Miami/Everglades/Key West advice
 

We are planning a trip to Miami in late June. (I know it will be hot (G).) We are considering buying the Go Miami card. It includes tours to both the Everglades and Key West. We usually like to do things on our own and often drive long distances on vacation. However this year, we thought it might be fun to stay in one place and then just take the tours.

There are three of us - my husband and me and our 16 year old son.

We don't care much about shopping or fine dining. I enjoy seeing quirky stuff. We may be trying to pack too much in. We usually do quite a bit - but may have overdone it since the card includes a lot of places.

My son runs cross country and would like to find a beach to see what it feels like to run on the sand.

I haven't really figured out whether I've grouped attractions together in a logical manner or not. In any case - here is my first rough draft.

Saturday - fly in - stay at Extended Stay Deluxe Miami - Airport - Doral
7750 NW 25th Street.

Sunday - South Beach Art Deco walking tour
Bayside Blaster (speed boat tour)

Monday - Miami Beach/Everglades tour (6 hours)
Bonnet House

Tuesday - Vizcava Museum & Gardens
Parrot Jungle Island
Marlins Baseball game (we like to go to new to us ball parks)

Wednesday - Keys tour - 7 AM - 8 PM

Thursday - Miami Duck
Fairchild Trop Bot Garden
Coral Castle (this may be too far - but it sounds like the kind of quirky thing that I enjoy)

Friday - fly home

Thanks for your help.

Debbie

For what you like, you would probably enjoy more to stay in South Beach. The rates should be pretty decent at the end of June, although I'll let some of the other experts guide you where to stay. The hotel you have chosen is in a decent location especially if you have a car, otherwise, there isn't much of interest there except a great (and I mean great, not sarcastic great) variety of chain restaurants in the area. It's a good area, though.

The day I see the most difficulty is the Everglades/Bonnet House day. They are in the extremes of the geographical area of South Florida (deep south, and then north towards Broward). June isn't the best time to go to the Everglades as the mosquitos will be swarming. Wear long sleeves and plenty of repellent and sunscreen.

IF you do end up with a car, Coral Castle is on the way to the Keys and the Everglades. That would be one long day, if you decided to stay one night, it would make for a good trip. Coral Castle is pretty cool, though, it shouldn't take too long to go through. Otherwise, your days seem packed but doable. YOu aren't leaving any time to hang out at the beach, though. June is a great time for it.

Thanks a lot for your comments.

What is the name of the restaurant chain?

I was browsing notes earlier today and saw the 94th AeroSquadron mentioned. Is that it?

And thanks for the comment about directions on Bonnet vs the Everglades. The other night, I started trying to find everything on a map and didn't quite finish.

Debbie

With six hours for an Everglades tour I only wonder where they are taking you. The only way to see the 'Glads right is go to the Park. Even in summer and with the modern convenience of A/C it is doable. Just don't get out of the vehicle for any length of time....You will not be alone.

The Coral Castle is definitely worth your time. If at all possible make time for that..

http://www.coralcastle.com/

http://www.coralcastle.com/home.asp

Are you thinking that 6 hours is too long or too short?? It is supposed to also include a quick tour of Miami.

http://gomiamicard.com/attractions/M...Glades-15.html

Debbie

We will definitely make time for the Coral Castle. We could always skip something else if needed.

The card also includes a luncheon/entertainment/gambling cruise out of Fort Lauderdale which we considered for a while. However we decided between the drive and the 5 hour cruise, it was too much.

Debbie

If we switch to a hotel in South Beach, does anyone have any suggestions? The extended stay is about $100 per night.

Debbie

traveler2005-- As they say in the link
"Miami City Tour & Short Everglades Tour" -- very short. You will see little of the Everglades. For a sampler and a days entertainment it will fit. http://www.nps.gov/ever/

Miami Beach is a million times better than beaches in the Keys. I suggest you spend a day on the beach instead of a day tour to either the Everglades or to the Keys. There's plenty of sand for your son to run on there!

