Day 1 – Home to Normal, IL
Today we begin our journey south in hopes of sunshine. Enjoy an included noon lunch along the way. Relax at the hotel this evening in Normal, IL.
Included Meals: Lunch
Hotel: Hampton Inn
Day 2 – Normal to Columbia, TN
After our hotel breakfast, we pass through the changing landscapes of Kentucky and Tennessee. Arriving in central Tennessee, we check into our hotel in Columbia and then dinner is on your own this evening.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Hampton Inn
Day 3 – Columbia to Panama City Beach, FL
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before we travel to sunny Florida where sandy white beaches await us! Check into the Holiday Inn Resort Panama City Beach, our home on the beachfront for the next 5 nights! We’ll happily settle into our balcony rooms with grand views of the Gulf! Enjoy a welcome dinner as we continue to get to know our new traveling friends. Tonight at the hotel we’ll be treated to a private evening concert with Billy Rader, who founded the Ocean Opry and continues his family legacy of talented musicians. He’ll entertain us with songs from yesteryear!
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: Holiday Inn Resort Panama City Beach – Beachfront (5 Nights) (Oceanview Rooms!)
Day 4 – Panama City Beach
This morning after breakfast we head out with a local guide that will give us history of Panama City Beach and maybe the local insights of celebrities that have visited. Next, we will make a stop for a little fun, fantastic shopping, and lunch on your own at Pier Park! Then we’ll visit the Duplin Winery and sample their award-winning sipping wines. Duplin is known for “cool, sweet & easy.” While relaxing on their porch, we’ll be entertained with live music. Afterwards, we’ll have a nice dinner at the Wicked Wheel. Now it’s time to experience the SkyWheel at night! Towering nearly 200-feet above the Gulf’s emerald green waters, the fully enclosed gondolas give us a perspective of all the beauty the Panama City Beach coastline has to offer. It’s magnificent at nighttime!
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5 – Panama City Beach / St. Andrews
We’ll start off our day with a scenic sightseeing and dolphin cruise aboard the Sea Screamer. Enjoy the Captain’s informative narration as we cruise along the coastline, around Shell Island and the inland waters of St. Andrews Bay. Back on our coach, our local guide will join us again, giving us tidbits and history along the way as we cross the St. Andrews Bay via the Hathaway Bridge to explore historic St Andrews. He’ll share all of the historic information and give us time to explore the quaint coastal community. Then we’ll head back to our hotel to refresh before dinner at Dat Cajun Place where there is great food and often live music.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6 – Panama City Beach / Wakulla Springs
After a satisfying breakfast we make our way to scenic Wakulla Springs that boasts manatees, alligators and other wildlife. Wakulla Springs State Park is one of the world’s largest and deepest freshwater springs. We will enjoy a riverboat ride to view the sapphire waters, aquatic wildlife and an abundance of bird life. After an included lunch at the historic Lodge, we will make our way back to the hotel to enjoy the rest of the afternoon & evening on your own. Perhaps you’ll choose to take a stroll on the sandy beach, hunt for shells, and capture the sunset!
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 7 – Panama City Beach / Seaside
After a leisurely breakfast, we take an unhurried drive along 30A to the beautiful and quaint, community-inspired town of Seaside with its open spaces and pedestrian brick roads. Stroll along and pick out one of the local favorite restaurants, as you take in the flavors and soothing rhythm of life. We then return to Panama City Beach to see the Man in the Sea Museum, which is the oldest diving Museum in the world. Knowledgeable guides will help us explore the museum at your own pace. Experience the newly restored SeaLab, the first experimental underwater habitat developed by the Navy in the 1960s. Then back to the hotel to refresh before heading over to the brand new, exciting Dolly Parton Pirates Voyage Dinner Show! They’ll serve up a hearty pirate feast that will satisfy the hungriest pirates and landlubbers. As Dolly says, “There will be pirates, mermaids, exciting acrobatics, pyrotechnics, and even a few songs that I wrote — it’s a show everyone in the family is going to love. Everyone knows I dream big, so we are definitely going ‘overboard’ with the details as we get started!”
