashville.  After lunch, we depart for Historic Granville, Tennessee’s Mayberry Town.  It’s a special day in Granville when we arrive, because it’s the city’s Fall Celebration.  It’s the perfect time of year to discover the charm and magic of this beloved town.  Stroll through artisan booths, savor local flavors and enjoy music that makes your heart dance. Some of the highlights include the Granville Quilt Festival.  Each year, the interest in their Quilt Show grows with over 200 quilts in the competition.  This is a vibrant quilt show showcasing beautiful and unique quilts and quilted items on display.  If quilts aren’t your thing, there’s a delightful Cornbread & Spirits Tasting event featuring the finest Tennessee distillers you can visit.  Granville is a music community, and in the Fall, they step away from their bluegrass roots for some of the best jazz musicians in the area performing at the festival.  It’s dining at 5:30 at the Pioneer Village with an outdoor dinner play experience celebrating America 250 with “Journey to the Promised Land”. And music by One Way Out Bluegrass Band.  Step back in time and follow the Roberts family on a remarkable journey of hope and determination.  In this stirring work of historical fiction, their path unfolds from Granville County, North Carolina, across rugged miles and uncertain days, all in pursuit of a brighter future.  Their dream leads them onward to the “Promised Land” of Tennessee’s Upper Cumberland – where, at last, their long and weary journey finds its end in the spring of 1810.

    Sunday starts with the hot Southern Buffet breakfast at the hotel.  We will offer a shuttle to the 8:30 Mass at Holy Rosary Catholic church. At mid-morning, you’ll experience Nashville like never before on the Redneck Comedy Bus Tour, a two-hour rolling adventure packed with laughter, local stories, and a unique take on Music City’s most famous sights.  As the bus rolls through Nashville, you’ll pass legendary landmarks and neighborhoods that have shaped the city’s musical legacy and southern culture., all while your guide delivers a stream of jokes, stories and playful commentary that brings the city’s character to life. This afternoon you’ll have some free-time on Honky Tonk Row in downtown Nashville.  Do some shopping, enjoy the music and have lunch on-your-own at one of the many restaurants. A night of entertainment and food awaits at Todd Herendeen’s Nashville Nightlife Theatre where they blend southern dining with captivating live performances, creating unforgettable memories.  Their stage is home to talented artists who bring the vibrant spirit of Nashville to life. From Classic country to a little rock n roll, their show caters to a variety of musical tastes, ensuring that every visit is a delightful escape.  The new owners are committed to providing a warm atmosphere where guests can enjoy great food and exceptional entertainment.    

          Monday morning we’ll enjoy the hot breakfast buffet as we prepare to say goodbye to Nashville and begin our journey back home.  Before we leave the area, we’ll make our traditional stop at Hendersonville Memory Gardens to view the gravesite of Johnny Cash and his wife June. Lunch and dinner are on your own today as spend the night in Iowa City at the Hilton Garden Inn. Located in the heart of Iowa City, the All-American town, their Vue Restaurant on the top floor overlooks the city.  There are also over 40 restaurants within walking distance of the hotel.                                                                                                                                                                 

    It’s our final day together and we’ll enjoy a private breakfast at the hotel before we begin traveling back to Minnesota. We’ll be returning to Little Falls today. This will be six days and five nights of fun and adventure with three days in Nashville.  Don’t delay, sign up today for the experience of a lifetime.

 

$1399 per person double occupancy            $1274 per person triple occupancy

$1219 per person quad occupancy                $1859 per person single occupancy

$250 deposit due at sign-up. Full payment is due by September 1, 2026

 Cancellation & Refund Policy

Transportation and lodging hosted by Gary Block Tours is arranged with independent firms.  Bookings for entertainment are arranged through independent hotels, theatres and other entertainment venues.  We take great pride in our selection of reliable firms.  However, we do not control these independent firms.  Sometimes shows or celebrity appearances are changed or cancelled without notice.  We cannot be responsible for claims or losses arising out of injury, accident, death, loss of enjoyment, frustration or inconvenience that arises from the act or omission of any independent firm supplying services to Gary Block Tours, or for mechanical breakdowns, governmental actions, acts of God, strikes or acts of war beyond our control.  We cannot be responsible for the consequences of your failure to follow instructions, including but not limited to check in, check out and baggage handling.  If events or reservations are cancelled or changed, we will make every effort to provide a comparable substitute tour experience. Deposits and payments are non-refundable unless the tour is cancelled or we are able to replace with another paying person.

I have read and understand the Cancellation and Refund Policy notice. All participants of this trip must sign below.

Clip & return with payment to:  Gary Block Tours, 112 SE 4th Street, Little Falls, MN  56345

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