Our itinerary for Christmas in Florida
 

As all you people on Fodors have been so very helpful in helping us plan our trip, I thought I'd let you know how our final itinerary looks.
We will now be with you for almost 5 weeks as follows:

Arrive Miami - crash out after 20 hours flying!
Everglades - 1 day driving from Florida City to Flamingo then on to the keys for 4 nights - snorkelling and exploring

Fort lauderdale - arrive late afternoon and stay 3 nights.

Taking a cruise for 7 nights then over to Naples. Any suggestions for New years eve in Naples?

3 nights in the Naples area then up to St Pete for 3 nights, then Orlando for 8 nights. Do the Disney thing and also explore the springs and a few off the beaten path places.

I know there are loads of things we have missed off but you have to draw the line somewhere and besides we'll just have to come back to do the east coast and the panhandle!
We can't wait to get there and if anybody can add anything, please do. Restaurants? We obviously have the things to see lists but perhaps there are some we should not miss or not bother with?

Many thanks to you all and we will no doubt have more questions as we go along

Please let us know what you want to see and do in the greater Orlando area. Anything else beside the "Mouse House"?

Please elaborate on "beaten path places".
Do you mean scenic, natural attractions?

New Years Eve in Naples:

Nearly all restaurants require a reservation and a seating time. If you want a late seating, be prepared to pay through the nose for their specially priced menu. Most do not offer their regular menu then.

There is a concert at the Philharmoic that night -- usually a Pops type thing.

Special evening at the Naples Dinner Theatre (if it is still running this next season).

There are fireworks on the beach about 9 PM or so -- you wouldnt believe the crowds on the beach to see them.
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Forgive the lack of apostrophes above. Something very strange is happening -- whenever I hit the apostrophe key, the screen jumps down and the apostrophe wont enter. Instead I get a funny "find" line at the bottom of the page.

Sounds like a great trip. I want to comment on the idea of driving all the way to Flamingo. I think the Everglades are amazing and often go there. HOWEVER, I would not drive all the way to Flamingo unless you have a plan to do something there. I see on the website that the canoe rentals and some boating activity is back in operation. They were closed down for a while after some recent hurricanes. If you are just planning to drive thru, you will be disappointed. The Everglades can't be experienced from a car. Also, there are no food concessions in the park so be sure you pack a picnic lunch. Just about any grocery store in Miami will have a cooler and make sandwiches. If you are travelling with kids, think about having them read Freedom River by Marjorie Stoneman Douglas (the "mother of the Everglades") or Talking Earth by Jean Craighead George. Both novels are set in the Everglades.

During your 8 days in Orlando, you could do a day trip to the east coast and visit the Cape Canavaral area and Kennedy Space Center!

Thanks for replying guys -

Orlando Vic: not researched the Orlando bit yet really, but i believe there are springs north of Disney? Also want to spend some time at the Florida mall. So I guess we like everything from scenic to commercial. Will no doubt have more questions for you soon.

Neopolitan: Naples sounds very like Cape Town for New Year - often best avoided. I like the idea of the Naples Dinner Theatre - got a web link? and think I will avoid the restaurants - probably not too great to be in a restaurant with and 11 and 15 yr old on New year anyway. The fireworks on the beach could be fun as could the philharmonic. Web link?

Keymom: we have the same concern about the drive to Flamingo - perhaps we should drive part way and get out and do some of the walking trails - i would like to see some of the differnet eco systmes but am aware that we will experience some of them at Key Largo - planned to ask the guides for advice at Royal palm. Have planned to take a picnic of sorts. Very grateful for the book info - I will track them down here and read before we get there.

buffalogirl: planning on sending the familiy to Cape Canavaral - hear they have a special on a trip to Mars - but its only the one way!

ADD THIS - NO MATTER WHAT!
Someone else did and it was the highlight of their trip to Florida -

http://www.canoewekiva.com/
http://www.floridastateparks.org/wekiwasprings/

Wekiva Springs is not far north of Orlando - but a world apart. It is like going back to "Old Florida". Take a guided canoe trip or rent your own and take a self-guided trip.

I'll bet you a Mickey Dollar that your kids will enjoy it as much or more than the park. Old fashioned fun.

