View Full Version : Trips
sunny guy
18-07-2005, 00:35
While in orlando this year we are thinking of having a night away. In other words using the minivan and travelling further afield into Georgia or north Florida. Does anyone have favourite places they have visited while staying in Florida?
berni_richards
18-07-2005, 11:02
atlanta is brilliant. I might take hubby this time!
What about staying in Florida but travelling down to the Keys?
Southern Georgia is a pleasant place to visit. Have a look at Jekyll Island, on the east coast, it's an old area rich in history with horse drawn carriages and a taste of what the place was like a hundred or more years ago. We stayed over for a couple of nights, I can't remember the motel but it's the only one right on the beach. The sunrises in the morning are breathtaking.
Cruella DeVilla
20-07-2005, 19:32
One night is not enough to go to the Keys or Georgia, why not head to to Gulf Coast for the night. You can get as far down as Naples in just under 4 hours.
Have you considered St Augustine? We went this year and really enjoyed it. If you like Tiffany Glass a guided tour of Flagler College there is well worth a visit.
orlandobabe
21-07-2005, 03:27
St Augustine is lovely-has a very spanish influence. Allow a good 2 hours to get there.
orlandodaze
21-07-2005, 03:34
St Augustine was one place my husband and I wished to visit on our trip to Florida 05 but the kids didnt want to spend so much time in the van so we went to Cocoa Beach for the day , had a great time even found another mall on the journey home, perhaps next year .
St. Augustine is lovely and not too long a journey from Central Orlando. Also try heading down to Manasota Key on the Gulf Coast (near Sarasota). Takes around 90-120 mins. If you want to experience "Natural FLorida" its great. Beautiful state beach, toilets/showers/BBQ area/life guard. White soft sands and the most amazing wildlife. We have been loads of times our kids ask to go there every time we visit. We were told about this place by the Turtle Rescue centre in Sarasota. Manasota Key is famous for the amount of sharks teeth you can find and pick up along the shoreline. It took us an hour to spot the first one but then our kids found about 400 of them whilst we were there for the day. Theres also a really big tortoise that lives near the BBQ area and we have seen him every year for the last 5 years. You will also see shoals of dolphins in the sea, they come in really close. Havent seen any sharks though but we tend to stick to the shallows. This beach is just lovely, thoroughly unspoilt and no commercialism. You need to take a picnic and plenty of drinks as there are no shops.
You can stay overnight in Sarasota and spend the next day exploring all that it has to offer.
ctgirlscout
21-07-2005, 16:24
If you want to go into Georgia, try Stone Mountain:
www.stonemountainpark.com
What about the Everglades? Another idea is to look up the Florida Guide section on the Orlando Villas home page for some detailed suggestions.
Mike and Kath
I have to second the suggestion of Manasota Key and Boca Grande beach which is close by. I was at Manasota Key yesterday and the beach was beautiful (photos below):
http://www.orlando-guide.info/forums/Data/ruth/200572222728_DSCN1687.JPG
http://www.orlando-guide.info/forums/Data/ruth/200572222820_DSCN1688.JPG
http://www.orlando-guide.info/forums/Data/ruth/200572223015_DSCN1689.JPG
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by lewisp
Also try heading down to Manasota Key on the Gulf Coast (near Sarasota). Takes around 90-120 mins. If you want to experience "Natural FLorida" its great. Beautiful state beach, toilets/showers/BBQ area/life guard. White soft sands and the most amazing wildlife. We have been loads of times our kids ask to go there every time we visit. We were told about this place by the Turtle Rescue centre in Sarasota. Manasota Key is famous for the amount of sharks teeth you can find and pick up along the shoreline. It took us an hour to spot the first one but then our kids found about 400 of them whilst we were there for the day. Theres also a really big tortoise that lives near the BBQ area and we have seen him every year for the last 5 years. You will also see shoals of dolphins in the sea, they come in really close. Havent seen any sharks though but we tend to stick to the shallows. This beach is just lovely, thoroughly unspoilt and no commercialism. You need to take a picnic and plenty of drinks as there are no shops.
[/quote]
We are staying in a villa at the coast and I have just spent half an hour watching a group of manatees playing right by the villa where we are staying. I got the children out of bed to watch them. It was a magical experience. Pity my camera batteries were dead:( In fact, as I sit here typing, I can still see them through the balcony doors[8D] Apparently the dolphins come right up outside too, they can be so close you can hear them, I hope I get to see that before we leave:)
Oh Ruth, what wonderful pictures, thanks for posting them [msnsmile2]
It sounds fantastic, I think I can feel a trip there coming on [msnwink]
Cruella DeVilla
22-07-2005, 18:08
Cool Ruth, go get some more batteries!!!
Mo Green
22-07-2005, 18:38
I feel quite 'homesick' Ruth ........8 weeks and I shall be there[laugh]
Ray&Sarah
22-07-2005, 20:44
Lovely photots Ruth, looks well worth a visit.[msnsmile2]
sunny guy
22-07-2005, 22:32
Thanks for some great ideas.I was actually just wondering if it's ok to take the hired minivan out of Florida.? We booked from the link on this site.
You can take hire cars out of state, that's no problem. Just don't get any ideas about going to Mexico with it!!
We saw a huge tortoise right by the road today, about a foot long. It was lovely:)My batteries are now charged and rearing to go;)
Here is the same beach tonight at sunset. The second photo has a turtle nest in the foreground (I have always dreamed of watching the babies hatch and go into the Gulf since I saw that happen on the TV as a child[:I])
http://www.orlando-guide.info/forums/Data/ruth/20057233469_DSCN1705.JPG
http://www.orlando-guide.info/forums/Data/ruth/200572334647_DSCN1706.JPG
dawn thirkill
23-07-2005, 12:50
WOW....beautiful pictures...you can almost hear the waves....I hope the manatees/doplins come to say hello...
Dawn
LiesaAnna
23-07-2005, 13:03
i agree theyre lovely photos!!
wish i was there!
Ray&Sarah
23-07-2005, 14:05
What a lovely sunset Ruth. Nice to hear you are feeling recharged.[msnsmile2]
IanandSarah
23-07-2005, 15:25
Great photos, especially the turtle nest one,
Ian and Sarah
DisneyDreamer
29-07-2005, 19:20
What amazing photo's. I would also recommend a trip to the Gulf Coast, beautiful area and certainly worth a visit.[msncool]
MrEktion
30-07-2005, 03:34
Hi Ruth,
Lovely pictures of Manasota Key.
We stayed just over the Intercoastal Waterway from the link bridge to the north of the key. That beach is just wonderful and we made a trip there most days of the week we stayed in 2004.
Thanks for bringing back happy memories and I should be back there in 10 weeks [msnsmile2]
Mr E.