Day trips from Orlando - any recommendations?

[gymmom]

Thanks for the suggestion, Kalamazoo! I really want to go to Blue Springs State Park. The manatees are calling me!!! For me, seeing them would be cooler than the beach. :jumping4: :jumping4: :jumping4:

BTW, where is the park?

Lisa

 

[sweet maxine]

Kalamazoo, thanks so much for your review of visiting away from Orlando on one day trips! I especially appreciate your input about the Tradewinds, as I was really tempted to book a night this summer just to have a night at the beach. We ran out of time and instead headed on home.

I'm hoping to get over to see Mt. Dora and go for a ride on the train there!

 

[tarheelmjfan]

gymmom,
As kalamazoo said, if you're looking for a public beach, Clearwater's beach is unbeatable. There's usually evening activities at the pier, behind the playground. From Clearwater Beach south, it is pretty much one beach town after another. If the beach is a little crowded for your taste, you could go to Fort Desoto instead. It's a county park, with a visitors center, the fort, and a public beach, which you could literally have to yourself at times. The beach isn't as wide as the one at Clearwater, but then again, not many are. The fort is free to tour and you can leave your car there, and walk to the beach. There is a nominal toll to get there. I would suggest using Mapquest.com to get driving directions to both, then you'll feel free to choose whichever your in the mood for at the time, and still have the directions. If you have any more questions feel free to ask. It seems that kalamazoo answered most of them though.

 

[kalamazoo]

To get to Blue Springs you go north on I-4 and get off at the Orange City exit, There are signs that direct you from there. At a certain point you will be on a wide busy street that has a lot of businesses. There will be a sign for Blue Springs that seems to direct you into a a bird sanctuary that looks like is at somebody's house. Take the next street on the right. You will pass another park (Valentine, I think it's called) but just keep going until you see the sign for Blue Springs. I think it took us about a hour to get there.

I forgot to mention that we stopped in at AAA in Kissimmee to pick up a map and tour book. They were very helpful in recommending routes and indicating where there was construction going on that might slow traffic. They even had local maps with all the streets indicated. If you are a member, AAA is a fantastic resource of information. There is a AAA at the car care center where you leave MK. I have not been in there though so I don't know what services they offer. Oh, and speaking of the car care center, now that Hess is the official Disney gas station, the gas on Disney property is some of the cheapest around.