Cosmos Tour: Chicago to New Orleans June 14-25, 2026

I left Portland, Oregon early Sunday morning, June 14, arriving Chicago, IL a little after 1:00pm on Sunday, June 14.  I checked into the Courtyard Chicago Downtown.  On Tuesday June 16, I went on the Chicago River and Lake Michigan Cruise, found an Earthcache on the Michigan Street Bridge and took a Lyft back to the hotel.  On Wednesday June 17 we departed for St Louis. I chose to find the Earthcache at the nearby Basilica of Saint Louis King rather than visit the Gateway (Arch) Museum.  On Thursday June 18, we departed for Nashville. We stopped briefly in Paducah, KY.  Lunch/Ice Cream.  On Friday June 19, we went on a City Tour of Nashville.  I toured RCA Studio B and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.  I did the nearby Virtual.  I skipped the Grand Old Opry Performance.  On Saturday June 20, we departed for Memphis.  We stopped briefly at Tina Turner Museum.  We visited the National Civil Rights Site (Virtual) where Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated.  We visited Peabody Hotel and the ducks penthouse.  On Sunday June 21, we departed for Graceland.  I toured the Mansion and saw the Meditation Garden where Elvis and family were buried.  I had a delicious lunch at Gladys' Diner.  We departed Graceland at 2:00pm.  On Monday June 22 we departed hotel for B.B. King Museum and New Orleans.  On Tuesday June 23, we had a morning city tour including St Louis Cemetery No. 3.  I took the Swamp and Bayou Tour from 12:30 or so to about 5:00pm.  We were near Jean Lafitte.   I saw a white Heron, large turtle sunning on a log and several alligators.  On Wednesday June 24, I thought about visiting Baton Rouge but it was way too hot and humid.  I found the Virtual at Jackson Square/St Louis Cathedral, took the City of St Louis Steamboat 75-Minute Riverboat Sightseeing Cruise at 12:30 pm - 2:15 pm, lunch and rode a Nola Pedicab to the St Charles Streetcar stop on Canal Street.  I rode the Streetcar to the end and back.  On Thursday, June 25, 2026 at 10:00 AM I saw a Demo at New Orleans School of Cooking: Corn & Crab Bisque, Shrimp Creole, Bananas Foster, Pralines, and a Biscuit with Molasses.  I took a Lyft back to the hotel to get my luggage and then to the airport.  I left New Orleans to Portland, Oregon via Seattle. Thursday afternoon, June 25 arrived around 11:00pm.  Raining.  It was good to be home.