"It´s called the Sunshine State for a reason"
Where to go? What to do? And how to make your time in Florida freaking amazing!
Let´s be honest Florida offers a variety you rarely find somewhere else. No matter what holiday type you are and what kind of adventure you are looking for you will most likely find it in the Sunshine State. Florida has it all! Crystal clear water and miles and miles of white, long sandy beaches around Fort Meyers. Wild animals and nature pure in the Everglades. Thrilling rides on the coolest rollercoasters and amazing bargains in the shopping outlets of Orlando. A thriving nightlife and lots of opportunities to have a great night in Miami and genuine cuban flair and serenity in Key West.
A number of unlimited possibilities. Now it´s up to you to choose. I know it´s not an easy choice but hopefully the following suggestions can help you to plan your personal FABULOUS FLORIDA ROAD TRIP.
DAY 1 - 4: ORLANDO - THE CENTER OF FUN
Orlando has more than a dozen theme parks and it´s true you can spend a fortune without even leaving this area. But if you are not a millionaire like me you should not forget the other things Florida has to offer and wisely choose in which theme parks you gonna leave your hard earned bucks.
Where to stay?
I can highly recommend the Hilton Orlando (especially when you are more into animals and most interested in the Sea World Parks).
How to get around?
Probably the most common option is by car. Everyone knows Americans don't like to walk;) Another opportunity is the Greyhound Bus. It takes you to many popular places in Florida.
I decided on a combination of both. Since almost all the places I wanted to go in Orlando were either in walking distance or easily accessible by public transport or with a shuttle service. So I preferred to save the money for a car rental and renounced the car. Renting a car only became necessary later for my trip to Key West.
DAY 1: Day of Arrival. Check In, get comfortable with the heat and relax at the amazing pool area of the Hilton Orlando.
DAY 2: Let the fun begin:) To start with some action get up soon (you are finally in Florida, not the right time to sleep in anyway;)). So set your sails off to Sea World. Since it´s only 15 min walking distance from the Hilton Orlando you can either walk or take the Shuttle Bus. The Park opens at 9 and it will be an extra bonus if you get your ticket in advance. Use the whole day to explore and learn more about sea animals, enjoy the crazy rides like the Manta and get enchanted by the killer whale show One Ocean.
By the way, you gonna save a lot if you buy your tickets for the theme parks you want to visit in a package. Yes, I know visiting Disney World is most probably every girls dream but since I didn't want to spend all of my time and money in Orlando I had to make a decision and postponed this experience for a later trip. Instead I focused on all the three Sea World Parks in Orlando.
Not sure which theme park to visit? You want to get more information about each park and find out how to get the best prices?
CHECK OUT: "FUN IN THE SUN - THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO ORLANDOS THEME PARKS"
End this day by pampering yourself with an exceptional good meal at the award winning Spencer´s for Steaks and Chops which is part of the Hilton Orlando.
DAY 3: The motto of today is "Get wet" & "Shop till you drop". A combination of a visit to a theme park and one of the famous outlet centers in Orlando. The first location of the day is Aquatica, which is the waterpark of Sea World where you can slide like never before. There is even a slide that goes through a dolphin pool. It was much fun though I am not sure that I would have paid the entrance fee if the park hat not already been included in my package. But I definitely enjoyed my time there.
Get back to the hotel around lunch time, freshen up and take the bus (42 or 8) to get to your next location: Premium Outlets International Drive. They have everything you can wish for from Adidas to Victoria Secret. Let your credit card glow:) Have dinner here and after that head home to the hotel, preparing for the big Orlando highlight tomorrow.
DAY 4: If you wake up on day four and you feel like spending a day in paradise it`s just perfect because it is exactly what you will experience today. The last Sea World Park in Orlando is Discovery Cove. And the world theme park is a complete understatement for this beautiful place. Make sure to arrive as soon as the gates open around 07:15. I know it´s early but since this will probably be one of the most expensive days of your holiday you should make sure that you gonna use every minute of it. You will get to Discovery Cove through a free shuttle service which starts from Sea World. Fancy? Well that´s just the start. As soon as you gonna enter the park you will feel like you are on a very exclusive Mini- Getaway. Just smile, relax and enjoy!
DAY 5: Time to get on the road. Take the 08:30 Greyhound to Fort Lauderdale and prepare yourself for the next adventure: a cruise with Royal Caribbean. Maybe you haven´t been a cruise before, maybe it´s not what you imagined when you started thinking about a Florida road trip but trust me it´s definitely something you should consider. You get REALLY good deals here and the ships of RCC are AMAZING!!
