Hear What Travelers Are Saying...

Our travelers have been giving us rave reviews on some of our most popular tours that are leaving again in the Fall of 2024 and in the Spring and Summer of 2025. There is still space available on all the tours mentioned below. So sign up today and join us on one of our popular tours...we would love to have you!

Just listen... and be inspired. 

Scotland, Wales, and England...

"I have been a fan of Mary Queen of Scotts since high school and to actually tour her castle in Edinburgh is a dream come true. The entire day was capped off with the Spirit of Scotland Show which made me feel like a local! Our small group was friendly, we all got along and our local guides and tour director were great." - Suzy K

Utah's Mighty Five

"I just can't pick one that was my favorite park because they are all very special. The great surprise of this trip was all the Native American history that is intertwined with the tour of our National Parks. I really enjoyed our four-wheel drive with a real Navajo Guide through the landscape of Monument Valley. To top off the experience, we had an authentic Navajo cookout - wow, it was unforgettable because I learned so much. And, at my age, it's great to learn something new!" John R

Mackinac Island...

"I love the variety that this trip offers... it hit everything on my bucket list! Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame, Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village, Mackinac Island, Frankenmuth and Niagara Falls, Canada... wow the trip went seamlessly with plenty of free time in each location. The delicious buffet at the Grand Hotel and the horse and carriage tour around the island was really the high point of this trip for me. I liked it so much, I want to do it again!!" Karen W

Sunsets and Southern Charm

"What a perfect trip for a fun-fueled 4-day getaway - this trip is action-packed - I loved it because I saw my two bucket list cities Charleston and Savannah in one trip that was a short flight away. I enjoyed touring the only American tea plantation and shopping in Charleston in the arts and crafts market. My favorite excursion was the horse and carriage tour of Beaufort - what a surprise this beautiful little town was. I liked it so much I hated to leave." Alice P

Tour Directors

"Janet made the trip even more enjoyable and made me feel right at home. She had a lot of tips that made navigating time on my own easy. She had a great relationship with the driver and they worked together like a team." Helen K

"XXX was always willing to help us in any way she could. She kept our trip running smoothly with everything on time. She was knowledgeable about what we were going to see and cared about our comfort every step of the way." Mary S

Ten Best Music Cities in America

America's music scene is vast, vibrant, and varied. Along with the ever-evolving music industry, several amazing cities have become meccas for music lovers from around the world. We have put together a list of remarkable cities where music has become an indelible part of their identity as destinations that people flock to. Whether you enjoy the soft sound of jazz, the twang of a steel guitar, the soulful sound of brass horns, or the thumping drums of hip-hop, there is something for everyone who really loves music.

Big or Small - Music Always Inspires

All that Jazz - New Orleans 

Some older timers in NOLA (New Orleans Lousiana) say that jazz grew organically out of drumming and voodoo rituals. Others say it was born in 1895, the year "Buddy" Bolden whose charisma and musical talent became legendary. Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, Pete Fountain, and Jeremy Davenport to name a few are just some of NOLA's musical legends. Traditional New Orleans jazz includes a cornet, trumpet, and trombone and they are still the foundation of most bands. Not much in the Big Easy happens without music - it is in the heart and soul of this city, especially in the famous French Quarter.  Needless to say, a trip to New Orleans isn't complete without hearing some jazz while sipping a Sazerac, made with rye, absinthe, and bitters. Jazz is the byproduct of the unique cultural environment of New Orleans, where one of America's most unique musical styles continues to evolve.

New Orleans - Smooth Jazz and Southern Charm

Music City - Nashville

From the onset, Nashville's foundation was built on music beginning with the fiddle playing of one of its most famous sons, Davey Crockett!  Today, Nashville is known as "Music City" and for good reason, there is music everywhere from its honky tonks located on Broadway to the famous Grand Ole Opry and the treasured Ryman Auditorium. You will feel welcome in this city where music is written, performed, and recorded 365 days a year! There are more than 180 music venues offering something for everyone. So many music legends have recorded in Nashville  -  Elvis, Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Jimi Hendrix, Otis Redding, Little Richard, and Etta James to name a few.  In addition to riveting live performances, Nashville has several museums like the Musicians Hall of Fame, the Country Music Hall of Fame, the National Museum of African American Music, and the Johnny Cash Museum. These museums are dedicated to the music and musicians that make this city reverberate. Today, Nashville is a hub for many different types of musical genres making it easy to see why this is the place music calls home! 

