Where else to go?

[Surfin_USA]

Okay so we went Orlando last year and had an AMAZING time, we have decided to go back next year but want to do different stuff also.

Last year we did The Disney, Universal, MGM, IOA, Skull Kingdom, Discovery Cove, Busch Gardens and Boggy Creek whilst going to various places like Daytona Beech etc.

So, this time we want to do all that but also something different, thinking about going the Everglades. Anyone else recommend places to visit?

Thanks in advance for the replies [msnsmile2][msnsmile2][msnsmile2]

[Frosty]

You could spend forever finding somewhere, remember FL is roughly the size of the UK.

If you want to visit the everglades, whilst there you are close to Fort Lauderdale, Miami and of course the Keys themselves. The keys are almost like another country compared to the rest of FL, very laid back with ocean on both sides of you.

[mfairhurst]

There is ST AUGUSTINE you can go for a day and look for the dolfins you can see them over the bridge .
There is a beach at ST CLOUD arond LAKE TOKO with a restaurant called CRABBY BILLS .
The best beachs are CLEARWATER ,MADERIA BEACH ,AND TREASURE ISLAND ALSO ST PETES BEACH IF YOU START AT CLEARWATER AND KEEP GOING ALONG THE COAST TO AST PETES you will see lots of places for the future .
MAUREEN
www.onlinefloridavillas.com/villas/1683.aspx

[Surfin_USA]

Yeah i know thats why i asked people what they recommend =D

Ah, i see, yeah i think the everglades are definitely on our list now then. =D

[Surfin_USA]

Sounds really nice Mfair, will have to look into that, thanks for the advice =D

[Kazzie]

Dom, Have a good look here for more suggestions:

http://www.orlando-guide.info/forums/forum_23.asp

Karen

[Surfin_USA]

Ooo, thanks so much for the link Kazzie =D Big help =D

[Nina A]

Oh Dom, there is just so much to do you could be there for months and still not see it all. It also depends on what you like to do.

We really enjoyed 'Fantasy of Flight', you don't have to be massively into aircraft to enjoy it. If you fancy a show, then Cirque du Soleil is amazing. A trip on the lake at Mount Dora is like going back into pre history and an overnight stay at St Augustine is fascinating. There are also so many natural attractions such as the State Parks or Homossassa Springs.

The Orlando area has more to offer than Disney et al. Have you been to Celebration, Kissimmee Old Town on a Saturday night, been out on lake Toho or taken a helicopter tour or balloon flight?

If you need more inspiration as well as looking at the forum guides I recommend buying a guidebook such as 'a brit's guide to Orlando and Walt Disney World'

Have a brilliant time

[flyrr100]

I totally recomend St Augustine. I used to live in Jacksonville and would go there all the time. Speaking of Jacksonville, look into Jacksonville Jaguar NFL tickets. They havnt been doing as good as usual the last few years so tickets should be easy to get. Then drive up to Savannah Georgia. It's about 2 hours north of Jacksonville. The old houses and history there will blow you away! Read 'Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil' first. It gives a lovely history of Savannah And if you are on I-95, keep going and spend a day or two in Charleston South Carolina. Or a little bit further there's Murtle Beach S. Carolina. Or get into North Carolina. The Outer Banks area is lovely. And you could visit Kitty Hawk and see where the Wright Brothers flew that famous plane!
There, an instant vacation. Post some pictures, drink a beer in the Winston Churchill Pub in Savannah, and have a great time!

[mizzy]

i would just like to say that it looks like you packed so much in the first trip you may think you've done something but there could be more to see than first meets the eye

take Epcot for example, after three visits here i still see new things, until the last trip i never knew about the boardwalk area and we spent a lovely few hours over there

or how about a behind the scenes tour at one of the parks, we did a penguin encounter at seaworld that the children and adults loved and i believe disney offer some fab tours too [clap]

Celebration is also another "must do"

[Val]

I would recommend Naples the beaches are fabulous and you are in easy reach of the Everglades also the islands of Sanibel and Captiva are worth a visit. Anywhere along the Gulf coast is worth a visit.

Val

[Pudders]

If you can make it down to Ft Lauderdale then there is the Jungle Queen river boat cruise. Well worth a visit!!

They do a day trip and an evening trip. The evening trip takes you up and down the river highways of the rich and famous and then stops off at a private island for an all you can eat buffet and some light cabaret. It then finishes off with the night cruise back and is worth every cent.

[msnsmile2]

[Surfin_USA]

Yeah Mizzy, i think we did do a lot of stuff on our first trip. But i agree, we are going back to Universal, MGM etc. (Not Disney though as did not find it too enjoyable).

But this time looking for something else to do a little different seeing as Skull Kingdom isn't there and were not going Disney =D


Thanks Val, we are definately thinking of the Everglades, load up on bug spray and we should be gone =D


Hm, sounds interesting Pudders, someone else mentioned Ft Lauderdale, will have to look into that one as it does sound quite nice to go.

[50sumtng]

Try a picnic at Lake Louisa State Park, just 1/2 hr drive from Kissimmee.
[website link edited]
The park contains a number of lakes, all with picnic and BBQ areas, plus walking trails etc.
A great retreat from the hectic Disney experience

[mollymolly]

Have you thought of 1 week in Orlando and 1 week at the gulf Coast? There is so much to do down on the Gulf. You would be an easy drive away from the Everglades - south or Busch Gardens - north. The beaches are fantastic, hire a boat, go fishing or just relax!

Bernadette

[The King of Sheba]

I noticed no one has mentioned the Kennedy Space Centre (unless I'm blind). We were there in April/May and it was the best part of our holiday. We went with a 7mth old / a 3 year old & 3 grandparents (plus me & the wife) and we all enjoyed it. Obviously the 7mth old had no idea what was going on, but everyone else loved it.

There are lots to cram in so allow a whole day there. There are different tours you can go on, we went on the "up close tour" which takes you to the shuttle launch pads and drops you off at the Apollo Centre.

I'd have an interest in the space race etc, but even those who don't have an interest in it would find it hard not to be amazed by it all.

If I ever go back to Florida the Kennedy Space Centre will be first on my list.

[MarkJan]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by 50sumtng
Try a picnic at Lake Louisa State Park, just 1/2 hr drive from Kissimmee.
The park contains a number of lakes, all with picnic and BBQ areas, plus walking trails etc. A great retreat from the hectic Disney experience[/quote]If you aren't staying in Kissimmee, Lake Louisa is closer! Approx 7 miles north of 192 on H27. So quiet, no traffic noise, just birds.

[bart]

Hi

We would highly recommend that you start in Orlando and then head over to Clear Water and St. Pets and then travel down the coast and over to the keys and up home through Miami.
Its a long trip but well well worth it.

really and truly anywhere in Florida is worth it.
We have yet to find somewhere we did NOT like.

Good luck and enjoy.

Kind regards
REGINA AND BARRY

[caroline]

Dom, it might help with suggestions of places to go and things to do if we knew the make up of your party - ie kids, teens.................. grandparents!! [msnwink]

[Surfin_USA]

Thanks for the amazing help guys, there is a few new places we HAVE to go now =D

Sorry caroline, it is 16, 18, and 2 adults =D

[caroline]

Ah, so Green Meadows petting farm won't be high on your list[msnwink]