December 3-8 (Saturday-Thursday)

Christmas in New Orleans

New Orleans, LA

Day 1: Welcome Aboard!  Travel in comfort aboard our deluxe motor coach as we head south toward New Orleans, Louisiana.  “The Big Easy” is the birth place of jazz, delta blues, Cajun music, home of creole cooking, antebellum mansions, Civil War battlefields, pirates, bayous, and Celebration in the Oaks.  We overnight in Athens, Tennessee.  A dinner stop will be made en route to Athens.  (D)

Day 2: After a full breakfast we depart for New Orleans, Louisiana.  Our accommodations for the next three nights are at the Drury Inn & Suites.  The Drury Inn & Suites is conveniently located four blocks from the world famous French Quarter, and is adjacent to the St. Charles streetcar.  Bring your bathing suit to take advantage of the rooftop outdoor pool & whirlpool.  A refrigerator and microwave are provided in your hotel room.  Each evening from 5:30 to 7:00 pm, the Drury Inn & Suites hosts a Manger’s Reception with free hot food & cold beverages for guests, including beer, wine and mixed drinks.  It’s a snack for some, meal for others and free for all!  (B)             

Day 3: After a deluxe continental breakfast we meet our step-on guide, and depart for a tour of New Orleans.  Absorb the sights and sounds of the world famous French Quarter and historic Jackson Square.  Follow the path of the St. Charles Avenue streetcar, the oldest continuously operating passenger railway system in the world, (until service was disrupted by Hurricane Katrina).  See the homes of former Kings & Queens of Mardi Gras, stately mansions and the world-famous, exclusive Garden District.  View Tulane and Loyola Universities across from Audubon Park, and the home of the Audubon Zoo, one of the nations top five zoos.  We conclude our day of touring with a visit to one of the historic cemeteries, referred to as “Cities of the Dead,” and learn about this unique above ground burial system.  After returning to the hotel you are free to design your afternoon and do as you wish!  Following dinner on your own, we share in the joy and spirit of Celebration in the Oaks.  Our tour will include the fabled Carousel and a train ride through an electrifying light display along City Park Avenue.  Admission to the Botanical Garden is also included.  (B)    

Day 4: After a deluxe continental breakfast we depart for Mardi Gras World.  First we are given a brief introduction by our guide, and a spirited video presentation about the history of Mardi Gras and the company.  Next enjoy a walk among towering figures of fantasy, and marvel at the skill and technology that animate these mega-floats.  Here you will see colorful Mardi Gras props, view classic carnival floats and you will have the opportunity to dress up in authentic, ornate carnival costumes.  Next we board the Steamboat Natchez, an authentic paddlewheel riverboat, for a 2-hour lunch cruise on the Mississippi River.  After returning to our hotel you are free to design your afternoon and do as you wish!  Experience the entertainment, restaurants, shops, and museums all conveniently located within walking distance of the hotel.  Dinner is on your own.  (B, L)        

Day 5: After a deluxe continental breakfast we say goodbye to New Orleans as we depart for our overnight stay in Athens, Tennessee.  A dinner stop will be made en route to Athens.  (B, D)   

Day 6: After a full breakfast we depart for home taking with us cherished memories of the sights and sounds of New Orleans and Christmas time in “The Big Easy.”  Happy Holidays!  (B)

Included:

?  Basic amenities

?  5 nights hotel accommodations, including:

          - 3 nights at Drury Inn & Suites

?  5 breakfasts

?  1 lunch

?  2 dinners

?  3 Manager’s Reception

?  Guided Tour of New Orleans

?  Celebration in the Oaks, including:

          - Carousel Ride

          - Train Ride

          - Electrifying Light Display

          - Botanical Garden

?  Mardi Gras World

?  Steamboat Natchez Mississippi River Cruise

?  Admissions and attractions per itinerary

Price:

$699.00 Double/PP       $649.00 Triple/PP

$599.00 Quad/PP                   $949.00 Single

Deposit:  $125.00/PP

Balance Due:  October 20, 2011

                             Depart                 Return

Carney                  6:00 AM                8:45 PM

Gunther                 6:45 AM                8:00 PM