First Visit to Florida - Travel Advice please!

We are flying to Miami in March - visiting Florida for the first time - and are planning to cover Miami, Kennedy SC, Naples, Marco Island and Cape Coral whilst we are there. Picking up a hire car - although not sorted yet - after our 3 days in Miami. I know there are other threads on here regarding Sunpass, which I had never heard of before, and I wondered if you kind people could please offer some advice along the following specific lines:-

- Is it best to use the Turnpike roads and pay the tolls or use other not quite such direct routes? Is there much difference in the actual quality of the roads?
- Is it worth buying the Sunpass to use for the distances outlined above, assuming Turnpikes used?
- How do you get the SP - can you buy beforehand in the UK, or it is only available in the US?

Sorry if these questions sound elementary to you, but when a destination is new to you, it is difficult to know what's best!

Thanks in advance.

[buns]

Turquoise

I have only done the Miami - Naples route the once and I do recall it being a longer drive than I had thought :0 So I may not be the best to comment on routing, landmarks (I have been told to avoid the Everglads Casino like the plague) and good places to stop.

I do know from recent Car Rentals in the US, the Desk Clerk is only too keen to flog you a toll pass (that makes me think there must be a cheaper option then ): )

Hope this is some little help

buns

Wow! You are covering quite a distance :0 I hope you are spending at least a couple of weeks out there! If you are going for longer I would suggest you use other, more scenic roads up the coast as the Turnpikes are pretty uninteresting (like our Motorways!). 8D

During my several trips to Florida I have never purchased a SunPass as I rarely use the Turnpikes so I can't help with where to buy them but if you do choose to use the Toll roads then it makes sense to get SP.

Hope this helps and enjoy y) y)

We travelled on the turnpike from Orlando to the keys via Miami in december, and it cost us just over £27 for 10 days for a sunpass we did 1300 miles. If we had just paid at the tolls it would have been more expensive

I am not sure how much of the turnpike or toll roads you would use, whether the cost is justified .

As a Florida native I'd be more than willing to help you out here. First of all I have to agree with Petmadness that the turnpikes are not the most scenic of roads.
As far as the sunpass goes if you plan on driving the toll roads you will want to have them. Many of the toll roads are going all electronic with no toll booth option to pay. If you don't have a sunpass they will send you a bill, which the rental car agency will forward to you with a handling fee. Most of the rental car agencies offer them when you rent, if you want to get your own they are sold in every Publix supermarket it. There is a website for the sunpass so you might be able to order it ahead of time.
Traffic around Miami can be crazy, many times the same road will have several different names so you have to pay extra close attention, not to mention the drivers tend to have their own rules. Also keep in mind that Miami is not like any other part of Florida.
As far as the roads, the drive across Florida on Alligator Alley can be a bit boring, it just goes across the everglades and takes about an hour.
I have to admit that Miami isn't my favorite place to visit but I do love the Naples Marco Island area, the beaches are lovely, the Gulf great and there is plenty to do. Of course I love my home town best if you have time to make it up to the St Petersburg area I can reccommend plenty to do!
Or if you change your mind a drive down to Key West for a few days will also show you some beautiful scenery and plenty of fun things to do.

Have to agree with petmadness - that IS quite a distance you're planning on covering! How long are you going for?

Florida girl - we're in the Newport Richey/Tampa area later this year - not that far from St Petersburg - would welcome any recommendations you may have for the area. We have been there before, but about 25 years ago, and I guess a lot will have changed!

We did alligator alley to Naples at Xmas and the us41 back. The 41 was much nicer and we stopped off along route to see the gators along the sides of the road.

Thanks all for your advice - very interesting! Sorry to be so ignorant, but what is 'Alligator Alley'??

We are spending 2 weeks in Florida. Plan is to spend 3 nights in Miami - I appreciate that it is 'just another city' and we might not even like it, but I thought we should at least see what there is there!

We are then driving up to Kennedy - stopping off both ways at Vero Beach for the night. Then travelling to Naples where we are staying for a week at Bellasera (which was recommended by one of you) and then staying at Marco Island for a relaxing weekend to finish off the trip.

I think we will avoid the turnpikes from what you are saying and will stick to more interesting options! I want to stop off along the way as much as possible as one of the reasons for travelling around so much is to see where we might want to go again in the future for a longer stay.

Thanks again
T

Florida girl - we're in the Newport Richey/Tampa area later this year - not that far from St Petersburg - would welcome any recommendations you may have for the area. We have been there before, but about 25 years ago, and I guess a lot will have changed!

I'd be happy to help with some advice, I know the are quite well since I've lived here my entire life! It has changed a lot in the past 25 years though, what are you looking at doing while you're here?