You plan the way I do! Throw lots of things onto the schedule and then see what really makes sense. I think you are going to find you need to skip some of your plans - -but will still have a great time.
You do appreciate that you need a car even with the Go Miami card - yes?
With that being the case, I would do the Everglades and Keys on your own. If you can include a night in Key West, then it makes sense to head all the way there. If not, then start early in the day and plan on a quick stop in at the Everglades National Park entrance in Florida City (take bug spray). You want to get to the Anhinga Trail. You'll also want to stop at Robert is Here fruit stand for great fresh fruit milkshakes.
From Florida City, head to Key Largo. Get to Pennekamp State Park for the noon snorkel trip. Clean up afterwards in their showers and go to Robbies at mile marker 77 to feed the wild tarpon. This is the ultimate quirky experience. You might also enjoy a stop at World Wide Sportsman (it's a store but it's also an experience).
Other stops could be the Wild Bird Sanctuary. If you don't want to snorkel (or are concerned about being so scheduled), you could rent kayaks or canoes at Pennekamp and explore that way. Have dinner at an outdoor place and then back to the mainland. You could replace the Everglades with the Coral Castle.
While I agree a move to the beach would be a good idea, I appreciate the budget issue. Look at the extended stay in Coral Gables. You'll have more to see and do at night if you are in that area. If you are in Coral Gables, add the Venetian Pool to the trip and drop Parrot Jungle. (I think that day is too packed with PJ, Vizcaya and the Marlins Game).
Unless you have a stong interest in gardens, I would trade a day on Key Biscayne for Fairchild. There's a nice beach, light house, bike rentals, etc. at Cape Florida. Lots of room to run!

I absolutely love Key West and spend at least 4 weeks a year there, but trying to included a day trip from Miami is really difficult. The trip down is a minimum of 4 hours, and if you're unlucky enough to get behind a traffic accident you could be on that one-way road for much, much longer. If I were you, I'd either spend a night in Key West or save that leg of your trip for another vacation.

In addition, the "beaches" in the keys are probably nothing like the kind of beaches you're accustomed to. Since the keys are coral, all beaches are man-made and most are tiny. If you enjoy snorkeling and/or diving you might be content to driving down to Key Largo for the day.

Thanks for all of the advice. I am going to rework our plans using these tips and see what I come up with.

We are renting a car for the week.

Anyone ever hear of
the Richmond?

Miami Beach's Art Deco Masterpiece
1757 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, Florida 33139
Directly on the Atlantic Ocean

They were featured in Travelzoo today.

Thanks again. It's time to pick up my son from school.

Debbie

I started to reword the plan. If we skip the tours to the Everglades and Key West and go on our own, this may work.

I want to add the Venetian Pool. Any suggestions on where that might fit - or anything else we should change?

Thanks for everyone's help.
Debbie


SATURDAY
Fly in
Arrive 5 PM
Rent car

SUNDAY
South Beach walking tour
10:30

Bayside Blaster 4:30

MONDAY
Everglades
Drive to Key West

TUESDAY
Key West
Back to mainland
Coral House (8-6)

WEDNESDAY
Vizcava Museum & Gardens
Parrot Jungle Island or maybe the Venetian Pool instead
Baseball game

THURSDAY
Miami Duck
Fairchild Trop. Bot.Garden

FRIDAY
Fly home

I've been playing with it some more. Does this look better? Would a beach that we could go to fit in anywhere ?

Debbie

SATURDAY
arrive

SUNDAY
South Beach walking tour 10:30 90 min

Vizcava Museum & Gardens
9:30-4:30 $12 allow 2 hr

Or beach?

Bayside
Blaster $13 4:30 PM

MONDAY
Everglades
Coral House (open until 6)
drive to Key West - spend night

TUESDAY
Key West
Choices of ideas for Key West:
Conch Train $22.50
Discovery Underwater Tour $35
Old Town Trolley $22
Power Adventure $125

Back to mainland

WEDNESDAY
Miami Duck 90 min. 10-5 on hr. $32

Parrot Jungle Island $30 10-6 park $7 allow 4 hr.

