I tried posting this once and it doesn't seem to be there - so my apologies if it posts twice.
I guess I need more than critiquing, I need HELP!
We're taking a cruise and will have one week after (early Feb.) to do some sightseeing in Florida. We disembark in Ft. Lauderdale and thought we might go to Naples, then to the Keys.
Is Naples worth a visit? We would like some beach time and thought it might be nice as it is on the gulf side. Then on to the Keys. We are open to suggestion, if there is a better place for beach and sun.
Is it better to stay in one central location and make day trips? If so, what area?
We fly out of Miami (back to winter so want to make the best use of our time.)
Thanks in advance for your help!

I'm not the best source of info for Fla but for what its worth... I'm not sure if Naples is a big tourist spot though people seem to like living there. Miami is very popular. While Fla isnt my favorite destination (I realise most people love it) I liked seeing St. Augustine, its historic with lots of old b&b's to stay in. For beaches Destin in the north has become extremely popular the past few years.

Adam,
Thanks for your input. We have never been to Florida, so are open to suggestion. I checked the map for St. Augustine, but it seems a long way from Ft. Lauderdale - too far for the one week we have. Haven't really heard anything of Naples, but justed picked it off the map hoping the beaches might be nice. We do want to see the Keys as we have heard it is nice, but don't know how long to allow there, and whether day trips would be better.
Appreciate anyone's suggestions!
Thanks

Just wanted to let you know that we are flying into Ft. Lauderdale. Never been there. After we get our rental car we are hitting the interstate to the Keys. Our first motel is in Islamorada for $39.00. Then we go to Key West for 2 nights in Old Town. Were staying at the Spindrift Motel for $79.00 per night.
When we leave there we will take our time exploring the keys. I have been to the gulf side several times. Naples is not great, drive up to Ft. Myers Beach. Nice beach with alot of activity. (got rooms at Ho Jo's for $68.00 per night).
You can make a day trip to Sanibel from Ft. Myers. Sanibel really doesn't have that much, I want to go there to check out the shells, and a few shops.
After Ft. Myers we are going to Ft. Lauderdale for 4 nights. We want to do the Jungle Queen cruise to Miami bayside, Sawgrass Mills and the Riverfront area on Los Olas Boud. I am open up to suggestions also. Somebody said to go to Boco Raton- What is there?? Love to hear any suggestions?

Destin area will definitely be too cold in February, and I agree, St Augustine, though OK, is just too far. I'm more familiar with FL's Gulf coast as that's where we live, and I love Naples, but do not care for Ft Myers Beach at all. IMHO, it seems sort of run down and one enormous traffic jam! Naples is very upscale, beautiful surroundings, fun upscale shops along 3rd and 5th, lovely homes along the beaches, better dining and very pretty beaches. Each to their own.

Sanibel and Captiva are quieter, great shelling, but I've had a hard time finding very good dining there and shopping can't even hold a candle to Naples or Miami.

South Beach area of Miami is nice too, and decent beaches--lots of nightlife and good dining. If I were to define differences between that and Naples in a couple of words, South Beach is loud, brash party fun town. Naples an older, (not old) and quieter crew, more sedate, and certainly not the ethnic diversity of MB.

Plenty to do or see on either coast, but with a week, I'd pick one spot, east coast or west, and explore from there.

It is a 4 hour drive (at least) from Ft Lauderdale to Key West, so you'll want to do at least two days if you do there. Do the trolley tour, key lime ice cream, tour Hemingway's house, rent a bike. Not the best beaches but you could sun at the pool. I'd suggest Miami too as the second place if you want a beach. Boca Raton has Polo, not certain what else. Naples only worth doing if you want to spend a lot of money on dinner, and really enjoy golf (great courses). They also have great expensive hotels if that's within your budget.

