Miami to Key West

Day 1

Arrive into Miami in time for dinner at a Brazilian Steakhouse. Come hungry! Gauchos arrive table side with various cuts of juicy grilled meats. Tell them how you like it, they carve and you eat! Delicious! Lots of food and even more fun.  From presentation to service, everything about the meal is an experience. Hilton Garden Inn – Miami at Dolphin Mall (D)

Day 2

Tour exclusive Coral Gables and Coconut Grove neighborhoods with a local guide and learn how some daring, enterprising women turned this swampy backwater into a truly international city. Cruise down Ocean Drive in South Beach, America’s largest historic Art Deco District.

After lunch on your own at the mall, it’s off to the Everglades. Board an airboat to learn about the residents and the unique ecology of the region. Those alligators are real! Mother Nature serves up magnificent sunsets in Key Largo. Dinner features fresh local seafood (landlubber options available) at a funky island hotspot! Hampton Inn – Key Largo (B, D)

Day 3

Travel the Overseas Highway, a ribbon of road stretching over 100 miles into the ocean. As the sun dances on the water, you’ve never seen so many shades of blue! At a dolphin research center, learn about their mission and watch as scientists work with local dolphins in an effort to promote conservation. Each dolphin has its own distinct personality. Can you spot the class clown?  Remember "Flipper," the TV show?  This was Flipper's home and some of the dolphins you see are his grandchildren!  After a dockside lunch, your first stop down the road is the Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory, arguably one of the best in the country. Check into your perfectly situated hotel on Duval Street, the heart of town.  Marriott La Concha – 3 nights (B, L)

Day 4

A trolley tour of the island with our friend Louie gives you the history and sordid stories of the Conch Republic’s residents, past and present. Lunch is at famous Sloppy Joe’s Bar, home to the namesake sandwich. Grab a drink and listen to live music or take the afternoon to shop in Mallory Square. Tonight, we gather for a lovely dinner served al fresco at La Te Da, followed by a lively female-impersonation performance, starring Randi Roberts.  Stick around after the show to meet the performer. (FB, L, D)

Day 5

Harry S. Truman was a huge fan of the island and visited frequently during his presidency, conducting official business under the palm trees at the Little White House. After touring the house, taste the best of Key West!  Board a trolley and stop for all the island’s classics: Key Lime Pie (TWICE!), Cuban Sandwiches, and Conch Chowder. While sipping a cold beer, wine or tropical fruit juice on a topsail schooner traverse the southern coast as our captain shares local history and ecology of the area. Join your Tour Director for a walk to the nightly Key West tradition, the Sunset Celebration. Every night, the island turns out to grab a cocktail, toast the sunset and watch one of the many street buskers perform daredevil acts. Only in Key West! (FB, L)

Day 6

At Ernest Hemingway’s home hear about the author who was as known for his work as his antics. How many toes does that cat have? Six?! You counted correctly! These famous kitties spend the day lounging and posing for tourists. It’s a rough life!  With tropical memories and perhaps a new book in hand, board your flight, arriving in Sacramento by the evening. (FB)