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8 – Panama City Beach to Hattiesburg, MS
This morning we bid lovely Panama City Beach goodbye, but our journey is not over yet. Today we tour the Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola. Here we will experience the evolution of Naval Aviation with hands-on history as we explore more than 150 restored aircrafts representing Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. (It’s required to have a REAL ID driver’s license or passport.) This afternoon we continue our drive to Hattiesburg, MS and check into our hotel for the evening. Dinner is served at a New Orleans inspired eatery with southern classic dishes.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: Holiday Inn Express
Day 9 – Hattiesburg to Memphis, TN
After breakfast, we travel to Memphis where we check in early to the lovely Guest House at Graceland for two nights. Then we’ll learn about the personal side of Elvis Presley with an interactive iPad tour of the Graceland Mansion, hosted by John Stamos and featuring commentary and stories by Elvis and his daughter, Lisa Marie. After returning to the Guest House to freshen up, we head to the river to enjoy a two-hour cruise on Ol’ Man River, featuring live entertainment of Blues & Jazz and a Memphis-style meal. Definitely a memorable way to end our day!
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: Guest House at Graceland (2 Nights)
Day 10 – Memphis
Today after breakfast, the Home of the Blues comes alive with the help of our local guide, a professional Beale Street musician, who will play and sing selections from the city’s rich musical heritage, while entertaining us with comedy, history and behind-the-scenes stories of our favorite Memphis personalities. There will be a stop with local guide at Sun Studio which is know at “The Birthplace of Rock’n’roll”. It is the discovery location of musical legends and genres of the 50’s from B.B. King and Elvis Presley to Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis; from Blues and Gospel to Country and Rock’n’roll. We’ll have free time to explore Beale St on our own and grab lunch at one of its many unique restaurants. Then we’ll meet up with another local guide and enjoy a walking tour of Beale St, filled with many stories of musical history. Our final attraction of the day is the National Civil Rights Museum. Then on to an included dinner in the tradition of Memphis BBQ.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 11 – Memphis to Quincy, IL
Breakfast is served at the hotel before we depart for Illinois today. Enjoy the changing landscapes as we motor along. A farewell dinner is planned this evening at the hotel as we reminisce about our time in sunny Florida.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: Town & Country Inn
Day 12 – Quincy, IL to Home
After our hotel breakfast this morning, we make our final stretch home with lunch and coffee breaks along the way. We’ll visit with our new traveling friends before arriving home this evening with grand memories of our Sunny Jaunt to Panama City Beach!
Included Meals: Breakfast
Motorcoach Per Person Pricing Information
Motorcoach Travel Protection Per Person
Travel Bucks
Deposit Due
Passport Needed
Tour Pace
Price Includes
21 Meals, Hotels & Activities as stated in brochure, Luxury Motorcoach
03/07/2026 03/18/2026
Tour Map
Tour Highlights
* Stay 5 Nights on Panama City Beach in Beachfront Balcony Rooms
* Guided Panama City Beach Tour
* Pier Park including Sky Wheel at Night
* Duplin Winery for Tasting & Live Music
* Dolphin Morning Cruise
* Leisure Time to explore Seaside
* Wakulla Springs State Park Riverboat Ride & Historic Lodge Lunch
* Billy Rader Private Evening Entertainment
* Walking Tour of Historic St Andrews
* Man in the Sea Museum
* Dolly Parton Pirate Dinner Show
* Pensacola Naval Aviation Museum
* 2 Nights at Guest House at Graceland in Memphis
* Memphis River Boat Dinner Music Cruise
* Tour of Elvis Mansion
* Musical Tour of Memphis
* Sun Studio
* Beale Street Walking Tour
* National Civil Rights Museum
