The Blue Ridge Mountains, Washington DC, Charleston & Savannah

Today, you’ll land in Washington Dulles airport and be welcomed by your friendly, local tour manager. A coach will then transfer you to your hotel in Alexandria, a vibrant waterfront city just across from Washington D.C. Once you’ve checked in, the rest of the evening will be free to get settled and explore the surrounding area.

You’ll travel to the heart of Washington D.C. this morning, and under the guidance of your tour manger be introduced to the nation’s capital. The group will be shown several of the major sights and gain a deeper understanding of the significance of each.

The National Mall, one of the highlights, is a sprawling green space fringed with some of the country’s most iconic monuments and museums. From here, you can gaze at the towering obelisk of the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, an architectural spectacle depicting Lincoln and his famous Gettysburg Address adorning a wall. You’ll also be shown the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, a poignant homage to those that served during the Vietnam War, and of course, the exterior of the world-famous White House, the official workplace and home of the President of the United States.

Further stops of interest include the United States Capitol, the seat of the US Congress and the assortment of Smithsonian Museums, like the National Museum of American History, the National Air and Space Museum and the National Gallery of Art. You’ll also see at the Library of Congress, the largest library in the world known for its beautiful architecture and wealth of rare books and documents.

For the rest of the afternoon, you can explore at your own pace, perhaps doing some museum hopping, wandering down the delightful streets of historic Georgetown, or relaxing in one of D.C.’s pretty parks, like Botanic Garden or Meridian Hill Park.

An incredibly scenic journey awaits as you check out of the hotel and drive towards Charlottesville in Virginia, the former home of two US presidents, Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe. The coach will take you via the picturesque Blue Ridge Parkway, America’s longest linear park, and Skyline Drive, bordering expanses of wilderness and mountainous landscapes.

You’ll stop off at Charlotteville, positioned in Virginia's Piedmont region, to stretch your legs, perhaps viewing the University of Virginia, designed by Thomas Jefferson himself. The tour will then continue to the town of Williamsburg, enriched in history to check into the hotel and stroll around before finding somewhere for dinner.

The meticulously preserved Colonial Williamsburg will be explored today and you can observe as costumed interpreters bring history to life, showcasing daily activities in the 18th century. You’ll walk around the world’s largest outdoor living museum, passing historic buildings, and hearing locals in period costume discuss the day's events in the dialect of the time.

During your visit, you’ll learn about how this city was an important hub of political and revolutionary activity leading up to the American Revolution. The tour will also showcase numerous well-preserved historical landmarks, including the Governor's Palace, the Capitol Building, and the College of William & Mary, which is one of the oldest universities in the United States.

Jamestowne is next, and your tour manager will take you through the first permanent English settlement in America, dating back to 1607. Positioned on the banks of the Jamestowne River, this settlement features the replicas of three ships that brought colonists to Virginia, an archaeology site, and an island, teeming with wildlife. You’ll also get to visit a replica of a colonial glasshouse, where interpreters produce glass in a similar manner to those of the former colonists, see the living museum that re-creates life in the Jamestowne colony, and a gallery packed with artifacts on display.

The evening is free to relax and have dinner at your leisure.

Check out of your hotel and board the coach, heading towards North Carolina’s Great Smoky Mountains. Later in the day, you’ll arrive in the city of Asheville, enclosed by a mountainous landscape and popular for its art scene and beautiful historic architecture.

Once you’ve arrived, you can check into your hotel, and perhaps take advantage of its diverse culinary offerings and locally brewed craft beer. The city has a high number of breweries per capita and is often referred as ‘Beer City, USA’.

Today, you’re free to explore Asheville at your own pace, perhaps seeking out its vast assortment of art galleries and museums and wandering around its downtown area, with well-preserved Art Deco, Victorian and neoclassical-style buildings. 

Alternatively, you can join an optional tour to Biltmore House, a historic mansion and one of the most famous and impressive houses in the United Stations. Regarded as ‘America’s largest home’, this 250-room French Renaissance-like château spans 175,000 square feet and has 35 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, 65 fireplaces, and a luxurious indoor swimming pool. This imposing building was constructed between 1889 and 1895 by George Washington Vanderbilt II, a member of the wealthy Vanderbilt family. Your excursion will include access to the interior as well as the extensive estate, with its landscaped garden, winery and farm.

The evening will be free for further exploration.

This morning, after checking out, you’ll travel to Charleston, set along the Atlantic Ocean and one of the oldest cities in the United States. Here, you’ll check into your hotel before your tour manager takes you on an orientation tour of this delightful port city. Home to pastel antebellum houses and cobblestone lanes, you’ll be introduced to the French Quarter and Battery districts, as well as the promenade, Waterfront Park, and Fort Sumter – the point at which the first shots of the Civil War were fired.

For the rest of the day, you can amble around the sights, and find somewhere for dinner, perhaps sampling the Southern cuisine, like shrimp and grits, she-crab soup and Lowcountry boil.

You’ll have a free morning once you’ve checked out today, allowing you to explore further points of interest, perhaps the lively harbour lined with waterfront restaurants. A walk through the historic district is also recommended, particularly along streets like Rainbow Row and Meeting Street, both bordered by brightly hued buildings.

Board the coach and make a stop at coastal Beaufort, positioned on Port Royal Island, one of South Carolina’s Sea Islands. You’ll have some time to walk around its downtown historic district and observe the houses built in an antebellum design.

Later, you’ll continue on to nearby Savannah, immersed in history and featuring 22 leafy public squares and a lively waterfront area. When you’ve checked into your hotel, you can head straight out to soak up the nightlife and try more seafood delicacies and the local fried chicken. Don’t miss indulging in a sweet treat either, like the city’s popular pralines and pecan pie.

A whole day of self-exploration awaits you today, ensuring ample time to tick off the city’s highlights. River Street, along the waterfront is a good starting point, buzzing with shops and restaurants. The historic district in the centre is also a must-see, with its pedestrianised cobblestone streets and park-like public squares, swathed in Spanish moss and shaded by oak trees. You can also see Chippewa Square, where the infamous “life is like a box of chocolates” scene from Forrest Gump was filmed. The bench itself can be found in the Savannah History Museum, which is worth visiting, as well as the Davenport House Museum and the SCAD Museum of Art. For shopping, the City Market is a hub packed with boutiques and stalls selling locally crafted goods.

If you’d prefer a guided tour alternative, you can board an optional trolley tour, which allows you to explore on a 90-minute narrated sightseeing experience. This is an ideal way to traverse the sights and squares of Savanah while listening to the stories and historical facts of Georgia’s first city and its notable residents. You can sit back in an open-air trolley and appreciate the scenery.

As it’s your last evening, be sure to get your fill of Southern cuisine and visit the local breweries and taprooms – Savannah has a burgeoning craft beer scene, too.

You’ll check out of your hotel and travel to Atlanta for your evening overnight flight back to the UK.

Arrive back in the UK following an exploration of America’s oldest cities and a deep dive into the past.