Dixie Swing

Arrive at the airport, pick-up your rental car and proceed to your hotel. Welcome to the Theme Park capital of the world! Enjoy an evening at Downtown Disney, with over 170 shopping, dining and entertainment facilities, everyone will find something fun to do. Or experience the exitement of an interactive dinner show, such as Arabian Nights. Accommodations: (STD) Clarion Inn Lake Buena Visata or similar (2 Nights)
(SUP) DoubleTree Universala Orlando or similar (2 Nights)

Today you can enjoy the theme park of your choice.
Epcot® – Epcot® is a showplace for the achievements of man, a tribute to innovation and imagination, and a fellowship of international culture. Epcot consists of Future World and World Showcase. Future World features attractions such as Spaceship Earth, where you will experience a journey from the beginning of time to the electronic age. Ride Test Track, a high speed thriller that mimics actual vehicle testing conditions, sending you through breathtaking twists and turns. Explore all of Future World where innovation and invention entertain. World Showcase offers the cultures of 11 nations. The architecture and landscape change as you move from one country to the next. Taste the cuisine, shop and be entertained by distinctly different cultures. End the evening by watching Illuminations, a nighttime kaleidoscope of music and light.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom® – Animal Kingdom® is home to fascinating creatures, both real and fantastic. Visit the Tree of Life, an artistic feat with hundreds of animals carved into the trunk. Journey into an African savannah on the Kilimanjaro Safaris an open air jeep adventure ride where you may catch a glimpse of giraffes, elephants and other jungle creatures. Time travel back 65 million years and visit DinoLand USA and meet the prehistoric dinosaur. Discover the legend of Yeti on Expedition Everest, a high speed train adventure that takes you through mountain peaks and bamboo forests. Enjoy “Festival of the Lion King” a colorful live show featuring music and amazing talent. Universal Studios® Florida – You’re the star at Universal Studios where you can ride the movies. Join the agents from “Men in Black Alien Attack” and zap aliens as you chase them through the streets of New York. Plunge into darkness on Revenge of the Mummy® a psychological thrill ride that combines special effects and speed. See Shrek 4-D an original 3-D film, with an added dimension where you will see, hear and feel the action right from your seat You’ll find something that appeals to kids of all ages at the place where you become part of the movies!
SeaWorld® Orlando – SeaWorld Orlando is a premiere marine adventure park. It features thrilling rides and amazing shows where the animals are the stars. Your feet will dangle on Kraken, the only floorless rollercoaster in Orlando. Meet Shamu, the famous killer whale in the sensational show Believe. See polar bears and beluga whales on the Wild Arctic ride. Get ready for the ultimate adventure on Journey to Atlantis! Travel on water and high-speed rails through special effects and a 60 foot drop! Check out the current spectacle at the Sea lion and Otter Stadium, where Clyde and Seamore will be into some mischief. Experience the magic of marine life and the splendor of what lies beyond the ocean’s door.

Depart Orlando today and drive toward St. Augustine. Historic St. Augustine is the oldest permanent European settlement in the continental United States. Here, the blend of Spanish, English and American cultures come alive. Among the many points of interest is the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, a fortress which served as the city’s outer defenses. It is the oldest remaining European fortification in the continental United States. Continue on to Savannah for an overnight stay. Southern hospitality is alive and well in charming Savannah. The Historic District has twenty-two squares and cobblestone streets that will take you back in time. Explore the city by trolley and learn its fascinating past. Each piece of lovely Victorian architecture has a story, some sad and mysterious. Other sights to visit are the Telfair Museum of Art, Forsyth Park and Factor’s Walk. For delicious southern cooking, visit the restored Waterfront area which is lined with shops and restaurants. Accommodations: (STD) Quality Inn Midtown or similar (1 Night)
(SUP) Hampton Inn Savannah Midtown or similar (1 Night)

