Florida by Design

Day 1: Arrive Miami

Welcome to swingin’ tropical Miami, the city that moves to a Latin beat. It’s a young city by Florida standards, founded 300 years after St. Augustine. Miami became a visitor destination as soon as Henry Flagler extended his coastal railroad down the coast and it hasn’t stopped since. Great beaches, never ending nightlife, South Beach, Coral Gables, great food and music await.
Standard Hotel: BW South Beach
Deluxe Hotel: The Palms Hotel

Day 2: Explore Miami

Today you have the option to just relax on the beach or visit Miami’s world class attractions. The Seaquarium at Key Biscayne is unparalleled in the world. The Charles Deering Estate is a fascinating combination of history and nature. Vizcaya, owned by his brother, is considered the best historical structure in Miami. Both estates have fascinating stories. And of course there’s South Beach, renowned the world over as “the” place to be seen.

Day 3: Miami to Key West

On your way between Miami and Key West, plan to visit Biscayne National Park, a rare combination of emerald islands, turquoise water and fish rich coral reefs within sight of downtown Miami. Take one of the famous glass bottom boat tours to see the marine life scamper and scoot under the boat up close and personal. And absolutely don’t miss the sunset on Mallory Square at the end of Duval Street. It’s a tradition here to watch a glowing orange ball set over the sparkling water every day.
Standard Hotel: Comfort Inn Key West
Deluxe Hotel: Southernmost Hotel

Day 4: Explore Key West

“We’ll do it tomorrow” is a key phrase of the day on this laid back, bare foot, sun-filled island. Over the past 20 years, as the Navy has moved out and new residents have moved in, the gingerbread houses that line the streets of the historic district have been restored, freshly painted in tropical colors and landscaped with lush vegetation. Plan to spend some time in the historic district where land titles date back to the King of Spain. People watching is one of the most common pastimes in Key West, a city filled with interesting and unique characters who often look like they stepped right out of a novel.

Day 5: Explore Key West

Depending on your interest, Key West has great beaches and also wonderful nature based attractions such as the Aquarium, Marine Park and Butterfly Conservancy. The diversity and accepting lifestyle is what attracted Earnest Hemmingway and Robert Frost to Key West as writers. There’s a home and museum devoted to each of them. In addition, the John J, Audubon House and Tropical Gardens are open for touring. If you want to venture farther afield, visit Dry Tortugas National Park, accessible only by daily ferries from Key West. It is a truly unique environment.

Day 6: Key West to Fort Myers

As you cross southern Florida from Key West to Fort Myers, you’ll be traveling the Tamiami Trail National Scenic Byway through Everglades National Park. The Everglades is the largest subtropical wilderness in the world, populated by rare and endangered species such as American crocodiles, Florida panthers and West Indian manatees. You can take a boat tour out into the swamp or the Florida Bay, where 10,000 islands make up about a third of the land area of the Park.
Standard Hotel: Fort Myers Ramada Ltd
Deluxe Hotel: Sanibel Harbour Resort

Day 7: Explore Fort Myers

Fort Myers is much younger than its sister cities in the region. It’s hard to imagine that when the 20th century dawned, the city only had 943 residents. Fort Myers most famous resident, Thomas Edison built a home and laboratory on the river bank in 1885. It is still open for touring today. Soon citrus growing from farther north moved in, pineapple plantations began covering the river banks, and Fort Myers was on its way. The beaches of Fort Myers, Captiva and Sanibel Islands are not to be missed.

Day 8: Fort Myers to Tampa

In Tampa, one of America’s great cities, you can have breakfast at a waterside cafe, visit Busch Gardens African Safari, tour the Florida Aquarium, ride the streetcar to Channelside for great shopping, and root for the home team at a Tampa Bay Buccaneers game. Then, its on to Ybor City where the Cuban sandwiches are hot and crisp, the cigars are hand rolled and the streets are filled with fun all night long.
Standard Hotel: BW Brandon Inn and Conference Center
Deluxe Hotel: Crowne Plaza Tampa East

Day 9: Tampa to Orlando

Everyone has to spend at least one day with the world’s most famous Mouse at Disney World.
Standard Hotel: BW Universal Inn
Deluxe Hotel: Omni Orlando Resort

Day 10: Explore Orlando

For those who thought Orlando was just about Disney, there are 208 other things to do that range from antiquing to the world’s largest Hard Rock Cafe. There’s Sea World Orlando, a Richard Petty Driving Experience, Tiffany and Company, theme parks, Dora, Sponge Bob, wineries, orange trees and just about every other kind of entertainment activities you can find.

Day 11: Orlando to St. Augustine

St. Augustine has the distinction of being the oldest continuous city in the United States. It was founded in 1565, 42 years before John Smith landed at Jamestown. When you tour the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, St. Augustine’s original fort constructed in 1565, you’ll marvel at how well it withstood attacks by the Spanish, British and French that went on for decades. The downtown historic district in St. Augustine is phenomenal. More than 60 sites and attractions are located in 144 square blocks of historic buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Standard Hotel: BW St. Augustine I-95
Deluxe Hotel: St. Francis Inn

Day 12: Explore St. Augustine

As you meander about St. Augustine, you’ll find the Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse, Spanish Quarter Village and the legacy of Henry Flagler who brought the railroad and Flagler College to town. Stop for lunch at the Casa Monica Hotel and discover the historic Basilica Cathedral of St. Augustine amidst the commercial buildings. The St. Augustine Museum and Government House also date from the early days of settlement. The St. Augustine Lighthouse and Museum are located on Anastasia Island, just a short drive from the city.

Day 13: Explore St. Augustine

Perhaps a day of relaxing on St. Augustine Beach may be in order for today. If not, there are plenty of other things to explore.

Day 14: St. Augustine to Cocoa Beach

The Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral can take all day long to experience thoroughly. There are many different tours available including the NASA Close Up Tour and Cape Canaveral Then and Now guided by a space program expert. There is also a tour on which you can experience the total “weightlesness” of space. That’s everyone’s favorite.
Standard Hotel: BW Cocoa Inn Deluxe Hotel: Doubletree Oceanfront Cocoa Beach

Day 15: Explore Florida’s Space Coast

There’s much more to do on Florida’s Space Coast including exploring 250 square miles of protected wildlife refuges with spectacular landscapes and a rich diversity of rare and endangered plants and animals. The Southern Bald Eagle, West Indian Manatee, Wood Stork, White Pelican, Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin and Roseate Spoonbill represent just some of the more than 20 rare and threatened species listed for protection. The beaches of the Space Coast are some of the most abundant sea turtle nesting areas in the world.

Day 16: Cocoa Beach to Miami Depart Miami