Alligator Alley is the toll road that runs from coast to coast in south Florida, the alligators used to come onto the road but now they have a rather high fence keeping them off. 41 is a nice road if you're not in a hurry, just don't get too close to the alligators if you decide to stop, they're faster then they look.

And you will love the Naples and Marco Island area, we went there a lot when I was growing up as my grandparents lived there, they have lovely beaches and plenty to do, or just sit back, relax and enjoy a cocktail.

I hope you love your trip and the weather keeps up with the way it is right now, which is perfect!
Julie

Florida girl - we're in the Newport Richey/Tampa area later this year - not that far from St Petersburg - would welcome any recommendations you may have for the area. We have been there before, but about 25 years ago, and I guess a lot will have changed!

I'd be happy to help with some advice, I know the are quite well since I've lived here my entire life! It has changed a lot in the past 25 years though, what are you looking at doing while

Yes, I can imagine it has changed beyond recognition. We're actually staying in Gulf Harbors (house rental), no special areas of interest or disinterest, so any suggestions of places to go, or eat or see would be great!

wow Miami_kennedy-naples is a long way round, the kennedy bit takes you north in effectively the wrong direction

I75 is also know as Alligator alley. it runs from Miami to beyond Tampa and goes across the everglades to Naples (app 11/2 hour drive)

mapquest is a great tool.

the sunpass is a must -walgreens pharmacy also sell them and you can manage them online. the cheap version is vehicle specific and there is also a more expensive movable one.

lastly- Cape Coral. getting some bad press/reviews just lately...may not be the best area to stay.

Hi flabound!

Thanks for your advice. I am afraid that the visit to Kennedy is the price I have to pay for spending the following 9 days in Naples/Marco Island - have to keep the OH happy and he is driving!!

The only reason we are visiting Cape Coral - from Naples for the day - is I have a friend who lives there. We are not staying in the area.

Sally

Have not been to florida but I have some of their guudes to other places.

There are pretty pictures but they do have lots of info on activities, opening hours, locations, websites etc which the pretty picture guides often lack

Beyond Disney: The Unofficial Guide to Universal Orlando, Seaworld & the Best of Central Florida

The Unofficial Guide Walt Disney World

(other suppliers are available)

if kennedy is a must I would suggest

Miami -kennedy use I95.
Kennedy-Marco the quickest route is I4west/I75 south but you could take the scenic route and go south from Kennedy to Fort pierce, pick up State rd 70 to Ockeechobee , go round the lake on the east side,turn west thru Clewiston and keep on SR80 to Fort Myers.then go south. thats a longer but much nicer run.

if you can do cape coral-naples-marco then you are heading in the right direction rather than going all the way down then back up then back down again !!

Cat- when staying in NPR you are not far from Homosassa Springs, up that way you can swim with the manatees if it takes your fancy

Cat- when staying in NPR you are not far from Homosassa Springs, up that way you can swim with the manatees if it takes your fancy

I'll second the vote to Homasassa Springs as it is a beautiful place to go. Also, nearby NPR is a place called Hudson and an awesome beach restaurant called Sam's - wonderful place to eat and watch the sunset y)

Goodness - Homosassa Springs! I have very clear memories of taking the kids there on our very first trip to the US (back in 1987!)- they loved it and I think we've already decided a trip down memory lane is a must!

Thanks Pet for the tip on Sam's will look it up!

I don't mean to hijack the thread but just want to quickly slide my own little query in here as its similar....

We are doing:
Miami (2 night)
Plan to drive down to Key West, stopping off in Key Largo for a night.
Staying in Key West for 2 nights an driving up to Orlando with a couple of nights stops on the way (not sure where yet, depending on how far we get!)

We have a week touring south Florida and then two weeks booked in a villa in Orlando.

Does this sound possible as people have slightly concerned me now that the drive is going to be longer that expected.

Google maps has the journey from Key West to Orlando at about 7 hours so if we split his section into 3 days/2 nights. I recall from a precious trip the Miami traffic being bad so we're expecting that. We'll probably use the I95 or Florida Turnpike up to Orlando. Or switch from the I95 to the Turnpike at Jupiter. Any expert thoughts on if this is feasible?

snickr. you are looking at a drive of around 300 miles, which if you wanted to you could do in a day.
the quickest route is the turnpike or I95 to Melbourne the across on the 192. both will be pretty boring and unspectacular with really only the coastaltowns to stop at.

personally i would look at taking 27 North to the southern point of Lake Okeechobee.Ive done that drive and its much more interesting.you then have the option of a few towns to stop at, Clewsiton is one. now these towns are certainly not Disney, in fact some some are back in the 'old ages' but worth a look.

from there you can go slightly more direct round the east side of the lake , which is the shorter route through Okeechobee itself or west via Lake Placid (yup).
then back on 27 into orlando via haines City and Davenport.....

i would suggest one night stop somewhere around the lake would be enough

I second flabound on the reccommendations:

Taking 70 across from Kennedy would be a much more scenic route, it is longer but a lot less traffic.

