Florida - Advice

[nopanic - neil]

Can anyone give me some advice.

Going to Sebring this year, via Denver (The Mad road trip)

But after the race, my lot are coming over (as Easter is early this year)

We arer looking to hire a RV for some of the stay, and would like to travel around Florida and see other parts (i.e. not just Disney etc)

Any recommendations or advice would be great

Cheers
Neil

[Paddy_NL]

Rick Cutler had decent prices for RV rental

[Rick Cutler]

I spoke with Niel about that but I think he is after something to do other then the usual.

[Misplaced Floridian]

The Kennedy Space Center will take a full day - Was there last February and fully enjoyed it.

[dweebdad]

I highly recommend you check out Key West, although you're liver may hate you after

[JPChenet]

The Kennedy Space Center will take a full day - Was there last February and fully enjoyed it.

Definately worth putting into the plan. We did it last year and it's worth the da and admission money just to experience jsut how big the Apollo rockets were! 

Just don't get bugged by the acronyms, where the Space shuttle is put together is the VAB ( Vehicle Assembly Building) and where it lands is te SSLF (Space Shuttle Landing Facility)...............for gods sake...............it's a RUNWAY!!!!!! 

[Hardpoint]

There is a shuttle launch scheduled for Feb 7th which means there is a great chance that it will go off some time in mid-March. 

[gab]

Neil, I can second the one day trip to Kennedy, very interesting. I can also recommend the Key West visit. Best to do that without wife and kids, better you travel with Smokie and myself You will need a few more days than the Space Center visit and a healthy liver.

[Pieter]

How about an airboat ride in the Everglades?

[Misplaced Floridian]

Now that would be cool!

[Kings_Suck]

If you go to KSC, consider a trip to St. Augustine.  It's about the only thing more than 50 years old in this state.

Near Sebring is Solomon's Castle, for something unusual and off the beaten path.
http://www.solomonscastle.org/

If you're into the Everglades, I've got lots of recommendations for you.  You're on your own for an airboat ride because I hate those noisy things.  First, read Peter Matthiessen's book Killing Mr. Watson, then go to Chokoloskee and stand out back of Smallwood's store where the townfolk gunned him down.
http://www.nytimes.com/books/97/11/23/home/matthiessen-watson.html

US Highway 41, the Tamiami Trail, was built across the state, through the 'Glades, 80 years ago this year.  It's a 55mph 2-lane through the habitat of the endangered Florida Panther (something like 50 remaining).  There are a bunch of interesting places along the way.  I just spent 2 nights camping at the Skunk Ape Research Center for New Year's:

http://www.skunkape.info/
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/sights/sightstory.php?tip_AttrId=%3D13341
http://miaminewtimes.com/2004-10-07/news/wild-and-crazy/

It's a mile from the smallest Post Office in the US and Joannie's Blue Crab, a great place to eat alligator:
http://www.sptimes.com/2007/04/12/Floridian/A_bite_of_Big_Cypress.shtml

East of there is the Loop Road, which is a narrow, well maintained gravel road running parallel to 41:
http://www.sptimes.com/2006/02/12/Floridian/Back_on_the_Loop.shtml

Also visit nature photographer Clyde Butcher's gallery (it's in the middle of nowhere) and Shark River loop trail.  I can go on if this stuff is of interest.

There's a big music festival out in the Everglades on the Seminole Indian Reservation the week before Sebring:
http://www.langerado.com/home2.php

Here's a shot we took on the Loop Road on the last day of '07:

[Kings_Suck]

Forgot about Lucky.  At Joannie's cafe you can check out his tasteful nude photos in the men's room.  He photographs hot naked women posing in the swamps and they pay him!  I guess that's how he got the nickname.

He lives on the Loop Road and welcomes visitors.

http://www.miaminewtimes.com/2007-01-18/news/renaissance-swamp-man/
http://www.naturesexoticbeauty.com/

[SACK-U]

^ Wow nice find.... whoknewit

[KTJeffries]

You may also want to look into spending a day at the Edison/Ford Estates in Ft. Meyers. You can tour the estates and see Edison's lab and gardens. Interesting stuff.

[F-Troop Mom]

Don't forget the small/older tourist attractions.  They are what made Florida after the turn of the century.  Silver Springs at http://www.silversprings.com/ and the nearby Sunshine River Tours has the manatee experience http://www.sunshinerivertours.com/?OVRAW=silver%20springs&OVKEY=silver%20springs&OVMTC=standard&OVADID=593397522&OVKWID=2596760522 Gatorland has reopened in central Florida, their website is: http://gatorland.com/gatorcam.php, Cypress Gardens http://www.cypressgardens.com/#loop, Busch Gardens (popular and updated) http://www.buschgardens.com/BGT/default.aspxand Lion Country Safari (this one's near my house), which has a campground attached http://www.lioncountrysafari.com/.  They Florida Keys can be great for a family, there are campgrounds and the Dolphin Research Center http://www.dolphins.org/ and there are also glassbottom boats down there, it's not ALL about drinking in Key West.  It's a big State with lots of offer.