Hello hive mind, I call upon your collective knowledge once more for holiday suggestions. 🙂 Mrs Pondo and I are off to Florida in Feb for a short break, we’re heading to the Kennedy Space Centre, then to the Keys via the Everglades, is there anything else on the must-see scale that we HAVE to do? Is KSC a full day, how much is there to see in the ‘Glades? Thanks in advance. 🙂

Budget a full day for KSC. Aside from anything else, it’s further away from anything else than you might first think. The extended tour is well worth doing, the ATX experience not so much unless you’re with kids. Last time I was there I did the “lunch with an astronaut” thing against my better judgement but it turned out to be awesome.

Airboat tour in the Glades is fun. You will be offered earplugs. Use them.

Gatorland is quite good

Go to St Petes or Naples if you can.

The Void is good if you are near Orlando. Handy for a rainy day. The NBA experience is rubbish

I want to go back to see the new Star Wars bit, but all the building work at Disney has put me off until 2021

I’m here at conference in Orlando. Went to KSC yesterday arrived before opening at 9 and left when it closed at 6. Very enjoyable, but a lot of films. Pay for the extended bus tour. I’ll do that next time with the family.

Best part was talking with a retired rocket engineer about the engines on the shuttle being more up to date, but Space X and the other launchers have gone back to 60s ICBM technology. Remember America has not put a human into space orbit for 8 years. They gloss over that. Also the human losses dwarf the Russian cosmonaut losses. It’s $91M for a return ticket to the ISS at the moment.

I’ve not located anything else in Florida of interest for my second day off next Friday. It’s very flat, wet and steamy. The Everglades are quite a drive. Hilights look like Art Deco architecture in Miami and perhaps the gulf coast. I hoped for some flying but the weather looks rubbish.

Budget a full day for KSC.

Absolutely. I went there back in April, there’s at least a full day’s worth of stuff to see.

OP, are you heading to the Gulf coast. Swimming in there is like having a bath!

Gatorland did us a ‘less busy day’ about 30 years ago, so god knows what it’s like now. Huge gators and a bit of walking – I was early 20’s with my folks and family.

Disney is hard work. We did 2 weeks staying in Disney in the hotels, absolutely no driving from any of us, 9 years ago with the kids – intense. Busy busy, with a few rest days. PS we could at least get a beer going round, but I wouldn’t want a full day, every day, then figuring how to get back to the hotel – we just bussed it on the Disney busses…

Like most of the USA there is far more to Florida than the Disneyworld advertising would suggest. Wilderness, forest and wildlife are all there but you have to seek out solitude.

TiReD near Orlando if you are hot go to one of the springs you can swim in / tube / kayak. Or hike in Ocala Forest while looking for bears. Or mountain bike at Santos.

OP, in Feb the dugong/manatee will be in the springs at Homosassa and Crystal River. If you don’t want to detour that far they also congregate just 30 mins north from KSC in the nature reserve, called Allenhurst on Google maps. The white sand beaches of the Gulf Keys are sublime, but can be massively touristy. Seek out State Parks that require a boat transfer. If you are adventurous there is a multiday canoe trail through the everglades, as well as the tourist boat trips and gator farms. You can see wild gators all over if you go to the nature reserves and prairies, as well as birds and other critters like wild boar, tortoises, armadillos and black bears.

Disney is hard work. We did 2 weeks staying in Disney in the hotels, absolutely no driving from any of us, 9 years ago with the kids – intense. Busy busy, with a few rest days. PS we could at least get a beer going round, but I wouldn’t want a full day, every day,

Yeah. The trick to doing that is have a day on, a day off.

First time I went to Florida was with a bunch of mates, we looked at it as a trip of a lifetime, never to be repeated. We had three weeks out there doing something every day, I came home needing a holiday.

Look out the Bass Pro Shops for an awesome couple of hours shopping, it’s near Universal in a shopping centre that has a big rope climbing course thingy and some other quirky shops, but the name escapes me.

If you’re down near Tampa the Dali museum is fantastic, if that’s your thing, and there are a couple of very good air museums too.

Naples is lovely for a chilled evening out if you stay there.

