2016 - APT USA

50 Discover Savannah's beautiful sights such as Forsyth Park 24 Day Grand Southern Charm 16 Night Luxury Land Journey & 7 Night Mississippi River Cruise New Orleans | Memphis | Nashville | Atlanta | Savannah | Charleston | New York City ARRIVE & RELAX IN NEW ORLEANS Day 1. New Orleans. On arrival in New Orleans, you'll be met and transferred to your hotel. Two Night Stay: The Roosevelt New Orleans. EXPERIENCE THE BIG EASY Day 2. New Orleans, Freedom of Choice Dining. Enjoy a Welcome Breakfast before a city tour of New Orleans during which you'll explore the exquisite Van Benthuysen- Elms Mansion, which was built in 1869. Tonight, you'll be led by a Dixieland Jazz marching band through the streets of New Orleans in your very own secondline parade. Arrive in the city's French Quarter, where you'll dine at your choice of four restaurants specialising in New Orleans' famous French-Creole cuisine. BD CRUISING THE MIGHTY MISSISSIPPI RIVER Day 3. New Orleans, Embark Mississippi River Cruise. Enjoy an insider's look at the colourful preparations for New Orleans' famous annual Mardi Gras. Afterwards, board your boutique small ship paddlewheeler. Enjoy a Welcome Dinner this evening. Seven Night Cruise: Aboard a boutique paddlewheer, stay in a spacious Twin Window Stateroom. BLD Day 4. Oak Alley. Dock out the front of Oak Alley – a magnificent mansion and plantation located in Vacherie, Louisiana. Disembark, enjoy a traditional Mint Julep and wander under a 240-metre-long canopy of towering oak trees. Enjoy a tour of the wonderfully restored Greek-revival-style antebellum mansion and its impressive grounds, including a look at several reconstructed slave quarters. Later, re-board your ship and continue along the Mississippi towards Baton Rouge. BLD Day 5. Baton Rouge, St Francisville. Disembark in Baton Rouge and join a local guide for a historic city tour followed by a guided tour of the LSU Rural Life Museum. Later, head to the small town of St Francisville to learn about the traditions and lifestyles of the Old South's wealthiest inhabitants during a tour of the home and grounds at Rosedown Plantation. Return to your ship and continue your cruise along this majestic river. BLD Day 6. Natchez. On a Historic District Tour visit Longwood Mansion, an octagonal house never completed due to the Civil War. You'll also see many of the city's restored homes and buildings. Later, perhaps head to the antebellum JN Stone House and be treated to a classical music concert performed by the owner. Alternatively, learn about the life and times of early cotton planters at Frogmore Plantation. Here, a tour will compare a cotton plantation of 1790 to a modern farm, and explore the plantation's rare steam gin. BLD Day 7. Vicksburg. As the site of a 47-day siege during the American Civil War, this morning's port of call – Vicksburg, Mississippi – is simply bursting with history. Here, you will explore the Vicksburg National Military Park. APT EXCLUSIVE! Freedom of Choice TM – Sightseeing Freedom of Choice TM – Dining Signature Invitation NEW SOUTHERN CITIES FOR 2016 In 2016, you have the chance to explore even more of the USA's charming Deep South with the addition of these exciting cities – Atlanta, Georgia; Savannah, Georgia and Charleston, South Carolina. Gain a deeper understanding of the United States' Southern history, and discover significant landmarks. In Savannah, enjoy some of the region's most delicious dishes during a private dinner in the city's only 18th-century mansion; while in the USA's 'Friendliest City' of Charleston, you'll see the iconic pineapple fountain and tour the plantations of Drayton Hall and Middleton Place, where the walls echo with stories of some of history's most important events. www.aptouring.co.nz

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