Again, thanks for your input. I think we have decided to head from Ft. Lauderdale to Naples for 2 nights (got a pretty good rate at Holiday Inn - Naples, hopefully it is decent!) Then we will go to the Keys. Still checking on a reasonable priced place there. Our ailing Cdn $ is a killer .
Then we will drive back to Miami the day before we fly out.
I appreciate your comments... I can use all the help I can get. Anyone have any suggestions for accomodation?

If you're going all the way to Key West, I would definitely spending the money to stay at one of the properties in Old Town. You won't need your car at all, it's a great town for walking. The best web site I know of that has a listing of most of the B&B's and small hotels in Key West is www.keywestparadise.com You'll be traveling in high season, so rooms won't be cheap, but better to spend a few more dollars to stay at a place that makes you feel like you're in the Keys, rather than the Hampton Inn out on the highway, where you could be anywhere. And the rooms will not be cheap out there either. Key West is one of my favorite places to relax, you can e-mail me with questions if you like, although I certainly don't claim to be an expert. Jean

I know the Florida cities that you are asking about. First of all, they ALL have beautiful beaches. I go to Ft. Lauderdale almost every winter when I'm down there.

Naples DOES have a gorgeous beach. Naples is different from other Florida coast towns in that it IS more residential than touristy (which is nice). Most of the hotels/rentals are not on the beach like they are in other Florida beach towns, their beachfront is reserved for the Ultra-Rich. But they do have public parking and access to the beach. One of their luxury hotels (Pelican Registry) will let you park your car in their surface lot for a nominal fee ($3.00 or so) and that entitles you to a ride on their "golf cart" type transportation right down to the beach. (There are acres of mangroves that are protected by the government so the hotel put up a boardwalk which an elderly gentleman will give you a ride in the golfcart down to the beach.) Once you're down there you can buy snacks from a little place on the beach. Hope it doesn't sound creepy because it's really elegant and pretty.

If you spend any time in Ft. Lauderdale the Jungle Cruise is a must! This little two decker riverboat will take you up and down the waterways that make up Ft. Lauderdale. If you don't have your own boat (tee hee I mean ship) THIS is the way to see Ft. Lauderdale. Absolutely amazing! Ft. Lauderdale has a fantastic beach as well.

Key West is a charming little island. It's fun to drive down there, with the Gulf of Mexico on your right and the Atlantic Ocean on your left. Amazing. Key West has many historic homes and buildings, many of them pre-Civil War. The majorityof them are two story and made out of wood with wrap around porches. Hurricane windows. Hammocks, palm trees, lots of little restaurants, bars and shops. Lots of people riding old fashioned bicycles with fat tires.

I'm not so much a fan of Hemmingway's home as some of the other homes that are open to the public. There is also a cemetary in the center of town that has raised graves, like the one in New Orleans. Victims of the Battleship Maine (WWI) are buried in this cemetary.

Of course everyone will tell you to go to the buoy that marks the Southernmost Point of the U.S. for the daily sunset celebration. Its really no more fantastic there than any other vantage point on the beach but it seems like the likely place for all the weird street performers to gather their nightly audience.

The boats out of Key West are "working boats", very interesting to watch. They are not as glamorous as the ones in Ft. Lauderdale, but therefore are probably more affordable if you are up to a ride.

Hope you have a wonderful trip. Oh, and about your Canadian dollars, you will find the price of daily items (food, gas, etc.) to be cheaper in the US. I say this because I was in Canada (Whistler) a few months ago and even though the rate of exchange favored the US dollar, your prices were higher so all in all it evened out. You will probably feel the same way.

Patty, I forgot to add something about Naples. South of Naples (on US 44 I believe) there are a few tourist stops which advertise rides on Air Boats (like the kind you used to see on Gentle Ben). Pass on these, they are noisy and go so fast that you really don't see the Everglades and the wildlife that you probably want to see. Right in the same area is another place that will take you on a boat ride in a large pontoon. For a couple of hours you will ride through the everglades with a knowledgable guide who will point out birds & mammals and answer your questions. They also sell refreshments on board. The area is known as Ten Thousand Islands. Suddenly, you are out of the mangroves of the everglades and actually at the mouth of the Gulf of Mexico, on a pontoon! This ride costs about $20 and according to my family was well worth it. Sorry I don't have the specific information with me, but once you get down to Naples tell the locals that you're interested on a pontoon ride in the Everglades, they'll know.

