Southern Elegance With Insight Vacations
Kristin Woodall – CTA
Director of Consultant Development & Group Sales
Direct: (281) 269-2649
Fax: (281) 269-2690
Toll-free: (800) 627-3753 x 149
Email: [email protected]
Mint Juleps, Fried Chicken, and Southern history were the items on my list to see with this trip. his past September I planned a trip with Insight Vacations for the Southern Elegance itinerary. I was so excited to go on a trip with my best friend as we had not had a girls trip in years.
We flew out of our home cities into Atlanta a day early. I was really glad that I did a pre-night to the tour because we had the opportunity to explore a little bit of Atlanta. We went to the Aquarium which is the largest one in the Continental United States and we had a lovely dinner at Gladys Knights Chicken ans Waffles. She and I spilt the chicken and waffles with a side of mac and cheese. It was a lovely start to our trip.
On our first scheduled day of the tour we met our tour director Kenny Rodgers (who was the best tour director I have ever had!) He checked us in to the trip let us know how our bags would be handled and asked us to join everyone for the welcome dinner that evening in the hotel. Day one was very relaxing and we were happy to meet all of the wonderful traveling companions that would make this journey memorable.
We left Atlanta and headed to Asheville on day two and I will tell you driving through the Blue Ridge Mountains was breathtaking. Once we arrived in Asheville we stepped back in time to an era of refined elegance and explored the Biltmore Estate, America’s largest home built for George W. Vanderbilt in 1895. That evening we had another wonderful dinner amongst our new friends. On the menu chips and pimento cheese as an appetizer. That was something new to a girl from Texas who is used to salsa being the starter for most meals.
On day three we headed for the historical port city of Charleston. As soon as we arrived we joined a horse-drawn carriage ride. We enjoyed the views as we passed the prestigious Battery Park and Rainbow Row with its antebellum mansions and the Old Exchange Building. After the carriage ride we had time for shopping and we met back at our hotel which has been open for more than 150 years, The Mills House. Dinner with friends on the tour again served at the Mills House dining room.
The following day while still in Charleston we had the chance to visit a true Southern plantation lifestyle at Magnolia Plantation and in the afternoon, a private experience with a maker of the famous Charleston Sweetgrass Baskets. It was quite the historical experience picking up information from the locals whose families have been there for decades. We finished our day on our own and my best friend and I decided to visit one of Charleston”s decadent southern restaurants S.N.O.B.
On Day 5 our journey continued on to St. Simons Island and Jekyll Island, an exclusive hideaway of white sand beaches, moss-draped oaks and golden marshlands. Our resort stay was on Jekyll Island, once the private vacation club of families like the Rockefellers. Our dinner was served in the resorts formal dining restaurant and the meal was exquisite including a beautiful dessert the chocolate turtle.
Savannah was the final stop on our trip of the south. As the oldest city in the state of Georgia I was excited top see the highlights such as the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist and Monterey Square. During our free time my friend and I wandered around the many squares that pop up every other block. It was like I stepped into the past walking around in time.
The last hoorah the next morning was an exclusive private tour of the Owens-Thomas House, considered one of America’s finest examples of English Regency architecture and a tour of Fort Pulaski National Monument to explore the parapets, earthworks and cannons of the historic brick fort. Then we said our final goodbyes at the last celebration dinner that evening and started thinking about where to go next.
Southern Elegance With Insight Vacations
Kristin Woodall – CTA
Director of Consultant Development & Group Sales
Direct: (281) 269-2649
Fax: (281) 269-2690
Toll-free: (800) 627-3753 x 149
Email: [email protected]