I also agree that a day trip to the east coast would be a great idea. If you want more beaches, drive over an hour to Daytona Beach's huge wide beach. If you want history drive a bit further to St. Augustine.

Based on the amount of time you have I would likely include St. Augustine & Amelia Island. In addition, I believe you are short-changing Miami & the Keys a bit. Particularly when you're spending 3 nights each in FLL, Naples & St. Pete, + 8 in Orlando (?).

Wekiva Springs - thats the name - heard its great.
St Augustine is a good idea - will look at that. How long would it take to drive there from Orlando?

SAnParis: I know the 8 nights in orlando seems a bit long - but got a to a point where i needed to stop and this was the place - thought I could explore around from there

It's probably about 100 miles, maybe an hour & a half. Amelia Island is another hour north, but there is an old plantation in between + both places have very interesting, & well preserved Forts. (If that type of stuff interests you). I believe if you go up the Coast rather than the freeway (I-95) there is a little Ferry out that way as well as I recall.

ctf, if you haven't discovered www.mapquest.com yet, you are going to love it. Just enter your beginning and ending points and get driving directions, approximate drive time and mileage.

Are you flying out of Orlando ? or where ?

lol, Capetown. Good advice from keysmom. We've stayed at the Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo a few times and it is really lovely. Wonderful snorkeling in the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. It's beautiful--

Be sure to spend a few hours in the little town of Winter Park. Beautiful. Good shopping.

Stop at the Morse Museum and see the largest collection of Tiffany glassware in the world.

http://www.theculturedtraveler.com/M...rse_Museum.htm

Also consider a few hours in Mt. Dora -
http://www.heronfla.com/communityPage.cfm?var=mtdora

I second the St. Augustine suggestion but am not sure Amelia Island would be a "must see" unless you were planning several days in that area. Not that it isn't charming and interesting, we were just at the Ritz in April. But it's not drastically different from anything you'd see elsewhere in that area of Fla.

That said, I think you may be spending too much time in Ft. Lauderdale unless your intention is to stay on the beach for that time. In Miami, I know that everyone now heads for the south beach area but we still prefer coconut grove. You may want to stay there while in Miami. There's a great regional theater there, and many boutiques, restaurants, nightlife, etc.

You are all amazing - thank you. Please keep the suggestions coming.
Am definatley trying the map queat site.
Believe it or not, we like everything - outdoors, water stuff, the arts, history, shopping so just throw those ideas at us.

Its nearly 6pm here and a cold Cape winters evening is setting in, so I'm off to cook some baby soles and sit by the fire. Will check in again later

Doing the Disney thing -

Christams time is an extremely busy time at Walt Disney World. If you can go after Thanksgiving but before the kids get out for Christmas vacation, you'll have much smaller crowds but all the pretty decorations. Crowds go down again after new years.

Have a touring plan - it just makes it so much easier. www.buildabettermousetrip.com will do a custom plan for you and will even call in your dining reservations. www.tourguidemike.com is a subscription site that helps you build your own plan. www.disneyworldlinks.com has lots of good WDW related links.

Flying out of Orlando


See Fort lauderdale as a base to explore the area so could well go to Miami and check out the Coconut Grove area. We are not big on lying on beaches - we have lots of beautiful one in Cape Town and we really want to see Florida as a state/ culture/ its people/ whole experience thing

If you don't really like doing the beach thing, I think you are spending way too much time at beaches. Why both Naples and St. Pete?

You want a beach you won't forget. Take the ferry over to Cumberland Island, GA. See coastal barrier islands the way they all used to be. Wild horses. "Wild" vegatation. I'd save $$$ along the way and splurge for 2 nights at the Greyfield Inn on the island (all meals included with the rate because there is no other source of food on the island).

If you are coming all the way from SA, then I'd cut a bit of time off somewhere during the beach part (if beaches aren't the draw) and head a bit north from Orlando to St. Augustine, then Cumberland Island and then Savannah, Georgia. You'll be exposed to the Spanish influence on the coast and then the English.

Orlando to Fernandina Beach, Florida - the site of the Greyfield Inn ferry to Cumberland Island = 177 miles, 2 hours, 53 minutes according to mapquest.

