Florida
Key West at a Slower Pace: Living on Island Time
Program No. 21797RJ
Find out what makes Key West such a unique city as you stroll its vibrant streets, discovering its heritage, culture, world-class museums and the true spirit of island life.
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800-454-5768
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6 days
5 nights
12 meals
5B 3L 4D
1
Check-in, Registration, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Key West Old Town
2
Boat Cruise, Trolley Tour, Stories of the Deep
Key West Old Town
3
Hemingway House, Tennessee Williams, San Carlos Institute
Key West Old Town
4
Audubon Lecture & House, Custom House, Free Time
Key West Old Town
5
Little White House, Mel Fisher
Key West Old Town
6
Program Concludes
Key West Old Town
At a Glance
Don’t let the quaint, small-town façade fool you — there’s a lot more to Key West than meets the eye. Discover all its hidden treasures at an easy pace befitting this laid-back island city. Navigate by trolley to experience its rich history and the unique pace of life on “island time.” Appreciate the blend of Victorian, Bahaman and New England architecture in its iconic “conch houses.” Hear tales of ships and shipwrecks and walk in the footsteps of larger-than-life figures like Hemingway and President Truman. Share the spirit of the island with artists, divers, gardeners, historians, musicians, oceanographers and other experts who reveal the city through the eyes of Key West natives.
Activity Level
On Your Feet
Walking up to one mile on even terrain.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Go inside the structure that gave birth to Key West’s historical restoration movement, the Audubon House, where you can see 28 first-edition works by James Audubon.
- Navigate the Customs House Museum, a living link to Key West’s historic past and home to art and artifacts that tell the story of this island town.
- Learn about life in Key West when Ernest Hemingway and President Harry Truman were residents during explorations of the Hemingway House and Truman's Little White House.
General Notes
You may be interested in a more active version of this program, "Signature City Key West" (#20902).
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Bob Wolz
Bob graduated from Youngstown State University, majoring in history with a minor in business. In 1999, he became the executive director of the Harry S. Truman Little White House State Historic Site. Bob created a not-for-profit corporation that aims to expand educational outreach of the Little White House and complete its restoration. He is an accomplished writer, having co-authored or edited several books including 'Presidents in Paradise.' His work has also appeared in the Florida Artland History Magazine and the American Political Science Review.
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Bob Wolz
View biography
Bob graduated from Youngstown State University, majoring in history with a minor in business. In 1999, he became the executive director of the Harry S. Truman Little White House State Historic Site. Bob created a not-for-profit corporation that aims to expand educational outreach of the Little White House and complete its restoration. He is an accomplished writer, having co-authored or edited several books including 'Presidents in Paradise.' His work has also appeared in the Florida Artland History Magazine and the American Political Science Review.
Alex Okinczyc
View biography
Alex Okinczyc, a longtime resident of Key West, is an experienced deep sea diver who shares his stories through humor, connecting with his audience and music! Okinczyc brings his treasures from the sea to tell us about his passion for deep sea diving and for Key West.
Craig Wanous
View biography
Craig Wanous was born and raised in Alabama, but has lived in the Florida Keys and Key West since 1990. He and his wife came to the Keys after an 18-month cruise on their sailboat. Craig became involved with Road Scholar after hosting the groups at the
visitor center where he worked. He has been leading Road Scholar tours in Key West since 2014, and always enjoys the curiosity and appetite for learning shown by participants.
Suggested Reading List
(5 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Key West at a Slower Pace: Living on Island Time
Program Number: 21797
To Have and Have Not
This is the dramatic, brutal story of Harry Morgan and his efforts to support his family by running contraband between Key West and Cuba. Set in the 1930s, the book carries all the flavor of an era that was poor, tough and resourceful. Harshly realistic, yet with one of the most subtle and moving relationships in Hemingway's "oeuvre", it goes beyond high adventure. It was adapted for film and became a memorable classic, starring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall.
Notebooks
Tennessee Williams’s Notebooks, here published for the first time, presents by turns a passionate, whimsical, movingly lyrical, self-reflective, and completely uninhibited record of the life of this monumental American genius from 1936 to 1981, the year of his death. In these pages Williams (1911-1981) wrote out his most private thoughts as well as sketches of plays, poems, and accounts of his social, professional, and sexual encounters. The notebooks are the repository of Williams’s fears, obsessions, passions, and contradictions, and they form possibly the most spontaneous self-portrait by any writer in American history.
