What to see on a trip to Florida (Guide and advice for a route by car)

It is said that when the Spanish Juan Ponce de León landed on the coast of Florida in the year 1513, he did so looking for the Fountain of Eternal Youth . Of course he does not achieve his goal, despite his eagerness to pursue a legend that fooled not a few explorers and conquerors at that time. Well saved from the poisoned arrows of the natives, as well as from the bite of the cunning alligators, guardians of wetlands and swamps , he found for posterity a peninsula that, today, five centuries after that event, is capable of providing its visitors with one of the best possible trips in the United States of America . An adventure suitable for all kinds of travelersin search of new experiences, and above all, of the fountain of eternal youth whose real meaning is none other than having fun and enjoying life as if there were no tomorrow.

Miami , Orlando, the untamed nature of the Everglades , a succession of keys with crystalline waters and fine sand beaches, the best amusement parks in the world , the place where rockets are launched into space or the oldest city in the country are just a few. of the many things to see in Florida . It does not matter if alone, as a couple, with family or with friends. Actually, it is a destination for everyone . In order to be able to take full advantage of a new landing in this privileged corner, I present below a brief guide with my favorite (and essential) places to visit in Floridatogether with some practical tips that can be useful to prepare a trip full of possibilities.

The importance of being called Florida (a bit of History)

107 years before the Mayflower arrived on the Massachusetts coast (1620) with the first Puritans from Great Britain, the Spanish conquistador Ponce de León had already sighted and explored the coasts of this territory that is now part of the United States . He gave it the name of Florida since he arrived in the middle of spring, during Easter Florida, since apparently he arrived in the middle of Easter Sunday and this is one of the names given to what is one of the most important days of Holy Week . Although there are those who still erroneously cling to the fact that it was the deep and “flowery” vegetation that the Spaniard encountered, along with other characters who disembarked with him, the sole reason for this place name.

Also before the Mayflower was the incredible expedition of  Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca from Jerez, a Christian and little friend of violence, who made a journey of more than 11,000 kilometers from Florida to California, something many consider to be one of the greatest milestones of the exploration, as well as History in the United States of America  (the book he wrote about his adventure, «Shipwrecks») is highly recommended. Decades later, in 1565, Admiral Pedro Menéndez de Avilés founded San Agustín de Florida, the first European city built in what for three centuries would be the North American bastion of an Empire that never saw the sun set.

A good part of North America was Spanish until well into the 18th century and the Real de a ocho was the official currency (origin of the dollar) in many corners of the planet. From Florida to the tip of Alaska, Spanish place names explain an important portion of a history that seems to have been blurred by a strong WASP (White , Anglo – Saxon and  Protestant ) current, somewhat forgetful of the past of a country in which English was not always spoken. But it is probably in Florida where Spanish is still heard with the ease provided by the new sailors from Cuba, Puerto Rico, Santo Domingo, Haiti, Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador and other American nations.

Florida, ingredients for a movie trip suitable for all audiences

If you agree, we are going to cook a good menu in Florida with starters, main course, second course and dessert. A menu for all kinds of travelers who are encouraged to explore the Florida peninsula either by rental car, by motorhome, motorcycle, bike, by public transport, excursions hired with more or less time or even in one of the very fast hydrofoils that They can be seen in the Everglades, that territory populated by more alligators than people.

What to see in Florida? What to do in Florida? 10 essential places for a great trip

It is time to shell out all those ingredients with which visiting Florida becomes a feast worthy of the best diners. Of course, if you come looking for objectivity in this blog, I’m afraid you won’t find it. If subjectivity has to do with giving an informed opinion, getting carried away by experiences and sensations, then I recommend that you keep reading because you will find many ideas for planning a trip to Florida. Prepared? Here are 10 tips on those things to see and do in Florida that, for me, are essential:

