| Day | Description |
|---|
| 1 | LOS ANGELES.Time at leisure to relax or for independent exploring. Your Tour Director is on hand this evening to answer any questions. |
| 2 | LOS ANGELES.Begin the day with a sightseeing tour of the "World Capital of Glamour" including a drive through Hollywood and a visit to Grauman's Chinese Theatre with its "Footprints of the Stars." The afternoon is at leisure. |
| 3 | LOS ANGELES-SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO-SAN DIEGO.Depart the "City of Angels" and head down the coast of California. First stop today is at the MISSION SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, founded more than two centuries ago. On your guided tour, learn about the significance of the swallows that return every year. Then, on to San Diego. Following an orientation tour of the city, visit the famed SAN DIEGO ZOO. |
| 4 | SAN DIEGO-YUMA-TUCSON.Today we head east across the Sonoran Desert, stopping to visit the YUMA TERRITORIAL PRISON. More than 3,000 desperadoes were imprisoned
in rock and adobe cells here during the prison's 33-year existence between 1876 and 1909. |
| 5 | TUCSON.This morning we visit the ARIZONA-SONORAN DESERT MUSEUM, exhibiting over 200 animals and 300 types of plants that are indigenous to the Sonoran Desert. Then, a visit to Arizona's most famous mission - SAN XAVIER DEL BAC, the "White Dove of the Desert." (B) |
| 6 | TUCSON-TOMBSTONE-LAS CRUCES.Step back in time today as we visit legendary TOMBSTONE, the most authentic Western town left in the United States. Walk the same dusty streets that saw the famous gunfight at the OK Corral in 1881, enjoy entertainment in a local saloon, or ride a stagecoach. Next, on to Las Cruces. (B) |
| 7 | LAS CRUCES-WHITE SANDS NATIONAL MONUMENT-CARLSBAD.Drive through the Chihuahuan Desert to one of the world's great natural wonders: WHITE SANDS NATIONAL MONUMENT, 699 square-kilometres (270 square-miles) of white gypsum dunes with a unique ecology. Overnight in the town on Carlsbad. (B) |
| 8 | CARLSBAD CAVERNS-FREDERICKSBURG.This morning, visit CARLSBAD CAVERNS and admire the spectacular stalactite and stalagmite-filled chambers. Afterward, we drive through the Lone Star State with a stop at Fort Stockton, then a visit to Ozona to view the Davy Crockett Monument, America's celebrated frontier hero, pioneer, and politician. Your overnight is in Fredericksburg in Texas Hill Country. (B) |
| 9 | FREDERICKSBURG-LBJ RANCH-SAN ANTONIO.This morning, visit the LYNDON B. JOHNSON NATIONAL HISTORIC PARK and hear the story of the 36th President, from his ancestors to his final resting place on his beloved LBJ Ranch. Afterward, we make our way to the most visited city in Texas-San Antonio, home to the Alamo and the historic River Walk. Upon arrival, an orientation tour captures the true spirit of Texas. (CB) |
| 10 | SAN ANTONIO-THE ALAMO-HOUSTON-GALVESTON.No trip to San Antonio is complete without a visit to THE ALAMO, Texas' most famous landmark. It was here that a small band of Texans held out for 13 days against the Mexican army. Although the Alamo fell, the phrase "Remember the Alamo!" has come to symbolise courage and sacrifice for the cause of liberty. On to Houston, America's fourth-largest city, for an orientation tour, then we head to Galveston Island for a 2-night stay. |
| 11 | GALVESTON.The day is yours to explore or to relax in this seaside city with its sandy beaches, boardwalks, and elegant Victorian architecture. (CB) |
| 12 | GALVESTON-NASA SPACE CENTER-LAFAYETTE.Before leaving Texas, enjoy an out-of-this-world experience at NASA, home of the U.S. space program. See astronauts train for missions, touch a real moon rock, or land a shuttle. Take a look behind the scenes on a guided TRAM TOUR of NASA's Johnson Space Center, where you'll visit Historic Mission Control Center, Hangar X, and the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility. Then, into Louisiana and the heart of Cajun Country. (CB) |
| 13 | LAFAYETTE-NEW ORLEANS.This morning, board your boat for a CRUISE through the winding, swampy waterways of the Atchafalaya Basin. Afterward, enjoy a visit to VERMILIONVILLE on the banks of the bayou. This Cajun/Creole heritage and Folklife Park recreates life in the Acadiana area between 1765 and 1890. Next, visit AVERY ISLAND. Surrounded by swamps and marshes, Avery Island is a mysteriously beautiful place inhabited by exotic plant and animal species from around the world. It's also the home of world-famous Tabasco Sauce. Tour the Visitor Center and learn how peppers are grown, harvested, and turned into sauce. Make our way across Bayou Country into New Orleans, the capital of Dixieland and the "City Care Forgot." |
