Trying to plan a week in Florida in October ... need help picking up places to visit

jumperabv3

Got flights, got the car rental all sorted ... hotels will be booked from miles and if necessary with cash...

The only thing left is to choose destinations and places to visit ... there are too many choices ...

We (me & my wife) are thinking 5 of October - 13 of October ... to plan something like

1) Land in MIA airport, check Miami during the day and then drive at night to Orlando.

2) Stay 2-3 days in Orlando

3) Go south via Tampa / St Petesburg - 1 day

4) Rest of the 2-3 days spend in Miami + Maybe Key West ...

Is is too much to do in 1 week? Are we overdoing it this way? Any recommendations or ideas? Thanks!

wiogs

Drop Orlando add more time in St Petersburg and head down to the Keys

[Deleted User]

wiogs wrote: »

Drop Orlando add more time in St Petersburg and head down to the Keys

Yup,agreed.
The only reason to go to Orland is if you've got kids.
If the OP wants to see Miami then he really ought to spend a night or two there.
Otherwise I'd head straight for the Keys - always a great drive - then back up,across on 41 rather than 1-75 and up the Gulf Coast beaches and then back to Miami.
It's easily doable in a week.

jumperabv3

Thank you for the suggestions!

mgdavid

the Dali museum/gallery in St Petersburg should not be missed.
Cape Kennedy?
Everglades?

John259

wiogs wrote: »

Drop Orlando add more time in St Petersburg and head down to the Keys

Agreed, unless you want to visit the theme parks.

Kennedy Space Center is great even if you only have a marginal interest in the subject.

Over on Florida's west coast I liked Naples and Crystal River.

BTW Miami to Orlando by the most direct route is about 235 miles and personally I wouldn't want to drive it overnight, especially so soon after a long haul flight.

pollypenny

Too much driving North and South again.

On the Gulf Coast, Tarpon Springs , a Greek village is interesting. In Sarasota try the Ringling Museum for circus history and art, as well as beautiful gardens and house. Myakka State Park is nearby, too.

For beaches, we like the quieter ones like Indian Rocks, but take your pick on the whole drive down the coast.

jumperabv3

Too many options and lots of decisions to make ... thank you all ... it's so difficult to decide what to take and what to leave for another time.

mgdavid

jumperabv3 wrote: »

Too many options and lots of decisions to make ... thank you all ... it's so difficult to decide what to take and what to leave for another time.

yep, a week is a bit on the short side...

Alan_Bowen

Don't drive any major distances the day you arrive. It will be at least mid afternoon when you arrive, allowing even an hour, and you may be a lot longer, to get through immigration and customs and another hour to collect the car, you will frankly be wrecked and in no fit state to drive any distance at all.

Book a hotel on Miami Beach for at least 2 nights, then drive down the Keys, some like Key Largo, frankly I don't get the attraction unless you want to go diving at the John Pennekamp Coral Reef but it is a slow journey to Key West and you should allow yourself the day to get there, stopping along the way. You need at least two nights to chill out and realise it is not like any other part of the US, if you want to travel further, drive back and go across to Naples in the west coats which has phenomenal beaches and is a reasonably easy drive back to Miami Airport on your last day

mgdavid

Alan_Bowen wrote: »

Don't drive any major distances the day you arrive. It will be at least mid afternoon when you arrive, allowing even an hour, and you may be a lot longer, to get through immigration and customs and another hour to collect the car, you will frankly be wrecked and in no fit state to drive any distance at all.
.........

Strongly disagree, some people travel well, sleep on planes, aren't affected much by jetlag and would be perfectly capable of a 3-4 hour drive, especially if they get the flight that lands at 14.20