1. Make your own movie in Miami

Miami is not among the most beautiful cities in the United States . But it is not its architecture that attracts the public (although the  Art Deco District of South Beach deserves it) and it has little or nothing to do with Chicago , San Francisco, Boston or New York.on duty (although its downtown is becoming more “Manhattan”). The correct question is not what to see in Miami but what to do in Miami or, better said, what to live in this city. Because the possibilities are endless in this city with a Latin rhythm where appearances are its greatest virtue. Few cities in the world are as posturing as this one. From Miami Beach to Key Biscayne, the routine becomes a game of beach volleyball with the pectorals baking in the sun, a skateboard ride, a posh party at midnight or a motorboat ride near the mansions of the richest. and famous.

Miami is a place where you can make your own movie and, why not, get carried away by the stereotypes that have brought you to this city:

+ Go to the classic South Beach beach:

In Miami Beach, South Beach is the most famous and crowded beach. It would be something like Ipanema or Copacabana in Rio de Janeiro. Its version in Florida is located in front of the low-story hotels, lobster restaurants at night and clubs in that row of art deco buildings from the twenties and thirties that are part of the popular iconography of this city. South Beach and Ocean Drive (the main drag on this one) are for those who like to be seen. Strongmen carving their abs on public roads, people skating and the typical couple that double-parks their red convertible to take a selfie. Or that famous person that nobody knows but that sounds familiar to you from having appeared in that police series. Everyone welcome to Miami!

+ Do not forget other beaches in Miami that are worth it:

It’s not all South Beach. Photogenic and something more than a postcard is Bill Baggs Beach, at the southern end of Key Biscayne (Key Biscayne), next to the famous Cape Florida lighthouse. Crandon Park and its classic palm trees that remind us that we are in a tropical zone, Homestead Bayfront that has its own coral reef where you can have fun diving (or snorkeling) or Matheson Hammock Park, on Old Cutler Road, ideal for families since with With the help of a false atoll, a circular pool of seawater has been created without any waves. These are some of those Florida beaches that should be visited to realize that there is much more to see than people skating on Ocean Drive. It is even worth noting the north of Haulover Beach, the only (legal) nudist beach on the Florida peninsula to practice naturism.

+ Stroll along Lincoln Road

The most important pedestrian street in the city is Lincoln Road, which crosses Miami Beach from east to west. Late in the afternoon, let yourself be carried away by this pleasant walk between picturesque buildings, shops of the best brands, luxury restaurants and cafes where you can have a drink without burning a hole in your pocket.

+ Teleport to Cuba in Little Havana

Miami’s Cuban community that settled after Fidel Castro came to power is part of what the city is today. Little Havana (Little Havana) is considered a living example of all that and currently allows its visitors to learn about the “Cuban style” way of life of its inhabitants. What if old clothes and beans in restaurants that seem to be taken from the charming Malecón in Havana, clubs where salsa is danced until the wee hours of street music. The district is quite large, but the most attractive area is Calle Ocho (8th street) between 10th and 16th streets.

+ Discover the artists’ neighborhood (Design District)

A neighborhood that leaves no one indifferent is the Design District, a place revered by artists and architects, as well as by lovers of luxury shopping. Covered by art galleries and museums, it is one of the cultural fortresses on which a city that does not stop innovating on its own is sustained. Two classics that he likes to photograph are  Fly’s Eye dome (a perforated dome) as well as The Wynwood Walls , walls where urban art and graffiti are the protagonists.

+ Navigate in search of famous houses…or something else

One of the attractions of Miami has to do with sailing. And with so many internationally famous mansions, boat tours from which Miami is shown from another perspective are common . The three best-known islands are Star Island, Palm Island and Hibiscus Island, where Hollywood actors, singers and world-class athletes reside. These types of excursions last approximately 90 minutes and are usually quite successful.

