South Carolina/Georgia
The Best of Charleston and Savannah: A Tale of Two Cities
Program No. 2171560MEADV-1116-60
Discover the charms of Charleston and Savannah with plenty of time on your own, and learn about basket weaving, explore plantations, visit Civil War forts and enjoy local cuisine.
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8 days
7 nights
15 meals
7B 4L 4D
1
Check-in, Registration, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Charleston, SC
2
Charleston & Lowcountry, The Battery, Gullah Culture
Charleston, SC
3
Sweetgrass Baskets,Taste of Charleston,Free Time
Charleston, SC
4
Middleton Place, Magnolia Plantation, Sound of Charleston
Charleston, SC
5
To Savannah, Beaufort, Savannah Landmarks
Savannah, Georgia
6
Andrew Low House, Isaiah Davenport, Free Time
Savannah, Georgia
7
Old Fort Jackson, Wormsloe Historic Site, Free Time
Savannah, Georgia
8
Transfer to Airports, Program Concludes
Savannah, Georgia
At a Glance
Charleston and Savannah — the grand dames of the antebellum South. Journey from one to the other as you learn about Southern culture at plantations, Civil War forts, Lowcountry landmarks and landscaped gardens. Hear tales of centuries past and experience elegant architecture and culinary delights in these waterfront cities where cobblestone streets and historic homes spill over with history and charm.
Activity Level
On Your Feet
Walking up to three miles daily on a mix of concrete paths and uneven terrain; stairs at museums, historic houses, restaurants; getting on/off buses and trolley.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Walk the grounds of an 18th-century Charleston plantation that has survived revolution and civil war, and hear the cannons firing at Savannah’s Old Fort Jackson.
- Savor the diverse Lowcountry flavors of both cities.
- Witness the art and learn the history of sweetgrass basket weaving as demonstrated by a local Charlestonian, and learn about the Gullah culture through music.
General Notes
Select dates are designated for small groups and are limited to 24 participants or less. Program includes independent time to explore the city and several meals on your own. Group Leaders will provide directions for self-directed excursions. Suggestions for free-time activities provided in preparatory materials.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Ruth Miller
Ruth Miller, a graduate of Duke University, has lived all over America and journeyed throughout the world. As a Charleston historian and excursion leader, she enjoys tying local history into the American story and worldwide events. Ruth is the author and co-author of numerous books, including “Charleston Charlie — A Family Activity Book for Kids of All Ages,” “Touring the Tombstones,” and “The Angel Oak Story.” She is a member of the South Carolina Historical Society and the National Trust.
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Ruth Miller
View biography
Ruth Miller, a graduate of Duke University, has lived all over America and journeyed throughout the world. As a Charleston historian and excursion leader, she enjoys tying local history into the American story and worldwide events. Ruth is the author and co-author of numerous books, including “Charleston Charlie — A Family Activity Book for Kids of All Ages,” “Touring the Tombstones,” and “The Angel Oak Story.” She is a member of the South Carolina Historical Society and the National Trust.
Al Miller
View biography
Al Miller received a bachelor’s degree in English, speech and drama from Baptist College — now Charleston Southern University. He is a recognized historian specializing in local, black history with emphasis on the Gullah-Geechee culture. He brings his musical talent to his lectures for a unique perspective. Al enjoys leading educational excursions, is a licensed real estate agent, as well as a historian and lecturer on black history. He is also a member of numerous organizations, including the Choraliers Music Club of Charleston, Alpha Phi Fraternity and St. James A.M.E. Church.
Darryl Stoneworth
View biography
Darryl Stoneworth, along with wife Angela, has been selling home-crafted sweetgrass baskets in the Charleston City Market since May 2009. If you happen by his stand, you'll know Darryl by his omnipresent smile. The couple is also constructing their first roadside basket stand along Highway 17N in Mount Pleasant, N.C. The town has renamed and dedicated this stretch of the highway in tribute to the hamlet's sweetgrass basket makers.
Jamie Keena, Period Music
View biography
Jamie Keena loves to sing old songs, including folk songs of America and the British Isles, patriotic airs, and “songs written to order” by Tin Pan Alley composers. With a bachelor’s in music from the College of William and Mary, Jamie accompanies his singing with guitar, banjo and ukulele, and also plays the fife, hammered dulcimer and concertina.