Baseball game
7:05

THURSDAY
Fairchild Trop Bot Garden
9:30-4:30 Coral Gables $20

Venetian Pool
Coral Gables

FRIDAY
fly home

Anyone familiar with the Fruit and Spice Farm? My sister mentioned it as someplace that she enjoyed many years ago. She also mentioned the Venetian Pool. Is that a tourist spot - or is it a swimming pool that we'd have to go swimming to enjoy?

Debbie

The Venetian Pool is a swimming pool, with a waterfall and a sand beach feature. It was created from an old quarry and they used to have Esther Williams-type swimming events, beauty contests etc., in the fifties. You'd have to swim to really get the effect, I think. I loved it, but my daughters, who went a year or so after me, were underwhelmed.

Vizcaya is another thing I liked, particularly the views and the gardens. There is a beach on Key Biscayne near there you may enjoy.

Since your son is 16, I would consider skipping Parrot Jungle and spending some time on the beach that afternoon. It's a nice place, with trained animal shows, but if you go to Fairchild, you will see much nicer gardens. Actually, if you hang out at the beach after the South Beach Walking tour, you can do Vizcaya after the duck tour.

I would allow about an hour to get to the stadium for the game. If you aren't going to swim at the Venetian Pool, I wouldn't pay the entrance fee, you can see it from the outside. Personally, I wouldn't drive all the way to Coral Gables just to visit it.

Coral Castle is on US-1 on the way to the Everglades - do it first so you don't backtrack.

Fruit and Spice Park is a nice place, however, unless you are a garden lover, it might be a bit repetitive if you do go to Fairchild. It's down in the direction of the Everglades/Coral Castle, if you do decide to go.

IF I may be so bold, why are you doing the Coral Castle? It is a very old tourist spot that has seen its better days. I know that you keep changing your schedule around and now that you almost have it down to a science I come along and get you confused again. Not my intention but I hate going on a trip and feeling I have wasted my preciuos time on something (Polynesian Cultural Center in Oahu AHHHH!). I know you said you like quirky but get your fix at the Ripley's Believe It or Not in Key West (never done it but it sure is quirky). Or visit the San Marco fort in Key West the history and CORAL side of things.

After Vizcaya go down Bayshore Dr. and drive thru Coconut Grove. It is a very nice area and just 5 minutes from Vizcaya. You could have a nice lunch in one of the cafes.



Anyway, I also would highly recommend visiting John Pennekamp State Park in Key Largo on your way to or back from Key West. Your son would love the snorkling. Check out other posts on this site about the park. If you are not into snorkling they have glass bottom boat rides that are popular.

http://www.coralcastle.com/

Please, do spend the time and visit the Coral Castle, its just a block off US-1, 28655 South Dixie Highway
Homestead. It is one of the few remaining marvels of Florida. Unlike a good number of the tourists attractions of today that get more attention..

The Richmond is a nice oceanfront deco hotel.

Skip the Everglades because it is mosquito season and the mosquitos will literally eat you alive.

See if one of Dr.Georges tours from the Historical Museum of Southern Florida is going on while you are there.

He is one of the most noted historians in South Florida. Definitely take the tour of Biscayne Bay if it is available.

Thanks for all of your help. Since we decided to skip the Go Miami card and the tours, I've also been working on changing our hotel reservations so that we can include a night at Key West.

I'm glad that we can just "look over the fence" so to speak to see the Venetian Pool. I am thinking that if we go to the Fairchild Gardens, we'll be in the neighborhood so to speak.

I really want to at least hit a bit of the Everglades. We've never been to southern Florida and the Everglades and Key West are two reasons that we decided to go there this year.

I like the idea of moving the V. garden to after the ducks. I suppose we could live without Parrot Jungle. It's listed as a AAA gem, so I thought it might be worth stopping. On the other hand, it seems expensive. My husband and I went to Bush Gardens long ago and I am thinking it might be something like that was then.

I'll check on the Dr. George's tours. They sound like something that would really be worthwhile.

My sister loved the Fruit and Spice park - but she was there on a college field trip for landscape architecture. Her gardening background would color her perceptions. Is it an attraction or a nursery?

I think the Coral Castle sounds like something I'd enjoy.

