Day 1 – Home to St. Augustine, FL
We fly to Florida to start our Sweet Southern Shores journey along the Atlantic coast. Our first destination is St. Augustine, FL, the oldest city in the United States. We’ll stay at the Hampton Inn & Suites near Vilano Beach for the next three nights. We will enjoy a wonderful welcome dinner and get to know our fellow travelers.
Included Meals: Dinner
Hotel: Hampton Inn & Suites (3 Nights)
Day 2 – St Augustine
After we enjoy our breakfast, we will make our way to the Lightner Museum. Occupying the former Hotel Alcazar, a Gilded Age resort hotel commissioned by railroad magnate Henry Flagler, the Lightner Museum offers an immersive experience of art, architecture, history, and design. We will be treated to a tour of the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine to learn about the history of the nation’s oldest Parish. Many of the statues and artwork visible in the Cathedral have close ties with the story of the indentured servants first brought to Florida in 1768 by Dr. Andrew Turnbull. Then, be sure to have your walking shoes on! A local guide is going to tell us all about the city’s history as we go on a food & wine pair walking tour! We’ll take in the city views, catch sight of unique architecture, and enjoy enough scrumptious food and wine to thoroughly satisfy us – in fact, good thing dinner is on our own as we won’t need much! Vilano Beach Oceanfront Park as well as miles of beach are just steps from our hotel – feel free to explore!
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 3 – St Augustine
This morning we will be met by our local guide who will be dressed in period attire appropriate to the topic of the day: the story of the Menorcans of St Augustine. Our guide will take us to the heart of the city, the Plaza de la Constitucion on Cathedral Place. We’ll learn about St. Augustine’s history from the 1500s-1900s as we view the outside of a beautiful replica of the Government House and the famous Flagler buildings at the Flagler College campus. Then it is time for lunch on your own on lively St. George Street! This street was first closed off to vehicular traffic in the 1960s when St. Augustine was celebrating their 400th birthday as a city. Today it boasts over 250 gift shops, ice cream parlors, fudge shops, and restaurants! We are in a town of foodies that is known for their wonderful mom and pop restaurants. After lunch, we will visit both St. Photius National Greek Orthodox Shrine and the Catholic Tolamato Cemetery where many of the Menorcans and their descendants were laid to rest. Our guided coach tour continues with photo stops at the impressive Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, the oldest masonry fort in the continental U.S., and the Mission Nombre de Dios, a Catholic mission founded in 1565. Next, we are off to explore Ponce de Leon’s Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park, the original site of the Nation’s oldest city. With a rich, long history, this area was first explored by Juan Ponce de Leon in 1513 and settled by Pedro Menendez de Aviles in 1565. After this, we’re treated to a tour and samples at Whetstone Chocolates – yum! We’ll also visit San Sebastian Winery for a tasting of their award-winning wines. These two stops will make our “Sweet Southern Shores” even sweeter! Our day concludes with a scrumptious dinner shared together.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4 – St Augustine to Amelia Island, FL
After breakfast is The Old Jail, where we’ll get to see the prison cells and hear stories of the injustices that occurred under its notorious sheriff who oversaw the prison. Beware! Following is the Florida Heritage Museum where we’ll be taken on a sweeping historical journey of the people, places, and things that helped shape this age-old city into a wonderful place to live. The museum is divided into several galleries, each telling a different aspect of St. Augustine’s long and rich narrative. We’ll see how the tourism industry first started with the arrival of the Cracker pioneers and their covered Conestoga wagons carrying all of their earthly possessions. We’ll learn about the ‘Tin Can Tourists,’ known for favoring canned foods, and the vehicles they drove like a fully restored 1927 Ford Model T pickup camper. Then we bid farewell to this historic city and move on to beautiful Amelia Island. Upon arriving, we’ll stroll through Amelia Island’s Historic District on an amazing “Taste of Amelia” light walking tour. Along the way, our guide will share stories, history, and insights into the city’s unique character and charm. We’ll delight in the sweet and savory flavors of Amelia as we savor delicious bites at each tasting stop. This delightful lunch experience is yet another way to sweeten our “Sweet Southern Shores” tour! Afterwards, we will check into the Hampton Inn & Suites, overlooking the Fernandina Beach Marina on Amelia Island for the next two nights and enjoy a wonderful dinner at the hotel.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotel: Hampton Inn & Suites Fernandina Beach (2 Nights)