The Grand Ole Opry a Musical Extravaganza

Memphis -  Home of the King and Rock n' Roll

You can't talk about American music without talking about Memphis, the place where rock n' roll was born. Not to mention that the king of rock n' roll, Elvis made his home here. Memphis isn't just about rock n' roll and Elvis though, it is also about soul, gospel, rhythm, and blues, as the major genres that have deep roots in the cultural heritage of this city. To put a fine point on the musical heritage of Memphis four museums pay tribute to the city's musical contribution to the world - Blues Hall of Fame, Rock and Soul Museum, the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, and Sun Records Studio Museum. A visit to Memphis isn't complete without touring Graceland, the home of Elvis, and wandering down Beale Street which invokes the memory of musicians that have played here in the past and those future stars performing today.

Sun Studio where Elvis recorded his first song!

Mississippi Delta Blues Trail 

If you want to take a deep dive into the blues, the root source of so much of our modern music, cruise the Blues Trail where you will discover Mississippi Delta culture and its musical heritage. More famous blues musicians have come from the Delta than any other region or state combined!  There are countless landmarks and 19  museums to visit along the way including the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center, the Delta Blues Museum, the Elvis Presley Birthplace and Museum, and the Gateway to the Blues Museum, to name a few. A highlight of the trail is a stop in Clarksdale, where Sam Cooke, Muddy Waters, and Ike Turner got their start. It is also home to the Crossroads where legend has it that Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil in exchange for supernatural musical ability. Juke joints and roadhouses offer down-home blues 356 days a year and scrumptious southern cooking. Best of all this road trip immerses you in the places, people, and energy that inspired this music that is still impacting music around the world.

At the Crossroads in Clarksdale

Musical Diversity - New York

New York is known worldwide for its musical diversity. The city is the birthplace of hip-hop, behop, garage house, New York Punk,  and Broadway musicals, which have been created by a unique blend of cultures that is New York. Many music legends may live in the LA area, but most got their start in New York City! Michael Jackon, Madonna, Debbie Harry, Ella Fitzgerald, Run DMC, Dylan, Billy Joel, and countless others all began their careers in "the city."  There is the historic Carnegie Hall, Broadway, Radio City, the Lincoln Center, the Hip Hop clubs of the Bronx, the iconic Apollo Theater, and countless clubs and cafes where music spills out onto the sidewalks making New York not hard to love. To learn more about Hip Hop head to the new Hip Hop Museum in the Bronx that traces the local and global history of this genre. If jazz is more your speed, check out the National Jazz Museum in Harlem; and if you like Broadway, don't miss the Museum of Broadway where you will see hundreds of rare costumes, props, and artifacts.

Lincoln Center An Amazing Venue

Detriot - Motown

In Detroit, Motown was born. Think Diana Ross and the Supremes, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, the Four Tops, The Temptations, and Stevie Wonder, to name a few. With the success of these musicians, Detriot became known as "Hitsville." From blues to soul to techno, the Motor City rocks. Something in the air of Detriot fosters good music, and the city today continues to be a source of musical inspiration. As a matter of fact, Connecticut's Michael Bolton, who called the city a "melting pot of music" recently recorded Ain't No Mountain High Enough: A Tribute to Hitsville. An essential part of any visit to Detroit is a trip to the Motown Museum- Hitsville, USA, the famous headquarters of Motown Records which is full of photos, costumes, and memorabilia of its hit-making artists.

Motown Museum - Motown moved the LA in 1972. But all the hits from the 60s were recorded here.

Chicago - Strikes a Chord

Today Chicago is considered a global music leader with a music scene that is as strong as ever, across genres including hip-hop, indie rock, electronic dance music, and experimental jazz. It is also the birthplace of house and gospel music, urban blues, and modern jazz. The city has long been considered a major hotspot for the blues; it even hosts the Chicago Blues Festival, the largest of its kind in the world.  To experience this music mecca explore the riffs and beats that fill the bars in Chicago's 77 neighborhoods that will speak to your soul. In this city, you can come face-to-face with both emerging artists and established legends.

