Florida's East Coast & Everglades

Day 1 – Welcome to St. Augustine!

Optional transfers from home or our departure points this morning will have us at LAX for a flight arriving in Jacksonville this evening.Those guests not taking advantage of the optional group airfare should arrive at the Jacksonville International Airport by 6:00 p.m. if they want to be included on the complimentary transfer to the hotel. Upon arrival, we’ll board our deluxe motorcoach and travel south to St. Augustine to begin a two-night stay at an oceanfront hotel located on Vilano Beach.

Day 2 – St. Augustine

Following an included breakfast, we’ll be joined by a local guide for an in-depth tour of America’s oldest city, St. Augustine. Founded in 1565 by a Spanish explorer, St. Augustine is known for its Spanish Colonial buildings, British-style cobbled streets, and elite 19^th century architecture. See the Bridge of Lions, Governor's House and the Spanish fortress, Castillo de San Marcos. Enjoy time at leisure in the city’s historic center anchored by the bustling St. George Street. Take a step back in time to America’s Gilded Age at the Lightner Museum. Known as “Florida’s Smithsonian,” you’ll marvel at the museum’s three floors of elegantly-exhibited furnishings, mechanical musical instruments, Victorian art glass, works of Louis Comfort Tiffany, and other artifacts of 19th century daily life. This afternoon we’ll enjoy a guided tour of Flagler College showcasing the architectural heritage and fascinating history of the former Hotel Ponce de Leon – a nationally designated historic landmark built by Henry Flagler in 1887. The Ponce de Leon beautifully recaptures the architectural spirit of old Europe and is home to the world's largest collection of Louis Comfort Tiffany stained glass windows. Enjoy an included dinner this evening at a locals’ favorite. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 3 – Daytona & Florida's Space Coast

Enjoy an included breakfast before we head south to Daytona Beach. Here, we'll experience an all-access, guided, behind-the-scenes tour of the Daytona International Speedway and see the drivers' meeting room, the garages, victory lane, the press box, the winning Daytona 500 car and the track’s 31-degree high bank turns up-close. Continuing south, this afternoon we arrive on Florida’s "Space Coast," the birthplace of American spaceflight. At the Kennedy Space Center we’ll embark on a guided, behind-the-scenes driving tour to see some of the most mission- critical areas and learn about Cape Canaveral’s storied past. See NASA headquarters, the Vehicle Assembly Building, the gigantic crawler transporters, the launch complexes and much more. Enjoy time at leisure at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Center to explore the sprawling cam- pus featuring artifacts from the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs, the Space Shuttle Atlantis and the Apollo/Saturn V Center featuring a full size, 363-foot Saturn V moon rocket – the largest rocket ever made! At the Shuttle Launch Experience you can strap in to experience what it’s like to be launched into orbit at 17,500 mph. See full size historic rockets as you walk through the Rocket Garden and pay your respects at the Astronaut Memorial. We continue south to world famous Cocoa Beach for an overnight stay at an oceanfront hotel. (Breakfast)

Day 4 – Palm Beach, Miami

After an included breakfast, we'll travel south along Florida's A1A, a National Scenic Byway that follows Florida’s barrier islands and is known for its lush tropical scenery and ocean vistas. We'll spend the afternoon in Palm Beach, the seasonal home of many powerful billionaires. We'll visit Whitehall, the 75-room Gilded Age mansion and National Historic Landmark. When it was completed in 1902, the New York Herald proclaimed that Henry Flagler’s estate was “more wonderful than any palace in Europe.” Enjoy an included boxed lunch in their Coconut Grove. We continue to Miami for a three-night stay at a premier hotel overlooking Biscayne Bay. (Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 5 – Miami, Everglades National Park

Following an included breakfast, we’ll visit Flamingo Botanical Gardens and Wildlife Sanctuary and enjoy an included lunch and narrated tram tour. This botanical garden features over 3,000 species of rare and exotic tropical, subtropical, and native plants and trees. The wildlife sanctuary is home to a large collection of native Florida wildlife including alligators, bobcats, eagles, otters, panthers, peacocks, and flamingos. We continue to Everglades National Park, Florida’s most treasured area. Featuring 2,500 square miles of untamed wilderness, Everglades National Park’s unique ecosystem is home to breathtaking panoramic views, lush vegetation and remarkable tranquility – untouched and pristine. We’ll visit Shark Valley Visitor Center located in the center of this expansive “river of grass.” On a guided, naturalist-led tram tour you'll experience the Everglades in a captivating and educational way. At the halfway point of the tour, you can even walk to the top of the Shark Valley Observation Tower, the highest accessible point in Everglades National Park. This afternoon we’ll visit Everglades Safari Park and board a modern airboat for a guided, eco-adventure tour into Everglades National Park. Your experienced guide will describe the wonders of this unique ecosystem and point out the native and exotic wildlife that inhabit it including alligators, turtles, colorful rare birds and much more. (Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 6 – Miami

After an included breakfast, we’ll be joined by a local guide for a comprehensive driving tour of the “Magic City” of Miami. Soak up the natural beauty, vibrant international culture and celebrity intrigue as we bask in the city’s tropical mixture of Caribbean cool and Art Deco allure. We’ll see the architectural gems along Ocean Drive in South Beach, the beautiful neighborhoods of Coconut Grove and Coral Gables and world-famous Miami landmarks such as Little Havana. This afternoon we’ll embark on a narrated Biscayne Bay cruise and take in views of the Miami skyline, celebrity mansions, glamorous yachts and enormous cruise ships as we sail past Downtown Miami, the Venetian Islands, the Port of Miami, Fisher Island, Star Island, Jungle Island and Miami Beach. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 7 – Miami, Journey Home

After an included breakfast and morning at leisure, we'll arrive at the Miami International Airport this afternoon for a scheduled non-stop flight arriving in Los Angeles this evening. Those guests making their own flight arrangements can request the group’s flight schedule to coordinate a flight departure time that would allow them to be included on the complimentary transfer to the airport. Back in Los Angeles, those guests with pre-arranged transfers will be returned to their respective destinations. (Breakfast)

While we make every effort to operate our tours as outlined in the itinerary, we ask for your patience, understanding and flexibility and to retain a sense of adventure while traveling with us. Situations may arise that necessitate changes to the itinerary. Should we need to adjust the itinerary either prior to or while on tour, these changes will be communicated to you and only done when absolutely necessary.