Florida Trip in late August, Key West, Miami
murie...@gmail.com
before the East Caribbean cruise.
Like to spend some time in Miami and Key West, may be Ft. Lauderdale.
Family of three, a ten years old daughter.
1.Fly to Ft. Lauderdale from Toronto. (Air tickets confirmed)
2. Miami
3. Miami
4. Key West
5. Key West
6. Spend a night in Miami to get ready for next day cruise.
Any suggestion will be appreciated.
Rog'
Ft. Lauderdale has a very nice beach and is more family-friendly
than Miami Beach. Check out the Sheraton Yankee Clipper at
the South end on Ft.. Lauderdale beach. Right on the beach.
Beach in the AM. Stay cool in the PM -- Miami Seaquarium,
Viscaya House+Grounds, Miami Space Transit Planetarium.
The drive to Key West and back on the Overseas Highway
(US1) is an experience in itself. Stop off at John Pennekamp
State Park for a reef cruise or rent a canoe, and Bahia Honda
State Park for a swim on one of the best beaches in the U.S.
In Key West, check out the Hemmingway House and maybe
do a boat-snorkel tour (I like the "Sunny Days" outfit).
Shawn Hirn
<17a2994f-0a79-44bc...@a9g2000prl.googlegroups.com>,
murie...@gmail.com wrote:
Could you be more specific? Suggestions for what? Hotel, cruise, things
to do, dining, or what?
Calif Bill
"Shawn Hirn" <sr...@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:srhi-A4C9E7.1...@comcast.dca.giganews.com...
Ft. Lauderdale has nice beaches. Go on an airboat tour out of Doc Holiday's
Marina near the cross everglades road. We stayed there in 2000 and got a
motel with kitchenette right across from the beach for maybe $80. Did not
use the kitchenette.
- Bobb -
> <17a2994f-0a79-44bc...@a9g2000prl.googlegroups.com>,
> murie...@gmail.com wrote:
>
>> Going to Florida late August. Planning to spend 5 days in Florida
>> before the East Caribbean cruise.
>>
>> Like to spend some time in Miami and Key West, may be Ft. Lauderdale.
>> Family of three, a ten years old daughter.
>>
>> 1.Fly to Ft. Lauderdale from Toronto. (Air tickets confirmed)
>> 2. Miami
>> 3. Miami
>> 4. Key West
>> 5. Key West
>> 6. Spend a night in Miami to get ready for next day cruise.
>>
>> Any suggestion will be appreciated.
>
you have room arrangements already ? No ?
If you don't have rooms yet - think over your plans then check/make a
reservation - you might change plans depending upon availability.
If you get there early enough, don't waste the first day in Miami - END up
there. Head to the Keys. Give us some ideas on what type of stuff you're
interested in. I've been going there for years and have lots of
bookmarks - I'll include a few.
1. For the Keys - bullets:
* In the keys everything is referenced by "Mile Markers". Mile Marker zero
( or MM0) is in Key West. Once you get onto the Keys, there is only one
main road. Sometimes there are trees between north/southbound lanes, most
time there is not, but when you're talking to anyone for directions, ASK "
northbound or southbound side ?" since sometimes if set back off tree
covered area next to the road it's tough to see.
* Key Largo has several "touristy" places - one of which is on southbound
side of the road - you can feed the tarpon - and get breakfast. You'll see
the signs.
* Marathon is biggest city so you can get supplies at Publix food store ,
Wal-Mart etc.
* Mid- keys visit the Turtle museum - locals started caring for sea
turtles injured by boats years ago and developed into full blown hospital.
* For dinner - Islamorada ( ~ Mile marker 80) Lazy Days - sit on back deck
for sunset. Not cheap but GREAT food. Or if you like dungeness crab -
Bentley's - a few miles north USUALLY has it. They're both on northbound
side of the road. There is now a Hampton Inn next to Lazy Days.
http://www.fla-keys.com/webcams/cheeca/index.htm
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/thekeys/0385010002.html
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/southflorida/
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/upperandmiddlekeys/0386010002.html
http://www.islamoradachamber.com/todo.cfm
http://florida-keys.fl.us/
http://www.keysnet.com/
http://bellsouthpwp.net/n/e/neon333/
2. What do you plan to do in Key West for 3 days/2 nights ? Don't get me
wrong ... Great for bars: but for a 10 yr old ... Are you looking to hang
out at beach or keep busy ? If busy - maybe boat ride to visit Dry
Tortugas ? Sunset at Mallory Square. Take the old town trolley tour .
http://www.oldtowntrolley.com/Key-West/ for an overview.
Pictures next to Southernmost point marker ...
You should get a "sloppy joe " at one of my favorite bars ... Sloppy Joes.
Restaurant is one business and bar is another - weird.
Visit Ernest Hemingway's house. Truman's white house .
Halfday fishing is an option along west side of island.
Hard Rock Cafe
Mid Duval St = Margaritaville
http://www.margaritaville.com/index.php?page=cafe_kw
Call back home while looking up at
http://www.liveduvalstreet.com/
or
http://sloppyjoes.com/sloppycam/streamcam.htm
10 yr old might get a kick from that - and see his picture on someone's PC
when you get home !
