On arrival in Miami take a taxi to your hotel on South Beach.
You have 2 days to soak up the sun in Miami.
Today you will take an internal flight to Charleston where you will pick up your car and make your way to your hotel.
Walking tours, carriage tours, ghost/graveyard tours, boat tours, and bus tours are all easily bookable for a local charge.
Horse-drawn carriage tours are a popular way to see the city’s historic district. Group carriage tours depart two blocks from Planters Inn throughout the day. Private carriage tours offer a more personalised experience and may be arranged through our concierge staff.
Boat tours are an ideal way to learn about Charleston’s rich maritime history. The first shots of the Civil War were fired upon Fort Sumter, the island-garrison-turned-national-park located at the mouth of the harbour. Tours of Fort Sumter leave throughout the day and include a scenic 30-minute boat ride to and from the fort.
Bus tours are an easy way to see local sights with a knowledgeable guide. Adventure Sightseeing offers tours of the historic district as well as area plantations.
Take a musical tour The Sounds of Charleston, a live show that brings to life a variety of local compositions, including jazz, gospel, Gershwin, Gullah, spirituals, and Civil War marching songs.
LOCAL CULTURAL ATTRACTIONS
For a less structured approach to exploring Charleston, here is a list of local attractions located within easy walking distance from Planters Inn:
The circa 1905 Beaux Arts building that houses the Gibbes Museum is almost as fetching as the 10,000 works of fine art—principally American, many with a connection to Charleston or the South—you will discover inside. The museum reopened in 2016 following a multi-million renovation. 135 Meeting Street (0.2 mile from Planters Inn)
Charleston’s exquisitely preserved Antebellum mansions are a highlight of any visit to our beautiful city. For an experience you will long remember, step inside a house-museum and take a closer look at the ornate architecture, style, and décor of yesteryear.
Charleston’s first historic house museum is the Heyward-Washington House. Built in 1772 for Thomas Heyward, Jr., a signer of the Declaration of Independence, the home was opened to the public in 1930. The Holmes Bookcase is considered to be one of the finest examples of American-made furniture. The formal garden features plants popular in late 18th century Charleston gardens. 87 Church Street (0.5 mile from Planters Inn)
Built in 1803, the Joseph Manigault House is a premier example of Federal-style architecture. The collection of period American, English, and French furnishings illustrates the lifestyle of a wealthy, rice-planting family. 360 Meeting Street (0.9 mile from Planters Inn)
Built in 1808, the Nathaniel Russell House is widely recognised as one of America’s most important neoclassical dwellings. The interior is adorned with elaborate plaster ornamentation and a stunning free-flying staircase. Be sure to check out the joggling board in the formal gardens—this is a uniquely Charleston invention. 51 Meeting Street (0.7 mile from Planters Inn)
Built in 1818, the sprawling Aiken-Rhett House and associated outbuildings are a premier example of urban life during the plantation age. The home is an active restoration project for Historic Charleston Foundation’s archivists and preservationists. 48 Elizabeth Street (0.8 mile from Planters Inn)
Built in 1825 and enhanced in 1838, the Edmondston-Alston House sits on High Battery and offers a sweeping view of Charleston’s historic harbor. General P. T. Beaureguard watched the bombardment of Fort Sumter, which signalled the start of the Civil War, from the piazza of this spectacular mansion.
PLANTATIONS
Of the more than 300 known plantations that existed in Charleston County several centuries ago, almost all have been erased by time. Today, four plantations—each with varied personality—are accessible to the public.
Step back in time at Middleton Place, home of America’s oldest landscaped gardens where some of North America’s first camellia plants—gifts from Andre Michaux, appointed by Louis XVI as France’s Royal Botanist—still bloom beautifully every year. Stroll through the National Historic Landmark’s sixty-five acres of verdant terraces that took ten years to create and be sure to check out the lively stableyard with free-grazing sheep, cashmere goats, Belgian draft horses, guinea hogs, peacocks, and majestic water buffalo. For more information: www.middletonplace.org
Widely considered the finest example of Georgian Palladian architecture in North America, Drayton Hall is one of the Lowcountry’s greatest architectural treasures. Untouched by fad or fashion, the house museum stands as an example of meticulous preservation and has neither running water nor electricity. For more information: www.draytonhall.org
Magnolia Plantation, a 17th-Century estate, is home to America’s oldest public gardens as well as some of the nation’s largest groves of azaleas and camellias. For more information: www.magnoliaplantation.com
With its parading allée of grand oaks and working farm that sells seasonal vegetables, Boone Hall best satisfies the visitor searching for Scarlett’s silver-screen Tara. For more information: www.boonehallplantation.com
Today you will collect your car and make your way to Savannah crossing over into Georgia.
