St. Augustine or Key West after Disney World?

[Calivalley1]

Hey folks,

I am neck-deep in planning our first (and only?) trip to Florida for June 2022 and could use some advice. We are a family of four (two boys, 11 and 9) traveling from California. This trip is my baby--my poor husband is not a theme park fan but he is doing Disney World for me and the kids. I promised him that we would add in some other Florida attractions/destinations to make it something he would enjoy as well (while we are in Orlando we're adding on a day trip to Kennedy, a day at Gatorland plus a swamp boat ride, and a day at Discovery Cove).

He wants to add on either St. Augustine or Key West after our Orlando portion of the trip. If we pick St. Augustine, we would spend two nights and fly out of Jacksonville. If we choose Key West, we would spend 3 nights and fly out of Key West.

Anyone been to both and could recommend which is better with kids? Which has more to do for the whole family? Which one feels most like iconic Florida to you?

If you knew it was your only trip to Florida, which one would you pick?

Thanks so much!

 

[Southernmiss]

How long are you spending in Florida?

Your sons would love Universal parks, too.

What you already want to do sounds like a lot and exhausting.

We spent 4 days at Disney and 2 at Universal this June over 7 days. Our group had a blast, but it was tiring. This was our 3rd trip like this.

 

[PalmettoPath]

That's a tough call. I think St. Augustine might be a better option for kids that age -- just more things to do in some ways. You do have the history as being the oldest city in the U.S. (as they like to say). On the other hand, Key West is just so cool and such a great experience. Even getting there traveling across the Florida keys is pretty experiential. They'll never forget it. Key West does have a bit of an element of hurricane exposure though, but June is a bit early in the season. Although really, you never know. If it were me I would go Key West, but it's a long drive from Orlando to Key West (6+ hours) compared to St. Augustine (~2 hours). Good dilemma to have! You can't really go wrong.

 

[Buzz Rules]

St. Augustine is my vote. Fort Mark is awesome.

 

[Stratman50th]

I'd have to recommend St Augustine. There's just a lot more to do there if you're under drinking age. I love both places but I just think the kids would enjoy the history and family oriented stuff to do in St. Augustine.

 

[Calivalley1]

How long are you spending in Florida?

Your sons would love Universal parks, too.

What you already want to do sounds like a lot and exhausting.

We spent 4 days at Disney and 2 at Universal this June over 7 days. Our group had a blast, but it was tiring. This was our 3rd trip like this.

Yeah, this trip is pretty long (we're making up for two years without any vacations at all). Here's our itinerary so far:

Animal Kingdom Lodge (5 nights)
Day 1: Travel day
Day 2: Epcot in the afternoon/evening (stay for fireworks)
Day 3: Resort day
Day 4: AK
Day 5: AK
Boardwalk Inn (4 nights)
Day 6: Blizzard Beach
Day 7: HS
Day 8: Resort day
Day 9: HS
Wilderness Lodge (3 nights)
Day 10: MK
Day 11: MK
Day 12: Resort day
Old Key West (4 nights)
Day 13: Typhoon Lagoon
Day 14: Swamp boat ride/Gatorland
Day 15: Kennedy Space Center
Day 16: Discovery Cove


No one in our family will go on an inversion coaster, and we can only do a little of the screen rides, so we decided to pass on Universal.

I know split stays are not for everyone, but we like to mix it up when we vacation and enjoying new resorts is a big part of vacations for me.

 

[Calivalley1]

I'd have to recommend St Augustine. There's just a lot more to do there if you're under drinking age. I love both places but I just think the kids would enjoy the history and family oriented stuff to do in St. Augustine.

Yeah, I think we're leaning that way. Thanks for chiming in.

 

[NeedMoreMickey]

Does your husband enjoy golf? He could play a round at TPC Sawgrass where the PGA has the Players Championship or visit the World Golf Hall of Fame that are pretty close to St. Augustine in Ponte Verda.

 

[Calivalley1]

Does your husband enjoy golf? He could play a round at TPC Sawgrass where the PGA has the Players Championship or visit the World Golf Hall of Fame that are pretty close to St. Augustine in Ponte Verda.

Not a golf guy, but very much a sleep-in-and-hang-at-the-pool-guy : )

I'm hoping I built in enough resort-only days to give him the relaxed pool time he likes.

