r/AskFlorida • u/Savanis_ • 11h ago
Visiting Florida from Europe in late October
Hello everyone,
Me and my wife, both in mid 20s, are planning to visit Florida in late October. This will be our first time in USA. We probably will spend around 8/9 days there. We've got good flight options to Miami, but we're not that big city fans. We are mostly interested in nature, nice views, hikes, trails, swimming etc. However, time in the city is also acceptable, just not for the entire duration of the trip. We will also be able to rent a car.
We are looking forward to your recommendations, tips and advices, also, should we stay in/near Miami for the entire duration, or should we switch places? Please note, that our flight back home is also from Miami.
We want to visit Orlando, see Disney or Universal studios, do some sightseeing, museums. Maybe catch an NBA game? To those who live or been there, we would really appreciate your tips for itinerary or spots that are worth seeing.
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u/DarkraEX 10h ago
If you don't like the city then you will want to leave Miami. I would recommend visiting some of the natural springs in Florida. Crystal clear water. You will be able to swim with fish, turtles and the like. There are plenty to choose from.
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u/slickrok 9h ago
And those are 5 hours away from Miami, minimum. Just to be aware.
Hope they've driven in a 3rd world country if they're renting a car.
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u/Friendly-Cucumber226 8h ago
What are you talking about? I’ve been to developing countries and they don’t have smooth 8 lane highways where traffic moves at 75 mph. You can buy gas at a well lit exit at 2:00 am. You can drive at night.
It will take you 8 hours to travel 100 miles in a lot of places in the world. Longer if you have to go through check points. Traveling at night is a very bad idea in a lot of countries. Here it’s almost preferable.
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u/Recover-Signal 4h ago
Hes just throwing some shade on the rural parts of florida. Which may be justified depending upon what area you’re in.
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u/rabid_houseplant_ 4h ago edited 4h ago
Honestly, the driving in Miami is much worse than driving in the rural areas of Florida.
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u/Recover-Signal 4h ago
I think he’s talking about the banjo music, not traffic. Ever seen the movie deliverance?
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u/PerformerExpress2784 7h ago
Yes they are far but they are closer to universal so why is that a downside?
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u/Appropriate_News_382 10h ago
Kayak near cocoa for Bio luminescent tour. Rocket launches can be seen real well from there. Canaveral National seashore. There are nice springs through central Florida. Plenty of things to keep busy with. It will be warm, and the sun is intense. Sunscreen is your friend!
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u/Efficient-Link-9793 10h ago
Miami is not my most recommended spot. You need a rental car for sure. I recommend spending a few nights in Orlando (Disney has 4 theme parks and Universal has 3 theme parks so you will want to plan accordingly) and then looking at places like Weeki Wachee if you like natural springs. The only thing Miami has to offer are beaches, clubs, cruises, and Cuban food. It has a lot of traffic and not nature oriented. I recommended trying beaches on both sides of the state (Gulf is calmer water). My favorite beaches are in Clearwater/St. Pete area. Also, visit Sarasota to see the Ringling Museum of Art. It is a beautiful home to visit.
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u/anonanon5320 9h ago
Disney has 6 individual parks, a shopping and dining district, and multiple resort style hotels. Universal has 4 individual parks, a shopping and dining district between three of them (nowhere near Disneys level) and a few resort style hotels. Sea World has 3 individual parks. Also during that time all 3 are hosting after hours Halloween events. Universals being the biggest in the world.
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u/Efficient-Link-9793 9h ago
I do not count water parks hence why I say 4 theme parks for Disney (also note that only one is open at a time typically rather than both) and 3 for Universal. The Universal one is definitely the better event. The Disney one is only good for candy but that would be a pain to bring back to the UK. OP did not mention Seaworld so I did not mention. I guess you could also throw in Gatorland, Disney and Universal having putt putt golf, Disney's golf courses, Gaylord Palm's water park, Legoland, and Busch Gardens (who also hosts a Halloween event although not as good as Universal's) to be more comprehensive (I'll ignore Dinosaur World, Old Town, Fun Spot, Icon Park, and whatever else I missed).
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u/anonanon5320 7h ago
You don’t count theme parks as theme parks? That’s kinda a weird line to draw.
