$1885
(non-member: $1960)
Single Room–add $695
 

Activity Level:
85% Easy;
   15% Moderate
 

____________________

Travelers will make their own air reservations and are requested to arrive and depart as follows:

Airport: Miami, FL (MIA)

Arrive: Miami, FL (MIA) on Sunday, 7 March no later than 5:00pm. The tour begins at the hotel at 6:00pm.

Depart:  Saturday, 13 March at your convenience, but no later than 12:00 noon

Early Arrival:  If you wish to arrive a day early WTT can make your hotel reservation for you. The room cost for this tour will be:

Sunday, 7 March: Arrive Miami International; Welcome Dinner

Arrive Miami International (MIA) at your convenience but no later than 5:00pm. Transfer to the hotel, located near the airport. The tour begins in the lobby of the hotel at 6:00pm. If you arrive earlier in the day the WTT tour leader will be at the hotel to greet you and to offer suggestions as to activities available to you.  This evening we will have dinner together, get better acquainted, and discuss the week ahead. Overnight Hampton Inn, Miami Airport. (D)

Monday, 8 March: Everglades National Park and Fairfield Botanical Gardens.

After breakfast this morning we will venture out into the Everglades, the country’s only subtropical preserve. The park is rich in bird life; and is the only place in the world where alligators and crocodiles exist side by side. We will begin our orientation with a tram tour that will take us deep into the park. This tour offers a spectacular overview of the park and we will see lots of flora and fauna and likely alligators.

Later today we return to the Miami area and pay a visit to the lovely Fairfield Botanical Gardens where we will have time for lunch before visiting the gardens. Since 1938 Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden has assembled an outstanding collection of taxonomically arranged and well-documented tropical plants, emphasizing palms, cycads, flowering trees and shrubs, vines and fruit trees. Except for certain cultivated plants and critically endangered species, many of these plants are collected from the wild. These collections are now a resource of world significance.

We conclude our day back at the hotel in Miami.  Dinner this evening is on your own. (B)

Tuesday, 9 March: Air Boat Ride and Travel to Key West with leisurely stop for lunch

This morning we begin our day with a real treat as we climb aboard the famous airboats and sail across the surface of the Everglades. What a blast!

From the air boat ride we take a leisurely ride through the Keys to ultimately end at Key West. We will stop along the way to enjoy a leisurely lunch at the water's edge before arriving in Key West around 4:00pm. We will have time to freshen up before dinner. Overnight: Almond Tree Inn.  www.almondtreeinn.com  (B,L)

The Florida Keys are a 106 mile long chain of islands that begin at the very bottom of Florida's mainland. They are often referred to as America's Caribbean. These islands are surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Gulf of Mexico on the other. Key Largo is the first island south of the Florida mainland on US Route 1, and Key West is approximately 100 miles south of Key Largo. In between are the lovely islands of Islamorada, Long Key, Marathon, Big Pine Key and many more.  

Wednesday, 10 March: Hemingway House and Key West tour.

We start our day at the Hemingway House. From 1931-1940 Hemingway lived in this lovely Spanish-Colonial house. Other points of interest this morning will include Little White House - vacation house of President Truman, and Southernmost Point – the southernmost point in the continental USA. The hop-on trolley ticket will allow you to return to sights of interest this afternoon, or just lay on the beach if that is your fancy. This evening we will regroup and go have dinner together. (B,D)

Thursday, 11 March: Free day in Key West or optional day trip to Dry Tortugas National Park.

Today you can choose to spend the day relaxing in Key West, or take an optional boat trip to Dry Tortugas National Park. If you are going to Dry Tortugas, we will leave at 8:00am and return around 5:30pm.  The WTT tour leader will have all sorts of suggestions as to how to enjoy your day in Key West if you are not going to Dry Tortugas.

This evening would be a great time to go to Mallory Square – the site of Key West’s famous nightly sunset celebrations. It’s a carnival like atmosphere where you can watch jugglers, acrobats and “Parrot Bill” while sipping a cool drink as the sun sinks into the ocean.  If the conditions are right you may even see the "green flash". (B)

Optional day trip to Dry Tortugas National Park: $170.00

About 70 miles west of Key West lies a cluster of seven islands, composed of coral reefs and sand, called the Dry Tortugas. Along with the surrounding shoals and waters, they make up Dry Tortugas National Park. The area is known for its famous bird and marine life, and its legends of pirates and sunken gold. Ft. Jefferson, the largest of the 19th century American coastal forts is a central feature.

The cost includes continental breakfast, a picnic lunch, snorkel gear and a 45 min. tour of the fort plus transportation to and from the park.

Friday, 12 March: Morning in Key West with afternoon return to Miami and evening farewell dinner

This morning there will be time for another walk around Key West, take a swim, or just sleep in if you wish. We will leave Key West after lunch and return to Miami where we will check in at our hotel and then go out to dinner somewhere fun to reminisce about our week together. (B,D)

Saturday, 13 March: Return Home

Return home at your convenience, remembering that check-out is by 11:00am. Airport transfers are provided by the hotel. (B)