Florida, United States
mag4mag asks,
“I'm planning for a vacation to Florida & Miami in the summer. I'm planning for a 10 day trip. University Studios will be definitely be on my list. What is the best way to do this trip ?”
Answers:
Sammi
Glasgow
There’s two Universal parks, Islands of Adventure, and Universal Studios. Depending how busy it is, you can do both in two days, it is possible! Not sure about during summer though, it’s usually really busy so you’ll waste a lot of time queuing for rides.
kingguiness
Bethlehem
I personally did not care for Miami. Ft. Lauderdale and Pompano Beach which are closeby were much more enjoyable.
John Davis
Jacksonville
I agree with Sammi, it is very busy in the summer – kids out of school, etc., but Universal and Disney are enormous and you could spend a couple days trying to get to everything. Focus on exactly what you want to see, especially since the rides/attractions/food can get pricey. Also remember during the summer, it is very hot and humid – over 100 with heat index.
Miami is a good 3 hours from Orlando (Universal & Disney) so keep that in mind.
http://www.universalorlando.com/tickets.html
Hope this helps!
John
angelfig
Miami
Well my friend you can do this in a couple of ways. 1st you can find special deals from miami to orlando thru spirit Airline every tuesday they comes out with an excellent deals or you can rent a car and drive to there since is only about 3 1/2 Hrs from here and the last one is going by Busses since we have some companies that pick you up from your hotel early in the morning and either you can stay over there overnight or return on the same day when the park closed it. Is up to you and your cash flow. if were I the one I rent a car that way I can travel and see the Keys, Everglades, Orlando, Naples and many other places. I hope this can help you.
mag4mag
Bahrain
I was planning to go to Orlando, Miami, Tampa and get back then to Florida again….is their any better route ?
Des
14 places
Your question doesn’t make sense – Florida is the state that Miami and other cities are in.
krista_girl86
Vermont
I thought Universal was lame but if you like fast paced rides Islands of Adventure takes half a day when it isn’t busy. My other favorites in that area are epcot center and seaworld, for the educational purposes. Skip animal kingdom, thats the bottom of the barrel there. disney takes half a day as well and its fun seeing the night parades at disney and epcot so check for those. To get through these places in a timely manner, look at the maps online and figure out where you want to go ahead of time.
Stuart
Garrettsville
It is good you are from Bahrain… you will find the weather in Florida’s summer to be similar to Bahrain’s and thus more tolerable (personally, I cannot stand the heat and humidity).
I would drive from Orlando to Miami via I-95 (it may be more scenic going along the coast than through down the inland road Route 441). After spending as little time in Miami as possible (hate to sound negative but I also cannot stand Miami) I would take I-10 (also known as Alligator Ally) across Florida to I-75 and then head north along the gulf coast towards Tampa. I-10 is interesting as it passes the Everglades and has access to some neat swamp excursions. After visiting Tampa take I-4 up to Orlando.
Regarding Tampa… hmmm, well, The Gulf side of Florida is much prettier than the Atlantic Ocean side so there will be some nice places to stop and visit along I-75. Tampa, however, wouldn’t be my first choice (lol… sorry again for the negative, I just really did not like Tampa. Heck, I just don’t like Florida. I’m more a New York or Chicago sort of tourist… but that is just me). There are nice places all up and down the coast, just not Tampa.
spacecadetglow
Gainesville
Stuart: Alligator Alley is I-75, not I-10. I-10 goes through the panhandle to California.
mag4mag: What are you going to Tampa for? Busch Gardens? If not, you should try to go to St. Petersburg instead. There are a lot of nice places to visit, like the Dali museum and a Holocaust museum. Also, you can go to the Pier and just relax. They have an “aquarium” but it isn’t that impressive.
Stuart
Garrettsville
Ack! You are right. I actually meant I-75 where it cuts west to east across south Florida but was thinking about I-10 because I used live in Jacksonville. Thanks for clearing it up.
staralfur
8 places
if you want to see the Dali museum, you should go to Figueras in Spain, where he was born. :p Anyway I really liked Animal Kingdom, but if you want to go to Disney and you have to pick 1, go to epcot!! So much fun – and the showcase at night is great.
The things I loved most about my trip is that we didn’t stay at one place. If you’re looking for a day at the beach, I’d go to Naples if I were you, or even Sanibel. Just beautiful! And if you’re lucky, like we were, you can swin with wild dolphins in Naples. :) Anyway another great thing to do in my opinion: an Everglades trip. And if the wheather’s nice, try snorkeling or scuba (I did it near Duck Cay down at the Keys, but I think you can do it near Fort Lauderdale and Miami too) I loved Butterfly Garden, but that’s just because I really like butterflies so maybe that’s not your thing ;) Just try to get the most out of your trip. I think it will be more fun to travel across the south of Florida than to stay at 1 place and go on day trips. Anyway :) enjoy!!
spacecadetglow
Gainesville
haha. i definitely agree with this comment. i have been to the one in figueras and it is breathtaking; the museum in st. petersburg is, however, the largest dali collection outside of europe, so it is worth visiting if that’s something you would enjoy. (whoa! run-on sentence!)
i second going to epcot and the everglades!
WalkingBear
Memphis
I couldn’t agree more. I regret not getting to the Everglades, but my job there ended sooner than expected. We spent lots of time in the keys and swam with dolphins at the Dolphin Research Center in Marathon.
Butterfly Garden was wonderful! The variety of butterflies and other polylegged fauna was astonishing, and it’s hard to find that kind of forest in south Florida any more, even though it was once covered in it. It’s a great look at Florida’s natural past.
