Florida for a couple that doesn't like golf, beaches or theme parks

[BarrelOfOtters]

I've been to the US West Coast loads - love the hiking, the mountains, Yosemite, San Fransisco....

Got a chance to go with DH to Florida next March as he's got a work thing there. What is there apart from theme parks beaches and golf?

We've both been separately to Orlando when we were in our 20s and it was fun. And tbh if we were there we'd probably go for a couple of days - though I wouldn't fly over there specifically to do it. But what else would you do?

Driving down to the Keys, kayaking with manatees, everglades wildlife. Depends where DH is.

The place where the space shuttle used to go from ?
That might be interesting.

Miami and party!

We have done Miami and the Keys. It was a combination of cultural and wildlife.

Where are you going? There are loads of non theme park places you can visit, there's plenty of history and cute small towns with cafes, art galleries, museums, historic houses etc. My cousins love Destin, I have relatives in Ocala too which has a great art museum. Here are some more nice old small towns:

www.theworldandthensome.com/top-12-beautiful-old-towns-in-florida-that-you-need-to-visit/

Omg Kennedy space centre was my absolute fave place over there. It was the most amazing day & I'd go back just for that.

ST pete's beach, anna maria island or the florida keys. all gorgeous

Drive down the Keys and finish off with a few days in Key West.

All the above. Also St Augustine for the history with the Spanish fort and the tours, and Key West for the atmosphere and experience. In Key West there is nightly entertainers when the sunset goes down as the sunsets are stunning.

You need to get yourself down to Key West. The drive down is amazing. You could do lots of stops on different keys on the way,ending up with a chilled put week in Key West.
My idea of bliss !!

There is a beautiful freshwater spring in the town of Dunellon, it's called the rainbow river. It's absurdly gorgeous and I spent a very lovely day drifting down the river and swimming/tubing. Swampys bar and grille was around halfway down and they did the BEST wings.

St Petersburg has a Russian submarine you can go on and look around and a Salvador Dali museum. I had no idea he retired to Florida until we went there!

The beaches are not just good for sunbathing, etc. they also have lots of sharks teeth and we enjoyed walking along a pier and seeing all the horseshoe crabs, a living fossil!

Everglades, the Keys, lots of wildlife, last time we were there we helped an endangered tortoise cross the road! We angered a lot of drivers, but the tortoise made it so sod the drivers!

Depends a bit where in Florida your DH is working if you only have a couple of days - it's bloody massive!

If you are near Orlando, Silver Springs State Park is fun - you can kayak, do glass bottom boat tours, and check out the feral monkeys! There’s lots of beautiful natural springs north of Orlando where you can swim or float around on rubber rings (look out for gators).
The Keys are also amazing - great sunsets, key west is a real party town.
My favourite place in Florida is probably Sanibel Island - no high rises, beautiful beaches, nature reserve. Main activity is wandering along the beach looking for shells. Very relaxing!

Just don't go in the summer, I lived in south Florida the past 3 years and it is truly a disgusting swap half of the year. Looks good in pictures with the coconut palms and the mangos. If you like the feeling of being in a sauna every time you go outside go in the summer. The fall and winter is beautiful

@mangomangodurian We went to Florida in the summer once, everyone kept asking us why we were there at that time of year! I told them I was a massive fan of thunderstorms and they agreed that was a good reason! Probably the only reason! It was cheap too so that was a bonus!

hes working in Miami for a long weekend and we we’re thinking of tacking a week into that.

this all sounds promising….

It would be the Keys for me too. Although hotel prices are extortionate at the moment.

Miami is great for a few days. Art Deco buildings, Versace mansion, Calle Ocho, boat tours, water sports, nightlife, shopping, sports games etc.

Just up the coast in Fort Lauderdale is also really nice. You could pick up a short cruise to the Bahamas from there.

On the opposite coast, I really enjoyed Tampa. It’s a great city with lots to see and do. Ybor City in Tampa was a cool place. Clearwater is a nice place too.