Chicago is full of surprises and is simply a magnificent destination that caters to every kind of traveller. No matter what time of year, visitors in search of a city break will love Chicago's legendary lake front, world-class museums, innovative architecture, hot clubs, award-winning restaurants and unsurpassed shopping options. In the heart of the Midwest, Chicago boasts soaring skyscrapers, 77 colourful neighbourhoods, 42 kilometres of lakefront with 26 beaches and 580 parks and green spaces. Take a trip up to Willis Towers Sky deck to witness "The Ledge" - four all-glass bays extending off the west side of the 103rd floor for a completely unique view of the city. When the summer sun arrives, Chicago restaurants and bars take sustenance to the streets, offering patio and garden seating throughout the city. Piccolo Sogno, Corosh, The Park Grill and Puck's at The MCA are few al fresco favourites. If it is music you have come for, you’ll find everything from live music venues to outdoor events like Millennium Park concerts, Lollapalooza and the Chicago Blues and Jazz Festivals. For nightlife, head to the many cocktail lounges, sports bars or dance clubs that dot the entertainment landscape.

St Louis is the largest City along Route 66 between Chicago and Los Angeles, and there are many “must-sees” and related sites on The Mother Road. Its iconic, 630-ft. Gateway Arch, built in the 1960s, honours the early 19th-century explorations of Lewis and Clark and America's westward expansion in general. With its cache of vibrant museums, gardens, parks and breweries, you'll find plenty of reasons to meet in St. Louis. Family-oriented travelers will likely venture to Forest Park for a Saint Louis Zoo visit. Others will savor complimentary drinks at the Anheuser-Busch Brewery before embarking on a pub crawl around The Loop.

For those who think Nashville is only about country music - think again. Located in the centre of the state, Nashville is one of the largest cities in the South. A wealth of museums, the arts and professional sports call the city home. But country music remains the city's claim to fame and visitors from all over the world flock here for just that reason. Nashville boasts the Johnny Cash Museum, George Jones Museum and the Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum. The Parthenon is the world's only full-scale replica of the Parthenon in Greece and houses art galleries and a statue of Athena - the tallest indoor statue in the Western Hemisphere! Nashville is 215 miles east of Memphis and can easily be combined in a twin centre holiday.

Known as the birthplace of rock ‘n roll and blues, Memphis is home to Graceland, served as a recording base for artists like Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis; plus, its famous Beale Street was the location of the first blues notes. Key locations during the 1960’s Civil Rights Movement help make Memphis a sacred pilgrimage for Martin Luther King admirers. Situated on a high bluff overlooking the muddy Mississippi River, the city of Memphis is well known for its historical and cultural contributions to the American South.  Trace the path of American music in Memphis, exploring Beale Street, where the first Blues song was written and where you can still immerse yourself in the music scene.

Natchez is a walking city built on an intimate scale, renowned for its Southern hospitality, good times, and natural beauty. As the oldest continuous settlement on the Mississippi River, Natchez has a deep multi-cultural heritage. This melting pot of cultures will be on full display in 2016 as we gear up to celebrate our 300th birthday with a yearlong Tricentennial bash. Natchez offers an impressive array of antebellum architecture. A trip here would not be complete with seeing one of the 10 on tour year-round. The annual Spring and Fall Pilgrimages add private owned homes to the tour list and give visitors an insider’s look. With access from either the Natchez Trace Parkway or Highway 61 along the Mississippi River, the Natchez experience is one of warmth and enchantment that you won’t forget any time soon.