St. Augustine is along the route.

Savannah would be another 132 miles or 2 hours north - interstate highway all the way. You could even do it as a day trip from Fernandina/ Amelia Island area if you decided to spend the night there.

"we really want to see Florida as a state/ culture/ its people/ whole experience thing." Then let me suggest Blue Springs State Park which would be easy to visit in between Orlando and St. Augustine. In the winter, manatees move into the springs area. You can watch the manatees, go canoeing, hike the nature trails. A lovely experience.


http://funandsun.com/parks/BlueSpring/bluespring.html

The Greyfield Inn is fantastic, but it might be dreary at that time of year, don't you think Starrsville? We spent a memorable week there late one summer (hot hot hot) and a naturalist took us all around the island in a jeep--it was great. We met that unusual (strange? eccentric?) Carnegie relation who makes jewelry --yuyu, or yoyo, or gogo. Did you run into her?

I don't know about dreary, we go to Amelia Island every January & nearly always have excellent/sunny weather. I'd probably fly into Miami & out of Jax if I were doing a simialr trip. Of course, I am anti-Disney/anti-resort so my interests don't necessarily lie w/the majority. You can also take a sunset cruise out of Fernandina Beach that lasts a couple of hours (take your own drinks & snacks) etc. Be a tad chilly but it is still a good time. FYI - Fernandina Beach is the old, historical town on Amelia Island.

There is a marvellous bookstore there, in Fernandina, a very eclectic collection of books. Fantastic sales, like CD of book Wicked for $25! Good French restaurant, too, le Clos. Small, but nice.

I saw the jewelry link on the website.

I agree with SAnParis. The weather can go any way, but can easily be absolutely beautiful. One of my favorite memories of the kids is their playing in the water on Cumberland and Dec. 31st. My sister and I took them over for a day trip with a picnic basket while BIL visited relatives in St. Mary's.

I'm on the GA/ SC coast all the time in winter and have more good days than bad. If the weather IS dreary, what could be better than snuggling in front of one of the Greyfield's fireplaces and/or enjoying the wonderful food.

Heck, I think I'll book it for the first week of January!:-)

There are some excellent central FL suggestions here:
Blue Springs State Park, Kennedy Space Center, Wekiva Springs State Park, and St. Augustine (an easy 2-hour drive from Orlando). I agree with all of them!

The best part about visiting Blue Springs in the winter is that the Manatee will be in (from the cooler river) and you can see them in the warm clear water from shore and from observation decks.

If you plan on doing a day trip over to Kennedy Space Center or elsewhere on the East Coast, there are numerous opportunities to take an airboat ride. During the winter, there are many migratory birds to be seen, more than at other times of the year. If you would like, I'll give more detailed info (phone numbers and web sites) on several places near KSC where you can take an airboat ride. Let me know!

Starrsville: I looked at their website and saw the link. That stuff has not improved. Ahem.

What a great start to my day over here - all this info form you guys. Thank you so much.

Starrsville: Naples I see as arriving late pm from Ft L, day 1 exploring Naples & shopping - it will be New Years Eve. Day 2 spent on Sanibel and Captiva and day 3 being Ft Myers. But the crokscrew plantation? sounds interesting too.
The St Pete/ Tampa area we see as day 1 Tampa/ Ybor, day 2 Clearwater and up to Denedin/Tarpon Springs, Day 3 could be Sarassota/ Venice. So you see not too much actual beach.
Thanks for the canoewekiva site - we are definatley spending a day there. Winter Park and Mount Dora are also on the plan now - thanks.

ajcolorado - thanks for the mouse plan sites - will go this route as I find the whole Disney thing a bit overwhelming but want to get it done now whilst the children are young enough. 3 days will be our max for all the parks so I must just choose the "best " 3

dsquared: Blue Springs park sounds good - will check it out today

OrlandoVic: Please let me know about the airboats as we would like to try one out - don't have them over here, but wasn't sure about them in the everglades, so will go with your suggestion.

There seems to be so much to see and do in Florida that we have to accept we cannot do it all.
We are committed to our dates so will just have to cope with any crowds.

