Southern Charm

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Springtime in beautiful Georgia and South Carolina brings a profusion of color to the gardens of Charleston, Savannah, and along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Enjoy great entertainment in Myrtle Beach which some say is the “Branson-by-the-sea!” Tour many beautiful plantations and gardens graced with more colors than the rainbow!

Day 1 – Home to Bloomington, IL

Today we begin our journey to Georgia and South Carolina. Noon lunch will be at the Norske Nook, a Scandinavian restaurant. We will enjoy the lush scenery as we make our way to Bloomington, IL and check into our hotel.

Included Meals: Lunch 

Hotel: Holiday Inn Express

Day 2 – Bloomington to Bowling Green, KY

After a satisfying breakfast we make our way through the Kentucky rolling hills dotted with thoroughbreds. We’ll stop for a tour of Churchill Downs before we motor through the Blue Grass Drive with miles and miles of beautiful horse farms and flowering dogwoods.

Included Meals: Breakfast 

Hotel: Drury Inn

Day 3 – Bowling Green to Atlanta, GA

Arrive in Atlanta, Georgia (The Fly group joins us this afternoon). Dinner this evening is a wonderful experience as R & J Tours has arranged for you to dine in one of Atlanta’s favorite restaurants.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner 

Hotel: Drury Inn 

Day 4 – Atlanta

A local guide helps us explore Atlanta with sights such as Peachtree Street, the Governor’s Mansion, and the North Side Buckhead Area featuring beautiful homes. Enjoy a tour of the interesting CNN Studio and more.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Day 5 – Atlanta to Savannah, GA

Visit Macon, Georgia, a graceful city with azaleas, dogwoods, and more than 200,000 Yoshino cherry trees. Visit the Hay House before continuing on to Savannah, one of the South’s oldest and most graceful cities. Savannah features an entire restored area registered as a National Historic Landmark. It is with this in mind that we have given you two relaxing nights in the historic district. Dinner this evening is at the Pirates House, a unique, historic tavern dating back to 1753.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner 

Hotel: Hampton Inn Historic District

Day 6 – Savannah

This morning step on an “Old Town Trolley” for our private tour of historic Savannah! This delightful union of transportation and entertainment , “Transportainment,” is an experience not to be missed. Through humorous tales and fun facts, our hometown conductors will guide, inform, and amuse! Keep your ticket as you have on & off privileges until 5:00 p.m. This afternoon is yours to explore the charming historic district, the River Street, and the Riverfront Plaza.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Day 7 – Savannah to Charleston, SC

After a leisurely breakfast at the hotel, we will depart for the charming and unique village of Beaufort. Between the lovely views and great food, lunch today will be wonderful. Then you will step aboard your waiting horsedrawn carriage for a pleasant ride to see beautiful, old Southern mansions – carriage is the only way to see them! We’ll make our way to Charleston, literally a living museum which features 789 acres of historical beauty reflecting its 300 year old history. We’ll check into the beautiful historic Hampton Inn perfectly set in the Historic District of Charleston. You are within walking distance to many charming shops and restaurants.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch 

Hotel: Hampton Inn Historic District

Day 8 – Charleston

A local step-on guide leads us through Charleston and its historic district. Enjoy some leisure time here in the historic district or stroll to the nearby old city market. The market area is the perfect place to choose from a variety of options for lunch. Tonight you are guests aboard the ‘Spirit of Carolina’ for a dinner cruise out on the Charleston Harbor.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 9 – Charleston to Myrtle Beach, SC

Enjoy a full breakfast and depart for colorful Magnolia Plantation where you will walk through a wonderland of winding paths among one of the largest and oldest collections of camellias and azaleas in America. Later, tour Middleton Place, a national historic landmark, birthplace of a signer of the Declaration of Independance and home of America’s oldest landscaped gardens. A special picnic lunch at Middleton Place is planned. Travel along the Atlantic Coast to Myrtle Beach. Check into your oceanfront hotel set on Myrtle Beach.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch 

Hotel: Hampton Inn & Suites Oceanfront

Day 10 – Myrtle Beach

Enjoy breakfast and a free morning exploring Myrtle Beach. Later, you may choose to take an optional excursion to Broadway at the Beach, Myrtle Beach’s newest shopping and entertainment complex. Dinner this evening is at Original Benjamin’s Calabash, a one-of-a-kind restaurant with seafood and continental buffet featuring over 170 items. After dinner, attend one of the hottest shows in Myrtle Beach, the Carolina Opry.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 11 – Myrtle Beach to Atlanta, GA

After breakfast at the hotel, we will depart for Atlanta with a lunch stop in Augusta.

Included Meals: Breakfast 

Hotel: Drury Inn

Day 12 – Atlanta to Nashville, TN

The fly group departs today. Our journey continues on into another great city, Nashville, Tennessee – “Music City, USA!” We’ll visit the historic Ryman Auditorium, which was built in 1891, in downtown Nashville as well as the Johnny Cash Museum.

Included Meals: Breakfast 

Hotel: Drury Inn 

Day 13 – Nashville to Bloomington, IL

Our journey continues across Tennessee and on to Bloomington, Illinois with coffee stops and lunch along the way. We’ll check into our hotel and freshen up for dinner. Join us this evening for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner 

Hotel: Holiday Inn Express

Day 14 – Bloomington to Home

As we make our way on the final stretch, we will reminisce about the many memories of a great trip to beautiful South Carolina and Georgia in the Springtime.

Included Meals: Breakfast