Florida is actually value a visit, and two to a few weeks is an efficient period of time to get a style of this sunny state within the southern US. If you’re trying to discover the most effective Florida journey highlights, you’ve come to the appropriate place.
From exploring the theme parks in Orlando to swimming with manatees, seaside hopping and trying out the most effective that Miami has to supply, preserve studying for a abstract of my favourite Florida highlights.
Here is an outline:
Florida highlights: Which locations so as to add to your Florida itinerary
Ready to discover the Sunshine State? Check out our publish on airports in Florida for the easiest way to get there.
Also take a look at 10 Best Family Resorts in Florida and Best Spa Hotels & Wellness Retreats in Florida.
Orlando
Let’s begin in Orlando.
You ought to know: It is the stronghold of consumption, commerce and artificiality.
All the massive theme parks are positioned right here. In Orlando, the Americans actually let it rip. Both when it comes to value and the well-known night fireworks across the royal fort within the Magic Kingdom.
Theme Parks
Unfortunately, the doorway charges to Disney Parks and Universal Studios are fully overpriced, the queues on the sights are exorbitantly lengthy, usually greater than 120 minutes, and the normal of the sights is way behind the extent we all know from European theme parks.
If you continue to wish to go to among the parks, Disney’s Magic Kingdom with its spectacular fireworks, Disney’s Animal Kingdom with actual safari feeling and Sea World with cool rides, much less ready time, nice reveals and particular sea animals are essentially the most really useful.
You can go to these parks, however you don’t need to.
What you must positively put in your expertise checklist, then again, are the Kennedy Space Center and the Titanic exhibition. Both have actual foundations, are based mostly on actual historic occasions and thus generate robust feelings.
My goosebumps weren’t solely from the air conditioners there 😉
Related learn: Tips When Visiting Universal Studios Orlando, Florida
Impressions on the subject of sustainability and the atmosphere
Americans are open and extremely communicative folks.
However, I, a European traveler, was very shocked by what I noticed: How little thought is given to the difficulty of sustainability in lots of locations. Plastic cups, pointless packaging, straws, and fruit wrapped in plastic are all over the place.
It would even be energy-saving to not flip down the air-conditioning to freezer degree for a change. 😉
There is loads of room for enchancment when it comes to the environment.
Related learn: Eco-Friendly Gifts Ideas for Eco-Conscious Travelers
Chrystal River
Swimming with manatees
For those that need to expertise the folks, panorama and wildlife of Florida up shut after arriving in Orlando, I heartily suggest Christal River within the northwest. It is the house of the manatees or extra exactly the “Caribbean manatee“, whose closest relative is the elephant.
Isn’t he cute?
In November, manatees swim out of the ocean to the hotter freshwater springs in Christal River to spend the winter. Starting in April, they migrate again out to the Gulf of Mexico.
But vacationers nonetheless have an opportunity to come across just a few of the mild sea giants afterward, lingering a bit longer within the waters round Christal River with their kids.
There are many suppliers of the well-known Manatee snorkeling journeys. We have been out early within the morning with Tom and Brandon from Captain Mike`s (swimmingwiththemanatees.com).
It was extremely nice!
I all the time go for a personal tour as a result of I can really feel moments extra intensely once I don’t need to share them with vacationers. Because not everybody who travels today is an actual traveler who will get concerned with pores and skin and hair and loads of respect in the whole lot they will expertise there. I didn’t need to get out of the water in any respect and stored getting into at totally different locations after we encountered extra manatees.
It was magical with snorkel gear and carried by a swimming noodle, to drift virtually immobile subsequent to those great creatures within the water. I used to be capable of expertise how they sleep, eat and swirl with their cute faces vacuum cleaner-like over the ocean grass on the underside, chew contentedly, all the time come up snorting to catch my breath and proceed to “graze”.
Time stands nonetheless as a child Manatee swims alongside its mama, fortunately finishing just a few turns after which being suckled by her.
Christal River – Food and Drink
Christal River, though these manatee excursions are an actual spotlight, shouldn’t be very touristy.
To discover lodging, I like to recommend Airbnb.
The meals at Cody’s may be very authentically American. There is the whole lot your coronary heart needs, and in the event you select salad as a aspect dish, the massive silver salad bowl is positioned in entrance of you, from which you’ll be able to scoop endlessly.
Very idyllic and genuine can also be the Waterfront Social within the night, particularly within the entrance space instantly on the water.
Only women touring alone ought to watch out for the native gents, who could have had one drink too many. Except for them, it is rather chill and the picture of the boats on the calm waters of the river, the view of Banana Island, behind which the solar is slowly setting, is extremely idyllic.
St. Pete Beach
Another spotlight on our tour by means of Florida and on reflection probably the most stunning seashores is St. Pete Beach. White, gentle sand makes each sea lover’s coronary heart beat quicker.
St. Petersburg is a really cultural metropolis with many galleries, museums, theater performances and a extremely really useful glass artwork exhibition.
Hotel Don Cesar
A clock rock amongst resorts is the well-known Don Cesar. A easy look at this stately pink Mediterranean-Moorish fashion lodge tells complete tales.
Built in 1928, it was fashionable with presidents and film stars and was a hospital convalescent place for troopers throughout World War II.
Walking on the seaside, moreover this imposing constructing in the midst of small homes on the seaside, the number of shells is fascinating. I’ve by no means seen so many and so various trying shells on a seaside in my life.
Marco Island and Naples
There are actually just a few cities on the west coast which can be value a cease.
