Signature City Key West
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At a Glance
What You'll Learn
- Meet numerous Key West residents and hear from them about their home and the cultural scene.
- Visit the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum to examine artifacts retrieved from a sunken 17th-century ship.
- Learn about the variety of bird species and exotic flora at the Audubon House and Tropical Gardens.
General Notes
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Activity note: Hotel check-in available from 3:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).
Afternoon: Program Registration: 3:00 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: 5:30 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. We will learn from a series of local experts who will give lectures and lead field trips. Most of our travel to and from program sites will be on foot, but one day will involve travel by trolley. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/current conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner: At 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: Walking up to 2 miles today on paved sidewalks along busy streets; walking and standing for up to an hour at a time at sites.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: Our Truman expert will tell us all about the President’s days in Key West and what came to be known as The Little White House. Florida’s only Presidential site, the Harry S. Truman Little White House was constructed in 1890 as housing for naval officers. Its most important usage was as President Truman’s “Winter White House” from 1946 to 1952. We will then head over on foot to the Little White House. President Harry S. Truman’s first 19 months were grueling and left him physically exhausted. His doctor ordered a warm vacation and Key West was chosen as the location. President and Mrs. Truman arrived in November 1946 for a week of relaxation. He fell in love with the climate and small-town charm and returned to what became known as the Little White House for 11 presidential working vacations and five post-presidential trips after leaving office. Truman claimed Key West was his second favorite place on earth, surpassed only by his hometown of Independence, Missouri.
Lunch: At a local restaurant.
Afternoon: After lunch, we will go on a field trip to the Custom House Museum. This living link to Key West’s historic past was built in 1891 to house the island’s customs office, postal service, and district courts. “Old 91” is now the headquarters of the Key West Art and Historical Society that maintains a collection of artifacts and art significant to the Florida Keys. A local expert will lead us through this amazing space.
Dinner: At a local restaurant.
Evening: After dinner, we will get to try out our dance moves in a salsa class taught by a local expert.
Activity note: Walking up to 2 miles to travel to our destinations, and up to 1 mile during the walking field trip – approximately 1 hour – with breaks in between. Standing up to 1 hour and climbing a flight of stairs at the Audubon House. Remember to wear comfortable shoes, use sunscreen, and wear a hat.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: At the hotel, we will learn from a local expert about John James Audubon, America’s greatest wildlife artist and early naturalist. Audubon began exploring Florida in 1831 and visited the Keys and Dry Tortugas the next year. He left having seen 22 different bird species, and created drawings of each for his “Birds of America” folio. After the lecture, we will go on an expert-led exploration of the Audubon House and Gardens, the place Audubon lived and worked while in Key West which was then the home of one of the town’s founders. In the center of the lot was a garden of native and imported tropical plants Audubon used in his images of local birds. We will learn about Audubon’s life and work there as well as the history of the house itself, which was the first restoration project in Key West in 1958 and is still considered the gem of the island’s restoration movement. The home also displays 28 first-edition Audubon works. After our visit, we will set out on a guided excursion walking Key West's streets, taking in its intricate architecture and vast array of colors. Hear from a local expert about Key West's rich history of the US Navy presence as well as the heyday of the wrecking, sponging and cigar industries. This walk covers about a mile and requires about one hour to complete.
Lunch: At a local restaurant.
Afternoon: After lunch, we will visit the USCGC Ingham, a National Historic Landmark preserved off shore in Key West’s Truman Waterfront Park. With an expert, we will learn about the modern maritime history of the U.S. Coast Guard and learn about the Ingham’s 50 years of service in war and peacetime.
Dinner: At a restaurant near Mallory Square.
Evening: Prior to dinner, you have the option to enjoy the Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square Dock. In Key West, watching the sun go down is a daily ritual accompanied by a festival with arts and crafts exhibitors, street performers, vendors, and a crowd of thousands of locals and visitors alike. People begin gathering about two hours before sunset for this multicultural “happening” that embodies the spirit of Key West. Following dinner, the remainder of the evening is at leisure.
Activity note: Mel Fisher Museum is next to the hotel. An elevator is available at the Mel Fisher Museum, though you may need to climb a flight of stairs to reach some parts of the facility. Walking and other free time activities according to personal choice.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: This morning we will visit the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum where we will learn about marine archaeology and see treasures, including gold and silver bars, retrieved from beneath the sea. Dedicated to educating the public on maritime and colonial activity in the New World and preserving maritime culture resources, the museum celebrates 500 years of history. As a special highlight, we will go behind the scenes and explore the conservation lab.
Lunch: On your own to sample the daytime local fare. Your Group Leader will be happy to offer recommendations.
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: On your own.
Evening: At leisure. Enjoy a stroll to view the passing parade, or, if you’re feeling adventurous, wet your whistle in one of Hemingway's favorite hangouts. Hint: Two local bars lay claim to being his “real” favorite. Again, you have the suggestion to check-out the Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square Dock. In Key West, watching the sun go down is a daily ritual accompanied by a festival with arts and crafts exhibitors, street performers, vendors, and a crowd of thousands of locals and visitors alike. People begin gathering about two hours before sunset for this multicultural “happening” that embodies the spirit of Key West.
Activity note: Walking up to 1.5 miles to travel to our destinations and standing at sites for up to an hour at a time; climbing a flight of stairs at the Hemingway House and at lunch. Climbing four steps to ride a trolley to Hemingway House and from the Butterfly Gardens.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: We will go on a literary journey of Key West starting with the Hemingway House, which we’ll reach by trolley. There, a local expert will lead us through the former residence of one of America’s most iconic writers, whose personal life was as colorful as any of his characters. Ernest Hemingway first visited Key West in 1928, arriving from Havana. We will learn about the lives and times of Hemingway and his wife, Pauline, in Key West, and about the house itself. Personal touches are still visible throughout the house, from European antiques to trophies and skins which are the legacy of Hemingway’s African safaris. It was at the house that Hemingway produced some of his best known works including “To Have And Have Not,” which is set in Key West. Descendants of his six-toed cat still flourish there. Afterwards, we will learn about Key West literary figure Tennessee Williams during an expert-led visit to an exhibit dedicated to the playwright.
Lunch: At a local restaurant.
Afternoon: After lunch, we will visit the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory where we will see and learn from an expert staff member about exotic butterflies, plants, and birds in this beautiful, glass-enclosed habitat. From there, we will board the trolley and make our way to dinner.
Dinner: At a local restaurant. 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!