Map of famous houses in Miami

To release adrenaline, there are also those who get on a speedboat like “Miami Vice” to see the houses of celebrities but as if they were running from the police. Crazy! For more calm, almost better than doing it on board a pirate ship . The good thing about these excursions, if English is not your thing, is that they are also done in Spanish. You can even combine a tour of the city with an expert guide that includes a boat ride , which is usually quite affordable. You can also enjoy Miami and its islands from a bird’s eye view in a helicopter over the best of the city .

In my case, I prefer to have several bases, although for that it helps if you have your own or rented vehicle, as well as staying in different cities.

2. Enjoy it in the best amusement parks in Orlando

If you are one of the people who enjoys it with amusement parks, or you are preparing a family trip, do not hesitate. Orlando (380 km northwest of Miami) has the best in the world. Theme parks that go way beyond Disney World, which is actually where it all started. Orlando tourism is focused on fun and, to get an idea of ​​what this city can offer in terms of parks, it is best to stay for several days. And the most difficult part is choosing the park or parks you want to visit. The tickets to them are not exactly cheap and it is convenient to be clear about some concepts before deciding which places to go to feel like children again.

What are the best theme parks in Orlando (Florida)?

• The world Disney (Disney World) is not in a single park. There are actually four of them: the Magic Kingdom (the most popular, here is the mythical castle of Sleeping Beauty), Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom and EPCOT), without forgetting its two water parks, which are Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon and Disney’s Blizzard Beach. Magic Kingdom is the main one of them all and the one that most envelops you in the magic of Disney whose concept has been exported to Paris, Los Angeles, Tokyo, etc. Hollywood Studios has more to do with movies and shows and its attractions are incredible. EPCOT focuses on new technologies and space discoveries, while Animal Kingdom is a massive mega-zoo. All of them, including Animal Kingdom, have rides to ride.

• Universal Orlando Resort.My opinion is that here are the best attractions in Orlando, for those who want to ensure total fun and release adrenaline. Universal is for lovers of good attractions, those that are not seen in other parts of the world. In addition to roller coasters, there are more and more spaces that include virtual reality. It is divided into two different parks: Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of adventure, although, like Disney, it also has another water park (Universal’s Volcano Bay). If possible I recommend doing both parks. In Universal’s Islands of adventure there is the world of Harry Potter (with an amazing virtual reality attraction), Jurassic Park, attractions related to the Marvel World (highly recommended the adventure with Spiderman and the roller coaster of the incredible Hulk).

• SeaWorld . It is a park dedicated to the aquatic world. It has two roller coasters that make your hair stick: Kraken and Manta leave no one indifferent. Another of the favorite attractions is  Journey To Atlantis , which manages to recreate the legendary Atlantis. In the case of SeaWorld, people also come in search of seeing marine animals such as orcas, seals, penguins and many more species in what is considered one of the largest oceanographic facilities on our planet.
• Legoland Florida . One of the latest to be part of the Orlando theme park family, Legoland Florida is inspired by the world of Lego to show us its world of colored pieces. But let no one think that it is a toy museum. Nothing is further from reality. And it is that it has around 50 attractions, including roller coasters.

In Orlando, the accommodation offer is enormous, even in high season. The number of hotels of all categories and, above all, well-equipped motels, is such that the hard part is not finding a room. That is why Orlando, like Miami, is one of the favorite bases for exploring the rest of Florida, although as I have mentioned before, it is better to spend a few days in both locations and move from there.

From Orlando it is less distance (about an hour) to the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral than from Miami, so it is usual to do this excursion from there ( tickets with roundtrip transportation from any Orlando hotel ). If you have less time to visit things in Florida, there are also day trips to Miami , to the Everglades , the Spanish colonial city of St. Augustine  or to swim with manatees in a wild setting like Crystal River .

3. Take the route through the Florida Keys to Key West (Key West)

The highway in the Florida Keys provides some of the best driving, motorcycle or motorhome travel possible in the state. A highway, along more than 200 km, joins a multitude of paradisiacal keys or islands, while resoundingly turquoise waters are flown over. For many, this road became popular due to the sequences filmed in the movie “True Lies” with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jamie Lee Curtis as protagonists. The Ocean’s Highway is a gift for lovers of motor vehicles and scenic routes. You rarely see a highway of this type, gaining territory from the purest and cleanest Atlantic in Florida.