Escape to Savannah — chic and sophisticated, with plenty of stories to tell. Savannah is known for its history, natural beauty, eclectic architecture and romantic ambience. Each square tells the tale of past generations with an added modern punch of high-style boutiques, galleries and restaurants. The food, art and music — mixed with a hospitable yet playful personality — makes visiting this city an experience you can’t get anywhere else.
Savannah has sites to see, places to go and a social scene that can be both quirky and classy. With more than 45 cultural attractions, Savannah draws visitors craving history and tradition. Take a tour through a pre-Civil War mansion at the Mercer-Williams House, or visit the birthplace of the Girl Scouts of America at the Juliette Gordon Low House. Test your bravery on a haunted ghost tour through Savannah, which has been called “America’s most haunted city,” or take a movie tour to learn about feature films produced here. Museums in Savannah contain pieces that are sure to take your breath away, while statues stand prominently throughout the city to commemorate its history.
Whether you choose to travel by trolley, horse-drawn carriage, bicycle or even Segway, getting around Savannah is half the fun. It’s one of the most pedestrian-friendly cities in the country, so many visitors prefer to explore Savannah on foot, taking the time to enjoy the 22 scenic squares decorated with monuments, fountains, azaleas and massive oaks draped in Spanish moss.
With more than 100 restaurants in the heart of the Historic District, Savannah has become just as famous for its dining as for its historic sites. This city dishes up the flavours and stylings of numerous celebrated chefs. Visitors can’t go far without smelling the savoury aroma of this city’s popular “Coastal Cuisine,” or being tempted to stop for a to-go cup of their favourite beverage. In Savannah, there’s a plate for every palate that will linger long after you bid the city farewell.
One of the wonderful things about Savannah is how many historic buildings still exist; there is a nice contrast between old and new found all over the city. At the 1820 Federal-style Davenport house, you will find a beautiful example of what makes Savannah so special. The house was threatened with destruction in 1955 at a time when several of the older buildings in the area had already been torn down. Upon seeing this, a group of women decided to take a stand and protect the building from being demolished. They succeeded, and the saving of Davenport House launched the preservation of many others. The group grew and became the Historic Savannah Foundation. In 1966, Savannah’s historic downtown was listed on the National Register as a National Landmark.
Forsyth Park, one of Savannah’s most well-known parks, is the perfect place to relax, picnic or sunbathe. Take a stroll along the walkways where trees drip with Spanish moss or sit on park benches in front of beautiful fountains and statues, including the bronze soldier that commemorates the men who fought on behalf of the southern Confederacy during the American Civil War. The Band Shell, a music venue, hosts concerts and events, so keep an eye out for performances throughout the year.
With so many squares and pedestrian-friendly streets, Savannah offers lots of outdoor sightseeing. Taking one of the many tours – by trolley, riverboat, walking and even horse and carriage – is an ideal way to explore the area.
Savannah was founded by British Gen. James Oglethorpe in 1733. He designed the city on four open squares, allowing for easy city expansion. A bronze statue of the founder himself stands in Chippewa, one of the main squares. This was also the location for the famous park bench scenes in the film "Forrest Gump."
Get an early start and head to Atlanta to make the most of this cultural hub.
Atlanta isn’t just another big city; it’s an urban landscape made up of nearly 45 in-town neighbourhoods. Midtown is known as Atlanta’s “heart of the arts” and sits along the famed Peachtree Street, just a few miles north of downtown. It boasts the largest concentration of arts facilities and organisations in the Southeast.
The site of historic events including Civil War battles, the birth of the civil rights movement and the Centennial Olympic Games, Atlanta is rich with historical stories and figures. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park gives insight into the first steps toward civil equality and includes King’s birth home. The city is also home to Jimmy Carter Presidential Museum and Library.
Music is also a way of life in Atlanta so head over to Blind Willie's to listen to the Blues.
The brick walls, small stage and strong drinks at Blind Willie’s make for the perfect blues-bar ambiance. In the Virginia-Highland area a few minutes outside of downtown Atlanta, Blind Willie’s is named after Georgia-native Blind Willie McTell (there’s an annual blues festival in his honour in nearby Thomson, Georgia). You’ll be treated by to live music seven nights a week, with many local acts and the occasional touring band.
Today you will make your way to Chattanooga where you will stay in the famous Choo Choo.
