Off Site Day Trip...

[debsays]

I was wondering if anyone has gotten away from the Disney, etc. area for a day and if so where did you go. We'd like to take a day trip and not certain if we should head towards St. Augustine, Venice, etc. Suggestions are welcome.

 

[Dancemom03]

As the mom of a surfer, we always took a day to go to cocoa beach and Ron John's surf shop. The store is amazing and, unless things have changed, open 24 hours/7 days a week. It's been a few years since we've done it but we really enjoy shopping in that huge multi-level store (they have so much, a bit of everything - not just surf stuff) and the beach there is wonderful, not too busy and not too expensive.

It's a terrific side trip too for days when a shuttle launch is planned. You can tour the facility (Kennedy Space Center) any day and there are lots of exhibits for space buffs but, during launch week it gets busy we like to watch from the beach.

I get a kick out of cocoa beach neighborhoods too. If you drive down some streets, you can imagine yourself right in the middle of an "i dream of jeannie" episode. I swear it looked so much like the old show that I expected to see Tony out in the yard bar-b-cue-ing. Of course, I'm dating myself now - my kids had no clue why I was so enchanted. They'd never seen the show and were like "Jeannie-who?"

 

[a1tinkfans]

we usually do not leave but took a day to go to sea world as we got a good deal on tix and did the Lynx bus so it was a cheap excursion for us.
Personally, I'd rather laze by the pool for a day or two than leave property.

Have a great trip!

 

[dopeynme]

Kennedy Space Center is worth doing once. We really don't care for Universal, but enjoyed Discovery Cove and the dolphin experience, feeding the exotic birds, etc. Is is much less crowded tha WDW and is a nice break.

 

[reginaastralis]

I get a kick out of cocoa beach neighborhoods too. If you drive down some streets, you can imagine yourself right in the middle of an "i dream of jeannie" episode. I swear it looked so much like the old show that I expected to see Tony out in the yard bar-b-cue-ing. Of course, I'm dating myself now - my kids had no clue why I was so enchanted. They'd never seen the show and were like "Jeannie-who?"

Tehehe ... my grandmother lives in Titusville which is right near Cocaoa Beach ... growing up I hated visiting .. but I can see what you mean by that comment.

To the OP ... I think staying on the East Coast will be the closest for you, but if you've ever wanted to check out Bush Gardens, it's only about an hour 45 minutes from Disney .... it's not Disney, but there are some pretty neat thrill rides. I LOVE St. Augustine ... I just don't know if there is too much to do in a day ... we usually make a three day trip out of it, but if you really research it, you might be able to pin point what you want to do there.

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

I'm going to move this over to the Orlando Hotels & Attractions Board. I'm sure that they'll have a lot of suggestions for offsite fun.