Georgia Murphy
View biography
Georgia Murphy grew up in a small middle Georgia town, but has called Charleston home for the past 37 years. She has been a licensed excursion leader for the City of Charleston for 28 years, and considers sharing the beauty and history of Charleston and the Carolina Low Country as one of her greatest joys.
Terrie Dal Pozzo
View biography
Terrie was raised in New Orleans and moved to the U.S. Virgin Islands at the age of 18. She became the youngest woman in the Virgin Islands to obtain a Coast Guard license to operate motor and sailing vessels. Terrie skippered sailing vessels, taking guests on journeys through the Leeward Islands, teaching them to sail and snorkel and educating them on island life. She later lived in Kitzbuhel, Austria and Perth, Australia before returning to the Virgin Islands. She currently lives in eastern Tennessee.
Becky Alexander
View biography
Becky Alexander lives in Alabama and leads programs in the United States and Canada. She is also a multi-published magazine writer and book author. She has traveled extensively throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Europe.
Joyce E Harvison
View biography
Joyce Harvison epitomizes Southern hospitality. A native of Savannah, she has worked for the last 30+ years in Savannah's Historic District, first as an insurance agent, and the last 16 years as a Director of Groups/Charters with a local trolley company showing off the city’s best sights to visitors from near and far. She revels in treating family, friends, and visitors to the best possible time, including hidden gems when they visit her home town. Joyce has two daughters and three grandchildren.
Suggested Reading List
(10 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
The Best of Charleston and Savannah: A Tale of Two Cities
Program Number: 21715
Allegiance: Fort Sumter, Charleston, and the Beginning of the Civil War
An original and deeply human portrait of soldiers and civilians caught in the vortex of war.
So vividly does Allegiance re-create the events leading to the firing of the first shot of the Civil War on April 12, 1861, that we can feel the fabric of the Union tearing apart. It is a tense and surprising story, filled with indecisive bureaucrats, uninformed leaders, hotheaded politicians, and dedicated and honorable soldiers on both sides.
The six-month-long agony that began with Lincoln's election in November sputtered from one crisis to the next until Lincoln's inauguration, and finally exploded as the soldiers at Sumter neared starvation. At the center of this dramatic narrative is the heroic figure of Major Robert Anderson, a soldier whose experience had taught him above all that war is the poorest form of policy. With little help from Washington, D.C., Anderson almost single-handedly forestalled the beginning of the war until he finally had no choice but to fight.
David Detzer's decade-long research illuminates the passions that led to the fighting, the sober reflections of the man who restrained its outbreak, and individuals on both sides who changed American history. No other historian has given us a clearer or more intimate picture of the human drama of Fort Sumter.
Touring the Tombstones
A series of guide books to Charleston's 18th century graveyards.
A Short History of Charleston
A concise small history of Charleston that is easy to read and enjoyable.
A Black Woman's Civil War Memories
Reissue of a 1902 book by a nurse/teacher/former slave-memoirs of a black woman around the time of the Civil War.
The Angel Oak Story
The Angel Oak is a Southern live oak tree located in Angel Oak Park, in Charleston, South Carolina, on Johns Island, one of South Carolina's Sea Islands. It is estimated to be 300-400 years old, stands 65 ft (20 m) tall, measures 28 ft (8.5 m) in circumference, and shades with its crown an area of 17,000 square feet. This book goes in depth regarding the history of this mighty tree.
South of Broad
Against the sumptuous backdrop of Charleston, South Carolina, South of Broad gathers a unique cast of sinners and saints. Leopold Bloom King, our narrator, is the son of an amiable, loving father who teaches science at the local high school. His mother, an ex-nun, is the high school principal and a well-known Joyce scholar. After Leo's older brother commits suicide at the age of thirteen, the family struggles with the shattering effects of his death, and Leo, lonely and isolated, searches for something to sustain him. Eventually, he finds his answer when he becomes part of a tightly knit group of high school seniors that includes friends Sheba and Trevor Poe, glamorous twins with an alcoholic mother and a prison-escapee father; hardscrabble mountain runaways Niles and Starla Whitehead; socialite Molly Huger and her boyfriend, Chadworth Rutledge X; and an ever-widening circle whose liaisons will ripple across two decades-from 1960s counterculture through the dawn of the AIDS crisis in the 1980s.
The ties among them endure for years, surviving marriages happy and troubled, unrequited loves and unspoken longings, hard-won successes and devastating breakdowns, and Charleston's dark legacy of racism and class divisions. But the final test of friendship that brings them to San Francisco is something no one is prepared for. South of Broad is Pat Conroy at his finest; a long-awaited work from a great American writer whose passion for life and language knows no bounds.
