Escape the ice and snow this winter on a tropical trip south. This coastal vacation is an excellent opportunity to tour fabulous Florida from top to bottom, with plenty of activities and leisure time built in.

DAY 1 – Enjoy a scenic drive south through Tennessee to South Carolina, where we overnight in Columbia. 

DAY 2 – We head to Savannah, Georgia, with buildings dating back before the Civil War. Take a riverboat sightseeing cruise where the captain will share history and facts about Savannah’s port and ships from all over the world. The rest of the evening will be at your leisure. 

DAY 3 – We travel to St. Augustine, the first and oldest European settlement in the United States. This afternoon, we visit historic Old Town St. George Street for shopping. Explore the 11-block stretch of Spanish Colonial architecture, shops, restaurants, and historic sites as you get acquainted with our nation’s oldest city. Next, we visit the Fountain of Youth Archeological Park, commemorating the landing of the Spanish explorer. Dinner is included at the exquisite Columbia Restaurant in the historic area. 

DAY 4 – We visit Castillo San Marcos National Monument, the oldest masonry fort in the United States. This afternoon, we continue to Daytona Beach. we will tour the Daytona International Speedway, home of the Daytona 500 NASCAR race. Explore the Speedway from a variety of vantage points, visit the famous start/finish line and ride down the pit road to get a close-up view of the pit stalls. The rest of the afternoon is at your leisure. 

DAY 5 – We visit the Kennedy Space Center, the departure site for the first human journey to the moon and the base for hundreds of space shuttle launches and landings. Experience the history of space exploration firsthand as you walk through a full-scale replica of a shuttle orbiter. We continue to West Palm Beach. 

DAY 6 – We begin our day with a visit to Flamingo Gardens, a tropical paradise filled with plants, animals, and history. Next, we pass through the breathtaking beauty of the Keys as we drive down the Overseas Highway (Route 1) to Key West. This scenic highway connects the entire length of the Keys over 42 bridges across coral limestones and inlets. The afternoon is at your leisure. 

DAY 7 – We’ll discover the history and many sights of Key West on a narrated trolley tour. This is the ideal way to enjoy the architecture and beauty of this picturesque city by the sea. Next, we tour the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum. The Nobel Prize-winning author resided and wrote here for more than ten years. The afternoon is at your leisure. Your trolley pass has hop-on/hop-off privileges, making it easy to get around. Tonight, we experience one of Key West’s famous sunsets on a picturesque Sunset Cruise. 

DAY 8 – Free day! The day is at your leisure to explore Key West. 

DAY 9 – We depart our hotel and make our way back to the mainland via Route 1. This afternoon, we will take a thrilling airboat ride through the Everglades. We continue to our overnight accommodations in Fort Myers. 

DAY 10 – We tour the Thomas Edison and Henry Ford Winter Estates. This lovely home, a spacious Victorian residence surrounded by a latticed veranda, remains just the same as the genius inventor left it, complete with laboratories, botanical gardens, and personal effects. We continue to Sarasota. 

DAY 11 – We board our motorcoach and make our way to Forsyth, Georgia. 

DAY 12 – We make our way home with memories of our leisurely days in the Florida sun that will last throughout the winter. 

Meals Included: 11 breakfasts, 1 dinner

Meals: 11B, 1D