Orlando + Florida Keys? Bahamas? Cuba? Deep South?

[Outlyingtrout]

Just in the early stages of researching what will be a once-in-a-lifetime holiday for us. It isn't for a couple of years yet but I want a rough idea of what I'm saving for.

It has to be during school summer holidays (so end of July/August) and we can take 3 weeks off work. Possibly a few extra days. Kids are primary aged.

We want to take the children to Disney World, Universal etc and this will be a decent chunk of the trip but I'm keen to experience much more of that part of the world while we're there.

We potentially want to visit the Everglades. I've also seen some national parks to the north of Orlando that look incredible; tubing at Kelly Park Rock Springs is on the list.

Here's my conundrum. I am really keen to have a week (ish) somewhere different to the tourist zones of Orlando. I'm thinking either somewhere with beautiful beaches, warm water, chilled out friendly atmosphere (quiet though, not a party place), good food and stunning scenery OR a mini 'taste of the South' either in North Florida or across the border in another of the southern states. If we go that route, I'd like to get off the beaten track a bit. Maybe visit some historical or natural sites and just generally experience the famous Southern hospitality and traditional local food and music etc.

Can anybody make any suggestions? Have you done anything similar? Where are your favourite locations

If we go for the beachy option, where should we be looking? Florida Keys? Or somewhere in the Caribbean? Would a cruise be the best way to experience this for somewhere in the region of 4-7 days or should we just stay out there?

I just can't seem to narrow it down!

We did a week in Orlando and then drove down to the keys. Stayed about half way down at Duck key at a resort called Hawkscay resort.
we ate at lots of roadside restaurants nearby the resort in the evening to keep the costs down.
had a 2 bed sunset villa. It was fantastic.
visited key west for the day. It was lovely but so hot in August.
kids were 14 and 17.

Was going to write you a while long list of places when I spotted the July/August bit. The heat and worse, the humidity, is beyond crazily exhausting. Never again..How anyone even attempts Disney with little kids in the summer beats me.
The West Coast has the most divine beaches, sugar white soft sand. Check out Anna Maria Island , Siesta Key , Sanibel , Naples ( handy for Everglades ).
The keys in the south ( Key West ) have tiny / manmade beaches.

I know not part of your plan at all but maybe consider a 2 part holiday doing the Disney parks etc for a week and then fly up to Boston/ drive even or take a train and return to UK from there.
See Cape Cod / New England/ Nantucket/Martha's Vinyard.
Stunning beaches/landscape.
You could even rent a lakeside cabin , a very kind of American idyllic summer holiday, jumping into the lakes.
The Caribbean likewise has more rainfall/humidity in the summer and towards end of August like in Florida heads into hurrican season.

Florida in August is unbearably humid and it rains a lot.

Have you considered California? Still very hot but without the humidity. You could do Disney in Anaheim then look at Yosemite, Sequoia and somewhere like Santa Barbara or Monterey for the beaches. The only downside is the flights are longer, but once you get there there's a lot more to explore IMO.

I wouldn't recommend Cuba right now - my DH has had to travel there a lot for work lately and he says the country is having real issues with food shortages and supplies. That's in Havana anyway, not sure if it's the same away from the capital. But even in the decent hotel he stays in the food is very hit and miss and options are severely limited. If you are traveling with kids who are specific about what they will eat then Cuba might be a problem. Sure it's a lovely country otherwise but if you want to go somewhere you can enjoy the food, I wouldn't recommend.
St Augustine in Florida is lovely, really beautiful and lots to do for 3-4 days. We did Miami last year and enjoyed it - the beach is beautiful and it's a fun city but very expensive. We ordered 2 Dominoes pizzas on arriving to our accommodation late at night and it was $70! Probably the cheapest meal we had there 😂. So if you do Miami, save up. I've heard great things about the Florida keys but have never been.

The Bahamas in august is a bit shit weather wise, fil lived there and we visited a few times, warm but wet.

Thanks all. Some food for thought there.

Pre kids (and as kids ourselves) we've been to Orlando in August a few times. I know it's not ideal but we haven't found it off-putting and unfortunately there's not much we can do about the time of year. We definitely want to avoid spring break at Disney which usually rules out Easter holidays and there isn't another opportunity with school holiday being as they are.

We have been to Miami before as a couple but didn't massively rate it.

I hadn't really considered California but will give that some thought. We do like it over there but haven't visited Anaheim Disney so that would be new.

Another saying the humidity will be absolutely filthy. If you go to the Everglades, there's no shade anywhere, and you'll be eaten alive (although the alligators should leave you alone 😁). Gulf Coast for absolutely beautiful beaches, or you could go a little north into Georgia, see Savannah, maybe go to some of the islands off the coast of Georgia/S Carolina. Would be a bit different. Stop off in St Augustine on your way up.

The Keys are fab, but don't go if you're looking for beaches, they're rubbish (and Florida has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, so you'd really be doing yourself a disservice).

St. Simons Island, Georgia and/or Savannah

Amelia Island and Fernandina Beach, Florida

We did a week in a Florida (airboats, Kennedy Space Centre and Universal studios) then a Caribbean cruise, that worked out well.

Hi. We have done a trip to Disney/Universal in late July/August twice. I was really worried about the heat but it was ok in the end. We had busy mornings then came back and swam at the pool / had a rest before going back out in the evenings. We spent our second week on St George Island which is just AMAZING. Very quiet, quaint, amazing beach, beautiful warm water, dolphins swimming in the sea. We rented nice houses through vrbo each time. Other great places in Florida are Naples, Sanibel, The Keys. We went to St Augustine and it was fine but nothing amazing.

We also went in august. it was hot but we chilled and swam lots between outings. Apartment had good ac too. We spent 2 weeks on the gulf coast not far from Clearwater on a lovely quiet stretch of coast. Visited Honeymoon and Alcadesie Islands which were beautiful (dolphins followed the boat) went further north and sawn with manatees. lots of lovely things to. We spent a few days in Orlando in an apart-hotel with good facilities and a pools that was great to come back to. Yes it was hot but like you we could only go at that time. We had such an amazing time. Kids were kid teens.

just wondering why you'd go there innAugust when europe is at its glorious best?
italy spain france greece so fabulous food history et i've been to the Us numerous times including disney etc and honestly you would have a wonderful time and expose your children to so much cultural richness !We took the kids on road trips fromLActo san francisco and another trip from LA to San diego and although it was wonderful i honestly think europe in the summer is unbeatable xxx
best of luck what ever you decide to do

Thanks @Notacottish and @Pennina that's exactly the kind of thing we're after. I'll look into those locations.