12-Nights Southern Charms & Florida from $2,869

Southern Charms & Florida

Day 1 NEW ORLEANS 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. A lavish optional brunch features many of New Orleans’ culinary classics as well as live music. The remainder of the day is at leisure.

Day 3 NEW ORLEANS A day to explore at your own pace. Stroll through the centuries-old French Quarter or take a carriage ride while listening to tales of voodoo queens and pirates. History enthusiasts may venture out to a plantation to catch a glimpse of life the way it used to be in the Old South. Tonight, you might like to experience the city’s beautiful skyline on an optional jazz dinner cruise from the heart of the French Quarter.

Day 4 NEW ORLEANS–BATON ROUGE–NATCHEZ Drive through the heart of Cajun Country to Baton Rouge for an orientation tour that features the art deco State Capitol, the tallest in the country. 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 on our optional Dinner and Historic Antebellum Home Tour.

Day 5 NATCHEZ–MEMPHIS Drive through rural Mississippi to Memphis. On arrival, acquaint yourself with the town during an included orientation tour. Don’t miss the optional excursion to the Birthplace of Rock and Roll, Sun Studio, followed by dinner and a drink on Beale St. where you’ll explore more of the melting pot that is Delta blues, jazz, rock ‘n’ roll, R & B, and gospel. (B)

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. Afterward, if you haven’t done so already, get a taste of Memphis with some authentic southern barbecue, visit the National Civil Rights Museum, or experience the world-famous Duck March at the elegant Peabody Hotel.

Day 7 MEMPHIS–NASHVILLE This morning, leave the “Home of the Blues” as you head 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 bustling Southern city a delight. Start your day with a visit to RCA Studio B, one of the country’s most revered, and Nashville’s oldest surviving recording studio. Afterward, sightseeing with a local guide includes the recording studios of Music Row, a life-size reproduction of the Parthenon, the State Capitol, and Bicentennial State Park. Then, visit the Country Music Hall of Fame with its glittering costumes, rare instruments, and Elvis Presley’s “solid-gold” 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 journey to its fast-growing metropolis, Atlanta, home of 1996 summer Olympics. An orientation tour, followed by a visit to the National Park Visitor Center that honors civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King.

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 guided trolley tour, you will see attractions like 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. The evening is free to explore this charming city on your own. (B)

Day 11 SAVANNAH A day at leisure. Explore the city with your included Hop on/Hop off Trolley ticket. Shop on cobblestoned River Street or stroll among the many squares surrounded by elegant homes and gardens. Don’t miss the chance to sample some Low Country cuisine at one of the many restaurants.

Day 12 SAVANNAH–ST. AUGUSTINE–ORLANDO Travel into the “Sunshine State” of Florida, stopping first at St. Augustine, the oldest European founded city in the United States. You will see the Government House and the Spanish fortress, Castillo de San Marcos, on your orientation tour. Then, drive to magical Orlando.

Day 13 ORLANDO Your vacation ends this morning. You may choose to extend your vacation with extra nights and explore the “Sunshine State” further.