There are many possible stops along the way. Islands such as Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon precede the last of the keys, Key West (in Spanish it was always known as Key West), the closest point to Cuba from the United States (144 kilometers) and which still keeps the essence of the times when Hemminway had his colonial mansion there (now visitable as a museum). It is the goal of travelers from all over the world, dedicating some time to snorkeling among coral reefs (better to go with someone who knows those places) culminating the day with a fiery sunset on the steps of Mallory Square or, even better , aboard a sailboat and toasting with champagne.

Tips to carry out the route of the Florida Keys (by car, motorcycle or motorhome):

4. Visit alligator territory in the Everglades

Everglades National Park occupies much of South Florida. Shortly after leaving Miami, everything turns into an immense green wetland where there is one of the largest concentrations of alligators in all of America. A small part of this vast territory is usually visited, usually on hydrofoil tours  from both Miami and Fort Lauderdale (including Orlando), since they are the only possible means of transportation to cross these swamps and mangrove labyrinths that are characterized by a very little depth. There are also areas in the Everglades with wooden walkways, as well as some observatories, where you can enjoy this national park that is also protected as a biosphere reserve and UNESCO Heritage Site.

You must pay a $20 park entrance fee valid for 7 days (this amount can be paid by credit card).

The airboat tour can be booked in advance (with or without transportation included). There are various possibilities:

• Excursion to the Everglades from Miami (With transfer from/to your hotel).
• Airboat ride through the Everglades (Does not include transfers from Miami or where you are staying. Ideal for those who go with their own vehicle).
• Night airboat ride through the Everglades (does not include transfers).
• Excursion to the Everglades from Orlando (with transfers from your hotel).

5. Become an astronaut at the Kennedy Space Center

You don’t go to a NASA space center every day and even less so in the mythical Cape Canaveral, where the Kennedy Space Center is located, one of the essentials not only to visit in Florida but also at some point in our lives. At least if you have a minimum interest in the theme of outer space, planets, ships or space rockets. Many of the people who come here feel like an astronaut around a huge sample of real machinery used in different expeditions that have left the Earth’s atmosphere behind to give light where there was none.

The Kennedy Space Center is just an hour’s drive east of Orlando (with Miami it’s almost 400 km). Since the 1960s, dozens of manned missions have been launched into space, making it more than just a museum. You can see the shuttles, the NASA offices and the hangars that keep ships like Atlantis or those that have to do with the first time the moon was stepped on. There is an astronaut hall of fame and every day there is usually an encounter with one of the people who have been in space. One of the most striking parts of the KSC is known as the rocket garden, whose translation perfectly explains that it is a “space rocket garden”. To go crazy taking photos and feel tiny before such masses.

Of course, having the mecca of amusement parks less than a hundred kilometers away, there are plenty of entertainment for the little ones and not so little ones. One of the most amazing makes you feel the same as an astronaut when he is going to travel to space from Cape Canaveral. A realistic and impressive experience in one of the places to see in Florida without a doubt.

6. Tour St. Augustine, the capital of Spanish Florida for over 200 years

In September 1565, more than 50 years after the discovery of Florida, the Spanish admiral Pedro Menéndez de Avilés founded the city of San Agustín . For 2 centuries it was the capital of Spanish Florida and is considered the oldest permanently inhabited European settlement in the United States . Although it was a magnet for privateers and looters, including Sir Francis Drake, one of the greatest enemies of the Spanish possessions in America, the brand new castle of San Marcos as well as Fuerte Matanzas were able to resist all possible attacks.

