Keys, Everglades & Dry Tortugas: Human History & Outdoor Study

My wife and I were thoroughly well pleased with everything on this tour. Learning about Henry Flagler was especially interesting.

If you've ever wanted to learn more about the ecosystems, history, and culture of indigenous people in this area, and visit the Everglades, the Dry Tortugas, and Biscayne National Parks - this program is it! You'll learn about what the National Park System is doing to stop the damage humans have inflicted on these fragile areas, and what is being done to repair and reverse that damage. The main group leader, Howie Geib, is over-the-top organized, knowledgeable, funny, thorough, enthusiastic, and patient. Natallia was our second guide who provided steady backup support for Howie and was equally capable. Mikey, was our picnic caterer who brought delicious, fresh food to our field trip sites AND catered to special diets when possible. Fred, the bus driver, got us every place safely and on time. The program includes visits to Pigeon Key, Pine Key, and the Key Deer Refuge (among other stops). And a free day in Key West was an interesting change to our nature excursions. This program is On-The-Road, so no dust will settle on you. The group was a fun bunch of people (Best Group Ever - BGE), which made the program more enjoyable. The food was delicious! This program checked off all the boxes for me in regards to learning about the fragile ecosystems of the Everglades and the Keys AND it was fun! If you are heat sensitive, book as early as possible to consider the warming planet and wonky hot/humid temperatures you may encounter in this subtropical region.

Well planned and executed. Exceeded my expectations for educational, interesting and still pleasant experiences. Tour leader and helpers were committed to excellence.

Key West and Dry Tortugas.

An opportunity to visit three National Parks too often overlooked, but very worthy of visiting.

The survey questions were quite complete, I checked very satisfied on nearly all. Would like to add a compliment to the bus driver Fred who was always attentive in our boarding and getting off, driving with our comfort in mind, kept the bus cool while waiting for us. On another topic, I was glad to have read the recommended book, Last Train To Paradise- much of the trip is based on this history of the Flagler railroad.

Surprise! I didn't think this type of trip would be fun. My husband talked me into it. The trip was great with new people, unique places, a superior guide, and learning. Great decision to go. Applause for my husband!

This program was very interesting and I learned a lot about Southern Florida and the Keys. I recommend it to anyone interested in that area of our country. It was more active than I thought it would be as we sometimes walked as much as 4 miles in one day. However, it was at a reasonable pace with rest times in between and I had no trouble keeping up.

The trip was very well done, thanks to the skill and attention of our leader, Scott Smiley. We did everything Road Scholar laid out in the program description. The program was informative, well thought out, and suitably challenging.

If you are a National Parks fan add this program to you wishlist. You won't regret it!

First of all, you have a great asset in Scott Smiley, our guide for the Florida trip. He was full of information about all the various history of the Florida Keys. We enjoyed the trip to Florida very much. I thought the way time was managed, we never got bus weary. We saw amazing sites, learned so much about this area and were happy to be there.

What a lovely trip away from the cold of the Northeast! Our trip leader Smiley was very knowledgeable and personable. He as well as the other presenters made the area come alive. Loved seeing the plant diversity. Great intro to the local national and state parks.

Fantastic trip. Smiley was a wonderful guide. I had never visited the Keys and learned and saw so much!

A great mix of nature, history and just plain sightseeing. Includes optional activities like snorkeling and kayaking for those who enjoy active sports. Many on the trip were "collecting" national parks, we went to at least 3, as well as wonderful state parks.

I was able to fulfill a dream of seeing the Everglades and the Florida Keys, but what made this trip extraordinary was our leader, Howie Geib. He is in a class by himself and took this trip to a whole new level with his humor, his caring, and his wide-ranging knowledge of the places we visited. This is one trip I won't soon forget.

Wonderful information about the Everglades eco-systems and the amazing natural properties of the mangrove trees presented in an understandable and organized manner by Program Guides Howell Geib and Scott Smiley. Destinations chosen reinforced this information. A winner!

Traveling to the Dry Tortugas was on my bucket list for a while, and when RS offered this trip, I jumped on it and also booked the Signature Miami trip as a back-to-back two week stay in southern Florida. I liked the idea of being out in the field learning about the ecosystems within the various National Parks south of Miami, along with a week in the city learning about the dynamics that brought Miami into the 20C, and today how it is bursting into the 22C. Howie and his team did an excellent job keeping us focused on the story, as well as managed our time well, both on and off the road. They selected interesting day hikes, aquariums and coral walls to illustrate the natural beauty of the flora and fauna in the area, as well as emphasizing the threats to the natural waters filtration system that feeds Miami and environs. But I cannot deny the thrill of boating over to the Dry Tortugas and spending the day learning about the strategic importance of the Fort Jefferson, walking the site, basking on the beach and snorkeling to find fancy fish in its surrounding waters. All in all the accommodations were comfortable, and the restaurant selections were great. I now know the sublime differences among the various Key Lime pie recipes! I highly recommend this trip and any other Howie and his team leads. They taught us a lot and made us laugh. It was good fun!

