Unsplash Header Photo Credit: Chad Morehead
2025 SOUTHERN CHARM MOTORCOACH TOUR
MARCH 15TH - 24TH, 2025
TOUR DIRECTORS: MAUREEN SAFINUK & JOANNE JOHNSTON
LOBSTICK TOURS - SOUTHERN CHARM motor coach to Tennessee and fly home.
Join our tour directors Maureen Safinuk and Joanne Johnston on this short, unique, charming, historic tour and restore your soul as we explore the south. You will be traveling through Manitoba, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, North Carolina, West Virginia, Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee.
From Indianapolis to Chattanooga you will staying at Drury Inns. Every morning you get a hot breakfast - including Belgian waffles, scrambled eggs, biscuits & gravy, sausage and more served daily before heading out to sightsee and tour. At the end of your day, each evening from 5:30 – 7:00pm is a kick back, relax and enjoy a rotating menu of free hot food and cold beverages for you to enjoy. Soda and Popcorn - From 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm every night in the lobby. Wireless Internet Access - High-speed Internet in all rooms and in the lobby. Indoor/Outdoor Pool, depending on which hotel. They also offer one hour, every room, every night, free long distance.
Time Zones: you will lose an hour crossing MB border lose another hour crossing from IL into IN. You will gain an hour crossing GA into TN and when you fly into Saskatchewan you will gain another hour.
ITINERARY
Meals included in itinerary marked as B Breakfast, L Lunch, LD Light Dinner, D Dinner, BTS Bedtime snack
Day 1 Mar 15 SASKATCHEWAN – WINNIPEG MB, cross SK / MB border lose one hour. Welcome your fellow travelers as they board the motor coach. Beginning in Prince Albert - BW Marquis Inn, Saskatoon – Motel 6, Regina – North Gate Mall, Moosomin – Red Barn Diner, Brandon – Tim Horton’s, Winnipeg – Comfort Inn South. Exact door and location will be given prior to tour.
Day 2 Mar 16 WINNIPEG MB – BLOOMINGTON MN B, cross CA / US border North Dakota and Minnesota. Today you will travel through Emerson / Pembina Duty Free and US Border Crossing. Have your passports ready. You may have to get off the Motor Coach and answer some questions, you may not. Each border is different. After the Duty Free and Border crossing, there will be a morning coffee stop, lunch at West Acres Mall in Fargo. While you are there, you can shop a little or wander down to Fargo’s own Roger Maris Museum. Maris is “baseball’s 1961 homerun king”. You can relive Roger’s life, career, major awards, uniforms and home run balls amongst the memorabilia. There will be another coffee break this afternoon before pulling in for the night to Bloomington MN. Your hotel is close to the Mall of America, giving you the option to eat nearby or at the mall. It is up to you to shop till you drop or just walk around the mall at your pace till it closes. There is a shuttle from the mall to your hotel if you do not wish to walk back or carry your items.
Day 3 Mar 17 BLOOMINGTON MN – CHAMPAIGN IL B, LD, BTS, cross into Wisconsin and Illinois. Enjoy the scenery as you travel from Minnesota through Wisconsin and into Illinois. All three states are in the Drift-less Area which is a region in the American Midwest that was never glaciated. Rugged terrain and the incision of the upper Mississippi River and its tributaries into bedrock. The region elevations range from 603 to 1719 feet. Minnesota contains some of the oldest rocks found on earth. Wisconsin terrain is generally higher than the rest, with frequent hills, has many unique sandstone formations like the Dells of the Wisconsin River, in addition to rich farmland. Illinois is one of the eight states in the Great Lake Region of North America. Illinois does have some minor variation northwest is higher and more rugged while southern is hilly. Historically, three US presidents have been elected while residents of Illinois: Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, Barack Obama + Ronald Regan was born and raised in Illinois. As you cross the 3 states you will have coffee breaks, an odd object photo shoot, lunch in Madison, before you overnight in Champaign. Your hotel offers a light dinner and beverages from 5:30 – 7. They also offer pop corn and drinks in lobby till 8. Relax, mix and mingle with fellow travelers.
