Savannah is truly a unique city, famous for its "pocket parks" and squares laid out by founder, General James Oglethorpe in the early 1700s. Charleston lies on a peninsula between two rivers and fronts the Charleston Harbor and has more home on the Nation Registry than any other city and is home to Fort Sumter, location of the first conflict of the Civil War. These two cities and the other locations we will visit during this trip represent the quintessential idea of "southern-ness." We will see beautiful homes and plantations, visit the summer cottages of the rich aristocrats of the late 1800's and enjoy wonderful southern cuisine. We love visiting this area and know you will too!
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Itinerary
B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
Monday, March 19 – Arrive Savannah; Welcome Dinner (D)
The tour begins at the hotel at 5:30pm. The tour leader will have suggestions as to how to make the most of your time if you arrive earlier in the day. We will meet as a group in the lobby of the hotel for introductions and then go out for our welcome dinner. 3 nights - The Marshall House.
Tueday, March 20 – Morning City Tour; Free Time (B)
Today experience Savannah's rich history via a city tour that will help you understand the significance of the city's architectural layout, introduce you to the city's famous (and infamous) characters, and pass by beautiful homes dating back to before the Civil War.
In the afternoon, you will have free time to explore Savannah's historic waterfront area with plenty of suggestions from your tour leader. River Street runs along the waterfront and has some of the city’s best shopping and dining. You might want to view the harbor and port by taking a riverboat cruise.
Wednesday, March 21 – Day Trip to Jekyll Island (B,L)
Today we set off for Jekyll Island where we will see many lovely summer homes that have been restored to their original beauty. These summer cottages were the vacation homes of many early aristocrats. While on Jekyll Island we'll have lunch at the lovely Jekyll Island Hunt Club. What a perfect way to spend the day! We'll return to Savannah late in the day.
Thursday, March 22 – Morning Departure via Beaufort, SC to Charleston (B,D)
We will leave the city of Savannah today and stop on our way to Charleston in the lovely town of Beaufort, South Carolina. Beaufort delights its visitors with its breathtakingly beautiful natural vistas and impressive architecture from the Colonial and Antebellum Eras. Beaufort remains the Queen of the South Carolina Sea Islands in its charm, natural beauty, fascinating history, and rich and diverse cultural heritage. Enjoy a walking tour of Beaufort and time for lunch before continuing on to Charleston and check into the hotel. We will have dinner together this evening. 3 Nights - Kings Courtyard.
Friday, March 23 – Morning City Tour; Magnolia Plantation and Grounds Tour; Free Time (B)
Our day will begin with a city tour of Charleston to get acquainted with our surroundings and to learn what the city has to offer, followed by a visit to Magnolia Plantation to view the thousands of beautiful flowers and plants in its famous gardens. Founded in 1676 by the Drayton family, Magnolia Plantation has survived the centuries and witnessed the history of our nation unfold before it from the American Revolution through the Civil War and beyond. We will also visit Middleton Plantation to see how very different two neighboring plantations can be.
Upon returning back to Charleston, the remainder of the afternoon and evening are yours to enjoy as you wish with plenty of suggestions from your tour leader.
Saturday, March 24– Day to Explore Charleston; Farewell Dinner (B,D)
This day is yours to explore the charm of Charleston. Your tour leader will have all sorts of suggestions of things to do. Some ideas for the day include visiting the old city market and watch the women weave baskets, take a tour of the harbor by boat and visit Fort Sumter where the first shots of the Civil War were exchanged, or tour through homes and gardens in Charleston’s historic district. This evening we will re-gather as a group and have dinner together to reminisce about our favorite things on the trip.
Sunday, March 25 – Return Home from Charleston (B)
Make your return flight at your convenience. The WTT tour leader will help coordinate ride-shares to the airport.