Day Trips

[bicyclemark]

Hi All,

We will be staying at FW fo 2 weeks in January. This should give us plenty of time to enjoy the World and make some day trips.

What day trips would you suggest? My family really enjoys the state park system here in Minnesota. Also, my DS9 and DD12 have never seen the ocean. I'd really like them to see at least one of the coasts. All reccomendations are greatly appreciated

 

[hatchmo]

Two great day trips we enjoy each year in January are Blue Springs State Park (45 minutes or so from FW) with a large number of manatees up close in the warm spring waters and, for a total change of pace from Disney, Bok Towers with its beautiful gardens and carrillion.

 

[SandrA9810]

Go to the west coast. The east coast up there just isn't as nice. For some reason the sand seems more like dirt.
I live down in South Florida, and the shores are really pretty except for where they're doing the renourishing project, and the new sand is gray and dingy.
The west coast has beautiful white beaches. And tampa is a really nice area to visit.
Plus the east is about an hour or so away and the west I think is slightly shorter drive, about 30-45 min drive.

 

[LMC]

We absolutely LOVE Siesta Key Beach. It is probably a 2 hour drive one-way from Orlando. It is just south of Sarasota. The sand is so smooth that you don't even feel it on your skin. They water is clear. Just beautiful!!!

 

[bicyclemark]

Wonderful suggestions - but what is/are BOK towers?

THANK YOU!

 

[TurnR@TheMouseHouse]

Mark,

To make it clear for yourself I would go to google and type in Bok Towers. It's main page will be the first in the list. Although Bok is a nice place to take a stroll, fly kites, or have a picnic, I don't think it would hold much interest for kids your age, especially after "Disney". Our family used to drive up to Bok for days trips from Miami when I was kid. (pre disney) I remember taking some visitors and their kids a few years back and the kids were pretty bored.

I agree with other's that the West coast beaches are the best. I am partial to Anna Maria Island just east of Bradenton. Big beach, plenty of free parking, unlike the east coast. Only one high rise on the entire 10 mile island. No toll over the bridge. Very relaxed. Although it's a little further south than Tampa/Clearwater it is much more relaxed and not as congested. If you do a search you can pull up much info on Anna Maria Island. The chamber has a great site.

I see you are from Minnesota, so I guess "cold" is a relative term here, but you should know that it can be very cold and blustery in Jan/Feb or cool to warm and bright and sunny. You never know. I do know the west coast has some of the most beautiful sunsets you will ever see.

If you decide to select this beach, PM me and I will give you what I think is the best way to drive there.

 

[bicyclemark]

This looks like something my family would really enjoy. Does anyone have any more information? How far away from WDW is this state park?

Thanks!

Civil War Encampment - De Leon Springs State Park -January 14 & 15

Union troops raided the spring in 1864. See a typical encampment of the period; how the soldiers drilled; slept; and prepared their meals. Walk the trails once patrolled by union soldiers.

 

[LMC]

This would be Ponce De Leon Springs State Park. It is in Northwest Florida which is MANY hours away from Orlando. Not a day trip. If you are driving and can hit it on the way down or up from Orlando then it looks interesting.
Go to www.floridastateparks.org and get information.

You can also check out Homassa Springs Park on that site too. A friend of mine goes there and loves it. I've never been though. Not sure how far it is from Orlando; maybe 1-2 hour drive one way.

 

[bicyclemark]

This would be Ponce De Leon Springs State Park. It is in Northwest Florida which is MANY hours away from Orlando.

De Leon Springs State Park is a different park. It is just north of Blue Springs State Park. I'd guess it is around 50 miles from DW. Here is the link to the park. http://www.floridastateparks.org/deleonsprings/default.cfm

Thanks for the heads up - it could have been quite confusing

 

[VAN]

Can highly recommend the Kennedy Space Center. It is also near Cocoa Beach and Ron Jon's Surf Shop (on Atlantic Ocean).

Another day trip in that general direction is an airboat ride on the St. John's River in Christmas, FL (45 min from Orlando). See their website at http://airboatrides.com/locate.htm

We've been on rides with them twice and saw more than a hundred aligators in the wild. We loved it and highly recommend it.

If you have a morning ride, it leaves you plenty of time to drive in to Cocoa Beach for a picnic and visit to Ron Jon's.

 

[rbork]

Good day trip for 9 and 12 year old is the NASA space center. You can tour that and go to the beach in cocoa. It takes about an hour on the Bee Line.

 

[bicyclemark]

Are the NASA Space Center and the Kennedy Space Center different entities? If so , would you reccomend one over the other? Sounds like something I would enjoy too.

Thanks.

 

[rbork]

same thing.

 

[2DIZNY]

Jetty Park at Port Canaveral is about one hour east on the Atlantic Ocean. It has a beach and a fishing pier that takes you out over the water. If you go on a Sunday afternoon, three different cruise ships, including the Disney Wonder, leave port and sail within 100 feet of where you park. It is something we really enjoyed.

 

[Rhonda]

Hi from a fellow Minnesotan!! (We moved down here to Florida last year)

We always drove down from Minnesota for 2 weeks and camped at Fort Wilderness. We would spend 10 nights at Fort Wilderness, then drive over to St. Pete Beach and camp at Fort Desoto Park for a few nights. The campsites are right on the water, and it's beautiful!!

 

[bicyclemark]

Wow - this is great

With all these choices, which would be your top 3...
A Canaveral with a side trip to Cocoa Beach
B BOK Towers
C DeLeon St. Park - Civil War encampment
D Blue Springs State Park
E Anna Maria Island - Beach
F Siesta Key Beach


Fort Desoto sounds great. But it will lave to wait for another trip - Just one more excuse to head down - not that it is needed.

Thanks!

 

[LMC]

Well since you are going when it will be a little cool, this is what I would choose (also based on what I think my kids ages 10,7,5 would like).

De Leon - Cival War Re-enacment
Siesta Key
Blue Springs


I've only been to Siesta Key but De Leon looks interesting. I am sure Blue Springs is too, but if they allow swimming in the springs, that would get cold in January. We always play in the sand at Siesta Key so swimming is not an issue for us there.

Have fun no matter which you choose!

 

[Thinktinknpixiedust]

I HIGHLY suggest with kids and all leaving in the morning and driving out to Blue Springs State Park in Orange City... you gotta see the Manatee. You'll be going at the perfect time and you and your kids will NEVER forget it! (we used to live a couple of blocks away... and its still cool as heck). Then you could go on over to Kennedy (NASA) after lunch (you really won't be at Blue Springs that long... probably an hour.
From DW on I-4 just make sure that you leave around 9:30 head east... it is about an hour to Orange City and then From Orange City to Nasa another 1and half hours. (or less depending on traffic of course...)
The key is to miss rush hour traffic on I-4 and your good as gold! Have fun!!
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