Advantage Business Conference

Optional Tours

THURSDAY - JUNE 24

Cuban Heritage Tour

It was not long ago that Miami was a rather large, but quiet Southern city. The Castro revolution in Cuba in 1959 changed Miami forever. Wave after wave of Cuban refugees have transformed Miami into the Capital of the Americas, a fast-paced, internationally-connected, commercial and entertainment hub with a racy Latin image. From the food, to the accents on the street, to the fashion scene and artists’ studios, Miami now pulses with an original blended culture.

Come with us on a journey through the story of Miami’s Cuban community. Experience the passion and vision that these motivated exiles brought to
their new home. We will be visiting Miami’s own version of the Statue of
Liberty, a well loved marketplace, great Cuban food spots, moving monuments, lively street scenes and a place of spiritual reflection and longing. Take in the smells, sights, sounds and colors of a street that launched the dramatic transformation of Miami over four decades ago and prepare yourself for a day
of discovery and fun.

Time: 5:30 PM – 11:30 PM
Min/Max: 15/50
Price: $168 per person
Includes:
Transportation
Guided Tour
Dinner at Havana Harry’s (set menu, alcohol not included)

Coral Gables the City Beautiful

Enjoy an amazing tour through one of America’s most beautiful historic cities: Coral Gables, George Merrick’s dream realized. Learn the history of his dream as we tour the tree-lined avenues and stunning Mediterranean-influenced architecture that would eventually become his legacy.

Explore the historic halls of one of South Florida’s most architecturally important landmark buildings – the Biltmore Hotel. Learn of the building’s many colorful stories and how it was resurrected into the five-star beauty it is today. Allow us to filter through the truths and untruths, ghosts and glamour that capture the essence of South Florida style and history in this truly amazing landmark building.

Sit back and let our guides bring to life Merrick’s vision while they uncover the city’s hidden wonders. What you’ll discover along our less traveled path will enrich and engage you, and leave you with something most visitors and even locals never experience . . . a true sense of place.

Tour Highlights Include:
“Behind the Scenes” Historic Biltmore Hotel Tour
Gregory Plantation and Merrick House
Poinciana Honeymoon Cottage
Denman Fink’s City Hall Mural (will not be able to see this after dark but it will be pointed out)
Venetian Pool
DeSoto Fountain
International Themed Villages (Normandy, French, Chinese, Dutch South African)

Time: 5:45 PM – 11:15 PM
Min/Max: 15/50
Price: $212 per person
Includes:
Transportation
Guided Tour
Dinner at Ortanique on the Mile (set menu, alcohol not included)

Intracoastal Cruise with Dinner

Enjoy an evening cruise on a luxury yacht down the intracoastal waterway. You will board your vessel directly across the street from the Fontainebleau where your evening will begin. Once aboard, you’ll enjoy majestic views of the Miami skyline, a Biscayne Bay Sunset and the glamour of Miami Beach. Dine to the ever-changing panoramic views one can only get from the water.

Time: 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Min/Max: 700
Price: $236 per person
Includes:
Cruise
Dinner
Open Bar

You will encounter the country’s largest collection of Art Deco architecture all in one place in Miami Beach. There are approximately 800 significant buildings, which are listed with the National Register of Historic Places. A trained guide in Art Deco Preservation will join us for a private tour explaining, first, Art Deco, and second, the Mediterranean Revival period. Reminiscent of Spain, Italy, France and Morocco, these buildings feature decorative columns, arched windows, clay barrel tile roofs as well as the modern interpretation, including architecture emulating planes, trains, and automobiles using materials such as aluminum, chrome, neon lighting and glass block. You will have a detailed view of the intriguing time when the architectural style was that of streamlined structures with geometric shapes. Comfortable walking shoes or sneakers are recommended.

Time: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Min/Max: 24/140
Price: $65 per person
Includes:
Transportation
Guided Tour

This is an informative and exciting adventure through Miami Beach, Downtown Miami, Coconut Grove, Coral Gables, and Calle Ocho. The tour begins with a visit to America’s largest Art Deco district where pastel colors shimmer in the sun. We’ll then continue over the causeway past the busiest cruise port in the world where ocean-going vessels stand ready. Along the route, your guide will narrate points of interest including the route of previous Orange Bowl Parades. Next, we’ll travel down the Wall Street of Miami past Key Biscayne and into the village of Coconut Grove. Tiny old houses of coral rock and weathered Dade County pine peek at you from behind brilliant clusters of bougainvillea. We will wind our way south on Main Highway beneath a canopy of Banyan trees. Next, to the lovely Coral Gables, the dream of George Merrick, who wanted to create a “Little Venice” with canals, winding roads, wrought iron work, sculpture and statuary. The Biltmore Hotel and Venetian pool are only a couple of the highlights within Coral Gables. Once we have completed our tour of Coral Gables we will then continue on to “Little Havana” where we will stop while our staff takes orders for café con leche and Cuban pastries.