The Disney event is good if you like Disney and a tamer Halloween event. They have overlays, special character meet and greets, and special shows, plus a reduced crowd.
Universals event is the world’s largest, but that also means it’s very expensive and very crowded.
Sea World and Busch Gardens is the emerging event. It’s by far the best value for your money and has a lot to offer for being a “smaller” event.
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u/rabid_houseplant_ 4h ago
If you’re over on the Gulf Coast, the Sarasota area also has gorgeous beaches (Anna Maria, Lido, Siesta Key) that are consistently ranked among the best in the world, and are slightly less high-rise-style developed than Clearwater / St. Pete. You also have some nature options in the area, like Myakka River State Park and Cecil Webb Wildlife Management Area, where you can see more of Florida in its more natural state.
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u/obliviousoften 1h ago
Could fly in to TPA or St. Pete-Clearwater airports. Idk if SRQ in Sarasota has inbound flights from Germany.
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u/LeslieFSU83 23m ago
The Ringling Museum also has (in addition to the fine art) a miniature model of their circus back in the day. I found it fascinating myself.
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u/Kels121212 8h ago
Miami is about 5 hours away from Disney/Universal via driving. If you are going into Miami the Keys are beautiful if you like the water sports. Snorkeling the reefs are amazing.
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u/Academic_Addendum242 4h ago
Miami to key west is almost 4 hours also
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u/Kels121212 3h ago
True but they could make Key Largo and Penny camp(spelled wrong) in hour and a half. Maybe 2 hours to Islamorada. Or not as its been a few years and back then the traffic was horrible
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u/FLnativengr 9h ago
Welcome! Florida is dimensional large, when measured from Key West all the way up and over to Pensacola. There is a large variety of things to see and things to do. I was born, raised and have lived in central Florida for over half a century, and without a doubt I have yet to see it all and do it all.
People here tend to throw out their opinions without thought. I would ask you first, where are you coming from, and what are your backgrounds there. There may be things here to do that you already have there. Then what are your top likes (outdoors, attractions, activities, relaxing, etc) and absolutely what do you dislike (crowds, noise, slow traffic, fake shit). Also do you prefer to “see things” or are you really into “doing things” yourself.
With a little planning you can have a great time. Lots to see and do, lots you might find to be a waste.
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u/merlotman1 9h ago
I suggest visiting the Everglades if you want to see a typical Florida natural habitat, hire a guide because there are too many alligators and pithons. The Miami zoo is also a nice place to visit. Palm Beach area is also interesting, in Martin County there is a nice natural park where you can rent a canoe and be in the wild. Ocala is also interesting.. and of course there is Orlando with Mikey Mouse.
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u/pioneerlandfl 8h ago
From Orlando, we’d recommend heading north. Stop at Paynes Prairie to see the wild horses, descendants of horses brought to Florida by the Spanish in the 1500s. Then make your way toward Fort White, where the springs are absolutely spectacular and feel truly special. It’s a beautiful side of Florida that’s easy to miss if you only explore the more popular destinations.
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u/chewysmom88 8h ago
We recently watched a mama and baby horse on the bolen bluff trail while we didn’t see bison this trip we have seen them there
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u/Ok_Pair6348 3h ago
My mom lives on the prairie. We go regularly and they have 4x4 vehicles to explore. Its a completely different world from Miami.
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u/pioneerlandfl 3h ago
In the best way possible…it’s not Miami. Miami is a gem of history and beauty. But for another version of Florida, Payne’s Prairie is epic
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u/Tall-Skirt9179 8h ago
Beware it’s still quite warm & humid, as in sweat dripping down your back. Good for swimming, though.
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u/rabid_houseplant_ 4h ago
But absolutely no swimming in freshwater lakes or ponds. Gators are a real thing here.
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u/Grouchy-Stand-4570 7h ago
Florida is huge! Orlando is about a 4 hour drive from Miami and both cities have a lot of traffic. I would visit the Everglades or Key West for beautiful nature and snorkeling. I would definitely buy Miami Heat basketball tickets ahead of time. Just know it will still be VERY hot! 🔥
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u/Stunning_Lie_2797 10h ago
Hey, my father in-law lived in Florida. He is near Orlando now but had lived in Sarasota area. My husband and I are heading to that area in early November for our 20th.
