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!

I visited the Space Center recently and it was excellent. We’re actually going again next weekend.

Agree with others about Anna Maria Island - it’s lovely.

Ok this is all very interesting. I think it’s right at the end of October so maybe water parks aren’t quite the thing: but does that make all water based activities off the table? And interesting that someone has said that the space centre isn’t worth it now. It is clearly massively in a different location frkm most of the other recommendations…./

We were at the Space Centre five years ago and loved it. Spent the whole day there. It can’t have changed that much! I’d say if your family is even vaguely interested in rockets and science then go! Cocoa Beach is quite nice too.

@Thethingswedoforlove

Ok this is all very interesting. I think it’s right at the end of October so maybe water parks aren’t quite the thing: but does that make all water based activities off the table? And interesting that someone has said that the space centre isn’t worth it now. It is clearly massively in a different location frkm most of the other recommendations…./

Water-based activities certainly would be on the table in October. The weather can vary a lot in October, but it is seldom cold. Often it is quite warm, even hot by UK standards. And, of course, it can vary according to what part of the state you are in.

I can second St Augustine, it's a really lovely old town with lots to do and great restaurants. We have friends who live in Orlando, last time we were there they took us to downtown Orlando for a meal out, it's very un touristy there and has some excellent places to eat. We've also done Miami, definitely worth a trip but it is so expensive to eat or do anything there. You might also be able to swim with manatees at that time of year, at a place called Crystal River a couple of hours out of Orlando. Did this when I was a teen with my family and I've never forgotten it, and they take the well-being of the animals very seriously.

Anna Maria. We swam with manatees in the wild, they came and swam with us

I've been in October and the weather was lovely. Had one or two off days and we went and did Kennedy (which I think is great!) but we still managed pool time, water park etc.

Gatorland! I loved it. So interesting and they really are such a part of Florida. Amazing creatures.

Pre Covid we would generally do Florida every year (I was born there, and love going 'home'). We try and do something diffferent on each trip, but we almost always spend some time on the Gulf Coast, and our favourite location is the Anna Maria Island/Sarasota areas. The beaches are incredible, seafood amazing, lots of boating activities, dolphins and manatees.

We often will do quite a lot of driving, as long as we've got downtime planned too (eg we've flown into Miami and then driven up to Georgia the next day), but be aware of how far places are from each other and how much driving you're happy to do.

If you're not interested in Orlando, I'd bypass the area altogether, fly into Miami, do Miami, the Keys, Everglades and the Gulf Coast to decompress. But if surfing and Kennedy are priorities, stay on the Atlantic Coast side, maybe take in St Augustine, where every brick of history is very carefully eked out 😂, but is still an interesting visit.

@EmmaStone thank you for spelling it out so clearly for me

Miami, Everglades and the keys. The Everglades has this part where you can cycle up to a viewing tower, cycling past alligators on the way. John pennekamp state park has amazing snorkeling (we saw a massive bull shark which was incredible if slightly terrifying!). In the keys we hired kayaks for a really unique paddle around the mangroves - apparently manatees are quite common though we didn't see any. We watched the Man versus Food episode set in the keys for restaurant inspiration! The key lime pie at Blue Heaven is awesome. I also loved Miami with it's art deco architecture and great latino food.

We regularly go to St Petes beach over by Tampa, really beautiful.

Flying to St Augustine,FL tomorrow too, been once before and loved it

Homosassa Springs state wildlife park to see the manatees.

@ArialAnna, @Whammyyammy*,*@Welshmaenad thank you so much

@EmmaStone

Pre Covid we would generally do Florida every year (I was born there, and love going 'home'). We try and do something diffferent on each trip, but we almost always spend some time on the Gulf Coast, and our favourite location is the Anna Maria Island/Sarasota areas. The beaches are incredible, seafood amazing, lots of boating activities, dolphins and manatees.

We often will do quite a lot of driving, as long as we've got downtime planned too (eg we've flown into Miami and then driven up to Georgia the next day), but be aware of how far places are from each other and how much driving you're happy to do.

If you're not interested in Orlando, I'd bypass the area altogether, fly into Miami, do Miami, the Keys, Everglades and the Gulf Coast to decompress. But if surfing and Kennedy are priorities, stay on the Atlantic Coast side, maybe take in St Augustine, where every brick of history is very carefully eked out 😂, but is still an interesting visit.

Love your last line - so accurate!

We went in October and did the water parks a few times, it was lovely weather