Civil War Savannah
Glimpse into the lives of the men and women who forever will be associated with Savannah through the wartime deeds.
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
Referred to in Savannah as "The Book"-non-fiction, adult language-account of a local antique dealer, Jim Williams', four (!) trials for the same murder in the 1980's-also a Clint Eastwood movie released in 1997.
The Complete Stories: Flannery O'Conner
Native Savannian who won the 1971 National Book Award for Fiction. Thirty-one tales depicting the humorous, of near tragic conditions of life in the Deep South during the fifties.
A Witness to History: Charleston's Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon
The Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon in Charleston, South Carolina, is one of the great buildings of Colonial America. Serving as city hall, customs house, post office and prison; as the British Headquarters during the occupation of Charles Towne and then host to a great ball honoring George Washington, the Exchange has been an eyewitness to America’s history. This stoic building-—designated a National Historic Landmark in 1975—-has been described as the best example of the dignity and ornament of the traditional English “exchange-town hall” design of the eighteenth century built in the United States. From within its Great Hall to deep below in the Provost Dungeon, the Exchange has played a vital role in American history. Andrus’ and Miller’s fast-paced and readable survey of the history and significance of the Old Exchange Building will appeal to visitor and serious historian alike.
Program
At a Glance
Duration
8 days
Program Begins
Charleston, SC
Program Concludes
Savannah, Georgia
Meals
15
| 7B |
4L |
4D |
Activity Level
Charleston and Savannah — the grand dames of the antebellum South. Journey from one to the other as you learn about Southern culture at plantations, Civil War forts, Lowcountry landmarks and landscaped gardens. Hear tales of centuries past and experience elegant architecture and culinary delights in these waterfront cities where cobblestone streets and historic homes spill over with history and charm.)
Best of all, you'll...
- Walk the grounds of an 18th-century Charleston plantation that has survived revolution and civil war, and hear the cannons firing at Savannah’s Old Fort Jackson.
- Savor the diverse Lowcountry flavors of both cities.
- Witness the art and learn the history of sweetgrass basket weaving as demonstrated by a local Charlestonian, and learn about the Gullah culture through music.
General Notes
Select dates are designated for small groups and are limited to 24 participants or less. Program includes independent time to explore the city and several meals on your own. Group Leaders will provide directions for self-directed excursions. Suggestions for free-time activities provided in preparatory materials.
Featured Expert
Ruth Miller
Ruth Miller, a graduate of Duke University, has lived all over America and journeyed throughout the world. As a Charleston historian and excursion leader, she enjoys tying local history into the American story and worldwide events. Ruth is the author and co-author of numerous books, including “Charleston Charlie — A Family Activity Book for Kids of All Ages,” “Touring the Tombstones,” and “The Angel Oak Story.” She is a member of the South Carolina Historical Society and the National Trust.
Please Note:
This expert may not be available for every date of the program
Al Miller
Al Miller received a bachelor’s degree in English, speech and drama from Baptist College — now Charleston Southern University. He is a recognized historian specializing in local, black history with emphasis on the Gullah-Geechee culture. He brings his musical talent to his lectures for a unique perspective. Al enjoys leading educational excursions, is a licensed real estate agent, as well as a historian and lecturer on black history. He is also a member of numerous organizations, including the Choraliers Music Club of Charleston, Alpha Phi Fraternity and St. James A.M.E. Church.
Darryl Stoneworth
Darryl Stoneworth, along with wife Angela, has been selling home-crafted sweetgrass baskets in the Charleston City Market since May 2009. If you happen by his stand, you'll know Darryl by his omnipresent smile. The couple is also constructing their first roadside basket stand along Highway 17N in Mount Pleasant, N.C. The town has renamed and dedicated this stretch of the highway in tribute to the hamlet's sweetgrass basket makers.
Jamie Keena, Period Music
Jamie Keena loves to sing old songs, including folk songs of America and the British Isles, patriotic airs, and “songs written to order” by Tin Pan Alley composers. With a bachelor’s in music from the College of William and Mary, Jamie accompanies his singing with guitar, banjo and ukulele, and also plays the fife, hammered dulcimer and concertina.