Also on Homosassa springs it is worth the visit, plenty to do and see, and a little bit further up US 19 is Crystal River, also a great place to swim with the manatees and a neat little town with some good places to eat. We often to day trips to both of those places.

Can I go along on the round trip to Key West! I love the road through the keys, it is a lovely drive and worth it, but stay in the Keys some place for a day or two. Also there's a place in Key Largo that has the best Cinnamon buns ever, I think it's called Bob's Buns but I might be wrong.

I really hope you all enjoy my home statee and see that there is so much more than just a visit to the house of mouse (although I will admit to regular visits there myself, I refuse to grow up!).

Julie

FFG is so right. Florida has so much more to offer than Disney. the west coast has some of the best beaches you will ever find. the east has a different vibe but is still owrth seeing. Inland there is so much wildlife. in the area we live we have wild bobcats,coyotes,racoons,armadillos, tortoises, gators, snakes and the birds are amazing - bald eagles,kites,hawks,ospreys..............mouse what mouse ?????

I think the keys are the only part of Florida that I would willingly return to for a second visit (whereas I have a feeling I will be dragged kicking and screaming to another place entirely...) - recollections of staying at a very nice hotel on Duval street in Key West (at an absurdly cheap rate because the whole area had just been hit by a storm of monsoon proportions), the tour of Hemmingway's house given by the campest Ernest Borgnine impersonater I've ever seen, finding an great little shack of a bar behind a boat yard in Key Largo with a live band (think we were the first English people ever to wander in, and the owner wanted to give me a tattoo as a souveneir). Anyway, I could go on, but point being, it's one of only a handful of holidays I've had that brings back strong positive memories, so would recommend it to anyone.

But as I said, I know I'll get stuck with that bloody mouse instead...

FFG is so right. Florida has so much more to offer than Disney. the west coast has some of the best beaches you will ever find. the east has a different vibe but is still owrth seeing. Inland there is so much wildlife. in the area we live we have wild bobcats,coyotes,racoons,armadillos, tortoises, gators, snakes and the birds are amazing - bald eagles,kites,hawks,ospreys..............mouse what mouse ?????

How true - Florida is soooooooo nuch more than WDW and the rest of the theme parks. We have been travelling there every year since 1992 and there is so much more to see and do. Don't get me wrong, my grandkids loved it when we took them to WDW around 8 years ago, but the State is so diverse that we never get bored.

[buns]

FFG is so right. Florida has so much more to offer than Disney. the west coast has some of the best beaches you will ever find. the east has a different vibe but is still owrth seeing. Inland there is so much wildlife. in the area we live we have wild bobcats,coyotes,racoons,armadillos, tortoises, gators, snakes and the birds are amazing - bald eagles,kites,hawks,ospreys..............mouse what mouse ?????

How true - Florida is soooooooo nuch more than WDW and the rest of the theme parks. We have been travelling there every year since 1992 and there is so much more to see and do. Don't get me wrong, my grandkids loved it when we took them to WDW around 8 years ago, but the State is so diverse that we never get bored.

Another vote here y)

Whilst we fly into Orlando a couple of times a year and sometimes stay in Orlando rather than going down to St Petes Beach, I now cannot recall the last time I actually steeped foot in a Theme Park :0

Indeed, we have made so many friends in St. Petes, that we have realised that there are even some people in Florida who were born there and lived there all their lives

buns

I think the keys are the only part of Florida that I would willingly return to for a second visit (whereas I have a feeling I will be dragged kicking and screaming to another place entirely...) - recollections of staying at a very nice hotel on Duval street in Key West (at an absurdly cheap rate because the whole area had just been hit by a storm of monsoon proportions), the tour of Hemmingway's house given by the campest Ernest Borgnine impersonater I've ever seen, finding an great little shack of a bar behind a boat yard in Key Largo with a live band

Any trip to key west is not complete without doing the "Duval Crawl" and going bar hopping! my favorite spot is Irish Kevin's, nothing Irish about it by the way, but the entertainment is always live and fun.

I have to admit I do love living in Florida, and with two international airports an easy drive away it's no problem hopping on a plane when I do want to see someplace, or some one else!