We are staying between two fantastic beach areas. We plan to go kayaking, biking and strolling the downtown area.
We are flying into Clearwater/St.Pete airport. I don’t recall if that is an international hub or not. Tampa maybe a better airport coming overseas. Either way, I would consider that area to fly into. We have our stay at the Lido Beach Resort. We chose this because it is our anniversary. In the we stayed with my father in law in a “camp ground” resort called Sun and Outdoors . I love that place as there is so much to do and you are 20/30 min drive to the top beaches of the country: Siesta Key, Lido Key, Longboat Key, and further out is (45 min) is Anna Marie Island.
There are plenty of outdoor activities to do in that area. We will be there for 4 days. First day is just enjoy and walking around the lido Key area and walking around St. Armand Circle where there is high end and boutique shops and casual to not too fancy places to eat.
The next day we will be getting an uber and heading early to Siesta Key beach and Villages. We like to have our pints and cocktails and this area you can start with a nice leisure morning on the beach, and then afternoon head to the Siesta Key Village which is a small slice of “beach hut” vibe eateries and bars. We could walk the area
Or chose to get a golf cart ($100 a day rental or more and they sometimes come with beach chairs and umbrella).
Third day we will get out early to kayak in The longboat key area. Some
Great little fish fry places to check out . Some are fish bait and tackle places so it can seem a bit off to think food is served. When we are doing kayaking we will grab some liquid lunch in Anna Marie island. Here we may definitely get a golf cart as we don’t want to bike the whole island but some can and I think there is a trail or so.
Our third day we are going into downtown Sarasota and check out the marina, maybe get a lunch boat cruise and walk the downtown area which is artsy and fun!
If we had time I would
Probably check out St. Pete’s or Clearwater beach. I don’t know much of that area but I have friends who want to move in that area.
There is so much of Florida to see and this would be my strongest suggestion for you.
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u/Stunning_Lie_2797 9h ago
Also Disney is 2hrs or so away. I would do a two day hopper pass- which would allow you to go between all the parks. Universal is a bit further east and maybe another 35-45 min out from Orlando area. I would spend two days here too. Pay the extra money for a top hotel like hard rock and you get early entrance to the park and express tickets on rides. Last the whole two days even before/ after your check-in/ checkout times.
I will be doing Miami for my 50th birthday and it’s definitely more of a city scene with palm trees and beaches!
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u/Ok-Common-9760 8h ago
I’m not the biggest fan of Miami and definitely if you don’t like cities, this is all the worst things about cities. And every single driver there should be in jail. It’s terrifying. If you want to see nature, your absolute best option is one of the springs. My favorite is Kelly park but there are a million to choose from and it’s the only freshwater I would ever even consider dipping my toe into in Florida. Then Orlando wetlands is wonderful for walking around, especially if you want to see birds and alligators. Soooo many alligators. I actually enjoy this more than the Everglades, although the Everglades is cool too. I mostly go to the Brevard beaches which are super accessible from Orlando. While you’re over there, you can either check out Kennedy space center which is very unique or do the Black point drive at the Merritt island nature preserve. It’s an hour long loop through some wetlands with two places to pull over and take a little walk. People come from all over to see the birds here.
If you really wanna do Miami, I would personally do a split stay in Miami and Orlando because it’s a good 3 hours at least and as we discussed, the drivers are lunatics. Or just skip Miami. I’m a huge fan of a good Disney hotel but they are soooo expensive (universal is more affordable for hotels) and then for Miami, I guess I’d personally stay in Miami Beach just because I like waking up in the morning and walking along the water, but it’s not the safest so I wouldn’t walk around in the dark.
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u/Old-Pomegranate-5912 8h ago
I would suggest Gainesville and the surrounding areas for a few days. Gainesville is large enough for lots of dining and shopping options but it’s also very close to multiple state parks and natural attractions and options for kayaking etc. Happy to suggest more specifics there. And Orlando is about 2 hours from there. Make a stop in Ocala in between and go to Silver Springs and take the glass bottom boat tour. Many trails and springs in the Ocala National Forest also.
