Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Atlanta – Asheville – Charleston – Beaufort – Savannah
100% customisable for you
Your 12-day trip to the US begins today, so zip up your suitcase and head to the airport. Once you’ve sped through security and taken advantage of the nibbles in the airport lounge, hop onto your nine-and-a-half-hour flight to Atlanta. When you land, pick up your rental car and drive to your downtown hotel. Put your feet up and relax after your long flight – you’ve got all day tomorrow to explore the historic city.
It’s your first full day in Georgia’s capital, a city with something for everyone. Atlanta is perhaps best known as the setting of Margaret Mitchell’s?Gone with the Wind, and eager bookworms can learn more about the novel’s history at the author’s Midtown house. If you’re a Coca-Cola connoisseur, head to the World of Coca-Cola museum to sample different Coke flavours from all over the world.
Atlanta is also the birthplace of Martin Luther King Jr., and several memorials are located throughout the city. Visit his birth home, the 35-acre Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park and the Ebenezer Baptist Church, where King was baptised and served as a pastor.
Fancy a little more history? Head to the High Museum of Art or the Georgia State Capitol. Make your way to the Centennial Olympic Park and stroll past fountains, musicians and a Ferris wheel – the perfect way to end your day in Atlanta.
Today, it’s time to say goodbye (for now) to Atlanta and drive three-and-a-half hours to Asheville. While in this stunning section of the US, don’t miss driving along the Blue Ridge Parkway, a scenic route offering incredible views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. If you like, stop and hike along the Appalachian Trail, or take a detour to the beautiful Anna Ruby Falls or Tallulah Falls and Gorge.
After a day exploring the region’s natural beauty, you’ll spend the night in a cosy hotel. If the sun’s out, enjoy a drink in a rocking chair on the veranda, or stroll through the flower garden before enjoying a delicious dinner at the hotel restaurant.
Today, we’ve organised for you to visit the spectacular Biltmore Estate, a private estate belonging to the wealthy Vanderbilt family. Built in 1895, it comprises a 250-room castle and a 12-square-mile estate featuring gardens designed by the USA’s first landscape architect. Once the luxurious family home of George and Edith Vanderbilt, Biltmore is a marvel of architecture and elegance.
As you make your way through the house, you’ll find lavish clothing, accessories and artwork by the likes of Renoir and John Singer Sargent. Outside, wander along paths through the rose garden – home to over 250 varieties – and the meadows of Deer Park. As if that wasn’t enough, there’s also a vineyard onsite, so you can end your visit by tasting a range of the award-winning wines produced here.
Less than an hour’s drive from Asheville is Chimney Rock State Park, the perfect place for a hike and the setting for Michael Mann’s?The Last of the Mohicans. Walking routes here last between 45 minutes and two hours, so even if you’re not a keen walker, you can still take in the incredible views, including Hickory Nut Gorge and Lake Lure, where parts of?Dirty Dancing?were filmed.
After having the time of your life (see what we did there?), drive on to Charleston to spend the next three nights. You’ll be staying in the city’s historic district, so admire the views from your hotel window before heading to bed – you’ve got a jam-packed few days ahead of you.
Rise and shine for your first day in Charleston. Today, we’ve organised a visit to the Edmondston-Alston House, a beautiful 19th-century home and museum. As you explore, you’ll discover remarkably well-preserved rooms that have survived earthquakes, hurricanes and over 150 years of civil war.
The rest of the day is yours for the taking. We recommend visiting the French Quarter, founded in the 18th century by Huguenot families who left France after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. Bordered by the Cooper River and Meeting Street, this district is famed for its charming old houses, including The Pink House Gallery. While you’re here, wander the pleasant streets, pick up some clothing or crafts at the market, and visit the many art galleries that make this district one of the most creative in town.
Today, visit Middleton Place plantation, a National Historic Landmark extending over 61 acres, and home to the country’s oldest landscaped gardens. Here, you can walk through the manicured gardens, visit the animals in the stable yards and learn more about the Middleton family and the enslaved people who lived and worked on the estate. Afterwards, head to the Isle of Palms or Sullivan’s Island for a change of scenery, to stroll along the sand and breathe in the fresh sea air.
This morning, say goodbye to Charleston and hello to Savannah, located around a two-hour drive away. Stop for lunch in the old-fashioned town of Beaufort en route, where you can choose from riverside bistros and cosy taverns serving fresh fish and wood-fired pizzas. For an after-lunch stroll, make your way to the historic district (listed on the National Register of Historic Places) to enjoy the seafront promenade or venture to the wild beaches of Hunting Island Park.
Once you reach Savannah, you’ll set down your suitcases for three nights in a contemporary hotel in the historic centre. Enjoy a refreshing dip in the pool before rounding off your day with a delicious dinner (and a cocktail or two).
It’s your first day in Savannah, and we’ve arranged for you to visit the historic Mercer-Williams House. Once belonging to antiques collector Jim Williams, it gained fame as the setting where Williams shot and killed his employee, Danny Hansford. This event was immortalised in the book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, and the ground floor of Williams’ mansion is now a museum.
The rest of the day is yours to explore. If you’re still in the mood for history, wander along the paved streets of the Victorian Quarter and admire the 19th-century houses, or visit Colonial Park Cemetery, the oldest in Savannah and home to 9,000 graves.
For a lighter afternoon, take a stroll underneath the century-old oaks in one of Savannah’s 22 green squares or enjoy a picnic in Forsyth Park’s 30 acres of greenery. Once you’re ready for dinner, head to the waterfront district and River Street, where red brick cotton warehouses have been transformed into southern restaurants and lively bars.
Yesterday was all about Savannah, and today is all about its surroundings. Head east to explore the Bonaventure Cemetery, a magnificent space full of leafy paths and mossy trees that create a romantic atmosphere.
Once you’ve finished at Bonevature, travel 30 minutes to Tybee Island, a small coastal town at the mouth of the Savannah River. This tiny town has a relaxed, welcoming feel and one of the most beautiful beaches in the region.
If you've some extra time, you could even visit the state’s Golden Isles. Sapelo is the wildest of them all and is only accessible by boat, so make the trip over to explore the Research Reserve Centre’s salt marshes and forest.
Today, you’ll begin your journey back to the UK. As you drive to Atlanta, stop at Macon, a town with a beautiful historic district where time seems to stand still. When you reach the airport, return your rental vehicle, enjoy a final root beer in the airport lounge and board your return flight to the UK. You’ll arrive the following day, armed with a newfound knowledge of the vibrant history and culture of the American South.
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
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Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday
We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from fast-tracking you through airport check-in and security to our network of local Concierges
