Bluegrass Country & The Smokey Mountains

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

 

Day 1Louisville, Kentucky - Your tour starts in Louisville Kentucky, famoufor thorougbreds, Bourbonand baseball. Tonight enjoy a welcome reception and settle in for a two night stay at your hotel, ideally situated jusacross the river fromd owtown Louisville.

Day 2Louisville - Enjoy a visit to Churchill Downs, the thorougbred race track famous for hosting the pinnacle of all horse racesthe annuaKentucky Derby. You’ll tour the KentuckyDerbyMuseuand learn about the legendary historothSport of Kings.” Then, enjoy a walkintour of Old Louisville, a historic neighborhood that boastthe largesconcentration ocontiguous Victorian mansions in the United States. Later, head to “Museum Row” wherit’s your choice! Visit the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factorfor an All-Starbase ball experience showing you all there itknow about “Americas Pastime” - O- explore the Frazier KentuckHistorMuseum, and its new Spirit of Kentucky exhibit, the official start of the Bourbontrail. Tonight, join youfellow travelers at a local restaurant for a welcome dinner.

Day 3Louisville Lexington,Kentucky - Today, travel to LexingtonKentucky, the homof legendarhorses anworld-renowned bourbons.Butfirstwell visit BuffaloTrace, the oldest continuously operating Bourbon distillery in America. Learn abouthe subtle craft of Bourbon distilling, meet somofthe people whmake it all happen, anocourse, taste some of Kentucky’s home-growspirit. Enjoy the stunning, rolling bluegrass pasturland and them any horse farms that dothe landscape. Learn abouthis are a from a locaguide as wexplore Kentucky’s mythic horse countryWe’ll visit a few private horse farms and hear about their time-honored traditions.

Day 4Lexington Berea - Gatlinburg,T- This morning, travesouth, stopping in Berea, Kentucky, historic collegtown knowas the arts and crafts centeof Kentucky. You’ll meet a few artisans while they demonstrate their craftEnjoy lunch at BooneTavernwhere bluegrass country meets the rolling hilloAppalachia. On the way to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, travel through DanieBoone National Forest. Extending across the western plateau region of the Appalachian Mountains, its 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 gatewato the GreaSmoky Mountains NationaPark anyour homefor a three-night stay.

Day 5Gatlinburg - GreatSmokyMountains NationalPark Gatlinburg - This morning a localguide leadan expedition into the mosvisited national park in the United States. Great SmokMountains NationaPark is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and contains one of the most diverse ecosystems on earth anthe largest deciduouforesithe eastern United States. Explore the park, stopping at various look outson ouway to Newfound Gap, which boastviews of both sides of the Smoky Mountains – those in Tennessee anNorth Carolina. Afterwards, enjoa tour and tasting at the Ole SmokMoonshine Distillery. Tonight, beetertaineathe lively DollParton’s Stampede and Dinner Show, wheryou’ll see music, dancing and professional horse riders performing incredible stunts.

Day 6Gatlinburg - Today, spend your time however you see fit during a leisurely day in Gatlinburg. Perhaps, you’ll wanto venturback to Great Smoky Mountains National Park ansee more stunning natural sights.Or,for a little biocampy funyou could head tPigeon Forge and experience Dollywood, Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Theme Park.

Day 7Gatlinburg – Asheville, North Carolina - Leave Gatlinburtoday for Asheville, North Carolina, our Blue RidgMountain home for two nights. Since Asheville iknown as “Beer City” we’ll stop at the stunning East Coast home of thSierra 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 8Ashevill- Back in 1895, GeorgVanderbiltII decideto build himself“ a littlmountain escape” in the Blue RidgMountains of North Carolina.The result was the impressive and decaden grandeur of the Biltmore Estate. Todaytour the sprawling mansion antheanicured grounds, enjoy a wine-tasting athe historic Biltmore Winery and experience what it was like to be a wealthy tycoon in the Gilded Age oAmerica. Tonight, enjoy a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 9Asheville- 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.