SOUTHERN JOURNEY 11 DAYS From $1,499 US Details below or
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On this vacation, discover the South at its finest as you travel through Georgia and South Carolina! Begin your trip in Atlanta with a city sightseeing tour and free time to explore on your own. Experience Myrtle Beach’s 60-mile-long “Grand Strand,” and visit the famous Brookgreen Gardens, a National Historic Landmark located on an old rice and indigo plantation. In Georgetown, see where the first permanent settlers arrived in the early 1700s. Tour the historic district of Charleston, one of the last bastions of the Old South, and encounter the preserved pre-Revolutionary character of picturesque Beaufort. Next up: trolley tours of Savannah and Jekyll Island. Visit St. Simons Island, home to one of Georgia’s last working lighthouses, and Macon’s Hay House, the Palace of the South. Return to Atlanta for an overnight and the perfect ending to your Southern adventure trip. With an ideal balance of free time and guided tours, this Southern vacation gives you the flavor of the South.
Day 1 ATLANTA Welcome to Atlanta! Enjoy time at leisure to relax or to do some independent exploring. Your Tour Director is on hand this evening to answer any questions.
Day 2 ATLANTA A morning tour focuses on the downtown area and the elegant and traditional residential neighborhoods. Highlights include the Georgia State Capitol, Peachtree Plaza, Olympic Village and Stadium, and CNN’s headquarters. Visit the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr.’s Historic Site, which contains his birth home and burial site. Later, see the MARGARET MITCHELL HOUSE & MUSEUM, the birthplace of Gone With the Wind. The rest of the day is free to explore Atlanta. Discover why celebrities such as Elton John, Whitney Houston, and Jane Fonda have made this vibrant city their home. (Continental Breakfast)
Day 3 ATLANTA–COLUMBIA
Today, head east with a stop in Hammond, Georgia, to visit the LAUREL & HARDY MUSEUM, a tribute to the great comedy team of British-born Stan Laurel and his American partner, Oliver Hardy. Continue to Columbia, South Carolina, a special place of grace and charm. Visit the SOUTH CAROLINA STATE MUSEUM, where the past and present come alive. A turn-of-the-century country store and schoolhouse are just few of the many artifacts found at the museum. Afterward, a visit to the STATE HOUSE will open your eyes to the abundant historical and cultural timeline of Columbia. The remainder of the day is at leisure. (Continental Breakfast)
Day 4 COLUMBIA–MYRTLE BEACH
Our journey continues through the Palmetto State as we drive the Lakes and Blackwater Rivers area. This afternoon, reach the white sandy shores of exciting Myrtle Beach and the 60-mile-long “Grand Strand.” The rest of the day is at leisure to enjoy this resort. Relax at the pool, shop for souvenirs, or perhaps join our optional outing to the “Carolina Opry.” This award-winning show blends music, comedy, and dance—from Broadway, country, and classic pop to rock ’n’ roll, gospel, and bluegrass.
Day 5 MYRTLE BEACH–GEORGETOWN–CHARLESTON
First stop this morning is famous BROOKGREEN GARDENS, a National Historic Landmark located on an old rice and indigo plantation. Your guided tour features more than 550 pieces of art comprising the world’s finest outdoor collection of American figurative sculptures. Your admission includes a guided CRUISE along the rice fields that are now home to alligators, waterfowl, and ospreys. Later, drive through historic Georgetown, where the first permanent settlers arrived in the early 1700s. Many of their buildings are still in use today. This afternoon, a guided tour of Charleston, one of the last bastions of the Old South. The city is world-renowned for its charm, splendid architecture, colorful homes and gardens, shady tree-lined streets, and fresh sea air.
Day 6 CHARLESTON
This morning, visit MAGNOLIA PLANTATION & GARDENS, which was founded in 1676 by the Drayton family and is still operated by their heirs today. On the site is a 50-acre garden with more than 900 varieties of camellias, more than 250 types of azaleas, and hundreds of other flowering plants. The remainder of the day and evening are at leisure to explore more of this quaint town on your own. Perhaps stroll through Charleston’s Old City Market, which sells everything from local specialties to souvenirs. This evening, join an optional dinner cruise aboard the Spirit of Carolina.
Day 7 CHARLESTON–BEAUFORT–SAVANNAH
Enjoy a morning break at picturesque Beaufort, a town that has conserved much of its pre-Revolutionary character. Enjoy a CARRIAGE RIDE through narrow, oak-lined streets past the former homes of wealthy cotton growers. Make your way to historic Savannah, America’s first planned city. On our included TROLLEY TOUR, visit City Market, Forsyth Park, the Mercer House, Madison Square—where General Sherman concluded his “March to the Sea”—Colonial Park Cemetery, and River Street. Your evening is at leisure to enjoy this Southern town.