Hemingway's Key West
This vivid portrait reveals both Hemingway, the writer, and Hemingway, the hard-drinking, woman-chasing fighter and sportsman of legend. Hemingway's decade in Key West during the 1930s was his most productive. His only book set in the U.S., To Have and Have Not, takes place there. Meet his circle of friends (known as "the Mob"), his second wife, Pauline, and their two children. Hear from Hemingway contemporaries and scholars about the man and the town that he made famous.
Last Train to Paradise: Henry Flagler and the Spectacular Rise and Fall of the Railroad that Crossed an Ocean
Last Train to Paradise is acclaimed novelist Les Standiford’s fast-paced and gripping true account of the extraordinary construction and spectacular demise of the Key West Railroad—one of the greatest engineering feats ever undertaken, destroyed in one fell swoop by the Labor Day hurricane of 1935.
Key West: History of an Island of Dreams
Parrotheads, Hemingway aficionados, and sun worshippers view Key West as a tropical paradise, and scores of writers have set tales of mystery and romance on the island. The city’s real story—told by Maureen Ogle in this lively and engaging illustrated account—is as fabulous as fiction. In the two centuries since the city’s pioneer founders battled Indians, pirates, and deadly disease, Key West has stood at the crossroads of American history. In 1861, Union troops seized control of strategically located Key West. In the early 1890s, Key West Cubans helped José Martí launch the Cuban revolution, and a few years later the battleship Maine steamed out of Key West harbor on its last, tragic voyage. At the turn of the century, a technological marvel—the overseas railroad—was built to connect mainland Florida to Key West, and in the 1920s and 1930s, painters, rumrunners, and writers (including Ernest Hemingway and Robert Frost) discovered Key West. During World War II, the federal government and the military war machine permanently altered the island’s landscape, and in the second half of the 20th century, bohemians, hippies, gays, and jet-setters began writing a new chapter in Key West’s social history.
Program
At a Glance
Duration
6 days
Program Begins
Key West Old Town
Program Concludes
Key West Old Town
Meals
12
| 5B |
3L |
4D |
Activity Level
Don’t let the quaint, small-town façade fool you — there’s a lot more to Key West than meets the eye. Discover all its hidden treasures at an easy pace befitting this laid-back island city. Navigate by trolley to experience its rich history and the unique pace of life on “island time.” Appreciate the blend of Victorian, Bahaman and New England architecture in its iconic “conch houses.” Hear tales of ships and shipwrecks and walk in the footsteps of larger-than-life figures like Hemingway and President Truman. Share the spirit of the island with artists, divers, gardeners, historians, musicians, oceanographers and other experts who reveal the city through the eyes of Key West natives.)
Best of all, you'll...
- Go inside the structure that gave birth to Key West’s historical restoration movement, the Audubon House, where you can see 28 first-edition works by James Audubon.
- Navigate the Customs House Museum, a living link to Key West’s historic past and home to art and artifacts that tell the story of this island town.
- Learn about life in Key West when Ernest Hemingway and President Harry Truman were residents during explorations of the Hemingway House and Truman's Little White House.
General Notes
You may be interested in a more active version of this program, "Signature City Key West" (#20902).
Featured Expert
Bob Wolz
Bob graduated from Youngstown State University, majoring in history with a minor in business. In 1999, he became the executive director of the Harry S. Truman Little White House State Historic Site. Bob created a not-for-profit corporation that aims to expand educational outreach of the Little White House and complete its restoration. He is an accomplished writer, having co-authored or edited several books including 'Presidents in Paradise.' His work has also appeared in the Florida Artland History Magazine and the American Political Science Review.
Please Note:
This expert may not be available for every date of the program
Alex Okinczyc
Alex Okinczyc, a longtime resident of Key West, is an experienced deep sea diver who shares his stories through humor, connecting with his audience and music! Okinczyc brings his treasures from the sea to tell us about his passion for deep sea diving and for Key West.
Craig Wanous
Craig Wanous was born and raised in Alabama, but has lived in the Florida Keys and Key West since 1990. He and his wife came to the Keys after an 18-month cruise on their sailboat. Craig became involved with Road Scholar after hosting the groups at the
visitor center where he worked. He has been leading Road Scholar tours in Key West since 2014, and always enjoys the curiosity and appetite for learning shown by participants.
Activity Level
On Your Feet
Walking up to one mile on even terrain.
Suggested Reading List
View Full List
(5 Books)
You can also find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone?
We can help. Give us a call, and we can answer all of your questions!
Call
800-454-5768
Year
- 2025
Date
- Jan 12 - Jan 17
- Jan 26 - Jan 31
- Feb 09 - Feb 14
- Feb 23 - Feb 28
- Mar 16 - Mar 21
- Nov 16 - Nov 21
Please Note: The program differs on certain dates.