Georgia Murphy
Georgia Murphy grew up in a small middle Georgia town, but has called Charleston home for the past 37 years. She has been a licensed excursion leader for the City of Charleston for 28 years, and considers sharing the beauty and history of Charleston and the Carolina Low Country as one of her greatest joys.
Terrie Dal Pozzo
Terrie was raised in New Orleans and moved to the U.S. Virgin Islands at the age of 18. She became the youngest woman in the Virgin Islands to obtain a Coast Guard license to operate motor and sailing vessels. Terrie skippered sailing vessels, taking guests on journeys through the Leeward Islands, teaching them to sail and snorkel and educating them on island life. She later lived in Kitzbuhel, Austria and Perth, Australia before returning to the Virgin Islands. She currently lives in eastern Tennessee.
Becky Alexander
Becky Alexander lives in Alabama and leads programs in the United States and Canada. She is also a multi-published magazine writer and book author. She has traveled extensively throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Europe.
Joyce E Harvison
Joyce Harvison epitomizes Southern hospitality. A native of Savannah, she has worked for the last 30+ years in Savannah's Historic District, first as an insurance agent, and the last 16 years as a Director of Groups/Charters with a local trolley company showing off the city’s best sights to visitors from near and far. She revels in treating family, friends, and visitors to the best possible time, including hidden gems when they visit her home town. Joyce has two daughters and three grandchildren.
Activity Level
On Your Feet
Walking up to three miles daily on a mix of concrete paths and uneven terrain; stairs at museums, historic houses, restaurants; getting on/off buses and trolley.
Suggested Reading List
View Full List
(10 Books)
You can also find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone?
We can help. Give us a call, and we can answer all of your questions!
Call
800-454-5768
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
8 days
7 nights
What's Included
15 meals | 7B | 4L | 4D |
3 expert-led lectures
10 expert-led field trips
3 performances
An experienced Group Leader
7 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Day
1
Check-in, Registration, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Location:
Charleston, SC
Meals:
D
Stay:
Francis Marion Hotel
Activity Note
Hotel check-in from 4:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).
Afternoon:
Program Registration: 5:00 p.m. After you check in and have your room assignment, join us at the Road Scholar table in the lobby to register with the program staff, get any updated information, and confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please locate your Group Leader and let them know you have arrived. Orientation: 6:00 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. You are about to embark on a very special learning adventure, seeing firsthand how history lives on in the present, from stately homes to extraordinary Lowcountry plantations in historic Charleston. Known as the “Holy City” because of its many houses of worship, this was one of the few cities in colonial America to protect religious diversity. You'll explore and learn about magnificent dwellings, often adorned with graceful gardens, and the lives of the people who lived and worked there in two of the most popular historical cities in the USA, Charleston and Savannah. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow participants, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Day
2
Charleston & Lowcountry, The Battery, Gullah Culture
Location:
Charleston, SC
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Francis Marion Hotel
Activity Note
Walking around the Battery approximately .5 miles on paved and some uneven terrain. On/off motorcoach.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
A local historian will provide an introduction to Charleston and the Carolina Lowcountry. This introductory history of Charleston will prepare you for the field trips we will take during your stay starting with the first field trip through historic downtown Charleston after lunch
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
Next, we’ll set out with a local expert on a field trip by motorcoach through the Charleston Historic District. This is truly one of the most historic cities in America, with a deep and rich cultural heritage. We will be getting off at the Battery where our historian will accompany us and point out historically significant locations with commentary. Then we’ll travel to The Citadel, one of the six Senior Military Colleges in the United States, where we’ll explore the campus with our expert. The Citadel was established in 1842 and was originally located on Marion Square in beautiful downtown Charleston, SC. Today the picturesque campus, which was moved in 1922 to the bank of the Ashley River, is home to 24 major buildings and over 3,400 men and women enrolled in over 20 full and part time graduate and undergraduate programs. While here, we’ll enter a non-denominational church and enjoy a lecture before continuing our field trip through campus via motorcoach with commentary provided about the history and significance of The Citadel.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
Our special presentation this evening features a live performance. The Gullah people, descendants of slaves, are a distinctive group of African-Americans living in the Coastal regions of South Carolina and Georgia. Because of their isolated community life, the Gullah have retained more of their African cultural heritage than any other group and speak an English-based Creole language that retains many elements of African language and culture. In addition to their informative presentation, we’ll also enjoy a selection of songs performed by our local expert that will entertain and delight us with insights into Gullah culture.
