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Sweet Grass, Sand and Sunshine on the Carolina Coast
14 Days/13 Nights
“Spring lay abroad through all the gardens of his
world. Beyond the hills the sand bayed out to other
hills, to golden cities, to rich meadows, to deep
forests, to the sea. Forever and forever.”
Look Homeward Angel, Thomas Wolfe
Look homeward angel. Come to explore Thomas Wolfe’s
beloved Carolina Coast! Experience the serenity of the
ancient, yet ever shifting dunes. Feel the sand between
your toes. Watch red rubber ball sunsets settling over
white beaches. Explore four hundred years of America’s
past written on the landscapes of the region. Meander
pristine coastal roads dotted with lighthouses and
National Scenic Byways with a uniqueness all their own.
This is the Carolina Coast, pleasant, soothing and
carefree. Yes, we stretched it a bit, from Virginia
Beach to Jacksonville, Florida. It is all just too
wonderful to leave out.
If you don’t have time to take the whole trip, select a
portion of the coast you’d like to visit and we’ll
customize accordingly. Enjoy unprecedented history
wrapped in pristine coastal beauty. You’ll likely need
to slow down; life here moves at a Southern pace. Savor
the cuisine, enjoy the sunshine, let the soothing waves
lull away your stress. Return home refreshed, relaxed
and renewed.
Day 1: Washington DC to Virginia Beach
Get ready to stand in the very place John Smith stepped
foot in the New World in 1607. Imagine how it felt to
get off ship after months at sea surrounded by lush
greenery, white sands and fresh air. Then you’ll
discover that John Smith did not land at Jamestown, he
landed at Virginia Beach, now a delightful bustling
resort community. Also worth exploring, the world class
Chrysler Museum of Art, the USS Wisconsin Battleship,
Hampton, the second oldest town in America and
Portsmouth, considered the best historic district
between Alexandria, VA and Charleston, SC.
Overnight: Virginia Beach
Day 2: Virginia Beach to Northeast North Carolina
A leisurely drive through northeastern North Carolina on
the Historic Albemarle Tour awaits before ending up in
the Wright brothers backyard at Kitty Hawk. The
Edenton-Windsor Loop Scenic Byway and the Alligator
River Route Scenic Byway pave your way. In between,
Edenton, “the South’s prettiest town,” has a trolley
through the entire historic district. You’ll be amazed
at how small the plane for Wright Brothers used to begin
the Age of Flight, is in person.
Overnight: Duck, North Carolina
Day 3 Explore North Carolina Outer Banks
Don’t miss the opportunity to take the beautiful sand
dunes and waves drive that leads to the end of Cape
Hatteras. Amazingly, about to fall into the sea, the
tallest lighthouse in the US here was put on rollers and
moved 2,900 feet from the shore. Fort Raleigh National
Historic Site preserves the small earthen fort built by
Sir Walter Raleigh’s hardy settlers who did not survive
as a colony in 1587. An evening drama under the Carolina
sky tells their story.
Overnight: Duck, North Carolina
Day 4: North Carolina Outer Banks to Wilmington, North
Carolina
Today, more scenic byways take you to authentic historic
towns on your way to Wilmington. Bath dates from 1705.
Washington is 230 years old. New Bern served as the
“Royal Capital” of North Carolina when Governor Tyron
was present. His home, still surrounded by fabulous
gardens, was considered the most beautiful public
building in the New World. Wilmington has had a
wonderful renaissance in the past two decades. Nearby
Bald Head Island, reached only by ferry, is a nearly
unknown, yet a very special place.
Overnight: Wilmington, North Carolina
Day 5: Explore Wilmington Area
Geography and the natural environment have traditionally
had a tremendous impact on the culture of Wilmington.
After the Civil War, the long leaf pines that grow
naturally in the area drove the economy well into the
20th century. The story of the Bellamy family spans the
entire era and is on display at the Bellamy Mansion
standing proudly at 5th and Market. The USS North
Carolina battleship is also worth a tour.