Depart Savannah and drive toward another southern gem, Charleston. Along the way visit Beaufort. This little town claims nearly a hundred antebellum and pre-Revolutionary houses. Drive through the residential district, and visit the pretty waterfront shopping area. Arrive in Charleston for an overnight stay. A fantastic way to see the city is by a horse-drawn carriage. See the Old South in the architecture and gardens of the many historic homes and buildings. Visit Downtown’s shopping district of King Street. See Civil War memorials at the Battery, a garden that boast live oaks and palmettos. Venture slightly outside the city and visit Magnolia Plantation and Gardens. Tour the house and learn about life on the plantation. The gardens offer extensive varieties of camellias and azaleas. Accommodations: (STD) Days Inn Patriot’s Point or similar (1 Night)
(SUP) Marriott Charleston Hotel or similar (1 Night)

Today you will leave Charleston and drive to Georgia, “The Peach State.” While it is the state capital, Atlanta still welcomes visitors with southern hospitality. It is a bustling big city with the past and present colliding. Visit the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site and Sweet Auburn District. Here you will find The King Center and the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church. Exhibits tell the story of the Civil Rights Movement. Visit other Atlanta neighborhoods like the quaint Midtown and luxurious Buckhead, both are filled with interesting shops and restaurants. The Roswell Historic district has a visitor center and several antebellum homes that can be toured. Taste past and present Coca-Cola products at The World of Coca-Cola museum. Enjoy a movie experience and taste brands from around the world. Just east of the city lies Stone Mountain. This is the world’s largest exposed granite monolith with a relief carving of Confederate heroes, surrounded by attractions and recreation in a natural environment.
Accommodations: (STD) Country Inn & Suites Airport South or similar (1 Night)
(SUP) Sheraton Atlanta or similar (1 Night)

Depart Atlanta today and head to the more rural side of Tennessee through the Cherokee Indian Reservation. In 1838, 14,000 Cherokee Indians were rounded up by federal troops and marched to Oklahoma on the Trail of Tears. Approximately one thousand escaped. The residents of Cherokee are their descendents. Visit the Museum of the Cherokee Indian which is devoted to 10,000 years of Native American history, the museum details, among other things, the Trail of Tears tragedy. Visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park which always offers interesting sights. They are among the oldest mountains in the world and a center of diversity for plant and wildlife. Keep watch for black bear, white-tailed deer, raccoons, coyote and the plentiful salamander. Enjoy the breathtaking views as you travel into Gatlinburg for an overnight stay. For a bird’s eye view of the scenery, ride the sky lift to the top of Crockett Mountain. Close by you will find a number of attractions, ranging from shopping in the outlet malls to the famous Dollywood. Dolly Parton owns this entertainment park offering music and shows. Pigeon Forge is a short drive away for more entertainment options.
Accommodations: (STD) Westgate River Terrace Resort or similar (1 Night)
(SUP) Bearskin Lodge or similar (1 Night)

Depart Gatlinburg this morning and drive toward Nashville, better known as Music City, USA. Nashville is the heart and soul of country music. Take the time to visit the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. It presents a vast collection to illustrate the story of country music told through two centuries. Enjoy historic country video clips and recorded music, dynamic exhibits and state-of-the-art design. Also visit Historic RCA Studio B, “The Home of 1,000 Hits.” Get an up-close look at what was once the second home of music legends Elvis Presley, Chet Atkins, Dolly Parton and many more. Over 35,000 songs were recorded here. For a slightly different side of Nashville, see the Parthenon, the world’s only full-scale reproduction of the famous Greek temple. Nashville’s Parthenon stands in Centennial Park and features both the city’s art museum and Athena Parthenos. At almost 42 feet in height, Athena Parthenos is the tallest indoor sculpture in the Western world. This evening consider a dinner cruise on a paddlewheel riverboat or a dinner theatre experience, both offering exceptional entertainment and cuisine.
Accommodations: (STD) Red Roof Inn Nashville Fairgrounds or similar (1 Night)
(SUP) Millennium Maxwell House Hotel or similar (1 Night)

