Georgia on My Mind

Day 1 – Welcome to Atlanta!

Optional transfers from home or our departure points this morning will have us at LAX for a scheduled, non-stop flight arriving in Atlanta this afternoon. Those guests not taking advantage of the optional group airfare, should arrive at the Atlanta International Airport by 4:00 p.m. to be included on the complimentary transfer to the hotel. We’ll board our deluxe motorcoach and travel to downtown Atlanta where we’ll enjoy a 5-night stay at an all-suites hotel adjacent to Centennial Olympic Park. Enjoy the hotel’s complimentary nightly evening reception and the balance of the evening at leisure. (Dinner)

Day 2 – Atlanta

Following an included breakfast, we’ll be joined by a local guide and visit the George State Capitol – built in 1889, its design symbolizes Georgia’s re-emergence after the Civil War. After time for lunch on your own at the Ponce City Market, we’ll visit Centennial Olympic Park and then continue to the World of Coca-Cola to experience the history of the world’s most famous soft drink, created in Atlanta over 125 years ago. On this “behind-the-drink” tour, get closer than ever to the vault containing the secret recipe, see the bottling line and get your taste buds tap dancing with samples of a variety of Coca-Cola products from around the world. We continue to the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site to see the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birth home and the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church. This evening, enjoy an included dinner at a locals’ favorite featuring authentic Georgia-style barbecue. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 3 – Atlanta

After an included breakfast, we’ll be joined by a local guide and travel to Marietta and visit the Marietta Gone with the Wind Museum. See an extensive collection of memorabilia relating to the be- loved book and movie including the original honeymoon gown worn by Vivien Leigh as her iconic role of Scarlett O’Hara, rare copies of the script and concept artwork from the film. We’ll continue to the Atlanta History Center and enjoy an included lunch at the Swan Coach House. Once the garage of the Swan House, it has stood the test of time with incomparable whimsy, abounding charm and countless traditions made. We continue to the Swan House, the 1928 Classical mansion that is an excellent example of Second Renaissance Revival design and represents the architectural and decorative tastes of affluent citizens in the late 1920s. 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. (Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 4 – Macon

Following an included breakfast, we’ll travel south to Macon, Georgia – a city with a rich history, incredible architecture, stunning Southern charm and a soulful musical heritage. Macon is known as the “Cherry Blossom Capital of the World” as it’s home to more than 300,000 Yoshino Cherry Trees that typically bloom each year in late March. We’ll be joined by a local guide for a journey through the heart of the Old South – from the Paleo-Indian period to the iconic legacy of musicians like Otis Redding and the Allman Brothers Band. Following an included lunch at a locals’ favorite, we’ll tour the “Palace of the South,” Hay House – the 18,000-square-foot Italian Renaissance Revival mansion. 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. We return to Atlanta and enjoy an included dinner at Mary Mac’s Tea Room – known as “Atlanta’s Dining Room.” (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 5 – Warm Springs, Callaway Gardens

Following an included breakfast, 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 lunch on own in Warm Springs, we’ll continue to Pine Mountain, nestled into the Southern foothills of the Appalachians. On a docent-led tour of Callaway Gardens we’ll see the astonishing azaleas, Japanese magnolia and daffodils amongst the sprawling woodland gardens. Enjoy time to explore the gardens and butterfly center, where more than 1,000 butterflies flutter freely in one of North America’s largest butterfly conservatories. We return to Atlanta for an included farewell dinner. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 6 – Atlanta, Journey Home

After an included breakfast we’ll visit the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum. This incredible, award-winning museum features interactive displays and fascinating exhibits. We continue to 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 for a high-speed cable car ride to the top of Stone Mountain and stunning views of the carving. This afternoon we’ll board our scheduled non-stop return flight to Los Angeles. Those guests not taking advantage of the optional group airfare, should arrange a departure flight from the Atlanta Airport no earlier than 5:00 p.m. Back in Los Angeles, those with pre-arranged transfers will be returned to their respective destinations. (Breakfast)

While we make every effort to operate our tours as outlined in the itinerary, we ask for your understanding, flexibility and to retain a sense of adventure while traveling with us. While these have always been necessary traits for travelers, they are needed now more than ever! 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. Now more than ever, our 30 years of knowledge and tour planning experience helps us navigate a unique travel environment on your behalf. You can put your trust in us knowing we are experts in travel planning and will do everything possible to provide wonderful new experiences and create amazing new memories for our guests while on the road with us.