A fully escorted 13 day Amtrak Tour featuring Key West, Hemingway House, Sunset Cruise, St. Augustine, The Fountain of Youth, Savannah, Charleston, Fort Sumter and Alexandria.

On this tour reclining coach seats with leg rests are included. You will spend the first night on the train, then ten nights in first-class hotels. On the return, you’ll spend another night on the train with reclining coach seats with leg rest. A Coach Comfort Kit is included.*

A limited number of sleeping accommodations are available at a very modest additional cost; only $150 for roomette bedrooms and $240 for upgraded bedrooms (per person, double occupancy). Enjoy daytime privacy and two nights of normal sleeping conditions.

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Key West • Hemingway House • Sunset Cruise • St. Augustine • The Fountain of Youth • Savannah • Charleston • Fort Sumter • Alexandria

Call 877-929-7245 for rail fares and schedules
from your city to and from Chicago.

• Charleston is frequently described as America’s most charming city. You’ll be enthralled with the city’s architecture. Tour the city and take a cruise to Fort Sumter where the Civil War began.
• Savannah...263 years of rich history. You’ll discover this history as you tour its streets and major attractions.
• Tour the Andrew Low House and stroll Factor’s Walk the 19th century center of commerce in Savannah.
• In 1513, explorer Ponce de Leon arrived in what is now St. Augustine looking for the legendary Fountain of Youth. Truly, America’s oldest city was thriving long before the Pilgrims were even thinking about the New World.
• Discover the major attractions of Key West. Tours of the Ernest Hemingway House and the Audubon House are included.
• Your trip over the 125-mile Overseas Highway to Key West will be a high point of your tour.
• Sit back, relax and enjoy hundreds of miles of comfortable daytime travel on Amtrak’s Palmetto and Silver Meteor.

• Round-trip transportation by Amtrak rail and connecting motor coach.
• First-class hotel accommodations for ten nights.
• Reclining coach seat with leg rest on Amtrak for two nights.
• Midwest: 17 meals. East: 13 meals.
• Extensive sightseeing tours at each destination. Admission to all individual attractions.
• Baggage handling, taxes, tips.
• Services of a professional America by Rail Tour Director.

Day 1: En Route
West and Midwestern Southern Exposure members will meet the Tour Director during the day and await departure in Chicago’s Union Station. At 7:05 p.m. you'll depart on the Capitol Limited for Washington. Relax in your comfortable reclining coach seat with leg rest. Roomettes or upgraded Bedrooms are available at an additional cost. All dining car meals are included. Go to the glass-walled Sightseer Lounge car for spectacular viewing. A full-course dining car dinner will be served upon departure. (D)

Day 2: En Route
Following a full dining car breakfast, West and Midwest tour members traveling to Washington on the Capitol Limited will enjoy some spectacular scenery. This morning you follow the white water Youghiogheny River and climb over Sand Patch, the highest point of rail service in the Northeast. East of Cumberland you'll roll along the Potomac River for many miles. You’ll arrive into Washington at 1:30 p.m.

Upon arrival into Washington, travelers will have an “on-your-own” lunch in the large Union Station food court. You’ll then transfer to nearby Alexandria, Virginia. Northeast participants will arrive at the Alexandria Amtrak Station on a Northeast Direct train. The hotel is the Holiday Inn Arlington. A Welcome Dinner will be held at a local restaurant. (B, D)

Day 3: En Route
You’ll transfer this morning to the Alexandria Amtrak station where you'll depart at 10:12 a.m. on the Palmetto for your 435-mile journey through three states to Charleston, South Carolina. You’ll roll through the Tidewater area of Virginia for several hours, then cross the Piedmont region of North and South Carolina. Relax in your comfortable, reclining coach seat with leg rest. Sandwiches, snacks and beverages are available in the lounge car. Your arrival into Charleston is scheduled for 6:47 p.m. Upon arrival, you'll transfer to the Best Western King Charles Inn in downtown Charleston.

Day 4: Charleston
Our day will begin with the hotel’s fabulous breakfast buffet (included). On your narrated sightseeing tour this morning you'll drive through narrow streets lined with magnificent townhouses of Colonial planters. You’ll learn about 300 years of American history as you see where generations of patriots lived, worked and worshiped in some of America’s oldest buildings. The American Revolution and the War between the States will capture your interest as you stop at the Battery waterfront and see the elegant interior of a Charleston restoration.

The Civil War began at Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor. On April 12, 1861, Confederate troops directed the opening shots of the Civil War against Fort Sumter. Confederates captured the fort and held it throughout the war defying the blockade and Federal attempts to recapture it. This afternoon you'll embark on a two-and-one-half hour cruise and tour of Fort Sumter. There are a number of great dinner opportunities near your hotel. (B)

Day 5: Savannah
You’re free this morning to check out the various booths of the Old City Market, visit some antique stores or explore downtown Charleston.

You’ll board a deluxe motor coach at noon and depart for the two-and-one-half hour ride to Savannah. Upon arrival into this fascinating southern city, you'll check into the charming Riverstreet Inn (Doubletree Historic Inn in March). You’re free the rest of the day to stroll along Factor’s Walk, the 19th century center of commerce in Savannah. (B)

Day 6: Savannah
At 9:00 a.m. you'll strike out on an extensive sightseeing tour. You’ll go through the Landmark District in which 260 years of rich Southern history will unfold before you with a stop to tour the beautiful Cathedral. A knowledgeable Savannah guide will be with us. You’ll explore the garden-like squares, discover a living collection of 18th and 19th century buildings and tour the exquisite Andrew Low House. You’ll stop en route for an “on-your-own” lunch.

