Thursday, April 28, 2022

Guided Tour Begins - Louisville, KY

Louisville, Kentucky, is famous for Thoroughbreds and baseball, and your time here will feature a little of both. After a welcome reception at your hotel, enjoy views of the city’s gleaming downtown right across the Ohio River.

April 29

Louisville, KY

Enjoy a visit to Churchill Downs, home to the annual Kentucky Derby. Stroll through the Kentucky Derby Museum and then enjoy a walking tour of Old Louisville, a historic neighborhood known for its stunning Victorian mansions. Visit the Louisville Slugger Museum before joining fellow travelers for a welcome dinner.

Sites you'll see include:

• Churchill Downs & Kentucky Derby Museum
• Old Louisville Walking Tour
• Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory

April 30

Traveling to Lexington, KY

As your luxury motorcoach drives toward Lexington, you’ll gaze over the rolling bluegrass pastureland of Kentucky’s horse country, where champion Thoroughbreds are being raised. You may see a future Triple Crown winner during guided, private tours of these horse farms.

Sites you'll see include:

• Private Horse Farms
• Midway Town Tour
• Horse Country Tour
• Frazier Kentucky History Museum

May 1

Traveling to Berea, KY, and Gatlinburg, TN

After a stop in Berea, a town known as the historic arts and crafts center of Kentucky, you’ll enjoy lunch at Boone Tavern, an enchanting restaurant and hotel in the rolling hills of Appalachia. Then enjoy a drive through the verdant expanse of Daniel Boone National Forest as you approach the lively mountain resort town of Gatlinburg.

Sites you'll see include:

• Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea
• Boone Tavern

May 2

Gatlinburg, TN (Great Smoky Mountains National Park)

Wake up in Gatlinburg, known as the “Gateway to the Smoky Mountains.” Follow a local guide into the most visited national park in the United States. A UNESCO World Heritage site, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the most diverse ecosystems on earth and the largest deciduous forest in the eastern U.S. Later, you’ll have the option to visit Dollywood, Dolly Parton’s iconic theme park.

Sites you'll see include:

• Great Smoky Mountains National Park
• Dollywood

May 3

Gatlinburg, TN

Enjoy a leisurely day in Gatlinburg on your own. Venture back to Great Smoky Mountains National Park for a laid-back hike or a bit of scenery, or ride to the top of the iconic Gatlinburg Space Needle, a 400-foot observation tower overlooking downtown. For an entertaining evening, head to Dolly Parton’s Stampede Dinner Attraction where you’ll enjoy music and professional horse riders performing incredible stunts.

May 4

Traveling to Asheville, NC

Depart for Asheville, North Carolina, on a breathtaking drive through the Appalachian Mountains, much of which takes place on the legendary Blue Ridge Parkway. Upon arrival in Asheville, a local guide will orient you on a walking tour of the art and architecture surrounding your downtown hotel.

May 5

Asheville, NC

During the Gilded Age, tycoon George Vanderbilt II built himself “a little mountain escape” in western North Carolina. The resulting 250-room mansion is the largest privately-owned house in the U.S. You’ll spend your day touring this spectacular estate and its manicured grounds.

Sites you'll see include:

• Biltmore Estates & Grounds

Friday, May 6, 2022

Traveling to Charlotte, NC
Guided Tour Ends

As your tour comes to an end, you’ll venture home with unforgettable memories of the scenery, traditions and hospitality of this storied region of southern Appalachia.