Cars & Blues Tour

Cars & Blues Tour A 34 day self drive tour starting & finishing in Miami.

Day 34 - Miami South Our final dinner & drinks at Hotel Pestana in Miami Beach. Lots of laughs, stories, hugs, drinks an...
17/08/2024

Day 34 - Miami South
Our final dinner & drinks at Hotel Pestana in Miami Beach.

Lots of laughs, stories, hugs, drinks and a few tears.

What a fantastic group this has been and we THANK YOU ALL for being part of this EPIC adventure. 5500 miles over the past 34 days…

We can’t wait for the next one!

Safe travels,

Andrea & Noddy
Kiwis On Tour NZ Ltd

Day 33 - Clearwater Beach to Miami South Beach, FloridaOur final drive took us to Naples for lunch at Tain City.We then ...
16/08/2024

Day 33 - Clearwater Beach to Miami South Beach, Florida

Our final drive took us to Naples for lunch at Tain City.

We then boys and girls airboats for a fun ride through the Everglades! Powered by 502ci big block Chev engines these boats are exciting. We even spotted a decent size alligator in the wild.

We made it back to the Hotel Pestana in South Miami Beach where we started the tour.

15/08/2024

Here are a few videos of our visit with Don Garlits yesterday, he sure was a character and could tell a good yarn at 92yrs old. Sorry I didn’t capture all of his stories

Day 32 - Panama City Beach to Clearwater Beach, FloridaOur trip today included 2 very impressive collections of cars & m...
15/08/2024

Day 32 - Panama City Beach to Clearwater Beach, Florida

Our trip today included 2 very impressive collections of cars & more.

Devoe Munro owns the Tallahassee Auto & Antique Museum which is mind blowing with rare and collectible treasures everywhere. And we actually got to meet 86 year old Devoe as well. His story is inspiring as he started his working life as a Blacksmith and built up his empire.

Next up was Drag Racing legend Don “Big Daddy” Garlits Drag Racing Musuem. And we also got to meet the 92 year old icon who shared stories with us - very funny!!! And what an honor to meet him.

Our Hotel is beautiful and right across from Clearwater Beach.

Day 31 - Panama City Beach, FloridaA relaxing FREE day in Panama City Beach - this place has won many new hearts….Lots o...
14/08/2024

Day 31 - Panama City Beach, Florida

A relaxing FREE day in Panama City Beach - this place has won many new hearts….

Lots of swims in the ocean (28 degrees) and Hotel pool.

Tonight was our tour traditional Ladies mask night with Boys & Gifls drinks. Did someone called Brett trash our room???

Lovely dinner on the deck at sunset and even Elvis joined us.

The end of a perfect day in a perfect place…

Day 30 - New Orleans, Louisiana to Panama City Beach FloridaToday we took the scenic route instead of the interstate and...
13/08/2024

Day 30 - New Orleans, Louisiana to Panama City Beach Florida

Today we took the scenic route instead of the interstate and traveled through the Riviera of the USA leaving Louisiana and cruising along the coastline of Mississippi and Alabama into Florida.

It was so nice to see the ocean again and we couldn’t wait to put our feet into the warm waters of the Gulf. Stunning beaches along the way. We even took a car ferry from Dauphine Island to Fort Morgan and yes, there were dolphins 🐬

Lunch was at Flora-Bama where the Florida - Alabama state line goes through the middle of the bar.

Our Hotel for the next 2 nights is right on the beautiful beach. Bliss….

Day 28 & 29 - Natchez, Mississippi to New Orleans, Louisiana Our journey south included a tour of 2 plantation houses wh...
11/08/2024

Day 28 & 29 - Natchez, Mississippi to New Orleans, Louisiana

Our journey south included a tour of 2 plantation houses which were both quite different. Connie at the Myrtle’s was one of the best tour guides we’ve had and kept us entertained.

New Orleans, the Big Easy, is internationally known for the Mardi Gras but also as a party destination in Bourbon St. The annual Red Dress Run was on which is mayhem but Bourbon St had calmed down by the time we ventured into it for a creole dinner and great music.