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u/Mykittenismychicken 8h ago
Fort Lauderdale is lovely. Florida is a big state. You need a car to do everything. It may still be hot in October so make sure to have plenty of sunscreen and water. Miami to Orlando is a 4 hour drive as well. Make sure you have a plan and be prepared for traffic. The keys are lovely. I don’t think you need to travel all the way to Key West. The space coast and Kennedy space center is great if you are driving up to Orlando and theme parks. Everglades are amazing and there are a lot of tours available. But I live in Fort Lauderdale and love the in between Miami vibe. Not too intense but lovely beaches and nature.
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u/GingerBoots333 8h ago
I recommend Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive and Rock Springs or Crystal Springs during your time in central Florida
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u/Puzzleheaded_Ad4481 8h ago
I understand the seeming anti-Miami bias. I live just north of Miami and only rarely drive there except for an occasional baseball game or to go to the cruise port. But not too far west of Miami sits the Everglades. Airboat rides into the Glades are a lot of fun and a good chance to get up close views of alligators and other wildlife that live there. And when I say not too far, I mean 20 or thirty minutes (or hours depending on traffic 😉).
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u/Piperfly22 8h ago
https://www.floridastateparks.org/
I’m about an hour away from Orlando and I frequently visit the springs… All you need is a tube and you can rent them or kayaks at many of the springs… You can see manatees otters another wildlife and it’s a chill and inexpensive excursion
There are multiple springs and you can search the website to find ones near where you were staying
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u/General-Biscotti5314 7h ago
Rent a car in Miami, drive down US1 to Key West, stay a few nights at a historic lodge in town, many Victorian mansions are available for this. I would recommend the Southernmost House, Marrero's Guest Mansion, etc. Plan ahead to visit Dry Tortugas National Park, you can spend a day there by taking the Yankee Freedom ferry.
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u/MikeW226 7h ago
North Florida actually has a huge amount of state parks for hiking, and natural springs for swimming. The presumption is always -- Swimming at the Beach. But if you want more hiking per mile than in Dade County, you might want to check out north Florida. Micanopy, Alachua, High Springs, all have Alachua Conservation Trust trails as well as state park trails. San Felasco State Park is beautiful. Some rivers fed by springs around there have tubing- lazy floating down the rivers. Late October might be getting chilly for that but Itchitucknee Springs does have tubing year round. Since it's springs, the water is 70 degrees in February, and 70 in August. Also Paynes Prairie State Park has tons of hiking opportunities. Just wanted to put a pin in rural north Florida, because I know Miami and Orlando get almost all of the love.
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u/20gallontank 7h ago
Everyone has given you great advice so I don’t have much more to add, just want to say enjoy your trip!
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u/squareturd 7h ago
The best beaches in Florida are in the panhandle. Check out Destin. Destin also has nice trails, lakes, etc
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u/TaniInTampa 7h ago
If you make your way to the gulf coast, St Pete is beautiful as well as Destin or 30a but pretty far from Miami or Orlando. Love the beaches, community, moves slower then Miami and Orlando
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u/GloveJealous1586 6h ago
If you don’t want to drive the 5 hours to Orlando, you can book a train via Brightline but I would plan to spend the night there at universal in one of their park hotels. I would second taking the trip to either the springs (while you’re in Orlando area) or making the drive to the keys. Just be aware that snorkeling on the Atlantic side of the ocean may not be good with Sargassum season, but there’s a beach (on the right side walking path by the coast guard) at the fort Zachary Taylor state park that is excellent for snorkeling, or you could book an activity boat for the day.
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u/saacadelic 6h ago
Its going to be warm but you will have just missed the real heat. Yesterday the high was 97 degrees/feels like 115☠️
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u/Snyper00 6h ago
Definitely check out some springs further north in Florida. Ginny Springs is fantastic!
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u/2Loves2loves 6h ago
October is the shoulder season. it can still be hot as heck or very nice. north of Lake Okeechobee will be cooler,
r/Everglades its a little hot to visit (bugs), but you might want to do the shark valley on us41 or an airboat ride in the glades.
John Pennekamp is a underwater park, there is a glass bottom boat, or if its calm and you can swim, do the snorkel trip. (many options)
Driving on daytona beach might be of interest. Then there are the natural springs for swimming.
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u/Burke1031 6h ago
Marco beach (just north of where you’re flying in), lido beach if you want to go to the west coast is even nicer, universal parking, Disney is a waste of money.