Leave country music behind and travel to Memphis, home of the blues. Your first stop must be Graceland, Elvis Presley’s 14-acre estate. Visit the “Birthplace of Rock ‘n Roll” at Sun Studios. Enjoy a fascinating tour and listen to audio presentations of some of the earliest recordings made there. After that, visit the original studio itself, the exact same room where the likes of Johnny Cash and Elvis recorded their first tracks. City sightseeing tours are offered by paddleboat, carriage and motor coach. Stroll down historic Beale Street where blues has been playing for more than half a century. This historic entertainment mecca has something for everyone, whether you want to listen to music or sample southern barbecue. Accommodations: (STD) Red Roof Inn West Memphis or similar (1 Night)
(SUP) Crowne Plaza Memphis or similar (1 Night)

Depart Memphis and drive toward Mississippi into the town of Natchez, the oldest permanent settlement on the Mississippi River. Natchez is known for the preservation of many antebellum homes. Tour Stanton Hall built circa 1857. It is one of the most magnificent palatial residences of antebellum America. The interior contains original furnishings and Natchez antiques. Make sure to taste a local favorite, the pecan. Below the town lies Natchez Under-the-Hill, once a haven for all things inappropriate, is now home to many bars and restaurants. Here you will also find a riverboat casino.
Accommodations: (STD) Days Inn Natchez or similar (1 Night)
(SUP) Natchez Eola or similar (1 Night)

This morning depart Natchez for bustling New Orleans, a modern city with a historic soul. The oldest neighborhood in the “Crescent City” is the French Quarter. Established by the French in 1718, the architecture reflects Spanish, French, Creole and American influences. Around every corner you will find eclectic shops and fine dining. Visit the French Market and find treasures of food, antiques and crafts. Make sure to sample a beignet, the state doughnut of Louisiana. The center of the French Quarter is Jackson Square. Musicians, artists, mimes, tarot card readers and entertainers set up in front of St Louis Cathedral on the square each day, creating an animated street scene. Enjoy a paddleboat cruise along the Mississippi River. Hear about the city’s colorful history while savoring a cocktail on the deck. At night stroll famous Bourbon Street where the heart of jazz lives in New Orleans. You will likely hear this music in the streets and pouring out of the many nightclubs and bars. If you’re feeling fortunate, you might want to visit the casino and try your luck at Las Vegas style gambling.
Accommodations: (STD) Holiday Inn Downtown or similar (2 Nights)
(SUP) Hampton Inn New Orleans Downtown or similar (2 Nights)

Today, venture out of the city center to the Garden District. This elegant neighborhood is home to lovely southern homes and lined with parks and cafes. Some of the historic homes are available to tour. If you are feeling more adventurous, consider an escapade through the swamps. Many guided swamp and wildlife tours are offered along the bayous. In these mysterious waterways that surround the city, you will get intimate with alligators and other exotic creatures. You never know what you’ll see! For marine animal viewing, visit the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, one of the top museums of its kind in America. Find 15,000 sea life creatures, representing nearly 600 species. In the evening, learn about voodoo and the city’s haunted past on a walking tour of the French Quarter. Your guide might take you to a cemetery or passed one of the many buildings that make New Orleans “America’s Most Haunted City.”

Depart New Orleans and drive to Tallahassee. Along the way, stop in Mobile, Alabama and explore the Battle Ship Alabama. Take a self-guided tour of the mammoth 680-foot long ship and then have lunch along the waterfront. Continue on to Florida’s state capitol, Tallahassee. Visit the Old Capitol Museum for a dose of Florida History. Enjoy shopping, dining and outdoor entertainment along Park Avenue.
Accommodations: (STD) Red Roof Inn Tallahassee or similar (1 Night)
(SUP) DoubleTree Tallahassee or similar (1 Night)

Allow approximately six hours driving time to reach Orlando and consider one of the many dinner shows for your final night in there.
Accommodations: (STD) Clarion Inn Lake Buena Vista or similar (1 Night)
(SUP) DoubleTree Orlando or similar (1 Night)
Day

Depart at leisure to Orlando International Airport. Drop-off rental car.