Considered one of the greatest films to come out of Hollywood’s Golden Age, Gone With The Wind was based on the blockbuster novel by Margaret Mitchell. Our tour will trace the life and times of Mrs. Mitchell from her time growing up in Atlanta to the movie premier of GWTH at Atlanta’s Fox Theater. We will visit many locals that inspired the book and visit several museums dedicated to the films characters. In addition, we will see Atlanta’s CNN Studios, Carter Library, new Aquarium, Stone Mountain, plus day trips to Callaway Gardens and FDR’s Warm Springs White House.
Day 1 - Fly to Atlanta
Upon arrival at the Atlanta airport, transfer to your hotel for the next six nights. Be sure to look for The Fountain of Rings, world's largest interactive fountain utilizing the Olympic symbol of five interconnecting Rings. This evening meet your fellow travelers at our Get Aquainted dinner. (D)
Day 2 - Atlanta City Tour
Begin today with a locally guided city tour. See the State Capital Building, Georgia Dome, Dr. Martin Luther King birthplace & grave site, amd Governor’s Mansion. Visit the Atlanta Civil War Cyclorama, a 360-degree painting of the Battle of Atlanta. Stop for lunch on own at Underground Atlanta, 6 blocks of shopping, dining, & entertainment. Then visit the Atlanta History Center to tour the Swan House & Gardens. Tonight, enjoy another fabulous dinner. (B,D)
Day 3 - World of Coke / Inside CNN / Georgia Aquarium
Begin today with a visit to the Georgia Aquarium, the World’s largest and featuring an 8 million gallon tank filled with more sea animals than any other aquarium. Next, visit the World of Coke and learn the history of the world’s most popular soft drink. After an included lunch, you’ll visit CNN’s Atlanta studios. Here, you get a behind the scenes look at what it takes to deliver the news to over 2 billion people worldwide. (B,L)
Day 4 - Gone With The Wind
Our themed day trip starts with a tour of the Atlanta home & museum of Margaret Mitchell, author of the Pulitzer Prize winning novel, Gone With the Wind. A native Atlantan, Mitchell’s life story is rich in history before & after Scarlett was brought to life. The museum illuminates the making of the movie through original objects, correspondence, & artifacts such as the doorway to Tara. Next, we’ll drive to Jonesboro, known as the home of Gone With the Wind. Tour the Road to Tara Museum, with it’s impressive inventory of GWTW book & movie memorabilia, including original props, costume reproductions, plate & doll collections, and photo gallery. Then, visit Stately Oaks Plantation, believed to be one of the inspirations for Mitchell's Tara. Enjoy an included lunch at the plantation with a visit from Scarlett herself. Next we depart for Marietta and the Scalett on the Square Museum. Highlights include the original Bengaline honeymoon gown worn by Vivien Leigh in the movie, several of Mitchell's personal volumes of the novel and much more. (B,L)
Day 5 - Stone Mountain / Fox Theater / Governor’s Mansion
Morning visit to Stone Mtn. Park, home to the world's largest bas relief carving. Enjoy a skyride to the top and get an up-close look at the Carvings. Also see Memorial Hall, an Antebellum Mansion and Crossroads, a recreated 1870s southern town. Then depart for a behind the scenes tour of Fox Theater, an opulent monument to the heady excesses of the pre-crash 1920's. Then, tour the Governor’s Mansion, the official home Georgia’s governor. (B,L)
Day 6 - Little White House / Callaway Gardens
Motor south today to the town of Warm Springs and home to FDR’s Little White House. The President spent time here hoping to find a cure for his polio in the Warm Springs water. Next, visit Callaway Gardens in the foothills of the Appalachians. The spring brings an explosion of color to the gardens especially the azaleas. Tour the conservatory, home to more than 1000 tropical butterflies. This afternoon return to your hotel and relax prior to your Farewell Dinner at a top local restaurant. (B,D)
Day 7 - Carter Library / Fly Home
Morning visit to the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library, containing over 27 million documents, photographs and objects detailing the Carter Administration including his Nobel Peace Prize. Then, depart for the airport and your return flight home. (B)