There will also be a MOG 5 day trip from Lake Mirror to Key West starting on Sunday, October 18th.
2016 GatorMOG Road Trip to Key West
GatorMOG Road Trip to Key West – As was done in 2011, GatorMOG (The Florida Morgan Owners) will lead a convoy of Morgans to Key West and back, following the MOGSouth Fall Meet. The first part of the trip consists of the MOGSouth Fall Meet in Winter Haven and Lakeland, FL. The MOGSouth Fall Meet details are provided above.
The GatorMOG road trip will depart Winter Haven FL, headed west to Sarasota, on Sunday, 16 October and end in Lake Mary FL on Saturday, 22 October, with an evening party in Liam Fitzpatrick’s Irish Pub. Folks can then depart for home on Sunday, 23 October.
The group will travel around Florida counter-clockwise, going south down the west coast of Florida and back up the east coast. The Florida Keys are a world away! Something you must do especially if you’ve never done it before.
The GatorMOG trip is a ‘mash up’ (ask your grandkids!) of the old world and the new reality of Florida. We’ll have a glimpse into the nostalgic, agricultural, old Florida but then rub elbows with the glitz and glitter of the new. We have also tried to limit our control of the group so, where we can, everyone will be free to meander or visit places on your own.
Traveling is easy. On the best roads we could find. In some cases, however, there are a few too many cars or traffic lights (they couldn’t be avoided), but certainly no Interstates. We negotiated hotel rates, however, be sure to book your rooms as early as you can. Experience has shown the group rate and the rooms will not last. (Group name is ‘GatorMOG’). A Complete Action Worksheet has been provided with all the details needed to assist you in making your reservations.
14 -15 October 2016 – Friday - Saturday (Winter Haven FL) MOGSouth Fall Meet (See details, above.)
16 October 2016 – Sunday (Sarasota, FL)
Breakfast – Hotel Provided
8:30 AM – Departure for Sarasota 100 Miles in convoy. Arrive at the Ringling Brothers Museum Complex. Park where you can and go to Visitors Pavilion. Buy your Tickets first before you eat lunch, as they limit the tickets sold each day. (Tickets are $25 per person, however, they have all sorts of discounts, AAA, AARP, Veterans, Senior Citizen, etc.; so get what you can.) 11:30AM – 12:30PM Lunch at The Muse Café (In Visitors Pavilion) on the lanai overlooking the gardens. Link to Web Site The Muse. Select from the menu and pay as you go.
12:45AM – 5:00PM – Visit CA' D'ZAN (HOME OF JOHN RINGLING). Visit other parts of the complex if you would like, but the facilities all close at 5PM. You are on your own to find your way to the hotel (only about a mile away), check in and get to dinner. (The dinner restaurant is only 2 miles from the hotel.)
Hotel (Sarasota) Hilton Garden Inn Airport, 8270 N. Tamiami Tr., Sarasota, FL 34243 Phone: 941-552-1100, You Must Make your own reservations (1 night, Sunday 16 October). See Complete Action Worksheet for details on making reservations, group block, rate, etc. 6:30PM – 8PM – Dinner Anna Maria Oyster Bar, 6906 14th St W, Bradenton, FL 34207, Phone: (941) 758-7880. You will order off the menu and pay individually. Link to Restaurant Web Site Anna Maria Oyster Bar.
17 October – Monday (Naples, FL)
Breakfast – Hotel Provided
8:30AM – Departure, Drive Sarasota to Fort Myers 80 Miles. FYI, there are lots of lights and traffic is somewhat unpredictable but this route cannot really be avoided. We will start out together but it is very likely we will all get separated. Just follow the route instructions or use your GPS. Plenty of time has been allocated to allow you to get there safely. (Edison and Ford Winter Estates, 2350 McGregor Boulevard, Fort Myers, FL 33901.)
12PM – 1:30PM Lunch at Pinchers (Restaurant at the Edison Ford Estates) 2360 West 1st Street Fort Myers, FL 33901; 239-245-7049. Order and pay individually. Park at Edison/Ford facility parking lot and walk through Edison/Ford facility to the Pinchers Restaurant.
2PM – 5:00PM – Edison/Ford Winter Estates $18 PP Group - 1.5 Hours for Guided Tour, 1.5 Hours on own.
5PM – Departure, Drive to Naples 40 Miles – Again, we will start out together but it is very likely we will all get separated. Just follow the route instructions or use your GPS should this happen.
7PM – Dinner at ‘The Dock at Crayton Cove’, which is the Restaurant at the Cove Inn. Order and pay individually. Link to Restaurant Web Site
http://www.dockcraytoncove.com/. Hotel (Naples) Cove Inn on Naples Bay, 900 Broad Avenue South, Naples, FL 34102. Phone: 800-255-4365. We have asked for all Bayside view rooms. You Must Call and Make your own reservations (1 night, Monday 17 October). See Complete Action Worksheet for details on making reservations, group block, rate, etc.