From your initial posting it sounds like you will be at Disney World After New Years. You shouldn't have big crowds to deal with then.
Get to the parks early and use their fast pass cyctem and you'll be fine.

OOOOPS... that should be Fast Pass system.

Hi Capetownfolk-
Here is some information on Central Florida airboat rides. It is truly a unique Florida experience.

Closest to the Disney/Universal Studios area is Boggy Creek Airboats <http://www.bcairboats.com/>. Their boats are large and they cater to the tourist trade. They do a decent job though.

East of Orlando, in Brevard County (near Kennedy Space Center & Cocoa Beach), on State Road 528 (AKA The Beachline), right at the St. John's River on the Orange County-Brevard county line, there is the Lone Cabbage Fish Camp <<http://twisterairboatrides.tripod.co...x.html>>. Here you can take an airboat ride and see some of the real Florida. In the winter months, you have the opportunity to see many migratory birds. This place is very easy to find and is where we often take our foreign friends and relatives.

Another Brevard County airboat operator is: Airboat Ecotours <www.airboatecotours.com>. I don't know much about them but have seen their ads.

With each of these airboat places, you will increase your chances of seeing gators if you go just before dusk.

I think you'll have a great time in Florida. You are asking us some great questions and getting some excellent recommendations from all of the other posters.

Hi Capetownfolk-

If your plans still include 5 weeks in Florida with some of it in central & northeast Florida, here is some updated information on St. Augustine that may be of interest to you. This is an article in today's (November 25th) Orlando Sentinel about the holiday season in St. Augustine <http://tinyurl.com/yx2sw9>. It really is a very magical place at this time of the year!

Hello everyone

About time we revisited this post.

OrlandoVic, thanks for the St Augustine posting. Please advise what you think we should do:

We are spending 2 nights in Clearwater, from where we will explore St pete's and tampa, then we go up to Homosassa for 1 night so we can swim with manatees - can't wait. On the Saturday we drive down to Orlando. I thought we could explore the Disney boardwalk and such Saturday evening and spend the Sunday in Winter park to avoid theme park crowds. we then spend the next 5 days doing the theme parks - Epcot, Animal kingdom, Magic Kingdom, MGM, Universal Studios. We will cope - the US children will be back at school that week, as will the Europeans, just us Africans get a longer Dec/Jan break - our summer. The boys will do islands of Adventure whilst the girls shop. They also go to Cape Canaveral whilst we shop on another day and then we fly back to London.

Question: Would you spend the Sunday in Winter Park, or drive over to St Augustine. How long is the drive to St Augustine from Orlando?

Question: Would you spend the Sunday in Winter Park, or drive over to St Augustine.

Logistically, Winter Park is the better choice, primarily because it is an Orlando suburb and much closer.

This recent Orlando Sentinel article <http://tinyurl.com/yzx4st> has some good information on The Winter Park Boat Tour that you might enjoy as a change of pace from the theme parks.

However, St. Augustine has much, much more to see and experience if you don't mind driving out of the way. It would probably make sense to "finish" Orlando and then make your trip to St. Augustine. Because of the Nights of Lights, an overnight stay would be best.


How long is the drive to St Augustine from Orlando?

It is about 100-110 miles in a NE direction from Orlando and very easy to reach by interstate highways (I-4 and I-95). Plan on a minimum of two hours driving time, each way.

I think five (consecutive) days at the theme parks will be an overload. It is physically demanding and many tourists spend 10-12 hours at a park. If you could cut the theme park time down to 3-4 days maximum, you could certainly include an overnight stay in St. Augustine. After all, this is the real Florida.

Let me know what you think!

If you want to get in the water with manatees (you cannot approach them, but it's not uncommon for them to approach you), head to Crystal River, FL, which is 90 minutes NW of Orlando. You can take a guided tour or rent a canoe or jonboat and do the driving yourself.

We have booked a 5.30am mantatee tour with Captain Mike - a very reputable operation at Homosassa River. We are very environmentally aware here in Africa and we have researched your manatees quite a lot. It will be an honour should one approach us whilst we are in the water with them. I can't believe that anyone would approach a wild animal in their own environment - we are the guests and must behave accordingly. You are so lucky to have manatees - i can't wait to see them - I have one as a picture onmy screensaver!!