SAM Shortline - Callaway Gardens - LaGrange- Warm Springs

Two-Night Group Package

This "highlights" tour of our Presidential Pathways Region visits Hills and Dales Estate in LaGrange, the newly opened F.D.R. Museum in Warm Springs, Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site and Boyhood home in Plains, and an exciting ride aboard the SAM Shortline Excursion Train.

Suggested Itinerary

Tuesday, LaGrange and Pine Mountain
9:30am Arrival in LaGrange to tour Hills and Dales Estate and Ferrell Gardens. The Gardens dates to 1832 when Nancy Ferrell meticulously laid out a series of boxwood patterns and designs on descending terraces near a formal garden. Nancy's daughter, Sara, took over the garden and over the next 60 yrars expanded the garden by utilizing formal Italian style designs to define and create terraces. After Sarah's death, the Fuller Callaways added fountains and classical statuary to enhance the garden. They also hired famed architect, Neel Reid, to create and build an Italian-style villa, which they named Hills and Dales. You will thoroughly enjoy this visit.

12:30pm Buffet lunch is served in Callaway's famous Plantation Room.

2:00pm Your guided tour of Callaway Gardens visits the Virginia Hand Callaway Discovery Center, Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center, John A. Sibley Horticultural Center, Mr. Cason's Vegetable Garden and the Callaway Brothers Azalea Bowl.

5:30pm Hotel check-in.

7:00pm - Dinner at Cricket's, known for red beans and rice and Creole cooking.

Note: Shopping is favorite pastime in Pine Mountain. Every shop is locally owned much of the merchandise is made by local craftsmen and artists. Be sure to leave shopping time before or after your tour activities.

Wednesday, Warm Springs and Americus
9:30am Arrive at Warm Springs. On April 12, 1945, during President Franklin D. Roosevelt's 41st visit to the rural community of 500, he suffered a massive stroke and died while his portrait was being painted. Today, the "Unfinished Portrait" is a focal point of the tour. The house and furnishings have been carefully preserved very much as Roosevelt left them in 1945. The newly opened Museum is nestled into the wooded estate that is the Little White House Historic Site, the museum emphasizes the impact that Georgia made on President Roosevelt during his administration. It was here that he learned of the struggles of rural Americans, influencing many policies that still affect our citizens today. Warm Springs itself is a charming Victorian Village boasting of 65 shops.

Noon Lunch at Bulloch House; people drive from all over Georgia to just dine here.

2:00pm Departure for Americus
- Late aftrnoon arrival and hotel check-in.

6:30pm Enjoy dinner at Ryan's Steakhouse.
* Note - Schedule permitting, we can include a performance at the Rylander theater, recently restored and a wonderful part of Americus.

Thursday, Americus
9:30am Board the SAM Shortline for the Southwest Georgia Arrow excursion. The Shortline train offers a unique and exciting way to see this famous rural area of Georgia. Running between Leslie and Plains, you relax and enjoy the scenery while aboard. The stops in Leslie, Plains and Archery let you "hop off" to shop and explore.

12:45pm Arrive in Plains; the first stop is the Old Bank Cafe for lunch. Plains is part of the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site overseen by the National Park Service.
- Following lunch you¿ll have time to explore Plains and visit the motel, whose rooms the Carters decorated using themes from the different decades that influenced their lives.

2:10pm Depart Plains.
2:20pm Arrive in Archery to see the Carter Boyhood Farm. The rural southern culture of Plains that revolves around farming, faith, and school had a large influence in molding Jimmy Carter's character and in shaping his political policies. His mother was a nurse who dedicated her time to the poor; his father ran a farm and a small country store. He walked the railroad tracks to town to sell peanuts, and when he said he'd grow up to be President, he meant it. The 39th U.S. President and his First lady, Rosalynn, still call Plains home.

3:05pm Depart Archery and the return to Americus arriving at 3:45pm. Or, your coach can meet you in Archery to begin your onward journey.

Tour Cost from $249 per person

Inclusions
- Two-nights hotel accommodations including taxes
- Porterage of one suitcase per person
- Continental breakfast daily
- Guided tour of Hills and Dales Estate
- Guided tour of Callaway Gardens
- Tours of FDR's Little White House and Museum
- Buffet lunch at Callaway's Plantation Room
- Dinner at Cricket's in Pine Mountain
- Lunch at Bulloch House in Warm Springs
- Lunch at the Old Bank Cafe in Plains.
- Dinner at Ryan's Steakhouse in Americus
- Southwest Georgia Arrow excursion on the SAM Shortline Train
- Visit to the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site
- Entrance fees

Please Note
- We can customize this and other visits to suit your interests and schedule; just let us know!
 

Contact
- To book the tour or with questions about the arrangements, please contact Geoff Robertson at American Travel Association: Ph: 706-663-2171, fax: 706-663-2445, e-mail:travelata@aol.com.
- The tour can be found on www.travelata.org click on Georgia and look under Group Experiences.

Conditions
- Package Costs are based on 20 people and are per person double occupancy (single, triple & quad rates available); costs vary based on your choice of hotel.
- Complimentary package provided to driver or escort.
-Hotel rooms and rates are subject to availability.
- All tour arrangements must be pre-paid prior to arrival. A schedule of payments and cancellation conditions will be worked out with each group.

Responsibility: American Travel Association (ATA) and/or their agents, act only on behalf of the owners and contractors providing means of transportation or other services to purchasers of this tour and their travel companions (Participants), subject to any and all items and conditions under which any transportation or any other services whatsoever are provided by such owners and contractors. ATA shall not be liable or responsible to Participants for the acts or omissions of the aforesaid owners and contractors supplying transportation or other services hereunder, including but not limited to breach of contract, intentional or negligent delay or bodily or property loss, injury or damages. ATA reserves the right to make changes in the program to accommodate scheduling and other needs and is not responsible to any person for loss of time, money or inconvenience related thereto.