Hoo boy... tips without drowning you in information. Random thoughts:
- If you're heading to or through Miami, there's a LOT of construction going on, and a lot of signs are missing on the freeways/interstates.
- If you do the Keys, fill up the tank in Miami - better fuel prices. Also, for really great seafood, the Lazy Lobster on Key Largo is great (though service is meh), and the Green Turtle Inn on Islamorada Key is good and historic - it's been there since 1947.
- If you're spending any time in Miami, and you know Spanish, you'll be using it more than you'd expect. If you don't speak Spanish, expect some language barriers. (The gas station we stopped at had two women working there and neither of them spoke any English.)
- There are only three major freeways/highways/interstates that cross Florida East/West. At the north end of Florida is I-10. Mid-state is I-4 (this goes through Orlando/Kissimmee), and the Southern end, I-75, which goes across through the Everglades. I don't know anything about I-10, but if you travel I-4, which you will if you're hitting Disney/Universal, be prepared for really, REALLY bad traffic. Parking lot bad. Epic bad. It's under-constructed and over-utilised, especially in the winter when it's over loaded with both commuters and tourists.
If you decide to go through the Everglades, I-75 is a breeze and very well constructed but not very scenic. Sterile. There is another route through the Everglades - look for US41. It's old-Florida Everglades but warning - there's a whole lot of NOTHING and the road is one lane each way for most of its length, but it's Cypress swamps and airboat rides and alligators and most of it is Indian Reservation land. It's as scenic as you're going to get at that end of the state.
- The west coast is the quieter coast; less dazzle, better beaches. The best beach in the state is Siesta Key in Sarasota. That's not bias either; it's consistently ranked the best beach in the state year after year. Pure white, fine-grained sand, like course flour. The best beaches for shells are on Sanibel Island off Fort Myers, and if fossilised sharks teeth sound good, Venice or Englewood, while both small towns, are considered 'shark-tooth capital'; several dozen can generally be found in a few hours from any of the beaches in that area.
- If shopping is on the list, check out the outlet malls. I can vouch for the one right of I-75 in Ellenton, but I know there are also some very good ones off I-4 in the Orlando area. US prices are already cheap, but outlet prices are almost always WAY better, and in January they'll be running clearance sales and specials galore.
- If you're book shopping, check out the libraries of the areas you're in to see if they have a Friends of the Library stall/shop on-site (googling beforehand might save you time here, as some are open year-round, some only on certain days, and some just run periodic sales). I can't recommend this strongly enough; some of the shops look like bookstores, and rarely does anything cost more than $4. Most of the books look brand-new.
Ok, I'm stopping now, but I think I covered all the big things I can think of. Let me know if you have specific questions. :)
Post pics of your kitten!,
I know at least one person would ask about the kitten and I was planning on adding one to this post ;) ! I will soon :D
Congrats on the new career path AND the new kitten (and I second Kitty Horror - pics please?).
Thank you, pictures will follow soon :D
- If you're heading to or through Miami, there's a LOT of construction going on, and a lot of signs are missing on the freeways/interstates.
- If you do the Keys, fill up the tank in Miami - better fuel prices. Also, for really great seafood, the Lazy Lobster on Key Largo is great (though service is meh), and the Green Turtle Inn on Islamorada Key is good and historic - it's been there since 1947.
- If you're spending any time in Miami, and you know Spanish, you'll be using it more than you'd expect. If you don't speak Spanish, expect some language barriers. (The gas station we stopped at had two women working there and neither of them spoke any English.)
- There are only three major freeways/highways/interstates that cross Florida East/West. At the north end of Florida is I-10. Mid-state is I-4 (this goes through Orlando/Kissimmee), and the Southern end, I-75, which goes across through the Everglades. I don't know anything about I-10, but if you travel I-4, which you will if you're hitting Disney/Universal, be prepared for really, REALLY bad traffic. Parking lot bad. Epic bad. It's under-constructed and over-utilised, especially in the winter when it's over loaded with both commuters and tourists.
If you decide to go through the Everglades, I-75 is a breeze and very well constructed but not very scenic. Sterile. There is another route through the Everglades - look for US41. It's old-Florida Everglades but warning - there's a whole lot of NOTHING and the road is one lane each way for most of its length, but it's Cypress swamps and airboat rides and alligators and most of it is Indian Reservation land. It's as scenic as you're going to get at that end of the state.
- The west coast is the quieter coast; less dazzle, better beaches. The best beach in the state is Siesta Key in Sarasota. That's not bias either; it's consistently ranked the best beach in the state year after year. Pure white, fine-grained sand, like course flour. The best beaches for shells are on Sanibel Island off Fort Myers, and if fossilised sharks teeth sound good, Venice or Englewood, while both small towns, are considered 'shark-tooth capital'; several dozen can generally be found in a few hours from any of the beaches in that area.
- If shopping is on the list, check out the outlet malls. I can vouch for the one right of I-75 in Ellenton, but I know there are also some very good ones off I-4 in the Orlando area. US prices are already cheap, but outlet prices are almost always WAY better, and in January they'll be running clearance sales and specials galore.
- If you're book shopping, check out the libraries of the areas you're in to see if they have a Friends of the Library stall/shop on-site (googling beforehand might save you time here, as some are open year-round, some only on certain days, and some just run periodic sales). I can't recommend this strongly enough; some of the shops look like bookstores, and rarely does anything cost more than $4. Most of the books look brand-new.
Ok, I'm stopping now, but I think I covered all the big things I can think of. Let me know if you have specific questions. :)