Jan 12 - Jan 17, 2025 Itinerary Differences: The Opal Hotel's lobby and restaurant are currently undergoing renovation. So that this does not impact our groups, we will be having dinner in a private room and breakfast will be served in a walled and air-conditioned tent. Our lectures will not be impacted. For more information, please visit: https://www.opalcollection.com/opal-key/renovation-faq/
Please Note: The program differs on certain dates.
Select trip year and date
- 2025
- Jan 12 - Jan 17
- Jan 26 - Jan 31
- Feb 09 - Feb 14
- Feb 23 - Feb 28
- Mar 16 - Mar 21
- Nov 16 - Nov 21
Jan 12 - Jan 17, 2025 Itinerary Differences: The Opal Hotel's lobby and restaurant are currently undergoing renovation. So that this does not impact our groups, we will be having dinner in a private room and breakfast will be served in a walled and air-conditioned tent. Our lectures will not be impacted. For more information, please visit: https://www.opalcollection.com/opal-key/renovation-faq/
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 |
5 expert-led lectures
8 expert-led field trips
1 performance
An experienced Group Leader
5 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Day
1
Check-in, Registration, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Location:
Key West Old Town
Meals:
D
Stay:
Opal Key Resort & Marina
Activity Note
Hotel check-in available from 3:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).
Afternoon:
Program Registration: 3:00-5:00 p.m. After you have your room assignment, come over to the Road Scholar desk in the lobby to pick up your arrival packet containing your up-to-date schedule, and to confirm the time of dinner and the orientation session. During orientation, 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. The remainder of the evening will be at leisure. Settle in, relax, and prepare for the day ahead. On our trip we will learn from our knowledgeable Group Leader along with a series of local experts who will give lectures and lead field trips. Program-related travel and transfers will be via a trolley transportation unless noted otherwise. Meals will feature local cuisine in a variety of settings. 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.
Day
2
Boat Cruise, Trolley Tour, Stories of the Deep
Location:
Key West Old Town
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Opal Key Resort & Marina
Activity Note
Walking up to 1 mile to travel to our destinations, with breaks in between. Walking on sidewalks. Getting on/off a trolley which has three steps. Remember to wear comfortable shoes, use sunscreen, and wear a hat.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will set out to enjoy Key West by boat, learning about its shorelines and history on this morning cruise.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant with the group.
Afternoon:
This afternoon, we’ll experience Key West by private trolley with commentary from our driver. We will hear stories from Key West’s most famous – and infamous – residents and learn what draws so many people to this unique destination. While you’re out and about, take note of some of the things you’d like to see and do in Key West during your free time this week.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
Back at the hotel, we will wrap up our first day meeting and hearing from a local deep sea diver who will delight us with tales of his many years of fishing and diving in these waters.
Day
3
Hemingway House, Tennessee Williams, San Carlos Institute
Location:
Key West Old Town
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Opal Key Resort & Marina
Activity Note
Getting on/off a trolley which has three steps. Climbing a flight of stairs at Hemingway House. Walking up to 1.5 mile with breaks in between. Remember to wear comfortable shoes, use sunscreen, and wear a hat.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
This morning, via trolley ride, we will go on a literary journey of Key West starting with the Hemingway House. 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 with the group.
Afternoon:
We will walk to the nearby San Carlos Institute, a cultural hub for Key West’s Cuban diaspora since 1871. With donations from tobacco farmers in Cuba, the Institute served as the epicenter for the Cuban independence movement from Spain and as a school for exiles with instruction in both English and Spanish – one of the first schools to do so in the U.S. During our visit, we will delve more into the San Carlos Institute’s rich and storied past and learn about its present-day functions with a short introductory film followed by an exploration of the Institute’s current site and an expert-led lecture.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
4
Audubon Lecture & House, Custom House, Free Time
Location:
Key West Old Town
Meals:
B
Stay:
Opal Key Resort & Marina
Activity Note
Walking up to .5 miles on paved sidewalks. Standing up to 1 hour; climbing a flight of stairs at the Audubon House. Walking and other free time activities according to personal choice.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
This morning at the hotel, we'll 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’ll go on a docent-led visit 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. We’ll end our morning with a visit 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.
Lunch:
On your own to sample the daytime local fare.
Afternoon:
Free time. Your group leader will be happy to make suggestions. One idea before dinner is attending the daily 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.
Dinner:
On your own this evening to explore and sample the town’s numerous dining options.
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.
