Day by Day
Day 1 London – Washington
Fly direct from London to Washington DC, the nation’s Capital. Once you arrive in Washington make your own way to your hotel where the remainder of the day is free to relax after your flight.
Day 2 Washington DC
Spend your day exploring all the historic sights of Washington DC. Some of the musts include the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument and best of the White House. You may also want to visit the great shops and fantastic restaurants of the Georgetown area.
Day 3 Washington DC – Richmond, Virginia
Your final morning in DC can be spent visiting some more of the sights in the downtown area that include The Capitol Building, Martin Luther King Jr Memorial and the World War II Memorial. You will also want to explore the marvelous Smithsonian Institution that is made up of 19 separate exhibits that are located across the city. After your morning exploring more of Washington pick up your car and drive to Richmond. Apon arrival check-in and enjoy the evening at Leisure.
Day 4 Richmond – Virginia Beach
Discover history, adventure and an easily accessible location in the Historic Richmond Region. Here, more than 400 years of American history live on through magnificent architecture, monument-lined cobblestone streets, and world class Museums. After your morning here continue your journey to Virginia Beach where you will spend your next 2 nights. As you arrive, get right to the table and taste the coast with a visit to the Founders Inn’s Swan Terrace Restaurant. Take advantage of their first class chef-instructed sessions for expert advice on preparing culinary creations, and learn the art of wine tasting.
Day 5 Virginia Beach
After breakfast at your hotel, head to the Farmers Market to find a rich variety of locally grown produce. In season, pick some yourself at area strawberry, peach and blueberry farms. Explore hidden gifts in your backyard with a Wild Roots and Edible Flowers Tour. Your day of living off the land will be complete with a “Paddle Feast” as you kayak quiet waterways to a delicious meal at Blue Pete’s Restaurant. Try the famous crab cakes, a local’s treat.
Day 6 Virginia Beach – Raleigh Durham
Enjoy the morning watching the fishing boats or enjoying a leisurely stroll along the coast before checking out your hotel. Continue your journey to Raleigh Durham. When you arrive check in to your hotel and enjoy your evening at leisure.
Day 7 Raleigh Durham - Charlotte
This morning visit the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences (free) and the North Carolina Museum of History (free), located in downtown Raleigh's Capital District. The N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences features four floors of exhibits, including prehistoric N.C. (featuring the Acrocanthosaurus dinosaur) and a dry tropical rainforest with butterflies, hummingbirds and a one-toed sloth. The N.C. Museum of History has short-term and long-term exhibitions about the history of the state, including Civil War heritage as well as the N.C. Sports Hall of Fame. This afternoon continue your journey to Charlotte where you will spend 2 nights. Spend the evening at leisure.
Day 8 Charlotte
Get acquainted with the Queen City on an engaging guided tour of Charlotte and its neighbourhoods. Take advantage of the inviting North Carolina climate at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, a 110-acre park with formal gardens, fountains and an 8,000 square foot glasshouse Orchid Conservatory.
Day 9 – Charlotte – Chattanooga
Spend the morning having breakfast and enjoying the sights of Charlotte before driving to your next destination, Chattanooga. Once arrived check in to your hotel and enjoy the evening at Leisure.
Day 10 – Chattanooga
You’ll want to start your day with an overview of Chattanooga’s history. A riverboat highlights the rich resources of the Tennessee River Gorge (the reason they have been so popular for about the last 10,000 years). Expect lots of wildlife sightings and history of Chattanooga’s first inhabitants.
Once you’ve soaked up the history of downtown, head to an equally intriguing neighbourhood – Chattanooga’s Southside. Once the financial hub of the city, the abandoned warehouses and old buildings are now occupied by restaurants, shops and art galleries. The Terminal Brew house is located in the revitalized Stong Building, a hotel built in 1909 for weary train travelers. Gourmet burger bar Urban Stack is housed in the former Southern Railway Baggage Building, one of the oldest buildings in the city.
Day 11 – Chattanooga – Nashville
You have time to grab some breakfast before driving to Nashville. Once you have arrived check into your hotel and then Head to the Opryland area to get in a bit of shopping before seeing a performance. Check out the vast selection of stores while browsing for everything from books and boots to bass fishing boats.
Day 12 – Nashville
Begin the day with an amazing, original, scientific adventure at the Adventure Science Center! Complete your astronaut training and tour the solar system in the new Space Chase exhibit wing. Make your way Down the Hatch to The Heart of It All, Body Battles, Brain Storm Theatre, and other interactive exhibits in Body Quest, as you learn how your body works. Plus, experience the Adventure Tower, Sudekum Planetarium, BlueMax, and more!
Enjoy lunch at the Nashville Farmers' Market, featuring exciting culinary experiences from all over the world in their food hall. After lunch visit the Country Music Hall of Fame before enjoying the rest of the afternoon at leisure.
Day 13 – Nashville – Bowling Green
Grab some breakfast before driving to Bowling Green, Kentucky. Once you arrive check into your hotel and head into town for a bit to eat.
Day 14 - Bowling Green - Louisville
Enjoy your only full day here by taking a short drive to Mammoth Cave National Park. Mammoth Cave National Park preserves the cave system and a part of the Green River valley and hilly country of south central Kentucky. This is the world's longest known cave system, with more than 400 miles explored, a true natural Beauty. After visiting the caves drive to Louisville where you will spend your next 2 nights.
Day 15 – Louisville
Churchill Downs- Backstretch Breakfast Tour- Start your day by experiencing the exclusive atmosphere of a morning at the track with a preview of the magical process of training world-class Thoroughbreds during the early morning workout. Kentucky Derby Museum- Experience Derby Day from the starting gate to the finish line. The Kentucky Derby Museum brings the pageantry and excitement of the Kentucky Derby to life. Feel the excitement of the crowds and hear the thunder of the hoofs with a presentation of “The Greatest Race”. Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory- Tour the World- famous bat factory. Admire the world’s largest baseball bat before going inside to see how Louisville Sluggers are made. Have an all-star experience by swinging a bat just like Babe Ruth’s, facing down a 90 mph fastball and sharing a dugout with Mickey Mantle. The “Louisville Slugger” has been essential in the sport of baseball since 1884.
Day 16 – Louisville to Lexington
Drive the 1hour 20 mins journey to Lexington, the remainder of your day is free to explore the sights of Lexington
Day 17 – Lexington
Enjoy your only full day in Lexington by shopping in Bluegrass, meeting Lexington’s four-footed celebrities in their own home, Kentucky Horse Park - The Kentucky Horse Park lives up to its reputation as the place to get close to horses as their daily show and activity schedule demonstrates. Home to many different breeds, large and small, the park introduces you to the world of the horse. Experience the behind-the-scenes sights and sounds of a real working horse farm as you explore the grounds. Kentucky Horse Park tickets include admission to the world-renowned International Museum of the Horse, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, the American Saddlebred Museum - the Showplace for Saddlebreds, a Horse-Drawn Tour and equine presentations throughout the day. Some shows and/or special events may require a separate or additional charge.
Day 18 – Lexington – London
Grab some breakfast and maybe a last minute glass of Bourbon before heading to Lexington airport for your afternoon flight home.
Day 18 London
Arrive back in the UK after what was hopefully a fantastic holiday.
