Fabulous Florida 1

Day 1 D Arnold, MO
Enjoy the scenery on this first leg of your adventure. Think warm sand and sunny beaches! Did you remember your sunscreen? That’s all you’ll have to worry about on this vacation!

Day 2 CB Atlanta, GA
Metropolitan mixed with a healthy dose of small town charm – that’s Clarksville, TN. A representative from the Convention & Visitors’ Bureau will give you a tour of the city’s world-class theaters to honky-tonks and antique stores.

Day 3 CB Brooksville, FL
Oh, what sights you’ll see at your perfect “window” seat on the glass bottom boat in the crystal clear water of Silver Springs State Park.

Day 4 CB Fort Myers, FL
Step out from under the hot Florida sun for a tasting tour of the cool, crisp taste of Yuengling in the brewery’s biergarten. Lunch at Siesta Key Village for a “taste” of this beautiful outdoor plaza with unique restaurants and shops. Lodging tonight in Fort Myers.

Day 5 CB Fort Myers, FL
Visit the pristine J.N. Ding Darling national wildlife refuge on beautiful Sanibel Island. You’ll learn about endangered and threatened species on the island and view some of the richest habitats for thousands of species, plants and animals. Enjoy the tiki bar at Starfish Grille on the beach as you collect shells and take pleasure in the clear, blue water.

Day 6 CB Punta Gorda, FL
On your boat trip for lunch on Cabbage Key island (inspiration for Jimmy Buffett’s Cheeseburger in Paradise), you’ll likely see dolphins playing in the aqua blue waters near the mouth of Charlotte Harbor.

Day 7 CB, L Everglades City, FL
See the rugged Florida terrain of the Florida Everglades as it can only be seen on an airboat. You’ll marvel at the natural beauty as you cross the River of Grass.

Day 8 CB, D Fort Myers, FL
Begin your day at Lakes Regional Park for an outdoor farmer’s market selling local produce, fresh seafood, cut flowers, artisan foods, organics, crafts and more. Explore the beautiful Edison & Ford Winter Estates along the scenic Caloosahatchee River: 20 acres of historic buildings and gardens, the botanic research lab and museum. Discover the Fort Myers River District with its quaint shops and myriad restaurants.

Day 9 CB Fort Myers, FL
On this water-themed day, enjoy nature and see Florida’s wildlife in an intimate way at the 3.5-acre botanical jungle of Everglades Wonder Gardens. Next up, tour the Koreshan State Park, and learn about the genesis of this now defunct, unusual pioneer settlement on the banks of the Estero River. Shell on the warm sand of Lovers Key State Park, have dinner at a beach favorite restaurant, and explore Times Square on Fort Myers Beach.

Day 10 CB, D Fort Myers, FL
Lace up those shoes for some fun! Fort Myers has one of the largest populations of manatee in Florida. In the winter, these slow-moving “sea cows” congregate at Manatee Park. Unearth treasures at Flea Masters Fleamarket, home to more than 900 shops and literally millions of items. The last sight of the day is the 3,400-acre wetland park, Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve. With 1.2 miles of elevated boardwalk with five observation decks, you’ll see plants and animals including a few considered endangered. Bid farewell to Fort Myers with a special dinner tonight.

Day 11 CB Brooksville, FL
Traveling back north, you’ll cross the scenic Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Tampa. At a stop in the old Greek sponge fishing village of Tarpon Springs, tour St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral. You’ll and see life through the eyes of a sponge diver on a boat excursion on a round trip cruise through the historic sponge docs of Tarpon Springs.

Day 12 CB Atlanta, GA
Take a horse-drawn wagon tour to discover why Ocala is the horse capital of the world. The beautiful rolling hills of Ocala in Marion County are home to 600 thoroughbred farms. The tour makes stops so you can interact with the horses that greet you at the fence lines.

Stretch your legs at the Stephen Foster Folk Cultural Center State Park on the banks of the Suwanee River. The center honors the memory of Stephen Foster who wrote “Old Folks at Home,” the song that made the river famous.

Day 13 CB Arnold, MO
Enjoy an amazing step back in time in Clarksville, Tennessee. Enjoy the Fort Defiance Park and interpretive center, the site of a Civil War era fort occupied by the Union Army.

Day 14 CB, D Home
Another wonderful vacation: memories of new places, sunny beaches, lush tropical plants and history lessons learned. Relax on your way home, and begin planning your next stress-free vacation with Elite Tours.