If you want peace and quiet at night, do NOT stay at low number end of
Duval St. That's the center of the action and closing time ( is there
one?) is about 3am.
3. Miami --- narrow down what you'd LIKE for ideas. It's a big city and
LOTS to do. We always stay at South Beach on Ocean Ave but very expensive.
http://avalonhotel.com
http://miami.hotelguide.net/hl1sb.htm
There is "Miami Beach" and there is "South Beach"
But even if not staying at South Beach , do have lunch there and take a
walk on the beach. My favorite places for lunch - "the News Cafe or "
Pelican Cafe". Great spot , great food, good people-watching. At the
north end of southbeach ( yeah that's right) walk on the sidewalk and it
goes for about 4 miles - you'll be overlooking a lot of the old hotels "
The Fountainbleu", "Delano" etc. The south end of south beach you can see
the cruise ships docked. On the road connecting the city to South Beach,
opposite the cruise ships ( sorry I forget the name of the area) is where
Gloria Estefan , other big name folks live. Usually there's a guard at
the end of each bridge, but a few times it was unattended and we just
drove right in. We weren't autograph seekers .. just being nosy - no one
bothered us. Then there's Fisher Island - Shaq and other folks live there,
but they have to take the shuttle back/forth so maybe watch that if
"celebrity seeking".
Maybe visit Little Havana ? Most hotels have flyers for different 'tours
of the town via escorted bus ride'. If you get on Key Biscayne about
3pm, watch the fishing boats come in and their catch. On Key Biscayne
nice park at end of the road. OJ Simpson ( used to) play everyday at the
public golf course there ( when not in jail). As for "where to stay to
night before the cruise", there is a hotel/motel at top of Rickenbacker
Causeway ( Key Biscayne entrance road) that a lot of folks use. It used to
be a Hampton Inn and now called Bricknell Inn. Has a buffet in the lobby
for breakfast - 24 hr coffee/snacks. a good room - has a pool and very
handy. A mall a few miles away ( with a Hard Rock cafe to buy even more
T-shirts). The hotel is literally RIGHT at the start of US Route 95
looking at a map.
These are a few years old , but look them over for ideas.
http://www.hemispheresmagazine.com/3pd/three/2004/south-beach.htm
http://www.hemispheresmagazine.com/3pd/three/1998/miami.htm
Ask if further info needed.
Brian K
Since you'll arive in Ft. Lauderdale, I'd spend some time there. Aside
from the large luxury chain hotels, just north of the Sheraton Yankee
Trader are many Bed & Breakfasts. Some are just as costly as the big
hotels and offer the same amenities. Others are reasonably priced. Best
known as a family destination is Hollywood, South of Ft. Lauderdale.
It's a great family place to stay. You can find information about both
at http:\\sunny.org the official visitors sight for Ft. Lauderdale and
nearby locations.
August is right in the middle of South Florida's hurricane season. You
may experience sunny weather with not a hurricane in sight. Just be
aware of this and check weather reports for South Florida about 2
weeks in advance of your flight. Make your plans accordingly. You may
wish to explore Travel Insurance . Specifically you should look at
policies that include coverage for cancellation by airlines, cruise
lines, lodging, due to hurricane. Look for policies that also offer
coverage should you decide to cancel your plans due to a hurricane that
is quickly approaching.
--
________
To email me, Edit "blog" from my email address.
Brian M. Kochera
"Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once!"
View My Web Page: http://home.earthlink.net/~brian1951
murie...@gmail.com
> On 7/2/2008 9:03 AM murielt...@gmail.com plucked Senior Frog's Magic
> Twanger and said:
>
> > Going to Florida late August. Planning to spend 5 days in Florida
> > before the East Caribbean cruise.
>
> >Familyof three, a ten years old daughter.
>
> > 1.Fly to Ft. Lauderdale from Toronto. (Air tickets confirmed)
> > 2.Miami
> > 3.Miami
> > 4. Key West
> > 5. Key West
>
> > Any suggestion will be appreciated.
>
> Since you'll arive in Ft. Lauderdale, I'd spend some time there. Aside
> from the large luxury chain hotels, just north of the Sheraton Yankee
> Trader are many Bed & Breakfasts. Some are just as costly as the big
> hotels and offer the same amenities. Others are reasonably priced. Best
> It's a greatfamilyplace to stay. You can find information about both
> at http:\\sunny.org the official visitors sight for Ft. Lauderdale and
> nearby locations.
>
> August is right in the middle of South Florida's hurricane season. You
> may experience sunny weather with not a hurricane in sight. Just be
> aware of this and check weather reports for South Florida about 2
> weeks in advance of your flight. Make your plans accordingly. You may
> wish to explore Travel Insurance . Specifically you should look at
> policies that include coverage for cancellation by airlines, cruise
> lines, lodging, due to hurricane. Look for policies that also offer
> coverage should you decide to cancel your plans due to a hurricane that
> is quickly approaching.
>
> --
> ________
> To email me, Edit "blog" from my email address.
> Brian M. Kochera
> "Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once!"
> View My Web Page:http://home.earthlink.net/~brian1951
Thanks to all of your suggestion.