Overview
Key West is a place to get away from it all and have a completely different Christmas experience, particularly if you normally live in a cold or snow-bound area, this will be complemented by the education part of the trip which will be the History of Key West including a stop in Pigeon Key on our way to Key West.
On this trip we will be visiting Hemingway Museum, Custom House, Fort Zachary, Mallory Square and enjoy taking the Lighting Trolley Tour to catch the real Key West Christmas Spirit.
While in Key Largo Experience the protected natural areas of the keys, including a visit to John Pennekamp coral reef state park, the country’s first undersea park.
Our Program
Unless otherwise specified, the Group Leader will lead all lectures, field trips, and birding exercises. Transportation throughout the program will be provided by passenger vans unless otherwise noted. As wildlife and weather are unpredictable, changes in times and locations may occur, even at the last minute. A final itinerary will be distributed at the last minute.
Free time is reserved for your personal independent exploration. Evenings at leisure offer opportunities to make the program more meaningful and memorable through personal independent exploration, engaging in available activities on your own, or simply relaxing and making new friends among fellow participants. The Group Leader will always be happy to offer suggestions.
STARTING AT
$2,260
SINGLE: $3,611.50
Meals at Local Restaurant
6 Nights of Lodging
7 Field Trips
Itinerary
DAY 1: ORIENTATION
Program Registration & Orientation: 5:30 p.m. We will gather in our reserved room in the downstairs Welcome Center Area of the hotel for registration and get your welcome packet containing your name-tag, up-to-date schedule that reflects any last-minute changes, and other important information. If you arrive late, please ask for your packet when you check-in.
DINNER:
At a local restaurant.
DAY 2: JOHN PENNEKAMP, MALLORY SQUARE
BREAKFAST:
At a local restaurant.
MORNING:
Drive to John Pennekamp State Park, the Visitor Center features a 30,000-gallon saltwater aquarium and other natural history exhibits providing examples of the park’s unique marine environment. After our short visit to the visitor center, we’ll embark on an expert-led field trip through the park, including a mile-long walk through mangrove habitats over pathways and boardwalk. We’ll learn about the importance of mangroves to the reefs and why the mangrove system is the second most productive bio-zone on the planet as we walk inside this virtual jungle above the water.
LUNCH:
In route to Key West, we’ll have a plated meal with soda, coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.
AFTERNOON:
We’ll continue our journey to Key West. We expect to arrive and check in to our hotel by approximately 4:30 p.m.
DINNER:
We will walk to a local restaurant for a meal with soda, coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.
EVENING:
We’ll walk to Mallory Square for the daily Sunset Celebration. In addition to locals and visitors, the participants might include artists, clowns, jugglers, magicians, musicians, psychics, and more as well as a variety of food vendors.
DAY 3: TROLLEY, CUSTOM HOUSE, BOTANICAL GAREN, HOLIDAY TROLLEY)
BREAKFAST:
By the hotel pool, the breakfast buffet offers choices such as eggs, cereal, fruit, bagels, pastries, eggs, milk, juice, coffee, tea, water.
MORNING:
We’ll take a field trip via trolley with narration to learn about the city’s history and some of its attractions. We will continue our walk to the Custom House for a small talk about the history of the house.
LUNCH:
At a local Restaurant
AFTERNOON:
Ride to Key West Botanical Garden for a guided tour and free time.
DINNER:
At a local restaurant.
EVENING:
The Holiday Light Trolley. We’ll take a trolley ride to see some of the most colorful displays.
DAY 4: LITTLE WHITE HOUSE, LIGHTHOUSE, HEMINGWAY HOUSE
BREAKFAST:
By the hotel pool, the breakfast buffet offers choices such as eggs, cereal, fruit, bagels, pastries, eggs, milk, juice, coffee, tea, water.
MORNING:
We will drive to Florida’s only presidential museum, the Harry S. Truman Little White House was the winter White House for this country’s 33rd president. Truman spent 175 days during 13 vacations in the home that is filled with original furnishing and memorabilia from Truman’s days. Presidents Taft, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Carter, and Clinton also used the house. Guided tours offer guests a window into the world of President Truman and the life of a US president.
