If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Florida Trip in late August, Key West, Miami
Going to Florida late August. Planning to spend 5 days in Florida
before the East Caribbean cruise. Like to spend some time in Miami and Key West, may be Ft. Lauderdale. Family of three, a ten years old daughter. 1.Fly to Ft. Lauderdale from Toronto. (Air tickets confirmed) 2. Miami 3. Miami 4. Key West 5. Key West 6. Spend a night in Miami to get ready for next day cruise. Any suggestion will be appreciated. |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Florida Trip in late August, Key West, Miami
wrote:
Going to Florida late August. Planning to spend 5 days in Florida before the East Caribbean cruise. Like to spend some time in Miami and Key West, may be Ft. Lauderdale. Family of three, a ten years old daughter. 1.Fly to Ft. Lauderdale from Toronto. (Air tickets confirmed) 2. Miami 3. Miami 4. Key West 5. Key West 6. Spend a night in Miami to get ready for next day cruise. Ft. Lauderdale has a very nice beach and is more family-friendly than Miami Beach. Check out the Sheraton Yankee Clipper at the South end on Ft.. Lauderdale beach. Right on the beach. Beach in the AM. Stay cool in the PM -- Miami Seaquarium, Viscaya House+Grounds, Miami Space Transit Planetarium. The drive to Key West and back on the Overseas Highway (US1) is an experience in itself. Stop off at John Pennekamp State Park for a reef cruise or rent a canoe, and Bahia Honda State Park for a swim on one of the best beaches in the U.S. In Key West, check out the Hemmingway House and maybe do a boat-snorkel tour (I like the "Sunny Days" outfit). |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Florida Trip in late August, Key West, Miami
|
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Florida Trip in late August, Key West, Miami
"Shawn Hirn" wrote in message ... In article , wrote: Going to Florida late August. Planning to spend 5 days in Florida before the East Caribbean cruise. Like to spend some time in Miami and Key West, may be Ft. Lauderdale. Family of three, a ten years old daughter. 1.Fly to Ft. Lauderdale from Toronto. (Air tickets confirmed) 2. Miami 3. Miami 4. Key West 5. Key West 6. Spend a night in Miami to get ready for next day cruise. Any suggestion will be appreciated. Could you be more specific? Suggestions for what? Hotel, cruise, things to do, dining, or what? Ft. Lauderdale has nice beaches. Go on an airboat tour out of Doc Holiday's Marina near the cross everglades road. We stayed there in 2000 and got a motel with kitchenette right across from the beach for maybe $80. Did not use the kitchenette. |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Florida Trip in late August, Key West, Miami
"Shawn Hirn" wrote in message ... In article , wrote: Going to Florida late August. Planning to spend 5 days in Florida before the East Caribbean cruise. Like to spend some time in Miami and Key West, may be Ft. Lauderdale. Family of three, a ten years old daughter. 1.Fly to Ft. Lauderdale from Toronto. (Air tickets confirmed) 2. Miami 3. Miami 4. Key West 5. Key West 6. Spend a night in Miami to get ready for next day cruise. Any suggestion will be appreciated. Not enough time to visit, so first thing - leave Ft Lauderdale. Now... Do you have room arrangements already ? No ? If you don't have rooms yet - think over your plans then check/make a reservation - you might change plans depending upon availability. If you get there early enough, don't waste the first day in Miami - END up there. Head to the Keys. Give us some ideas on what type of stuff you're interested in. I've been going there for years and have lots of bookmarks - I'll include a few. 1. For the Keys - bullets: * In the keys everything is referenced by "Mile Markers". Mile Marker zero ( or MM0) is in Key West. Once you get onto the Keys, there is only one main road. Sometimes there are trees between north/southbound lanes, most time there is not, but when you're talking to anyone for directions, ASK " northbound or southbound side ?" since sometimes if set back off tree covered area next to the road it's tough to see. * Key Largo has several "touristy" places - one of which is on southbound side of the road - you can feed the tarpon - and get breakfast. You'll see the signs. * Marathon is biggest city so you can get supplies at Publix food store , Wal-Mart etc. * Mid- keys visit the Turtle museum - locals started caring for sea turtles injured by boats years ago and developed into full blown hospital. * For dinner - Islamorada ( ~ Mile marker 80) Lazy Days - sit on back deck for sunset. Not cheap but GREAT food. Or if you like dungeness crab - Bentley's - a few miles north USUALLY has it. They're both on northbound side of the road. There is now a Hampton Inn next to Lazy Days. http://www.fla-keys.com/webcams/cheeca/index.htm http://www.frommers.com/destinations...385010002.html http://www.frommers.com/destinations/southflorida/ http://www.frommers.com/destinations...386010002.html http://www.islamoradachamber.com/todo.cfm http://florida-keys.fl.us/ http://www.keysnet.com/ http://bellsouthpwp.net/n/e/neon333/ 2. What do you plan to do in Key West for 3 days/2 nights ? Don't get me wrong ... Great for bars: but for a 10 yr old ... Are you looking to hang out at beach or keep busy ? If busy - maybe boat ride to visit Dry Tortugas ? Sunset at Mallory Square. Take the old town trolley tour . http://www.oldtowntrolley.com/Key-West/ for an overview. Pictures next to Southernmost point marker ... You should get a "sloppy joe " at one of my favorite bars ... Sloppy Joes. Restaurant is one business and bar is another - weird. Visit Ernest Hemingway's house. Truman's white house . Halfday fishing is an option along west side of island. Hard Rock Cafe Mid Duval St = Margaritaville http://www.margaritaville.com/index.php?page=cafe_kw Call back home while looking up at http://www.liveduvalstreet.com/ or http://sloppyjoes.com/sloppycam/streamcam.htm 10 yr old might get a kick from that - and see his picture on someone's PC when you get home ! If you want peace and quiet at night, do NOT stay at low number end of Duval St. That's the center of the action and closing time ( is there one?) is about 3am. 3. Miami --- narrow down what you'd LIKE for ideas. It's a big city and LOTS to do. We always stay at South Beach on Ocean Ave but very expensive. http://avalonhotel.com http://miami.hotelguide.net/hl1sb.htm There is "Miami Beach" and there is "South Beach" But even if not staying at South Beach , do have lunch there and take a walk on the beach. My favorite places for lunch - "the News Cafe or " Pelican Cafe". Great spot , great food, good people-watching. At the north end of southbeach ( yeah that's right) walk on the sidewalk and it goes for about 4 miles - you'll be overlooking a lot of the old hotels " The Fountainbleu", "Delano" etc. The south end of south beach you can see the cruise ships docked. On the road connecting the city to South Beach, opposite the cruise ships ( sorry I forget the name of the area) is where Gloria Estefan , other big name folks live. Usually there's a guard at the end of each bridge, but a few times it was unattended and we just drove right in. We weren't autograph seekers .. just being nosy - no one bothered us. Then there's Fisher Island - Shaq and other folks live there, but they have to take the shuttle back/forth so maybe watch that if "celebrity seeking". Maybe visit Little Havana ? Most hotels have flyers for different 'tours of the town via escorted bus ride'. If you get on Key Biscayne about 3pm, watch the fishing boats come in and their catch. On Key Biscayne nice park at end of the road. OJ Simpson ( used to) play everyday at the public golf course there ( when not in jail). As for "where to stay to night before the cruise", there is a hotel/motel at top of Rickenbacker Causeway ( Key Biscayne entrance road) that a lot of folks use. It used to be a Hampton Inn and now called Bricknell Inn. Has a buffet in the lobby for breakfast - 24 hr coffee/snacks. a good room - has a pool and very handy. A mall a few miles away ( with a Hard Rock cafe to buy even more T-shirts). The hotel is literally RIGHT at the start of US Route 95 looking at a map. These are a few years old , but look them over for ideas. http://www.hemispheresmagazine.com/3...outh-beach.htm http://www.hemispheresmagazine.com/3...1998/miami.htm Ask if further info needed. |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Florida Trip in late August, Key West, Miami
On Jul 7, 4:22*pm, Brian K wrote:
On 7/2/2008 9:03 AM plucked Senior Frog's Magic Twanger and said: Going to Florida late August. Planning to spend 5 days in Florida before the East Caribbean cruise. Like to spend some time inMiamiand Key West, may be Ft. Lauderdale. Familyof three, a ten years old daughter. 1.Fly to Ft. Lauderdale from Toronto. (Air tickets confirmed) 2.Miami 3.Miami 4. Key West 5. Key West 6. Spend a night inMiamito get ready for next day cruise. Any suggestion will be appreciated. Personally, I don't likeMiamiBeach. It's very costly even in August. Since you'll arive in Ft. Lauderdale, I'd spend some time there. Aside from the large luxury chain hotels, just north of the Sheraton Yankee Trader are many Bed & Breakfasts. Some are just as costly as the big hotels and offer the same amenities. *Others are reasonably priced. Best known as afamilydestination is Hollywood, South of Ft. Lauderdale. It's a greatfamilyplace to stay. You can find information about both at http:\\sunny.org the official visitors sight for Ft. Lauderdale and nearby locations. August is right in the middle of South Florida's hurricane season. You may experience sunny weather with not a hurricane in sight. *Just be aware of *this and check *weather reports for *South Florida about 2 weeks in advance of your flight. Make your plans accordingly. *You may wish to explore Travel Insurance . *Specifically you should look at policies that include coverage for cancellation by airlines, cruise lines, lodging, due to hurricane. Look for policies that also offer coverage should you decide to cancel your plans due to a hurricane that is quickly approaching. -- ________ *To *email me, Edit "blog" from my email address. * Brian M. Kochera * *"Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once!" *View My Web Page:http://home.earthlink.net/~brian1951 Thanks to all of your suggestion. |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Help: Florida Trip in April - Key West, Miami, Orlando | Bernie Mayer | USA & Canada | 6 | February 8th, 2006 12:51 AM |
Help: Florida Trip in April - Key West, Miami, Orlando | JN | USA & Canada | 0 | January 27th, 2006 10:47 PM |
Help: Florida Trip in April - Key West, Miami, Orlando | Brian K | USA & Canada | 0 | January 27th, 2006 07:43 PM |
Help: Florida Trip in April - Key West, Miami, Orlando | Pjk | USA & Canada | 0 | January 27th, 2006 06:38 PM |
Florida Trip in April - Key West, Miami, Orlando | Richard Bornstein | USA & Canada | 0 | January 26th, 2006 07:01 AM |