Tennessee's Rivers & Rails

DAY 1: WELCOME TO MEMPHIS!

Your trip begins with a comfortable ride to Memphis, where the spirit of music and the Mississippi River set the tone for the days ahead. Enjoy the sights and sounds of Beale Street this evening for dinner on your own.

DAY 2: CASEY JONES VILLAGE

Step back in time with a visit to Casey Jones Home and Railroad Museum. Learn about the life and legend of the heroic train engineer and peruse the exhibit “The Railroads and the Civil War in Tennessee” before continuing to charming Franklin for an overnight stay. B, L

DAY 3: RUBY FALLS, LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, CHATTANOOGA, TN

Enter the scenic beauty of Chattanooga. Ride the famous Lookout Mountain Incline Railway—one of the steepest passenger railways in the world—and explore the underground wonder of Ruby Falls. This evening, settle into your first of two nights at the Hotel Chalet at the Choo Choo, where railroad heritage comes to life. B, L

DAY 4: TENNESSEE AQUARIUM, TENNESSEE VALLEY RAILROAD

Discover the wonders of the Tennessee Aquarium. Within the two buildings, trace the path of water from the mountains to the sea. Tonight enjoy a memorable evening aboard the Tennessee Valley Railroad Dinner Train—a perfect blend of fine dining and scenic rail travel. B, D

DAY 5: THE LOST SEA, DINNER CRUISE

Your adventure continues with a visit to America’s largest underground lake, The Lost Sea*. Learn about Craighead Caverns as you descend 140 feet toward the floating boat dock for your float out onto the immense, hidden body of water. Continue toward Knoxville for lunch. Tonight enjoy a relaxing sunset dinner cruise along the Tennessee River on the Volunteer Princess. B, L, D

*Excellent mobility required to enjoy The Lost Sea. Those not interested in journeying into the cave can enjoy the amenities above ground at the Lost Sea Village.

DAY 6: NASHVILLE, TN

On the way to Nashville, stop to explore local history at the Cookeville Depot Museum. Enjoy some free time for lunch in the Music City before enjoying a guided city tour with a musical twist. Tonight, go “under the Sea” for a truly unique dining experience. B, D

DAY 7: PATTI’S 1880 SETTLEMENT

Delight in nostalgia today with a stop at Patti’s 1880 Settlement. Stroll past streams and waterfalls, pop into one of many gift shops, or simply relax in the gazebo and watch the world go by. Of course, no stop at Patti’s would be complete without dining at their award- winning restaurant-come hungry! Then, on to Paducah for your final overnight stay. B, L

DAY 8: HOME

Return home with wonderful memories of scenic railways, underground wonders, riverboat cruises, and the warm hospitality of the South. B

ACCOMMODATIONS
Night 1: Hampton Inn, Memphis, TN (or similar
Night 2: Drury Inn and Suites Franklin, TN
Nights 3-4: Hotel Chalet at the Choo Choo, Chattanooga, TN
Night 5: Aloft Hotel, Knoxville TN
Night 6: Holiday Inn Express, Nashville, TN
Night 7: Drury Inn and Suites, Paducah, KY

Departure Cities:

• Kansas City
• Springfield, MO

Depart: June 15, 2027
Return: June 22, 2027

Price per person:

• DB $2,599
• TP/QD $2,339
• SG $3,379

Mobility Note
Guests should be comfortable walking and standing at museums, historic sites, caves and outdoor attractions, as well as boarding trains, boats and the motorcoach several times each day. Ruby Falls includes a walk of just under one mile on paved but uneven and sometimes wet cavern paths, with narrow passages and small groups of steps. The cave is not wheelchair accessible.

The Lost Sea requires excellent mobility. The complete cave experience is approximately three-quarters of a mile round-trip and descends 140 feet underground before reaching the boat dock. Guests who prefer not to enter the cave may remain above ground at Lost Sea Village.

Average Temps
Daytime: 84–90°F
Overnight: 64–70°F

Hotel Note
The Hotel Chalet at the Choo Choo makes the railroad theme part of the overnight experience. Located on the historic Chattanooga Choo Choo campus in the city's Southside neighborhood, the boutique hotel incorporates Chattanooga's rail history throughout its design. Of its 127 rooms, 25 are located inside beautifully restored train carriages dating from the 1920s and 1960s.