I really appreciate everyone's help. Over the years, we've decided that we see a lot more if we can at least have a plan before we set out on a trip. It cuts out the last minute decision-making and allows things to be more logical. We can always changes when we get there, but this gives us a place to start.

I'll rework things and see what I come up with.

Thanks again!!

Oh - I checked the Richmond and they don't have any available rooms that will accommodate three when we will be there.

Debbie

Fodor question - Would it be better for me to start a new thread or continue on with this one? I see it is getting long.

Progress is being made. We dropped the Miami Card idea and are doing it on our own. We will stay one night in Key West and have made a reservation.

Here is my latest draft. I think the day to the Everglades may be too full and will probably drop something. Thursday seems to have extra room.

Debbie

SATURDAY
Fly in - Arrive 5 PM
Dinner: 94th AeroSquadron

SUNDAY - SOUTH BEACH AREA
South Beach walking tour 10:30 90 min
Beach
Bayside Blaster 4:30

MONDAY– EVERGLADES/KEY WEST:
Coral Castle
Fruit and Spice Farm
Everglades National Park entrance in Florida City (Anhinga Trail).
Robert is Here fruit stand for great fresh fruit milkshakes.
Key Largo. Get to Pennekamp State Park – glass bottom boats
Robbies at mile marker 77 to feed the wild tarpon.
Wide World Sportsman (it's a store but it's also an experience).
Wild Bird Sanctuary

TUESDAY: KEY WEST
Key West - will pick one of:
*Conch Train 22.50
Discovery Underwater Tour $35
Old Town Trolley $22
Back to mainland

WEDNESDAY:
Miami Duck 90 min. 10-5 on hr.
*Vizcava Museum & Gardens 9:30-4:30 $12 allow 2 hr
Beach on Key Biscayne
Drive Bayshore Drive through Coconut Grove
Baseball game (allow hr travel time) 7:05

THURSDAY
Fairchild Trop Bot Garden 9:30-4:30 Coral Gables
Venetian Pool (peak through) Coral Gables

FRIDAY
Fly home

I'm thinking of adding the Wolfsonian to Sunday afternoon.
Debbie

If you like "quirky" things you simply MUST stop in at Fast Buck Freddie's "tropical department store" on Duval Street in Key West while you are in town. It is in a converted Woolworth's...nothing else like it.

Don't miss it.

In Key West, you don't want to do both the conch train and the trolley - they're basically the same tour only in different vehicles. I do think you'd enjoy one of them, though.

Oops, sorry...I didn't see that you'd pick only one.

ttt

Your days are pretty full, and you will see alot when you are here. However, Thursday, with Fairchild and the Venetian pool is pretty relaxed. Keep it in mind if you find something else to see, you can probably fit it in there.

I don't like the 94th Aero Squadron. Maybe it is by your hotel, although Doral is on the other side of the airport, but pretty much it's only redeeming quality is that it is right next to the airport and you have a pretty good view of the planes taking off and landing. You can easily do better than that, whether you chose it by distance or budget (and it is not cheap).

In Doral, there are chains such as Carrabas, Olive Garden, Longhorn Steakhouse, Macaroni Grill, Outback. One restaurant that has gotten good reviews is Johnny Carinos. Also, a new outpost of Chispa, a local restaurant, with a fun vibe and really good food just opened in Doral as well.

Debbie, I'm exhausted reading your schedule.

Do you really want to do that much?

I lived in South Florida for years and the travel time/traffic is going to be the downfall of what you have planned.

Someone suggested the 94th place - maybe on another thread - I'm not wed to it. Probably we'll just leave the airport and see what we can find.

No doubt you are all right about trying to pack too much in - especially when you factor in traffic and travel time.

I think Sunday is probably OK - especially if we skip the Wolfsonian.

Monday, I think is the killer. I tried to put everything that anyone had mentioned into it and it was a lot.

Maybe this would be better:

MONDAY– EVERGLADES/KEY WEST:
Coral Castle
Everglades National Park entrance in Florida City (Anhinga Trail).
Robert is Here fruit stand for great fresh fruit milkshakes.
Wide World Sportsman (it's a store but it's also an experience).

