Miami and Florida holiday

nicoc

Hi All,

We're thinking about a holiday in March, flying into Miami and staying there 3/4 nights then spending the next 10 days or so driving to different parts of Florida stating a few days in each.
We've heard good things about Naples and the keys but wondered if anyone had done anything similar before and had any advice at all please? Places to definitely go /avoid etc.

Thanks in advance for your help

MasterPoo

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g34340-i52-k5064583-10_day_vacation_Miami_or_Keys_or_Both-Florida_Keys_Florida.html

Follow the breadcrumbs, you will see Florida and Keys forum, for hints and tips, theres loads of recommendations, ideas etc.

balletshoes

the Dibb will give you some pointers too -

http://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=52

stoneman

Miami is the pits. You might want a couple of days there just to look around. Watch out for the restaurants, they all add on 18% gratuity and make it seem like it's compulsory but it isn't. We got chased up the street because we left 36 cents short of the bill including tip once, but he picked on the wrong couple and ended up scuttling off.
We did a shore tour, Naples is really nice but the restaurant prices are quite high, apart from Joe's Crab Shack, which is one of the finest US eateries I have found. Clearwater beach is lovely as well.

John259

I agree that the city of Miami is unpleasant, but the drive through Miami Beach to see the art deco hotels was quite interesting.

I liked the drive over the Keys but didn't care much for Key West. I stayed in Marathon which is a small place and was a good choice for me.

I thought Naples was good, didn't care much at all for most of the other bigger towns to its north, but Crystal River was good.

Kennedy Space Center is well worth a day, even if you only have a marginal interest in the subject.

Would the Florida State Parks interest you? http://www.floridastateparks.org

Don't underestimate the distances. Florida is nearly 450 miles north to south.

EssexExile

It all depends what you want, we've flown to New York & driven down to Florida (great) & we've flown to New Orleans & driven round to Florida. Both were great (although not much between New Orleans & Florida). Personally nowadays we prefer the Gulf Coast of Florida but then we're an old couple with no kids & a love of not actually doing too much.

If you like wildlife, The Everglades are great. Get out of the car & walk along some of the walkways. Then just stand still & look, there's all sorts of animals out there.

onlygoingforward

Ditto about Miami been twice but wouldnt go again Miami Beach hotels are okay to look at but go a few streets in and its not a nice place anymore.

Have been to Key West and was nice and would go again, - drove down the Keys and its a nice drive over the bridges.

I havent been to Naples but have been to Fort Myers Beach - going nearby in a couple of weeks to cape coral and then driving to anna maria island. St petes beach is also nice. i too think the gulf coast is much nicer.

I think kennedy space centre was also good and worth a visit.

I plan also to visit the everglades as well which i hope are good.

pollypenny

We love the Gulf Coast, from Tarpon Springs, which is a Greek community, down to St Petersburg.

Near Sarasota is Myakka State Park and the wonderful Ringling Museum, circus and art.

neilbond007

Agree with the above. Flew in to Miami. Stayed there a night (that was long enough) and then drove down the Keys. Stopped in Marathon for the night then on to Key West. Stopped there 3 nights then drove to Naples.

Naples was far and away the best part of the holiday. Probably because I expected a whole lot more from the Keys. The beaches aren't great (there are only a couple of small ones in Key West) in the Keys and you just drive down a fairly mundane road for a couple of hours..

Key West was fun though. Did a snorkel / booze cruise and struggled to get out of the boat at the end of it!

Make sure you do an air boat ride in the Everglades. Great fun.

Johnandabby

Kennedy Space Center was the real highlight of our holiday, we spent a full day there

kaymay

We did a drive around South Florida. Flew into Miami, stayed overnight then drove to the small town of Everglades for the day. Lovely very quiet with a small museum and boat trips.Then drove up to the Naples area for 3 nights. Loved this area for beaches , shopping and eating but is quite upmarket and can be pricey. Then drove up via Fort Myers which wasn't to our taste as found it more commercialised. Next stop was Venice a small town with beautiful beaches and drives along Casey Key, this was our favourite place. Next went to Sarasota which was nice for an afternoons stroll around the marina area. After few days in Orlando, then drove back down the East coast and stopped off overnight at Jupiter Beach which was stunning and had a lovely small turtle rescue centre. Can second a visit to Kennedy Space Station as we did that on a previous trip.