Florida
Amelia Island and St. Augustine: Coastal Treasures in Florida
Program No. 21268RJ
Discover what makes Amelia Island and St. Augustine such cultural and historic gems, learning about Native American history, Civil War strategy, grand architecture and renowned cuisine.
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Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date.
Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
6 days
5 nights
What's Included
11 meals (
5B, 3L, 3D
)
4 expert-led lectures
8 expert-led field trips
An experienced Group Leader
5 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Day
1
Check-In, Registration, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Location:
Fernandina Beach, Florida
Meals:
D
Stay:
Residence Inn by Marriott Amelia Island
Activity Note
Hotel check-in from 4:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).
Afternoon:
Program Registration will begin at 5:00 p.m. in the conference room. At this time you will register with the program staff and get your welcome packet and up-to-date schedule that reflects any last-minute changes, other important information, and to confirm when and where the Orientation session will take place. If you arrive late, please ask for your packet when you check in. Orientation. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Periods in the daily schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner:
In the hotel meeting room.
Evening:
At leisure. After meeting fellow participants over dinner, take time to unpack and prepare for tomorrow’s outing on Amelia Island.
Day
2
Amelia Island & Fernandina, Fort Clinch, Coastal Ecology
Location:
Fernandina Beach, Florida
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Residence Inn by Marriott Amelia Island
Activity Note
Getting on/off trolley. Minimal walking/standing at Fort Clinch on uneven terrain. Slopped incline to second level of Fort Clinch with no railings.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Today will be a day of fascination and historical adventure. On our trolley field trip, we will explore the downtown historic district of Amelia Island as our expert shares the story of the visionary whose exhilarating dream so stirred his neighbors that they agreed to move their entire town to the site of a plantation he owned, thereby creating "New" Fernandina in the 1850s. From the "giant" Timucua Native Americans, to Spanish and French explorers, to the lawless spirit of pirates, to the dignified air of Victorian-era residents, Amelia Island has been home to diverse cultures that have left a truly exciting heritage. Expect the rare privilege of observing the uniquely gracious and historic homes of another century. Afterwards, on a visit to the Amelia Island Museum of History, allow yourself to get in touch with efforts to preserve the nearly extinct, pristine architectural styles within a small, gifted American town struggling to retain its fragile sense of family and community as well as its birthright and historical integrity.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we will travel by trolley to Fort Clinch, a part of the Florida State Park system since 1935. The fort is one of the most well-preserved 19th-century forts in the country, thanks to the preservation and restoration efforts of the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. While garrisoned during the Civil War and the Spanish-American War, the fort has never seen action. Civil War-period reenactors will bring garrison living to life for us. We’ll explore the many rooms, galleries and grounds of the fort as you learn how the soldiers worked and lived each day.
Dinner:
At hotel.
Evening:
In the hotel meeting room, we’ll meet for a presentation by a naturalist on coastal ecology.
Day
3
Shrimping Industry, Amelia Island River Cruise, Free Time
Location:
Fernandina Beach, Florida
Meals:
B
Stay:
Residence Inn by Marriott Amelia Island
Activity Note
Getting on/off a trolley; driving 8 miles roundtrip, approximately 25 minutes riding time. Getting on/off pontoon boat for cruise including ramp with grade and elevation dependent on tide. Minimal walking.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
In the conference room, start the morning off with a presentation by a local shrimper whose family goes back generations in the industry. He shares his knowledge of shrimp farming and the future of the shrimp industry in the U.S. Travelling by trolley, we will meet our captain for a morning boat cruise. As we cruise the backwaters of Amelia Island and Cumberland Island on a covered pontoon boat, we’ll enjoy the spectacular views while watching for rare birds, dolphins, manatees, and other wildlife. We’ll glide back in time along the rivers, creeks, and marshes that surround Amelia Island. Commentary along the way will be provided by a local expert.
Lunch:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. At the conclusion of lunch, we will assemble at a designated time/location and travel via trolley back to our hotel which is approximately 4 miles.
Afternoon:
Free time. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Please note that the period scheduled for free time is subject to change depending on local circumstances and opportunities for independent exploration.
Dinner:
On your own.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare to pack and be ready to leave for St. Augustine on Wednesday morning.
Day
4
Cathedral Basilica, Historic St. Augustine, Flagler College
Location:
St. Augustine, FL
Meals:
B,L
Stay:
DoubleTree by Hilton St. Augustine Historic District
Activity Note
Getting on/off motorcoach. Travel by motorcoach approximately 1.5 hour/77 miles. Minimal walking in historic district.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will depart Amelia Island for St. Augustine by motorcoach. En route, we will preview a video about St. Augustine, a key figure in the development of the Atlantic coast of Florida and founder of what became the Florida East Coast Railway. Upon arrival into St. Augustine, we will visit the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine, the oldest parish of a permanent European settlement on the North American continent north of Mexico, led by a local expert. Then, we will take a walk through the downtown historic district.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we will be treated to an expert-led field trip to Flagler College, once the Ponce de Leon, Henry Flagler’s first St. Augustine, traveling by trolley or minibus depending on weather. As we explore, we will learn about the history of the building and its stunning Spanish Renaissance architecture and manicured gardens of the campus. Afterwards, we will check into the hotel.
Dinner:
On your own to enjoy what you like.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
5
Trolley Field Trip, Lightner Museum, Castillo de San Marcos
Location:
St. Augustine, FL
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
DoubleTree by Hilton St. Augustine Historic District
Activity Note
Getting on/off motorcoach. Getting on/off trolley.
Breakfast:
At hotel.
Morning:
We will take a trolley ride around St. Augustine, the nation's oldest continually occupied European settlement and at various times home to Native American tribes, British redcoats, Spanish conquistadors, pirates, and tycoons. We will see remnants of each era preserved in the city's historical sites, such as historic St. George Street, City Plaza, and the Spanish Military Hospital. Afterwards, we will enjoy a self-led visit to the Lightner Museum, home to one of the best collections of fine and decorative 19th-century art in the country, in the historic former Hotel Alcazar.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant, we’ll hear from an expert about Minorcan settlers of St. Augustine, who arrived here after nine years of enslavement at a nearby indigo plantation. Our presenter will be dressed in Minorcan period attire.
Afternoon:
From lunch, we will walk to visit Castillo de San Marcos, the oldest masonry fort in the continental United States, with construction beginning in 1672 when Florida was part of the Spanish Empire. The walk is .4 mile from the restaurant. Enjoy some time on your own in the Old City.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
6
Program Concludes
Location:
St. Augustine, FL
Meals:
B
Activity Note
Hotel check-out by 12:00 Noon. Transfer shuttle departs hotel at 8:00 a.m. for the Jacksonville Airport, 45 minutes away. The bus will continue to Fernandina to take anyone who left their car on Amelia Island.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Our transfer shuttle departs the hotel at 8:00 a.m. for the Jacksonville Airport and then on to Fernandina Beach, FL. This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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