Gulf Coast Trip & Dolphin sightseeing

[Sue F UK]

After many years of visiting Orlando and Tampa we have finally decided to broaden our horizons and are planning a 'road trip' from Miami across the Everglades and up the Gulf Coast before finishing at our villa in Kissimmee. My DM & DD are joining us.

Any advice about what to do, where to stay etc. would be appreciated by those with experience of this area.

I especially wanted to take DM swimming with Dolphins if possible. We have considered doing DC but she is disabled with limited swimming movement and we feel that she really wouldn't get the most out of the park (snorkeling, lazy river etc) therefore making it an expensive treat (and we are paying!!)

If swimming is not an option the next best thing would be a really good Dolphin Encounter cruise.

Any info appreciated.

 

[Hilary]

It's a bit off your route from Miami, but if you made a detour to the Keys for a night, there are a couple of places where you can swim with dolphins.

We went to the Dolphin Research Centre on Grassy Key at Easter and DDs had wonderful dolphin encounters (but didn't actually swim with them). It's about half way between Key Largo and Key West and took us about three hours to drive there from Miami, if I remember correctly. I believe the Centre runs special courses for disabled children to have dolphin encounters, so may be able to suggest the best option for your DM from their range of programmes.

If you're interested in more detail of my DDs' experiences there, read my TR here Or feel free to ask if there's anything else you want to know about it.

We have also been on a dolphin cruise from Matlacha, near Sanibel and Captiva, which was absolutely wonderful, but the boat we went on would be very difficult for anyone with reduced mobility.

 

[Sue F UK]

Thanks for the info Hilary, it's looking as if a trip to the keys may become part of the agenda - we just have to make time to fit everything in!

 

[expatscot]

JUst back and visited the Englewood area, Gasparilla Island - Boca Grand very nice but the beaches were still closed due to Charley. Looks like a beautifull area.

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

We've done a number of "dolphin" cruises whilst down on the Gulf coast, and they are so brilliant

The best two we did was when we were staying around the St Petes area a few years back. The first one was a Virgin recommended one on the yacht, The Destiny, out of Tierre Verde marina in St Petes. It takes about 15-20 people and you can either have a morning cruise (when it's not quite so hot) and you take a picnic lunch, or you can do an afternoon one (they also do a lovely sunset dinner cruise, too). We set sail and within 10 minutes Cap'n Alex had sighted a pod of dolphins - mums wth their babies. They followed us for about an hour until we reached Shell Island where we picnicked, shelled and swam. Snorkelling was also on the agenda for those of us who were interested.

We then motored back, passing all these amazing houses on the waterfront.

My MIL was with us and she had never been on a yacht before so was a little nervous, but everything was great. Your DM shouldn't have too many problems.

The second one, with the same company and Cap'n Alex again (he is fantastic) was on their motor launch combined with a snorkelling trip to Egmont Key. This would not be suitable for your DM unless she was happy just spending time on the boat.

The dolphins were a lot more active when the motor was being used both on the yacht and the launch - really enjoying riding the waves!

If you need any more info, holler. I would highly recommend either of these two.

 

[Sue F UK]

Thanks Mrs Dazzle the first cruise sounds great, do you have any booking info?