2027 FOOTSTEPS TO FREEDOM TOUR

MARCH 7 - 13, 2027

Travel south with us to where an important chapter in American history took place. We will tour the 16th Street Baptist Church and learn about its role in the Civil Rights Movement, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, Birmingham’s Civil Rights District, the Rosa Parks Museum, Alabama State Capitol building and a guided tour of the historic city of Montgomery. We will also tour the famous Brown Chapel AME Church and  a journey through historic Selma, AL, even cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge, site of the Bloody Sunday marches of 1965. We also visit the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, the “Fame” recording studio in Muscle Shoals, and enjoy GREAT southern food; including dinner at the famous “Dreamland Bar-B-Q.  

Day 1:  Today is a travel day to Franklin, TN where we stop for the night at the Drury Inn & Suites for the night. Dinner is (included) at the hotel. 

Day 2:  We begin with a breakfast buffet (included) before we depart for a full day of adventure. The first stop is in the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, AL where we explore one of the world’s largest collections of space artifacts. Walk alongside actual rockets, the Saturn V rocket , space capsules and even have lunch (on your own) in the Galaxy Grill located inside the Center. Our next stop is a guided tour of the Fame Recording Studios where artists like Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett and Etta James recorded their timeless hits. We move on to Muscle Shoals Sound Studio where artists like The Rolling Stones, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Bob Dylan, and Paul Simon recorded songs that shaped America. After our music history, we will check in at Renaissance Shoals Resort and Spa, a beautiful riverfront resort. Here we will relax, before we experience a gourmet dinner at the famous 360 Grille (included). Located atop the Renaissance tower, Alabama’s only revolving dining room.  

Day 3: After breakfast (included) we will have a guided tour of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, a significant gathering place for leaders and activists in the struggle for equality. We will also enjoy a catered lunch (included) at the church. Our journey continues to the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, located in the heart of the historic Civil Rights District. We will learn about the lives of the people and the events that shaped the Civil Rights Movement. We will also tour the city of Birmingham and learn its history from our knowlegable step-on guide. Dinner tonight (included) is at Alabama’s famous “Dreamland Bar-B-Que”, known for world-famous ribs, signature tangy sauce, and casual atmosphere since 1958. After dinner we arrive at the Drury Inn & Suites for the night.

Day 4: Breakfast buffet (included) starts our day before our guided tour of the Rosa Parks Museum, located near the site Rosa Parks was arrested in 1955 that sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott. The museum is full of memorabilia, artifacts, and exhibits that show the determination and courage that helped change a nation. Lunch today is (on your own) in downtown Montgomery before we tour the Hank Williams Museum. We will step into the life of this icon of country music and see artifacts, hand written music, instruments, stage costumes and the famous blue Cadillac in which Williams took his final ride. Our afternoon continues with a guided tour of the Alabama State Capitol. Beautifully restored building that played an important part in the Civil Rights Movement. Leaving the Capitol, we board for a guided tour of historic Montgomery where we will see actual locations where American history unfolded. Dinner tonight is (included) at Martha’s Place, a local favorite for Southern homestyle cooking. We will check in at the Drury Inn, Montgomery, AL for a two night stay.

Day 5:  A buffet breakfast begins our day before we experience one of the most powerful journeys in American history, with a guided tour that follows the path of the brave marchers of the Selma to Montgomery Marches of 1965. We will step inside the historic Brown Chapel AME Church, the headquarters for marchers as they organized their protests. Here we will learn about the leaders and how they organized the marches. We will recharge with a box lunch (included) from Reflections Coffee Shoppe, before we walk across the iconic Edmund Pettus Bridge, the site of the pivotal events known as “Bloody Sunday.” Dinner tonight is (included) at O’Dessa’s Blessings, known for a heartwarming atmosphere, Southern hospitality and hearty Southern cuisine.

Day 6:  Enjoy buffet breakfast (included) before we depart for Franklin, TN, where we will enjoy a stroll through the charming downtown area filled with historic buildings, unique boutiques, local art galleries, Civil War landmarks and cafes to enjoy lunch (on your own)  during a leisurely afternoon. Dinner tonight is (included) at Puckett’s Grocery & Restaurant, a local favorite known for classic Southern comfort food and atmosphere, before we check in at Hendersonville Holiday Inn Express for the night.

DAY 7:   Enjoy a  buffet breakfast (included) before we board and depart for home. 

INCLUDES: Escorted transportation, 6 nights lodging, 6 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 6 dinners, admission to listed attractions, taxes and meal gratuities.

Single occupancy  $3170

Double occupancy $2500 per person

Triple occupancy   $2300 per person

Quad occupancy   $2200 per person