Tour Description

Photo Provided Courtesy of Visit Pensacola
February 12-20, 2026
9 Days
13 Meals
$100 Per Person Deposit Required
Requirements: Real ID or Valid Passport (for entrance to NAS Pensacola)

Escape the cold Missouri winter on your journey south to enjoy a taste of Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi.

Your package includes deluxe transportation, accommodations, all listed tour fees, and 13 meals. This tour will take you to the beaches of Pensacola, family friendly Mardi Gras in Mobile where the first organized celebration occurred in 1703, enjoy southern seafood cuisine, and much more! Get ready to soak in the sunshine, savor the culture, and make memories on this breezy gulf coast getaway! Photo Provided Courtesy of Visit Pensacola Photo Provided Courtesy of Visit Pensacola

Day 1:

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Today we leave the cold winter of Missouri behind as we begin our journey south after picking up our travel family. Relax, sit back and enjoy the ride! We will end our day in Horn Lake, MS.

Day 2:

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Meals: Breakfast

This morning, we step into the humble beginnings of a legend at the Elvis Presley Birthplace in Tupelo, MS where we will see the two-room house where the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll was born, experience a church service in the actual building where the Presley family attended services, and stroll the peaceful grounds filled with the roots of the music that changed the world. We will enjoy a stop at a small-town flea market along the way! Tonight, we will try to rest our heads in Meridian, MS as we anticipate where our journey will take us tomorrow…

Day 3:

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Meals: Breakfast

Happy Valentine’s Day, Sweetheart! This morning, we will visit the vibrant, interactive Mississippi Arts & Entertainment Experience in Meridian, that includes highlights of music from artists like B.B. King and Elvis, literary artists like William Faulkner and John Grisham, along with many other well-known artists that have helped bridge history with creativity and community across generations. This afternoon, we will make our way further south to Pensacola, FL where we will spend 2 nights in our gulf coast hotel, Pensacola Beach Resort! Are you ready to put your toes in the sand?

Day 4:

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Meals: Breakfast

This morning, we will visit the National Naval Aviation Museum where you’ll be able to walk through spacious hangars full of vintage planes, interactive exhibits, and a giant-screen theater. You’ll also see displays and artifacts dedicated to the Blue Angels! After lunch on your own at the Museum, we are giving you free time to spend enjoying the sandy beach! The afternoon and evening are all yours! Photo Provided Courtesy of Visit Pensacola Photo Provided Courtesy of Visit Pensacola

Day 5:

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Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

This day will be packed with adventure as we head to Mobile, AL for 2 nights! Our first stop will be for lunch at the Original Oyster House in Spanish Fort, AL overlooking Mobile Bay. We make our way to the famous Mobile Carnival Museum which is a vibrant tribute to the city’s 300+ year Mardi Gras tradition!  Here you will learn about the mystic societies that shape parade balls, understand Mardi Gras’s deep spiritual and social roots in Mobile, and see beautiful, ornate robes, trains and gowns worn by Mardi Gras royalty. Next, our Step on Guide will take us on a historical tour of Mobile aboard our motorcoach before we stop at Moe’s Original BBQ for dinner and a nighttime, lit up Fat Tuesday Mardi Gras parade! Try to catch a Moon Pie from a float passing by! P.S. Don’t wear green today! It was not an original color of Mobile Mardi Gras.

Day 6:

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Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

This morning, we will head to Bellingrath Gardens and Home in Theodore, AL where we will learn of a true love story not just between a husband and wife, but their love for their community too, especially the less fortunate. After touring the beautiful home, stroll through the gardens on your way back to enjoy lunch on us at their café. After lunch, we will make our way to Historic Blakeley Park where we will learn more about the history of Mardi Gras as we enjoy an afternoon boat tour on the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta which flows into the Mobile River and then Mobile Bay.

Day 7:

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Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Have we got a treat in store for you! You will get to decorate your own King Cake with the guidance of a chef from MS Gulf Coast Community College Hospitality Resort Management Center. Our next stop will be the MS Armed Forces Museum, located within historic Camp Shelby just south of Hattiesburg. We cannot leave MS without enjoying the seafood buffet at Berry’s Seafood House in Florence, MS, a favorite for locals and travelers alike. With our tummies full, we will rest our heads near Jackson, MS tonight.

Day 8:

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Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Even though we begin our journey towards home today, this party isn’t over yet! We are going to treat you to lunch at Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken in Memphis before visiting the Metal Museum. Here we will take a tour of the museum and even have a hands-on project to take home as a souvenir! After this fun stop, we just have to show you the unique, nature experience of Bass Pro Shops in the Memphis Pyramid. We will continue our journey west towards home and stop for the night in Jonesboro, AR.

Day 9:

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Meals: Breakfast

We are homeward bound today. It's a time to exchange stories of the surprises you found along the way and plan future adventures with your new traveling friends. We’re grateful that you chose to join us on the Sandy Shores and Southern Charm Tour so we could help you create lasting memories you can share for years to come. Photo Provided Courtesy of Visit Pensacola