Day
5
Little White House, Mel Fisher
Location:
Key West Old Town
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Opal Key Resort & Marina
Activity Note
Walking up to 2 miles throughout the day with breaks in between; standing at sites on docent-led trips.
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 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, Independence, Missouri.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
Next, we will visit the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum where we will learn from a docent 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 to see the conservation lab. If you have not already, this evening is your last opportunity to attend 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.
Dinner:
At a restaurant near Mallory Square.
Evening:
At leisure Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Day
6
Program Concludes
Location:
Key West Old Town
Meals:
B
Activity Note
Hotel check-out by 11:00 a.m.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
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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MEALS
12 Meals
5 Breakfasts
3 Lunches
4 Dinners
LODGING
Lodgings may differ by date. Select a date to see the lodgings specific to that date.
Showing Lodging For:
- Jan 12, 2025 - Jan 17, 2025
- Jan 12, 2025 - Jan 17, 2025
- Jan 26, 2025 - Jan 31, 2025
- Feb 09, 2025 - Feb 14, 2025
- Feb 23, 2025 - Feb 28, 2025
- Mar 16, 2025 - Mar 21, 2025
- Nov 16, 2025 - Nov 21, 2025
Participant Reviews
Based on 34 Reviews
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This was a wonderful tour--fun and educational in an absolutely stunning (and WARM) place! Accommodations and food were outstanding and museums/ships/restaurants were all delightful!
— Review left February 26, 2024
Key West is a very interesting and colorful place. We loved our four days there exploring the natural environment, the writers who made it home, the history of shipwrecks, and even that President Harry Truman made it a Little White House. The food was delicious, especially key lime pie. Highly recommend it!
— Review left February 21, 2024
We love travelling Key West with Roads scholar. It gave us great insight to the world.
— Review left February 12, 2024
Both of us enjoyed the week in Key West. Our director, Lynn, was excellent. She was caring, organized (daily written agenda for all), friendly and helpful. The Hotel was excellent and very well located. We enjoyed the Hotel's restaurant also. The other restaurants were very convenient for walking and the food was good and more than adequate.
We did not go on the sailboat ride on Monday because of the wind and rather high waves. The tour of Key West was interesting and the driver was very informative. The "Island Alex" performance at the hotel was "much fun" and the speaker was interesting and uniquely entertaining! The "Hemingway House" tour was excellent. We enjoyed it very much. The "Tennessee Williams" museum was also very interesting and was made even more so by the gentleman who gave the presentation--we really enjoyed his talk!
The San Carlos Institute tour and talk was okay. The speaker had an interesting background and gave us some insight into the Cuban situation past and present. The Audubon House meeting and subsequent tour would be a C+ for us. The lady who came to our hotel and spoke did a fine job. The Custom House tour was very good and both speakers were excellent. We did return the next day to visit the Custom House again.
The speaker who talked about Harry Truman in our hotel did a good job, but we had been on the Signature Kansas City Road Scholar tour a couple of years ago where we had a "Harry Truman" impersonator who came to our hotel to speak and was truly excellent!! The Little House Tour was excellent.
At the Mel Fisher Museum the young woman who talked with us and took us to her work area on the second floor was excellent. The one thing that might improve the experience would be that every person on the tour would be able to have a chair. It was a long day.
We both enjoyed the entire week very much. We loved the setting and the fact we could walk to programs and not have to board a bus.
— Review left February 8, 2024
This walking tour was quite interesting and informative. A great way to explore Key West. Our leader, Lynn, lives in the area, and was delightful, very well informed but didn't give us an overload of info. She gladly answered our many questions with just the right answers from her wonderful bank of knowledge.
— Review left February 3, 2024
My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our trip To Key West, FL. Our leader was excellent, the history was wonderfully presented, the accommodations were beyond reproach, and the food was excellent!
— Review left January 24, 2024
This was our first trip to Key West. Opal Key Resort and Marina was a great location on the waterfront near all the historic spots we visited. The description was 100% accurate - we kept on the go with enough free time to also explore on our own. The instructors, food and pace were all excellent. Craig was an excellent group leader. We loved having a very small group (11 people) and we became well acquainted.
— Review left January 20, 2024
wonderful program with lots to learn and a beautiful place to visit.
— Review left November 19, 2023
We had a wonderful time. Johnny Layton, our guide, went the extra mile to ensure we enjoyed ourselves. The presenters and docents were entertaining and knowledgeable and added greatly to our understanding of this Island's varied history. The Schooner ride was a real treat.