He is big on museums and historical sights and it seems St. Augustine may have more of that?

 

[HiStitch626]

It sounds like St. Augustine will be your best bet. However, if the dates for Key West will include the weekend of June 18 & 19, Ft. Zachary Taylor has a living history event that weekend. A visit to Key West might also include a float plane trip out to the Dry Tortugas National Park and Ft. Jefferson.

 

[Calivalley1]

It sounds like St. Augustine will be your best bet. However, if the dates for Key West will include the weekend of June 18 & 19, Ft. Zachary Taylor has a living history event that weekend. A visit to Key West might also include a float plane trip out to the Dry Tortugas National Park and Ft. Jefferson.

Ah! The dates we're looking at are Thursday, 6/16-Sunday, 6/19.

This decision just got harder!! Now I need to look into this event at Ft. Zachary Taylor you mentioned.

 

[HopperFan]

Been to Key West, stayed right on water at Waldorf Astoria and I bought at St. Augustine after 15 years of steady visits. I honestly was quite disappointed in Key West, which made me sad because I was so excited. It is VERY HOT in summer and we found little to do that kids would be interested in unless you dropped a lot more money for boats to get you out where the water is pretty. Only reason I'd go back is to go to Dry Tortugas (we snorkel).

Not a golf guy, but very much a sleep-in-and-hang-at-the-pool-guy : )

I'm hoping I built in enough resort-only days to give him the relaxed pool time he likes.

He is big on museums and historical sights and it seems St. Augustine may have more of that?

St. Augustine has more than you could do in a week. We've now owned 5 years and barely scraped the surface.

First I suggest the Embassy Suites on the beach in St. Augustine Beach if he wants pool time. Fairly new and beautiful pool area. Has the great breakfast buffet. Downtown historic area is only a few miles down the road.

Your boys will LOVE the Pirate Museum (adults too) with one of the largest collections of real pirate stuff. Lightner Museum is more arts stuff. There is the Oldest School House, Oldest Store, Oldest Hospital, Old Military Museum, Medieval Torture Museum and so many others that are smaller ones that you could pick a couple to see. There is the Colonial Quarter which is a nicely done one in the historic district right next to Pirate Museum and totally worth going in the Castillo de San Marcos (look at schedule for cannon shoot and other times). I know you are doing Gatorland but the St Augustine Alligator Farm is one of the best rated "zoos" and I was shocked how nice it is. You have the lighthouse, you can take a boat ride on a pirate ship or other schooners, Ripleys which is in a cool mansion and the unique ones are the Old Jail and the Fountain of Youth, a pleasant relaxing place. The Jail is site where a trolley tour starts and those are great for getting a good overview of all over for shorter trips.

Also a HUGE foodie town with many chef owned restaurants AND live music is just everywhere even in a large outdoor space for free downtown. https://www.thecolonialoakmusicpark.com/

 

[Stratman50th]

Not a golf guy, but very much a sleep-in-and-hang-at-the-pool-guy : )

I'm hoping I built in enough resort-only days to give him the relaxed pool time he likes.

He is big on museums and historical sights and it seems St. Augustine may have more of that?

They moved the pirate museum from Key West to St. Augustine. Who doesn't like pirates? If you decide to do St. Augustine, consider getting tram tickets. Price is reasonable, pick up 3 day tickets (they're cheap enough that if you don't use all 3 days you won't feel like you wasted money). The city tour in the tram is pretty educational and when you're done, you can use the tram as transportation to do the tourist thing. You can park at the tram terminal so you don't have to worry about finding a place to park in town. My daughter, who was 18 at the time thought St. Augustine was a pleasant surprise.
Save Key West, or the Keys in general for a trip of it's own and spend a week there.

 

[NeedMoreMickey]

Not a golf guy, but very much a sleep-in-and-hang-at-the-pool-guy : )

I'm hoping I built in enough resort-only days to give him the relaxed pool time he likes.

He is big on museums and historical sights and it seems St. Augustine may have more of that?

Do a google search on Ft. Jefferson on Dry Tortugas. When a friend found out i was spending my anniversary in the Keys she suggested we make the trip and I’m so glad we did. It is a whole day trip but we’ll worth it. If I ever go again I’m taking the seaplane. There are also a Fort on Key West, a run down fort with a museum that has Bob the doll (google it) and ghost tours. Plus the next time the weather channel is non stop hurricane coverage you can say I remember that place. We really enjoyed our few days there.