In the Miami area, I’d normally recommend a couple of hours at Haulover beach north of town, but again “that may not be your thing.” Especially being from Bahrain where clothing optional beaches are forbidden by the government.
Epcot took me a full day, even in the off season. Definitely worth being there for the fireworks at sunset.
One other thing to add: from Orlando it’s pretty much a straight shot to the east and Merritt Island, where you’ll find Cape Canaveral and Kennedy Space Center. Even if they’re not launching, it’s worth a few hours. If you’re a big space fan, it’s worth a day.
Stacy77
Dallas
Islands of Adventure! They have a ‘single riders line’ (all Universal Parks do) that you will want to take advantage of. Even if you are with friends. You end up sitting together anyway but bypass the looong lines. Disney you can kind of get on a wait list and not have to wait in line but you cannot ride other rides while you wait, just shop and eat which is cool if that is what you want to do.
My order of favorite parks is:
Islands of Adventure, Disney, MGM, Epcot, Universal (you might switch the last too, they say Epcot is more adult)
The Galleria Mall off of I-4 between Orlando and Disney is very nice and there is great Outlet Mall shopping off of I-4 between Orlando and Disney
Cocoa Beach is 45 mins away (Ron Jon Surf Shop and the beach of course)
Daytona is 1.5 hrs away
The night scene in downtown Orlando is great (Orange Ave and Church Street)
Disney Pleasure Island and Universal City Walk are nice but the real Orlando is downtown
Winter Park is a nice small neighborhood/city NE of downtown Orlando
Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center is not too far away and is worth the drive if you can see a launch.
A good kind of fast food but not really place to eat is ‘Pollo Tropical’! Cheap and delicious!
Be careful at night if you are out in the city.
Have fun!
Stacy77
Dallas
Forgot about Miami – Go to Key Biscayne Cape Florida Lighthouse Bill Baggs State Recreation Park http://www.key-biscayne.com/capeflorida/index.shtml (catching the sunset while driving over the bridge is amazing) and Vizcaya
The beaches by the hotels are very nice and south beach is trendy but watch your stuff on the beach – don’t leave it. Cityguide.com usually has some really good top spots to hit in most cities. The Intercoastal is beautiful if you can get on a boat. Famous rich homes.
Best Cuban is at a restaurant La Carreta.
Coconut Grove is nice at night and during the day but surrounding streets are dangerous at night.
Biscayne Bay is awesome and Bayside is a nifty spot
The everglades are AMAZING and are NW of Miami (west of lauderdale), look up Holiday Park and if you can hit it, definitely take an airboat ride. Fort Lauderdale Beach is cool too.
spokydokies
8 places
Hey there! I actually live outside of Tampa- but not for long. I actually am not a big fan of tourist attractions- but I understand your desire to visit Disney. It is an experience in itself and I would allow several days and several dollars to explore it fully.
I actually prefer old Florida where you can rent a place right on the beach and enjoy the ocean. My advice would be to travel to Marco Island, Amelia Island, or Sanibel Island. Longboat Key is also nice.
Rent a little place on the beach and enjoy the sun, sand and fruitty drinks. Get ready to hear your fill of Jimmy Buffett.
Leah Tedesco
Fall River
Florida in the summer? Don’t get heat exhaustion. I went this past March and it was already really hot during the day.
Anyway, check out both Universal theme parks as well as City Walk. Get an Express Plus pass so that you don’t have to wait in the long lines. My favorite rides were The Mummy II and Spider-Man.
Have Fun :)
WalkingBear
Memphis
I worked 5 months in south Florida (Fort Lauderdale) in the summer. In July we had three weeks straight where it was 90F at dawn with fog – 100% humidity! It got less pleasant as time went on. Carry water – lots of it – and if you can find a spray mister, get one. It’s about a one liter bottle, on a shoulder strap, with a hand pump and an atomizer on it. It sprays a fine mist and one liter can last most of a day, even when it’s really hot. These things are lifesavers, and can make you really popular with people who don’t have one!
Rodinha
Porto
If you have time, go and visit Cà d’Zan Mansion on Sarasota Bay, as well as the Museum of Art.
bellawarrior
Pittsburgh
I really have no intrest in going to disney or universal although i am sure they would be fun at points, they are extremely expensive and in my eyes kinda boring. I lived outside of orlando in Winter Park, a boring town that has univerties around it so if you are looking into schools you could stop by there check them out, I have also been to Ft. Lauderdale and enjoyed it aswell as Hollywood beach which was beautiful. don’t pass up miami i wish i had made it there. I would say make a trip to the everglades I have gone out in one of those wacky loud boats that you can get tours on. To see such a unique and stunning place it will leave you in awe and teach you about the enviroment. The flordia keys are an artist haven. enjoy yourself.
JOeD
Florida
Thankyou mag4mag for question. I’m sorry for not replying sooner, but will see why. To answer your question at the bottom line; “What is the best way to do this trip ?” Answer: Ask your trusted travel agent. -LAF – Ok, not really joking. At or near the the time you wrote your question, (Jan. 10th 2006), some very bad torrential storms and tornandos ripped through Central Florida, which is very uncharacteristic of Florida weather this time of year. So, plan carefully your trip, because it’s like a ‘travel at your own risk’ period here. Even though tourism is a big part of Florida’s economy, it isn’t that attractable yet. Even Disney had some problems this year and maybe we will hopefully get our Tropical Climate / Paradise back in Florida in the very near future.
- Safe Traveling! *
Ciao! : ) Bella
JOeD
JFD
note: We are very Laffable ..er..a.. I mean, affable people here in South Florida. Kind’a like: “Be A Friendly Floridian” A Florida billboard slogan.
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