Old South & Florida

Day 1 UK - New Orleans

Fly to New Orleans where you will transfer to your hotel for three nights.

Welcome to New Orleans! Your Tour Director is on hand late this afternoon to answer any questions.

 

Day 2 New Orleans

The morning is dedicated to the sights and sounds of this Old-World city with a guided tour. First, visit the French Quarter, including St. Louis Cathedral and Jackson Square. Next, learn about the city’s unique burial customs at an above-ground cemetery, followed by a leisurely drive down historic St.

Charles Avenue to enjoy its stately mansions and clanging streetcars (trams). The remainder of the day is at leisure.

 

Day 3 New Orleans

Enjoy a full day at leisure. Stroll through the centuries-old French Quarter or take a carriage ride while listening to tales of voodoo queens and pirates. History enthusiasts can roam through sprawling Victorian mansions and celebrated museums, catching a glimpse of life the way it used to be in the Old South.

Tonight, you might like to experience the city’s beauty and romance on a 2-hour cruise from the heart of the French Quarter on New Orleans’ only steamboat.

 

Day 4 New Orleans - Baton Rouge - Natchez

Drive through the heart of Cajun Country to Baton Rouge for an orientation tour that features the Governor’s Mansion and the State Capitol. Next, on to elegant Natchez, a thriving port in the golden years of the cotton trade. Visit a gracious PRE-CIVIL WAR HOME featuring fine collections of period furniture and paintings. In the evening, relax and perhaps sip a refreshing mint julep as the sun goes down.

 

Day 5 Natchez - Memphis

Drive through rural Mississippi to Memphis. On arrival, acquaint yourself with the town during an included orientation tour. For your first night in the “Home of the Blues,” why not visit one of the famous music clubs on Beale Street, immortalised in WC Handy’s famous songs?

Meals included:  Breakfast

 

Day 6 Memphis

Visit to Graceland. A trip to Memphis would not be complete without visiting GRACELAND, the palatial home of “The King,” Elvis Presley. Our guided audio tour focuses on the memorial garden and the opulent 15,000-square-foot mansion. Return to Memphis mid-afternoon and, if you haven’t done so already, get a taste of Memphis with some southern barbecue at Central BBQ.

Perhaps stop by the Gibson Guitar Factory for a tour or visit the National Civil Rights Museum. This evening, you may want to visit famous Beale Street, and explore the melting pot of delta blues, jazz, rock ‘n’ roll, R and B, and gospel.

 

Day 7 Memphis - Nashville

This morning leave the home of the blues for Nashville, the “Capital of Country Music.” Afternoon arrival in Nashville. This evening, you have reserved seating for an unforgettable show at the world-famous GRAND OLE OPRY, a Mecca for country musicians since 1925.

 

Day 8 Nashville

Its association with country music has made the name “Nashville” world-famous, but it’s not just music fans who will find this charming southern city a delight. Start your day with a visit to STUDIO B, Nashville’s oldest surviving recording studio and one of the country’s most important. Afterward, sightseeing with a local guide includes the State Capitol, Bicentennial State Park, and the recording studios of Music Row. Then, visit the COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME with its glittering costumes, rare instruments, and Elvis Presley’s “solidgold” Cadillac.

 

Day 9 Nashville - Chattanooga - Atlanta

First stop today is Chattanooga, home of the Chattanooga Choo Choo. Then, enter the “Peach State” of Georgia and continue through Chattahoochee National Forest to the fast-growing metropolis of Atlanta, former home and burial place of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. Enjoy an orientation tour, followed by a short visit to the grave and eternal flame dedicated to preserving his legacy.

 

Day 10 Atlanta - Savannah

Head south through rich, rolling farmland to the historic seaport of Savannah for a 2-night stay. On this afternoon’s TROLLEY TOUR, your tour highlights attractions such as the City Market, Forsyth Park, Mercer House, Madison Square (where General Sherman concluded his “March to the Sea”), Colonial Park Cemetery, and the world-famous River Street. This evening is free to explore this charming city on your own.

Meals included: Breakfast

 

Day 11 Savannah 

A day at leisure. Shop on cobblestoned River Street or stroll among the many squares surrounded by elegant homes and gardens. Don’t miss the impressive Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum to learn about Savannah’s important role in maritime history.

 Meals Included: Continental Breakfast

 

Day 12 Savannah - St. Augustine - Orlando

Travel into the “Sunshine State” of Florida, stopping first at St. Augustine, the oldest city in the United States. You will see the oldest Government House and the Spanish fortress, Castillo de San Marcos, on your orientation tour. Then, drive to the magical city of Orlando.

Meals included: Continental Breakfast

 

Day 13 Orlando -UK

Your holiday ends this morning. You can extend your holiday with extra nights and explore the “Sunshine State” further with a variety of exciting optional activities.

Transfer to the airport for your flight to the UK.

 

Day 14 

Home landing in the UK