We enjoyed our trip to Amelia Island. It met our expectations and most of the time exceeded our expectations.

I could not believe the accommodations. They were excellent, probably the nicest I ever had with EH. Great area to spend time in. We saw plenty of nature right behind the hotel grounds.

This is a great program and I highly recommend it! Our accomodations were great and the professional people that presented the programs were very knowledgable! We learned new things everyday!

The program on Amelia Island, Cumberland Island, and the Okenfenokee Swamp was extremely educational and enjoyable! I definite recommend it for other potential Road Scholars!

Great program in a pretty city with many historical roots.

great program - add to your vacation

This is an overall excellent program and a good value. The program leadership (Tom Murray) was a strong point and the program was a good combination of hiking, lectures, humor, music and downtime. Here are a few points to consider in understanding the program. The motel choice (Residence Inn) is a great facility and is located at the start of a 2-mile out and back nature trail (flat). The Residence Inn has a free shuttle to take you anywhere on the island. Fernandina is a fun beach town with lots of diversions to do if you arrive early or stay an extra day – including beach walks, shopping, unique eateries, fish charters, bike rentals, golf and historic restored plantations. My wife and I went to one of the restaurants featured on the Food Network on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. The visits to Cumberland Island and Okefenokee Swamp are the headliners for this program but the harbor cruise, music presentation and shrimp lecture were all outstanding (yes, even the shrimp lecture – just take my word for it). The activities start at 9:30am on two of the mornings so you can choose to sleep in or get up early to enjoy the beach or hike the greenway nature trail. The Residence Inn is about 500 yards along the sidewalk from the main beach entrance. This is an excellent program with excellent instructors.

If you like nature and history, you will thoroughly enjoy the Cumberland and Amelia Islands and Okefenoke Swamp program. You'll learn about these lands that were occupied by native peoples thousands of years ago, and by many European nations in the last several hundred years and enjoy the natural resources that our government has protected for us and future generations. This is an extremely enjoyable program, with very nice hotel accommodations too.

The Cumberland Island, Amelia Island, and Okefenokee Swamp program was an excellent mix of history and nature. The variety of lectures and field trips was excellent and varied. We were kept busy but also given some free time to explore something that interested us beyond the program. I would highly recommend this program.

The Amelia Island, Cumberland Island & Okefenokee Swamp program was excellent & I recommend it highly. It was well organized with a good balance of lectures,fieldtrips & free time.

Wonderful week. Really helped that the weather cooperated. End of October, early November is a good time to go to Amelia Island. Mid summer could be tough (heat, humidity, bugs).

Outstanding is the only way to describe this Florida/Georgia adventure! This area of our country is a gem, not overly developed for tourists. Go visit while you can! Wildlife galore, undeveloped islands, salt marshes, beaches, etc.

This note is for Carl, I hope you are reading....... Please contact us to ask which ones wish to offer e-mail addresses to the group for further correspondence, ESPECIALLY to exchange photos. I have almost 300 photos, many of fellow travelers who might like candid pictures of themselves?

Jo-Ann from Monticello FL Number of programs attended: 4 Date attended: 10/14-10/19/2012 I agree with my fellow travellers. This was a great adventure. I have made new friends and hope to see them on future trips. These islands are simply beautiful and the alligator at the swamp is unforgetable.

This was an outstanding program. The tours, tour guides, instructors and location were excellent. Would highly recommend for a thorough introduction to a beautiful part of Amelia Island and the Okeefenokee Swamp.

Not home yet- but will once I get home - and - Lynn it was a pleasure meeting you and yes you are right - It was a GREAT time.

This was my first trip with Road Scholar, and thanks to group leader Carl Tott and a great group of fellow travelers, I am looking forward to my next adventure.

This was 1 of the best Road Scholar trips we have ever taken. The lecturers were supurb, the duration was perfect, and the diversity of the program kept us smiling! The musical presentation was unique. Road Scholar always seems to get the cream of the crop of coordinators and local historians. Judy S., Bonita Springs, FL

This was an excellent program to introduce us to an area of the country we knew little about. After participating we are eager to increase our knowledge of lecture topics and would recommend the experience to others. Initially we were hesitant to go so late in the spring but the weather was excellent and not too hot.

This was a terrific exprience...excellent accommodations, excellent program, excellent leaders.

This trip was an interesting intro to a unique part of the Atlantic coast and coastal islands -- lots of history and culture as well as the sights and sounds of birds and other wildlife and their habitats. The days were fairly active with walks on Cumberland Island and Okefenoke Swamp, several boat rides, and tram tours of local sights. Lectures and presentations were usually short and interesting; guides were well informed and logistics were fairly smooth except for a glitch with tickets on the Cumberland Island boat which prevented six of our trip participants from enjoying that experience and some awkward moments for all as we waited for "volunteers" to agree to an alternative activity. The hotel was very nice -- close to the beach and to a great nature preserve. Hotel breakfasts and catered dinners were merely adequate as were lunches at local restaurants.

I highly recommend the Road Scholar program #11603 -- Amelia and Cumberland Islands and the Okefenokee Swamp. It was fascinating and informative. Agnes Paulsen

Group size was much larger than it should have been........

Exceptionally well run and interesting program. Accommodations and food exceptional!

Enjoyed the program the program very much.

An outstanding program presented by highly knowledgeable and fun people.

Delightful program with excellent coordination and presenters. Good allotment of activities and free time.

Everything about this program was wonderful. The facility was one of the nicest I've ever stayed in. All meals were wonderful and plentiful. Tom Murray, the program leader, was not only knowledgeable but very entertaining. Every person who spoke of the history and environmental issues was interesting and passionate about their subject. As a naturalist, I am not usually interested in history but the history of this region and the passion of the people who spoke to it was intriguing.This was an excellent program.

Just returned from this program, and I was one of the best we have attended. Our Coordinator, Carl was terrific; very accomodating, kind, attentive, and very organized. We had wonderful speakers and our field trips were amazing. Thoroughly enjoyed every bit of it. Our accommodations were the best of the nine programs that we have attended, and the food was outstanding. Would highly recommend this program.

This was a fun filled, well orchestrated program for those new or familiar to the area. The speakers were well versed and extremely entertaining. Program coordinator, Tom Murray, is funny, organized, detail oriented and prided himself he doesn't do long tortuous getting-to-know-you games as other programs do! Ha! Ha! Ha! Physical abilities were accommodated with slight variations in field trips. The areas covered were done well, making you want to come back for more. Meals were good. Hotel staff, location and facilities were great even for those without cars. Adequate free time for independent exploration, even for those without transportation, 4-5 mile walk from downtown. Weather was pleasant! Thank you for a fun time!