We have been taken on to Marco Island, an offshore island south of Naples with the ocean working by means of it. Here you’ll be able to select a lodge on the seaside or a home in the midst of the canals.
My private spotlight was the bike experience to the seaside, as a result of in the event you grew up with the Nintendo video games of the late 80s like I did, you certainly know “Paperboy.”
So you drive like Paperboy previous the mailboxes in entrance, the meticulously mowed grassy areas and entrance yards of the colourful American homes, and there’s one thing very idyllic about that.
It is a really well-kept island. So well-kept that it appears like you’re woken up each morning by one of many lawnmowers. 😉
Tigertail Beach
By bike or automotive, you’ll be able to go on to Tigertail Beach, probably the most stunning seashores in Marco Island. To get there, you’ll be able to both wade by means of the lagoon that lies past or stroll round it to this pristine stretch of seaside lined with grasses.
Especially within the early night and till sundown it’s a paradise spot.
The seaside is so infinitely vast and great that it’s pure pleasure to stroll alongside it and have a look at the ocean.
Everglades Adventure
One of the most effective issues to do from Marco Island is certainly a visit to the Everglades.
You can do these excursions from Miami or from Everglades City.
We selected a vendor in Everglades City and booked the personal mangrove tour right here as nicely.
For friendliness, the group of Jungle Erv will definitely not obtain a prize, however Marcus, who “flew” with us by means of the mangroves, was great. He grew up there and knew felt each tree, so we sped by means of the mangroves with such confidence that it was a pure pleasure.
The play of lights from the solar on the water was breathtakingly stunning. And seeing the alligators there of their pure habitat is just spectacular.
Of course, with all the everyday “tourist” sights, it’s essential to replicate on whether or not it feels applicable.
As an alternative choice to the airboat excursions, there are additionally kayak eco-tours by means of the Everglades. Here everybody can see for themselves what is true for him.
The alligator reveals with hug-an-alligator choice, which may usually be booked as well as, are in fact mega-touristically exploited.
The first time I used to be in Florida, I used to be 13 years previous and might nonetheless keep in mind the sensation of holding a child alligator in my fingers. I used to be particularly fascinated by the gentle pores and skin beneath the chin, so I simply needed to repeat it. But even that isn’t a should.
Alligators are plentiful there, so in fact they’re hunted.
Island Cafe
If you go to the Island Café in Everglades City, you’ll be able to even pattern alligator burgers and alligator wraps.
I can’t consider how scrumptious it tastes – like a mixture of rooster and seafood and extremely really useful for meat lovers.
Welcome in Miami
It’s a wild, vast, colourful, hip, vibrant, barely harmful and multi-layered metropolis. There are many individuals who keep away from Miami, however I like this metropolis.
This is the place life pulsates. Here, the younger, trendy folks present themselves and current their steeled and formed our bodies in all kinds of skimpy outfits.
When you stroll alongside the promenade of Miami Beach, it’s as in the event you’ve landed in the midst of a film set from one second to the subsequent. The cool man rides by on his chrome bicycle, glittering all over the place and taking part in music, the women of their stylish bikinis with solely just a little fishnet costume over them vie for the boys’s consideration, and so they look again diligently behind their thick sun shades.
Wynwood Walls
My private spotlight is the Wynwood Walls.
The complete neighborhood actually involves life, particularly on Saturday evening.
It is a spot of artwork, creativity, inspiration, tradition and group.
In massive wall graffiti work totally different artists specific themselves and it seems like a colourful kaleidoscope of colours and shapes. Impressive artistic endeavors are additionally exhibited within the rooms – the doorway is certainly value it.
On weekends, the Smorgasburg open air meals market takes place proper subsequent door. On Saturdays and Sundays between 12 and 19 o’clock there are delicacies from everywhere in the world, scrumptious drinks, music and a relaxed environment.
If you drive again to Miami Beach from right here, you’ll go by means of the Design District with its quite a few designer shops. Driving by means of is sort of sufficient.
Bayside
A boat tour previous the mansions of the celebrities, with imposing backdrop of downtown Miami with its skyscrapers is stress-free and delightful.
Many boats go away right here in the course of the day instantly from the Bayside. There are additionally shops and eating places right here, in addition to tour firm cubicles the place you’ll be able to guide a experience proper on the spot.
The solution to the Bayside may be very busy, so you’ll be able to find yourself fairly in a visitors jam on the way in which there. If you have got booked a ship journey by way of web at a sure time and need to be on time, you must plan some further time for the arrival.
Little Havana
Little Havana, the neighborhood of the Cubans is an actual seize bag.
Here you are feeling as in the event you had landed instantly on the island. The eating places and bars are already nicely attended within the afternoon and dwell music resounds from all corners.
Here you’ll be able to expertise the Cuban lifestyle in the midst of an American metropolis.
Related tour: Little Havana Walking Food Tour with Lunch
Miami Beach
If you need to expertise Miami Beach within the night, you must stroll alongside Ocean Drive or Washington Avenue. Especially between sixteenth Street and Lincoln Road there’s a lot happening.
What a multicultural metropolis!
In addition to folks from everywhere in the world, one meets an infinite variety of South Americans right here. Therefore, as in Orlando, it’s also invaluable right here to have the ability to talk in Spanish.
Miami has a lot extra in retailer and you may simply spend greater than 2 days right here. Next time. 😉
No matter how a lot you have got found, one thing nonetheless stays open. And that’s good. Because touring with the sensation of wanting to come back again reveals that you’ve got loved it – what may very well be higher.
I say goodbye with my most heard phrase of all the journey:
„Have a very good one.“
