Reply With QuoteMe and the family enjoyed Clearwater beach last time we were in Orlando. Can't remember the name of the bar but we had a great meal on the beach then watched the awesome sunset.
So I've finally bit the bullet and bought flights to MCO in November, staying at a mate's in Palm Bay and I've got 12 days.
So having never been to FL, what to do, what not to do, where to go etc?
Russ
Me and the family enjoyed Clearwater beach last time we were in Orlando. Can't remember the name of the bar but we had a great meal on the beach then watched the awesome sunset.
On that coast , you’ve got the space centre which is very good . You might check if there are any planned launches as it’s visible from your area.
Body surfing on Cocoa Beach is a great way to spend a day .
Orlando is very easy to drive to for the parks.
Miami is a brilliant place to spend time and you won’t run out of things to do there.
Driving is so simple , get the best car you can afford and just drive . You’ll find all sorts of wacky things off the Freeways .
if you go to Miami stay at The Faena - most incredible hotel I've stayed in
Air boat ride with the alligators always fun
The Kennedy Space Centre is amazing, well worth a visit. I can take or leave Disney, but it's all very well done. If Star Wars land is open, that should be worth a look. Universal is good, if only for the very realistic rendering of Harry Potter. Get anywhere like that early though!
There's a very nice Irish bar (only by its name and decor) called Tir Na Nog there that I would visit again if I got the chance. Great selection of local craft beers, and interesting locals!
First, Around Thanksgiving is the best period to go to FL: hurricanes are gone, no school holidays (= less people in the parks), temp is good and the dry season starts: so nature still look green and healthy with only a slight chance of the thunderstorm in the afternoon - instead of a 100% guarantee of the thunderstorm in the summer!
MCO is about 20 miles east from Orlando; perfect connections into town. As said, get the smoooooothest car you can afford - you'll like it after endless roads. Get yourself a car with a built-in toll device. That saves tons of time around Orlando! Check that feature at the counter of the rental company. Last winter, we used Alamo and I was totally happy with them. Often, a fly-drive is cheaper than a 'stand alone' rental.
Every time we're in Orlando, we've opted for a stay at Vista Cay by Millennium; less than 20 mins from every park and 5 mins from International Drive. Recommended location, including a Publix supermarket 2 mins away.
Cocoa Beach is nice; worth a visit. When driving up there, you'll pass the Nasa/Space X launch centre. Worth a visit as well. Check the Nasa website before you leave. Perhaps there's a launch scheduled when you're in FL!
The West Coast is different from the Atlantic Coast; more Caribbean I would call it. More laid-back, more colourful. Tampa has Busch Gardens. If you're into amusements parks, this is a nice one. Sarasota has a wonderful Sea Aquarium. Worth a visit. Sarasota is an Amish outpost! Lots of Amish people come down to Sarasota for the winter. First time you see it, you think you're mixing up Pennsylvania and Florida!
My favourites are Punta Gorda, Fort Myers and the island Sanibel and Captiva. If you want to see the difference in wealth in the US, try to approach Ft Myers from the east: all sorts of small settlements where orange harvesters try to live. Mostly immigrants working on the orange groves. Go west and end your trip on Captiva. Every house there cost several millions - and they are only used as a holiday retreat...
Florida Keys: well, a 'must-see' no doubt. Key West is special, but nowadays run-over by people from cruise ships. The other, more northern islands are more interesting.
Want to know more? just PM me!
Head to the Gulf Beaches - somewhere like Redington Beach, plenty of places to eat and drink in that area
Thanks guys, so much great feedback, hotels aren't relevant as I'm staying at a mate's, the beaches sound great, NASA would be awesome too.
Really appreciate you all taking the time to give me your own experiences, keep them coming, :)
Ask your mate !
Following this, as heading over in February. 5 days Orlando and another 4 or 5 in Naples. Is it better to pre organise car hire or simply hire at airport. Considering air B&B for Orlando stay.
This was an Orlando thread from earlier in the year:
https://forum.tz-uk.com/showthread.p...er-than-parks)
Book the car in advance. I made the mistake of trying to pick up a car on arrival at Miami Airport and not a single company had anything available. I ended up sleeping at the airport and waiting for the next morning.
I strongly recommend going to Fort Myers and visiting Thomas Edison's winter house. Also, just north of Orlando, in Ocala, there is a park called Silver Springs which is a wonderful antidote to all the commercialisation of Orlando - it's where the Johnny Weissmuller Tarzan films were shot.
Fly-Drives are often cheaper, especially when you book far in advance. Given the distance, a large & comfortable car is the best option. You can turn to the Gulf Coast and head down south to Naples, but you can also opt for the old route from Orlando down, approaching Naples from the East (more or less).
Ft Myers' Ford & Edison is great. Worth a visit. Don't forget (I mentioned them before) Sanibel and Captiva. Pine Island is much bigger, but it's not as nice as S and C.
Airboat ride on Lake Immokalee, east of Bonita Springs is nice. When you walk into the General Store where they sell tickets, you get the impression that you're in a Discovery Channel-ish reality series! Although they look a little uninterested, these men and women in the store are oh so nice. First time we went, the boys were 7 and 5 y/old. The lady behind the counter showed them all sorts of animals on the premises - even gave them a baby alligator in their hands - "...but only if you go to the bathroom and wash your hands first and also after you've touched the ally!"
The guides /airboat drivers are really one with nature. Being their first source of income, they make sure that all creatures are taken care of!
Oh man, I think I want to asap!
Menno
If you are interested in Aircraft don't miss the Valiant Air Command exhibition in Titusville just south of KSC. It has its own runways and hangars.
Brilliant place with more aircraft than you could sake a stick at!
They also do Fly-in Saturdays where other older aircraft, B-17, P-51's etc fly in and you get a free breakfast for the very reasonable entrance price.
Went in April/May and will probably be out there again next month.
Cheers,
Neil.
Fair comment, but he lives there, so he's probably never done the tourist stuff, I live in Newbury and I've never been to Newbury races or Henley. Go figureOriginally Posted by reggie747
Well you've got the American language off already.
Cheers,
Neil.
Just come back from doing all that - KSC deffinately recommended - Disney was ok because we stayed in a resort hotel so got everywhere early and on bus/boat - not so much fun driving in these days parking charges etc... The starwars stuff is limited at the moment and doesnt open until next year so best to avoid as it would be really popular.....Animal Kingdom with the Avatar rides is on a par with universal and the harry potter side of things - Universal was ace and more suited to the older kids.... the water parks are good too - Shopping malls galore - plenty to do
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