Day
3
Sweetgrass Baskets,Taste of Charleston,Free Time
Location:
Charleston, SC
Meals:
B,L
Stay:
Francis Marion Hotel
Activity Note
Walking up to 2 miles throughout the day; culinary field trip will last about 3 hours, including stops.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
At the hotel, we’ll be joined by a local expert who will tell us the history of sweet grass baskets. We’ll also observe a demonstration and see finished baskets. Next, we’ll set out walking on a culinary field trip to visit several different well-known local restaurants and taste samples at each one. We’ll also see renovated buildings that have been transformed into popular restaurants. When we finish, we will have had our lunch! This is a great way to experience several of the city’s top restaurants.
Lunch:
Our lunch today consists of the movable feast we experience during our culinary discovery field trip.
Afternoon:
Free Time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. You might like to visit the City Market, another historic home, or explore the Charleston Museum. There are numerous possibilities throughout the Historic District.
Dinner:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
4
Middleton Place, Magnolia Plantation, Sound of Charleston
Location:
Charleston, SC
Meals:
B,L
Stay:
Francis Marion Hotel
Activity Note
Walking up to 3 miles total; about 1.5 miles each at Middleton Place and Magnolia Plantation; climbing 10-12 steps, getting on/off a tram. Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 45 miles throughout the day, approximately 1.5 hours riding time with stops. .9 mile to Circular Church for Sound of Charleston.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Setting out by motorcoach, our local expert will provide commentary en route to and at the plantations. Middleton Place is a National Historic Landmark situated on the Ashley River, a carefully preserved 18th-century plantation that has survived revolution, the Civil War, and an earthquake. During our field trip, we’ll learn that it was the home of four important generations of Middletons, beginning with Henry Middleton, President of the First Continental Congress; Arthur, a signer of the Declaration of Independence; Henry, Governor of South Carolina and an American Minister to Russia; and William, a signer of the Ordinance of Secession. We’ll explore the gardens and the plantation stable yards, as well as see the rice fields.
Lunch:
In the Middleton Place restaurant.
Afternoon:
Next, we’ll ride to Magnolia Plantation. Founded in 1676 by the Drayton family, it has survived the centuries and witnessed the history of our nation unfold from the American Revolution through the Civil War and beyond. It is the oldest public site open to visitors in the Lowcountry, with the oldest public gardens in America, opening its doors to visitors in 1872 to view the thousands of beautiful flowers and plants in its famous gardens. We’ll learn about Magnolia’s vivid and complex history as we experience the beauty of the house and gardens. While riding through the landscape on a tram, we’ll see sights that evoke the plantation’s past such as a row of slave cabins, 19th century rice ponds, and a Native American ceremonial mound.
Dinner:
On your own to enjoy what you like.
Evening:
We will walk to the Circular Church for a performance called Sound of Charleston. "Through gospel spirituals, Civil War songs, Gershwin’s “Porgy & Bess” and “Rhapsody in Blue”, jazz and light classics of the St. Cecelia Society, you'll never forget this special event."
Day
5
To Savannah, Beaufort, Savannah Landmarks
Location:
Savannah, Georgia
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Embassy Suites by Hilton Savannah
Activity Note
Have luggage in the lobby for loading by 8:30 a.m.; porters will load luggage. Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 107 miles, approximately 2 hours riding time. In Savannah, getting on/off a trolley; walking up to 1.5 miles on city streets and sidewalks.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
En route to Savannah, we’ll stop in Beaufort, South Carolina, about 1.5 hours from Charleston. We’ll have some time to explore the tiny village before continuing on our ride to Savannah. Beaufort is a Lowcountry gem with massive, moss-draped oak trees. It served as the backdrop for films such as Forrest Gump, The Big Chill, G.I. Jane, and more. We’ll see Antebellum and Victorian homes and other structures to appreciate their architecture. Chartered in 1711, Beaufort is South Carolina’s second oldest city after Charleston. It grew as a result of shipbuilding and then, with slavery, became a prosperous community of planters whose wealth derived from cotton, indigo, and rice plantations. Many of the lovely dwellings date from that era. After a series of devastating natural disasters that brought destruction and bad economic times, Beaufort made a comeback in the 20th century as a destination for vacationers. The entire downtown area is a designated National Historic Landmark.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant in Savannah.