Chattanooga’s history dates to the Native American removal in the 1830s and railroad and train history of the 1850s. The river and trains were important factors during the 1860s American Civil War. The 1909 Chattanooga Choo Choo Terminal Station is a hotel complex that became famous with the 1940s song "Chattanooga Choo Choo," selling more than 1 million copies and becoming the first Gold Record in the world. You can still ride a real steam train on the Tennessee Valley Railroad with options for one- or three-hour trips.
Only 9.8 kilometers from the river, you’ll find historic Lookout Mountain and the natural attractions of Rock City Gardens with its view of seven states and Ruby Falls with its underground waterfall. Ride up the side of Lookout Mountain on the Incline Railway, the steepest incline in the world. At the top, visit the National Park Services' visitor’s center, Civil War museum and a unit of the largest and oldest military park in America, the Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park, and enjoy a marvelous view.
Chattanooga’s public art decorates the streets, sidewalks and RiverWalk. Enjoy all the art outdoors or venture inside to see the South’s largest collection of American art at the Hunter Museum of American Art near downtown.
There is always something fun happening in Chattanooga. Experience for yourself why Chattanooga is called the "Scenic Centre of the South."
Today make your way to Nashville via Lynchburg which is home to the Jack Daniel's Distillery tours are daily from 9am - 16.30 and last 1 hour 30 mins and cost $15.
Let one of our seasoned storytellers guide you through Mr. Jack’s distillery and old-time Tennessee whiskey-making process. Then, finish your trip with a memorable stop at our historic Barrel House 1-14. Here, you’ll linger over and sip five of our most popular whiskeys and liqueurs.
Must be 21 to make a reservation.
TOUR OVERVIEW
- Tour duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes (sampling time included)
- $20 Adults (must be 18+ to tour)
- Must bring valid photo ID: 18+ may take tour; only 21+ may sample
- Sales tax included in fee
- Military (18+) and Senior (65+) discount applicable with ID
- Tours offered Monday-Saturday 9:30AM to 4:30PM CST and Sunday 11AM to 4:30PM CST
- For those 21+ the tour includes a sample of 5 Jack Daniel whiskeys: Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel's Tennessee Fire, Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey, Gentleman Jack and Jack Daniel's Rye
- Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Year's Day, Easter Sunday
Once in
Of course, music remains Nashville’s calling card to the world and is the very heart of the city. Long recognized as the world’s capital of country music, Music City's sounds also include pop, rock, gospel, Americana, bluegrass, jazz, classical, contemporary Christian, blues and soul. With more than 120 live music venues across the city, there is something for everyone. You’ll catch pickers and songwriters all over town, in places like bluegrass venue Station Inn, the rock venue Exit/In, the honky-tonks on Broadway, the song-centered Bluebird Cafe or the legendary Ryman Auditorium.
You can get a Nashville Music pass from £101 pp
The Nashville Music Attraction Pass - 2019 is your passport to the incredible music history of Nashville. Enjoy admission to four famous attractions including the Country Music Hall of Fame plus receive a $15 voucher for food and beverages that can be used at Hard Rock Cafe or AJ's Good Time Bar.
Featured Attractions Include:
- The Country Music Hall of Fame – When you step into the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum, you will be embarking on a trip through decades of country music history! This architecturally stunning building stretches over an entire block of Nashville and features exhibits sure to thrill any fan of the genre. A towering wall of honor features displays of every gold and platinum record to hit the country music charts, as well as exhibits dedicated to the music trailblazers and legends that have been inducted into the Hall of Fame. The 40,000-square-foot museum also features rare recordings, memorabilia, and special traveling exhibits. You can also catch a show at the state-of-the-art Ford Theater, which is housed on the grounds of the museum.
- Historic RCA Studio B - Once the recording home of popular music titans such as Elvis Presley, Chet Atkins, Eddy Arnold, and the Everly Brothers. The storied studio's exterior has been renovated and the interior has been returned to its 1970s era prime as an analog "temple of sound." RCA Studio B first became known as one of the cradles of the "Nashville Sound" in the 1960s. A sophisticated style characterized by background vocals and strings, the Nashville Sound both revived the popularity of country music and helped establish Nashville as an international recording center. Hit makers in Studio B have included Arnold, Jennings, Bobby Bare, Parton, Reeves, Willie Nelson and Floyd Cramer, among others.
- Ryman Auditorium – Explore the coveted halls of the Ryman Auditorium when you enjoy a self-guided tour that concludes as you share the stage with the legacy of the legends that performed here. This is your chance to feel the history of the Ryman Auditorium, home to the Grand Ole Opry for more than thirty years. You'll start by sitting in the original pews and viewing a short film presentation narrated by Trisha Yearwood. "If These Walls Could Talk" will take you from the beginning of the Ryman's history through to today. After the film, you can head down to the legendary stage to stand underneath the lights and have a photo taken "singing" in front of the Grand Ole Opry audience!
