Anyone know Florida and want to help me plan a week there?

[ilovelibraries]

We have a week in Florida booked for August (I know, hot, humid and rainy!) before visiting friends in another part of the US for a few weeks.

It's not somewhere I have ever really fancied - except for the Keys which is too much of an ask for this trip - and am struggling a bit to get my head around what it is possible to do.

Me, DH and DS (13) fly into Miami on Friday 18th and then on Saturday 27th need to be at Daytona Beach.

We have had a quick discussion and would like to do:

Kennedy Space Centre (a must),

Disney World or Universal (we aren't really into that as a family but the feeling is that if we are there, we should at least go for a day),

a trip on the Everglades

See the Art Deco hotels of Miami (easy that one as we could spend the first day there)

I know that driving distances are large and don't want to spend all day on the road, so can anyone recommend an itinerary where we get a chance to do fun things and are not rushing too much? Or am I asking the impossible?

Any advice / help / guidance very gratefully accepted.

What will you do in the Everglades? How long would you go for?
I was there 8 weeks ago.
August will be sweltering.
I didn't do city things but can say a lot about Everglades.

the driving distances aren't that far at all, imho. It's not like Utah or California, anyway.

ps: I did see Kennedy Centre 25 years ago & can recommend it, hopefully it's air conditioned.

@lljkk just one of those airboat (I think they are called - the boats with fans) trips, is there a better place to do it from? i.e. Miami or would a different town be better?

Any other recommended places also gratefully accepted - whether hotels or things to do.

Kennedy Space Centre is air conditioned (I hope!)

I'm aware that we will be coming straight from the UK (so a big temperature difference) and don't want to overpack our time.

You can do trips (I think boat trips) to Everglades that depart from Fort Lauderdale or Miami. I don't know specifics but they are advertised as 4 hours round trip & show pictures of ppl on the boats. Google?

@lljkk yes I’ve seen it goes from both those places, I was just hoping that someone who has been to Florida could advise.

I think you could do Universal in a day at a push. But Disney is 4 separate parks, each need at least a day to make the most of the time. Plus there are 2 Disney water parks which are fab.
We've always stayed in a condo as it gives us much more freedom. Self catering, but every single one I've been to has been amazing quality, value and comfort. Stock up in Walmart or just eat out.
Hire a car, obvs.
There are those airboats somewhere halfway between Disney area and Kennedy. I can't remember the name of the place, but will post back if it comes to me.
Kennedy is a real highlight. Worth getting there for opening and staying all day. Last time we went, we booked to have lunch with an astronaut which was amazing.

I've holidayed a lot in Florida, and used to live in Miami.

I'd advise against an airboat, some of them can be very environmentally damaging. I'd drive out to Shark Valley (about 1.5-2 hrs from Miami Beach. Not as long if you're staying in Miami. They are 2 separate cities), and hire bikes to do the loop. You'll see more alligators than you ever imagined. You'll also likely get eaten alive, buy some heavy duty insect repellant (best bought in Florida - they'll sell the good stuff). Go as early as possible, the weather will be disgusting, and there is no shade in the Everglades. Wear hats and good sun cream.

South Beach in Miami Beach for Art Deco hotels, there's a good self tour you can do if you go to the heritage centre. Take tonnes of photos.

If you want to get a taste of the Keys, Key Largo is furthest north (closest to Miami), I'd say about 2 hrs from Miami.

Driving to Orlando from Miami takes about 4-5 hrs of solid driving. Then it's about 1-1.5 hrs to Kennedy. I'd suggest you do Universal for the age of your DS. If you can, stay in a Universal hotel that gives you free fast passes and early entry to the park, then get there as soon as you're allowed, and get on the must-do ride as first thing. Harry Potter is amazing. Because of August, you're at the mercy of storms. If it's too risky, they'll shut the parks. It's not uncommon. So keep an eye on the weather, and choose your day wisely.

Daytona is about 1-1.5hrs from Orlando. I don't think there's much to write home about, unless any of you is into the Indy 500, or like the idea of driving on a beach. So, I'd not spend more time than you need to here. I think Miami Beach is much nicer (but the Gulf Coast is the absolute best, but it can't really factor into your plans unless you gave up something else).

It's very doable, I don't think particularly excessive driving, but you'll need to plan very carefully, and make good use of your jet lag on arrival where you'll be up at the crack of dawn. Exploit it and make the best of the weather before you start melting.

We bottled out on a trip to Shark Valley because it was too hot, in December. We went swimming instead (FtL).

Also there were no bikes available to hire in Shark Valley that day. You can book online -- book ahead if you can. Kids

Thanks for the thoughts everyone.

@EmmaStone thanks for the detailed reply. I HATE midges and mozzies and they always get me badly so maybe we should give that a miss!

If we spend 2 nights in Miami, 2 nights in a resort hotel (Universal?) and maybe pick a resort on the coast near the Kennedy Space Centre - any suggestions welcomed - maybe that will do?