CHECK OUT: "CRUISING FOR DUMMIES - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU EMBARK"
If this is going to be your first cruise choose a short getaway. A good and cheap option is the 4-Day Cruise to Cozumel, Mexico. Your time on board and in Cozumel will be incredible, I promise!
DAY 6: Sea Day. A big ship like RCC cruise liners will offer you couple of opportunities to keep you entertained. The best activity is probably to just relax. The last days were full of new impressions and a lot of action so now is the time to unwind.
DAY 7: Mexico is calling. You can either choose to experience it on your own or join a RCC-Tour. Usually I am more the PLAN-IT-YOURSELF kind of Person. I love to do research without having to be dependent on others. And certainly self-planning is also the cheaper option. But in this case I made an exception. Since I really wanted to see the Ruins of Tulum and have some beach time I signed up for a tour. This way I could be sure I would make it back to the ship in time. You don´t want to know what happens when you are late. Ok, I am gonna tell you anyway: they leave you behind!! Even if there are certainly more horrible places then Mexico I really didn't want to miss my dream-cruiseliner.
DAY 8: Another Sea Day. More relaxing on the schedule.
DAY 9 - 11 KEY WEST: A LITTLE BIT OF CUBA IN FLORIDA
Key West is a little paradise which is definitely worth the long drive. It is the southernmost point of the States and only 90 miles away from cuba. You will feel it as soon as you arrive- the cuban lifestyle.
Where to stay?
The Key West Bed and Breakfast was simply perfect. I didn´t regret staying here for one moment.
How to get there?
There are some buses that will bring you to Key West. But since the road and the places on the side to Key West are an attraction itself I would always prefer to go by car.
How to get around?
In Key West almost everything is in walking distance and most hotels and guesthouses offer a free or cheap bike rental service. Park your car and leave it there for your entire stay.
DAY 9: You will arrive in Fort Lauderdale in the morning around 07:00. Not everyone can leave the ship at once so make sure you get an early check out time so you can use the rest of the day wisely. Rent a car and start driving towards Key West. Use the whole day for this 190 miles distance so you can make multiple stops on the way. Remember the journey is the reward.
CHECK OUT: "BUCKET LIST OVERSEA HIGHWAY"
Make sure you will arrive in Key West in time for the famous Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square.
Day 10: Use your first Key West day to discover the area on foot and from above. Don´t miss the paragliding experience! The view is amazing and the prices are reasonable. After that recharge your batteries with a late lunch during Happy Hour at A & B Lobster House. A perfect day in Key West wouldn't be complete with another gorgeous sunset.
DAY 11: Take time for a little bit more sightseeing and a little more strolling around the beautiful streets in the morning.
The afternoon promises another highlight of the trip: the Rum and Reggae Sunset Combo - so cool!! First you will go to a beautiful reef where you have some time to snorkel and explore the colorful fish. Afterwards you gonna head back to Key West enjoying rum and reggae on the way back - all inclusive. This was definitely the perfect spot to see my last sunset in Key West.
DAY 12-14 WELCOME TO MIAMI/ FORT LAUDERDALE
A Florida visit wouldn't be complete with a trip to Miami. True to the motto: "Save the best for last" you can use your last holidays to dive into this vibrant city.
Where to stay?
If you want to stay close to the beach but still want to have some spending money consider staying in Fort Lauderdale. It´s just half an hour away and much cheaper then Miami Beach. Best Western Plus Ocean Side Inn is a good option. I wouldn't say it was something special but it was directly on the beach of Fort Lauderdale and had a reasonable price.
How to get around?
If you decide to stay in Fort Lauderdale make sure to research a cheap parking spot in Miami for your day trip since the parking fees are just ridiculous. This website can be a big help http://www.bestparking.com/miami-beach-parking/
Day 12: Time to say goodbye to Key West and head back towards Miami. Start driving early so you will have time to discover stops along the way like the Bahia Honda State Park.
Arrive in Fort Lauderdale in the late afternoon and enjoy the sunset on the beach.
DAY 13: Time to discover the Venice of America. Fort Lauderdale is a town laced with water. There are 300 miles of intra-coastal waterways and dozens of million-dollar houses at the shore. It´s a lot of fun to jump on a boat and check out this estates from the water. Make sure you will have lunch at the famous cheesecake factory. Why not order desert first this time?:)
DAY 14: Use your last day to see as much of Miami as you can. South Beach and the Art Deco District are a must.
ALTERNATIVE ROUTE
When Cruising is not your thing use Day 5-8 for a beach break and drive down the Gulf Coast. Visit places like Naples, Fort Meyers, Sanibal and Captiva Island. The beaches there are amazingly beautiful!