Gutmann pug

Off for a mates wedding next year.

The first week is booked hotel, his wedding etc in St Pertersburg. Then he and most of the other herberts are off to Disney world area to do the normal tourist stuff but that dont appeal to me.
I've got a car hired for the week and fancy doing a bit of touring round and about. I quite like long (ish) journeys seeing as much as I can with flying stops, the odd hour here and there. You know the sort of thing, run down the steps, 'oh yeah thats nice', click, picture taken, back in the car and off to the next place..........I havent been to this area before so I havent a clue where i can get to and back again in a week.
Any ideas on routes etc etc ....... everglades??? coastal roads???? anything really???

Dream Weaver

The Keys/Quays are supposed to be cool, Key West etc

Cape Canavaral?

JackClark

Second Key West. And, don't miss a night out in Miami.

Poor Guy

Sarasota beach! i have some sand from there. its like sherbert. water is soooooo clear. watch out for nurse sharks though.

Richard Askew

St Pete Beach then the Keys

Daryl

You could head south from St Pete's down to Naples, stopping off at Sanibel and Captiva Islands, known for their fantastic seashells and unspoilt beaches. From there, head across route 41, the Tamiami Trail - where you could take an airboat ride - to Miami. From there you can either head into the Everglades National Park or go down to the Keys. These last two options might be pushing it in a week, but you did say you like flying visits!

Alternatively, from Miami, head north up the A1A through Miami Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton (unbelievable houses ), West Palm Beach, Hobe Sound etc, all the way to Cocoa Beach and Cape Canaveral. This road runs between the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic and has some absolutely fantastic scenery.

Obviously, when you reach Cape Canaveral you should visit the Kennedy Space Centre Depending on time, you could always head a little further north and visit Daytona, before heading inland and back to Orlando or Tampa, wherever your flight home is from.

Oh, and hire a decent car, ie one with at least 3.5 litres, because that's quite a few miles and you'll appreciate the cruise control

messiah

Cape Canaveral - and if you fancya long drive Daytona is further up the coast.

Leslie

Its a heck of a long drive though, and mindbendingly boring all the way to the Keys.

Disneyworld is worth a visit, dont miss Space Mountain!, things for everyone there. Don't bother with Alligator Alley, its a con. Silver Springs was good, so was the Busch zoo.

Well worth going to Cape Canaveral, excellent visitor's tours there and very impressive to see the Space Shuttle and the Saturn rocket. You might even be lucky enough to see a space shot.

If you are there in the fruit season, don't try "scrumping" any oranges etc. The cottonmouth moccasins lie on the tree branches just awaiting their chance to get you!
They are good swimmers too and hang around the lakes which are all over Florida.

The Everglades are well worth a visit if you get the time.

Enjoy,

Les

Gutmann pug

cheers for the advice guys .....will print all your notes off and have a look on the map.

cheers

Chris L

'Where would you go around Florida?'

Right now, no where

On a more serious note, St Petersburg is lovely. One of the highlights of the area. Disney and all that didn't really do it for me, so I didn't go there (although I was working out there at the time ).

When is the wedding? Last time I was out there in June and the weather was incredibly hot and the humidity almost unbearable.

Chris

XRS

Why not go North from Tampa? You'll see the old wild west up there!

darlodge

Daytona is worth a visit, I think you can still drive on the beach, and the totty

They do quite a few driving expereinces around the daytona speedway which look good. I'm looking to to one in Janurary when I'm out there again.

Darren

P1Fanatic

Go shoot some real guns. Little place just past Wet n Wild nr Orlando where you can shoot Sub machine guns etc.

Also close to Wet n Wild is one of those wind tunnels where you can skydive - excellent fun.

If your in Kissimee for Disney then take a look at Old Town and try the skycoaster (dropped from a great height) - the highest one in the world I do believe.

Helicopter flight is also well worth the money.

Daytona good fun if there is something on - we went during monster truck festival but still got to do the passenger laps in a NASCAR - about 180mph around the oval which is nearly 40 degrees incline on the banks IIRC.

Simon.

darlodge

I'm not sure if its still there but there is also a gun range behind Belz mall.

Darren