Time: 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Min/Max: 20/200
Price: $69 per person
Includes:
Transportation
Guided Tour
Café con leche and Cuban pastrie

See Miami like never before both by land and by sea while remaining in one vehicle! The fun begins as soon as you board “The Duck,” a state-of the-art amphibious vehicle designed for touring comfort. The land tour will depart from South Beach from 16th and Washington Avenue area. Your scenic tour will take you past famous Miami landmarks such as the Freedom Tower, Ocean Drive and the Art Deco District before a dramatic “Splash Down” into beautiful Biscayne Bay. The water tour will continue with views of the Downtown Skyline on your way to “Millionaires Row” to see the spectacular homes of the Rich and Famous. Along the way guests will enjoy music, trivia and more from enthusiastic “Duck” Guides.

Time: 1:15 PM – 4:15 PM
Min/Max: 40/80
Price: $80 per person
Includes:
Transportation
Guided Tour

An experience unique to Florida! This half-day journey takes you into Mother Nature’s secretly preserved wilderness-the Florida Everglades. You will make your way through the Everglades lush vegetation aboard an airplane propeller powered airboat. This thrilling airboat ride takes you to the legendary Everglades National Park, made up of 1.4 million acres of grasslands and hardwood hammocks. The Everglades is recognized as a unique ecosystem. Here you may see a variety of indigenous species, including the elusive alligator in its natural habitat.

As you maneuver through this jungle of wilderness, you will experience breathtaking panoramic views while your professional tour guide illustrates
and describes the wildlife and how it integrates with this delicate ecological landscape.

You will be amidst alligators, native flora and fauna and other exotic wildlife in their habitat. You will also have the chance to observe untouched hardwood hammocks that grace this natural and unspoiled wonder as you ride through the River of Grass system.

Following the Airboat tour you’ll visit the Alligator Farm, which is home to nearly 200 gators. A jungle trail offers a close-up look at some of the flora and fauna native to the Everglades. A 15 to 20 minute educational show features a local naturalist who will inform guests about the Florida Alligator, Otter, Owl and other wildlife found here in South Florida and the tropics.

Time: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Min/Max: 20/180
Price: $75 per person
Includes:
Transportation
Guided Tour
Everglades Safari Admission
Airboat ride, alligator farm and jungle trail

Villa Vizcaya, a magnificent Italian Renaissance-style palace with beautiful formal gardens, was built as the winter home of James Deering, one of the founders of the International Harvester Company and early Miami resident. Opened on Christmas Day 1916, virtually 10% of the population of Miami at that time worked on the project. Its 50 superlative rooms are decorated with authentic European antiques of the 15th to 19th centuries. The Villa and formal gardens sit right on the edge of beautiful Biscayne Bay and in the center of over 10 acres of original Miami shoreline. This is a county-maintained museum and indoor tours are led by trained volunteer docents. Following the tour of the mansion, our staff will give a short tour of the gardens and allow guests to enjoy a quick stop at the Vizcaya museum gift shop.

Time: 1:30 PM – 5:30 PM (2PM tour time)
Min/Max: 50
Price: $73 per person
Includes:
Transportation
Guided Tour
Admission to Villa Vizcaya

Join us at one of South Florida’s legendary golf resorts, Turnberry. World Golf Hall of Famer Raymond Floyd recently completely redesigned both championship courses from tee to green and the results are nothing short of spectacular. In doing so, he also changed the landscape of Florida golf. It is golf unlike any other in the Sunshine State with gently contoured fairways, doglegs, spectacular water features, and more elevation changes than are often seen in this part of the state.

Further enhancing the experience, a spectacular 64-foot waterfall—the largest in the state—provides an unforgettable finish on the Soffer Course’s 18-hole Island Green, while colorful indigenous flora and tropical trees surrounding each hole serve as a natural privacy barrier so every foursome feels like they’re the only players on the course. This event is available for a limited number of players, all reservations are on a first come, first served basis.

Time: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Price: $95 per person
Taylor Made Rental Clubs are $45+
Golf Shoe Rental is $10+
Includes:
Transportation to and from course
Breakfast and lunch