Music reigns in Chicago from small nightclubs to opulent theaters

Los Angeles - Rock On

There is perhaps no music scene in the country that has hosted more famous rock acts than Sunset Strip. This area gave many of rock's future stars their first taste of the spotlight. This is where iconic bands of the '60s and '70s, 80s, and beyond hit their stride - The Beach Boys, The Doors, The Birds, Guns and Roses, Buffalo Springfield, Ratt, Motley Crue, Van Halen, and Stone Temple Pilots among many others.  If you are on the Strip head to the iconic Whisky a Go Go or the Roxy Theater that has witnessed the rise of countless musical legends. The Hollywood Bowl and the Troubadour are cherished institutions for both artists and music lovers. In downtown LA head to a concert venue, a speakeasy, or a bar to listen to an impressive array of live performances where you just might be hearing the next big thing! Don't miss the Music Museum that is inside the Grammy Museum where you will learn about the technology and creativity that inspires American music.

Whiskey A Go Go still going!

Two Stepping in Austin

Austin has proclaimed itself to be the Live Music Capital of the World and has even trademarked it to prove their point! There are more than 250 venues that offer live music where musicians play seemingly everywhere! Whether your musical taste is geared toward country-western or rock n' roll, you are sure to find a place worth visiting. Not to be missed is the Broken Spoke, an old-fashioned honky-tonk where you can do some Texas two-stepping, Antone's Nightclub that has been Austin's home of the blues since 1975 ( Buddy Guy and Clapton have performed here), the Moody Theater, home of the longest-running TV music series,  Donn's Depot, located in an old Missouri-Pacific train caboose, and Scoot Inn, the oldest bar in Central Texas. To learn more about Austin's music scene head to the Texas Music Museum which collects and preserves the diverse traditions and sounds of Texas music.

Two Step at the Broken Spoke

Las Vegas - Dazzling Shows 365 Days a Year

The city that never sleeps is home to some of the world's most amazing music venues like the T-Mobile Arena, the House of Blues, and the Brooklyn Bowl. Don't forget the casino theaters that feature such performers as  Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, Shania Twain, Garth Brooks, The Eagles, Lionel Richie, and Adele among other luminaries. To get up close and personal with your favorite performers head to the House of Blues, if classical music is more your thing, go to the Petrossian Bar for piano music and cocktails, for country music there is Gilley's Saloon, and for a touch of south seas exotica head to Frankie's Tiki Room. If you want to leave the Vegas strip, go for a stroll along Freemont Street which offers live free music 365 days a year.

Get up close at House of Blues

There is nothing like tapping your toes when listening to your favorite music. When you visit a city that is in love with music, it is just so much more fun! Let Tours of Distinction help plan your musical adventure... and don't forget to pack your dancing shoes!

Cruise Tips for Alaska

Varied landscapes. amazing wildlife, glistening glaciers, and a unique cultural heritage are just some of the reasons why a cruise to Alaska is on most people's bucket lists. Cruising in Alaska is the best and most economical way to explore this state. Cruise itineraries are normally seven to ten days and many include several shore excursions for those who want to see more of Alaska. Whether you are a first-time cruiser to Alaska or a veteran; TOD has put together a list of cruise tips to help you make the most of your time on our Alaskan cruise.

Alaska the untamed beauty of Glacier Bay

When to Go

Cruise season in Alaska runs from late April through early October because this is the time of year when the weather and daylight are optimal. If you cruise in May and September you will experience fewer crowds as well as cheaper prices. The warmest temperatures are in mid-June, making this a peak time to visit. During this time of year, you will also experience the midnight sun which lasts the longest three weeks after and three weeks before the summer solstice. If you want to see the northern lights, you may get lucky in mid-September and early October.

