Welcome VIPs! If you have travelled with us before, you know how great our VIP tours are. If you haven’t experienced a VIP tour yet, consider joining us this year. Touring with us is fun, educational, and a great way to meet new people. We are excited to offer new destinations this year and we hope you will join us for another fun-filled season. We will be offering the Everglades Tour again because it sold out last time and many of you asked us to bring it back. Other tours will include historical homes, museums, botanical gardens, and a holiday-themed tour at the Florida Botanical Gardens for the evening light display – get out those ugly Christmas sweaters!
All tours are subject to change and are based on availability. Spaces are limited. Pre-paid, advanced registration is required. Join the membership program and take advantage of the discounted price.
Tour cost: members $135, non-members $150.
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Our first tour of the season is to the Redlands in Homestead, known as the agricultural area of South Florida. The first destination is the Fruit & Spice Park. This 37-acre subtropical paradise, with more than 500 hundred varieties of fruits, vegetables, spices, herbs, nuts and other plants is nestled in the heart of the historic Redlands area. It is the jewel of the
agricultural community, and was started by a woman with a vision named Mary Calkins Heinlein. It is the only public garden of its kind in the U.S. A knowledgeable docent will lead us on a private tram tour of the property. Next, we will visit Cauley Square Historic Village. Refreshments will be provided as we stroll through the shaded garden paths to learn about the history of the Flagler Railroad and the agricultural community of the early 1900s. We will have a private lunch (included) at the Chalet. Our final stop will be to the famous Coral Castle. This oolite limestone structure was created by the Latvian-American eccentric
Edward Leedskalnin or “Ed.” We will learn how Ed, who barely weighed 100 pounds, single-handedly and secretly carved 3 million pounds of coral rock into his castle! Join us and learn more about the mystery. This tour is limited to 40 participants.
UPCOMING TOURS:
NOVEMBER 13, 2021
NAPLES
Naples Botanical Gardens, lunch and shopping at Tin City with a 2-hour narrated sightseeing and Eco Boat Tour from Tin City marina and Pure Florida.
DECEMBER 11, 2021
LARGO
Historic Heritage Village, early dinner on the waterfront and tour of the Florida Botanical Gardens holiday lights.
JANUARY 15, 2022
EVERGLADES CITY
Historic Everglades Museum and walking tour, lunch at a local establishment, Smallwood Museum and airboat ride through the Everglades.
FEBRUARY 19, 2022
SARASOTA
Private tour of the Ringling Art Museum, Ca’ d’ Zan, lunch at the Ringling Grillroom and tour the circus museum.
MARCH 12, 2022
SAINT PETERSBURG
Dali Museum, lunch, glass blowing demonstration at the Morean Art Center and Chihuly Museum tour.
For questions or to make a reservation for a VIP tour, please contact Sherri Muske at 239-335-3677 or smuske@edisonford.org. Tours fill up quickly, so reserve your space early.