Off to google / read a guide book!

We stayed at Cocoa beach when we visited Kennedy Space C, it’s got a laid back feel with some nice cafes etc. You only need one night. I’d also do Universal for your age DC, two nights would be nice.
Two nights in Miami is good, three if you fancy really relaxing. Lots of good restaurants and nice Art Deco bars for a drink. I wouldn’t bother with the Keys on this trip as the nicest ones are south (Key West is great but too far).

I would also suggest researching alternate indoor activity so if its too hot/humid to deal with/raining you have a plan ready. Just ideas to keep in your back pocket like an outlet mall, planetarium, museum or something like that. A lot of showpiece malls in the US also have some form of entertainment involved - either the shops themselves or a movie theatre attached. Orlando looks like it has more than a few of these as an option!

Don't forget that you must prebook your disney park. They may be already at allocation already.

@DSGR thanks. I was just looking at Cocoa beach. Maybe 3 nights at Miami (to ease ourselves in to the holiday) and then 2 or 3 nights at a resort - so we can make the most of the park/s.

@CocktailNapkin good idea. The kind of thing I wouldn't think of (and exactly why I started this thread)

You'll never do all that in just a week, but you could manage something like this:

Fri 18th - arrive
Sat 19th - Miami South Beach, etc
Sun 20th - Drive north to Orlando via Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures
Mon 21st - Universal Studios
Tues 22nd - Universal Islands of Adventure
Weds 23rd - Kennedy Space Center
Thurs 24th - Disney's Magic Kingdom
Fri 25th - either Disney's Animal Kingdom or Hollywood Studios
Sat 26th - Daytona Beach

Or, tbh, you could probably do both Universal parks in one day if you are there at 8am and stay until late. They are linked by the Hogwarts Express as long as you get a park-to-park ticket. That would give you another day for another Disney park.

There are other places you could go on an air boat too that might be easier to get to than Boggy Creek from the northbound highway. Kissimmee Swamp Tours and Wild Florida Airboats and Gator Park on Cypress Lake might work better for you.
wildfloridairboats.com/airboat-tours/
www.kissimmeeswamptours.com/

@zafferana

You'll never do all that in just a week, but you could manage something like this:

Fri 18th - arrive
Sat 19th - Miami South Beach, etc
Sun 20th - Drive north to Orlando via Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures
Mon 21st - Universal Studios
Tues 22nd - Universal Islands of Adventure
Weds 23rd - Kennedy Space Center
Thurs 24th - Disney's Magic Kingdom
Fri 25th - either Disney's Animal Kingdom or Hollywood Studios
Sat 26th - Daytona Beach

I would do this but 2 days Miami at the start, push everything else over one day, and do Universal Volcano Bay waterpark between Islands and Kennedy. I just don't think you can do both disney and universal in that amount of time and in the August heat.

Our trip was Miami based

We did a Duck tour round Miami's islands
South beach and Art Deco
Everglades
We drove from Miami to KeyWest and back in a day (but an overnight would have been better
We got tickets to see the Miami Dolphins play
And some days just lazing on the beach

If you want a day off from the parks in Orlando, Silver Springs State Park has gators, free-range monkeys, glass bottom boat trips, and a kayaking trail. We really enjoyed it!
There are other natural springs nearby where you can swim, but people do occasionally get attacked by gators (we found that out after we’d been swimming!) so it’s at your own risk.
Kennedy Space Center is great so I’d definitely prioritise that!

Just back from Florida. If you are time short at Universal, Express pass is a must - if you stay on site at one of the more expensive hotels, you get free Express Pass (stay one night and you get two days of Express Pass) You can also walk in and out of the parks and clear Security at the hotels. The airboat ride is brilliant - there are plenty of places near Miami/Fort Lauderdale - want to say head to a freeway called Alligator Alley, where there are quite a few. Have fun!

Sorry, just back online after powercut from hell!

Thanks for the additional views. I'm feeling a bit more confident now with timings and things.

Just to add that driving from Miami to Kennedy Space Center you would do well to drive along the coast. It’s a great experience in itself especially as you get north of the lovely Vero Beach.

Thanks @SalsaLove.

So, recommendations where to stay in Miami. Even an area. We don't have a huge budget (£150 a night tops - better if cheaper!), Is Downtown OK?

I'm so out of touch at booking holidays!

I suspect the main thing you'll want in Miami is the South Beach Art Deco stuff? If so look for somewhere on Ocean Drive or Collins Ave, and you'll be in the heart of it (although I'm not sure if your budget will allow).

Coral Gables is a lovely part of 'old' Miami, if you're happy to keep Miami Beach as a trip. We stayed in Coconut Grove last time, plenty of eateries etc. even within walking distance (unusual in Florida!). Downtown could find you embroiled in traffic, but I've noticed lots of big options springing up along Brickell Ave, so may not be a bad option. Key Biscayne may be a nice option?