SOUTHERN JOURNEY (82102010)

Guides
Local Guides for sightseeing in Charleston, Beaufort, Savannah, and Jekyll Island; services of a professional Tour Director.

Hotels


Atlanta
Baymont Inn & Suites (MF);

Columbia
Clarion Hotel Town House (MF);

Myrtle Beach
Hilton (F);

Charleston
Holiday Inn Historic District (MF);

Savannah
Days Inn at Ellis Square (ST);

Jekyll Island
Jekyll Oceanfront Resort (MF)

Transportation
Private, deluxe air-conditioned motorcoach while touring.

Day 1:
Wed. 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:
Thu. 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.

Day 3:
Fri. 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. 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.

Day 4:
Sat. 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:
Sun. 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:
Mon. 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:
Tue. CHARLESTON–BEAUFORT–SAVANNAH. Enjoy a morning break at picturesque Beaufort, a town which 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:
Wed. 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 lunch at a local restaurant.

Day 9:
Thu. 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, including ROCKEFELLER’S INDIAN MOUND.

Day 10:
Fri. 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.

Day 11:
Sat. ATLANTA. The trip ends today with guests departing on individual flight schedules. Transfers to Atlanta International Airport are included.

YOU CAN BOOK THIS TOUR ONLINE. Click here to check rates and availability online, 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. Or, to speak to one of our live, experienced travel consultants, Call us now at 1-800-942-3301.
Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
9/8/2010 - 9/18/2010	$1,489
9/15/2010 - 9/25/2010	$1,489
10/13/2010 - 10/23/2010	$1,489
10/20/2010 - 10/30/2010	$1,489
Airfare Disclaimer A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link. Documents TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

City Highlights
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.

Price Details US
Single Room Supplement: $614Triple Room Reduction per person: $140

Related Tours
8215|Extend Your Vacation in Atlanta

Ratings & Reviews:

This tour has no reviews yet. Have you experienced this tour? Write a review.

Related Travel Articles

• See Europe :: Travel Safely and In Style, Escorted Tours
• Cosmos Tours Travel Styles
• Europe Language Tips
• Tours :: The Most Common Questions about Escorted Tours
• About Cosmos Tours