Everglade City offered a decent airboat ride and one of the best meals I ever had (was 5+ years ago and pretty much the only restaurant in town).
Going out in a canoe and seeing things at less than 30mph and in total silence was lovely too.

Thanks konagirl. Wekiwa Springs looks like it’s worth the trip. Will head there for a walk and a swim.

https://machinegunamericaorlando.com

Buddy of mine did some laps in a Nascar at Daytona. A must not be missed apparently, give you a good appreciation of the thuggish speed and next to no control of those things.

I really didn’t like Florida when I went, apart from the KSC, and having wild gators in the back garden.

The racism and poverty just showed everything that is bad about America.

https://skydivedeland.com/

Say hi to Karl and Nikki when you are there.

I agree with some of the other comments though. Florida is a really strange place. There is a lot to do, but it is heavily tilted towards Disneyland (in that part of the state at least) and there can be some really strange people there.

Was in Florida with the family for my second time in July past, yes we did parks but not disney. IMO Universal is good for a few days, we played a blinder by using single rider line for the 4 of us getting on rides before the fast passers. As others have said KSC is a must, first time we went we stopped at a guy doing airbot rides called “captain Rick” which is near KSC, found this real good and felt like Boycie and Marlene. We also did Gatorland this year which is not as commercialised as the other park and is grand for a 1/2 day for decent price. If i was going around the 15 Feb I would be looking at attending the AMA supercross in Tampa, take a coat though as it gets real cold in the evenings at these events

If you’re going as far down as key west, then this http://www.kwextremeadventures.com/

Wow, thank you all! As always, outstanding and very helpful answers, you lovely, lovely people. 🙂 Thanks all for the many KSC shouts, definitely going, will look into the extended tour thing – Cougar, we’re trying to book into the lunch with an astronaut thing, not sure if they’re doing one the day we planned to be there. 🙁

Definitely heading to the gulf, not so fussed about the Disney stuff – konagirl, dugong/manatee spotting sounds much more our thing, great shout! Mrs Pondo wants to do airboats and look around the Everglades, will look into the nature reserves. Sootyandjim, I like the idea of a shooting range – I’d love to catch the supercross, fatmess, but that WOULD result in divorce. 🙁 Thanks for the link to the shark watching trips, precutduck, I’ll suggest it but Mrs Pondo suffers from sea sickness, so might not be a goer.

Thanks you all! 😀

Consider a bit of flexibility around the Cape as launches come thick and fast these days however are also very vulnerable to the weather and other technical uncertainties. As such a launch may get scheduled / rescheduled whilst you’re in the area even if the schedule initially looks empty. Loads of good websites with schedules, and various Twitter and Reddit feeds and dedicated apps to stay on top of the details once you’re there.

I went to KSC with the family so deliberately avoided all the extra stuff as it would’ve made the day too stressful. So even if you don’t book on extras, the standard bus tour (via Saturn V) and the main sites at the visitor centre (inc. Shuttle) that are all part of the standard entrance fee are simply astonishing. Definitely my favourite museum visit ever, topped off with a SpaceX Falcon 9 launch at midnight.

Anna Maria Island is a nice mellow Gulf Coast spot.

Disney is hard work. We did 2 weeks staying in Disney in the hotels, absolutely no driving from any of us

And eye wateringly expensive too!

It’s $91M for a return ticket to the ISS at the moment.

Do you get a partial refund if it turns out to be one-way?

Thanks for the link to the shark watching trips, precutduck, I’ll suggest it but Mrs Pondo suffers from sea sickness, so might not be a goer.

In regards to the sea sickness it’s not too bad, very calm water usually. I wen ta few years back with my parents. My dad gets sea sick usually, but with a standard over the counter anti-seasick type tablet he was fine on it, and it’s open so plenty of fresh air.

Well a little different, but I can now absolutely The Shooting Gallery in Orlando. It’s next to the “Correction Center”, and about 10 minutes from universal studios.

