Self-Drive Southern Heritage

Tour Information

14nt Tour Begins & Ends Orlando; 3nts Orlando; 1nt Tallahassee; 1nt Pensacola; 2nts New Orleans; 1nt Vicksburg; 1nt Memphis; 1nt Nashville; 1nt Cherokee/Asheville; 1nt Charleston; 1nt Savannah; 1nt St Augustine

Day 1

Fly from the UK - Orlando
Arrive Orlando and pick up the car at the airport before proceeding to your hotel.
Overnight: Days Inn Seaworld

Day 2

Orlando
This morning at 08:00 hours you will be met at your hotel by your Tour representative and provided with complete documentation which includes driving instructions and a day-by-day itinerary. Enjoy a full day exploring the entertainment complex of Walt Disney World Resort. Visit the Magic Kingdom Park, the futuristic Epcot, the Disney-MGM Studios, or experience Disney’s wildest adventure yet: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park.
Overnight: Days Inn Seaworld

Day 3

Orlando – Ocala – Silver Springs – Tallahassee (283 Miles)
Today, visit the small country town of Ocala which still retains much of its provincial atmosphere. In Silver Springs, home of the world’s largest array of crystal clear springs, view these bubbling waters from a glass-bottomed boat, before heading west to Tallahassee, Florida’s tranquil capital with the charm of the Old South.
Overnight: Best Western Pride Inn & Suites

Day 4

Tallahassee – Apalachicola – Emerald Coast – Pensacola (205 Miles)
Drive along Florida’s “secret” Gulf Coast and discover well-kept wildlife preserves, elegant southern homes, and the colorful fleet of the fishing and oystering village of Apalachicola. Soak in the beauty of the Emerald Coast, with its string of postcard-perfect beaches. Arrive in Pensacola and stroll about the Seville Historic District.
Overnight: Comfort Inn

Day 5

Pensacola – Mobile – New Orleans (144 Miles)
This morning, reach the Grand Dame of Alabama’s cities, Mobile, founded nearly 300 years ago by the French. The city remains an elegant combination of European culture and southern charm. Then continue to New Orleans, the city on the bayou. Discover the unique atmosphere of this city tonight, when spicy Cajun cuisine thrills the senses, and the sounds of Blues and Jazz bring the French Quarter to life.
Overnight: Holiday Inn Superdome

Day 6

New Orleans
Enjoy a full day at leisure to discover The Big Easy, representing more than 250 years of French, Spanish, and American cultures.
Overnight: Holiday Inn Superdome

Day 7

New Orleans – Natchez – Vicksburg (250 Miles)
Today drive along the Mississippi River through Baton Rouge to the great state of Mississippi, land of once great plantations and mosscovered magnolia trees. Natchez is home to over 500 well preserved antebellum homes.
Overnight: Quality Inn & Suites

Day 8

Vicksburg – Memphis (254 Miles)
Depart Vicksburg for the Home of the Blues, Memphis. This city combines the charm of the Old South with the exciting pace of a modern metropolis. An optional tour is available of Downtown Memphis with its famous Beale Street. Visit Elvis Presley’s palatial home, Graceland.
Overnight: La Quinta Inn & Suites Memphis Primacy Parkway

Day 9

Memphis – Nashville (210 Miles)
Leave Memphis and reach the capital of country music, Nashville. Among the attractions in Music City U.S.A. are the Country Music Hall of Fame, The Grand Ole Opry, Opryland U.S.A., and world-famous Printer’s Alley.
Overnight: Guesthouse Inn & Suites

Day 10

Nashville – Great Smoky Mountains National Park – Cherokee/Asheville (300 Miles)
Today drive east to Knoxville and on to the Great Smoky Mountains, the most visited national park in the country. The wondrous Smokies get their name from the blue haze that hovers over mossy mountain peaks. Visit the Cherokee Indian Reservation before arriving at your hotel.
Overnight: Holiday Inn Cherokee

Day 11

Cherokee/Asheville – Columbia – Charleston (268 Miles)
Leave the gracious, slow-paced southern city of Asheville and continue to Columbia, considered one of the country’s most beautiful state capitals. Arrive in historic Charleston in the afternoon. Charleston is a city built for walking. Take a leisurely stroll through the historic district with its unsurpassed antebellum architecture.
Overnight: Holiday Inn Riverview

Day 12

Charleston – Savannah (104 Miles)
After leaving Historic Charleston, a popular place to visit is the Magnolia Plantation and Gardens. Then drive south to the port city of Savannah, where the city’s 24 green shade squares form the
foundation for one of the largest urban historic landmark districts in the country.
Overnight: La Quinta Inn Savannah Southside

Day 13

Savannah – Jacksonville – St. Augustine (182 Miles)
Continue south and return to the Sunshine State of Florida. In Jacksonville, stroll along the Riverwalk on the South Bank of the St. Johns River before heading south to the oldest town in North America, St. Augustine. Narrow lanes, houses built in the Spanish style with their typical inner courtyards, balconies, and wrought-iron screens add to the Spanish ambiance of St. Augustine.
Overnight: Quality Inn Historic District

Day 14

St. Augustine – Daytona Beach – Kennedy Space Center – Orlando (168 Miles)
Depart early for Daytona Beach, a meeting place for motor-racing fans from all over the world, and on to Cape Canaveral. Visit the Kennedy Space Center, home of America’s space program, before returning to Orlando.
Overnight: Days Inn Seaworld

Day 15

Orlando Departure
Return the car at the airport before the departure flight.

Day 16

Arrival back to the UK

What's Included

• Return transatlantic schedule flights
• Economy size car rental
• Hotel accommodation as specified, or of a similar standard
• Detailed briefing by Tour Representative as specified in itinerary
• Welcome kit with comprehensive maps and day-to-day itinerary