 

[JimMIA]

I have to say I'd reduce the WDW time and do both -- and I say that as a person who has spent a lot of time at all 3 places, and loves all three. We actually just got back from St. Augustine a couple of weeks ago.

The kids will enjoy Kennedy Space Center. It's a memory of a lifetime, and it's great that you are allocating the whole day for that.

They'll enjoy St Augustine to a point, but they may be a little young to really grasp the historical aspect of St. Augustine. The important thing about St. Augustine is the history -- founded in 1565 (42 years before Jamestown and 55 years before the Pilgrims at Plymouth), and it is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the United States. The Castillo de San Marcos is an interesting couple of hours, but they were not doing the cannon shoot this summer. Some of the other places are interesting, but tend to be pretty touristy. There are a lot of quaint shops to look at...which is why DD and I went to Castillo de San Marcos, lol.

One thing that is really better in St. Augustine is the beach. Keys beaches are nothing special, and most of them we don't even bother with (we live in Miami, so we're spoiled). St. Augustine Beach is really nice, quiet, and the sea turtles will be nesting in June.

@HopperFan's suggestion of the Embassy Suites on St Augustine Beach is a good one. We stayed at the Hampton, and it was okay. But Embassy would be better.

The other thing we love about St. Augustine is the Columbia Restaurant there. You should hit the one in Celebration from WDW, and also treat yourself at St. Augustine.

But if you only go to WDW and St. Augustine, you are missing some of the best of Florida. You're missing the Everglades (and REAL airboat rides), and it is a natural wonder. You can see fish at Sea World and WDW, but you will walk with alligators at Shark Valley (but no sharks). Everglades National Park is only about 25 miles west of Miami, and the airboat tour I would recommend is only about 15. Great place for the kids, and be sure they get their Junior Ranger badges at Shark Valley!

I would spend one night in Miami, and two in Key West (or nearby).

I'm not going to get started on the Florida Keys, but they are absolutely beautiful. The Keys are real Florida to me, and I'm a native. Use the search feature on this forum and you'll find several extensive threads with tons of information. The kids can feed tarpon by hand at Robbies, DH can go fishing (as can the kids) and there are lots of good restaurants and cool things to do. The Fort Jeff trip @NeedMoreMickey mentioned is incredible (spent two long weekends there), but you probably won't have time.

 

[kymom99]

I’d definitely do st. Augustine. I think your kids will like it. And the drive won’t be draining. I flew in and out if Jax this past spring. Very easy airport to navigate.

 

[JimMIA]

And the drive won’t be draining.

The drive to the Keys doesn't have to be "draining."

WDW to St. Augustine Beach is 2 hours, with Orlando traffic part of the way. Depending on time of day, that will vary between no big deal and brutal.

If they stop overnight in Miami to take the kids to the Everglades (and for an airboat ride), the drive is a little less than 3 1/2 hours. It's an easy drive that gets congested going through Ft. Lauderdale. With both drives, time of day is important, and rush hour is to be avoided.

But from the logical overnighting spot to the Everglades, and then on to the Keys is easy peasy. Very little congestion unless you're going Friday afternoon or Saturday when half of Miami is en route to the Keys!

For both trips, the right timing on weekends would be better than during the week. If they drive to Miami on Saturday, traffic will be light. If they drive to the Keys on a Sunday, the traffic out of the Keys will be OMG, but their drive will be against the traffic and very easy.

 

[Calivalley1]

Thank you for all the advice! It sounds like traffic will be a factor--we are leaving Orlando on Thursday, June 16th. If we do the Miami/Key West plan, we would be leaving Miami on a Friday to head to the Keys, so it sounds like bad traffic?

(**Give me some perspective on traffic. We live 2.5 hours from San Francisco and have driven through the Bay Area/Oakland/S.F. a lot, including during commuting hours. I consider that to be really rough, aggressive, stop-and-go nightmare traffic. Is that what we're talking with Miami to Keys traffic??)

Thought--how badly would we be short-changing St. Augustine to make that a day trip from Orlando? Drop one of the water park days and do that instead?

We are locked into our Orlando days because we've already rented DVC points, so cutting that back won't be an option...