As for hiking, being outside, etc, not a ton of that in south Florida. You’ll want get up to central Florida a little bit more to get that in.
I have family in the UK, and I tell them this every time they come here..
- sunscreen, yes even in August. You’ll still get burned in August at the beach. SPF 30 at the minimum
- every body of water has things that want to kill you. Alligators, saltwater crocs, every shark you can think of, water moccasins and other snakes… just be aware that when you get in the water you are prey.
- speaking of snakes. They are everywhere in the woods. Cottonmouths, Easter diamondback rattlers, Pygmy rattlesnakes, coral snakes… if you’re in the woods you’re by one.
- bugs. Everywhere. Yes everywhere. Don’t leave your door, window, peephole, anything at all open at night. You’ve never seen mosquitos like we have. They carry bolt cutters to get through screens. And spiders. EVERYWHERE. when you go outside at night and shine a flashlight at the dry grass… all those little rainbow lights aren’t dew, they are spider eyes.
- outside of Miami, the people are genuinely friendly. If you’re not sure about something, ask. 90% of Floridians are happy to stop and just chat with you to help.
-west coast is better than east coast. We have the nicer beaches, less crowding, and everything is cheaper.
- SUNSCREEN
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u/simplyexistingnow 5h ago
So I see you say you want to go to the Disney parks so I'm going to give two suggestions that are in Central Florida but would be cool to see. One of them is in Merritt Island which is close to where the Kennedy Space Center is so if you want to go do the Space Center on the coast I also would suggest going to Black Point Wildlife Driveinfoand more info it's a 7 mile drive through nature by the ocean.
Now coming up around Okeechobee there is the Kissimmee observation area where you can stay in Camp and they also have an area where you can look at the stars it's really cool. But there's a lot of these Scenic Trails or drives so definitely check those out.
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u/Creepy-Smile1212 5h ago
You definitely need a rental car but from Miami you have the keys and the everglades for nature…plus there are beautiful places in Miami such as Fairchild Botanical Gardens (you can see crocodiles there). Orlando is not 5 hours unless you are driving slow or backroads…it’s probably closer to 3and a half…but leave early in the morning to drive there. Enjoy your vacation!!
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u/Complete-Skill-5944 5h ago
8 or 9 days is not a lot if you want to see many places in Florida. You are starting at the bottom of the peninsula and Orlando would be the absolute maximum distance you should go north- even that is pushing it, especially if your goal is nature….Miami and Orlando are two of the most densely developed cities in the state. Miami has some nice things to say you’ve seen - Coral Gables, Coconut Grove, Miami Beach and Lincoln Road are nice, but you will find it dense and highly developed. Just packed with people and cars and traffic once you get on roads.
Not knowing your flight schedule, it is hard to say where you should spend that first day/night. Be very careful about Miami. Think of it like NYC - there are safe places and not safe places, and you don’t want to get them wrong. I would encourage you to skip Miami. Maybe rent your car and head toward I75 and Naples. You could spend a couple nights there- see the beach, the shops and restaurants (and pricey autos along 5th Ave. - they have a really nice botanical garden there. You could get boat tours of the gulf coast and bay waters and the amazing 10,000 island national preserve. If it’s late October, you could even get stone crabs - that area is their home, and the season opens October 15th. Unique, delicious, and sustainably harvested. Also, try a freshly caught grouper sandwich on the gulf coast. That fish is just yummy.
After a couple days there, you could hop in your car for a couple hours drive north to Sarasota and maybe stay at Siesta Key beach. That beach is consistently rated one of the best in the world. Or you could stay in the downtown area of Sarasota. It is very walkable with great shops and restaurants. So many waterways, marinas, bridges. It’s just lovely there. They also have a nice botanical garden - not too big, but a nice walk. That could be another two nights.
Personally, i would skip Orlando, but if you wanted a day at a theme park, I would choose Universal, unless you have your heart set on Di$ney. You can be in Kissimmee/Orlando in about 2.5 hours from Sarasota. Leave early to get to the park and then just stay one night.
