Georgia on My Mind

Day 1 – Welcome to Atlanta! (Saturday, March 21)

Optional transfers from our departure points will have us at LAX this morning for a scheduled nonstop flight arriving in Atlanta, Georgia this afternoon. Those guests making their own flight arrangements can request the group’s flight schedule (subject to change) to coordinate a flight arrival time that would allow them to be included on the complimentary transfer to the hotel. In Atlanta, we’ll board our deluxe motorcoach and travel to downtown Atlanta to begin a five-night stay at an upscale, all-suites hotel adjacent to Centennial Olympic Park. Enjoy the balance of the evening at leisure with dinner on your own and a complimentary, nightly “happy hour” in the hotel lobby.

Day 2 – Macon (Sunday, March 22)

Following an included made-to-order breakfast at the hotel, we’ll travel south to Macon, Georgia – known as “The Heart of Georgia,” it features a rich history, incredible architecture, a soulful musical heritage, and an unforgettable Southern charm. Also known as the “Cherry Blossom Capital of the World,” Macon has more than 300,000 Yoshino Cherry Trees that are typically in bloom this time of year. We’ll be joined by a local guide for a journey through the heart of the Old South including the iconic legacy of musicians like Little Richard, Otis Redding and Allman Brothers Band. After time at leisure in historic downtown Macon, we’ll tour the Hay House – the 18,000-square-foot Italian Renaissance Revival mansion known as the “Palace of the South.” Declared a National Historic Landmark in 1974, this beautifully preserved antebellum home was considered the most advanced antebellum building in America for its style, craftsmanship and technological innovations. Back in Atlanta we’ll enjoy an included dinner at a locals’ barbecue favorite. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 3 – Atlanta (Monday, March 23)

This morning we’ll be joined by a local guide for a driving tour of Atlanta including downtown, midtown and Buckhead. We’ll visit the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum – the award-winning museum that features interactive displays and fascinating exhibits about the peanut farmer from Plains, Georgia. After time for lunch on your own at the Ponce City Market, we’ll continue to Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site and visit the King Birth Home, Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church and Dr. King’s Tomb at The King Center. This evening, enjoy an included dinner at “Atlanta’s Dining Room,” the legendary Mary Mac’s Tea Room. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 4 – Atlanta (Tuesday, March 24)

A local guide will join us this morning as we visit the Atlanta History Center, located on 33 beautiful acres in Atlanta’s historic Buckhead neighborhood. Tour the Swan House, one of the city’s most iconic landmarks and offers a glimpse into the lifestyle of Atlanta’s elite during the 1920s and 30s. See Cyclorama: The Big Picture, featuring the fully restored cyclorama painting, The Battle of Atlanta. At the centerpiece of this new multi-media experience is a 132-year-old hand-painted oil painting that stands 49 feet tall, is longer than a football field and weighs 10,000 pounds. We’ll enjoy an included lunch at the Swan Coach House – housed in the original carriage house and garage of the Swan House, this charming restaurant has served delicious Southern-inspired cooking since 1967. This afternoon we’ll travel to Marietta and visit the Gone with the Wind Museum, featuring a vast collection of memorabilia, props, and costumes related to the book and movie. See historic artifacts related to the book’s author, Margaret Mitchell, original movie props and one-of-a-kind pieces from the film set along with original costume pieces from the film, including one of the iconic mourning bonnets worn by Vivien Leigh as Scarlett O’Hara and Rhett Butler’s jacket. We’ll return to the hotel with the balance of the evening at leisure. (Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 5 – Warm Springs, Callaway Gardens (Wednesday, March 25)

This morning we’ll travel south to Warm Springs, Georgia, steeped in traditional southern charm and hospitality. Franklin Delano Roosevelt was so enchanted with Warm Springs, he built the only home he ever owned here – a modest, six-room cottage that served as a relaxing, comfortable haven for him during his regular visits to Warm Springs. We’ll visit Roosevelt’s Little White House to see where he relaxed and socialized, where he developed his New Deal policies and where he died on April 12, 1945. We’ll tour the house which remains as it did the day he died, along with the Memorial Museum, Historic Pools Museum, Memorial Fountain, Guest and Servant’s Quarters and see Roosevelt’s 1938 Ford convertible with hand controls. Following time at leisure for lunch on your own along Main Street in downtown Warm Springs, we’ll travel into the Southern foothills of the Appalachians. Enjoy a docent-led tour of Callaway Gardens, featuring astonishing azaleas, Japanese magnolia and daffodils amongst sprawling woodland gardens. Enjoy time at leisure to explore the gardens and the butterfly center, where more than 1,000 butterflies flutter freely in one of North America’s largest tropical butterfly conservatories. We return to Atlanta for an included farewell dinner at a locals’ favorite. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 6 – Atlanta, Journey Home (Thursday, March 26)

Enjoy the morning at leisure to explore Centennial Olympic Park and a variety of museums and attractions within walking distance of the hotel (admission additional) including the Georgia Aquarium, College Football Hall of Fame, the National Center for Civil and Human Rights and the World of Coca-Cola. This afternoon we’ll visit Stone Mountain Park where the centerpiece is Stone Mountain Confederate Memorial Carving, the largest high relief sculpture in the world which depicts three Confederate figures of the Civil War – President Jefferson Davis, General Robert E. Lee and General “Stonewall” Jackson. Board the Summit Skyride (weather permitting) for a high-speed cable car ride to the top of Stone Mountain and stunning views of the carving. Later, we’ll board our scheduled nonstop return flight to Los Angeles. Those guests making their own flight arrangements can request the group’s flight schedule (subject to change) to coordinate a flight departure time that would allow them to be included on the complimentary transfer to the airport. Back in Los Angeles, those guests with pre-arranged transfers will be returned to their respective drop-offs. (Breakfast)

While we make every effort to operate our tours as outlined in the itinerary, we ask for your patience, understanding and flexibility and to retain a sense of adventure while traveling with us. Situations may arise that necessitate changes to the itinerary. Should we need to adjust the itinerary either prior to or while on tour, these changes will be communicated to you and only done when absolutely necessary.