Please read and advise!

[prue]

I discovered this site about a month ago and am hooked!! We are off (dh and 12 year old dd) for two weeks in october for half term. Virgin flights were booked up on the dates we wanted to orlando so we are flying to Miami instead. I am trying to be sensible, so instead of racing to disney we are going to chill out for two days in key biscayne,miami and then go to POR. Am so,so,so excited.
We went to disney for our honeymoon in '89, POR (Dixielandings) in 94, various trips to disneyparis since but after 11 years we are returning. I am a woman obsessed and cannot stop thinking about it....however, after our 10 days staying at POR we have to return to Miami for our flight. This is where I am stuck and would appreciate any advice you could give me. I dont want the last 2 days of our holiday to be wasted. It will sad enough leaving disney to drive 4 hours to miami so does any one have any ideas where we could stay and enjoy the last day rather than arrive at an indifferent hotel and waste the last day. A huge fly in the ointment is the international boat show is on so alot of hotels are only doing packages for that event and obviously hotel rooms will be booking up soon.
I hope it is okay to ask this question as it is not a Disney question?

Oh yes and THANK YOU Kevin Stringer for the most brilliant and entertaining trip report. I hope your Mother is better. I cant wait for the next one!!

Thank you, Prue

 

[carolfoy]

Hi Prue and welcome to the dIS, you'll find all of your answers here, I can't help you on anything I'm afraid as I race to Disney the second I step foot on Florida soil but just wanted to reassure you that NO question here is too daft for someone to answer.There are loads of people who have stayed all over florida so you'll get your answers soon

 

[DisneySurfGirl]

Hey Prue

Whenever my family have driven down to southern Florida and flown home from miami we've always chosen to spend a couple of days in the Keys. It's so relaxed down there and you get to see so much wildlife (the Everglades are fab) and character (if you wondered where the Hippies went after the 60s then look no further!).

If you guy like dolphins, there are two very good places to see them. The first is the Dolphin Research Centre (www.dolphins.org) in Grassy Key. They offer the best dolphin swim in Florida. You get to soend ages interacting with the dolphins in a natural environment (the dolphins are free to come and go as they please but they love it so much they never leave!) and you get to see how the animals are rescued and catered for. The cost is very good (much cheaper than Discovery Cove). All your money goes towards the animals and their care so you know you're money is well spent. You also get to meet their resident sea lions who are very cute!

The second place is more of an aquarium than a rescue centre and is called Theatre of the Sea. Here you can do things such as be a trainer for a day and verious other interactions with their animals. This is in Marathon and is a really lovely aquarium, really well kept and the animals seem very well looked after.

There are loads of nice hotels that are reasonably priced throughout the Keys and you are only a maximum of an hour away from Miami. I prefer staying in the Keys to Miami itself as it's a lot more relaxed and I feel safer (when we went to Miami we were greeted by a man smoking a cigarette in a gas station with a pistol on his hip... my Dad has never driven away so fast in his life!). Hope this helps! x x x

 

[natalielongstaff]

hi

i can reccomend the miami seaquarium for dolphin interaction and a very enjoyable day out.
cant help on the hotel sorry we just stayed in a comfort inn close to the airport.
hth

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

Hi Prue and welcome

I stayed on Key Biscayne at the Sonata hotel - it's lovely down there, just a small causeway to cross to get to Miami.

October is a perfect time to visit Florida

 

[Mumof2]

Hi and welcome.

Hubby and flew into Miami before we had the children. The drive up/down isn't as bad as it seems. Maybe you could spend just one night in Key Biscane and then try the Florida Keys on the way back as others have suggested. I haven't been here myself but after reading posts here, I have decided this is a MUST do for next trip.

Enjoy!

 

[prue]

Thank you carolfoy for your kind words. Thank you disneysurfgirl for ALL your kind advice, I will definitely make a note of the dolphin centre, however, we dont want to go further south than miami as it is such a short time but maybe next time.....
Thank you also natalie and annie. Hopefully i will receive some more advice.

Annie, sonesta beach resort is where we want to stay! is the island view from the rooms okay or should we spend that bit extra for an ocean view?? Please give me any advice or information on your time at the hotel?

These posts make it seem real... as my family think i am slightly mad planning and talking about it as its october!!!

thank you, prue