Charms of the South: Charleston & Savannah

A popular East Coast harbor since the early 1700s, the colorful city of Charleston welcomes you to the South. As you arrive today, you can make your way to our hotel, conveniently located within walking distance of some of the city's most notable attractions. Check in for the first of three nights and meet the Tour Manager, and then, if time allows, you are free to get to know your new surroundings.

Charleston is beloved for its seaside location and vividly hued historic homes. You might like to walk around and get a glimpse of them for yourself, maybe on Rainbow Row, or head to King Street, Charleston's hub for shopping and entertainment. With no planned dinner, you could get your first taste of Southern comfort food or fresh seafood at one of the city's excellent restaurants. Overnight Charleston.

 Setting out after breakfast at the hotel, our coach takes us into South Carolina's Lowcountry to Boone Hall Plantation, the oldest continually operating plantation in the United States. This property dates to 1681 and is filled with history, including in its gardens, which we explore on a self-guided tour. Flowers in every hue cover the grounds, with the star being the plantation's antique roses - some of which have been growing here for more than 100 years.

We continue to a pavilion overlooking Boone Hall Creek, where we settle in for a Gullah luncheon. The Gullah people came to be from enslaved Africans in the Charleston region. They adapted their language, stories and songs with a mixture of their mother tongue and English to create what is still heard today in the Lowcountry. As we dine on a meal created with seasonal products from the plantation garden, we are swept into this world during a moving performance by a Gullah woman.

Returning to Charleston this afternoon, you can spend the rest of the day and evening as you please. Overnight Charleston.

• Breakfast, Lunch

 A morning of sightseeing lies ahead as we depart our hotel after breakfast, ready to explore Charleston on a coach tour. A step-on guide joins this excursion and offers insider knowledge and stories as we make our way through the cobbled streets. You can look forward to glimpses at Charleston's City Market, Rainbow Row, numerous historic homes and other fascinating places that retell the long and colorful history of this Southern beauty.

Our journey ends at the harbor, where we step aboard the Carolina Belle for a cruise. Our captain escorts us back in time through storytelling and narration as we drift through the harbor and past more than 75 points of interest. A highlight comes as we sail toward Fort Sumter, which we get to see up close.

Upon returning to the harbor, the rest of your day and evening are free to wander amongst the live oaks and palm trees. For a dose of history, you could learn about the Confederacy at the Museum at Market Hall or delve into Charleston's past at the Charleston Museum. Overnight Charleston.

• Breakfast

Yet another of the South's impressive cities beckons today as we depart Charleston after breakfast, bound for the Spanish moss-draped city of Savannah. Founded in 1733, this city brims with old-world grandeur and beautiful architecture, which you can discover later today.

Leaving Charleston, our first stop is at the Charleston Tea Garden. This farm on Wadmalaw Island has a beautiful setting and is hailed as America's oldest tea garden. On arrival, we set out on a narrated trolley tour that passes by acres upon acres of tea plants and pauses at the greenhouse. We also tour the onsite factory and learn about the production of tea before our journey continues to the Lowcountry city of Beaufort, where you are free through lunch in the historic district.

We arrive in Savannah this afternoon and check into our hotel. This city is exceptionally walkable, with restaurants, funky art galleries, historic homes and a bustling waterfront to explore during your free evening in this alluring Deep South destination. Overnight Savannah.

• Breakfast

The morning is yours to continue getting to know the city of Savannah. After a leisurely breakfast at the hotel, you could take your coffee to go and stroll through the squares, or head over to Forsyth Park to enjoy its tree-lined paths. Alternatively, you could head down to East River Street, accessible by the city's original cobblestone stairs, to watch as riverboats and barges pass on the river below.

In the afternoon, we set out on a trolley tour of the city. Live commentary guides the way as we explore the city's elegant neighborhoods and landmark sites. Look upon famous squares, including Chippewa, Lafayette and Calhoun, monuments, water fountains, historic mansions and gorgeous old cathedrals while learning Savannah's rich history. Stay on the trolley for the duration of the tour or hop on and off as you please to get a better look at the sites that interest you.

You can spend the rest of your day sightseeing at leisure, relaxing at the hotel or enjoying Southern cuisine in Savannah's best eateries. Overnight Savannah.

• Breakfast

After breakfast at the hotel, we venture south along the Atlantic coastline to beautiful Jekyll Island. This Golden Isle, located about 95 miles south of Savannah, boasts 10 miles of pristine coastline and an incredible historic district.

We arrive around lunchtime and get our first look at the luxury of this island retreat in the Grand Dining Room of the Jekyll Island Club Resort. We sit down to lunch in these cool, coastal surroundings and then set our sights on the very best the island has to offer as we join a guided trolley tour.

Jekyll Island was originally purchased as a winter retreat for the Southern elite and soon filled with gorgeous homes and buildings. We admire over 30 of them in the 240-acre historic district while our guide drives us through the quiet streets. Lush trees veiled in moss and sparkling water views complement the spectacular surroundings. The tour also includes admission to one of Jekyll's most notable cottages.

Returning to Savannah this evening, you can spend your final night in the South as you please. Overnight Savannah.

• Breakfast, Lunch

 Two distinct cities bound by common threads and rich history, Charleston and Savannah have set a stunning backdrop for this coastal vacation. We explored amongst Charleston's palm trees and colorful homes, visiting Boone Hall Plantation, cruising Charleston's harbor and discovering the Charleston Tea Garden. Traveling south to Savannah, more of the South's timeless allures were revealed on a trolley tour and during a day trip to Jekyll Island.

Having peeled back layers of history one experience at a time on this charming adventure, your vacation comes to a close with breakfast this morning. You are free to check out of the hotel at your leisure and begin your travels home.

• Breakfast