Alternative Florida Attractions

[Guest]

For the past two years we have taken a trip over to Cocoa Beach and gone on a kayak excursion on the Banana River. We weren't lucky enough to see dolphins but we did have close up encounters with manatees. The guide is so knowledgeable and friendly and it was a great way to spend half a day away from the hustle and bustle of the parks.

Karen

[Guest]

If you are in the area of Indian Shores and fancy a drink in one of the oddest bars in Florida then you really should nip in here mahuffer/


Marie

[Guest]

Winter Garden is a great place to visit for a half day or so.
Only 30 minutes from the hub-bub of Mouseland...but a world away in character.
Beautiful parks...the squirrels will happily eat from your hand...a great and amusing 40 minute boat trip round Lake Apopka..with a great captain ... and look at the multi million$$ houses belonging to the rich and famous.

Great coffee shops and excellent shopping... but beware of some VERY pricey designer shops!

Nice museums too.

Definitely worth a trip...
cwgdn/pages/welcome/welcome.php

[Guest]

If you can tear yourself away for at least one day...and an overnight stop would enhance it even further... ignore Clearwater ( apart from Little Toot and the seaquarium) and head to Dunedin... voted one of the most walkable towns in the USA... I'll cut and paste my "mini-review" about Dunedin based on our trip 4 years ago...we spent a week there... and the kids loved it so much they didn't want to go to orlando for Week 2!
know this is a year late...lol..but might help anyone thinking of going to / visiting Dunedin..

We stayed in Dunedin 4 years ago...and are back there in Jan 07.

What do you want to know... lol!

We can tell you that it's a great place to stay...friendly locals... great walks and excellent little shops selling art, jewellery, boutique items, antiques..etc etc

Kellys for breakfast ! REAL US food...and portions to die for! Great atmosphere too

Flanagans Irish pub...loud and fun...and chips with Guiness gravy!
Casa Tina for top Mexican food...but careful! Portions are SERIOUSLY large...trust me. Do a free tour of the Dunedin Brewery and get a sample fo the product!

Great harbour... and boats to hire or fish from...avoid the Bon Appetit eatery..over-priced and pretentious.
Pinellas trail runs through Dunedin...a 47 mile converted rail line...you can ride your bike ( hire is easy! ) and say hi to all the locals...cos they'll say hi to you!
Go a few miles up the coast to Honeymoon island...quiet beaches..loads fo shells to collect...and watcg dolphins play from the beach.
take a ferry to Caladesi Island...just a few dollars... and really get away from it all! You'll see turtles and raccoons there...very peaceful and probaly only you and a half dozen people tops! Ferry collects you at an agreed time.

They have a green market 2/3 times a week...for veg, fruit and oddments... you'll even catch an Amish stall!

Hope this helps...more than happy to tell you more if you like...we adore Dunedin..and are looking forward to re-visiting soon

..Oh ,yeah... try the Purple Moon for coffee and cake...and a tarot reading too if you like! :-) .. and live music 2-3 times a week.

delightfuldunedin/




Mike

[jeanwales]

A couple that we love to do can be found here.

nccentral/wildlifepark/homosassatour/


We try and catch these if they are in a location near to us when we are there.
thunderhawk/


One of our most favourite places in Florida.
weekiwachee/

Think this has been discussed lately but a great place
bigcatrescue/

[BONZO]

Hi folks,

Can I ask you add your lists to This thread so that I can capture all the suggestions.

[Guest]

Haha brilliant! Il be expecting a pin now! It really has taken off

[Guest]

Blue spring state park is less than an hour from Orlando, and is just beautiful. From October onwards, loads of manatees go there for the winter, and you can see them from the boardwalks, although you can't swim with them any more. We bought cheap snorkels at K-mart and snorkelled, loads of fish, especially gar (biggish black ones!). We took a picnic, and while there we hired canoes for a couple of hours. There weren't too many people about (it was in November) and it was just a beautiful chilled-out day!
We've also done Boggy Creek airboats, which was great; and Gatorland, which we didn't like so much - something a bit off with gator wrestling etc, but still some nice boardwalks etc. We always drive down to Siesta Key for a day, and have lunch at 'Turtles on the Beach' (opposite nearby Turtle Beach).This year, we're going to vsiit Winter Park, and also hire a boat at Salt Springs Marina in Ocala forest for a day. We always go for two weeks, and try to alternate park - not park - park etc each day: ALWAYS come back needing a holiday!

[Guest]

Mike,
I LOVE the sound of Dunedin. We are staying at Indian Rocks beach for the third week of our hols and looking for laid back places to visit- looks like it would fit the bill exactly.
Tell me a bit about fishing from a boat - is this something my five year old could do?

[Guest]

Mike
Sorry but it's another dunedin question! What time of year did you go to Caladesi beach- we are going in oct and wondering if we would be lucky enough to see either turtles or racoons at that time of year.
You have a lot to answer for Mike. after your mini-review I am totally hooked onto Dunedin and can't wait to get there!