| 14 | NEW ORLEANS.A full morning dedicated to the sights and sounds of New Orleans, featuring a guided tour that includes French Quarter landmarks: St. Louis Cathedral, Jackson Square, and a visit to a unique aboveground cemetery. The rest of the day is at leisure. |
| 15 | NEW ORLEANS.A free day with a wide selection of activities to choose from, including a visit to a beautiful plantation home. For shoppers, Canal Street and the French Quarter offer an extensive variety of specialty shops and boutiques. |
| 16 | NEW ORLEANS-BILOXI-BELLINGRATH GARDENS-MOBILE.Today we take the coastal highway into Biloxi. Upon arrival, enjoy an orientation tour that includes the Biloxi Lighthouse, the Hurricane Katrina Memorial, and Hurricane Katrina Tree Sculptures. We also visit BEAUVOIR, the splendid last home of Jefferson Davis, the Confederate Civil War president. Later, enjoy a SHRIMPING TRIP and learn about the spectacular world of sea life. Continue along the coastal highway into Alabama and visit the famous BELLINGRATH GARDENS & HOME on Mobile Bay. Walter Bellingrath, a pioneer in the Coca-Cola bottling industry, converted 900 acres (3.6 square-kilometres) of subtropical jungle into a magnificent estate. Stroll through the manicured gardens that include azaleas, camellias, dogwood, and, in the late autumn, poinsettias. |
| 17 | MOBILE-PENSACOLA-TALLAHASSEE.Today we cross Florida's panhandle and enjoy a scenic drive that never strays far from the blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico and its string of white sandy beaches. In Pensacola, get a taste of the real South at Seville Square, one of Pensacola's three historic districts. Explore Sandestin, an area that boasts a 32-kilometre (20-mile) jaunt past scenic lakes, pine forests, and old Florida towns. Next is Tallahassee, Florida's state capital. |
| 18 | TALLAHASSEE-JEKYLL ISLAND.Jekyll Island is a remarkable island retreat where you can explore miles of barrier island beaches and dune lines edging unbothered woodlands. Enjoy a guided tour of the Club Historic District, a cluster of 19th-century mansions. This "club" was formed by some of America's most prominent families, who at one time controlled one-sixth of the world's wealth. Our TROLLEY ride takes us on an unforgettable journey back in time as a guide tells stories of the rich history of the "gilded era" and we experience the unspoiled natural beauty of this remarkable place. Visit the picturesque church where some of the world's wealthiest people attended and one of the lovingly restored "winter cottages" that made up what was, at that time, the most exclusive club in the world. (B) |
| 19 | JEKYLL ISLAND-SAVANNAH.We make our way to romantic Savannah today, America's first planned city and a place filled with numerous historic landmarks. Tonight your Tour Director will have plenty of activities to choose from and will recommend favourite restaurants and shopping areas. |
| 20 | SAVANNAH.Today, a Local Guide reveals Savannah's history as the nucleus of Colonial settlement in Georgia and as the destination of General Sherman's infamous 1864 "March to the Sea." The remainder of the day and evening are at leisure. Shop on cobblestoned River Street or stroll among the many squares surrounded by elegant homes and majestic gardens. Don't miss Forsyth Park with its lovely fountain and flowers, or the impressive Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum, where you can learn about Savannah's important role in maritime history and view models of famous ships. (CB) |
| 21 | SAVANNAH-ATLANTA.We head inland today to the capital city of Atlanta. Our afternoon tour focuses on the downtown area and the elegant residential neighborhoods that take pride in tradition. Highlights include the Georgia State Capitol, Peachtree Plaza, Olympic Village & Stadium, CNN headquarters, and a visit to the Martin Luther King Jr., National Historic Site, which contains his birth home and burial site. (CB) |
| 22 | ATLANTA.The trip ends today with guests departing on individual schedules. Transfers to Atlanta International Airport are included. Extend your vacation with extra nights and explore Georgia's capital city further with a variety of exciting optional activities. (CB) |