Georgia History Trail to Nashville

Welcome to Georgia! Your adventure begins in Atlanta with a 6 pm welcome meeting at your hotel, where you’ll meet your local leader and get an overview of the next couple of days. If you arrive early, maybe explore Atlanta on foot – this city is known for its thriving hip-hop scene and prominent role in Civil Rights history, so there’s lots to explore.

After breakfast this morning, it’s time to immerse yourself in 33 acres of historic houses, gardens and award-winning exhibitions with a specialist guide at the Atlanta History Center. Here, you’ll explore the past like never before. The center is part of a global network of historic sites and museums that connect past struggles to today’s movements for human rights. Then, you’ll head to the Martin Luther King Jr National Historic Site, where you’ll learn more about where Martin Luther King was born, where he lived and worked, and his legacy as a leader. Tonight, hit up your leader for some good local restaurants for dinner. (B)

Mornin' sunshine! Hit the road bright and early to make the journey to Savannah this morning. In 1946, Lady Astor referred to Savannah as 'a beautiful lady with a dirty face' in reference to the crumbling, faded majesty of the city's 18th and 19th-century mansions. Due to plenty of restoration work, Savannah's face may no longer be dirty, but she's still a city of contradictions with hidden delights. When you arrive, you’ll join an expert guide for a tour of Bonaventure Cemetery, widely regarded as one of the world's most beautiful cemeteries. Take in its Southern gothic glory as you learn more about this famous spot that has inspired everyone from poets to nature lovers and filmmakers. After, you might like to check out Savannah’s antebellum mansions, towering oak trees and colonial buildings on a stroll around town. In the evening, maybe head out on a ghost tour of old Savannah or seek out spirits of a different kind at one of the city’s many lively bars. (B)

Take it easy this morning before meeting up at 11 am for a three-hour walking tour that blends the city’s history with some of its best and most delicious eats. This fascinating food tour visits spots like a not-so-ordinary pub, an award-winning honey store and a traditional British pie shop highlighting dishes consumed by some of Savannah’s earliest settlers. This afternoon is all yours, so make the most of it! (B/L)

Leave Savannah in the rear-view mirror and drive to Charleston. When you arrive, you might like to grab some lunch before joining a Black History walking tour with an expert guide who’s an educator, historian and writer. Discover the ‘lost stories’ of Charleston's rich history as you stroll around town and immerse yourself in its complex past. The afternoon is yours to explore Charleston at your own pace. Perhaps book a food tour to discover more flavors of the South. (B)

Bid farewell to Charleston after breakfast this morning and drive through the Blue Ridge Mountains to the charming town of Asheville. Home to the country’s best breweries and some of North Carolina’s finest barbecue, Asheville also boasts an incredible folk music scene. Arriving in the mid-afternoon, you’ll join your leader for a guided walking tour of the downtown area, packed with galleries and artist studios. After, you may wish to visit the Biltmore House and Gardens, an opulent Gilded Age mansion famous for being America's largest home. Tonight, maybe check out one of the town's boutique brew houses or join your group for an optional dinner. (B)

This morning you’ll take a scenic drive to Nashville – the country music capital. When you arrive, you’ll be introduced to this famous toe-tapping town during an orientation walk with your leader. In the late afternoon, come together again with your group to taste world-famous Tennessee whiskeys and moonshine on a distillery tour, followed by a true-blue Nashville hot chicken dinner. This Tennessee twist on fried chicken originated right here in Nashville during the Great Depression and has been a local favourite ever since. Order it extra spicy for a real kick – don't worry, you can turn down the heat if you're not feeling the burn. (B/D)

Your trip comes to an end this morning after breakfast. If you’d like to stay in Nashville for longer – which is recommended, as there’s so much to do here – just speak to your booking agent. (B)