So this is where we're at:

Option 1--Day trip St. Augustine and add 3 (or 4) nights to do Miami (1)/Key West (2-3) with a visit to the Everglades on the way

Option 2--Add 2 nights and just do St. Augustine


Help!!

 

[MrsPete]

Given those two choices, I'd rather visit Key West. But Key West is a very long drive, and it's an expensive place to stay. Also, if you really think you'll never be back to Florida again (which would make me sad), I'd add days to the trip and do it right.

Your sons would love Universal parks, too.

Disney and Universal have priced their tickets in such a way that doing BOTH PARKS in one trip is extremely expensive.

If you're considering other parks, don't neglect Sea World. And Discovery Cove, which is right there in Orlando and would appeal strongly to boys the age of yours.

The kids will enjoy Kennedy Space Center. It's a memory of a lifetime, and it's great that you are allocating the whole day for that.

I haven't been since I was a teen. I found the Space Center to be a snoozefest, but my four siblings loved it.

They'll enjoy St Augustine to a point, but they may be a little young to really grasp the historical aspect of St. Augustine.

Agree.

Everglades National Park is only about 25 miles west of Miami

I was going to suggest that too. The Everglades are a unique area /nothing similar on your end of the country.

But the place I'd really choose if I genuinely thought I'd never get back to Florida again is Dry Tortugas National Park. It's a national park that can only be accessed by ferry (or private plane). You can do a day trip, or you can camp. It's a remote-remote-remote area and -- again -- a genuinely unique place to visit. I like the history better than that of St. Augustine -- an old fort, the story of Dr. Samuel Mud, natural history. To visit Dry Tortugas, you'd need to start from Key West.

 

[JimMIA]

Thank you for all the advice! It sounds like traffic will be a factor--we are leaving Orlando on Thursday, June 16th. If we do the Miami/Key West plan, we would be leaving Miami on a Friday to head to the Keys, so it sounds like bad traffic?

Not if you do it right, and it also depends on how much of Miami you want to see. You're not going to have time to explore Miami, so here's what I would do on that schedule:

• Leave Orlando early morning Thursday and get to the Miami area in the early afternoon (Noon would be better).
• To airboat and see Everglades National Park's best part, I would stay in one of the hotels at Dolphin Mall. That venue also has the advantage of numerous good restaurants within walking distance of your hotel (same mall area, just across the parking lot).
• Drop off your luggage at the hotel and head west on US 41. Take the airboat ride at Everglades Safari Park (3rd airboat you will come to, on your left), and then drive another 10 miles west to the Shark Valley entrance to Everglades National Park. The airboat ride is 45 minutes, so figure at least an hour for that stop. Take the 4 PM tram at Shark Valley. That's a two-hour naturalist-guided, 15 mile, tour that will really give you an up close look at the Everglades. (You need to make reservations for that tram well in advance.)
• IF you are pressed for time, skip the hotel and go directly out US 41 to the airboat and Shark Valley. Check into your hotel after the Everglades.
• Then return to Dolphin Mall, have dinner and get to bed early. Get up early and head to Key West. Dolphin Mall to Key West is four hours normally, but you will want to make a couple of stops on the way. If you get on the road before Noon you will miss most of the slow traffic headed to the Keys.
• The difficult traffic on a Friday would be afternoon with an endless string of boat trailers. The first 30 miles (from Dolphin Mall to Florida City is all turnpike and easy driving. The next 30 miles, to Key Largo, is where the slowdowns would occur if any. Once you get to Key Largo, the traffic actually IN the Keys is not bad.

(**Give me some perspective on traffic. We live 2.5 hours from San Francisco and have driven through the Bay Area/Oakland/S.F. a lot, including during commuting hours. I consider that to be really rough, aggressive, stop-and-go nightmare traffic. Is that what we're talking with Miami to Keys traffic??)

OMG, NO!

I've driven in the Bay area, and it's much busier than Miami - Keys. The congested part of your trip will be before Miami -- the Boca Raton/Ft. Lauderdale area. That's where things will really slow down. But once you get past the Seminole Hard Rock Casino (big guitar shaped building), you'll turn off on the Homestead extension of the turnpike and traffic will thin out. There is a lot of construction the first few miles on that highway, but it's not too bad and will be better by next year.