Beaufort, Savannah & Charleston 25

Day 1

Welcome Aboard! Travel in comfort aboard our deluxe motor coach towards "The Palmetto State," South Carolina. Our first destination is the Ava Gardner Museum located in Smithfield, North Carolina. A self-guided tour of the museum walks you through the remarkable life, loves, and legacy of one of Hollywood's legendary actresses as told to you by some of her close friends and family. View an extensive collection of Ava Gardner memorabilia that includes costumes, jewelry, movie posters and awards that represent Ava's 50-year career as a leading Hollywood actress. Also, see a short biographical film of the actress featuring information about her personal and professional life. Before checking into our hotel in Florence, South Carolina for the night, we are treated to a delicious dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 2

After breakfast we travel south along the coast through South Carolina's Low Country to the charming town of Beaufort, South Carolina, the "Queen of the Carolina Sea Islands". Beaufort is South Carolina's second oldest city. Upon our arrival, we meet our driver/guide and climb aboard the Sea Island Carriage Company for a narrated horse-drawn carriage tour. Let the clippity-clop of the horses take you back to a simpler time as you tour historic Beaufort. Learn about Antebellum and Victorian architecture, as well as local Hollywood movie sites, including "The Big Chill," "Forrest Gump," "The Great Santini," and "The Prince of Tides." Our accommodations for the next three nights are at the Best Western Plus Sea Island Inn. The Inn is in the heart of the historic district with amazing views of the Beaufort River and Antebellum Homes. Conveniently located, the Inn is just a short walking distance from attractions, entertainment, casual and gourmet dining, local stores, shops, art galleries, Beaufort's waterfront park, the downtown marina, and 18th-century homes. Tonight, a delicious buffet dinner is served at the Inn.

Day 3

After breakfast we depart for Savannah, Georgia. Upon our arrival, we will visit the Savannah History Museum. Enjoy a self-guided tour of the museum walks you through Savannah's history from 1733 to the present day, and features everything from an interactive component about Native American cultures to a 1902 Crestmobile, a car that pre-dates the Ford Model A. Learn about the Revolutionary War in Savannah, see Johnny Mercer's Oscar and Grammy awards and Forrest Gump's Bench, historic fashions from bygone days and much more! Next, we meet our driver/guide and climb aboard the Old Savannah Trolley for a tour of the city. The trolley tour highlights the best of Savannah, from moss-draped oaks, stately mansions, beautiful squares, its expansive riverfront, and over 270 years of history - all from the comfort of your nostalgic trolley seat. Your friendly conductor will entertain you with a fascinating and fun mixture of historical facts, humorous stories, and trivia. After our tour, we join the captain and crew of the "Savannah River Queen," an authentic paddlewheel riverboat for a delightful lunch cruise down the Savannah River. Hear our Captain's intriguing tales and historical facts about Savannah's modern port and the ships that visit from all over the world. Take advantage of the great photo opportunities of Savannah's historical riverfront and skyline. Following our cruise, enjoy some leisure time strolling along the cobblestone-paved Factors Walk and River Street, where old cotton warehouses have been converted into trendy shops, taverns, and restaurants. Later, after returning to our Inn in Beaufort, enjoy dinner on your own at one of Beaufort's well-known restaurants.

Day 4

After breakfast we meet our step-on guide, and travel back in time to explore the Gullah and Geechee Heritage of South Carolina's Sea Islands. On this tour we will visit several areas of Beaufort County and discover its unique history and culture. The Gullah Geechee people are the descendants of West and Central Africans who were enslaved and brought to the lower Atlantic states to work on the coastal rice, Sea Island cotton and indigo plantations. Because their enslavement was on isolated coastal plantations, sea and barrier islands, the Gullah Geechee people were able to retain many of their Indigenous African traditions. The traditions are reflected in their eating habits and culinary practices, arts and crafts, and spiritual traditions. Also, they created a new language, Gullah, a creole language spoken nowhere else in the world. On this tour, get ready to soak up some history and take in the sights: Discover Lady's Island, St. Helena, Hunting Island and more. See the site of one of the country's first schools for freed slaves - a local treasure and National Historic Landmark. Marvel at the ruins of island churches and learn the stories and songs that are part of their rich history. We conclude our tour with a visit to a historic plantation house. Upon returning to the Inn, you are free to design the rest of your day and do as you wish! Experience the attractions, entertainment, restaurants, local stores, shops, art galleries, Beaufort's waterfront park, the downtown marina, and 18th-century homes all conveniently located within walking distance of the Inn. Tonight, enjoy dinner on your own at a restaurant conveniently located within walking distance of the Inn.

Day 5

After breakfast we depart for Wadmalaw Island, South Carolina. Upon our arrival, we will visit the Charleston Tea Plantation. The sandy soils, sub-tropical climate and average rainfall of 52 inches per year found on Wadmalaw Island possesses idyllic conditions for the Camellia Sinensis tea plant. That is where you will find Bigelow Tea's Charleston Tea Plantation, America's largest working tea garden. This plant is currently used to produce both black and green teas and exists in over 320 varieties on the 127-acre grounds of the Charleston Tea Garden. Enjoy a tour of the factory, followed by a narrated trolley ride through the plantation fields, and a stop at the state-of-the-art greenhouse. Lastly, visit the Gift Shop, home of a wide variety of tea-related gifts. A box lunch is included at the Tea Garden. We depart for Charleston, South Carolina next. First, we will visit the Old City Market. One of the nation's oldest public markets established in the 1790s, the Old City Market stretches for four city blocks, and features an eclectic mix of three hundred plus vendors, selling everything from local foods to exceptional regional artisan crafts. Visitors are guaranteed to find that there is something amazing to see, do, taste, and take home as a souvenir at the Charleston City Market! Next, we meet our step-on guide for a tour of historic Charleston. Points of interest on our tour will include the old historic city of Charleston, the famous Battery Waterfront district, and a drive through the Citadel - The Military College of South Carolina. Following our tour, we depart for dinner at Clark's Restaurant in Santee, South Carolina before checking into our hotel in Florence, South Carolina for the night.

Day 6

After breakfast we depart for home taking with us fond memories of Beaufort's Antebellum and Victorian architecture, the rich and amazing history of Savannah and Charleston's southern hospitality!

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D =Dinner