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Florida

Signature City Miami

Program No. 20394RJ
Treat your senses to the wonders of Miami, exploring its historic neighborhoods, world-class cuisine, impressive architecture and beautiful beaches with both friends and local experts.
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Signature CitiesCity Discoveries
Length
6 days
Rating (4.82)
Activity Level
Starts at
1,899

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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
12 meals ( 5B, 3L, 4D )
3 expert-led lectures
8 expert-led field trips
2 performances
An experienced Group Leader
5 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
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Activity Note
Hotel check-in from 4:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).
Afternoon:
Program Registration: 4:00 p.m. After you check in and have your room assignment, join us at the Road Scholar table in the lobby to register with the program staff, get any updated information, and confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please locate your Group Leader and let them know you have arrived. Orientation: 5:15 p.m. 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. Program-related travel and transfers will be via private motorcoach unless noted otherwise. We will learn from the Group Leader and a series of local experts who will give lectures and lead field trips. Please be aware that program activities and scheduled times could change due to local circumstances. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant near the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 25 miles, approximately 1.5 hours riding time. Walking up to 2 miles on city sidewalks and uneven terrain. This walk is outside in the Florida sun; bring a hat or sunglasses and wear sunscreen.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We’ll board a motorcoach and explore the neighborhood of Coconut Grove with expert commentary from our Group Leader. One of the oldest neighborhoods in Miami, Coconut Grove which boasts a rich and diverse history as a haven for artists, musicians, and writers. Our next stop, via motorcoach, will be a ride through Coral Gables. Located in southwest Miami, Coral Gables was developed during the Florida land boom of the 1920s. One of the first planned communities, it is home to landmarks such as the Biltmore Hotel, George Merrick House, and the neighborhood's famous Venetian Pool. We will learn the history of this architecturally unique neighborhood with your Group Leader. Our morning will end with a self-led visit to the famous Vizcaya Museum. The Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is a National Historic Landmark. Built between 1914 and 1922 as the winter home of farming manufacturer James Deering, Vizcaya is one of the most intact remaining examples from the Gilded Age, when the nation’s most successful entrepreneur-built estates were inspired by the stately homes of Europe. Vizcaya features a Main House filled with a decorative art collection, 10 acres of formal gardens, a rockland hammock (native forest), mangrove shore, and a historic village.
Lunch:
Enjoy a leisurely boxed-lunch in the Vizcaya gardens.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we will explore the Wynwood neighborhood of Miami on an expert-led field trip. We’ll see how an area once suffering from urban blight, race riots, and gang violence has transformed into an incubator for artists and creative entrepreneurs. We’ll see the large scale murals, thriving street artists, and the inspiring history that has made it one of the most renowned creative neighborhoods in the world. Along the way, we'll stop by the Wynwood Walls, an ever-changing collection of murals by international artists, to get a better understanding of the neighborhood as a whole and see some of its famous art.
Dinner:
At a restaurant near the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Walking around 1 mile in the morning; up to 2 miles on paved sidewalks in the afternoon. The walking is outside in the Florida sun; please bring a hat or sunglasses and wear sunscreen. Walking and other free time activities according to personal choice.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will walk the streets of downtown Miami to Bayside Marina, where we will board a boat and experience Miami from the water. An onboard narrator will expand our knowledge of the historic locations along the 5.5 miles of the Miami River. We’ll learn about the histories of the Tequesta Indians and local notables like Julia Tuttle and Henry Flagler, while taking in the scenery of historical landmarks and the Miami skyline.
Lunch:
On your own to explore Miami’s downtown dining scene.
Afternoon:
Free time. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Please note that the period scheduled for free time is subject to change depending on local circumstances and opportunities for independent exploration.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At the hotel, we’ll be entertained by a performance of flamenco dancing with a local dancer.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 15 miles throughout the day, under 1 hour riding time. Walking up to 2 miles and standing for up to 2 hours on paved sidewalks in the afternoon. This walk is outside in the Florida sun; bring a hat or sunglasses and wear sunscreen.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
At the hotel, we’ll enjoy an expert-led lecture on Miami's Black History. Aboard our motorcoach, we’ll ride down South Beach as we learn from a local expert about the many reincarnations of the area. The first area of Miami to be developed, it was completely destroyed by the 1926 hurricane and has since been shaped by the growth of Miami. Having gained popularity in the interwar period, the style is notable for strong colors, geometric patterns, and over-the-top decorations. We’ll then go on an expert-led walking field trip focusing on the architecture of the world famous Art Deco District. The first 20th-century neighborhood listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it contains some 800 historically significant structures. These vibrantly colored buildings represent an era when Miami Beach was heavily promoted and developed as a “tropical playground.”
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we’ll visit the local Wolfsonian-FIU and explore the museum’s ever changing exhibits on an expert-led exploration. For information on current exhibitions, visit wolfsonian.org. The remainder of the afternoon is free to explore on your own.
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. Enjoy this evening to relax or explore Miami as you’d like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer recommendations on what to see and do.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 10 miles throughout the day, approximately 1/2 hour riding time. Walking for up to 2 miles and standing for up to 2 hours on paved sidewalks. This walk is outside in the Florida sun; bring a hat or sunglasses and wear sunscreen.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
At the hotel, we will learn about the history of Cuban exiles and the connection between Cuba and Miami from a local expert. We’ll then board a motorcoach and head to Little Havana where a local expert will lead us through Calle Ocho on foot. Many cultures have characteristic games; in Little Havana, it’s the national game of Cuba: dominoes. We begin at Máximo Gómez Park, popularly known as Domino Park, where locals gather to play. The park is named for the military commander of Cuba’s war of independence. As we learn about the history, culture, and people of Little Havana during our walk, we will stop along the way for Cuban coffee and other delights.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant in Little Havana.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we’ll enjoy a Casino style salsa lesson and learn a bit more about the history of the art form. Afterwards, our expert instructors will give you a chance to show off your moves. We’ll continue our afternoon exploring Calle Ocho and Little Havana – the heart of Little Havana – independently before reboarding our motorcoach and returning to the hotel.
Dinner:
At a restaurant near the hotel. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Activity Note
Hotel check-out by 11:00 a.m.
Breakfast:
At the hotel. This concludes our program.
Morning:
If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. 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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