Florida
Florida’s Natural Treasures: Hike, Bike & Kayak the Everglades
Program No. 24842RJ
Walk, bike and paddle through Everglades National Park, an unparalleled landscape whose diverse habitats are a must-see for any outdoor adventurer!
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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
13 meals (
5B, 4L, 4D
)
2 expert-led lectures
9 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, Welcome Dinner, Orientation
Location:
Everglades City, FL
Meals:
D
Stay:
Ivey House
Activity Note
Hotel check-in from 3:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).
Afternoon:
After you check in and have your room assignment, join us at the Road Scholar table to meet the Group Leader and confirm the time and place of Orientation. Your program materials will be sent to you a few days before the program, digitally, through your roadscholar.org account. This includes your program itinerary, any related handouts, and restaurant/free time suggestions. Please plan to print them out and bring along to the program, utilize the hotel's business center to access them, or view them on your own personal electronic device. 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. Our kayaking adventure will be led by a local naturalist who will provide commentary on our surroundings. All transportation throughout the program will be via hotel van. Periods in the 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/current conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner:
At the Ivey House.
Evening:
At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Day
2
14 Mile Bike Loop, Everglades City Lecture
Location:
Everglades City, FL
Meals:
B,L
Stay:
Ivey House
Activity Note
Biking up to 14 miles in 3 hours. Walking on trails, sometimes on uneven terrain. Picnic lunch after bike loop.
Breakfast:
At the inn.
Morning:
Boarding a van, we will ride to our first trailhead at Shark Valley. We will embark on a 14 mile bike loop and have an opportunity for a nature walk to see local flora and fauna.
Lunch:
Boxed lunch.
Afternoon:
We will venture to the gallery of Clyde Butcher, a wilderness photographer who specializes in the Florida landscape. You will have an opportunity to tour his gallery and learn more about the diverse Florida environment. Next we will return to the Ivey House with time to freshen up before a visit to the Museum of the Everglades for a lecture on the history of Everglades City.
Dinner:
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.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
3
Halfway Creek Paddle, Big Cypress National Preserve
Location:
Everglades City, FL
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Ivey House
Activity Note
Kayaking up to 5 miles in 3 hours; transfers via hotel van; 2 mile trail walk during sunset.
Breakfast:
At the inn.
Morning:
After breakfast with our naturalist, we will ride by van to the put-in for our next kayaking field trip from Seagrape Drive to Halfway Creek. As we paddle among the mangroves, we’ll learn about some of the unique adaptations of flora and fauna of the Everglades.
Lunch:
Boxed Lunch
Afternoon:
We will visit the 10,000 Islands National Wildlife Refuge to embark on a sunset nature walk up to 2 miles.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
4
Bike Janes Scenic Drive; Nature walk and airboat ride
Location:
Everglades City, FL
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Ivey House
Activity Note
Getting in/out of a van. Biking up to 14 miles; Walking up to 2 miles; private airboat ride
Breakfast:
At the inn.
Morning:
After breakfast, we will depart for Fakahatchee State Park to bike Janes Scenic Drive, an 11- mile long road in part of Florida's remaining subtropical wilderness.
Lunch:
Boxed lunch.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we will explore an area via foot that is known for Royal Palms, Cypress trees, and rare orchids. We will then experience a private airboat ride through an animal sanctuary home to alligators, birds and other native wildlife.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
5
Boat tour of the 10,000 Islands, Turner River Paddle
Location:
Everglades City, FL
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Ivey House
Activity Note
Boat tour, kayaking up to 6 miles in the afternoon; due to a limited number of kayaks allowed on the Turner River, you may need to share a tandem kayak.
Breakfast:
At the inn.
Morning:
Departing with our Group Leader we will take vans over to the dock for a guided boat trip of the 10,000 Islands. We will learn about stone crab fishing, see historic landmarks and further explore the mangrove islets.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
Paddle into the heart of the Everglades entering a Bald Cypress Pond Apple Ecosystem. We will glide through the fresh water observing air plants, wading birds, and alligators in their natural habitat. Float by basking alligators as we start to paddle into a brackish water ecosystem and enter the mangrove tunnels.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Day
6
Wrap-up Lecture, Big Cypress park ranger talk
Location:
Everglades City, FL
Meals:
B
Activity Note
Getting in/out of a van. Hotel check-out by 11:00 a.m.; airport shuttle leaves at 11:00 a.m.; please book departures no earlier than 2:00 p.m.
Breakfast:
At the inn.
Morning:
We’ll head by hotel van to Big Cypress Nature Preserve, where we’ll hear an expert lecture on the Everglades before returning to the hotel. This concludes our program. 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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