The property's downtown location also places restaurants, entertainment and shops nearby, giving guests additional options during free time.

Notes on Highlights
Ruby Falls was discovered accidentally while Leo Lambert was exploring Lookout Mountain in 1928. He named the underground waterfall for his wife, Ruby, and opened the attraction to visitors the following year. Guests descend approximately 260 feet into Lookout Mountain before walking through the cavern to the falls.

The Incline Railway reaches a grade of 72.7% near the top of Lookout Mountain, making it one of the steepest passenger railways in the world. The enclosed railcars have expansive windows and take approximately 10 minutes to make the climb.

The Lost Sea is America's largest underground lake. The cavern also has a fascinating history, with evidence connecting it to Cherokee people, Civil War-era activity and even the remains of a giant prehistoric jaguar that lived more than 20,000 years ago.

The Tennessee Valley Railroad experience uses authentic vintage rail equipment on historic tracks rather than a modern sightseeing train. The railroad is also a working preservation organization that restores and maintains historic locomotives and passenger cars.

The Volunteer Princess offers a completely different perspective of Knoxville from the Tennessee River. During the sunset cruise, guests may see the downtown skyline, Neyland Stadium and the foothills surrounding the city while dining aboard a luxury yacht.

The Hotel Chalet adds an especially fitting touch to this rail-focused itinerary. The Chattanooga Choo Choo complex occupies the city's former Terminal Station, helping connect the tour's historic train rides with the railroad history that helped shape Chattanooga.

Other General Information
Tour Communications: You will receive three key communications leading up to your tour:

• Get Ready: Your email confirmation and initial tour information, sent after you register.
• Get Set: An email with additional tour details, sent approximately two months before departure.
• Go: Your final trip documents, mailed via USPS approximately three to four weeks before departure. This packet will include your daily itinerary, luggage tags, and final departure information.

Travel Protection: Travel Protection is optional but highly recommended and may be purchased until the day before departure. Sunrise Tours offers plans through battleface. Additional information will be included with your Get Ready email and can also be found HERE.

Inclusions: Unless otherwise noted, your Sunrise Tour includes:

• A professional Sunrise Tour Director
• Meals as indicated in the itinerary
• Local step-on guides, including gratuities
• International tour guide gratuities when specified for the individual tour
• Deluxe motorcoach transportation with an onboard restroom
• Admission to activities and events as indicated
• Airfare from designated airports
• Transportation to and from designated airports from our convenient local pickup points*
• Luggage handling at hotels when available

Gratuities: We believe tipping is a personal and discretionary interaction between our guests and staff. A typical gratuity for your Sunrise Tour Director and motorcoach driver is $6 to $10 per person, per day of the tour. Sunrise Shuttle drivers also appreciate gratuities for excellent service, with a suggested amount of $5 per person. Our staff will not solicit gratuities or distribute gratuity envelopes.

Refreshments: We are happy to provide refreshments on most motorcoach travel days. We also recommend bringing a refillable water bottle to help you stay hydrated throughout your tour.

Pickup Points: If fewer than four travelers request a particular pickup point, we may ask those guests to select another available pickup location. Travelers are also welcome to join a tour from a city that is not listed as a departure point. Please contact our friendly reservations team to discuss available arrangements. For departure cities not listed, airfare is typically $100 more than the published fare for domestic tours and $200 more for international tours.

TSA PreCheck and Airline Rewards Numbers: TSA PreCheck, Known Traveler Numbers, and airline rewards numbers must be provided to our reservations team at least 60 days before departure. Numbers received after this deadline may not be applied to your reservation.

Airline Seating: Preferred seating may not be available with group airfare. In some cases, seats are not assigned until travelers arrive at the airport. Your tour fare includes an economy-class seat but does not include advance seat selection. Seat upgrades may be available for an additional cost.

Motorcoach Capacity and Seating: To provide one of the most comfortable motorcoach experiences in the industry, Sunrise Tours generally limits motorcoaches to 80% capacity. This allows for a maximum of 44 passengers on a motorcoach designed to accommodate 55. Sunrise Tours reserves the right to amend this practice. Your Tour Director will rotate motorcoach seating each day of the tour. Payment of a single-occupancy fare does not guarantee two motorcoach seats, and you may be seated beside another friendly Sunrise Tours guest.

Terms and Conditions
Please refer to our policies HERE for more information on our terms and conditions.