VBT Bicycling Vacations
Country Walkers
Williston, VT – November 9, 2017 – Some say North, East and West are just points on the compass, whereas the South is a place – one that is experiencing a renaissance and rediscovery for its charm, unique Southern heritage and truly distinctive culture, ranging from cuisine to architecture and literature to the Gullah people. These are not destinations to be rushed but to be embraced and appreciated in a slower, more relaxed manner. By bicycle is the perfect way to roll.
Vermont Bicycling and Walking Vacations’ seven-day biking trip, “Charleston to Savannah: A Southern Reel,” offers guests an immersive and intimate look at two of the great cultural heritage cities of the Old South. The small-group tours unveil the unique essence of the region, from historic mansions and forts to tea plantations and country socials.
The route takes travelers past carefully tended vineyards and gardens, golden beaches, and towering oaks draped with Spanish moss. The cultural touchstones of the area — from Victorian architecture and Gullah culture to Southern plantations and African-American heritage — come alive in a way that can only be appreciated at a slower pace.
In Charleston, guests cycle along the dramatic Cooper River Bridge through Sullivan’s Island to the Isle of Palms, passing by some of the area’s most sought-after homes and traveling along the Intracoastal Waterway, with exquisite views of the beach. Then it’s on to Beaufort, South Carolina, backdrop of such films as Forrest Gump, The Prince of Tides and The Great Santini and where travelers can get off the bike and hit the dance floor at a traditional country social. Guests experience the Penn Center, originally founded in 1862 to educate freed slaves and now a cultural center for African-American residents of the Sea Islands that hosted Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s annual Southern Christian Leadership Conference. In Savannah, a walking tour of the city’s picturesque streets and squares offers a deep immersion into its history, architecture, gardens and abundant charm.
Best of all, each evening guests relax and enjoy Southern hospitality at award-winning accommodations, such as the Beaufort Inn, a majestic Victorian that dates to the 1890s, and the Ansonborough Inn, located in Charleston’s historic district. Once a shipping warehouse, the property was transformed into a luxury hotel after a $3.5 million renovation. With the indigenous and distinctive Lowcountry cuisine of this unique coastal region for guests to savor — think she-crab soup, Frogmore stew, and hoppin' John — the flavors and memories will linger long after they’ve returned home.
Visit vbt.com or call 800-245-3868 for more information.
About VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations
VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations offers over 50 deluxe, small group Bicycling, Walking and Barge & Sail vacations at unsurpassed value throughout the world. Each trip includes all accommodations, many meals, two expert local Trip Leaders, unique sightseeing and cultural activities, and full van support. Unlike other companies, VBT also includes round-trip international airfare from over 30 U.S. cities and select Canadian cities for all overseas vacations.