Day 8 SAVANNAH
A full day at leisure. Shop on cobblestoned River Street or stroll among the many squares surrounded by elegant homes and majestic gardens. Visit the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum, where you can learn about Savannah’s important role in maritime history and view models of famous ships, or visit the First African Baptist Church, the oldest African-American church in the United States and which played an important part in the Underground Railroad. In addition, join our optional outing to Tybee Island, where you’ll visit the oldest lighthouse in Georgia and then enjoy a traditional Southern dinner at a local restaurant. (Continental Breakfast)
Day 9 SAVANNAH–GOLDEN ISLES–JEKYLL ISLAND
This morning, drive down the coast to the Golden Isles and visit St. Simons Island, home to one of only three working lighthouses in Georgia. Afterward, enjoy a TROLLEY TOUR of Jekyll Island’s Historic District, a cluster of 19th-century mansions. This “club” was formed by some of America’s most prominent families who at one time controlled one-sixth of the world’s wealth. Your tour features a visit to two restored properties. (Continental Breakfast)
Day 10 JEKYLL ISLAND–MACON–ATLANTA
Today, arrive in Macon, the heart of Georgia and the historical crossroads of the South. During your time here, visit the historical HAY HOUSE, the PALACE OF THE SOUTH, and the CANNONBALL HOUSE, where you’ll learn about the preservation of these significant homes. Return to Atlanta. (Continental Breakfast)
Day 11 ATLANTA
The trip ends today with guests departing on individual schedules. Transfers to Atlanta International Airport are included. You can extend your vacation with extra nights and explore the Georgia capital further with a variety of exciting optional activities. (Continental Breakfast)
INCLUDED FEATURES
In Atlanta and Charleston; orientation tour of Georgetown; Margaret Mitchell House & Museum; Laurel & Hardy Museum; South Carolina State Museum and State House; Brookgreen Gardens with guided cruise; Magnolia Plantation & Gardens; Beaufort Carriage Tour; Savannah Trolley Tour; Jekyll Island Trolley Tour Hay House; Cannonball House. Inside visits as shown in UPPERCASE in the tour description, including admission charges where applicable.
SCENIC HIGHLIGHTS
Myrtle Beach, Brookgreen Gardens, Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, Georgia’s Golden Isles.
INSIDE VISITS
Inside visits and special features are shown in the description, including admission charges when applicable.
GUIDES
Local Guides for sightseeing in Charleston, Beaufort, Savannah, and Jekyll Island; services of a professional Tour Director.
STANDARD INCLUDED FEATURES
Learn more about transportation, hotels, and other standard included features offered.
MEALS
6 continental breakfasts
HOTELS
- (F) First-Class (ST) Superior Tourist-Class (T) Tourist Class
Atlanta Baymont Inn (MF); Columbia Clarion Hotel Downtown (MF); Myrtle Beach Hilton Myrtle Beach Resort (MF); Charleston Holiday Inn Historic District (MF); Savannah Inn at Ellis Square (ST); Jekyll Island Hampton Inn and Suites (MF)
TRANSPORTATION
Private, deluxe air-conditioned motorcoach while touring.
Optional Excursions
Important Note: the following list of optional excursions are examples only for this vacation as they are the excursions that are being offered for this cruise in the current travel year. These optional excursions might or might not be offered next year, as well as new optional excursions might be offered. Information about what optional excursions will be offered for your cruise will be available later this year into next year. If no example excursions are listed, please check back a later.
Here's a list of optional excursions you can enjoy during your vacation. Whether it's a special dinner, a local show or a special behind-the-scenes glimpse into an historical site, optional excursions are a wonderful way to enrich your vacation even further. Plus, they give you flexibility. We include the must-see sites and experiences, and we also understand that people take interest in different activities and may want to craft a more personal vacation by hand-picking optional excursions that appeal to them.
Availability is subject to sufficient participation, weather conditions, seasonal suitability, days of operation, group interests, and general feasibility for your vacation. The approximate value listed gives you a good, general idea of what you can expect to pay but may vary once you are on your vacation. Some information provided might be in a foreign currency.
CITY: Charleston
Spiritline Dinner Cruise
The Spirit of Carolina departs from the Patriots Point Maritime Museum in Mt. Pleasant, a five minute drive from downtown Charleston. Boarding begins at 6:30pm. Dinner cruises depart at 7:00pm, returning at 10:00pm. Dress is "nice casual". High heel shoes are not recommended. As you dine on a delicious multi-course meal, the yacht moves slowly about the Charleston Harbor, past Fort Sumter, along The Battery and beneath the new Ravenel Bridge that spans the Cooper River. The cruise also includes dancing and entertainment to make your evening complete. Cruises are subject to availability.
Approximate value: USD $60 per person
CITY: Myrtle Beach
Carolina Opry And Dinner
What better way to enjoy the evening in Myrtle Beach than dinner at a local restaurant followed by a spectacular two hours of non-stop, high energy, musical variety entertainment unmatched in the South. The Carolina Opry is a show not to be missed!
Approximate value: USD $56 per person
CITY: Savannah
Savannah Theatre Shows
The two-hour musicals at the Savannah Theatre will have you smiling, laughing, singing along and tapping your toes. The Theatre will present "Return to the Fifties" , " All You Need is Love ", or "Hooray for Hollywood" over the course of the season. Your Tour Director can provide details regarding each show.
Approximate value: USD $36 per person
Tybee Island Discovery
Located 18 miles east of Savannah, this small historic island boasts a three-mile long beach with sand dunes along the Atlantic Ocean. First stop is the oldest lighthouse in Georgia where you can explore the museum and keeper's cottage, as well as make the climb to the top for a spectacular view. Next is a beachside lunch at a restaurant with a spectacualar view.
Approximate value: USD $30 per person
DEPARTURE DATES: April - June
September - October
PRICES : From approx$1,499 US per person
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