Explore the historical homes of the Colonial South coast of the United States on this 11-day cruise aboard the Yorktown. This tour takes you to the cities of Savannah, Charleston, and Beaufort, and lets you explore the sprawling grounds of the Berkeley and Westover Plantations.
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Fly to Savannah to embark Yorktown. Overnight aboard ship.
Day 2: Savannah
Georgia’s oldest city Savannah was founded by James Oglethorpe in 1733, on a bluff overlooking the Savannah River. Today the fine avenues and open spaces that Oglethorpe planned form the cornerstone of the three square-mile historic district, which features over 1,000 Federal and Regency buildings and 21 verdant squares brimming with azaleas, gardenias, cabbage palmettos, English yews, giant oaks, and other lush vegetation. Explore the renowned Historic District, the largest in the country, and also enjoy time at leisure to explore the lovely streets and squares, including verdant Forsyth Park and its famed White Fountain. Savannah’s first park, its style was influenced by the urban renewal prevalent in the 19th century.
Day 3: Beaufort, South Carolina
South Carolina’s Lowcountry flourished on the cotton trade, making Beaufort one of the wealthiest cities in the country after Independence. Tour elegant Beaufort, with its magnificent antebellum homes and gardens.
Day 4-5: Charleston
Arrive today in Charleston, one of the East Coast’s loveliest cities. A prosperous, cosmopolitan seaport from colonial times, Charleston has meticulously restored its historic district. Tour the Heyward-Washington House, an 18th-century structure which features a separate kitchen house and enchanting formal garden, and other sites. During your stay, also visit Middleton Place Plantation, a carefully preserved 18th-century plantation that is a National Historic Landmark. Situated on the Ashley River, the property includes the House Museum, built in 1755 as the gentleman’s guest quarters, various bird species, and 65 acres of magnificent gardens, with rhododendrons, magnolias, and dogwoods blooming during April. Also visit Drayton Hall, a National Historic Landmark and National Trust Historic Site and one of the oldest surviving examples of Georgian Palladian architecture in the United States.
Day 6: Wilmington, North Carolina
Founded in 1739, Wilmington flourished on maritime trade, made possible by its deep water port. By 1860, Wilmington was North Carolina’s largest city. From this port, drive to Airlie Gardens, established in 1901, and purchased and restored in 1999 by New Hanover County. The garden boasts 67 acres of formal woodland gardens that will be flourishing at the time of our visit. Enjoy a walking tour to explore its many gardens, including the spring garden, historic structures and sculptures, and a majestic oak. Return to Wilmington and tour its historic district, a veritable open air museum of 19th-century architecture. Visit the Georgian Burgwin-Wright House & Gardens. Built in 1770, it was once home to Lord Cornwallis and was purchased in 1937 by the The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America. The beautifully restored home is adorned with seven unique walled gardens, its architectural structures carefully preserved, and includes a formal or parterre garden, a terraced garden, and an orchard.
Day 7: Morehead City
From Morehead City, drive through Croatan National Forest to historic New Bern (settled in 1710), to visit the jewel among New Bern’s sites, Tryon Palace and Gardens. Completed in 1770, the Georgian mansion served as the first permanent capitol of North Carolina, home to Governor Tryon and his family, and hosted a dinner in honor of George Washington in 1791. Destroyed by fire in 1798, it was restored and reopened in 1959. Tour the palace and its elegant gardens. Designed by landscape architect Morley Jeffers Williams in the 1950s, the gardens represent the style of the Victorian era, and offer three centuries of gardening history. Its spring display includes tulips and azaleas as well as perennials.
Day 8: Cruising in the Intracoastal Waterway
Relax aboard and attend lectures as Yorktown navigates the Intracoastal Waterway en route to Virginia.
Day 9: Yorktown / Colonial Williamsburg
Take an excursion to historic Colonial Williamsburg. The capital of the Virginia colony from 1699 to 1780, Williamsburg is the nation’s premier living museum, offering visitors a glimpse of life as it was in the 17th and 18th centuries. A guided tour leads along the Duke of Gloucester Street, Williamsburg’s main thoroughfare, past the Capitol, the courthouse, the Governor’s Palace, and Bruton Parish Church, which has held Episcopal services since 1715. Enjoy time at leisure to explore the museums and side streets, which are filled with taverns, bakeries, and the restored houses of wheelwrights, coopers, apothecaries, and other tradesmen.
Day 10: Yorktown / Virgina's Plantations
Visit historic Berkeley Plantation, site of the first official Thanksgiving in 1619, and built by Benjamin Harrison in 1726, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and father of William Henry Harrison, 9th President of the United States. It is also the location where "Taps" was composed by Daniel Butterfield in 1862. Its rooms are furnished with a superb collection of 18th century antiques. Set on a pastoral landscape and atop a hill that overlooks the historic James River, the mansion is surrounded by five terraced gardens that were dug prior to the Revolutionary War and lead to the river. Tour the mansion and stroll through the boxwood gardens, surrounded by dogwoods, azaleas, and other flowering plants. Also visit the Shirley Plantation, founded in 1613 by Edward Hill and the oldest working plantation in North America, which is still occupied by 11 generations of the Hill Family. Explore the Great House and its original furnishings, portraits and silver. Alternately, tour Richmond. Visit the historic Virginia State Capitol Building, designed by Thomas Jefferson, and nearby Marshall House, built for the Great Chief Justice John Marshall in 1790 and filled with original furnishings.
Day 11: Alexandria / Disembark
Disembark in Alexandria in the morning.
Dates & Prices
Per person starting at
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
Initial deposit is $950, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 100 days prior to departure by bank transfer, check or Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or Amex. Credit Card payments subject to 3% convenience fee and maximum $20,000 charge
Everything was amazing! The planning with Adventure Life went smoothly. The actual trip was fantastic! One of the best trips I have experienced. The cruise staff members were knowledgeable and attentive. I will be writing more about this on the blog!
Justin Chappelle
TrustScore 4.8 | 175 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 175 reviews on
7 hours ago
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
2 days ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
3 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.