This trip was a wonderful opportunity to see places I had always been curious about but probably never would have gotten the experience of seeing or appreciating. I learned so much about history, science, ecology that enhanced my understanding of this area and its importance.

The Road Scholar program was a great way to learn about the wonders of Southern Florida.

Going to the Florida Keys has been on my list for a long time! So glad I chose Road Scholar. I will definitely go with them again! Thank you Howie and Eric for such a great trip!

What a great way to experience the natural beauty of South Florida!

The Key West-Florida tour literally walks one along the coral to learn the history, ecology, geology and biology of these magnificent keys and waters. Exceptional Road Scholar guides and fellow participants made our week outstanding.

Nearly all of my RS trips have been the 3rd “Keep The Pace” level, and I’ve had no problem. This trip had choices of activity level and I deliberately selected the lesser active “On Your Feet”. This trip was more physically taxing than expected. Important to keep in mind that your group will be traveling in multiple 15-passenger vans rather than a motor coach. Group leaders are also the drivers for these vans. Everything takes more time and coordination. Most days begin with you having to bring all your luggage to the hotel lobby at a certain time so it can be loaded into a separate vehicle. (You need to have a satchel or backpack to carry items you want to keep with you for the day, as your luggage will be elsewhere.) Seating is snug, and those vans can be hot. (Or for some people, too cold.) You may be getting on and off those vans as many as 5 or 6 times a day for the multiple activities. Some lectures are delivered while you are standing on your feet in the sun. If you are lucky, your luggage will be delivered to your room at the hotel you stay in for the night, but sometimes you must take it to your room yourself. My partner and I elected to skip both an activity and dinner one night to retire early to our room or it would have been a 13 hour day, and the plan for the next day required us to be in the lobby ready to get on the van at 6:30 a.m. This was otherwise a lovely trip with good programs, but it was very rigorous compared to my previous experiences, and I don’t think RS should rate it at that lower activity level. They also told us multiple times about a prior trip getting stuck in total standstill traffic on Hwy 1 for over 2 hours. I shudder to think.

Highly recommend the program. It offers an insight into the Florida I never new and surely now appreciate.

This program offers a fine opportunity to explore the Florida Keys. The visit to Dry Tortugas National Park, the Everglades, and Key West are all memorable experiences. The Vans used were very comfortable and an excellent means of transportation. The ferry is very nice too.

One of the most interesting programs we have attended. Food was excellent, transportation and accommodations above par, and our three leaders Heather, Eric and Alberto were both knowledgeable and fun! And who could beat Florida weather in February

This was a wonderful trip. Everyone was friendly and knowledgeable, and when I needed help with a physical problem, the staff was there for me. I encourage you to go if you're interested in the topic.

As a first time traveler to the Florida Keys this trip checked all the boxes for a top notch experience. The team of three guides I was provided were exceptional and I'd travel again with any one of them.

This is a very action-packed exposure to the human and natural history of the Florida Keys!

The Road Scholar tour to the Florida National Parks was enlightening and I learned so much about the three different parks and how they are both similar and different from each other. This is a tour that you don’t want to miss!

An excellent program with a variety of field trips and other learning opportunities. Getting to visit three national parks (Everglades, Fort Jefferson/Dry Tortugas and Biscayne) was a real bonus, especially given the superb presentations given in each setting. Plus, we visited a number of Florida state parks that further expanded our knowledge of the Key's history and fragile environment. I came away with a much deeper appreciation for the foresight, tenacity and efforts of those individuals who proactively stepped in to preserve and protect the unique environment of the Keys. Our leader Howie was the penultimate group leader who was ably assisted by his cohorts Andrea and Michael. They proved to be a very well-organized, knowledgeable and attentive team who added significantly to the overall quality and content of our program and safely transported us along our way. Howie's architectural tour of part of Old Town Key West was a special treat. And, I have to acknowledge how much my fellow Road Scholars contributed to my enjoyment of the program... great group of folks!

Learned so much about the Keys and the ecology, history, geography and people of the area. Guides were so attentive and caring. We covered a lot of territory but the pace was right. The trip to the Dry Tortugas was very special.

The guides on this trip could not have been better. If you want to learn about the Keys this is a great way to do it. Ranger presentations at the parks were outstanding. The exertion level is minimal so don't expect a real active trip. The description of the trip is very accurate. Take advantage of the double dip snorkel trip on your free day. Outstanding snorkeling and the Fury people were great.

If you want a high quality learning experience and excellent leaders in a beautiful part of the world then this trip is for you! I gained such valuable memories and insights into the unique ecosystem that is the beautiful Everglades and Keys region.

An awesome trip - the group leaders were outstanding - organized, knew lots of stuff, kept us happy and on the go. Learned a whole lot about the whole area. Highlights - meeting Hemingway's cats in Key West, the sunset ceremony in KW. The whole thing.

This program provided an opportunity to complete some of our desires and goals to visit as many of the National parks as we can during our lifetime, and we visited three: Everglades, Dry Tortugas and Biscayne Bay.

It's a Great tour, learned alot about the Railroad,Ft. Jefferson,the Keys,plant life,how Keys came about..

