| Day 1: We meet at your town of departure to board our bus to O’Hare Airport, and check in for our flight to Florida. Upon arrival we will transfer to our hotel the Casa Monica, in charming Old Town St. Augustine for a six-night stay. (D)
Day 2: After breakfast we will depart for a carriage ride that takes us back in time through Old St. Augustine Village, a collection of historic homes spanning the period 1790 to 1910. Enjoy an authentic Spanish Welcome Dinner in the heart of the Village at the Columbia Restaurant, founded in 1905. (B, D)
Day 3: Today we will travel to Ocala and enjoy the winding pathways lined with oak trees and Spanish moss. Then, visit Silver Springs, known as “nature’s theme park.” As you stroll within the park, you may recognize this as the setting for the original films “Tarzan” and the “Creature from the Black Lagoon.” Enjoy lunch at the park, and then take the Fort King River Cruise to view the Florida wildlife, Seminole Village, archaeological digs, Fort King and a movie set. Then, return to St. Augustine for the evening and dinner at the hotel. (B, L, D)
Day 4: Travel to Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, built by the Spanish between 1672 and 1695 to protect ships retuning to Spain. Explore the fort before traveling to the Kingsley Plantation located on Fort George Island. The Plantation includes the house, a kitchen house, a barn and the ruins of 25 original slave cabins build in 1813. Then, travel to Fernandina Beach, the seaport village on picturesque Amelia Island. You will love the small-town charm, Southern hospitality and rich history in the 50-block Historic District. Lunch will be at the Florida House Inn, the oldest hotel in Florida. Then, enjoy a relaxing day on the Island before returning to St. Augustine. (B, L)
Day 5: A special breakfast will be served at our hotel. Then, we will take a scenic drive along the historic Buccaneer Trail to the area known collectively as “The Beaches” where Spanish explorer Don Juan Ponce de Leon came looking for the Fountain of Youth. Having staked his claim here for Spain in 1513, he named the land “La Florida” (Land of Flowers)> We will take the ferry across to the quaint fishing village of Mayport and enjoy a chartered cruise along the coast before traveling back through Ponte Vedra Beach, home to the prestigious PGA Golf Tour. Return to St. Augustine for a surprise dinner event. (B, D)
Day 6: Today we set out to explore North Florida’s classic small towns, including Cross Creek, the setting for the movie “The Yearling.” We will travel through historic Evinston and Micanopy, founded in 1776, on your way to Gainesville, one of the state’s main centers of education, medicine, cultural events and athletics. Known for its beautiful landscape and urban “forest,” you will enjoy the views as you tour the Historic District, established in the 1870s. Then, return to St. Augustine for a special Farewell Dinner. (B, D)
Day 7: After breakfast and check out we will be transferred back to the airport for our flight back home to Chicago. (B) |
 |
| Air Transportation |
| We will use a major airline from Chicago to St. Augustine round trip – the flight might operate either out of O’Hare or from Midway Airport. |
|
| Hotels |
St. Augustine
The Casa Monica
(6 nights) |
|
| Travel Insurance |
| The cost of this trip includes full third-party insurance which covers trip cancellation, trip delay, baggage loss, medical coverage and coverage against financial default of all suppliers including the airlines used. The medical coverage also covers pre-existing medical conditions. |
|
|
B = Breakfast
L = Lunch
D = Dinner
*
|
|
Discover the birthplace of America on the quaint streets of St. Augustine, settled by the Spanish 55 years before the pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock.