We want to see more of Florida! Advice and help please

[Sara_toga]

This October will be our eight trip to Florida, apart from Orlando we have only stayed in Clearwater and Anna Maria. Next year it will just be me and DH for the first time so we want to do a bit of travelling.

Does anyone have advice on what to do, where to stay and how long we would need in the following places: Vero Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, The Keys and Naples.



Our first draft plan is:

Orlando 3 nights
Vero Beach 2 nights
Fort Lauderdale or Miami 1 or 2 nights
The Keys 3 nights
Fort Lauderdale/Miami 1 or 2 nights
Naples 2 nights
Orlando 3 or 4 nights.

Would you change any of this ie. where to stay on the way to the keys and where to stay to go back up the Gulf Coast?


Any advice would be great thanks

[sotagals]

Sounds like a good road trip

Personally I would stay the 3rd Keys night somewhere near Key Largo and miss out the extra Miami night by heading straight to Naples. I'd also try to squeeze in an extra day on the Gulf at Sarasota.

I'm not a big fan of the Keys. Key West is interesting but it's an awfully long drive down there. I prefer the beaches of the Gulf Coast The second time we went to KW we got the ferry from Marco Island - that was a good day out (winter only) but they also go from Fort Myers.

[mkingdon]

Lynn

That plan sounds an awful lot like our 2010 holiday. The link below will take you to the trip report.

We loved every part of it, although at times it felt like we spent too much time on the road, but overall a great experience and glad we saw more of Florida.

Craig

[Guest]

I like the keys,and have stayed in quite a few, key Largo,key west, islamorada,marathon.
I enjoyed Marco Island.
I Love Vero Beach and return every year.
I Loved St Augustine.
Miami I wasn't too keen on.
Clearwater I loved but not as much as Vero.

[hayles25]

what about Anna Maria Island, I am going there in November for the first time to stay there for one night. After hearing many great things from other dibbers i'm really looking forward to it. I love st augustine too, very historic and pretty place..lots of old buildings, a stunning harbour and lots to see and do.

[floridasgirl]

We love Sanibel! Don't forget it's a long way from Miami to Key West (about 3/4 hours). We loved the Keys but don't know if would do 3 nights there, we did 2 and it was plenty. Would stay in Miami rather than Fort Laurderdale and would spend longer on Gulf Coast!
Also, why don't you consider flying into one airport and out of another so it doesn't have to be a complete round trip?
I would start in Miami, drive down to the Keys, up to Gulf coast, Orlando, Vero beach, Miami. (Or something similar so you aren't passing through Miami twice!

[barryp1]

If flying in and out of Orlando

Orlando
St Augustine
Daytona Beach (via A1A not the interstate)
Miami South Beach
Key West
Naples (via Tamiami trail not Alligator alley)
Siesta Key
Orlando (via Skyway bridge)

Siesta Key will be the most difficult to find one night accommodation and if its October then Daytona will be expensive during Biketoberfest.

[Mary A]

Lots of different opinions on this! We've done similar holidays quite a few times, the first was difficult staying 1-2 nights before moving on, now we stay 2-3 nights, or longer. What you don't get to do this trip is always an excuse to visit again!
We usually stay in Orlando first night (cheap hotel, just to sleep. as long as its clean, its ok) then take advantage of being up at silly o'clock to get on the road down to either Miami or Fort Lauderdale. TBH we're now favouring Miami over FL.

Then off to the key, have stayed middle Keys but not for us and wouldn't stay there again, but must visit the turtle hospital on marathon. We love key west even with our son who first went when he was about 11. It's not to everyone's taste, particularly at night, but were usually back at the hotel by 8 or 9 at the very latest. Sunset at Malory square is also a must do. Can recommend southernmost on the beach and currie mansion inn.

Stayed in marco island a couple of times at the Hilton, lovely, relaxing part of the holiday before hitting the parks of Orlando and tampa! We stay at sand key island rather than Clearwater

Lots of research and planning needed for what's right for you!

[Guest]

We did something similar in October last year (although we missed the keys, we had planned to do a boat trip there but found the time filled up and we didn't make it).
We did: Cocoa Beach 1 night, Vero Beach 2 nights, Miami 2 nights, Naples 3 nights, Longboat Key 2 nights, Orlando 2 nights. We hired a Mustang which we thought was well worth it for the experience (and you get some fresh air whilst doing all the travelling between places).
Despite arriving at the same time as Hurricaine Sandy it was an amazing holiday and it was great to see all the other beautiful places Florida has to offer.

[coggie]

I think you could travel down to the Keys along the Gulf Coast and back up along the Atlantic coast taking in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach, Daytona and St Augustine