Florida doesn't get much of a fall, but that doesn't stop our Lakeland office from putting together some of the year's most popular group day trips once the weather finally breaks. If you're an activities director, group leader, or just the person your neighbors ask "what's the trip this month," here's what tends to fill up fastest.
A day at the races
Tampa Bay Downs turns a day trip into an event — reserved seating, a full buffet lunch in the Club House, and a printed racing program so first-timers aren't lost. It's one of our most requested day trips for senior communities because the pace is relaxed but the atmosphere has energy.
Dinner theater and holiday shows
Once the calendar turns to the holidays, seasonal shows like A Christmas Carol: The Musical at Suncoast Dinner Theater become a fall and early-winter staple. These trips are fully escorted, with the show and a buffet included, so groups can settle in without juggling separate tickets and reservations.
St. Augustine's Nights of Lights
Running from November into January, St. Augustine's Nights of Lights is one of the most photographed holiday displays in the country. It's a full-day-into-evening trip — free time for an early dinner, then time to walk the historic district under the lights. An optional trolley tour add-on is available for groups who'd rather ride than walk the whole route.
On the water
A narrated riverboat cruise on the St. Johns River is a favorite for groups who want fall scenery without a long travel day — a few hours on the water, chef-prepared food, and live entertainment, with the bus departing mid-morning and the whole thing wrapped up same-day.
Multi-day: chasing real fall color
For groups willing to travel a little further, our Georgia and Tennessee fall foliage tour — built around a stay in Pigeon Forge with a Dollywood day included — is the closest thing to a real autumn most Florida groups get. It's a multi-day tour, so it's planned and booked further in advance than our single-day trips.
How booking works
All of these are sold per seat, with a minimum group size of 35 passengers, and we handle transportation, tickets, reservations, and driver gratuities as part of the package — your group just shows up. Browse our current day trips and multi-day tours, or contact our Lakeland tours team to ask about availability for a specific date.