Sign up for the Southern Serenade cruise today. Cruise date is April 16 - 24, 2012

Focus on rich history, natural beauty and music as you sail among and visit the grand antebellum homes, quaint fishing villages, birding habitats, barrier islands and saltwater marshes that compose the protected Intracoastal Waterway of the Old South.

Highlights

• In the lovely city of Charleston, visit the historic Palmer Home and a plantation and its adjoining gardens outside the city.
• Shining Savannah is opened to you on a field trip to its famously beautiful squares, vast historic district and fascinating Maritime Museum.
• Board a privately owned ship to Cumberland Island, where an expert-led walk takes you through a live oak forest and onto pristine beaches.

Activity Notes

Walking up to 1.5 miles, uneven terrain, getting on and off motor coach.

Itinerary Summary

Itinerary
Aboard Grand Mariner, 8 nights — Jacksonville, Amelia Island, F.L, Cumberland Island, Jekyll Island, Savannah, G.A., Beaufort, S.C., Charleston, S.C.

Go “island hopping” to experience firsthand the rich history and ecology of three barrier islands, from Civil War-era forts and lighthouses to the lavish R.J. Reynolds Mansion. Lush cottages, gorgeous sandy beaches, culinary delights and fascinating cultural and maritime histories combine for a magical adventure. Highlights • Enjoy an abbreviated lecture on the history of Jekyll Island in preparation for your field trip to Jekyll with lunch at the Jekyll Island Club hotel. • Explore the battlegrounds, old slave quarters, evocative churches, lighthouse and pristine beaches of St. Simons. • After a ferry ride to Sapelo Island, join a local expert to learn the stories of the island and enjoy lunch at the R.J. Reynolds Mansion. Activity Particulars Walking up to a half-mile, including beach and marsh walks; ferry ride to Sapelo. Coordinated by Center for Educational Adventure. St. Simons Island Pristine waters and white sandy beaches make St. Simons Island a popular destination. Part of the Golden Isles, the landscape’s moss-draped oaks, shady lanes and creek-fed pockets of marsh create a thriving habitat for birds, turtles, armadillos and deer.