Visiting north Florida

[jabm67]

There's a significant chance I'll be making a trip to Florida late this calendar year with the entire family. The reason we'd be going is to attend a Space Shuttle launch, but there's other stuff to do while there, obviously. The news came rather suddenly, the dates are not yet well pinned down, and this represents my first feeble attempts to do some research for the trip. So ...

Besides the Cape, and Disneyworld, what else shouldn't be missed if one is there for a week? Figure a family of four, kids age 11 & 12, and none of us has ever been to Florida before.

Any suggestions about where to fly in and where to stay? Any advice on stuff to avoid or otherwise be wary of?

[MyAzi]

Oh you gotta take the kids to see the alligator farms. At that age they will think it is really cool!!!! Hmmmm I wonder if they still have them. It has been YEARS since I was there... Florida residents???? Are they still there???

[Curious George]

If your going to Florida you half to take a drive to key west blue ocean on one side an green on the other an that 7 mile bridge , if you like car racing the museum at Daytona, an a walk on Daytona beach, bush gardens if you like flowers an a water show . an like azi said the alligators only alligator wrestlers the kids might like that you will spend a whole day + at the cape same with Disney , all said you might need more then a week though . one other thing you might want to try some deep see fishing, just pick a low wind day

[kimbercuddles]

I would be able to give you quite a bit of information on the panhandle, Jab, but we aren't very familiar with the central or eastern side of Florida since we've only been here for about five months. If you think you would be interested in coming through the western part, let me know. Anyone else who has more info and has experienced must-see attractions?

[MyAzi]

Hey cuddles isn't there a black beach there at the coast of the panhandle? I remember going to a black sand beach and it was really cool!

[kimbercuddles]

Originally Posted by MyAzi

Hey cuddles isn't there a black beach there at the coast of the panhandle? I remember going to a black sand beach and it was really cool!

We've traveled along the coast from Texas to Panama City, Florida (that's as far as we've been east)...I don't remember ever seeing or hearing about a black sand beach. The beaches in this area are beautiful, blinding white sand. I can't seem to find anything online about black sand beaches...please let me know if you remember where or if you are able to find any info...that would be cool!

[MyAzi]

Originally Posted by kimbercuddles

We've traveled along the coast from Texas to Panama City, Florida (that's as far as we've been east)...I don't remember ever seeing or hearing about a black sand beach. The beaches in this area are beautiful, blinding white sand. I can't seem to find anything online about black sand beaches...please let me know if you remember where or if you are able to find any info...that would be cool!

okay had to call my dad on this one... he said I was confused. We were in the south part of the gulf when we went to the black sand beach THEN we flew to Dallas and picked up the car and drove to FLA where we went to the fine white sand beach so we kids could see the difference. I guess that makes sense because black sand is volcanic right? Not too many volcanos in FL But there are in the caribbean... that isn't THAT far away... Sorry...my bad!

[kimbercuddles]

Originally Posted by MyAzi

okay had to call my dad on this one... he said I was confused. We were in the south part of the gulf when we went to the black sand beach THEN we flew to Dallas and picked up the car and drove to FLA where we went to the fine white sand beach so we kids could see the difference. I guess that makes sense because black sand is volcanic right? Not too many volcanos in FL But there are in the caribbean... that isn't THAT far away... Sorry...my bad!

Rats...that would have been great, but I guess I'll try to be satisfied with the pristine white quartz sand beaches...poor, poor, pitiful me!!

[Sekretgardengal]

Try to get to the Ocala State Forest. I hear it is wonderful. Also, go to Daytona. They have the building where you can go and see the Daytona 500 car that one this year. I also hear that Cypress Gardens is bigger and better. Never got there but maybe we can go for vacation some day.

[WendyBG]

My favorite thing, in Florida, is Seaworld. An orca jumping straight up, with a woman, standing balanced, on its nose...unforgettable! Also, dolphins, seals, etc. Great for all ages.

Wendy

[Sekretgardengal]

Originally Posted by WendyBG

My favorite thing, in Florida, is Seaworld. An orca jumping straight up, with a woman, standing balanced, on its nose...unforgettable! Also, dolphins, seals, etc. Great for all ages.

Wendy

Seaworld has a new show with Shamu. It is called Believe and is supposed to be wonderful. I like the sharks tank and the white whales at Seaworld.
The Sea Lions are very very funny. They always have a great show.

[Panterro]

Man.. I wish our Seaworld type thing was still here.. gues I'll have to drive to Florida and check it out. =) I dont even think we have a zoo here..

[MyAzi]

I grew up 5 minutes from Sea World in San Diego and my aunt worked there so we had free passes. I never got tired of going and watching the shows but my favorite things were petting the dolphins and the hydro boat rides!!!

I still love Sea World!

[Sekretgardengal]

Ya know, I never got to pet the dolphins. They look like they are rubbery.
I think Sea World is a blast. We went on the Kraken (sp) ride when we were there. I thought I was gonna die. It was so much fun.

[jabm67]

A follow-up post on this thread.

We made our trip back in December. A friend went up in Atlantis, and the original nominal launch date was Dec 6. So we went down to Florida for two weeks, arriving the evening of the 4th. It was literally as we got to the front of the line to present our tickets that the first launch was scrubbed.

A few days later they scrubbed the launch 'til January, and then later into February. So we missed that. We had a good time despite that, but there's no denying the fundamental disappointment of missing the launch. We saw a Titan launch from Cocoa Beach, but it's not quite the same.

We rented someone's condo for a week, preceded by 4 nights in a motel, both in Cocoa Beach. After the condo, 3 nights in the Swan at Disney World. Our flights were on Tuesdays, and the condo was a Saturday-to-Saturday lease, hence the patchwork of accommodations.

We took in several wildlife places, the Disney complex, the NASA visitor center, Gatorland, Sea World, Discovery Cove (the kids swam with dolphins), with a few days of lazing in the condo/on the beach interspersed in there. We didn't go much of anywhere outside of a triangle defined by Disney World, Cape Canaveral Nat'l Wildlife Refuge, and Cocoa Beach. That was enough; we really didn't feel much like multi-hour drives when there was more than enough to see and do during the trip.