A professional shooting range that gave me thorough instruction and 50 rounds with a Glock for a very reasonable $50. They also do machine gun stuff, but this was more an education in hand guns. Talking with them afterwards was even more instructive. I would definitely recommend them. Minimum age is 10. It was empty – hence quiet for me. It may be noisier when busy.

Now off for a swim at Wekiwa State Park

On day two of our sojourn, and I’m too excited not to say…

1 – KSC is awesome, and we totally fluked catching the SpaceX launch yesterday morning. Only from the car park, mind, but stull – awesome. 🙂

2 – The Shooting Gallery is just, just mega – thank you for the tip! 🙂

Thanks everyone for your contributions, everything has been considered. More later, probably to fill time on the flight home. 🙂

It’s a long, long slow single carriage way drive down to Key West and not particularly interesting. I’d probably really think twice before driving down.

Go to Mara Largo and s**t on the 18th green, has to be the ultimate protest.

It’s a long, long slow single carriage way drive down to Key West and not particularly interesting. I’d probably really think twice before driving down.

Ah.

Go to Mara Largo and s**t on the 18th green, has to be the ultimate protest

A younger me might have been up for that.

1 – KSC is awesome, and we totally fluked catching the SpaceX launch yesterday morning. Only from the car park, mind, but stull – awesome.

M I N T !

Enjoy the rest of your hols.

Not a big fan of Florida but like the Keys a lot.

Rent a beach cruiser bike at Key West – best way to get around and explore.
Sunset is celebrated nightly Mallory Square. Get there a couple of hrs before and grab a cold one and some conch fritters 👍🏼

Cuban rice beans and pork from El Siboney, they will do takeout.

Sloppy Joe’s bar in Key West, not the best bar but you have to go in if you are that far down.
Next stop Cuba.

I have to add now,

Doldricks’ escape rooms.

@Cougar – Is that based on going there yourself? I seem to remember you are an ER fan. I have only done the one and it was great. Googling ER Orlando gets lots of hits so it would be good to know if you have direct experience.

PS – What ‘room’ did you do

PPS – Also enjoying (what I think was) your recommendation for the Escape this room Podcast 🙂

@bentandbroken > I’ve not done any rooms in Florida myself (the only one I’ve played over there was in Chicago), though I’m up to 72 rooms completed generally. I’m a member of a Facebook ‘enthusiasts’ group though, and that venue crops up a lot when people ask for recommendations in the area.

And yeah, Escape This Podcast is ace. I’m actually in one (and a bit) episodes of the Descent of the Cullodens arc.

Forgot to do a roundup on this – we had a great time, thanks for all input. Arrived at our hotel about one o’clock Monday morning, getting up to get to Kennedy was hard work! SpaceX was supposed to launch on the Sunday while we were midair, did wonder if we might catch a glimpse on its way past, VERY chuffed to see next day it had been delayed. Big queues to get into KSC, but yeah, were in the car park when it launched – awesome sight, what a noise. 🙂

KSC was mega, easy to fill the day (especially being miserable queue-dodgers 🙂 ), Saturn V was incredible, as was Atlantis – Dine With An Astronaut was really cool, get the feeling they ALL have led fascinating lives. Did shooting the next morning which was awesome, then headed south, few hours on the beach and in the sea at Lauderdale By The Sea was lovely, on to Florida City and a slightly disappointing Red Lobster.

Wednesday was Everglades Alligator Farm and an airboat trip (that was cool! Great sensation of speed and awesome how it spins round!), then explored Everglades National Park – saw manatees at Flamingo, and pretty much everything on the Anhinga Trail, I would have very happily spent hours there seeing what slithered or swam past.

Thursday drove down to Key West, which I thought was a very pleasant drive, spent the afternoon on the beach at Fort Zach Taylor, then we stayed aboard a catamaran which took us on a sunset cruise which was just awesome, spent Friday morning on Higgs Beach looking at fish before the afternoon flight home. A short break but felt like we had a great mix of interesting stuff and a bit of downtime – thank you all for your tips. 🙂

We saw a Space X launch when we were there a couple of years back. We were lucky as it should have launched a couple of weeks before. Amazing the number of people down there to see the launch. A real spectacle.

Wot no mouse ears??

Nice one Pondo.