Florida Fun: December in the Sunshine State!
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Overview
Florida Fun: December in the Sunshine State!
Join us in the Sunshine State for an incredible 8-day excursion sure to chase away the Winter Blues! This tour has a bit of everything: beaches, space exploration, water sports, wildlife encounters, and the historical streets of St. Augustine, the oldest city in the USA. If historical weather proves true this year, the only thing this tour will not have will be frigid temperatures – Florida high temperatures vary between the low to mid 70s! Explore out-of-this-world exhibits at the Kennedy Space Center. Take a boat ride to encounter manatees in the wild. Tour the Ponce de Leon Fountain of Youth Archeological Site. Visit historic homes and a Florida Plantation. Do all of this and, of course, enjoy great food, fantastic company, and make unmatched memories.
Itinerary
December 5 – Day One: Portland to Savannah
Today we will be flying from PDX to Savannah (yes, Savannah). Upon arrival in Savannah, we will head down to historic River Street and check into the Riverstreet Inn. The day will wrap up with a nice sit down dinner and then rest. (D)
December 6 – Day Two: Savannah and Amelia Island
Wake up in the historic Riverstreet Inn and enjoy breakfast before heading out to visit the Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters, an impressively preserved piece of Georgian history. Lunch will be on your own as you explore River Street before departing for Amelia Island, Florida. In the afternoon, we will check into the Amelia Hotel at the Beach, rest, and have dinner together at a local restaurant. After dinner, we head back to the hotel for the first of two nights on Amelia Island. (B, D)
December 7 – Day Three: Amelia Island and Kingsley Plantation
Today, after breakfast, head out for a tour of the historic town of Fernandina and Amelia Island with a step-on guide. The tour will focus on Fernandina in the morning, and after lunch together, will move onto a tour of the Kingsley Plantation, the oldest plantation house still standing in Florida. The lands the house now stands on are administered by the National Park Service and additionally contain pre-Columbian and Spanish colonial era roots. Dinner at a local Amelia Island restaurant and a return to the hotel will round out the day. Tomorrow we are off to the oldest city in the USA, St. Augustine, Florida. (B, L, D)
December 8– Day Four: St. Augustine and Cocoa Beach
We will check out of the hotel following breakfast and make our way to the original site of St. Augustine explored by Ponce de Leon in 1513. The Fountain of Youth Archeological Park sits on the land settled in 1565 which became the first successful European settlement on the North American continent (42 years before Jamestown!). We will have plenty of time to explore the Colonial Quarter in St. Augustine where there are many choices for lunch on your own. Later in the afternoon, we will pass close by Cape Canaveral and settle into our ocean front hotel in Cocoa Beach and enjoy dinner on palm tree lined streets. (B, D)
December 9 – Day Five: Kennedy Space Center
Get ready to blast off after breakfast with a full day visit to the Kennedy Space Center. Explore multiple themed complexes organized into ‘Mission Zones’ which track the US Space Program from its origins in the Mercury program, through Gemini and Apollo, and on through the Space Shuttle program. Tickets will give access to the Kennedy Space Center Bus Tour, IMAX, the Lunar Theater, simulators, and so much more! Afterwards, we have time to debrief at a group dinner in Cocoa Beach and look forward to more tomorrow. (B, L, D)
December 10 – Day6: Kennedy Space Center to Clearwater
After Breakfast today we will be moving on from the hotel and Cocoa Beach, but not before a bit more time at the Kennedy Space Center to visit exhibits that fellow travelers have recommended or for one last glimpse at real life spacecraft. We will have lunch and depart for Clearwater, Florida to check into our hotel for the last two nights of our trip. Dinner at the hotel and rest will round out the evening. (B, L, D)
December 11 – Day 7: Crystal River and Manatees
After breakfast at the hotel, we are off to the aptly named Crystal River. First up will be the Crystal River Archaeological State park to see pre-Columbian burial mounds, temple or platform mounds, and a museum. We will break for lunch before heading over to a boat launch to encounter manatees in the wild. The Crystal River area sees its largest population of manatees between December and February providing the best opportunity to view these gentle creatures in the wild. Brave souls may also slip into the water to share the same environment as the manatees (the air is warm, but not to worry for those that might shun cool water, wetsuits will be available). After a wonderful day of exploration, head back to Clearwater for dinner near the water and a good night’s rest. (B, L, D)
December 12 – Day 8: Journey Home
Today will start with breakfast and a leisurely morning. Mid morning, we will depart for the Tampa Airport and fly back to the Pacific NW with warmth in our hearts. (B)