Re: the Canadian dollar.

Re someone else's reply about Whistler. This being a high class touristy resort area would have higher prices than the norm.

I found in all of the U.S. this year and every year prior - that the prices posted on your menu whether at McDonalds, Bob Evans, or fancier... are equal numbers to our Canada menus... it's just that we are paying 50% more because of the exchange rate.

You may find things cheaper in grocery stores though if you want to pick up some sandwich materials for the ride.

Just plan accordingly, & it'll be fine.

Yes - the Fort Lauderdale Jungle (whatever) cruise is a must. It will take you past all the "millionaire" homes too.

Perhaps you'd be interested in a boat tour through the Everglades on your way south from Fort Lauderdale? Not sure what is offered in February (I'm sure they won't be two feet deep in snow like we are).

Have a wonderful time!!!

Patty:
My husband and I made this loop in August of 2002. We started in Ft. Lauderdale. The beach is gorgeous here. From there we drove to the Keys.
Stop in Islamorada and have key lime pie at Manny & Isa's (mile marker 80 somthing.) It is a small authentic Cuban restaurant. Nothing fancy but the food is GOOD! From there we drove to Key West. I would definitely recommend 2-3 days here. There is more than enough to do to fill this time allotment. We stayed at the Grand Key Resort on the quiet side of the island and then took the shuttle to the noisy part of the island.
OK here is my take on Naples. It was pretty, but it was dead. There is really nothing there to do except go to the beach. Let me tell you where I would recommend. Go to Sanibel Island. It is also very laid back, but we saw dolphins frolicing off the beach, and I mean literally a few feet from the beach. The tide goes way out here, and the shelling is absolutely unbelievable although there are limits to how many one can take. I was just really impressed with the beauty of this place. Enjoy your trip and if you need further advise feel free to ask.
Delia

I hadn't checked my earlier query for awhile, but was pleased to see more posts and replies. Thank you to all that replied for the excellent advice.
I agree with the poster on the Cdn $ often being the same prices as US and Cdn. There are some things that are a better deal, but not like it used to be. Whistler is very much a touristy high priced kind of place, that even we would find expensive. We know that we just have to bite the bullet, and pay what we have to - otherwise stay home!
Sorry, Beachbum, that you 'laugh' at my posting heading - but it worked - look alt all the good info I got.

On your way to the Keys, consider a sidetrack to the Everglades. You'll be heading south on the turnpike to get to the Keys. When you hit Florida City (the end of the turnpike), turn right and follow the signs to the Everglades. It's about a 20 min trip and $10 to enter. Be sure to go to Anhinga Trail at the Royal Palm visitor center. You'll see gators, birds, and lots of neat stuff. On the way in or out stop at Robert is Here Fruit Stand for a great milkshake (try mango and strawberry).

Thanks XXX for the advice. I have printed this out and will add it to my huge pile of things I want to do. We are going to Naples from Ft. Lauderdale, by Alligator Alley and then to the Keys a couple of days after that. Is this the best place to see the Everglades? Is there anything worthwhile on Alligator Alley?

Alligator Alley doesn't really have stops. Just a straight road with lots of accidents. Drive carefully!

You will be doing too much driving. Forget Naples. Naples is a quiet upscale (near the beach) town with a pretty beach and quanint downtown. We (residents of Boca Raton)go there to relax but you would find the keys and key west particulary more interesting and fun.It takes about 2.20 minutes to Naples from Ft. Lauderdale and about 3.5 hours to key west from F.L. It would take you 6-7 hours from Naples to kew west. Forgetaboutit.