Time Zones

Alaska has two time zones, Alaska Time and Hawaii - Aleutian Time. Most of the state is four hours behind the East Coast. From West Coast destinations, it is one hour behind. The Hawaiian-Aleutian time affects the western islands along the Aleutian chain. The town of Hyder, in the inside passage, observes two time zones because it is bisected by the US/Canada border. With almost 19 hours of daylight in the summer, expect your sleep patterns to be a little different.

Best Time to See Wildlife

Wherever you go, spotting wildlife is never a guarantee. According to the Alaska Tourism Board, the best time to see wildlife ashore is in late May and early June. This is the time of year when mothers and their calves and cubs tend to be roaming around. The prime season to see bears is late June and early July and the best salmon fishing is in July and August. It is important to remember that Denali National Park doesn't open until mid-May if you want to take a land excursion there. Denali National Park may close in September due to snow.

Glorious Glaciers

Weather Expectations

Temperatures in Alaska can change from one destination to the next. This is the Arctic so plan on cool temperatures.  Even if you come in the height of summer, with the warmest weather, it can still be rainy. May is one of the driest months in the Inside Passage, a sheltered waterway between Vancouver Island and British Columbia known for its excellent scenery.

What to Pack

In the summer it is best to dress in layers so that you can peel off or add layers according to the thermometer. You will want to pack a bathing suit, a warm fleece jacket, a raincoat or rain poncho, a hat, gloves, and clothes that layer easily like turtlenecks and sweaters. Waterproof clothing including shoes or hiking boots is always a good idea to bring along.  For dinner and events on the boat, you may want to bring something dressy. Alaskans joke that their state bird is the mosquito so don't leave home without your bug spray! Another item to pack is sunscreen especially when touring glaciers as the sun's UV rays are strong. To spot wildlife consider bringing binoculars and if you are a photographer don't forget to bring a zoom lens. Most ships don't offer a wake-up call or have an alarm clock, so it is best to pack one or download an alarm clock app on your phone.

Skagway - famous for the Gold Rush of the 1890s

Motion Sickness Medicine

Sometimes the waters along the Pacific Coast and across the Gulf of Alaska can be choppy. If you get seasick easily, make sure to pack Bonine motion sickness tablets and sea bands for your wrists.  It is also a good idea to book a mid-ship cabin with a balcony; having fresh air and a view to fix your eye on can help quell nausea. Another advantage of a balcony is that it is the perfect way to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Alaska.

What to See in Denali National Park

June through September is the best time to visit this park for a chance to see Alaska's "big five" - wolves, Dall sheep, moose, caribou, and bears. The National Park Service estimates that around 350 brown bears live in Denali National Park on the north side of the Alaska Range.

One of Alaska's Big Five!

What to Buy

For retail therapy, Alaska offers some unique items found only in this state. A favorite among travelers is gold nugget jewelry and items carved from jade and ivory. Hand-crafted items include woven baskets made from beach grass, bark, or baleen, animal skins, collector's items made from bone, and handmade toys and clothing. For foodies, there are Alaskan delicacies like smoked salmon, wild berry products, and reindeer sausage. Items reflecting Alaska's cultural heritage include seal oil candles, beaded mittens, fur mukluks, and mini hand-carved totem poles. As a note aside items made of walrus ivory should be mailed home because they can't be taken through customs without special permits.

For Foodies

Alaskan food is predicated on its geography which is a lot of coastline so expect to eat a lot of fish! Alaskan fish and chips, Pacific halibut, salmon, oysters, and King crab are a must-have for foodies. An iconic food is reindeer sausage which is typically a mix of reindeer, pork, or beef and is a breakfast staple. Fry bread is a traditional snack of Alaska's Native Americans that is made from dry milk, salt, yeast, flour, and sugar and deep fried. Another Native American food is akkutaq or Eskimo Ice Cream made from whipped fat (reindeer fat or tallow or seal oil), berries, and snow. Blueberries, cranberries, raspberries, lingonberries, cloudberries, watermelon berries, and baneberries are harvested throughout the summer.

Cloudberries a sweet Arctic treat

A cruise is by far the easiest and best way to see Alaska with the added advantage of not having to pack and unpack every day. Booking a Tours of Distinction Alaska group tour cruise with land excursions gives travelers the best options of both worlds.