- Johnny Cash Museum – Officially authorized by the Estate of Johnny Cash, the museum features the largest and most comprehensive collection of Johnny Cash artifacts and memorabilia in the world. State of the art exhibits, a museum gift store and special events make this THE Cash venue to visit. Open now in the heart of downtown Nashville.
- Madame Tussaud's Nashville - The world-famous wax attraction celebrating American music, will provide an interactive experience where guests can be a part of America’s musical past and present. Located in Opry Mills, adjacent to the Grand Ole Opry, it is Music City’s newest must-see destination. It is dedicated to the meticulous art of sculpting and working with wax to create life-size, three-dimensional figures of the most popular musicians from yesterday and today. Guests will travel on a musical journey as they see, touch and take photographs with their favorite country, rock, jazz, and blues artists in brilliantly themed interactive settings.
Plus you will receive your Nashville $15.00 Voucher for Food & Beverage at the Hard Rock Café or AJ's Good Time Bar
Experience Includes
- Admission to the Country Music Hall of Fame
- Audio tour at the Ryman Auditorium
- Admission to the Historic RCA Studio B
- Admission to the Johnny Cash Museum
- Madame Tussaud's Nashville
- $15 food and beverage voucher that can be used at Hard Rock Café or AJ's Good Time Bar
- VIP Coupon Book at Opry Mills
Move on to Memphis, home to one of the biggest stars of all time - Elvis.
Memphis, located in the southwestern corner of Tennessee, sits atop a bluff just across the river from Arkansas and a few miles away from the Mississippi state line. Like most places in the Mississippi Delta, it's brimming with traditional Southern charm and hospitality. Walk into any Memphis attraction (there are many!) and you’ll be greeted as though you were family.
Memphis is where blues music grew up, where rock ‘n’ roll was born and where important strides were made in the struggle for civil rights. This living history hits visitors right away during a stroll through Graceland, Elvis Presley’s final home, or on a visit to the National Civil Rights Museum, located at the site where Martin Luther King Jr. lost his life. The one-of-a-kind attractions and landmarks that give character and identity to the Bluff City now mingle with new residential and commercial developments, and restored historic buildings.
The Peabody, a famous five-star hotel in Memphis, is home to a regal brigade of ducks who spend their days basking in the ritzy hotel lobby fountain. Crowds gather daily at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. to watch the critters on their ceremonious march from their penthouse home to the fountain (and vice-versa in the early evenings).
You can get a Memphis Music Pass from £120pp
Immerse yourself in rock n' roll history with the brilliant Memphis Music Attraction Pass which offers admission to four legendary Memphis attractions.
Take a tour of Sun Studios - the birthplace of rock 'n' roll, where Elvis, Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis recorded and made a name for themselves.
Learn about Soulsville USA and the city's influence on soul music at Stax Museum of American Soul Music and Rock 'n Soul Museum.
Immerse yourself in the life and times of Elvis Presley at Graceland and learn how rock and soul was born in Memphis at the Rock n Roll at Rock 'n Soul Museum.
Featured Attractions Include:
- Graceland: the home of Elvis Presley - After a recent enhancement and expansion, Elvis Presley’s Graceland boasts an all-new visitor entertainment complex will offer a fully-immersive Elvis and pop culture experience to celebrate the most popular entertainer of all time. While the Graceland Mansion Tour will continue to present the personal side of Elvis’ life, across the street at the all-new entertainment complex, guests will enjoy interactive and immersive pop culture experiences that connect to Elvis’ personal interests and activities throughout his life, including his passion for automobiles and new technology. Your ticket includes admission to Presley Motors Automobile Museum, Elvis: The Entertainer Career Showcase Museum, Elvis Discovery Exhibits and Elvis’ Custom Jets.
- Rock n Soul Museum - This fascinating museum examines the history of Memphis music and its impact on cultural change. Learn why rock'n'roll begin in Memphis, why soul music begin in Memphis and why blues music, which began in the neighbouring countryside, came to Memphis & Beale Street before going to the world. You will see stage costumes, instruments, recording equipment, rare film footage, photographs, and vintage jukeboxes from the 20s 70s and you can listen to the recordings on your personal audio guide.
- Stax Museum of American Soul Music - Located in Soulsville, USA, at the site of the original Stax Records, this multimedia museum celebrates the birth and life of soul music and its influence. The museum houses the definitive archives and more than 2,000 artefacts of the musical influences and international legacy of the legendary soul music label and its artists, and includes a reconstructed gospel church, records, Tina Turners clothing, Isaac Hayess Cadillac and more.
