Florida Adventure: Orlando, Miami, & Key West - 7 Days of Sunshine!
Ready for a whirlwind tour of Florida's hottest spots? Buckle up as we dive into 7 days of theme parks, beaches, and unforgettable experiences!
Orlando (3 Nights): Theme Park Mania!
- Stay: TownePlace Suites Orlando Theme Parks/Lake Buena Vista ($389/3 nights). Clean, convenient, and budget-friendly with free breakfast and shuttles to Universal/Disney World! Thumbs up!
- Day 1: Shop 'til you drop at Vineland Premium Outlets! Gucci, Prada...need we say more? 🛍️
- Day 2: Disney World – choose your kingdom! One park is plenty for a day of magic! ✨
- Day 3: Universal's Thrills! Conquer both parks if you dare! Express Pass is your friend (especially if purchased in advance for around $70-$90), but even without it, you can still crush at least 10 rides! Don't miss the brand-new Velocicoaster at Jurassic Park – a MUST TRY! 🎢
Getting around Orlando? Uber and the hotel shuttle are your best bets. The outlets are even walkable (about 30 minutes) if you're feeling energetic!
Miami: A Reality Check 😬
A $250 Uber ride gets you from Orlando to Miami... but is it worth it? 🤔
- Stay: Secret Garden Miami Beach ($260/night) – AVOID! Booked a week in advance, only to find out they oversold and the service was atrocious. Big NOPE.
- Miami vibes? Let's just say it was a sh**show! Honestly, if I could do it again, I'd skip Miami altogether. 🙊
- Car Rental: Snagged a last-minute rental from Enterprise for $260 (3 days) to escape the chaos.
Key West: Paradise Found! 🌴
A stunning 4-hour drive from Miami, with turquoise waters as your backdrop – THIS is what Florida is all about!
- Stay: The Capitana Key West ($400/night - book direct for best price!). Newly opened in February, this resort is spotless, beautiful, and features balconies overlooking the pool and oceanfront. Free parking and breakfast too! 👍
- Dry Tortugas National Park: A must-see, but book your tickets AT LEAST 2 MONTHS in advance! (We missed out 😭)
- Fury Ultimate Adventures: $189/person for 6 hours of non-stop fun on the water! Parasailing, jet skiing, banana boat, water park, snorkeling – they've got it all! Plus, free food, drinks, and even alcohol! We even spotted dolphins! It was a bit rushed, but worth it! Consider a private charter if you're traveling with a big group. 🐬
- Night Kayak: $60/person – a unique and memorable experience! 🛶
- Beaches: Fort Zachary and Smather's Beach are gorgeous! Clear, clean water that's refreshing (but bring water shoes because it's rocky!). 🏖️
- Southernmost Point: Gotta get that iconic photo! Expect about a 10-minute wait in line. 📍
- Duval Street: Key West's version of a pedestrian paradise! 🚶
- Mallory Square: Sunset celebrations and street performers galore! 🌅
- Restaurants: Robbie's, Conch Republic, Blue Heaven, Half Shell Raw Bar, Louie's Backyard. Be prepared to wait (30 min - 1 hour), but the food is worth it! Must-try: Conch ceviche, gator bite, peel pink shrimp, key lime pie. (Stone crabs were out of season, sadly!) 🦀
The vibe in Key West is amazing – so local and friendly! Rent a bike or scooter and cruise around! This was my first time, but I'm definitely coming back! Highly, highly recommend!
On the way back to Miami, we stopped at Whale Harbor Seafood Buffet ($40/person). Good food, reasonable price, with tuna, snow crab, raw oysters... yum! 🦀🦪
And finally, a quick visit to Vuon trai cay chi Trinh... which was underwhelming and not very welcoming. 🤷♀️
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