The Carolinas

Spring is in the air! What a perfect time of year to enjoy stunning beauty, rich history, and a variety of amazing attractions along the way to our destination in the Carolinas. Our travels take us through the beautiful rolling hills of Wisconsin. A noon lunch is included along the way. By late afternoon, our coach arrives in Schaumburg, a suburb of Chicago. (L)

This morning we’re well-rested with full tummies after enjoying a hearty breakfast. We’ll leave the hustle and bustle of Chicago as we skirt our way around the city. Our coach heads south through Indiana toward Nashville, Tennessee. They say that Nashville is the “Buckle on the Bible Belt” and is recognized for printing religious material for churches. We know it best as Music City USA, where young hopefuls come to record their music. Our evening accommodations will be at the Drury Inn, right in the heart of downtown Nashville! (B)

Have your cameras ready to capture the stunning views of Tennessee today! We’ll crisscross the countryside through the Cumberland Plateau and the Appalachian Valley of East Tennessee on our way to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. We’ll enjoy some of the most breathtaking and scenic views of the misty-covered Appalachian Mountains. This sprawling landscape encompasses lush forests and beautiful wildflowers that bloom all year long. We’ll take a short break for an included noon lunch. At Newfound Gap, you can stand on the state line with one foot in Tennessee and the other in North Carolina. After a leisurely drive through the park, we stop at a scenic overlook for a photo opportunity. This evening, we arrive at our hotel in Asheville, North Carolina. (B) (L)

Asheville is nestled between the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains and the Great Smoky Mountains. You’ll spend the morning at the luxurious home of George & Edith Vanderbilt, “Biltmore Estates,” a marvel of elegance and charm that is as magnificent today as it was more than a century ago. The name Biltmore combines the place of family origin in the Netherlands (De Bilt) and the Anglo-Saxon word (moor) meaning open, rolling land. This grand estate and magnificent gardens were built by George Vanderbilt between the years 1889-1895, known as one of the most authentic and prominent examples of the Gilded Age, an era of rapid economic growth in the US. This magnificent French Renaissance Chateau has 250 rooms, the largest undertaking in residential architecture, filled with treasures from all over the world. A lunch box meal is included on our way to Savannah, Georgia, for our overnight stay. (B) (L)

 Savannah, Georgia, sits on a high bluff overlooking the Savannah River and has one of the largest restored National Historic Landmark Districts in the nation. An early morning guided tour through this beautifully preserved district presents us with over 270 years of rich history. After seeing lovely homes and highlights of the city, we board the Savannah Riverboat. The Savannah port is the 4th busiest shipping port in America, providing access to the Atlantic Ocean where so much history and industry have taken place. A delicious southern-style luncheon buffet is served while the paddlewheel pushes us past the historic waterfront. Late this afternoon, you may unpack for a two-night stay at the Hampton Inn in Mount Pleasant, SC, a lovely suburb of Charleston, SC. (B) (L)

Charleston, SC, is bursting with southern charm and hospitality! You’ll feel as though the city has been suspended in time with its cobblestone streets, horse-drawn carriages, and the pastel antebellum mansions. During our city tour, we will hear about Charleston’s Historic District and the historic moment on April 12, 1861, when a shell exploded above Fort Sumter, marking the first shots fired in the American Civil War. After getting a grand view of the stately mansions overlooking the harbor, a delicious lunch experience is waiting for you at the Charleston Crab House. This afternoon we will visit historic Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens. We will learn what life was like for people who lived and worked at this well-known plantation. They produced rice, cotton, pecans, bricks, and several kinds of fruits and vegetables throughout their rich history. This plantation can trace its history back to 1681 when a land grant was given to Major John Boone. Our coach leads us down the “Avenue of Oaks,” one of the most spectacular entrances anywhere in the world! This picturesque driveway is lined with Southern Live Oak trees draped with Spanish moss. We’ll enjoy the afternoon touring the historic mansion. (This antebellum-style home was rebuilt after a fire burned the original.) There will be plenty of time to take a stroll through the beautiful formal gardens. The gardens highlight a collection of antique roses and a striking butterfly pavilion. You’ll gain amazing insight into how life must have been for the slaves as you tour the original slave quarters and worship cabin before returning to our hotel for the evening. (B) (L)

Our visit to Murrells Inlet, SC, is a nature lover’s paradise. This quaint, picturesque town is full of history, beauty, and colorful characters. Our guided tour of Brookgreen Gardens includes a melding of art, nature, and history. It was founded in 1931 by Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington. You’ll be in awe as we meander through the beautifully manicured botanical gardens and view some of the most impressive figurative sculptures, all created by renowned American artists. We’ll stroll along “Live Oak Allee” to enjoy the canopy of 200+ year old Spanish moss-draped Southern Live Oak trees and an incredible array of blooming flowers and plants. This afternoon, we’ll enjoy one of the most unique and popular shopping, dining & entertainment destinations you’ll ever experience at Barefoot Landing in North Myrtle Beach, SC. Immerse yourself in the atmosphere of this quaint southern shopping village. You’ll find an impressive selection of restaurants and eateries from ice cream and candy, to pasta, pizza, seafood, and BBQ. Relax, unwind, and browse to your heart’s content as you discover a wealth of unexpected treasures in their shops and boutiques. Our accommodation this evening is in Morehead City, NC. (B)