Afternoon:
Boarding a motorcoach, we’ll depart on an expert-led field trip to see some of Savannah’s highlights, including the Massie Heritage Center (once a public school – Savannah’s first – from 1856 to 1974), the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Forsyth Park, and the Victorian District. We’ll see and hear about aspects of the city’s fascinating history, getting on and off the trolley for close-up looks and entrances into these historic sites.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
6
Andrew Low House, Isaiah Davenport, Free Time
Location:
Savannah, Georgia
Meals:
B
Stay:
Embassy Suites by Hilton Savannah
Activity Note
Getting on/off a trolley.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will visit the Andrew Low House facing Lafayette Square that provides a look at the life of Savannah’s gentry in the 19th century. Low, born in Scotland in 1812, arrived in Savannah at the age of 17 and went to work for his uncle’s cotton export company. A few years before the Civil War, he had become the richest man in the city. His house was designed by one of the leading New York architects of the day in neo-Classical style with Italianate exterior features. The interior was opulently decorated. It remains one of Savannah’s foremost house museums. We’ll explore with a local expert. Our next stop will be the Isaiah Davenport House. Built in 1820, this Federal-style home marked the beginning of Savannah's historic preservation movement. Upon our return to the hotel, we’ll adjourn for the day.
Lunch:
On your own to enjoy what you like.
Afternoon:
Free Time.
Dinner:
On your own.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
7
Old Fort Jackson, Wormsloe Historic Site, Free Time
Location:
Savannah, Georgia
Meals:
B,D
Stay:
Embassy Suites by Hilton Savannah
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach. Walking at Old Fort Jackson; uneven surfaces. Walking up to 2 miles at Wormsloe Historic Site over some uneven terrain.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We’ll begin the day with a field trip to Old Fort Jackson, dating from 1808. This beautifully preserved fort along the Savannah River is Georgia's oldest standing brick fortification and a National Historic Landmark. We will enjoy the view from the strategic location. Our next stop will be Wormsloe Historic Site. The site was once an estate of Noble Jones, one of Georgia's Colonial founders. We’ll drive down a 1.5-mile entrance way of over 400 stately live oak trees and experience the ruins of Jones' fortified house built of tabby, as well as a museum. We will then return to the hotel for a free afternoon.
Lunch:
On your own.
Afternoon:
Free Time.
Dinner:
At a popular restaurant near the hotel. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends at our farewell dinner.
Evening:
We’ll be joined by one of Savannah’s finest musicians, who will give us a presentation on music of the Civil War era and demonstrate instruments from that time. Then prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Day
8
Transfer to Airports, Program Concludes
Location:
Savannah, Georgia
Meals:
B
Activity Note
Motorcoach transfer will depart around 8:30 a.m. for a maximum of about 110 miles, approximately 2.5 hours total riding time. Stops will be made at Savannah Hilton Head International Airport (about 1/2 hour), Charleston International Airport and Francis Marion (about 2.5 hours) for anyone who needs to retrieve a car. Hotel check-out by 11:00 a.m.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will then depart from the hotel via motorcoach, going first to the Savannah Hilton Head International Airport, Charleston International Airport, and then the Francis Marion Hotel. This concludes our program. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on another rewarding program in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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MEALS
15 Meals
7 Breakfasts
4 Lunches
4 Dinners
LODGING
Lodgings may differ by date. Select a date to see the lodgings specific to that date.
Showing Lodging For:
- Oct 26, 2025 - Nov 02, 2025
- Feb 23, 2025 - Mar 02, 2025 (Charleston, SC to Savannah, Georgia)
- Mar 02, 2025 - Mar 09, 2025 (Charleston, SC to Savannah, Georgia)
- Mar 16, 2025 - Mar 23, 2025 (Charleston, SC to Savannah, Georgia)
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- Oct 19, 2025 - Oct 26, 2025 (Charleston, SC to Savannah, Georgia)
- Oct 26, 2025 - Nov 02, 2025 (Charleston, SC to Savannah, Georgia)
Participant Reviews
Based on 46 Reviews
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Great time!
— Review left October 29, 2024
Rally enjoyed an intro to the South
— Review left October 23, 2024
This program offers great insight into the development of these two beautiful cities as well as offers revisiting of historic events in both the Revolutionary and Civil Wars.
— Review left May 28, 2024
Great overview of Savannah and Charleston led by Tom and Janet Murray. They are great group leaders and I highly recommend this program.