Day 4 Mar 17 CHAMPAIGN IL – INDIANAPOLIS IN B, LD, BTS, cross Illinois to Indiana LOSE 1 HOUR. Meet your step on guide for a city tour of Indianapolis highlights and drive by sights of Lucas Oil, War Memorial, Victory Field, Monument Circle, Soldiers and Sailors Monument, Scottish Rite Cathedral and more. You will also experience Indianapolis Motor Speedway, one of the oldest and most revered motorsports facilities in the world. Constructed in 1909, this famous 2.5-mile racetrack has become a National Historic Landmark and a legend in the world of auto racing. You will see the Pagoda, gasoline alley, Victory Podium, snake pit and finish at “Kiss the Bricks.” This evening you can kick back for the light dinner and bed time snacks offered at your hotel.
Day 5 Mar 18 INDIANAPOLIS IN – CHARLOTTE NC B, BTS, cross through, IN, OH, WV, VA and North Carolina. The scenery today takes you through 5 states. Indiana has it all, flat, low rolling hills, rivers, deep valleys and farmland, sand ridges and dunes reaching nearly 200 feet in height. Some areas have many caves, caverns, and quarries. Ohio border runs along Lake Erie is lowland, with gently rolling terrain and known for its fertile soils. East, Southeast parts, are the Appalachian Plateau with rugged terrain dominated by sharper ridges and valleys. West Virginia, “the Mountain State” has an average elevation of about 1,500 feet (460 metres) above sea level, making it the highest of any U.S. state east of the Mississippi River. North Carolina consists of gently rolling countryside, to the west, is part of the Blue Ridge Mountains and subranges are the Great Smoky Mountains. Along the scenic route you will drive by historic sights and also drive over Lake Norman, the largest man made lake in the state. You will get into Charlotte too late for the light dinner but there is a great restaurant nearby. You probably will still have time to grab a bedtime snack on your way back to your room.
Day 6 Mar 19 CHARLOTTE NC B, L, LD, BTS, full day of touring in Charlotte. This morning you meet a step on guide to show you around the city of Charlotte and some of her top attractions like Mint Museum, Freedom Park, Billy Graham Library, Levine Museum of the New South, the Aviation Museum where reimagined exhibit of Flight 1549, better known as the “Miracle on the Hudson.” The Douglas International Airport has a large free viewing area of planes taking off and landing, a GREAT spot for photographers. This afternoon you will have lunch in the Pit Stop Café at the NASCAR hall of Fame, before a behind-the-scenes look at the Hall with their team. Hear the history, heritage and anecdotes and unique facts about inductees. This evening is a kickback and relax light dinner and bed time snacks.
Day 7 Mar 20 CHARLOTTE NC – CHARLESTON SC - SAVANNAH GA B, LD, BTS, leave NC, into SC then Georgia. Farewell to Charlotte as you cross into South Carolina, driving into Rock Hill to view Glen Cairn Garden and Fountain Park. Continue through SC largest city - Columbia and just before Bowman there is “The Lone Tree.” Meet your step on guide in Charleston to see some fantastic sights of the area. You will tour the McLeod Plantation Historic Site, with a Georgian-style mansion and slave cabins. Amongst the gorgeous oak trees and Spanish moss, you will hear difficult, moving facts of the slaves on the plantation and where some slaves actually lived up until 1990! Leave Charleston, traveling along the North Atlantic Coast crossing into Georgia. Of the 50 States, Georgia is the 24th-largest by area and 8th most populous. With the exception of some high-altitude areas in the Blue Ridge Mountain, Georgia’s entirety of the state has a humid subtropical climate. Enjoy your light dinner in Savannah tonight.
Day 8 Mar 21 SAVANNAH GA – ATLANTA GA B, L, LD, BTS. Meet your step on guide to show you the sights of Savannah, Georgia’s oldest city. Pass by city architecture, stately mansions, cobblestone streets, River Street, Forsyth Park, Waving Girl Statue, Bull St, Ellis Square and more. Just minutes from downtown Savannah is Tybee Island – a barrier island that has captured hearts since the 1800’s. It’s the ultimate summer escape, flawless beaches, pure relaxation to soak up some coastal calm, which has long been a quiet getaway for many locals and tourists. Stop for lunch at the Crab Shack for a unique experience, great views, seafood / bbq menu as well as a bird sanctuary, and an opportunity to feed some baby gators, safely. This afternoon you will be driving to Atlanta for overnight, enjoy your evening.
