9 day Deep South Discovery, Atlanta to New Orleans

Atlanta – Arrival
Welcome to Atlanta, Georgia! During the Civil War, Atlanta was one of the most important Southern Cities as it provided war materials to the South. In 1864 General Sherman marched into Atlanta and burned the entire city. The city recovered from its losses and today is one of the most dynamic in the South, boasting a successful cultural and business hub. Transfer independently to your hotel where you will meet your Tour Director. 

Overnight: Holiday Inn Express and Suites Atlanta Downtown (or similar)

Atlanta
This morning, enjoy a comprehensive city tour of Atlanta, including a visit to the boyhood home of Martin Luther King. You will also learn about another of Atlanta’s most famous residents, Margaret Mitchell, who wrote the historical novel that became a masterpiece of American cinema, “Gone with the Wind.” Visit the Road to Tara Museum and Stately Oaks Plantation, which was the inspiration for the plantation in the film. You will have the opportunity to see memorabilia from the movie including costumes worn by the stars Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh. In the evening, enjoy a welcome reception which will give you the opportunity to meet your fellow travelers.

Overnight: Holiday Inn Express and Suites Atlanta, Downtown (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast

Atlanta – Augusta – Charleston
Leave Atlanta today and head west to Augusta. Augusta is the second oldest city in Georgia and is home to the prestigious Master’s golf tournament. In the late afternoon, you will arrive in Charleston once of the most historic and charming cities in the South. For evening activities, you may wish to consult your Tour Director for the possibilities.

Overnight: Cambria Hotel Charelston Riverview, Charleston (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast

Charleston – Savannah
In the morning, enjoy a locally guided tour of Charleston. Walk the streets of Charleston’s preserved historic district, the best protected in the nation. Natural disasters, the Revolutionary War and the Civil War all took their toll on this beautiful city, yet it stands out as the historic gem of the South. In the afternoon, you are welcome to participate in an optional excursion to historic Boon Hall.

Overnight: Fairfield Inn & Suites Savannah Downtown/Historic District (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast

Savannah
Today, enjoy the charm of Savannah, once the world’s largest cotton port. When cotton was king, Savannah controlled the prices of the world cotton market at her cotton exchange. Founder James Oglethorpe laid out the famed city squares. The Civil War destroyed a large portion of Georgia, but Savannah was spared. Numerous buildings around the tree-shaded squares are hundreds of years old; providing the setting for the popular novel “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.”

Overnight: Fairfield Inn & Suites Savannah Downtown/Historic District, Savannah (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast

Savannah – Montgomery
Set course west across the state of Georgia and into the heart of the Deep South, Alabama. Upon arrival in Montgomery, Alabama’s capital city and a central backdrop of the American Civil Rights Movement, visit the Rosa Parks Library and Museum. Learn about the Montgomery Bus Boycott inspired by Parks, which ignited the Civil Rights movement and changed American history. You may also wish to visit the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church, where Martin Luther King Jr. led the Boycott with his powerful sermons.

Overnight: Courtyard Montgomery (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast

Montgomery – Selma – New Orleans
Depart Montgomery this morning to discover Selma, Alabama, another centerpiece of the Civil Rights Movement. Visit the Edmund Pettis Bridge where the historic March from Selma to Montgomery began and where the brutal events of Bloody Sunday took place.

Experience another historic site of the Civil Rights Trail, the Brown Chapel AME Church before heading south through Mississippi to New Orleans, a city immersed in Creole culture. The city today is a unique blend of Spanish, French, Caribbean, African and Anglo-Saxon influences. This is obvious in the food, architecture, and of course, the music. Experience this melting pot aboard a Riverboat Dinner Cruise (optional)

Overnight: Hilton New Orleans Riverside (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast

New Orleans
The day is yours to explore the charm and excitement of one of America’s most unique cities and for you to take in the French flavor and grandeur of New Orleans. May we suggest starting the day with a visit to a working plantation (optional). Explore the French Quarter with its trademark wrought iron balconies overlooking the narrow cobblestone streets. 

Overnight: The Hilton, New Orleans Riverside (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast

New Orleans – Departure
Today your Tour Director will be available to assist you in arranging individual transfers to New Orleans Internation airport. We hope you had a memorable journey through America’s Deep South!

Meals: Breakfast