Southern Florida - Things to do
 

We are a 60's couple interested in sights and things to do in Southern Florida in late February (approx. Orlando and South). We will be taking about 13 days.

Interested in things like:

Interesting museums
Unusual shopping areas
Not to miss restaurants
Interesting tours
Beautiful beaches (hopefully warm)
Great hotels/motels
Other suggestions??

I want to take in some of the keys. I don't anticipate going all the way, but to get a taste. Should I go further than Key Largo? -

There are the Keys and then there is Key West. While the other keys may be somewhat interesting, to me it seems to miss Key West is like staying in New Jersey and saying you "got a taste of New York City".

Are you looking to continue traveling during those 13 days or staying in one or two places? East coast or West coast?

You mention "GREAT hotels", well one of the greatest would probably be the wonderful Little Palm Island in the Keys -- a major splurge for most of us, but always gets raves.

We just did a trip to Key West and loved it. There's tons to do there - the Ocean Key Resort is a great place to stay and close to everything. The Marquesa is nice if you want to get away from it all. Touring the Hemingway House was really interesting, lots of water sports, the Wind and Wine Sail with Danger is fun, and we loved our trip to the Dry Tortugas.

If you get to Sarasota, visit the Ringling museum (art museum,circus museum, and the mansion.

Joe's Stone Crab in Miami, an institution. (Go early)
Vizcaya Museum in Miami.
Miami Heat Game, see the best basketball player ever.

Classic hotel: The Boca Raton Resort and Club (too rich for my blood)

Agree with Hemingway House and also the Truman Annex in Key West.

Maybe an airboat ride in the everglades?

If you are near St. Petersburg the Dali Museum is wonderful and well worth a visit.

Thanks for all your interesting suggestions. I had not planned on going as far as Key West, but now I will consider it.

Are there any more suggestions on the East side of the mainland?

Norton Museum of Art in Palm Beach (current exhibit on Jeweler David Webb).

In Palm Beach, Buccan is a terrific place to eat. The chef, Clay Conley, was nominated for a James Beard award. Not the type of place you might think of when you think Palm Beach.

http://buccanpalmbeach.com/

Boca Raton Museum of Art

http://www.bocamuseum.org/


Morakami Japanese Gardens in Boca Raton:

http://www.morikami.org/

What type of restaurants are you looking for?

In Miami, Michael's Genuine is good (you must reserve ahead) and the area around it, the Design District is interesting especially if you llike shopping for the home (expensive).


http://michaelsgenuine.com/miami/

Nearby, the Wynwood neighborhood is a tad more "edgy" and perhaps more interesting:


http://www.wynwoodmiami.com/

Do not miss the Wynwood Walls if you like contemporary street art:
http://thewynwoodwalls.com/

I had a good meal at Joe's Stone Crab and if you have not been, it is kind of essential. I would go for lunch. Apart from the stone crabs (not sure if this season is better than last, which was not good at all) they have one of Miami's best bargains..fried chicken for $5.95.
It is expensive and some do not like it but I had a lovely lunch in the patio last winter. Parkk across the street, in the metered lot.

http://www.joesstonecrab.com/Downloa...ner%20Menu.pdf

There are many good places to eat in Miami, less so in other nearby towns and cities between there and Palm Beach.

Visit the Robert is Here fruit stand

http://www.robertishere.com

Best milkshake anywhere!

Stop at Islamorada on your way down the Keys. The info centre there is very helpful. Maybe try feeding the tarpon as well - but watch your fingers!

I guess Kennedy Space Center is a too obvious choice to mention it specifically.
Also liked St. Augustine. Though probably too far up the Atlantic Coast for your taste.

Disagree on Key West viz a viz other Keys. Suggest save yourself 3 hours of driving and spend night in Islamorada. Great properties such as Moorings and Casa Morada, plus 4-5 great, seafood (of course) restaurants within a mile on US 1.

Look, for the Keys to be worth driving from Miami, one needs to be interested in fishing and scuba. But wait, you can do both of those world class in the same clear waters off of Miami in Biscayne Bay!

So what's the big deal about the Keys that makes them different than Miami's waters? Marketing, PR, idealism and nostalgia, but not actual, tangible differences. Really, how much do you care to drink where Hemingway drank? If you care a lot, then visit Spain!