Vacation in Florida- Help Please!

I know this is totally off-topic but my best friend and I are traveling from San Jose and Chicago, respectively, to meet up in Orlando for almost a week's worth of vacationing in August. We've never been to Florida and since I'm not going to have another vacation for at least a year and a half, I'd really like to make the most of it.

We don't really have any set plans. We're thinking of going to Discovery Cove one day, maybe one other theme park or Cape Canaveral, and we're thinking of driving down to Miami for a couple days, but Google is proving to be a little unhelpful with interesting ways to spend time down there. Coworkers keep telling me about Church St and such, which I'm sure we'll check out but we're not really big drinkers, so we're looking for other ways to spend our time.

I think a few of you may be from Florida...would you mind giving me some tips on places to visit/shop, things to see, good places to eat, etc? We love architecture, anything artsy, and we're pretty much open to anything. We've got a car so any place within a couple hour's driving distance would be great... Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

16 years ago

Louise

Veteran

Can't offer any advice on visits as never been there but just wanted to say hope you have a FANTASTIC time x

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Neither can I! Perhaps Vani will pop in?

luvtoshop

Active Member

Hi All-I've been reading this forum for a few weeks now and it really is a lot of fun! I thought I would jump in now and try to help since I live in Central Florida. Srujana, if you post back your age maybe I can come up with some more specifics. In general, Florida is extremely hot and humid in August. Most locals stay inside or in water. Discovery cove is a good idea and the new Seaworld water park, Aquatica, would be fun. Kennedy Space Center is very interesting and then you could hit Cocoa Beach. Don't waste your time with Church street, there isn't anything there anymore. Lot's of nice beaches, and nice hotels run specials in August because it is off season. Just make sure that you book something than can be cancelled last minute in case any storms(hurricanes) pop up off shore.

Forgot the shopping part The Mall at Millennia is very nice. Bloomingdales, largest Macy's, Neiman Marcus, Anthropologie, JCrew, Talbots, Ann Taylor, BlackWhite Market, BCBG and more. Florida Mall has a Nordstrom but I think it is one of their smaller stores. Two large outlet complexes, Prime and Premium.

Vani

Hey Srujana, how exciting that you're headed to Florida! If I were you, I would spend more time in other places than in Orlando - unless you are specifically interested in the amusement parks and the outlet malls. I like the rides at Universal Studios best. I never really got a good grasp on the nightlife situation in Orlando. Try looking on tripadvisor.com . I know that the Cirque Du Soleil and Blueman Group shows are underway right now.

If you head to South Beach, Miami and Fort Lauderdale, you can spend the daytime lazing on the beach reading and sipping cocktails. For lunch head onto Ocean Dr for some more margaritas and great seafood. Most restaurants on that street are good; I really don't have a favorite, except fond memories of a 50s diner (my first dinner with my DH who I had just met ;-)). After lunch, you could rent some bicycles and bike along the streets to see some really cool art deco architecture. Fort Lauderdale has some beautiful beaches too.
My fav night stops are:
1) Nikki Beach, a pub/bar/club that sprawls onto the beach with a lot of tiki huts and loungy beds and couches
2) Blue Door - very eclectic, artsy loungy feel to the place. I love how nothing really matches but everything (furniture, art etc.) seems to just gel together.
3) Taverna Opa, a greek restaurant right across the street from Nikki Beach. With belly dancers and whole families dancing on tables and breaking plates, it is so much fun! You can have dinner here and then head to Nikki Beach.

If you're into clubbing, I can't be much help since its been a while we went clubbing in South Beach except to Nikki Beach. This site might help.

You might tire of South Beach in a day or two. If so, then drive on down to Key West. More beaches, seafood and fruity drinks. I know you did mention you are not big drinkers and I keep mentioning drinks LOL I do hope you understand I'm not advocating binge drinking or just drinking, just a margarita to get you in the groove A trip to the Keys, IMO, is not complete without a fruity drink. Walking around and people watching is always a lot of fun. The best part of Key West though is the abundance of adventure sports. I will not go into details and hand this section over to the experts on tripadvisor.com

luvtoshop is right about the weather so please pack minimal rain gear and light, airy clothes like shorts, skirts and dresses. For someone not used to the humidity, it can get a tad suffocating. luvtoshop's suggestion about flexible travel arrangements in the light of hurricanes reminds me of my last "vacation" to Miami with my GFs when I was still living in DC. We arrived in South Beach right smack in the middle of Hurricane Charlie (I think) and after a day were asked to evacuate. 250$ and a next day flight ticket later, we were back in DC. Other friends had decided to stick around, the storm blew over and they enjoyed the rest of their vacation Just be aware something like this might happen, in FL one never knows.

Oh, and if it helps, we booked a room at the Mariott on Ocean Dr. It turned out to be cheaper to split than to book several rooms at a less expensive hotel.

Don't hesitate to ask me any more questions! I hope you have a fabulous trip

Srujana

You girls are so awesome! I'm copy/pasting this to my friend as we speak =)

luvtoshop: I'm 24, and my friend's turning 25 next week...its partly in celebration of her bday that we're taking this trip...thanks so much for the shopping suggestions, but we both have most of those stores around us in our respective cities. Do you have any recommendations for reasonably priced places that are unique to Florida? Or just unique in general?

niva: taverna opa look like so much fun! i've been belly dancing for almost a year and love the atmosphere that a dancer can create in a crowd...i'm definitely going to try and make it there for dinner one of those nights. We did a bike tour of SF on our own when she came to visit me last time....it had been my first time on a bike in almost 10 years.....i could barely walk that night! but i'd love to do it in florida i think...i got this huge smile on my face when i read 'art deco architecture'...that's right up our alley =)

Niva has given you some good advice, especially if you are in your twenties-don't spend your time in Orlando unless you like theme parks (and they are very hot and lines are long in August). Orlando is not known for unique shopping and I hesitate to recommend any boutiques for fear they are no longer open or not well stocked in this awful economy. Even our quaint Park Ave. in Winter Park is fading. Miami is probably your best bet for shopping. I haven't been there in many years, but Collins, Ocean Dr., and Lincoln Rd. used to be the happening areas. Check the Lucky magazine website, I think they may have a city guide for Miami. I'm much older than you but I always enjoy Ft. Lauderdale. Las Olas is a cute area, again, not sure of shopping-things have really changed in the past couple of years.

Taverna Opa is a lot of fun. We have one in Orlando. My daughters tell me that they no longer allow guests to dance on the table. Rumor has it that someone fell off and sued.

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