Georgia & Florida Coastal Islands

Day One

Today we fly from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport to Jacksonville Airport for our motorcoach trip to the beautiful Jekyll Island, Georgia! Enjoy a complimentary drink upon check-in to the Hampton Inn & Suites where we’ll be staying for five nights. Tonight, get to know your fellow travelers over dinner at Tortuga Jacks. Tortuga Jacks is a fun, beachfront restaurant serving up great Baja Mexican food and ocean views!

Day Two

After breakfast at the hotel, discover the history of the island at Mosaic, Jekyll Island Museum. The Museum, housed in a historic stables building, includes stunning visual and interactive displays about the rich cultural and natural history of the area. Then step aboard a guided tram tour of the Jekyll Island Club Historic District to see some of the historic cottages, the chapel and the grounds of the 240-acre area. The Jekyll Island Club resort takes you back in time to the Gilded Age and is where you will be enjoying a lunch of southern fare before a locally guided tour of the Island and Driftwood Beach. Walk among the ancient driftwood monuments that line the waterfront and earned the beach the Number 3 spot on Tripadvisor’s Best of the Best Beaches. Tonight, visit Saint Simons Island for a waterfront dining experience at Coastal Kitchen.

Day Three

Breakfast is included at the hotel before departing for Amelia Island, Florida. Embark on a narrated Cumberland Island Boat Cruise and discover the luring history of Amelia and Cumberland Islands. As you cruise along the picturesque shoreline, keep an eye out for wildlife in and out of the water, including turkeys, alligators, dolphins and sea turtles. Enjoy lunch on your own in downtown Fernandina Beach. Fernandina Beach is one of Florida’s earliest resort towns and is known for its graceful architecture, harbor views, and variety of restaurants and shops. After lunch, return to Jekyll Island for free time to spend on the beach or at the hotel pool, before dinner at a local restaurant.

Day Four

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before preparing to see more breathtaking beaches on St. Simons Island, Georgia. During a locally guided tour of the island, learn about the local heritage, historic sites and outdoor attractions that makes St. Simons Island a popular vacation destination. Then get a taste of some local fare during lunch on your own at Pier Village, which includes a variety of shops and restaurants and is nearby the St. Simons Island Lighthouse. This afternoon, it’s shrimpin’ time! Climb aboard the Lady Jane for a Shrimping Cruise. Help Captain Cameron and his crew sort through the abundant sea life retrieved from the water on each trawl. Take in the views from the covered deck or enclosed cabin. After our group dinner tonight, enjoy dessert and a show at the Brunswick Actors Theatre.

Day Five

Have breakfast at the hotel this morning before departing for St. Augustine, Florida, the nation’s oldest city, founded in 1565. During your Trolly Tour of St. Augustine, you’ll see the bustling St. George Street, Castillo de San Marcos, and the Colonial Quarter. Enjoy lunch on your own and strolling through the historic district that includes the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park. Step back in time for dinner tonight at Florida’s oldest restaurant, the Columbia Restaurant. Since 1905, the Columbia restaurant has been operated by the same family. Enjoy Spanish-Cuban cuisine in a lavish setting of hand-painted tiles, artwork, and a Spanish-style fountain.

Day Six

Have a final breakfast at the hotel this morning before checking out and heading to Jacksonville Airport for your return flight to Phoenix.

FB=Full Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner