Florida Travelers Recommend

Day 1: Key West Characters When you’re talking Key West, the name Hemingway is bound to crop up. The author lived on there for more than a decade, in Old Town. This is also where President Harry S. Truman chose a getaway on Key West. Eisenhower and Kennedy also stayed at the house at 111 Front Street, which is open for guided tours. Day 2: Conch tours and mansions Jump aboard the Conch Train, a hit since 1958. The 90-minute train ride begins on Front Street and loops through Old Town Key West. Bone up on the island’s conch history at Heritage House, browse the Pirate Museum, and see treasures from the deep at the Shipwreck Museum. Day 3: Dip your toe in the water If you can’t decide where to start, the full-day Power Adventure combines a catamaran sail across the Gulf of Mexico, kayaking in the mangroves, parasailing, kayaking and snorkeling. Go for a cruise and view Key West from the water, or drink champagne on a romantic sail into the sunset.

Once nicknamed "God's Waiting Room" because of the many octogenarians eking out their last moments by the pool, modern day Miami is a glittering jewel of the south. Cradled by the Everglades, the Florida Keys, and that ever-present Gulf, it might be wise to pick up a Go Miami Card to fully explore what options lie in store for you. Alternatively, you could ease into things with a Miami City Tour, which includes a relaxing and informative cruise on Biscayne Bay. Splash down into the bay on a Miami Duck Tour or fly over the famous beaches, Art Deco district and downtown on a Grand Miami Air Tour. The view up here is even better as the sun goes down on a Miami Sunset Air Tour - especially when it's a romantic champagne flight. Miami is all about playing outdoors in the sun. Ride an airboat in the Everglades and come face-to-face with killer whales at the Miami Seaquarium, or mix with the wildlife on Jungle Island.

While Orlando has much to offer any visitor, sometimes you just need a change of scenery for a few hours. Luckily, the city offers an array of easily accessible and worthwhile day trips. To help you plan your nearby jaunt, here are some suggestions. Tampa While visiting attractions in Tampa is worth a week of its own, the city is easily accessible and one of the best day trips from Orlando as it’s located only an hour and 15 minutes southwest. Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park Located about an hour and a half west of Orlando you’ll find Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, one of the best places in Florida to view manatees. Silver Springs, Florida Located about an hour and a half northwest of Orlando is Silver Springs Nature Theme Park, one of Florida’s original roadside attractions still in existence.

For those who want a beach getaway, Miami is a top destination option. Home to more than 15 beaches, you’ll have plenty of options for where to soak in some sun. That being said, with so many choices it can be difficult to pick where to go. To help, here are some recommendations for Miami’s best beaches. For those who want to get away from the resorts and tourist attractions, 85th Street Beach is a top pick. Located along Collins Avenue, it’s a great swimming beach and features soft white sand, life-guards on duty and virtually no crowds. This is also a top choice for families due to its gentle surf. It’s also very close to another worthwhile beach -- Bal Harbour Beach on 96th Street -- which is great for shell hunting, fishing and jogging. Of course, no trip to Miami would be complete without a visit to the iconic South Beach (Lummus Park Beach). This is the coastline you see in postcards and on television, full of soft white sand, beautiful people and adventurous surfers.

The Everglades, covering much of the southeastern tip of Florida, is more than a big swamp full of alligators. True, you will see alligators - lots of them - but this unique subtropical wilderness also supports such creatures as American crocodiles, bottlenose dolphins, manatees, snowy egrets, bald eagles and ospreys. And amid the mangroves, cypress, hardwood hammocks and miles of sawgrass, there are endless opportunities for hiking, bicycling, canoeing, kayaking, or taking an airboat ride. Spot alligators on a day-trip along the Tamiami Trail or take a two-hour tram tour in Shark Valley. The visitor center at Big Cypress National Preserve has great exhibits for kids and an outdoor, water-filled ditch popular with alligators. When hunger pangs set it, stop in Everglades City for a plate of gator nuggets and frog’s legs. The best time to visit is during dry season – from December to April – when the weather is mild and pleasant and the wildlife is out in abundance.

Nothing says "all-American family vacation" like a trip to down to sunny Orlando, Florida. I don't think the kids will give you much of a choice here. They want Mickey, and they want him now. Don't worry though, there is more than enough excitement to go around. Go visit Nemo at The Seas with Nemo & Friends aquarium or check out the futuristic flight simulator Mission: Space. The other must-see theme park in Orlando, the excitement continues at Universal Studios with the Terminator 2: 3-D Show, Shrek 4-D,Jimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast, and the kid-friendly Curious George Goes to Town. If Day 3 happens to be your last, there is no better way to enjoy it out than with Disney's Magic Kingdom. If there is one park that can make you feel like a child again, this is it. If you get a Fastpass, you can zip through the lines at Splash Mountain, Thunder Mountain Railroad, or the Magic Carpets of Aladdin.

TheThe Atlantic port of Fort Lauderdale takes in a Venetian network of canals dotted with yachts and lined with marinas. Budding swimmers can paddle safely at the International Swimming Hall of Fame on the Fort Lauderdale beach, with an on-site museum and swim school aquatic complex. Browse the world’s largest indoor and outdoor trash and treasure market, complete with funfair rides and drive-in movies, at the 14-screen Fort Lauderdale Swap Shop and outdoor theatre. View the area’s over-the-top millionaires’ mansions from the water on a sightseeing cruise of the port and yacht marina. If there’s one must-do in Fort Lauderdale it’s a dinner cruise aboard the fun and fabulous Jungle Queen Riverboat, for revue entertainment and a nonstop. Make the most of Miami, just down the road, with the Go Miami Card, packed with Miami, Everglades and Fort Lauderdale tours, attractions and museums. Swamp safaris to visit the traditional home of the Seminole Indians.

No trip to Miami would be complete without experiencing the Everglades National Park, one of the world’s few national parks to hold all three titles of a World Heritage Site, International Biosphere Reserve and a Wetland of International Importance. The natural attraction’s rich flora and fauna and diverse ecosystems allow for a number of memorable experiences. Additionally, there are a variety of ways to tour the Everglades and its 1.2-million acres (404,685 hectares), with excursions departing right from Miami so you don’t need to figure out transportation. For those who want to learn about Miami in-depth as well as experience nature, the Everglades Airboat Adventure and Miami City Tour offers a range of opportunities in one tour. You’ll experience a 30-minute airboat ride through the wilderness of the Everglades, where you’ll see alligators, native flora and other exotic wildlife.

Key West: The one-time home of Hemingway, the southernmost point in the United States – popular for world-renowned snorkeling, scuba-diving, offshore fishing, white sand beaches, crystal clear water, a raging and eccentric nightlife, and only a quick jaunt down from Miami. Here the Caribbean atmosphere, street artists, outdoor cafes and restaurants are just waiting to enchant you. Once you arrive, you’ll have the leisure to explore the sights of Key West at your own pace. Consider visiting the southern-most point in the continental US, Hemingway's house, or Mallory Square. If you prefer to spend your time in the ocean, go to Key West and take part in some excellent snorkeling, an adventure the whole family can enjoy. Aboard a 9 meter catamaran, you’ll enjoy light refreshment and professional snorkeling instruction, before heading off in to the only live coral reef in the United States, and the third largest reef in the world.

There are very few places in the United States where you can hop on a boat, visit another country and still be back for a late-night dinner after a day of sunshine and adventure. Miami, however, is one of those places, and thanks to ferries between Miami and the Bahamas, it’s actually possible to have a Caribbean vacation packed into a single day. Rise with the sun—or likely before it—to begin the journey across the ocean to the island of Grand Bahama, which at three hours away is surprisingly close for transiting countries by boat. When taking a day trip between Miami and the Bahamas, the fun begins before you even get to the island and are still aboard the ship. Slot machines, bars and duty-free shopping are allowed in international waters, so the party starts before the South Florida coastline has even faded away. After arriving in Freeport and transiting customs some tours allow free time for exploring the town or baking in the sun on the beach.