San Agustín, 168 km from Orlando (approximately 2 hours by car), preserves part of the Spanish colonial past in buildings and monuments. Its inhabitants call Spain the “Motherland” and it is not strange to see the flag with the cross of Burgundy wave, the one used since the first monarchs of the Habsburg dynasty (from Felipe el Hermoso) until well into the 19th century, as well as one of the banners that represent the Thirds of Flanders.

This is a perfect day trip to do from Orlando . A city with more than 450 years old. Truly one of a kind not only in Florida but in the entire United States.

7. Swim with the manatees in Crystal River (in the wild)

The warm, clear waters of the Crystal River (138 km west of Orlando) have made this wilderness area one of Florida’s premier natural havens, alongside the Everglades. The Cristal River mixes with the warm waters of different springs, which has allowed the many animal species that inhabit it to be the home of the manatee in the United States . In fact, it is considered one of the best wild manatee refuges in the world. It is estimated that there are around 400 of these animals in a fairly small space, so the chances of seeing them up close are quite high.

The mere fact of taking a boat ride and having the chance to swim alongside the manatees (which have always been said to be the origin of the myth of mermaids) is incredible, always respecting their physical space and trying not to touch them, no matter how friendly as they seem. And not because they can do anything to us but because it bothers them. It is one more snorkeling or diving opportunity, as if you were in the Red Sea.

8. Cruise the New River in Fort Lauderdale, the Venice of America

Fort Lauderdale, north of Miami, has become the cruise capital of the United States. Many use it as a shuttle to go to the Bahamas (there are ferries from the Spanish company Balearia connecting Fort Lauderdale with the Bahamas in just 4 hours  from 100 euros) or to take a route through some of the many Caribbean islands , even reaching the coasts of Mexico or Cuba. The prices of these cruises, in addition, of the most important companies in the world, are quite competitive in many cases.

Those who do not take Fort Lauderdale as a mere link on a cruise, should know that this city north of Miami (a few minutes from it) has good beaches and a network of ocean canals through which many millionaires sail with their ships. , as well as good luxury hotels and restaurants. Hence its nickname “the Venice of America”. The beaches of Fort Lauderdale are much quieter than those of Miami, so for many this city is also a good option to spend a few days resting or exploring Florida.

It has become very popular to cross the New River to enter the Everglades swamps and spend just half an hour from the city to be contemplating a good number of alligators at a short distance.

9. Go to an NBA game

In Florida there are two NBA teams: the Miami Heat and the Orlando Magic. If it happens that you coincide when the season is being played, it can be a great opportunity to attend a game of the best basketball league. Attending an NBA game goes beyond sports. It’s quite a show.

Since the NBA game schedule has been closed since before the start of the season , it is best to look at dates and see if you happen to be in the city (either Miami or Orlando) just when there is a game.

10. Watch dolphins from a boat in Clearwater Beach, the best beach town in Florida

A charming coastal town in the Midwest of the Florida peninsula where you can get away from the Miami and Orlando spotlights, it is called Clearwater Beach. This enclave has been chosen on more than one occasion as the best town and even the best beach in Florida. It is also a place of passage for bottlenose dolphins, so on a boat excursion you can see dozens of these friendly cetaceans jump. The chances of success in each outing are close to 100%.

Clearwater Beach is located 173 km from Orlando (although it is located much closer to Tampa, which is just half an hour away) and can be another option for a day or two of traveling around Florida.

There are many things to see in Florida, right? Well, this is a sample of what the southernmost state of the United States can give of itself. And I haven’t talked about so many things! Like the fact that Busch Gardens Tampa (just over an hour from Orlando) has the best collection of roller coasters in the country, the quality of snorkeling in Key Westor in Molasses Reef (Cayo Largo), the color of the waters of the Ichetucknee springs, the collection of Victorian houses that the city of Mount Dora boasts about, just 40 minutes northwest of Orlando, the museum dedicated to the shipwrecks in Key West… I would give not for one guide, but for many. Although I think that with this we have given some good brushstrokes about how much a trip to Florida can give of itself, beyond the amusement parks of Orlando and the beaches of Miami.