18 October – Tuesday (Key Largo, FL)
Breakfast – Cove Inn’s small Café. Very Fast but FYI, they only take cash or checks. NO Credit Cards. (You can also charge it to your room so don’t check out until after breakfast.)
9:30AM – Depart Hotel in Convoy and drive to Collier Museum
10AM – 1PM – COLLIER MUSEUM $20 PP (We must collect money from you before we go in. Please have exact change / cash available.)
1:30PM – 2:30PM – Lunch – Riverwalk at Tin City, 1200 5th Ave S #45, Naples, FL 34102 Phone: (239) 261-4191
www.riverwalktincity.com. Order from the menu. 2:30PM – 3:30PM – Drive to Big Cypress National Preserve Oasis Visitor Center 50 Miles – 52105 Tamiami Trail E, Ochopee, FL 34141.
This is the bathroom stop.
The Gallery is a ½ mile further east down the Tamiami Trial. (There are minimal bathroom facilities at the Gallery.)
You are on your own until Dinner. Peruse the visitor’s center, visit the bathroom, and tour the gallery.
When you are done with the gallery, head off to Key Largo on your own.
3:30PM – 4:30PM – CLYDE BUTCHER’s BIG CYPRESS GALLERY at Mile Marker 54.5.
4:30PM – Drive to Key Largo 88 Miles On Your Own. Check into Hotel.
7PM – Dinner at Skipper’s Dockside, 28 Caribbean Dr. Key Largo, FL 33037, Phone: (305) 453-9794. Restaurant is adjacent to Hotel. Link to restaurant web site
www.skippersdockside.com. Order from menu.
Hotel is Marina Del Mar, 527 Caribbean Drive, vicinity Mile Marker #100, Key Largo, FL 33037, Phone: (305) 451-4107. Link to Hotel Web Site: Marina Del Mar. Make your reservations for 1 night, Tuesday 18 Oct. See Complete Action Worksheet for details on making reservations, group block, rate, etc. All rooms have a marina view.
19 October – Wednesday (Key West, FL)
Breakfast – Hotel Provided
8:30AM – Depart for Key West 100 Miles. Hotel (Key West) – Best Western, Key Ambassador 3755 S Roosevelt Blvd. Key West, FL 33040, Phone: 305-296-3500. See Complete Action Worksheet for details on making reservations, group block, rate, etc.
Lunch – On Your Own
Dinner – On Your Own
20 October – Thursday (Key West, FL)
Breakfast – Hotel Provided
Lunch – On Your Own
Dinner – Sunset Cruise: includes food (heavy hors d'oeuvres, drinks (beer, wine, Margaritas)) and music. Food is believed to be sufficient for Dinner. 5:00PM – Take hotel Shuttle to 631 Green Street at 5 PM to meet Cruise Boat.
5:30PM – FURY SUNSET “Commotion on the Ocean” CRUISE ($55 PP – however, you get a 10% discount with group rate). See Complete Action Worksheet for details on making reservations. Check in at 5:30 at white Fury Cruise booth. Boat departs at 6PM – don’t be late (we will miss you)!
Hotel (Key West) Best Western, Key Ambassador 3755 S Roosevelt Blvd. Key West, FL 33040.
21 October – Friday (West Palm Beach, FL)
Breakfast – Hotel provided
8:30AM Departure. Drive Key West to Key Largo 100 Miles.
1130 – 1230 – Lunch (Key Largo) at Pilot
House Marina and Restaurant, 13 Seagate Blvd, Key Largo, FL 33037. Phone: (305) 451-3142
Drive Key Largo to West Palm Beach 130 Miles
6:30PM – Walk to CHARIOTS OF PALM BEACH – MORGAN DEALER PARTY. Heavy hors d’oeuvres.
Dinner (West Palm Beach) – on your own if hors d’oeuvres are not enough.
Hotel (West Palm Beach) Hampton Inn West Palm Beach, 1601 Worthington Rd. West Palm Bch, FL 33409, Phone: (561) 472-7333. See Complete Action Worksheet for details on making reservations, group block, rate, etc.
22 October – Saturday (Lake Mary, FL)
Breakfast – Hotel provided
8:30AM Departure. Drive West Palm Beach to Bok Tower 143 Miles
Lunch (Bok Tower) – Box Lunches, 1151 Tower Blvd, Lake Wales, FL 33853, Phone: (863) 676-1408 (Bok Tower Gardens). You will need to order and pay for the box lunches ahead of time. Please send your selections and $$ to Mark (see Complete Action Worksheet for selections).
Drive Bok Tower to Lake Mary 92 Miles.
Dinner – Liam Fitzpatrick’s (Walking distance from Hampton Inn Lake Mary (Back Room Reserved for GatorMOG)). Heavy hors d’oeuvres.
Hotel (Lake Mary FL) - Hampton Inn Lake Mary @ Colonial Townpark, 850 Village Oak Ln, Lake Mary, FL 32746 Phone: (407) 995-9000 (Hampton Inn Lake Mary). See Complete Action Worksheet for details on making reservations, group block, rate, etc.
23 October – Sunday (Travel Home)
Breakfast – Hotel provided.
