Enjoy breakfast at the hotel this morning before we depart for the Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn to learn about the Lowcountry’s unique history, cultural heritage, and natural world. Centuries-old buildings bring to life stories about the area’s original families and communities, while exploratory trails, gardens, and wooden boardwalks over the salt marshes introduce visitors to the flora and fauna found along the South Carolina coast. Camellias, carnivorous plants, butterflies, fiddler crabs, oyster beds, and more await! Lunch today will be at a local favorite before we climb to the top of the red-and-white-striped Harbour Town Lighthouse. Each level of the lighthouse offers an intriguing look at the history of the lighthouse and the island, from the Yemassee Indians and Gullah culture to golf and Charles Fraser’s development of this famous resort community. Once at the top, the views are outstanding! Time will then be available to admire the magnificent yachts moored in the neighboring Harbour Town Yacht Basin. The basin was inspired by a harbor in Portofino, Italy, and is one of the top yachting destinations on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. Upon our return to the hotel, the remainder of the day is yours to relax and have dinner at your leisure. Head to the legendary Tiki Hut for some live music and a cocktail or two, grab a bite of Southern classics at one of Hilton Head Island’s countless restaurants, or take a stroll along Coligny Beach.

(Breakfast and lunch included)

Our day will begin with breakfast followed by the short journey to the Heyward House to begin our walking tour of Old Town Bluffton. This National Register Historic District is set along a high bluff overlooking the May River and was once a retreat for wealthy land owners looking to escape the summer heat of the Lowcountry plantations. Much of the town was destroyed by the Union during the Civil War, but a handful of antebellum homes and two historic churches are still standing. We’ll have the opportunity to see and learn about many of these gorgeous buildings as we stroll through town with our guide. Following the tour, we will have free time in Bluffton’s quirky downtown to have lunch on our own in one of the interesting restaurants ranging from burgers and barbecue to delicious seafood. Up next is a dive into the history, science, and creativity behind the finest Lowcountry spirits at Burnt Church Distillery. Our tour will unearth fascinating stories of the South Carolina Lowcountry and take us through the complex steps involved in making bourbon, whiskey, vodka, gin, moonshine, agave, and rum. Tonight, dinner will be enjoyed as a group at a wonderful local restaurant.

(Breakfast and dinner included)

Today’s adventure will take us to Beaufort’s Visitor Center and History Museum in the Beaufort Arsenal. The Arsenal was built in 1798 to house the Beaufort Volunteer Artillery whose men fought alongside the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. The museum boasts an impressive collection of artifacts, documents, and photos that trace the history of Beaufort from the arrival of the Native Americans to the present day with the plantation culture and antebellum era, secession and the Civil War, and Reconstruction along the way. Next up is Beaufort’s historic Bay Street to explore the vibrant collection of one-of-a kind shops and galleries. Beaufort is home to some of the best artists in the South, and their work is proudly on display on Bay Street! We’ll then say goodbye to Beaufort and hello to St. Helena Island to visit Penn Center, the site of first school in the South for the formerly enslaved. It played an important role during the Civil Rights Movement, and today the center works to preserve and share the extraordinary history and culture of the Gullah Geechee people. We’ll also stop at the ruins of the Chapel of Ease. Chapels such as this were built by rice and cotton planters as convenient places of worship because their plantations were too far from existing churches. Our final stop on St. Helena Island will be the Lowcountry Store to browse locally made treasures before we make our way back to Hilton Head Island and enjoy a delicious dinner together this evening.

(Breakfast and dinner included)

Following breakfast we will venture to beautiful Savannah, GA. Here we’ll meet our local guide who will lead us on a tour of the Savannah National Historic Landmark District containing one of America's finest collections of eighteenth and nineteenth century buildings. Within this 2.2 square mile area, beautiful streets and squares reveal 260 years of history displayed eloquently in exquisite ironwork, ancient cobblestones, splendid mansions, and picturesque cottages. We will see the highlights of the Victorian District with its post-Civil War architecture, stained-glass windows, gingerbread trim, and other signatures of the period. Also, the tour would not be complete without mentioning the famous book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt that was set in Savannah. Our guide will point out many of the sites mentioned in the book and explain the significance of the story as well as the impact this award-winning book has had on the city. After lunch together at a local restaurant, we will visit the American Prohibition Museum which brings the roaring 20s back to life through its intoxicating exhibits, displays, state-of-the-art dioramas, and speakeasy. We’ll learn about the troublemakers of the 1920s and 30s and discover how Prohibition and Temperance shaped our culture in America. Then it’s time to see Savannah from a unique perspective as we embark on a sightseeing cruise along the historic riverfront and listen as our captain shares interesting tales and facts about the city and river. Once back on land, we will return to Hilton Head Island for an evening at leisure. 

(Breakfast and lunch included)

Another day of touring in Savannah awaits us today! Up first is a historic homes tour that will include the Harper Fowlkes House known for its original architectural details. This Greek Revival mansion was built in 1842 and purchased by Alida Harper Fowlkes in 1939. Alida furnished the home with antiques and left it to the Society of the Cincinnati so future generations could explore the lifestyle of the mid-1800s. Free time will be available to explore the City Market’s fun shops and galleries and grab lunch at one of the delicious dining options. Then we are off to Tybee Island, a barrier island located right outside Savannah. Known for its wide, sandy beaches, visitors have been traveling to this popular vacation spot since the late 1800s to soak up some sun and enjoy a healthy dose of seaside bliss. Here we’ll visit the Tybee Island Light Station & Museum, Georgia's oldest and tallest lighthouse. Dating back to 1736, three lightkeeper's cottages, a military battery, and a museum help interpret the island's rich history. Feel free to climb to the top of the lighthouse to look over the island's spectacular landscape. If steps aren't your thing, there is plenty to see and do at ground level! We’ll cap off our day with one last evening of Southern hospitality during a fantastic farewell dinner back on Hilton Head Island.  

 (Breakfast and dinner included) 

After breakfast enjoy on last glimpse of the unique charm of the Lowcountry as we transfer to the airport for our flight home. 

(Breakfast included)