— Review left November 18, 2023
Key West at a Slower Pace is an outstanding tour! Visiting the Hemingway home, Little White House, and Tennessee Williams museum plus other experiences combined with excellent seafood and fabulous weather made for a wonderful winter vacation. Thank you Road Scholar.
— Review left March 21, 2023
Great trip to a beautiful, lively city, which is vibrant and full of life and music. Opal Resort is perfectly located for exploring the city and experiencing the glorious Key West sunsets.
— Review left March 18, 2023
Key West is not only a treat for the senses, but it holds a fascinating history as well. One truly learns what "Island Time" means on this Road Scholars tour.
— Review left February 5, 2023
This is an outstanding program. Don't miss it! The town is full of history and outstanding restaurants many included in the cost of the tour. And the accommodations are excellent! Enjoy a Key West sunset after a fun day of learning about our southern most city.
— Review left February 5, 2023
I just returned from Key West and highly recommend this program. Key West is a very welcoming destination with excellent weather, accommodations and restaurants. There is music in air on every block!
— Review left February 4, 2023
Highly recommend Road Scholar. My experience was more than hoped I for. I learned some really interesting facts about Key West. I met some very nice and interesting people as well. Two thumbs up!
— Review left January 22, 2023
Fabulous--- weather and sunsets and food; exploring the fun city, learning about famous residents
— Review left January 22, 2023
This was my first Road Scholar experience but definitely won't be my last. What a great way to see the world!
— Review left January 21, 2023
Loved the program but involved more walking than described.
— Review left January 20, 2023
John Layton was exceptional as our trip leader. He was everywhere, attending to the needs of less mobile group members, adapting schedules as necessary, spreading goodwill with docents, guides and restaurant personnel.
The trip itself was well paced.
My only suggestion has to do with the meal choices at restaurants. It would be nice if we had the option to we pay an up charge and to order entrees not on our special menu. I especially would have liked to have ordered yellow tail snapper for an up charge. That is a special treat in Southern Florida and it was available at a couple of our restaurants.
— Review left March 13, 2020
The week in Key West was my first Road Scholar experience. It was informative, exciting, and educational.
— Review left February 26, 2020
The Key West on Island time is an excellent and comprehensive introduction to the very interesting history, architecture, and lifestyle of the island. The location of the Margaritaville Resort and Marina to help you connect with the Key West experience could not be improved upon. The Mel Fisher and Custom House Museums added so much to little known or forgotten US history. For a first timer to Key West, this tour met and exceeded my expectations.
— Review left February 17, 2020
This was a fun and laid back trip with a wonderful leader and great participants!
— Review left February 3, 2020
A great trip with super leadership by John Layton and a great variety of experiences with a schooner, resident roosters, wonderful food and surprising new information and knowledge. It was our fifth Roads Scholar trip and one of our best.
— Review left January 27, 2020
We thoroughly enjoyed our time in Key West. There is so much history in this little island and the program included sufficient time to delve into it. We learned so much! This tour is one I would highly recommend!
— Review left January 27, 2020
This is a great trip filled with interesting talks, sights and delicious food. John was a wonderful group leader. The hotel's location was perfect.
— Review left January 25, 2020
It is too hard tt type on my computer
— Review left November 11, 2019
Well worth the money!
— Review left April 14, 2019
I felt sorry for those who arrived from the big tourist ships just for the day, on "our" island
— Review left April 4, 2019
Experience Key West from the beginning! History comes alive as you go through the islands storied homes, visit museums with an expert, celebrate the sunset, and dine at some of the best places on the Key! A trip to remember!!!!
— Review left March 14, 2019
This program provides a variety of interesting and informative experiences including a visit to President Truman's summer White House, underwater treasurers, Hemingway, Tennessee Williams, and even a visit to a Butterfly museum.
— Review left March 10, 2019
This is a fantastic program. It exceeded our expectations.
— Review left February 25, 2019
A great program. Introduces things about Key West I had no idea about - the Truman White House and association with Tennessee Williams are two examples. The pace is decent - not too fast, not too slow. And what fun it was to go in the schooner cruise.
— Review left February 17, 2019
Wonderful experience in Key West! Enjoyed the accomodations and the dining. Very enjoyable leader and a congenial group. Learned a lot and would certainly recommend this trip.
— Review left February 13, 2019
A wonderful way to tour Key West. Fantastic accommodations right in the center of everything with outstanding views, delicious food, great group leader, and engrossing speakers. We learned so much about the area. We would never have been able to see and do so much in this amount of time on our own. Road Scholar made it easy and enjoyable. It was hassle free, most enjoyable, and and lots of fun.
— Review left February 11, 2019
