Historic Southern Coast

Historic Southern Coast

Tours Starts: St. Augustine, Florida

Tours Ends: Charlotte, North Carolina

Day 1

St. Augustine

Today your adventure begins upon arrival in Florida. If you purchased your airline tickets from YMT, you will be welcomed by a representative and transferred to your hotel.

Sebastian Hotel or similar

Day 2

St. Augustine

Start your day bright and early with a morning tour led by a knowledgeable local guide. See the historic district of St. Augustine, then take a short walking tour of St. George Street with a break for shopping and an early lunch on your own. Continue to Matanzas River Bay for an afternoon tour of Castillo de San Marcos, a large Spanish stone fortress built to protect and defend Spain's claims in the New World. At over 300 years old, this National Monument is the oldest structure in St. Augustine. Relax on your own this evening or join us for a late afternoon optional excursion to Ponce de Leon's legendary Fountain of Youth. (B)

Sebastian Hotel or similar

Day 3

St. Augustine to Savannah via Jekyll Island

Your first activity of the day will be a Jekyll Island Trolley tour of the Club Historic District, a cluster of 19th-century mansions on the southernmost of Georgia’s Golden Isles. Enjoy time on Jekyll Island to grab lunch on your own. Arrive in Savannah late this afternoon and join us, for an additional fee, on an optional evening cultural and culinary experience you won't want to miss. Take in the uplifting sounds of Southern gospel music on a Gospel Riverboat Dinner Cruise with traditional southern cuisine. (B)

Tryp by Wyndham Savannah Downtown Historic District or similar

OPTION: SAVANNAH GOSPEL DINNER CRUISE:

Gospel Dinner Cruise on the Savannah Riverboat Cruises with traditional southern cuisine and the inspiring sounds of live Southern Gospel music. $75 p/p. Please add this option at time of booking.

Day 4

Savannah and Tybee Island

Take a morning guided trolley tour of historic Savannah. The oldest section of Georgia’s oldest city, Savannah’s historic district is filled with cobblestoned squares and parks shaded by oak trees draped in Spanish moss. At the center of this picturesque district is the landmark, Gothic-Revival Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist. Continue with a short walking tour of Bonaventure Cemetery, a beautiful resting place with 160 acres of towering oaks, Spanish moss, and historic graves.Continue to Tybee Island for a panoramic tour of this charming barrier island renowned for its miles of pristine beaches.
The Tybee Lighthouse, the oldest and tallest in Georgia, is a guaranteed highlight. Enjoy lunch on your own and a leisurely afternoon and evening. (B)

Tryp by Wyndham Savannah Downtown Historic District or similar

Day 5

Savannah to Charleston w/ Middleton Place

Head up to South Carolina, where you will stop for a tour and included southern lunch at Middleton Place. This National Historic Landmark contains America’s oldest landscaped gardens.
Continue to charming Charleston for a panoramic tour including Rainbow Row, the Battery and White Point Gardens, Hampton Park, and Marion Square. Spend the evening relaxing in Charleston.(B, L)

Cambria Hotel Charleston Riverview or similar

Day 6

Charleston

Start the morning with a short ferry ride to Fort Sumpter, the island fortification where the first shots of the Civil War were fired. Explore the National Historic Park where America’s history changed forever on April 12, 1861, when the South Carolina Militia artillery fired at the American army.
Stop at the City Market area for shopping and lunch on your own, followed by an afternoon guided tour of The Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon. The Old Exchange was completed in 1771 and played a vital part in the American Revolution. President George Washington was a common visitor to this meeting place for local Patriots, which was the site where in 1788 South Carolina leaders debated and approved the U. S. Constitution. Today, the Old Exchange Building is one of only four remaining structures where the nation’s founding document was originally ratified.
The Provost Dungeon’s history is decidedly less auspicious. During the American Revolution, British forces converted the bottom floor of the Exchange into a military prison where American prisoners of war, British soldiers, private citizens, and enslaved people were held. (B)

Cambria Hotel Charleston Riverview or similar

Day 7

Charleston to Charlotte via Columbia

Take a morning panoramic tour of Columbia, the capitol of South Carolina, then break for an early lunch on your own. Continue to Charlotte for a panoramic city tour, then one more stop at the unforgettable NASCAR Hall of Fame. More than just a museum, the NASCAR Hall of Fame is a shrine to the history, heritage and future of NASCAR. It has over 50 interactive experiences, fascinating artifacts, and an impressive collection of retired racecars. These souped up stock cars have been delighting fans since 1948. End your day with an included farewell dinner. (B, D)

Home2 Suites Charlotte Uptown or similar

Day 8

Depart for Home

Depart for home. On certain tour dates, you may choose to combine this tour with our Blue Ridge & Smoky Mountain tour. If you are joining us for our combo tour, you will enjoy a museum pass that includes access to a trio of unique museums: The Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, Mint Museum, and Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts & Culture. (B)

Please note that this is a proposed itinerary; the actual itinerary may vary due to season, special events, or weather. Hotels may differ depending on date. Because our tour arrangements are often made a year or more in advance, YMT Vacations reserves the right to alter the itinerary. Itinerary changes are made to improve your vacation experience, as well as respond to any unforeseen circumstances that mandate alterations. By their nature, all tour vacations involve a certain level of physical activity. While YMT tours have been designed with our guests in mind and are not physically demanding, this tour does include walking and periods of standing during the sightseeing visits. You will also encounter steps and some uneven ground along the way, particularly at older, historical sights. Please ask your Travel Consultant for more information.