Pre-Conference Tours

Pre-Conference Tours and More

Video courtesy of Visit Jacksonville

Arriving early or staying on after?

Visit Jacksonville Itinerary Ideas

24-48 hours in Jacksonville

We have some fun activities selected for our pre-conference tours.

Wednesday October 21st – 4.00 pm – 7.00 pm (TIME ESTIMATED, TO BE CONFIRMED)

Price: $65

4.00 pm Meet at the front of the hotel in the lobby

4.30 – 5.00pm Boarding

5.00 – 6.30pm Sunset Cruise along the Saint Johns River sipping a glass or two of bubbles

The St. Johns River is the longest river in Florida, stretching 310 miles from its headwaters at Blue Cypress Lake in Indian River County to the Atlantic Ocean in Jacksonville. It is famous for being one of the few major rivers in the United States that flows north, driven by a very flat landscape and a total elevation drop of less than 30 feet. This minuscule slope earns it a reputation as one of the “laziest” rivers in the world.
Information courtesy of St. Johns Riverkeeper

6.30 -7.00 pm Return to the hotel for dinner at your leisure.

Thursday October 22nd – 8:30 am – 5:00 pm (TIME ESTIMATED, TO BE CONFIRMED)

Price: $130

8.30 am Meet at the west side entrance on Newnan Street near the parking garage (exit hotel near the gift shop on the ground floor)

9:00 – 9:45 am Bus to St. Augustine

10:00 am – 12.00 pm Group 1 visits San Sebastian Winery, Group 2 visits San Sebastian Distillery, then switch!

12:30 – 3.30 pm On your own in historic St. Augustine, the nation’s oldest city! Shop, grab a bite or visit a wine shop. Maps and information will be provided!

4:00 – 4:45 pm Bus to Jacksonville

Times are approximate and itinerary is subject to minor changes.

Deadline to register is October 1st, 2026. Space is limited. Sign up early to ensure your spot!!

Florida Wine Areas

Florida does not have any independent American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) officially designated within its borders, although a small sliver of the state is touched in the north by the Upper Hiwassee Highlands AVA, a multi-state region established in 2014 that lies primarily within Georgia and North Carolina.

Florida’s subtropical climate and geographic dispersion have prevented the establishment of its own standalone AVA. Instead, the state uses its own local designation system to highlight authentic regional wines:

- - Florida Farm Winery Program: Managed by the Florida Department of Agriculture, this certification requires a winery to maintain at least 5 acres of vineyards and produce wine containing at least 60% native Florida agricultural products.
  - Muscadine Specialists: Wineries like Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards and San Sebastian Winery focus on local, highly successful Muscadine varieties like the bronze Carlos and the red Noble.
  - Tropical Fruit Wines: Pioneered by producers like Florida Orange Groves Winery, the state actively recognizes 100% tropical fruit fermentations—including mango, key lime, and blueberry—as part of its official wine trail identity.