Day 1: Depart for Jacksonville/St. Augustine, Florida We depart today for St. Augustine, the country’s oldest continuously inhabited European-founded city. As guests’ arrival times will vary, we have the day at leisure to explore on our own. After checking in to our hotel late this afternoon, we gather this evening for a welcome briefing about the journey ahead followed by dinner together. D
Day 2: St. Augustine History comes alive today as we enjoy a tour of this city known especially for its Spanish Colonial architecture. Our first stop: the Old Spanish Quarter, where we learn about Spain’s colonization of this area. We continue on to St. George Street, St. Augustine’s pedestrian-only “Main Street” in the heart of the Historic District, lined with galleries, boutiques, restaurants, and the nation’s oldest wooden schoolhouse. We then head to the Bayfront and visit Castillo de San Marcos, the only existing 17th-century military structure in the U.S. After lunch together, we have the afternoon at leisure for independent exploration. Dinner tonight is on our own in this city known for its fresh local seafood and Spanish cuisine. B,L
Day 3: St. Augustine/Jekyll Island, Georgia We travel north today to Jekyll Island, one of Georgia’s Sea and Barrier islands, and the only Barrier island accessible by causeway from the mainland. Once inhabited by Native peoples, Jekyll became a winter retreat for some of America’s wealthiest families, including the Rockefellers, Morgans, and Vanderbilts. Upon arrival, we take a guided tour of the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, where we learn about the rehabilitation of the sea turtles that inhabit Georgia’s coast, followed by time at leisure for lunch on our own and to explore as we wish. This afternoon we tour Jekyll, visiting the Historic District, with its collection of late 19th– and early 20th-century cottages and mansions; Faith Chapel, known for its animal carvings, terra cotta gargoyles, and stained-glass windows; and Indian Mound, a 25-room mansion once owned by the Rockefellers. We then check in to our hotel situated on a pristine stretch of beach and have time to relax before dinner together tonight. B,D
Day 4: Jekyll Island/Savannah This morning we depart for Savannah, a coastal city known for its history, old-world charm, lively arts and music scene, and friendly locals. Our journey takes us through St. Simons, Georgia’s largest Barrier island, whose live Southern Oaks dripping with Spanish moss evoke an earlier, less hurried time. After stopping along the way for lunch on our own, we reach Savannah early afternoon. Upon arrival, we visit the Ships of the Sea Museum to see a unique collection of 18th– and 19th– century ship models, paintings, and artifacts reflecting Savannah’s maritime heritage. Tonight, we dine together at a local Savannah restaurant. B,D
Day 5: Savannah With its antebellum architecture, manicured parks, and cobblestone streets, Savannah also boasts one of the largest National Historic Landmark Districts in the U.S., comprising more than 20 city squares filled with museums, mansions, monuments, and forts. With a local Savannah guide, we explore the Historic District on today’s walking tour along the city’s original squares lined with 18th and 19th-century buildings in Georgian, Gothic, and Greek Revival styles. We visit the dazzling French Gothic Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, whose spires stand as a symbol of the city. After lunch at a local restaurant, we tour Juliette Gordon Low’s Birthplace, where we learn about her life as the founder of the Girl Scouts of the USA. The remainder of the day is free for independent exploration and dinner on our own. B,L
Day 6: Savannah More stunning architecture awaits this morning, as we take a guided tour of the Owens-Thomas House (c. 1816–1819), one of the finest examples of English Regency architecture in America. Inspired by classical antiquity, the historic house museum boasts a decorative arts collection, an English-inspired parterre garden, and the original carriage house, which we see on our tour. We then have the remainder of the day at leisure. Tonight, we enjoy dinner together. B,D
Day 7: Savannah/Beaufort, South Carolina This morning we continue our journey along the coast of the southeastern U.S. with a visit to Fort Pulaski National Monument. It was at this island-based citadel where, in 1862, Union troops first deployed the then-experimental rifled cannon during the Civil War; their bombardment and subsequent takeover of the fort crippled Savannah as a Confederate port city. After soaking up this history, we continue to lovely Beaufort, located on Port Royal Island in South Carolina’s Lowcountry, an 80-mile stretch of low-elevation land with a distinct culture. Here we have lunch together followed by a horse-and-carriage ride through the city as our guide shares local history. We then check in to our hotel, with the rest of the afternoon at leisure. For dinner on our own tonight, we may wish to try Lowcountry fare, a regional specialty influenced by African and Cajun cuisine. B,L
Day 8: Beaufort/Charleston We leave Beaufort this morning for the two-hour drive to Charleston, the city that embodies our notions of the “South” perhaps more than any other. Known especially for its historic architecture, culture, and fabulous food scene, Charleston also is lauded for its friendliness and genteel manner. Our first stop here is stately Middleton Place, a former rice plantation dating to the 1730s that today is a National Historic Landmark with a house museum and America’s oldest landscaped gardens. We have time to explore on our own before we enjoy lunch together at the restaurant here. Next, we visit nearby Drayton Hall, an 18th-century plantation and the nation’s earliest example of fully executed Palladian architecture. Late this afternoon we check in to our centrally located hotel. Dinner tonight is on our own, and Charleston offers options aplenty. B,L
Day 9: Charleston We explore more of Charleston this morning, beginning with a walk through the City Market in the heart of the Historic District. Next, we visit the Battery, the waterfront area lined with stately antebellum homes. Following our tour, the remainder of the day is free for independent exploration. Tonight, we celebrate our Southern sojourn over a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. B,D
Day 10: Depart Charleston We transfer this morning to the Charleston airport for our flights home. B
B = Breakfast included L = Lunch included D = Dinner included