We will stop by The Lighthouse on our way to lunch.
LUNCH:
At a local restaurant.
AFTERNOON:
Walk to Hemingway House. Ernest Hemingway lived and wrote in this for ten years. During that time he wrote seventy percent of his life works. FREE rest of the day.
DINNER:
At your leisure.
DAY 5: FREE DAY/ CHRISTMAS DINNER
BREAKFAST:
By the hotel pool, the breakfast buffet offers choices such as eggs, cereal, fruit, bagels, pastries, eggs, milk, juice, coffee, tea, water.
DINNER:
Christmas Dinner at Local Restaurant.
DAY 6: FORT ZACHARY TAYLOR, KEY LARGO
BREAKFAST:
By the hotel pool, the breakfast buffet offers choices such as eggs, cereal, fruit, bagels, pastries, eggs, milk, juice, coffee, tea, water.
MORNING:
We’ll check out of the hotel and hop into the van for our return to Key Largo. En route, we’ll stop to visit Fort Zachary Taylor, Florida’s southernmost state park and a designated National Historic Landmark. Construction began in 1845 shortly after Florida became the 27th state in the U.S. It took more than 20 years to complete due to adversities of weather, disease, and shortages of material and human resources. Nevertheless, Fort Zach played important roles in the Civil War, Spanish-American War, World Wars I and II, and the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. During our expert-led exploration, we’ll learn about its history.
LUNCH:
At a local restaurant.
AFTERNOON:
Continuing our ride, we’ll arrive back in Tavernier on Key Largo and check in to the hotel with some time to freshen up and relax before dinner.
DINNER:
At a local restaurant, we’ll have a plated meal with soda, coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.
DAY 7: RETURN TO MIAMI APPROX. 11:00 AM
BREAKFAST:
At a local Restaurant.
MORNING:
Drive back to Miami Airport.
Lodging
OCEAN POINT SUITES AT KEY LARGO
UNIQUE FEATURES
Ocean Pointe is an all-suite resort located directly on the Atlantic Ocean. Their 60 acres are part of a protected mangrove forest and is entered through a private gatehouse and road. Your vacation begins the moment you drive through our gatehouse entrance into their beautifully landscaped tropical grounds and enter your spacious room.
FACILITY AMENITIES:
Oversized heated swimming pool with whirlpool spa
Free tennis on 2 lighted courts
Marina with boat ramp and rental slips
Waterfront cafe and lounge
Small, private white sand beach, volleyball court and kayak rentals
Courtesy guard at gatehouse
For kids there is also a children's play area.
24 NORTH HOTEL
UNIQUE FEATURES
Key West offers accommodations in Key West. The hotel has an outdoor pool and fitness center, and guests can enjoy a drink at the bar.
All rooms are fitted with a flat-screen TV. Certain rooms feature a sitting area for your convenience. The rooms are equipped with a private bathroom equipped with a bathtub and bathtub or shower. For your comfort, you will find free toiletries and a hairdryer. You will find a 24-hour front desk at the property.
FACILITY AMENITIES:
Free Wi-Fi
Free parking
Swimming pool
Fitness center
Bar/lounge
TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION:
Transportation from Miami Airport to Ocean Pointe Suites. Complimentary for all participants arriving to Miami Airport not later than 2:00 p.m. No reservation required. Need to be at Terminal H baggage claim 6 between 2:30 pm to 2:45 pm to take advantage of this complementary service. Transportation on 12 or 15 pax vans. Note: This is a one time transportation, since we are not a shuttle company. For a Shuttle Company we recommend Keys Shuttle Co. Tel 305-289-9997. Call to coordinate time.
At the end of the tour we will be returning to Miami Airport approx. 11:00 am
Additional Nights: Call Hotel directly for additional nights, mention you are part of GL Explorers Group.
What’s Included
6 Nights accommodations
17 meals ( 6B, 5L, 6D)
Expert tour director
Customary gratuities
7 Field trips
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