Its All Coming Together Nicely :))

[ukwdwnut]

change of plans

what we are thinkiing of now is and more than likely to be the plan with a few minor tweaks here and there :-

fly into MIA
drive to maybe fort lauderdale, uncle suggested marriott residence inn plantation, stay next day to have a look around.
have breakfast next day then leave for orlando
book into villa for the 2 weeks stay, or however long we choose to stay there
2 nights AKL
then whatever days are left we move down to the gulf coast somewhere other than cape coma

drive back to MIA for the flight home

suggestions for gulf coast stay would be more than welcome as we have only been to clearwater back in 2000

ive heard good things about sarasota and st petes. ideas on those???

[chief]

that sounds lovely

[ukwdwnut]

that sounds lovely

I kinda like it too it's something I doubt we will ever do again, but here's hoping

[uscwest]

suggestions for gulf coast stay would be more than welcome as we have only been to clearwater back in 2000

ive heard good things about sarasota and st petes. ideas on those???

Anna Maria Island, very close to Sarasota is lovely. Also Sanibel.

[catrancher]

Anna Maria Island, very close to Sarasota is lovely. Also Sanibel.

+1 on those.

With Sarasota, you've also got the Ringling to explore. This is the former estate of John Ringling. Father of the Ringling Brothers Circus. There's the art museum, the circus museum, the grounds and gardens. Quite a place for a day.

But I'm still gonna vote for St. Petersburg Beach. Probably since it's home. If you're really adventurous, you can easily drive from St. Pete Beach down to Sarasota (about 45 minutes or so) if you still wanted to make a day trip of it.

Tom (... who likes just lying on the beach with a good book!)

[Wendy]

We drove down to Sarasota and Anna Maria Island last year and they are really nice, the beaches are wonderful.

[ukwdwnut]

Anna Maria Island, very close to Sarasota is lovely. Also Sanibel.

cool thx john, will check them out now

+1 on those.

With Sarasota, you've also got the Ringling to explore. This is the former estate of John Ringling. Father of the Ringling Brothers Circus. There's the art museum, the circus museum, the grounds and gardens. Quite a place for a day.

But I'm still gonna vote for St. Petersburg Beach. Probably since it's home. If you're really adventurous, you can easily drive from St. Pete Beach down to Sarasota (about 45 minutes or so) if you still wanted to make a day trip of it.

Tom (... who likes just lying on the beach with a good book!)

sounds good tom thx. thats what part of the holiday is about, seeing and visiting things/places we've never done before so a drive to sarasota if we're not already staying there will be good, we can just reverse the drive

We drove down to Sarasota and Anna Maria Island last year and they are really nice, the beaches are wonderful.

sarasota is getting quite a few votes so will defo look at and consider staying there thx wen


guys at all these places apart from whats already been mentioned. apart from the beaches is there stuff to do at them?

i remember tink saying in one thread there is a day catamaran trip down to key west, anyone know anything about that at all, coz im interested in the boat ride and visiting key west

[Beccaberry]

Got goosebumps just reading it!! It's gonna be awesome!

[catrancher]

i remember tink saying in one thread there is a day catamaran trip down to key west, anyone know anything about that at all, coz im interested in the boat ride and visiting key west

There is from the Ft. Myers/Sanibel area. That's the only one I know of. Website for it is here. Don't know of any from farther north (Sarasota/Brandenton area). That would be a pretty long haul.

As far as much to do, it pretty much depends on where you are. Some areas have more than just beaches. Some don't. In these cases, Google will usually provide some guidance on each of the areas.

Tom (... long time since I've been down past Sarasota!)

[ukwdwnut]

There is from the Ft. Myers/Sanibel area. That's the only one I know of. Website for it is here. Don't know of any from farther north (Sarasota/Brandenton area). That would be a pretty long haul.

As far as much to do, it pretty much depends on where you are. Some areas have more than just beaches. Some don't. In these cases, Google will usually provide some guidance on each of the areas.

Tom (... long time since I've been down past Sarasota!)

i found which thread tink mentioned. the area for the catamaran ride was cape coma/coral

thx for the link tom