This morning we visited the Guiding Light Baptist Church for some Gospel singing and sermon by Pastor Washington Jnr. The singing was amazing along with a good message. They gave us all a gift bag and morning tea. A bonus was James birthday so they sang for him!

We then drove over the longest continuous bridge over fresh water in the world- it’s 24 miles long - each way! The engineering is incredible.

A traditional food is the Beignet which is like a donut - the best we’ve had. 

Day 27 - Vicksburg to Natchez, Mississippi Our shortest driving day of the tour gave us time to explore Historic Vicksb...
10/08/2024

Day 27 - Vicksburg to Natchez, Mississippi

Our shortest driving day of the tour gave us time to explore Historic Vicksburg which has a lot of history being on the Mississippi River and a civil war battlefield where 17,000 lives were taken. It’s also where Coca-cola was bottled for the first time!

We took the scenic Natchez Trace Parkway for 80 miles - no trucks and 50mph speed limit through lush forests and farm land.

Our Hotel in Natchez also looks over the Mississippi River and we visited the Under The Hill Bar which is the oldest bar on the river and Mark Twain was a regular customer.

Day 26 - Memphis, Tennessee to Vicksburg, Mississippi Heading south from Memphis we crossed the state line to Mississipp...
09/08/2024

Day 26 - Memphis, Tennessee to Vicksburg, Mississippi

Heading south from Memphis we crossed the state line to Mississippi and joined Highway 61 known as the Blues Highway.

We once again visited the wonderful Gateway To Blues Highway at Tunica. It has fantastic displays of Blues history PLUS a recording studio where we recoded our very own CRS & Blues song performed by Johno & Rebecca. Watch this space…

We them followed Mississippi 1 which runs closer to the great river through acres of cotton, corn & soya beans in the Mississippi Delta.

Joe’s Hot Tamales in Rosedale is a tour tradition with the lovely Barbara making the BEST Tamales you’ll find.

Our Hotel in Vicksburg has a great pool and in the middle of the old historic town.

Day 25 - Nashville to Memphis, Tennessee We going to Graceland, Graceland Memphis Tennessee!But we took a detour through...
08/08/2024

Day 25 - Nashville to Memphis, Tennessee

We going to Graceland, Graceland Memphis Tennessee!

But we took a detour through part of the scenic Natchez Trace Parkway to get off the Interstate to Memphis.

Graceland is a wonderful tribute to the King of Rock’n’Roll and a Bucket List item to tick off. It’s very moving.

We also stopped by the Lorraine Motel where Martin Luther King lost his life, Sun Records and the Beale St entertainment area for some music and food. We are in Blues country now….

Day 24 - Nashville, Tennessee Our focus today was the home of country music - the Grand Ole Opry. We were picked up from...
07/08/2024

Day 24 - Nashville, Tennessee

Our focus today was the home of country music - the Grand Ole Opry. We were picked up from our downtown Hotel by luxury coach and taken to the venue for the Back Stage Tour where we all got the opportunity to stand on the famous 6ft wooden circle, where so many superstars have performed including Elvis, Johnny Cash and Dolly Parton.

Then we had great seats for the show which was broadcast live and has done every week since 1925. We were lucky to see 8 performers including 3 current Opry members!

A highlight was a special shout out to our tour by the MC right before the star of the show was introduced - Opry member Don Shlitz who wrote “The Gambler” when he was just 22 years old - he told the story and sang the song. A very special moment…

Day 23 - Nashville, Tennessee There is so much to see in the Music Capitol. The Johnny Cash Museum, Country Music Hall o...
06/08/2024

Day 23 - Nashville, Tennessee

There is so much to see in the Music Capitol. The Johnny Cash Museum, Country Music Hall of Fame and much more. And amazing live music every where! We even had county super star Lainey Wilson make a surprise appearance at a bar… WOW!

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PO Box 243
Whangamata
3620

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+64212608946

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