DAY
1

DAY ONE:  Welcome, we board our morning flight to Ft. Lauderdale from St. Louis. Upon arrival in South Florida we will check into our beachfront accommodations at the Oceanside Inn and Suites - a BW Plus Collection, for the next four nights! Located less than 100 steps away from the pristine Ft. Lauderdale Beach with its turquoise ocean waters and white sands, your deluxe accommodations include private balcony overlooking the tropical saltwater pool and terrace.  This quaint boutique style hotel includes a full hot breakfast for guests each morning, a lounge and café. Enjoy the quaint outdoor cafes, shopping boutiques and art galleries nearby. This evening join your fellow Cornerstone travelers for an included welcome dinner and orientation.

 DAY TWO-FOUR:  Every morning wake up in paradise and enjoy an included fresh hot breakfast at the hotel before venturing out to the beach for a walk or enjoy coffee on your balcony.  This is “your time”.   Want to go exploring with your fellow travelers?  Your Journey Host and Driver are providing the following day excursions for your enjoyment.  Each includes transportation, host, and attractions!​

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Day #2 Excursion: Embark on the wild side into Florida’s Everglades National Park. The largest subtropical wilderness in the United States. The National Park protects an unparalleled landscape that provides important habitat for numerous rare and endangered species like the manatee, American alligator, and the elusive Florida panther.  We will start at the National Park Visitors Center and then experience the interior of the park for the nature trail and boardwalk. After our lunch break (on own), we head deeper into the park on a thrilling airboat ride into the waters of the Everglades.  We will also see the educational alligator show and feeding. Before returning to the hotel, we will be making a stop at the Everglade’s famous “Robert is Here Fruit Stand and Farm”.  

[$109.00 per person]​

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Day #3 Excursion: Today’s journey in paradise takes us to the Parrot Jungle Historic District where we will visit Pinecrest Gardens (the former Parrot Jungle). Founded in 1936, this magnificent 14-acre botanical garden is an oasis for tropical birds and features over 1,000 varieties of rare and exotic tropical plants and palm trees in a native tropical hardwood and cypress setting.  We will enjoy an included box lunch at the scenic Matheson Hammock Park - with an unusual feature - an atoll pool flushed naturally with the tidal action of Biscayne Bay. Its tranquil breeze-swept beach is a haven to enjoy its warm, safe saltwater for wading and beautiful waterside views.  [$63.00 per person]

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Day #4 Excursion:  Florida’s Biscayne National Park is 95% under water - but 100% a must visit!  Covering close to 173,000 acres, four distinct ecosystems melt into one another creating rich edge communities or “ecotones.” These edges support an incredible array of wildlife, including hundreds of species of colorful fish, plants found nowhere else in the United States and visitor favorites like pelicans, manatees and sea turtles.  Exploring the park is mainly by boat.  Our National Park Institute three hour guided cruise from Coconut Grove will pass the historic Stiltsville houses that appear to be floating on the Bay and Soldier Key, the first key of the Florida Keys chain. We will enjoy a one hour stop on Boca Chita island, to see the lighthouse up close and walk the short trail.  [$137.00 per person]

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DAY FIVE:  After breakfast and checking out of our hotel, we will enjoy some time browsing Las Olas Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale’s premier destination for shopping and restaurants.  We will return to the airport mid-afternoon for our flight home.