Hello
Looking for tips for travel to FL over winter season (thinking Dec through Feb time). 2 kids ages 7 and 9. Wanting to hit Disney for 2 days, an uncrowded safe beach for kids to play in sand and water and collect shells, experience the Everglades and maybe a chance to swim with Dolphins. Not sure when the water temp. is still warm enough to swim. would like a clean and safe beach. We don't need touristy but can tolerate it some. Would appreciate any tips. Thank you in advance.

At THAT time of year? As far SOUTH as you can get here in Florida and you might consider somewhere on the Gulf side; if you have a car you can drive down the east coast and then cross over through the Everglades. Perhaps the beaches on Sanibel or Captiva which are very pretty, calm, and quiet and where the shelling is wonderful BUT make reservations EARLY.

You could fly home from somewhere like Fort Myers.

Ha! That time of year here in Wisconsin can be brutal with up to -50 windchill so we definitely are looking for a break from that. I suppose if the water is too cold to swim in, we will still enjoy the warmer weather and being outdoors. Thank you for the beach advice. We are pretty adventurous and outdoorsy. Really enjoy nature. Tips about the everglades?

I think the water on the Gulf Coast, Sanibel and below, is likely to be right around 70 late in February, probably warmer than many lakes in WI in the summer.

Why late in February?

There isn't really any point in going when winter has barely begun (Dec-Jan) or is almost over (mid-late Apr). Divide the expected times of cold weather at home in half and go in the middle, though you do have to be aware of school vacation crowds.

Here's a graph showing the average water temps at Sanibel:

http://www.seatemperature.org/north-...anibel-may.htm

Perhaps you ought to think about the Keys or even Miami if being IN the ocean is a major issue.

http://traveltips.usatoday.com/warme...ary-63155.html

Last of December and early January are the busiest times of the year at Disney and most expensive. Avoid Orlando around the holidays. Immediately after is high season at the South Florida beaches. As above, shop hard and book early. Complete sell outs at best destinations are certain.

Agree your weather will be better than Wisconsin. There is a major weather advantage to going further south.

Even not considering ocean water temps, the air temp is often quite cold at that time of year. Most Februaries when I visit my brother in West Palm Beach area, it is too cold and windy to even go to the beach. (I now go in March).

Avoid week of 3rd Monday (President's Day) as this is big school vacation week in northeast US. If you can push it into March, the first week in March is before most March school vacations, weather is warmer.

Airfares to Florida are often the same RT and flying into different cities. So I would fly into Orlando, drive down west coast, stopping at Sanibel for shells and perhaps staying in Fort Myers area, since lodging might be a bit cheaper there than Sanibel. Close enough to do day trip to Everglades from there.

Great chart, Dukey! I just bookmarked it.

I like Dukey's plan. I'd head for Cape Canaveral and do a tour, then head south. Perhaps spend the night on the east coast at one of the beach towns then head for Shark River NP on Alligator Alley for a ride on the tram through that part of the Everglades. Then continue west to Everglades City and take the park service boat trip out into the mangroves.

Next head for a beach hotel on the west coast, somewhere between Naples and Fort Myers Beach. When the parents were in Ft. Myers, we visited every winter and there were plenty of days that the gulf side water was great for swimming. We do swim in the Atlantic in Maine from June to September, so 60-70 degree water is fine for us.

I don't have any info on the Everglades. A suggested itinerary, however:

Disney, then ...
Drive east to the coast. The water and air temps almost everywhere will be too cold for real sunning and swimming -- with all due respect to your WI hardiness -- but you will be able to spend time on the beach just for walking, fun. I recommend the east coast only because it's closer to Disney and in the direct of the Space Center.

You can explore the beaches on the east coast. I recommend stopping at Sebastian Inlet state park. Has access to the river and ocean, lots of wildlife viewing, including dolphins, and a good picnic spot.


With all that, you may want to skip the Everglades.

Wow, what wonderful insight from you all. Thank you so very much for taking time to help me out. I will have to do some investigating based upon all these great ideas and get our surprise vacation booked!

Years of living in Florida has taught me that the Gulf waters in January seem warm enough to most "snowbirds. I'd say go to Sanibel for that quiet and safe beach with shells. Head to the calm Gulf, not the Atlantic. From Sanibel head down to Naples and Everglades City. Boat trips, boardwalks, and lots of alligators. Either head home from Ft. Myers or go on across to Miami or Lauderdale, but frankly for what you describe the West coast seems more like it.