- Sun Studio - Today the studio, where Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, B.B. King, Rufus Thomas, Howlin' Wolf, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, and many others launched their careers, is open to the public for tours daily while still operating as a studio by night. Sun Studio Cafe is located next door to the studio. Above the cafe is a new museum/gallery featuring hundreds of rare recordings, memorabilia, photographs, and vintage recording equipment.
Graceland VIP Upgrade
Select the VIP Pass to upgrade your Graceland Experience element from the Elvis Experience Ticket to the Graceland VIP Entourage Tour. This upgraded experience includes all the elements of the Elvis Experience Tour Ticket listed above but adds a self-guided tour of an Exclusive VIP Exhibit (Currently featured is Elvis in Hollywood: From Teen Idol to Leading Man). Your VIP ticket also includes Front of Line Mansion access, Special All Day Ticket and Keepsake Backstage Pass.
Experience Includes
- Graceland Elvis Experience Admission (Airplanes are included)
- Rock n Soul Museum Admission
- Sun Studio Tour
- Stax Museum of American Soul Music Admission.
Today you will make your way on to New Orleans and Louisiana with an overnight stay in Natchez Mississippi.
Enroute you can take a diversion via Tupelo to visit Elvis Presley's birthplace and museum. The route through Tupelo is known as the Natchez Trace Parkway which was originally a series of pathways for Native Americans, hunters and traders, the Old Trace was simply the best way for people to make their way from one place to another. Nowadays this scenic route has many stopping off points of interest.
Today you will be driving into Louisiana so why not go via Baton Rouge? Explore Magnolia Mound’s preserved buildings, including the house itself (now a museum), an open-hearth kitchen and a slave quarters. LSU’s Rural Life Museum reflects 18th and 19th century life, offering the largest collection of Louisiana Vernacular architecture, many period artifacts and several structures. At River Road African American Museum, discover 300 years of African American heritage and history through several exhibits that show off the museum’s extensive collection of items.
You can leave your car on entrance into New Orleans or opt to keep it.
A music lovers’ paradise that’s home to Jazz, Zydeco, R&B and Soul, New Orleans has produced its share of musical giants, from greats like Louis Armstrong to contemporary acts like Trombone Shorty, Branford Marsalis and Harry Connick Jr. Explore Frenchmen Street in the Faubourg Marigny, an original Creole neighborhood that’s a mecca for nightclubs, bars and restaurants. Live music occurs every day and night of the year, and many venues feature award-winning performers throughout the week. A must-stop is Preservation Hall, dedicated to preserving the New Orleans Jazz tradition.
Also worthy of your time are visits to the National World War II Museum and the Presbytere and Cabildo state museums. Learn about voodoo traditions at shops and museums dotting the city. Learn about the history of Mardi Gras and see how its famous parade floats are made at Mardi Gras World. See something you like while exploring? Buy it. Remember to show your passport and ask for a tax refund voucher; redeem it at Louis Armstrong International Airport, The Outlet Collection at Riverwalk or Macy’s in Jefferson Parish.
This evening, why not take a Steamboat cruise including dinner - from £75 pp
After boarding the historic vessel to the delightful tunes of the Steam Calliope, this relaxing two-hour cruise will take you from the heart of the French Quarter back to when cotton was king and life was slow and graceful as the current on the Mississippi.
Experience the sights and sounds of river life that enchanted characters of history and literature - like Mark Twain's Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer - and see the bustling activity of America's second largest port!
As well as the scenery, there is live narration and Duke Heitger's Steamboat Stompers Jazz Trip entertaining you along the way so all you have to do is sit back and soak up the unique atmosphere.
Dinner Menu
- Natchez Tossed Salad - Soup du Jour - Blackened Fish Lafitte - Pork Loin - Steamboat Round - Rotini Pasta Primavera - Red Beans and Rice - Sweet and Golden Brabant Potatoes - Creole Creamed Spinach - Green Beans Almondine - White Chocolate Bread Pudding - Chef's Specialty Dessert - La Louisiane Dinner Rolls - Coffee and Iced Tea
Experience Includes
- Steamboat Natchez Cruise on the Mississippi River
- Great views of New Orleans from the decks or climate-controlled comfort of the Steamer Natchez
- Live narration and jazz band
- Indoor and outdoor seating
- Afternoon or evening cruise
- Option to include lunch buffet
Experience Excludes
- Hotel pick-up and drop off
- Gratuities
- Alcoholic Beverages - these can be purchased on board
Departs
Daily, year round.
Departure location
Toulouse St, New Orleans near the French Quarter.
Head to the airport for your overnight flight home.