Day 5 – Amelia Island
After breakfast at the hotel, we will climb aboard the Amelia Island River Cruise for their popular tour that will give us extensive and rich history of Amelia and Cumberland Islands, with views of wildlife along the way. We’ll cruise by Fernandina’s shrimp boats, historic Old Towne and Fort Clinch to the wild horses of Cumberland Island. Our historians will share the colorful stories that define the character of this unique part of the world. Upon docking, we’ll enjoy an included lunch near the pier before we’re treated to a guided tour of the Museum of History, where we’ll step back in time to life on the water’s edge. From the Timucua Native American tribe to Spanish and French explorers, from the lawless spirit of pirates to the dignified air of Victorian-era residents, Amelia Island has been home to diverse cultures that have left an exciting heritage. Dinner and the evening are on your own to explore Amelia Island. Perhaps you’ll choose to take a carriage ride tour on your own, which is just a short walk away from our hotel, or watch the boats coming and going at the marina.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 6 – Amelia Island to Savannah, GA
Departing from this beautiful city, we travel north into Georgia and stop at historic Jekyll Island. We’ll enjoy a narrated trolley tour of beautiful Jekyll Island, where history and coastal charm come together. As we ride through the moss-draped oaks and along scenic shoreline, our guide will share stories of the island’s past, from its days as an exclusive retreat for America’s wealthiest families to the preservation of its historic landmarks. Then on your own, enjoy an island lunch before we continue to another one of the picturesque barrier islands, St. Simon’s Island. Our guide will tell interesting stories from the days of pre-colonial, Colonial, Plantation, and Timber Eras up to the present-day. Lastly we make our way to Savannah, one of the South’s oldest and most graceful cities. Savannah features an entire restored area registered as a National Historic Landmark. It is with this in mind that we have given you two relaxing nights in the historic district. Dinner this evening is on the beautiful waterfront near our hotel.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: Hampton Inn Historic District (2 Nights)
Day 7 – Savannah
This morning step on an “Old Savannah Tours” trolley for our private tour of historic Savannah! This delightful union of transportation and entertainment, “Transportainment,” is an experience not to be missed. As we meander beneath moss-draped oaks, past iconic squares, and by historic homes, churches, and landmarks, our guide brings Savannah’s colorful past to life with captivating stories and fascinating characters. Following our trolley tour, free time will be given to browse the Historic District’s shops and to find something tasty for lunch. This afternoon, your trolley wristband gives you the freedom to hop on and off at your leisure, perfect for continuing to explore the hidden gems and local favorites at your own pace. Today is all about discovering the charm, history, and surprises that make Savannah truly unforgettable. We’ll gather together this evening for an amazing farewell dinner at The Pirates’ House, a unique, historic tavern dating back to 1753.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8 – Savannah to Home
After a delightful journey along “Sweet Southern Shores,” we bid farewell to beautiful Savannah this morning. As we board our flight for home, we’ll savor our wonderful memories of historic St. Augustine, the coastal beauty of Amelia Island, and the timeless elegance of Savannah!
Included Meals: Breakfast
Flyaway Per Person Pricing Information
Flyaway Travel Protection Per Person
Travel Bucks
Deposit Due
Passport Needed
Tour Pace
Price Includes
Roundtrip Airfare from MSP including baggage fees, taxes & surcharges; 15 Meals, Hotels & Activities as stated in brochure, Luxury Motorcoach
02/25/2027 03/04/2027
Tour Map
Tour Highlights
* Stay 3 Nights in St. Augustine
* Lightner Museum
* Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine Tour
* St. Augustine Food & Wine Pairing Walking Tour
* St. Augustine Guided Tour
* Ponce de Leon’s Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park
* Whetstone Chocolates Tour & Tasting
* San Sebastian Winery
* The Old Jail & Florida Heritage Museum
* Stay 2 Nights on Amelia Island
* “Taste of Amelia” Walking Food Tour
* Amelia Island River Cruise
* Museum of History Guided Tour
* Jekyll Island Trolley Tour
* St. Simon’s Island Guided Tour
* Stay 2 Nights in Savannah’s Historic District
* Old Savannah Trolley Tour
* The Pirates’ House Farewell Dinner
