Bluegrass Country & The Smokey Mountains

For details on availability, departure dates and additional tour information, contact 01943 605999 or info@simplygroups.co.uk

 

Day 1: Louisville, Kentucky - Your tour starts in Louisville Kentucky, famous for thorough breds, Bourbonand baseball. Tonight enjoy a welcome reception and settle in for a two night stay at your hotel, ideally situated just across the river fromd own town Louisville.

Day 2: Louisville - Enjoy a visit to Churchill Downs, the thorough bred race track famous for hosting the pinnacle of all horse races, the annual Kentucky Derby. You’ll tour the KentuckyDerbyMuseum and learn about the legendary history of the “Sport of Kings.” Then, enjoy a walking tour of Old Louisville, a historic neighborhood that boasts the largest concentration of contiguous Victorian mansions in the United States. Later, head to “Museum Row” where it’s your choice! Visit the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory for an All-Starbase ball experience showing you all there is to know about “America’s Pastime” - OR - explore the Frazier Kentucky History Museum, and its new Spirit of Kentucky exhibit, the official start of the Bourbontrail. Tonight, join your fellow travelers at a local restaurant for a welcome dinner.

Day 3: Louisville– Lexington,Kentucky - Today, travel to Lexington, Kentucky, the home of legendary horses and world-renowned bourbons.Butfirst, we’ll visit BuffaloTrace, the oldest continuously operating Bourbon distillery in America. Learn about the subtle craft of Bourbon distilling, meet some ofthe people who make it all happen, and of course, taste some of Kentucky’s home-grown spirit. Enjoy the stunning, rolling bluegrass pasture land and them any horse farms that dot the landscape. Learn about this are a from a local guide as we explore Kentucky’s mythic horse country. We’ll visit a few private horse farms and hear about their time-honored traditions.

Day 4: Lexington – Berea - Gatlinburg,TN - This morning, travel south, stopping in Berea, Kentucky, historic college town known as the arts and crafts center of Kentucky. You’ll meet a few artisans while they demonstrate their craft. Enjoy lunch at BooneTavern, where bluegrass country meets the rolling hills of Appalachia. On the way to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, travel through Daniel Boone National Forest. Extending across the western plateau region of the Appalachian Mountains, it’s named for the larger-than-life American pioneer who once blazed a trail across these rugged and wild lands. Gatlinburg, alively mountain resort, is the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and your homefor a three-night stay.

Day 5: Gatlinburg - GreatSmokyMountains NationalPark– Gatlinburg - This morning a localguide leads an expedition into the most visited national park in the United States. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and contains one of the most diverse ecosystems on earth and the largest deciduous forest in the eastern United States. Explore the park, stopping at various look outson our way to Newfound Gap, which boasts views of both sides of the Smoky Mountains – those in Tennessee and North Carolina. Afterwards, enjoy a tour and tasting at the Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery. Tonight, been tertained at the lively Dolly Parton’s Stampede and Dinner Show, where you’ll see music, dancing and professional horse riders performing incredible stunts.

Day 6: Gatlinburg - Today, spend your time however you see fit during a leisurely day in Gatlinburg. Perhaps, you’ll want to venture back to Great Smoky Mountains National Park and see more stunning natural sights.Or,for a little bit of campy fun, you could head to Pigeon Forge and experience Dollywood, Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Theme Park.

Day 7: Gatlinburg – Asheville, North Carolina - Leave Gatlinburg today for Asheville, North Carolina, our Blue Ridge Mountain home for two nights. Since Asheville is known as “Beer City” we’ll stop at the stunning East Coast home of the Sierra Nevada Brewing Company. Upon arrival in Asheville, a local guide takes you on an orientation walking tour of the neighborhood around your downtown hotel.

Day 8: Asheville - Back in 1895, George VanderbiltII decided to build himself“ a little mountain escape” in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.The result was the impressive and decaden grandeur of the Biltmore Estate. Today, tour the sprawling mansion and them anicured grounds, enjoy a wine-tasting at the historic Biltmore Winery and experience what it was like to be a wealthy tycoon in the Gilded Age of America. Tonight, enjoy a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 9: Asheville- Charlotte - Tour Ends.

All Long Haul destination tours are operated by The Big Journey Company a member of The Travel Trust Association member number U5675 and ATOL number T7282.Financial Protection: The flight-inclusive holidays on this website are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. When you pay you will be supplied with an ATOL Certificate. Please request this and check to ensure that everything you have booked (flights, hotels and other services) are detailed. Please see The Big Journey Company  booking conditions for further information or go to WWW.ATOL.ORG.UK for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate.