BEQUIA--Driving from Orlando to FLL

[Grandma B]

We are doing the same as previous poster BILLMONT except in the opposite order. I checked out your map & see that I-95 runs near the ocean. We love to stop & sight see & will have plenty of time the day we leave Disney & head to FLL for the weekend. Wondering if this is a good route to go if you're not in a hurry. Or are there better places we might want to see down FLL & Miami way?

Thanks for any info.

Nancy

[Bequia]

Hi Nancy,

The map can be deceiving. Although it appears that I-95 runs by the ocean it's really quite a ways from it. Even US1 can be distant from the ocean, the only route that's even close is the A1A. I tried navigating a coastal drive years ago from Daytona to Ft Lauderdale, yes there's some nice scenic parts but to be honest with you the majority of the views were blocked by homes, condo towers and hotels.Traffic was a bear! Aside from the state parks, little was undeveloped.

I still recomend the Turnpike route. ;)

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[Grandma B]

Thanks Bequia....we'll do the turnpike. So then do you have any suggestions for some scenic places to drive around FLL & Miami? We'll leave Orlando Sat AM & once we arrive in FLL will have the whole weekend since we don't cruise until Monday. Don't want to waste time hunting for everything if we can have ideas beforehand. Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated!:)

Thanks,

Nancy

[Bequia]

Thanks Bequia....we'll do the turnpike. So then do you have any suggestions for some scenic places to drive around FLL & Miami?

 

Our state parks are quite nice and will afford you unobstructed views of the ocean. In the Ft Lauderdale area the John U Llyod State Park is beautiful http://www.floridastateparks.org/lloydbeach/default.cfm , On the backside of this park is Port Everglades and if the ships are in you can see them close by. In the Miami area, Key Biscayne in particular the views from Bill Baggs State Park are spectacular http://www.floridastateparks.org/capeflorida/default.cfm.

 

The drive from the FLL area to Bahia Honda Key in the Keys is nice. The undeveloped sections are really pretty, the developed sections kind of honky tonk.Once you get past Marathon the drive over the 7 mile bridge to Bahia Honda State Park is really gorgeous http://www.floridastateparks.org/bahiahonda/default.cfm

 

Tamiami Trail is a nice scenic ride west of Krome Avenue, take it for 17 miles to Shark Valley, a National Park in the middle of the Everglades. http://www.sharkvalleytramtours.com/

 

Even a drive halfway across Alligator Alley is pretty neat. You can stop at the Billie Swamp Safari in the middle of the Everglades http://www.seminoletribe.com/safari/ and catch an airboat ride or a swamp buggy ride for some up close views of the inhabitants of the glades.

 

Unfortunately the scenic drive on the ocean road A1A is obstructed by hi-rise condos and McMansions blocking the view from the street. You will come across public beaches along the way but the views sad to say are limited.

Map of the region:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=25.958045,-80.634155&spn=1.763165,2.554321&z=9&om=1&msid=111808212097114498924.00043b5b7d25b3d90de36

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[BlueHerons]

I second Bequia's excellent advice about Key Biscayne. It is gorgeous.

 

The turnpike is definitely the best way to South Florida from Orlando. However, once you get around Stuart/Ft. Pierce it is fun to jump off the turnpike and jump over to A1A and drive down the coast IF you have lots of time.

 

I just did the drive two weeks ago and it is about 2-3 hours from there to Miami Beach. The coast is magnificent and the amount of money spent on estates is staggering. Some stretches of Miami and Palm Beach are unreal.

 

A fun thing to do in Miami is to spend a couple of hours touring Vizcaya and hop on the Rickenbacker Causeway and have lunch at the Rusty Pelican. It is an old seafood restaurant on the water. Then, drive through Key Biscayne and spend some time at Bill Baggs State Park. You can see the old lighthouse and the houses of Stiltsville (http://www.stiltsville.org/).

[Grandma B]

These are such great ideas & suggestions! I checked them all & saved to my favorites so I can print them out & take with us. They will help make our vacation a wonderful trip.

You guys are the best!:)

Nancy