Georgia & the Carolinas

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Georgia & the Carolinas Self Drive

A genteel Deep South welcome awaits on this tri-state road trip.

There’s a full-on start with an energetic adventure in ever-growing Atlanta, but the pace slows as you head for North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, South Carolina’s sun-kissed coast and the Antebellum mansion-lined streets of Savannah.

Explore Atlanta where Civil War history meets the 21st Century.

Follow in the footsteps of the Vanderbilts at Asheville’s Biltmore Estate and drive part of the Smoky Mountain’s Blue Ridge Trail.

Soak up South Carolina’s laid-back beach lifestyle in Myrtle Beach and on Hilton Head Island.

Experience quintessential southern hospitality in Savannah as you walk under moss-covered trees and along cobblestone streets

This USA holiday can be tailored to suit your exact requirements, so just let us know your ideal trip.

Everything can be adjusted to suit your needs and create your perfect USA self-drive holiday.

Inclusions

International flights from UK
Accommodation with breakfast
Self-Drive - Car rental from airport to airport
ATOL Protection
Travel Trust Protection

Accommodation

2 nights Atlanta
2 nights Asheville
1 night Charlotte
1 night Myrtle Beach
2 nights Charleston
1 night Hilton Head Island
2 night Savannah
1 night Athens

Day 1: UK - Atlanta

Fly from the UK to Atlanta where you will pick up your rental car on arrival.

Start with a couple of nights in Georgia’s capital – it’s trendy and surprisingly green.

Overnight Atlanta.

Day 2: Atlanta

Enjoy the day at leisure.

Overnight Atlanta.

Day 3: Asheville

Self drive to Asheville.

Explore this charming city in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, known for its historic architecture and artsy vibes.

Overnight Asheville.

Day 4: Asheville

Enjoy the day at leisure.

Overnight Asheville.

Day 5: Charlotte

Self drive to Charlotte.

Spend a day in the high-rise commercial hub of North Carolina.

Overnight Charlotte.

Day 6: Myrtle Beach

Self drive to Myrtle Beach.

Spend the day in this coastal city and beach resort, at the heart of South Carolina’s 60-mile-long Grand Strand.

Overnight Myrtle Beach.

Day 7: Charleston

Self drive to Charleston.

Spot antebellum and Civil War history in South Carolina’s oldest city.

Overnight Charleston.

Day 8: Charleston

Enjoy the day at leisure.

Overnight Charleston.

Day 9: Hilton Head Island

Self drive to Hilton Head Island.

Discover golden-sand Atlantic Ocean beaches at this scenic spot, home to a red and white striped lighthouse.

Overnight Hilton Head Island.

Day 10: Savannah

Self drive to Savannah.

Get a feel for this historic city from the water.

Overnight Savannah.

Day 11: Savannah

Enjoy the day at leisure.

Overnight Savannah.

Day 12: Athens

Self drive to Athens.

Finish in the city which marks the start of Georgia’s Antebellum Trail of historic Civil War towns.

Overnight Athens.

Day 13: Atlanta – UK

Drive to Atlanta Airport and drop your rental car off for your overnight flight back to the UK.

Day 14: Arrive UK

Arrive back in the UK.

Atlanta

Situated at the intersection of the Atlantic and Western railroads, deep in the heart of the American south, Atlanta serves as the capital of Georgia and is the most populated city in the state.

This city of tree-lined streets and elegant homes balances sleek modernism with old southern charm and features a wide selection of historical museums, classical music venues and a thriving theatre and art scene.

Visitors to Atlanta will be impressed with the diversity on offer in terms of culture, nightlife, entertainment and heritage and can take the opportunity to learn about the historical Civil Rights Movement, at the Center for Civil and Human Rights and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change.

Other popular attractions include: Georgia Aquarium, Piedmont Park, High Museum of Art and the College Football Hall of Fame.

Asheville

Tucked away in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, the city of Asheville is known for its thriving arts scene and its remarkable historic architecture.

The streets of this vibrant arts hub are lined with charming boutiques, bars, restaurants, chocolate shops, coffeehouses, museums, antiques shops, and art galleries, many of which occupy beautiful old Art Deco buildings.

Visitor highlights include: Biltmore, an impressive 19th-century French Renaissance château; and the Blue Ridge Parkway, a mountain pass offering panoramic vistas of the spectacularly scenic surrounding area.

Add a thriving microbrewery and locavore scene, and it is easy to see why Asheville has become one of America’s most happening hipster hangouts.

Charlotte

Charlotte is the largest city in the state of North Carolina. This bustling, ultramodern city is home to some stately old neighborhoods, a thriving culinary scene, and a number of excellent museums.

These include, among others: the Levine Museum of the New South, which explores post–Civil War history in the South; Discovery Place, which features some hands-on science displays; and the NASCAR Hall of Fame, which celebrates auto racing through interactive exhibits and films.

If that doesn’t get your adrenaline pumping, try the U.S. National Whitewater Center which offers over 300 acres of rafting, kayaking, biking, hiking and zip-lining.

Other popular activities include taking a horse-drawn carriage tour of the city or exploring the impressive Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden with its 8,000 square foot glass Orchid Conservatory.

Myrtle Beach

One of the United States’ most popular family holiday destinations, Myrtle Beach is a manmade island separated from the mainland by the Intracoastal Waterway, which stretches from Boston to the southern tip of Florida.

The South Carolina city, named for the area’s wax myrtle bushes, attracts more than 14 million visitors annually, including families, bikers, and raucous spring breakers.

Although the main strips are crowded with attractions and restaurants, open-space outdoor activities are plentiful, both on the water and at the local state park.

Compared to inland cities, Myrtle Beach experiences warm, humid summers, although the ocean waters temper the heat.

Charleston

Charleston is a seaport city in the state of South Carolina in the United States of America.

Its historic downtown is on a peninsula formed by two rivers, the Ashley and Cooper, flowing into the Atlantic, and protected from the open ocean by surrounding islands.

Charleston is characterised by its cobblestone streets, horse-drawn carriages and pastel antebellum houses, particularly in the elegant French Quarter and historic Battery area.

The Battery promenade and Waterfront Park both overlook Charleston Harbour, while Fort Sumter, a federal stronghold where the first shots of the Civil War rang out, lies across the water.

Savannah

Located on the northern coast of Georgia, Savannah is an elegant, charming city bursting with architectural sights and character-filled cafes, bars and restaurants.

Begin at Forsyth Park - with its graceful oak trees hanging with Spanish moss - before continuing on to tour Savannah's Historic District, where self-guided audio tours are available from the Visitors’ Centre.

Don’t miss the stunning Gothic-Revival Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist; the Mercer-Williams House, made famous by the book (and film) Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil; cobblestoned River Street, with its Antebellum buildings and public sculptures; and the Bonaventure Cemetery, a deeply atmospheric site with some notable graves.

The Savannah College of Art and Design regularly hosts performances and exhibitions, while the Telfair Museum is a true cultural hub of the city.