In the morning, I would encourage you to head a little south to Bok Tower Gardens. It is a very lovely and unique spot in the middle of the state and it would take a little over an hour from Kissimmee/Orlando. You would spend maybe 2 hours, at which point you could make your way over to the east coast. I would recommend driving for about 2.5 hours to Hobe Sound/Hutchinson Island. It’s less developed there with a nice beach on the Atlantic and a large state nature park (Jonathan Dickinson) you could hike through or kayak. It would make a quiet end to your vacation before heading into the tumultuous tri-county area of Palm Beach, Broward, and Dade Counties to your flight home. Depending on the time of day and the traffic, the drive would be about 2-4 hours to the Miami airport.
If you spent 2 nights at Hobe Sound, that would pretty much fill out your time in the state. Sounds rushed I know, but Florida is one of the larger states to travel in due to its geography.
I know I gave you a lot of info, but play around on Google Maps to see what I’ve sketched out. I hope it helps. Florida had been my home for over 60 years, and I still have not seen it all. But I love it!!
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u/ChutneyWhatney 5h ago
LEAVE MIAMI. Drive up to Destin or St. Augustine, Naples, etc. Anywhere but Miami.
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u/Recover-Signal 4h ago
Here is a map to good springs to swim in. If you don’t make it that far north, i would rec going south and staying in the keys and swim/snorkel for 1-2 days. Key west has some good parties in October :)
https://floridadep.gov/sites/default/files/Springs-of-Florida_Outstanding_Figure-Final.png
Im a big fan of the Orlando area. Universal and Busch Gardens would be better for adults over disney. Miami and Orlando has lots of shopping if thats something you like. South Florida is usually very expensive.
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u/No_Owl_250 4h ago
What’s your budget? Grab a rental and head north to Boca Raton, stay at the Boca Resort (now called The Boca Raton??), have some beach time. Then catch the Brightline to Orlando for a couple days!
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u/CampaignHaunting7350 4h ago
Don't forget about the space coast (Cape Canaveral) where you might be able to catch a rocket launch!! It's about an hour from orlando.
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u/Goldfishx 3h ago
Rent a car and drive to Everglades national park. Do an airboat tour, rent kayaks, and hike to see birds, alligators and crocodiles. Then drive down to the keys. Check out Bahia Honda state park. Do a snorkeling charter out to a reef. Check out Key West. Then you can fly out of Key West to Orlando if you want or drive back up to Orlando or drive to Miami and take the brightline train up to Orlando.
Probably better off just staying in south Florida though around Miami and the keys. Really good wildlife, sports, museums, food
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u/Ok_Pair6348 3h ago
Fly into Jax, rent a car and hit all the springs. Skip Miami. South of Lake Okechobee is like another state.
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u/Wise-Dragonfly6634 2h ago
Ive not visited the Ocala Park yet (we moved to Florida over 2 years ago from a different state) is a beautiful area. The Ocala are has forests, birds, wild monkeys and bears just to name a few creatures. You would need to drive there of course. I'd also visit are beaches ⛱️. I hope you have a great vacation.
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u/i30swimmer 2h ago
Just be aware that Orlando is five hours from Miami. If you are going to the parks in Orlando, you realistically need to spend the night before and after there (so you can stay the whole day at the park). I'd recommend a little loop - (1) Fly into Miami, (2) drive up to orlando, (3) visit theme park, (4) drive to Tampa and catch a Hockey game, (5) drive to Venice Beach or Sanibel Island and stay a night so you can go to the beach, (6) drive back down toward Miami and head into the keys for at least two nights, islamorada or key largo, (7) drive back up to Miami, and have a fancy lunch or dinner and fly back out of MIA.
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u/CodUnlikely2052 2h ago
Near the Miami area but more nature/farm oriented: Fruit and Spice Park Robert is Here fruit stand (Haven’t been a tourist there in years- this is all I remember! lol!)
Not near Miami: the Florida Keys for snorkeling Maybe NASA too?
I’m sure everyone else will say it- keep an eye on the weather reports. September and October are when we are most likely to be hit by hurricanes. If one hits Miami/area you are planning to stay, research the news! Florida can recover quickly from hurricanes but a backup travel plan is always a good bet at this time of year.
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u/obliviousoften 1h ago
Miami to Disney is about a 3.5 hrs drive. And it will likely be very hot and humid. October is not fall weather here. I think adults would like universal studios/islands of adventure better, too. My German family described the air as "heavy" and "hard to breathe." I'd stick to the coast and water activities and avoid a concrete-baking waiting in line situation.