Overnight: Wilmington, North Carolina
Day 6: Wilmington to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Myrtle Beach is only 75 miles away from Wilmington, yet
a whole world different. Brookgreen Gardens, established
in 1931, is a must see. The National Historic Landmark
is one of the most significant collections of figurative
sculpture in an outdoor setting in the world. There is
also a boat tour, zoo and other exhibits. In the
evening, plan to see a show at the Carolina Opry, the
best of Myrtle Beach world class entertainment.
Overnight: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Day 7: Myrtle Beach to Charleston, South Carolina
Yearning for a lavish social season in town, wealthy
rice planters surrounding Charleston, SC built opulent
antebellum architecture to out do one another for
prestige. The result is the best historic district in
the United States which over the past 25 years has been
spectacularly preserved and restored. The commitment to
integrity, authenticity and beauty has created a
wonderful city. Enjoy this vestige of the old South in a
carriage or on foot.
Overnight: Charleston, South Carolina
Day 8: Explore Charleston Area
A drive on the Ashley River Plantation National Scenic
Byway leads to Magnolia Plantation and the Audubon Swamp
Gardens where you will be introduced to the English
royalty who built Magnolia and Drayton Hall. Their new
wealth gained through the growing of “Carolina Gold,”
the special variety of rice that made Carolina planters
rich, is reflected in massive seats of power.
Overnight: Charleston, South Carolina
Day 9: Charleston to Savannah, Georgia via Beaufort,
South Carolina
Savannah is only 100 miles away from Charleston so take
your time this morning. It’s the Southern way. On the
way, stop in Beaufort, where moss drips off the live
oaks and diners eat pleasantly right on the waterfront.
Savannah is a most unusual city, laid out in 16
“squares” each with a green in the middle. General
Sherman liked Savannah so much that he spared it on his
March to the Sea at the end of the Civil War, leaving
the city completely intact for all to enjoy.
Overnight: Savannah, Georgia
Day 10: Explore Savannah Area
Because it was not burned, Savannah’s architectural
styles span the entire American centuries. The Owens
Thomas House is considered one of the finest examples of
English Regency architecture in the United States. Old
Fort Jackson was built prior to the War of 1812, only
one of a handful of forts remaining from the era. Be
sure to visit City Market, termed by the locals as the
“Art and Soul of Savannah.”
Overnight: Savannah, Georgia
Day 11: Savannah to Georgia’s Golden Isles
The Georgia Coast is all about quiet islands, chirping
birds, streaming sun, lapping waves and gentle serenity.
Originally on enclave for growing “sea island cotton”
the Golden Isles later attracted the Vanderbilt’s,
Rockefellers and Morgan’s who built hunting “cottages.”
Cumberland Island, the most unique of Georgia’s Golden
Isles is reached only by boat. The entire island is
protected by the National Park Service.
Overnight: St. Simon’s Island, Georgia
Day 12: Georgia’s Golden Isles to Jacksonville, Florida
As you near the end of your coastal trip, you’ll be
heading to Jacksonville, more southern than Southern
Georgia. Kingsley Plantation reveals the fascinating
story of a family relocated from Georgia headed by
Kingsley’s wife whom he purchased as a slave, freed and
married. They later fled to Haiti to escape prejudice.
The same location tells the story of the Timucuan
Indians, the area’s first residents and Fort Carolina,
established by the French in 1562.
Overnight: Jacksonville, Florida
Day 13: Explore St. Augustine Area
You explored America’s second oldest city earlier,
today, there is an opportunity to explore the oldest.
St. Augustine was founded by the Spanish in 1565. There
are more than 60 historic sites and attractions, along
with 144 blocks of historic buildings. The more
contemporary legacies of Henry Flagler at Flagler
College, the Casa Monica Hotel and other elaborate
buildings surround the Castillo de San Marcos National
Monument. Bring your walking shoes to explore.
Overnight: Jacksonville, Florida
Day 14
We wish you a safe and pleasant journey home, taking
along memories of the sweet grass, sand, and sunshine of
the Carolina Coast.
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