The Road Scholar trip to the Keys, Everglades and Dry Tortugas was terrific. It was a great opportunity to learn more about the biology, ecology, and history of a beautiful part of our country. I highly recommend this tour.

Excellent program. I highly recommend it.

Terrific program and we thoroughly enjoyed all aspects especially the excursions to Dry Tortugas and Pigeon Key. Extremely friendly, knowledgable and enthusiastic team of three leaders. Interesting locations each day and plenty of fantastic birds were sought after and photographed.

I learned a lot about the Everglades and how important the preservation of those lands and waters are important to not only today, but the future of southern Florida. Key West surprised me. I always thought it a party city. Once you leave Duval St, although I would not skip it, the history of the buildings and the area is impressive. Fort Jefferson a do not miss and well worth the ferry ride. Howie, Aleksey and Andrea were excellent leaders. They shared their knowledge and their people skills were above and beyond. Note: If you decide to come in early I would suggest finding a hotel other than the Hyatt. It is remote, there are no restaurants or stores in the area. Perhaps Covid limited what was available at the hotel. You can always transfer on the day of the program.

A wonderful week exploring the flora, fauna, geology, archeology and human history of this fascinating region of our Country. Our guides, as well as the local guides during our 'field trips' daily, were well informed, interesting, friendly and very caring. I would highly recommend this tour for anyone who cares about our National Parks and the challenges of climate change particularly facing south Florida.

This trip was outstanding. Traveling during the Covid-19 pandemic is not the easiest, but it made little difference to my enjoyment of the trip. Road Scholar provided excellent tour leaders, local guides, accommodations, restaurants and an amazing itinerary. You will not be disappointed with this trip!

Unique opportunity to visit and learn at some extraordinary state and national parks.

I have wanted to see Fort Jefferson for many years, it was everything and more than expected!,, Great trip!,

This was such a fun trip...Aleksy and Taylor are amazing leaders. They were totally dependable, completely knowledgeable, and fun to be with. The trip was very organized and meant three national parks in one swoop. The most unusual and exceptional one was the Dry Tortugas. We live in Florida but the thought of organizing a trip to this remote location for ourselves seemed just too daunting...Road Scholar's tour fit the bill. In addition, our fellow participants were very congenial. This was one of the best Road Scholar trips we have been on!!!

I may have been influenced by the fact that I was leaving 23 degrees and snow to come to the sub-tropics, but this was one of the best trips I have ever taken! Most of the credit goes to our two wonderful guides, Taylor Duck and Aleksey Berzon. I want to travel with them again!

This program is a nice getaway from cold weather up north. If you have Aleksey and Taylor as your leaders, then you are one lucky Road Scholar! They are so fun and made the week enjoyable. Visits to three National Parks makes the program unique. There is much history and beauty in the Keys. Accommodations and food were good. Would recommend to anyone wanting a respite from the cold.

Great - one of a kind subject matter. Well planned and executed.

Super trip. One advantage of the date was that the surf temperature at Fort Jefferson was 75 degrees making for pleasant snorkeling. Another pleasant surprise was that I only got one insect bite on the hole trip. The trip was well lead and provided a wonderful overview of the Keys' natural systems.

Escape from winter's cold for awhile and visit 3 sunny, warm National Parks in southern Florida to learn about the sub-tropical habitats there, Flagler's railroad, the forts that never saw action and the novelty of Key West.

This program provides a look into Florida's Everglades and reef parks, and a full description of their historic importance to the US.

My husband and I just completed our first Road Scholar program. It was to the Florida Everglades, Dry Tortugas and Key Biscayne. It was a very rewarding experience from all aspects and certainly good value. We are now researching our next Road Scholar experience.

This is a fun program and a good way to come out of your safe zone to speak. IT was very educational and interesting to learn about a part of the country I have never been to or know much about. I highly recommend this trip to anyone who is thinking about attending. The tour guides are amazing and really work together well.

If you want to really learn about the Everglades, this is a good trip. It covers the history and botany of the area in situ. Although you may bore your friends when you get home, you will feel that you really have experienced this part of the United States thoroughly.

Finally learn that those dots called "keys" on florida maps are "real" places joined by a string called "Highway 1!"

This trip was fun. Lots of variety, interesting leaders and fascinating locales, from alligators to Presidential retreats.

We had a wonderful time the locations we interesting and the guides were absolutely fabulous.

The program was very educational. I learned more about the ecology and also about the history of our country.

We got to see a lot of the Keys and some places we would not have gone on our own. This is an On-the-Road trip so there isn't much time for lectures or evening meetings. Most of the educational component is done in the new, larger and more comfortable vans between locations. Alex, Ben and Michael were all top notch with logistics. Food and lodging was a cut above many of the other Road Scholar trips we have taken. We had beautiful weather and for many with was a break from the cold and snow of the midwest. Plan a few days before or after the trip to see some things there just isn't time for with the group.

Great program!

The Florida Keys are full of fascinating history and ecological importance. They are an ideal location for those seeking to escape locations subject to winter cold and stay warm with intellectual and social stimulation.