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Florida, anyone?

lovegood90lovegood90 member
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in Chit Chat

SO and I are taking a mini trip to Florida next month! We're visiting some friends in the Orlando area for 3 days; we'll mostly be catching up with them and may visit Universal Studios.

For the next 2 days we'll be there we want to just wing it and drive down to another city in Florida (maybe Miami?). What are your favourite areas in Florida/things to do/see? (other than Orlando obviously) Open to any suggestions!

Formerly martha1818

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Re: Florida, anyone?

  • 500days500days member
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    On one of my Orlando trips we drove a couple hours to Clearwater beach. You can check out Tampa on the way there too. 
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  • pinkcow13pinkcow13 member
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    Miami!!!!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE South beach, and we love going to Wet Wille's which is on the strip. Sit upstairs, on the outside section, for some awesome people watching.
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  • ShesSoColdShesSoCold mod
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    H and I are driving to the keys next month and were stopping in Crystal River to swim with manatees and in Tampa for a hockey game (yes we plan vacations around the Blackhawks).
    Image result for someecard betting someone half your shit youll love them forever
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  • WhatawagSBNyWhatawagSBNy member
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    In the time before summer, when not too hot, the Keys all the way down to the tortugas. The different islands have different personalities. And you can take a few hours charter out on waters not crowded with racing idiots in speedboats and on personal watercraft . Best beach walking is on some of these keys.
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  • dolewhipperdolewhipper member
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    Do an airboat ride!!! (West Ft. Lauderdale is the best but you can find some in Orlando, like Boggy Creek)

    I like the new Mexican restaurant in CityWalk. Eat in the upstairs though. If you can, grab a bite in Winter Park, maybe 20-30 min from the Universal area. I love Cask and Larder (esp for brunch)

    From Orlando, if you take the Turnpike you can go 80 and get to Ft Lauderdale in 3-3.5 hours. Add another 30-45 min if you want to go to South Beach. It's really not that bad; I've been making the trip about 2 times a month for the past 3 months.

    You can do Kennedy Space Center which is only about 45 minutes away. Cocoa Beach is there, with a lot of hole in the wall little places (like Coconuts on the Beach). If you go to Kennedy, make sure to pay extra for the Explorer's Tour, where you get to see the launch pad, control center, and vehicle assembly building.

    If you're going to Universal, buy your tickets online and print them before you go or PM me :)


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  • dolewhipperdolewhipper member
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    ShesSoCold said:
    H and I are driving to the keys next month and were stopping in Crystal River to swim with manatees and in Tampa for a hockey game (yes we plan vacations around the Blackhawks).
    I love Crystal River! Fi just got a gopro and we can't wait to go there (when it warms up a bit). He went to Wekiwa Springs (maybe 45 min from Orlando) and got some great shots/videos. No manatees though.


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  • mikenbergermikenberger member
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    sarahufl said:
    Miami is really far from Orlando. At least a 4-5 hour drive depending on where in MIA you are headed.

    Tampa/St Pete/Clearwater are very nice. St Augustine is also lovely.
    Agreed. And it's a super boring drive. And possibly all on 4 lane state highways, not interstate. Boo to that!

    But totally agree on the Tampa/St Pete/Clearwater recommendation. There are some gorgeous beaches and great places to eat. Miami is well and good and all, but for me, I'd like to have 3 days 4 ideally down there or you're just spending a lot of time driving. Cocoa Beach is also very nice, it's less than an hour from Orlando.

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  • lovegood90lovegood90 member
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    Woo, thanks everyone! I've only been to Florida once and it was when I was a kid, so it's great to get recommendations from people who've been there/know the area. BF will be the one driving and he said he doesn't care about distance, but I agree if we only have 2 days maybe Miami is a bit far.

    I'll definitely have to look into Clearwater/Tampa/St Pete and Ft Lauderdale!

    @pinkcow13 and @dolewhipper thanks for the restaurant recs!

    Formerly martha1818

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  • Liatris2010Liatris2010 mod
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    Check out downtown Orlando for really good nightlife.

    Crysal River for swimming with manatees, now is the time of year for it.

    I also really love Cocoa Beach, Merritt Island national wildlife refuge, and Cape Canaveral national seashore. You can also check out Kennedy Space Center.

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