Are there tours at the Florida City edge of the Everglades that would take us on a glass bottom boat? We just want to get a bit of an idea of the area.

Debbie

I doubt there are glass bottom boat tours of the Everglades. I think it would be too shallow.

That plan is better and doable. The Anhinga Trail isn't far into the Everglades, and it is not long, so you can get a nice idea of the spirit of the Everglades in about 2 hours. Coral Castle won't take long either. By the time you get to Key Largo, you are already about an hour into your 3-hr ride to Key West, so you can evaluate whether you want to stop at Pennekamp. Then, Wide World is another 30 minutes, I think. Right next door is Morada Bay, a really laid back restaurant with tables and chairs on the sand. It's a perfect break at the midpoint of the ride.

Traffic is a pain, but I think your groupings are pretty logical. Get an early start leaving to the Keys because you will be against traffic in the morning.

Here are some thoughts on streamlining your trip.
I would swap the Duck and Bayside Blaster. The Miami Duck is on Miami Beach so do that the day you are on the beach. Bayside is off the beach on your way to or from Fairchild.
On Sunday, plan to get to Lincoln Road in Miami Beach - pedestrian mall area. Great people watching.
Monday - I agree that you should skip fruit & spice and the wild bird sanctuary. If your family is comfortable in the water, I would do the snorkel rather than the glass bottom boat. Both of these trips are on the ocean out to the reef. The Everglades have airboats, not glass bottom boats but you'll see lots more on the Anhinga Trail. click on my name as I have posted detailed directions on this.
If you aren't going to swim at the Venetian Pool, I would skip it. It's not close to Fairchilds. Check out Matheson Hammock, a park with a marina. It's very near Fairchilds. You might also want to head back towards Key Biscayne and try windsurfing. www.windsurfingmiami.com

Thanks keymom. I enjoyed reading your posts and copied many of them to add to my notes. There was a treasure trove in information in those threads. I thought I'd done a search on Key West, but either I didn't or didn't go back far enough to read some of the ones that you'd added to.

I read several posts about using Card Sound Road instead of Rt. 1 and am a little confused. Where is it that I would be switching roads or would it affect us coming from Florida City to the Keys and then back to Miami?

Interestingly (to me at least) Rt. 1 comes through my hometown. If we had a LOT of time, we could get on it and take it all the way to Key West.

I'm really glad that you mentioned doing a search on your name.

Debbie

Glad to be of help! I think planning trips is great fun and I can't plan mine, I might as well help someone else.
Here's the deal on Card Sound Road. From Miami, you'll get on the turnpike to get to the Keys. If you are suggesting in your post that you would take US1 over the turnpike - change your mind! It's a slow boring trip. You'll have plenty of time on US1 on the way to Key West. You'll want to get a "mile marker 0" magnet for your fridge.
The turnpikes ends in Florida City with a traffic light (and you'll turn right there to get to the Everglades). Once the turnpike ends, the road is US1. It runs through Florida City (less than a mile?) and then you are whizzing through another part of the Everglades. If you stay on US1, it is called the 18 mile stretch. They are doing a major construction project to replace the entire road and add a higher, fixed bridge to replace the drawbridge. Traffic can slow down because of the construction so people are opting for Card Sound Road. Once you get though Florida City, you'll see a chance to turn left onto Card Sound. Once on it, follow to the end. You'll turn right once it dead ends and go another 5-10 minutes before you hook back up with US1. There is a restaurant called Alabama Jacks right before the toll booth. It qualifies on the quirky quotient if you have time to stop for a meal (but you may want to push through if you are going as far as Key West).
Another quick stop for you on the drive is the new Wayland whaling wall. He painted an entire building in the median at mm 99.2 http://www.wylandfoundation.org/inde...=12&sid=40

I copied and pasted your directions into my Miami notes. I'd heard the 18 mile stretch mentioned before, but wasn't clear on it either.

The youtube of the Whaling Wall was neat.

Thanks for all of your help.

Debbie

Here's another vote for Card Sound Road. Alabama Jack's is always worth a stop, if for nothing more than a drink....