— Review left May 20, 2024
The beautiful and gracious historic cities of Charleston and Savannah are brought to life through knowledgeable presenters.The hotels are situated within easy walking distance to many fascinating museums, homes, and gardens with free time to visit. The educational opportunities add to the enjoyment and deeper understanding of these cultural icons. And the food ain’t bad either!
— Review left May 9, 2024
This was a great opportunity to learn about these two wonderful cities and understand more about the history, gastronomy and culture of the South. We enjoyed every minute and highly recommend it to travelers who are curious about this area of the United States.
— Review left May 4, 2024
I just finished a Road Scholar tour of Charleston / Savannah. I came away with more knowledge, fewer prejudices, too many photos, and a better understanding of who we are. Hard to beat.
— Review left April 30, 2024
History, southern charm, great food (especially seafood), pleasant weather, lovely flowers, fantastic architecture, warm, friendly people. That's what Charleston and Savannah were all about.
— Review left March 12, 2024
What an exceptional experience! I have never been on such a perfectly organized and well led travel experience. Road Scholar is the way to go. When you think of all the work that goes on behind the scenes to put it all together, you realize that the price you're paying is very reasonable. Highly recommended way to travel.
— Review left October 23, 2023
This was a lovely trip. The speakers and guides were amazing and had so much knowledge. Anne, our host, was terrific.
I would not return to eat at the Pirate’s House. The food wasn’t good and the place was dirty and uninviting.
Also, the bus we used in savannah was disgustingly dirty and had many parts broken like seat belts and air vents.
Other than those two things, it was a great trip and I will go on more Road Scholar trips and especially with Anne.
Thank you
— Review left October 21, 2023
This is a FUN & informative program combining the great history & food of these two cities!! I highly recommend this program to anyone wanting to learn more about the Deep South & its history. Becky Alexander, our group leader, was helpful, patient, and a very pleasant addition to this program!
— Review left October 20, 2023
It was a great way for me to enjoy and become familiar with two US cities I have never visited. It is an added benefit when fellow Road Scholars from all over the US join together in the experience.
— Review left October 16, 2023
If you have the opportunity to take a tour with Becky Alexander, do so. She was great!
— Review left May 30, 2023
Excellent trip. Tom and Janet are fantastic Group Leaders. I would recommend this trip to everyone.
— Review left May 29, 2023
Exceeded my expectations. Stimulated me to learn more about an important piece of US history.
— Review left May 28, 2023
The Tale of Two Cities was an interesting and informative trip to the South. I really enjoyed it until I got Covid. Just be sure to wear your mask in all group settings including bus and lectures, and eat meals at separate tables with your partner.
— Review left May 24, 2023
This tour of the capitals of the US "Low Country" provides excellent insights into US History, especially before 1776. Both cities are compact, very walkable, and safe.
— Review left May 23, 2023
This was a wonderful trip. Our leaders, Tom and Janet, were outstanding and I enjoyed all aspects of the program. Too many highlights to mention and so much to learn. I highly recommend this trip.
— Review left May 14, 2023
Don't know if you want to post this but I hope to take another RS trip but I think I will be asking a lot more questions before I sign up
— Review left May 10, 2023
An excellent way to learn about this unique part of our world and history.
— Review left March 27, 2023
Charleston and Savannah were a great combination. They both had so much history and such good food. We learned to much on the tours, and we enjoyed the best low-country boil I ever had in Savannah! There was just the right amount of free time so we could discover some restaurants and shops on our own. A great trip!
— Review left November 20, 2022
The program was educational, well thought out and an opportunity to see a part of US that so much history. I would recommend this tour!!!!
— Review left November 12, 2022
This was our first Road Scholar tour. Having participated in other company’s tours over the years, I found this tour to Charleston and Savannah unique in terms of its educational perspective. We had a wonderful and caring group leader (Terrie Dal Pazzo), excellent experts for each city, and some really fascinating presentations. This was my first, but will not be my last Road Scholar Tour.
— Review left October 16, 2022
My trip to Charleston and Savannah was my first Road Scholar tour. I enjoyed the balance of traveling, along with lectures by very knowledgeable speakers. Our group leader, Terrie Dal Pazzo, was so much fun to travel with, in addition to being attentive to everyone’s needs. I will definitely travel with Road Scholar again.
— Review left October 16, 2022
I learned a lot about the South's history that history books only mention.
— Review left October 12, 2022
I loved learning about the Low Country! I didn't realize rice culture was so strong here. Both Charleston and Savanah are beautiful and welcoming cities. The food was amazing!