Today’s adventure begins on the Cedar Island Ferry as it takes us and our motorcoach across the Pamlico Sound to the delightful village of Ocracoke, NC. (We enjoy an included noon picnic lunch while traveling on the ferry.) A local guide joins our group as we travel along the “necklace of barrier islands” that make up the Outer Banks. You’ll hear stories about the early explorers, pirates, shipwrecks, and modern-day rumors. A must-see part of our tour today are the lighthouses. The black and white, candy-striped Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is not only one of the most famous and recognizable lighthouses but also the world’s tallest brick lighthouse at a staggering 208 feet tall. Bodie Lighthouse is tucked away between tall pine trees and freshwater marshland and is an important part of local history. The rugged sand dunes and beaches also add to this picturesque landscape. We’ll enjoy southern hospitality at an included dinner prior to checking into our hotel (for two nights) on the breathtaking sandy beaches of the Atlantic Ocean. (B) (L) (D)

Today, we’ll refresh our recollection of early American history. The first English Colonists came to North America in 1584 and settled on Roanoke Island. What happened to 115 colonists is over a 400-year-old mystery! We start our day at the Elizabethan Gardens, where our guide will lead us on a leisurely stroll down the shaded paths past statues, floral gardens, and fountains, giving you bits and pieces of information about “The Lost Colony.” Next, we visit Fort Raleigh Historic Site, the last known place the ‘Lost Colony’ was seen. Noon lunch is in the quaint waterfront village of Manteo, NC, after which you’ll have time to shop and stroll past the charming shops and boutiques along the sound. Whether you’re an aviation enthusiast or a history lover, visiting the exact location where Orville and Wilbur Wright flew the first plane near Kill Devil Hill near Kitty Hawk, NC, is a must-see attraction! On December 17, 1903, at 10:35 AM, the first flight took off, lasting only 12 seconds. There were four flights that day, and the fourth flight flew 852 feet in 59 seconds. Later, the plane was caught by a gust of wind, rolled over, and damaged beyond repair, but the era of flight was born! The brothers would be amazed to see how that day led America into the aviation era. The evening is free to sit on your balcony and enjoy the waves of the Atlantic Ocean or stroll along the sand beach collecting shells and maybe even dip your toes in the water. (B)

We bid a fond farewell to the sandy beaches and cool blue waves of the Atlantic Ocean. This morning, our travels will take us to a local nature area enroute. We cross over the Croatan Sound and travel into the mainland, stopping briefly for an included noon lunch. By early afternoon, we arrive in North Carolina’s capital city of Raleigh. Our afternoon visit to the North Carolina Museum of History includes a variety of exhibits on the state’s diverse history, folk life, and struggles during the Civil War. By early evening, we’ll arrive at our accommodations in Greensboro, NC. (B) (L)

Our coach turns west as we travel through North Carolina and into Tennessee. Along our route, we’ll drive along the rugged ridges and hill country of the Appalachian Mountains and into the Daniel Boone National Forest. By late afternoon, we arrive in Berea, KY. The Kentucky Artisan Center is known for its local arts and crafts. You’ll have a chance to shop for unique souvenirs created by Kentucky artists. They sell both modern and traditional items created by using fabric, wood, metal, glass, and clay. Shops also feature quilts, books, music, paintings, baskets, foods, soaps, and lotions. Our accommodations tonight are at the Historic Boone Hotel and Tavern. The hotel itself is an attraction, built in 1909, of pure southern elegance. A traditional “Kentucky Style” Dinner Show is included at the Bell Restaurant. (B) (D)

Our tummies are full, and the luggage is in place under the coach as we depart the unique artisan community of Berea. Sit back and relax as we travel past pristine horse farms, tobacco sheds, and the rolling hills of Northern Kentucky. We’ll make our usual stops along the way and will have an included lunch. This evening, we are back where we started, arriving in the Chicago area at our accommodations in Schaumburg, IL. (B) (L)

It’s the final day on our Springtime in the Carolinas tour. Our route back to Kerkhoven takes us through Wisconsin’s beautiful countryside. We’ll take a break to buy some good ole’ Wisconsin cheese at The Mousehouse Cheesehaus. Our noon meal is included along the way. We hope you’ve enjoyed your springtime vacation in the Carolina’s recalling all of the wonderful sights you’ve seen, cherished memories, and new friendships you have formed. (B) (L)