Itinerary Details
Southern Charms
Day 1 ARRIVE IN ATLANTAYour Small Group Discovery Tour begins! Welcome to the Peach State! At 6 pm, meet your travel companions for a welcome drink. Your Tour Director will prepare you for your upcoming Southern adventure.
Day 2 ATLANTASouthern Specialties Sightseeing includes Centennial Olympic Park, the historic Fox Theatre, Buckhead neighborhood, often referred to as the “Beverly Hills of the South” and Ponce City Market. Visit the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site, where you’ll learn more about the man and his legacy. Free time this afternoon to visit the Atlanta’s gems such as the Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta Botanical Gardens, World of Coca-Cola or the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. Dinner of southern specialties at [LF] a favorite local restaurant. (B,D)
LOCAL FAVORITE
LOCAL TASTES No visit to Atlanta is complete without good old-fashioned Southern cooking. Pull up a chair for made-from-scratch Southern classics in a local eatery. Atlanta is known for all-time faves like Georgia peach cobbler, sweet tea, flavorful fried chicken, fried-green tomatoes – and grits, of course!
Day 3 ATLANTA–COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA–CHARLESTONCarolina on Our Minds Depart Atlanta and head east across Georgia and South Carolina. Stop in Columbia, the state capital of South Carolina, rich with history and warm southern hospitality. Feel a grand Southern welcome with the charms of this historic community and see the stunning granite State House. Later, continue to Charleston. Choose to explore Charleston during free time with a stroll through the historic district or enjoy fresh seafood with a Southern flair. Your Tour Director will have suggestions for dining this evening. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
CITY SIGHTS From Rainbow Row to the aroma of honeysuckle flowers on the French Quarter and the Battery promenade to the pastel-painted antebellum homes along the cobblestone streets, the sights of historic Charleston are a feast for the senses. Horse-drawn carriages lumber down the avenues as they have since the city’s founding in 1670 carry passengers to the Waterfront Park overlooking Charleston Harbor, while Fort Sumter still stands where the first shots of the Civil War rang out across the water. Don’t leave before cutting into a slice of pecan pie!
Day 4 CHARLESTONSouthern Hospitality Start the day with a city tour of Charleston before visiting America’s most photographed plantation, Boone Hall Plantation and Gardens. Continue to Mount Pleasant and tour the Patriot Points Naval Museum for a hands-on look at retired aircraft and naval carriers, plus a Vietnam Experience Exhibit. Enjoy the afternoon at your leisure. You may wish to shop for a favorite souvenir at the historic City Market, where more than 50 artisans are on-site daily; visit Fort Sumter National Monument, take a relaxing and scenic cruise of Charleston Harbor; or try one of Charleston’s favorite dishes, such as grits, barbecue, fried okra, or Carolina Gold Rice. This evening, join a local guide on a Small Group Discovery exclusive Gullah Stories and Spirits Tour. (B,L)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
HISTORIC SITE Tour the mansion with a guide, see the beautiful gardens and the Black History in America exhibit at historic Boone Hall Plantation - one of America’s oldest working farms. Once known for cotton and pecans, the farm still actively produces strawberries, tomatoes, peaches, and other signature Southern produce on the banks of Wampacheone Creek where it has stood the test of time since its founding by the Boone family in 1681.
ENHANCED FREE TIME
EXPLORE MORE in Charleston with a stroll through the City Market and historic downtown. Your Tour Director will have suggestions for additional shopping, sightseeing, and dining. Tap your GlobusGO mobile app for all the maps and tips for a special day in Charleston.
Day 5 CHARLESTON–BEAUFORT–HILTON HEAD–SAVANNAH, GEORGIAHeart of the South Depart Charleston for picturesque Beaufort, a town that has conserved much of its pre-revolutionary character. Tour the town by horse-drawn carriage through narrow, oak-lined streets past the former homes of wealthy cotton growers. This afternoon, visit [LF] Palmetto Dunes General Store on Hilton Head Island en route to romantic Savannah, America’s first planned city. (B)
HISTORY & TRADITION
SMALL GROUP EXCLUSIVE Explore Beaufort in style with a local guide on a horse-drawn carriage. The coastal town’s historic district has well-preserved Antebellum and Victorian architecture including homes that pre-date the Civil War. Learn about Beaufort’s role in the Civil War, the Lowcountry history and local favorite sites used in movies such as Forrest Gump, Forces of Nature, and The Prince of Tides.
LOCAL FAVORITE
SOUTHERN COMFORT Palmetto Dunes General Store on Hilton Head Island is a local “institution” providing a traditional general store experience with local Lowcountry food specialties. Lucrative plantations and fishing dominated the Hilton Head area economy in the 18th century. The plantations no longer produce crops; tourism and real estate now drive development. The beachfront town gained popularity in the 1950’s by turning the plantations into private neighborhoods, adding resorts to highlight the spectacular natural beauty, providing marina access plus building world-class golf courses to please the tourists and local residents.
Day 6 SAVANNAHTrolleys & Timeless Tales Explore Savannah in style on a trolley tour led by a Local Guide who will entertain you with stories of the city’s legendary characters and past. Visit the Mercer Williams House Museum, the mysterious setting for the book and film, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure. Tonight, experience low-country cuisine during a Small Group Discovery exclusive interactive cooking class and dinner, infused with memorable stories and southern specialty flavors. (B,D)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
HISTORIC SIGHTS Discover the charm and captivating stories of Savannah where art, period architecture, and ghost stories fill the air under a cool veil of Spanish moss that drapes the oaks along your trolley tour of this historic and unforgettable southern city.
Day 7 SAVANNAH–JEKYLL ISLANDIsland Traditions Visit Jekyll Island for a relaxing island experience. Enjoy a guided trolley tour of the Jekyll Island Historic District. A cluster of 19th-century winter-cottages, this “club” was formed by some of America’s most prominent families. The rest of the day is yours to explore the island. (B)
ENHANCED FREE TIME
EXPLORE MORE on Jekyll Island with a visit to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center or take a walk on the sandy St. Andrew’s Beach to admire shorebirds and playful dolphins. Tap your GlobusGO mobile app for the maps and tips for a special day in Jekyll Island.
Day 8 JEKYLL ISLANDEnjoy a day at leisure on Jekyll Island. Perhaps take a boat to Cumberland Island National Seashore, shop or kayak close to the sandy coast. Your Tour Director hosts a farewell dinner at the historic [LF] Jekyll Island Club. (B,D)
LOCAL FAVORITE
CULTURAL GEM Built in 1887, the Jekyll Island Club was the winter home of the Vanderbilt, Rockefeller, and Morgan families. Enjoy the atmosphere and superior service of this famous and historic location. Enjoy an elegant farewell dinner to celebrate your Southern adventure.
Day 9 JEKYLL ISLAND–SAVANNAHSafe travels until we meet again! Morning drive to Savannah. Your vacation ends at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport. Schedule departing flights after 1:00 pm. (B)