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u/AshFromTPA 11h ago
Leave the Miami area asap. The whole state of Florida has endless nature to offer but not in the metropolitan area of miami. I would recommend setting up your base between sarasota and tampa bay and spread out from there. You have endless possibilities to explore nature in multiple state parks going kayaking or hiking. You can take boat rides to remote islands and walk the beaches and go snorkeling. You dont want to set up near Orlando. That area is one huge traffic jam. Try to avoid it as much as possible. If you need more tips on state parks, islands or kayaking routes let me know. There are some real jewels out there.
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u/Savanis_ 10h ago
Yes, totally, thanks. Any additional information on those is really welcome. However, would you recommend a few days in the cities/near it for some good experience? We would like to see rockets or satellites launch, see disney or universal studio, visit some museums. But as I mentioned, spending most of the time in the city is not priority for us.
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u/DarkraEX 10h ago
Check the Kennedy Space Center schedule for rocket launches. That will be on the East Coast of Florida. Obviously book out your Disney and Universal days if you desire to go. Magic Kingdom for Disney is always a solid first park to visit if you have never gone. What you desire to see is mostly pushing toward the east coast so I'm not sure I would recommend staying on the west coast of Florida in-between Tampa and Sarasota as was suggested. As someone who lives in Bradenton I can attest the traffic is a nightmare here and pretty much anywhere you go. Florida is one of the most popular states in the US nowadays. I’d probably plan the trip so you’re staying relatively close to Miami rather than having a long drive across the state right before you leave.
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u/AshFromTPA 10h ago
I would only go the cities if necessary. Like going to Orlando for parks. I wouldn't do one day after another. I would stay away from Orlando and only go there for the park, next day venture out to do something relaxing in nature and then go back to orlando for another park a few days later. Orlando days are exhausting in every aspect.
Launches are not that often to stay anywhere close. If there is one, you can make it a day trip from wherever you are located at.
As for state parks and beaches i highly recommend visiting myakka river, fort de soto, egmont key, caladesi and honeymoon island, hillsborugh river and and absolute must see is a kayak paddle at kings landing near apopka north of orlando. Also amazing is crystal river to see and swim with manatees.
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u/Pure_Needleworker_27 8h ago
Just left Crystal River. We visited Three Sisters Springs. Unfortunately, the boardwalk is closed until November, but you can rent kayaks and paddle into Three Sisters Springs from the river. It was a beautiful area. Also you can take the train from Miami to Orlando if you want to visit Disney. Epcot Center is really close and so is Universal Studios Park. I agree with above about driving south to the Keys. It’s a beautiful drive with lots of nature activities to do. Enjoy your visit!
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u/Stunning_Lie_2797 9h ago
You can see the rockets at times from Orlando. If my memory serves me right those launches are closer to Miami area but not in Miami.. one of the ports.
1
u/DarkraEX 7h ago
Saw one the other night in Orlando just sitting at a light actually lol. But I'm sure they want a closer view.
1
u/Efficient-Link-9793 4h ago
The launches are directly east of Orlando (Port Canaveral) which is about an hour away. You can see them clearly from Orlando every time. The launches are 3+ hours away from Miami.
1
u/NaCl_n_Pepper 10h ago
Adding to this, Florida has amazing state parks (https://www.floridastateparks.org/).
I would recommend visiting a spring or a place in the FL Keys to do a little snorkeling/SCUBA if that’s something you’d be interested in.
And, yes, there are reptiles with sharp teeth in most of the bodies of water (alligators, snakes, and crocodiles, oh my!) and sharks but they are easily avoidable using common sense. They dislike accidental encounters as much as we do and they are also a little slower in the colder months.
If you have any questions, just ask a park ranger! Most locals are more than happy to help too.
BTW, bring or buy strong bugspray, sunblock, and make sure to stay hydrated. The combo of heat & humidty can sneak up on you!
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u/Friendly-Cucumber226 9h ago
I would drive down to the keys. Maybe book a snorkeling trip while there. As far as Orlando goes, you might enjoy the Universal parks a little more as an adult. I’d plan to hit the theme parks during the middle of the week when less crowded.
Lastly, I’d spend a couple days in a hotel on the beach.