— Review left October 7, 2022
This was our first Road Scholar program but I can assure you it won't be our last! There wasn't a detail that was mised.
— Review left May 31, 2022
A very thorough coverage of the city. Very interesting and informative.
— Review left May 19, 2022
Superb Program. Interesting, fun-filled experiences every day with enough free time to explore on your own. Definitely should be on your list.
— Review left May 18, 2022
Well organized tour, excellent food, great learning experience and fun people on the bus plus a tour director who did an excellent overall job!
— Review left May 13, 2022
This was an outstanding program, lead by exceptional leaders and experts in the field. It really made the history of the south come to life for me. I would highly recommend this program to anyone wanting to visit Charleston and Savannah.
— Review left May 9, 2022
This was a wonderful trip to learn about parts of history we did not learn about in our schooling. Great area and great program!
— Review left May 6, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed my first trip with Road Scholars. I looked forward to each day of discovering each city and the surrounding areas. The leader always kept us informed of what we were doing each day and times and locations to meet. I had never been to
Charleston before and enjoyed seeing plantations and tours of the city. Food was great and I did try everything as was suggested. The people we met on the tour and those who took the tour were flexible and were friendly. I enjoyed the musical performances and seeing the old homes on the squares in Savannah.
I will be joining more tours in the future.
— Review left March 30, 2022
Visiting Charleston and Savannah in succession let us compare and contrast two wealthy southern colonial towns. The program greatly expanded my understanding by emphasizing colonial times over civil war times.
— Review left February 27, 2022
This is the trip to take if you haven't been to the South lately. The guides and instructors are superior. The food is outstanding. The people are kind and friendly, and always willing to help you out. Yaay, Road Scholars!!!
— Review left October 25, 2021
I had a wonderful time on this trip. I enjoyed learning about the two cities and their unique history. The trip leaders were entertaining and energetic, always helpful and friendly. The other participants added an extra ingredient to the program and helped make the experience special. The hotels and restaurants were top notch and although we had a bit of soggy weather, the whole trip was extremely rewarding. Hope our current situation improves so I can begin planning another Road Scholar adventure.
— Review left March 19, 2020
Excellent program! The tale of these two cities was fascinating!
— Review left November 10, 2019
The Best of Charleston and Savannah Tour was filled with many exciting southern experiences such as Plantation and Antabellam house tours.The tour guides were exceptional and the offerings amazing. One really got the feel of southern life before the civil war period. Thanks Road Scholar!
— Review left June 16, 2019
My recent trip to Charleston and Savannah was filled with information in a variety of items unique to the areas - history, culture, food, music were all part of this amazing opportunity. I look forward to experiencing other Road Scholar opportunities in the future. Thank you for the experience!
— Review left May 20, 2019
A Tale of Two Cities, Charleston and Savannah, presents an overview of the history, culture and food of these diverse environments. You will participate in a variety of activities which will enhance your understanding of the complicated pasts, the interesting historical figures, the architecture, the music, and best of all the food!
— Review left May 14, 2019
Having never been to the South this program was a great introduction to the region and the people there. It was also great to have some flex time and revisit places we had been or places not on the itinerary. Just the right length of time
— Review left May 13, 2019
My sister's first 'bus tour' with Road Scholar was a pleasant surprise for her, and she has agreed that we should go on more of their tours.
— Review left April 13, 2019
Connie was a great guide: informed, organized, friendly, helpful. Enjoyed all the activities. Good blend of planned activities and free time. Local instructors and guides were great. Would not have liked a group size larger than the 24 on my trip. Would have liked to have had a full day to explore Beaufort, perhaps stay overnight. Two fascinating cities with much to do and friendly locals. Five stars!
— Review left April 10, 2019
Tales of Two Cities was a great trip. Just the right mixture of everything
— Review left April 9, 2019
Great trip!
— Review left March 24, 2019
Wonderful warm relaxing escape from bitter New York winter! Our director Kathy was excellent, with the perfect blend of organizational skills and genuine warmth and friendliness. Both cities and nearby plantations were very charming, and I loved being in the midst of beautiful English colonial architecture and lush green subtropical vegetation. The history and culture lectures and demonstrations were informative and entertaining. Every single hotel and restaurant meal I had was absolutely delicious and the settings so atmospheric! New favorite dishes: shrimp with grits and gravy, fried green tomatoes, and key lime pie!
— Review left March 4, 2019