Day 9 Mar 22 ATLANTA GA – CHATTANOOGA TN B, LD, BTS, cross from Georgia to Tennessee gain 1 hour. City tour of Atlanta with drive by sights of Atlanta Station, Centennial Olympic Park 1996 Summer Games, MLK Jr National Historic Park, Krog St Tunnel, Margaret Mitchell House, Ponce City Market, Chickfil-la dwarf house and more. Tour the World of Coca Cola, the one and only place you can explore the story of the world's most popular beverage brand. Even if you prefer Pepsi, you can experience moments of happiness and wonder. From the vault with their secret formula, to world-class art and memorabilia to more than 100 beverages to taste from around the world. Even an opportunity to meet the Coca-Cola Polar Bear. Grab some lunch nearby before leaving for Chattanooga. You will begin with the incline railway “America’s Most Amazing Mile” climbing the historic Lookout Mountain. At the top take in the panoramic views from the observation tower. While up top you can visit many points of Civil War interest. Short distance away is Rock City – a must see. This sits atop Lookout Mountain with panoramic views of seven states. Board your motor coach to witness Ruby Falls. These falls were accidentally discovered in 1928 and are the tallest and deepest underground waterfall open to the public in the US. You will discover incredible beauty and wonder. Enjoy your final evening with your fellow passengers. Tomorrow we head home.
Day 10 CHATTANOOGA TN – NASHVILLE TN B, teaser tour only cuz this my friend is a whole other adventure! Nashville – home of country music and one of the world's largest museums devoted to the genre. It is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and home to Vanderbilt University. Legendary country music venues include the Grand Ole Opry House, the famous “Grand Ole Opry” stage and radio show. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, historic Ryman Auditorium, the District, featuring honky-tonks with live music and the Johnny Cash Museum and there is so much more. Today you will drive by some of the top sights, take you to some highlights to wander through before heading to the airport to bid farewell to our motor coach driver. We will fly home later this afternoon.
ITINERARY IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.
2025 SOUTHERN CHARM MOTORCOACH TOUR INCLUDES:
Motor Coach Transportation, driver.
Air fare from Nashville.
Hotel Accommodations, luggage handling, when offered (allowing 1 bag per person round-trip less than 50lbs).
All breakfasts, 2 lunches, 4 light dinners and 6 bed time snacks and refreshments.
Mall of America, city tours of Indianapolis, Charlotte, Charleston, Savannah, Atlanta and Chattanooga, admission to Motor Speedway, Levine Museum, NASCAR Hall of Fame, World of Coca Cola, incline railway, Rock City, Ruby Falls, plus many free things to see and do, step on guides.
Lobstick Tour directors to welcome you and look after details. Their care and attention ensure you have a worry free tour.
For more information or to book:
CALL: 306.763.7415 or 800.665.0171 ask for Dana EMAIL: info@lobsticktravel.com OR dbayda@lobsticktravel.com
VISIT BY APPOINTMENT ONLY: #2 – 17th Street East Prince Albert SK S6V 1G5
PRICES:
$3,830.00 double $3,468.00 Triple
$4,999.00 single $3,292.00 Quad
DEPOSIT: $500.00 PER PERSON TO SECURE SEAT. BALANCE DUE: December 14, 2024.
PAY BY CASH, CHEQUE, CREDIT CARD OR E-TRANSFER.
TIPS, TAXES, FEES ARE ALL INCLUDED IN THESE PRICES.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:
PASSPORTS: All passengers require a valid passport for this tour and must be valid for 6 months beyond the date of return.
INSURANCE: All passengers must have adequate out of country medical insurance for this tour.
MANULIFE WORLD INSURANCE: Lobstick Travel & Tours offer personalized coverage you need, to be financially protected against the cost of unexpected emergencies that happen prior to or during your trip. For your insurance rates call Dana at Lobstick Travel 1.800.665.0171. Passengers have the option to obtain insurance at their discretion. IF you chose to decline or purchase insurance elsewhere, always be sure you know what you are being covered for.
CANCELLATION:
If you must cancel for any reason, contact Dana immediately.
CANCELLATION POLICY: applies the day you notify us
60 days or more prior to departure – loss of deposit
59 – 31 days prior to departure – lose 50% total cost
30 days or less prior to departure – lose 100% total cost