YOU make OUR itinerary (Miami, Tampa: hotel, travel, rental)

[Vera.]

Will be traveling to Orlando the first week of December. Luckily, everything is paid. I'm only mentioning this because we want to get a rental and drive along the eastern coast (possibly to West Palm Beach). What do you guys think? Despite the trip being paid for, too expensive?

I understand Orlando is only 40 miles from the coast. We don't necessarily want to stay in Orlando. We're only there for the hotel. So, being that we would trek back nightly, does a roadtrip along the eastern coast, all the way to W. Palm Beach seem impossible?

If so, what do you suggest?

My partner has never seen waters of Florida and it's a given that we want travel/be on the coast for most of the trip.

Also, being December, traffic wouldn't be as bad, no? I've been to Tampa in December and absolutely nothing was congested, whether it be roads or beaches. It was too ideal. Same for this area?

All help appreciated!

[cmj_fla]

How long will you be in town? What about a trip down to the everglades and if you were in town long enough all the way down to the keys? This trip would be best taking the west coast route but I think it is a more scenic way.

Anyone else have some recommendations?

[TrishP7]

Wow..this sounds like an awesome trip/venture!! I can't help you because I just moved here about 5mnths now.. I can barely make my way to the supermarket :-)) . But what you've described (trip being paid for) or looking to experience sounds great!!

Have a great time!!

[Vera.]

Originally Posted by cmj_fla

How long will you be in town? What about a trip down to the everglades and if you were in town long enough all the way down to the keys? This trip would be best taking the west coast route but I think it is a more scenic way.

Anyone else have some recommendations?

Whooooooooo! Finally! Thanks for your responses : D


As of now, we'll be there for 5 days. Yes! I thought about the Keys, trust, but don't think it possible to have trek back nightly, do you?
The everglades? Hmmm.. that's a new one. More akin to blue waters and white sands. Will consider your input, 'tho. Any particular beaches you suggest?

& thanks for the best wishes, Trish. We're excited! & planning on renting a convertible. Top down, cameras and idiotic tourist debauchery for an entire week. Why can't you make it a grocery store?

[Alphaman]

If you like people watching and a urban beach town try miami beach. I don`t think you could go much further south an dirve back to orlando in one day.

[dk22]

Originally Posted by Vera.

Will be traveling to Orlando the first week of December. Luckily, everything is paid. I'm only mentioning this because we want to get a rental and drive along the eastern coast (possibly to West Palm Beach). What do you guys think? Despite the trip being paid for, too expensive?

I understand Orlando is only 40 miles from the coast. We don't necessarily want to stay in Orlando. We're only there for the hotel. So, being that we would trek back nightly, does a roadtrip along the eastern coast, all the way to W. Palm Beach seem impossible?

If so, what do you suggest?

My partner has never seen waters of Florida and it's a given that we want travel/be on the coast for most of the trip.

Also, being December, traffic wouldn't be as bad, no? I've been to Tampa in December and absolutely nothing was congested, whether it be roads or beaches. It was too ideal. Same for this area?

All help appreciated!

You should really consider skipping a night at your hotel room in Orlando and stay one night at the Keys and head back the next day. You'd be missing scenes like these that I experience or try to once a year. I love the roadtrip to Key West.

[Kali's Grandma]

As much as I love the Keys, it is a longgggggggggggggggg way down there for just a day trip. Lodging is not cheap either.
Since you only have 5 days, I would suggest taking a trip early in the morning to St Augustine, do the tourist thing there, head down AIA into Daytona or even Cocoa.....this does involve a lot of time in the car so let's stick with picking up I-4 in Daytona, heading back to Orlando for day 1.
Day 2 go back to Daytona and head south again on A1A to maybe Melbourne, plenty of beach stops on the way.....have you picked up the pattern yet? You're making your way down the eastern seaboard on day trips.
If you get tired of the beach, I'd like to suggest a trip up to Blue Springs SP. It's absolutly beautiful and you'll get to see Manatee's up close and personal.

The way to get around your fear of getting lost in Florida....head off in any direction....If you hit water it's either the gulf or the ocean....figure out which on and you'll know the way home.....if you hit land, it's Georgia and everybody knows how to get home from 75 or 95.

Have a great time!

[Vera.]

Wow. dk22, those pics are beautiful. Thanks alot for posting. Well, not really. I thought we had decided for certainty that Key West was a no-go, being too far to drive and back in 1 day. Then I just changed my mind again for half a second. But now I do realize it's too far again. We'll save that for another trip. You mentioned to did a road trip, too. Where did you leave from?

& Kali's Grandma, thanks for your response. I think you and AONE win this thread. After additional research, we've decided that St. Augustine and Cocoa are a must. If you don't mind, I'll be PM'ing you with some additional questions.

[Sparky34769]

Vera: here's my 2 cents!

Here's what I've done so far, being new to the area myself ...

I would plan one trip east and one trip west. It's a little further to the west coast (Clearwater) than east (Melbourne) ... but I found them to be two totally different experiences.

On the east coast, head to Melbourne then follow A1A south to Vero Beach...
On the west coast, a couple of hours to Clearwater ... beautiful beach at the park.

Those are two easy day trips and a great exposure to the beaches ... then maybe you'll plan some further exploration (if curiosity kicks in).


I have also visited Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte ... nice area ... that was a three day trip.

I've been south to Miami ... but it was really busy down there ... that was a three day trip.

These are quiet destinations ... not the crowded beach areas ... if that's your 'cup of tea'.

[thebalogas]

Orando is the perfect central location to see FL. I lived there for 6 years and I loved it. The suggestions on daytrips starting in St. Augustine are great. Although there are a lot of things to see off of US1 and A1A. In South Daytona, there is Ponce Inlet, old lighthouse that you can still go up in. Nice seafood restaurants. When you get to Brevard county (how I miss home) check out the space center. Driving down the coast is great, but after awhile it all looks the same. If you get to go to Jupiter, the town and the beach are beautiful and from Orlando take the turnpike and southbeach Miami is only about 3 1/2 to 4 hrs, leave early, we used to do it all of the time, can easily be done in one day. There is a great shopping area if it is still there, called Bayside. You can eat at Hardrock Cafe overlooking the water on the weekends and watch the cruise ships leave, actually some leave on Thursdays, too. The Keys are a bit too far and actually a little disappointing to me. I lived in fl for 22 years and absolutely loved it Have a good time for me, I really miss "home".