Your time in Savannah will conclude with a one-hour narrated sightseeing cruise of Savannah’s busy harbor aboard the Savannah River Queen.

Following your cruise, you'll reboard the motor coach and continue south 181 miles to St. Augustine, Florida. You’ll stop for dinner en route (included).

St. Augustine is America’s oldest city. It was in this area that Juan Ponce de Leon, in search of the legendary Fountain of Youth, landed on April 3, 1513 and took possession of the region for Spain. Upon arrival in St. Augustine you'll check in at the handsome Hampton Inn - Historic District. (D)

Day 7: St. Augustine
A Continental breakfast is included. You’ll board a rubber-wheeled train this morning. Throughout the day you can get off at any one of the many attractions you will pass by today. You can visit for as long as you want. Another train will carry you to the next attraction. There are 19 major historic attractions, including the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, America’s Oldest Home and many more. The Lightner Museum has always been a tour favorite. Tonight the Tour Director will host dinner at the Raintree, the city’s finest restaurant. (CB)

Day 8: En Route
Following a Continental breakfast in your hotel, you'll board a motor coach and transfer to the Jacksonville Amtrak station where you'll board the Silver Meteor. Departure for the 376-mile run to Deerfield Beach is scheduled for 9:15 a.m. Relax in comfortable reclining coach seats with leg rests. A full-course lunch is available in the dining car. Sandwiches, snacks and beverages can be purchased in the lounge car.

You’ll be amazed at the large cattle ranches, citrus groves and other scenic attractions the train will pass by during the day. You’re scheduled to arrive in Deerfield Beach at 5:04 p.m. Your home for tonight is the Boca Raton Holiday Inn Express. The motor coach will transfer those interested to the Town Center, a nearby Boca Raton shopping mall. (CB)

Day 9: En Route/Key West
The new day will begin with a Continental breakfast. You’ll travel on a comfortable motor coach to Key West. This morning you'll embark on one of the most unusual journeys in the world . . . the Overseas Highway. You’ll pass over hundreds of islands connected by pile-driven causeways.

Following your early afternoon arrival in Key West, the southernmost city in the U.S., you'll check in at the attractive Sheraton Suites.

Discover the quaint charm of a city that was the home of pirates and shipwrecks several centuries ago. With its rocky shores, sandy beaches, and weathered homes, Key West resembles a New England seacoast town, except for the Bahamian-styled architecture. The Caribbean influence extends to the cuisine, which includes turtle steak, conch chowder, hot bollos and key lime pie.

The Mallory Square section is a beehive of exciting markets, shops and museums. Harry Truman’s Little White House, the Lighthouse Museum, Shipwreck Historeum, and Mel Fisher’s Maritime Heritage Society are just a few of the other worthwhile sites. You’re free this afternoon to begin to explore Key West.

Sunsets in Key West are spectacular . . . perhaps the best in the world. This evening you'll board a sightseeing vessel and cruise off shore for a close up of this beautiful daily event. (CB)

Day 10: Key West
This morning you'll board a Conch Train. This rubber-wheeled conveyance with open-canopied cars will travel 14 miles through both old and new Key West. You’ll tour the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum where he wrote many of his most important works, including “For Whom the Bell Tolls” and “A Farewell to Arms”. The John J. Audubon House and Gardens is where the noted artist and bird enthusiast painted wildlife of the Florida Keys and many other attractions. You will want to sample some of the famous local seafood this evening.

Day 11: En Route/Boca Raton
Early this afternoon you'll begin your return journey on the Overseas Highway. You’ll return to Boca Raton where you'll again spend the night at the Holiday Inn Express. Dinner tonight is included at the Tropical Acres in Ft. Lauderdale. (D)

Day 12: En Route
You’ll begin your day with a Continental breakfast in your hotel. At 7:00 you'll board your motor coach and travel to the Deerfield Beach Amtrak station. At 8:20 a.m. you'll depart for Washington, D.C. on Amtrak’s Silver Meteor.

Viewliner Roomette bedroom sleeping accommodations are included for all tour members. There are two comfortable seats on either side of an eye-level picture window At night, your attendant converts the two seats into a lower berth. An upper berth pulls down from the ceiling. There is a 6’ long x 18” high window next to the upper berth. The Roomette bedroom includes a sink and a commode. Coffee, water and juice are available at one end of the car. A shower room is nearby. Lunch and dinner today, and breakfast tomorrow are included in the Silver Meteor’s dining car. You’re free to explore the train. Go to the lounge car for snacks, sandwiches and beverages. (CB, L, D)

Day 13: En Route
Enjoy a delicious dining car breakfast as the train rolls through southern Virginia. The train is scheduled to arrive into Washington, D.C. at 6:32 a.m. Those bound for Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York home cities will stay aboard and transfer to connecting trains in Philadelphia and New York.

The Tour Director will suggest a number of optional activities in Washington to those bound for West and Midwest home destinations. The Capital Limited will depart Washington at 4:05 p.m. (B, D)

   

   

   

 Departure Dates:

• March 21 - April 03

 Per Person Rates (based on double-occupancy):

• $3295 - West/Midwest (Tour begins and ends in Chicago.)
• $3095 - East (Tour begins and ends in Washington, D.C.)
• $1215 additional for hotel rooms and Amtrak Roomette bedroom from Deerfield Beach to Washington on a single basis Midwest and East.
• $360 additional for an Amtrak Roomette bedroom (Chicago-Washington-Chicago) on a single basis (Midwest).

 Per Person Sleeping Accommodation Upgrade Rates:

• Roomette Bedroom $150
• Upgraded Bedroom $240