mickey916
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 14, 2009
Background: DH and I retired in 2022 at the age of 55. We live in Massachusetts and are planning on escaping the winters for at least a month each year. We know we love Orlando but have limited knowledge of the rest of the state. This trip was conceived as an exploratory adventure to see which areas we might like for future visits. We tried to take the scenic route, avoiding 95 for the most part. We also planned to avoid chain restaurants whenever possible in favor of local establishments. I pre-booked hotels well in advance to save money, choosing mostly Marriott properties.
Map of Our Route
Here’s our itinerary (updated with links):
4/10-4/11 - Travel days Moorestown, NJ, Chesapeake, VA
4/12 - Exploring Jacksonville, NC
4/13 - Stopping in Wilmington on the Way to Charleston
4/14 - Heading to Jacksonville Beach
4/15 - A Bumpy Start then Exploring St. Augustine
4/16 - Exploring the Surrounding Area of St. Augustine
4/17 - Exploring the Ormond Loop
4/17 - Making Our Way to Palm Coast
4/18 - Exploring Daytona on Our Way to the Space Coast
4/18 - Early Bird Dinner Surprise in New Smyrna
4/19 - A Missed Opportunity in Titusville
4/20 - Making Our Way to Port St. Lucie
4/21 - Giving the Stuart/Jupiter Area Another Try
4/22 - Starting Our Adventure for 3 in Little Havana
4/22 - (cont.) Versailles Restaurant & Rita's
4/23 - Fort Lauderdale
4/24 - The Everglades
4/25 - Driving Down to Key West
4/25 - Lunch in Islamorada, Dinner & Dessert in Key West
4/26 - Spending the Day in Key West
4/26 - (cont.) Dinner & Dessert in Marathon
4/27 - Touring Pigeon Key
4/28 - Last Full Day in Marathon - Big Pine Key
4/28 - (cont.) Turtle Hospital & Dinner
4/29 - Driving Back Up the Keys
4/29 - One Night in Pembroke Pines
4/30 - Driving through the Everglades to Bonita Springs
5/1 - Exploring Fort Myers on the Way to Tampa
5/2 - Exploring Tampa
5/3 - An Unpleasant Turn of Events in Riverview
5/3 - Back to the Fun - Tarpon Springs & Sarasota
5/4 - Graduation & Dinner in Sarasota
5/5 - Back in our Happy Place! (Orlando)
5/6 - A Day of Disney Transportation
5/6 - Dinner at 'Ohana
5/7 - Travel Day to Savannah
5/8 - Making Our Way to Charlotte, NC
5/9 - An Awesome Day in Charlotte
5/10 - Traveling to Charlottesville, VA
5/11 - One Night in Lancaster PA
5/12 home
Please follow along as I share travel tips, things to do, restaurant reviews, and hotel reviews. Join us as we answer the question: Is there anywhere to visit in Florida that's better than Orlando?
Edit to add:
Trip Statistics
Best & Worst List
Our Observations
Map of Our Route
Here’s our itinerary (updated with links):
4/10-4/11 - Travel days Moorestown, NJ, Chesapeake, VA
4/12 - Exploring Jacksonville, NC
4/13 - Stopping in Wilmington on the Way to Charleston
4/14 - Heading to Jacksonville Beach
4/15 - A Bumpy Start then Exploring St. Augustine
4/16 - Exploring the Surrounding Area of St. Augustine
4/17 - Exploring the Ormond Loop
4/17 - Making Our Way to Palm Coast
4/18 - Exploring Daytona on Our Way to the Space Coast
4/18 - Early Bird Dinner Surprise in New Smyrna
4/19 - A Missed Opportunity in Titusville
4/20 - Making Our Way to Port St. Lucie
4/21 - Giving the Stuart/Jupiter Area Another Try
4/22 - Starting Our Adventure for 3 in Little Havana
4/22 - (cont.) Versailles Restaurant & Rita's
4/23 - Fort Lauderdale
4/24 - The Everglades
4/25 - Driving Down to Key West
4/25 - Lunch in Islamorada, Dinner & Dessert in Key West
4/26 - Spending the Day in Key West
4/26 - (cont.) Dinner & Dessert in Marathon
4/27 - Touring Pigeon Key
4/28 - Last Full Day in Marathon - Big Pine Key
4/28 - (cont.) Turtle Hospital & Dinner
4/29 - Driving Back Up the Keys
4/29 - One Night in Pembroke Pines
4/30 - Driving through the Everglades to Bonita Springs
5/1 - Exploring Fort Myers on the Way to Tampa
5/2 - Exploring Tampa
5/3 - An Unpleasant Turn of Events in Riverview
5/3 - Back to the Fun - Tarpon Springs & Sarasota
5/4 - Graduation & Dinner in Sarasota
5/5 - Back in our Happy Place! (Orlando)
5/6 - A Day of Disney Transportation
5/6 - Dinner at 'Ohana
5/7 - Travel Day to Savannah
5/8 - Making Our Way to Charlotte, NC
5/9 - An Awesome Day in Charlotte
5/10 - Traveling to Charlottesville, VA
5/11 - One Night in Lancaster PA
5/12 home
Please follow along as I share travel tips, things to do, restaurant reviews, and hotel reviews. Join us as we answer the question: Is there anywhere to visit in Florida that's better than Orlando?
Edit to add:
Trip Statistics
Best & Worst List
Our Observations
Last edited: