Non Disney Florida ideas

[Thethingswedoforlove]

We are considering going to Florida in October. Don’t want to do Disney. An active family with two dds who will be 17 and 15. What would you recommend there? Will def do cape canivral (sp?) and a water park or two. What is there by way of activities eg surfing or kayaking ? Will have around 10 days. Any recommendations welcome including accommodation and activities. Have booked so many hols through mn recommendations in the past. Thank you!

What about flying into Tampa and having a beach holiday at St Pete Beach or Clearwater area? It's not-too-long a drive to Busch Gardens and there are loads of attractions or a simple relaxing time at the beach.

Thanks meridasmum. I will look at the area and attractions

I love the Tampa area, but surfing is not that great on the Gulf coast; for that you want to be on the Altlantic coast, perhaps the Daytona Beach area or St. Augustine/Jacksonville Beach.

www.peterpantraveler.com/best-surf-towns-florida/

There's a coral reef off the coast of Florida and there are companies that do glass-bottomed boat trips with snorkelling.

If you do decide to head to Northeast Florida, my favorite beach town/area is Fernandina Beach/Amelia Island. It still retains a bit of old Florida charm.

And speaking of old Florida, you can't get older than St. Augustine, which is the oldest city in the US. Besides its beaches, there are lots of interesting historic buildings and sites and some great restaurants.

Oh wow some really good and interesting thoughts here. Thank you for the ideas and link.

Though you say you don’t want to do Disney, the best two water parks in my opinion are Typhoon Lagoon ( wave pool ) and Blizzard Beach ( slides ). DC will love both. I mention both as one may be closed in October for maintenance

Sanibel. The most amazing shell beach.

Fort Myers had the softest sand. We stayed in the Outrigger and it was great value.

Obviously an airboat ride in the Everglades is a must! We visited an alligator place there too, on the way from Miami to the west coast.

There’s loads to do in the Sarasota area. Museums, botanical garden, a zoo. I’d recommend Tropical Beach Resorts. Self catering condos right on the beach. Loved it.

You can zip wire over alligators at Gatorland near Orlando.

Have a look at RIX ROAD TRIPS on You Tube (might be Rick's not RIX) as they cover what to do outside the theme parks in Florida.

All theme parks are not equal and you definitely shouldn't rule out Universal Studios.

Universal have two parks next to each other and probably the best water park in Florida with Volcano Bay.

Your kids are exactly the right age for Universal Studios and Universal Islands of Adventure. I think it's Islands of Adventure that is consistently voted as the best theme park in Florida. Both contain Harry Potter attractions and Islands has Jurassic Park and Marvel rides too. Also, Universal are much, much cheaper than Disney. I'd say it's a must do if you're in Florida.

Busch Gardens in Tampa is a good theme park too (animals and coasters) and though I'm not a fan of Seaworld, I do quite fancy their Discovery Cove attraction (a natural spa day where you can snorkel with tropical fish).

Mount Dora was a nice place to stay if I remember. Though last time we toured was before kids so it may have changed.

You can get a fan boat ride through the Everglades to see wild alligators and manatees too.

I absolutely love Florida.

Oooh, and just realised you will be there in time for Universal's Halloween Horror Nights. Probably the best scare mazes anywhere!

...and now I want to go!

Kayaking at Wekiva Springs is fantastic - paddling down the river seeing turtles, birds and alligators! There is also a clear water spring that you can swim in, with no gators. It's really worth going there, it's beautiful

Everglades trips and the Kennedy Space Centre are a must, expecially if you can time it with a launch.

Miami and the Florida Keys are awesome.

Beautiful and loads to do.

Some really amazing thoughts here

Discovery cove expensive but a once in a life time experience.
discoverycove.com/orlando/
Kissimee old town on the car and bike nights its great atmosphere, live music in the street, its great for non petrol heads too.
myoldtownusa.com

We also travelled south to hollywood beach and Davey nice areas Sawgrassmill shopping was good too

On our Florida trips we have done Miami, The Everglades and the Keys (stayed overnight in Key Largo; John Pennekamp Marine park is fantastic for boat trips/snorkelling). Key West is a super place to relax, bike ride and just chill.

Another trip we did Universal Studios (the Harry Potter stuff worth price of admission alone) and then decamped to St Pete’s near Tampa.

Anna Maria island is the most beautiful place you will likely ever go in your life. It’s near to Sarasota which is also great. Miami is just the coolest city and trip to the Everglades is worth it. There’s so much more to Florida than Disney just a shame people don’t really venture any further than Orlando

Another vote for Sanibel ! Just fantastic for beaches, cycling, bird watching , shells , boat trips ….

If you do go to Universal, make sure you get the two park ticket otherwise you won't be able to park hop and, most importantly, ride the Hogwarts Express from one park to the other and back; the experience is different both ways.

Wow everybody. Thank you so so much. I am so excited to plan this now! On universal- we went to universal in California and I sort of feel we have ‘done’ that now. I don’t love the simulated nature of the rides vs the real rides you get in eg six flags. That said, the best water parks is definitely something I am interested in researching…. But I will look into universal as they have been so so well promoted on this thread!! Thank you so much

I’ve done Universal in both LA and Orlando; the Orlando one is streets ahead. Especially for Harry Potter - getting the Hogswarts Express to arrive in HP world is not to be missed. The whole HP experience there is much better, too.

Which dates in October?
The later it is the more dependant on ideal weather at a water park.
Any sort of breeze in October can feel quickly chilling in a water park then ( speaking from experience)

Another vote for Anna Maria Island, my favourite place on earth and there is loads to do around Sarasota.
Siesta Key is livelier and also v nice

Give the space centre a huge body swerve it's a massive waste of time and money now. It was worth it a good few years ago but not any longer that's for certain.

It really depends on where you are planning to base yourself, Florida is huge. For instance, I stayed at Florida Keys and then drove to Sanibel for a week which was a good four hours drive and it's nowhere near as far up as Orlando or Daytona, so I would work out what is important to you.