Duration: 8 Days
Sweet tea and the sea. Magnolias and Muscadine. Fresh, ripe peaches and inviting pillared porches. Follow the oak-lined streets to the endless delights awaiting in the genteel South. Beginning and ending in Atlanta, this southern U.S. tour stops in the capital city of Columbia before heading to the Spanish moss-draped coast of South Carolina and Georgia. Savour the high style of Charleston’s King Street as well as its delectable low country cuisine. Clippity-clop down the mansion-lined lanes of picturesque Beaufort in a horse-drawn carriage. Walk in the footsteps of Vanderbilts and Rockefellers at the once ultra-exclusive Jekyll Island Club. Board an open-air trolley to discover the famed squares of storied Savannah. A visit to the American Prohibition Museum’s Speakeasy is the perfect place to raise a glass to your newfound accent as well as your newly discovered love of shrimp and grits, she-crab soup, and fried green tomatoes. Cheers, y’all!
Traveller Notes
We’ve packed everything you need for the perfect holiday—from hand-selected hotels and dining to the friendly expertise of Globus Tour Directors and Local Guides, to seamless transportation between destinations and VIP access to the world’s most iconic sites! Touring by private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi.
Please note: Itinerary is based on 2024, and is subject to change. Full details will be confirmed in 2024.
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!
Southern Specialties
Sightseeing includes Centennial Olympic Park, the historic Fox Theatre, and the Buckhead neighbourhood, often referred to as the "Beverly Hills of the South." Also visit the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site, where you'll learn more about the man and his legacy. Free time this afternoon where you may wish to visit the Georgia Aquarium or the National centre for Civil and Human Rights. Dinner of southern specialties at [LF] a favourite local restaurant. (B,D)
LOCAL FAVOURITE
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, and sweet tea. Fried chicken and fried-green tomatoes - and grits, of course!
Carolina 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. Enjoy free time to explore the charms of this warm community and see the stunning granite State House. Later, continue to Charleston. This evening is free to explore on your own. You may wish to stroll the historic district, sample fresh seafood, or learn about Charleston's colourful past on a ghost tour. 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 Harbour, 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 after plenty of spoonfuls of shrimp and grits!
Southern Hospitality
Start the day with an orientation tour of Charleston before visiting America's most photographed plantation, Boone Hall Plantation and Gardens. The remainder of the day is at leisure. You may wish to shop for a favourite souvenir at historic City Market, where more than 50 artisans are on-site daily; take a relaxing and scenic cruise of Charleston Harbour; or try one of Charleston's favourite dishes, such as She-crab Soup or Carolina Gold Rice. (B)
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.
Heart 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, make your way to romantic Savannah, America's first planned city. Visit the American Prohibition Museum, where there's time to explore the various exhibits, interact with costumed guides, and enjoy a [LF] classic cocktail in the Speakeasy. (B)
LOCAL FAVOURITE
HISTORY & TRADITION Experience the American Prohibition Museum in Savannah and drink in the history of this turbulent time in American history. Explore the fascinating story of America's dry spell before giving the secret password to enter the speakeasy for a classic cocktail.
Trolleys & Timeless Tales
See 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. The remainder of the day is at leisure. (B)
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.
FREE TIME TIPS
EXPLORE MORE in Savannah with a stroll through Forsyth Park, visit to the Telfair Museum of Art, window shopping on Broughton Street, or a tour of the Mercer Williams House Museum-the setting for the book and film, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. 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 Savannah.
Island Traditions
Visit Jekyll Island for a guided trolley tour of the Club Historic District. A cluster of 19th-century winter-cottages, this "club" was formed by some of America's most prominent families. After the tour, your Tour Director hosts a farewell lunch at the historic [LF] Jekyll Island Club. The, visit nearby St. Simons Island, home to beautiful beaches and charming communities. Return to Savannah, where your evening is at leisure. (B,L)
LOCAL FAVOURITE
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 luncheon to celebrate your Southern adventure.
Safe travels until we meet again!
Morning drive to Atlanta. Your holiday ends at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport or the Atlanta tour hotel for those with post-nights. Schedule departing flights after 3 pm. (B)
