<p>We’re from CA and have never been to Florida. Thinking of visiting next spring, but where to fly to and what to see in a week? We’d like to see the Kennedy space center for sure, and maybe EPCOT. Our son loves science, and we’re engineers. We are also interested in nature and may be seeing manatees, alligators, and spending a day or two at the beach. Please share your ideas. Thanks!</p>
<p>No one? Bump</p>
<p>I don’t mean this in a rude way but where in florida are you thinking of visiting? it’s not as big as california but is still a pretty big state so your post was rather broad. I’ve probably spent about 6 weeks or so down in florida on different trips so I can try to make some suggestions to you however i just want to point out that the space center has to be at least an hour drive from Epcot, but would be near beaches on the atlantic ocean side of florida. There’s an alligator place that i liked in st augustine, but that’s about two hours north of orlando. as far as beaches go, there are some pretty key’s off of miami, but again that’s about four hours south of orlando. it would be better i think to focus on one location and then figure out what is around there, rather then just the state of florida… Just my opinion. 
unless you don’t mind driving all over the state… :)</p>
<p>Yes-- a little more specificity about what you 'd like to see, whether you plan to be in the panhandle vs southern part of the state, east/west coast, etc would help. My suggestion-- consider the w coast area-- Ft. De Soto Park is pretty.</p>
<p>Oh, and it is midnight here on the e coast. you’ll get more responses tomorrow.</p>
<p>Maybe Seaworld? Plus, if you’re at Epcot anyways, I’m sure any teen would love the Harry Potter theme park. Oh man, I would love it too!</p>
<p>If you go to the beach and venture out far enough, you might see sharks. Though I don’t know if that’s a positive! Stay close and you’ll be fine. They have these boat rides thru the Everglades that are pretty cool too.</p>
<p>If you are from CA then you can skip Magic Kingdom and Sea World. Epcot, Animal Kingdom, MGM studio, Kennedy space center are good places to see in Orlando. My kids loved the following places in Miami: everglades, Butterfly World, Parrot Jungle Island.</p>
<p>One week is too short for Florida.</p>
<p>Here’s a thread to look at: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/1002153-south-florida-travel-tips.html?[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/1002153-south-florida-travel-tips.html?</a></p>
<p>As always, Jym on target. What airport do you land? From Space Ctr, will you drive north to St Augustine, or south towards Miami? Or, will you drive west towards Orlando, then on to west coast (Sarasota, Tampa, Naples,…)</p>
<p>My D --a freshman-- is dying to go to the Harry Potter theme park at Universal. Have heard Universal may be more appealing to the slightly older set than Magic Kingdom.
I also wouldn’t miss the beaches, though so many to choose from.
If you’re down in the Keys, John Pennekamp (sp?) State Park has a very pretty coral reef and offers snorkel trips (also scuba trips, etc); though in general the beaches in the Keys aren’t as soft / sandy as other beaches in Fla.</p>
<p>Well shucks, bookworm You are my new best friend :D</p>
<p>To the OP-- if you do go to Epcot/MGM/Magic Kingdom, Sea World, Universal Studios etc, there are lots of parking and visit tips we can share. My s’s enjoy the parks, even though they’ve been several times. How old is your teen?</p>
<p>Any interest in seeing any of the colleges, or is this a purely holiday visit? There are some really silly tourist-y things like the glass bottom boats at Weekie Watchee (probably spelling that wrong).</p>
<p>Anyway, give us a bit of an itinerary and we can help out!</p>
<p>Agree with St Augustine (north) and John Pennekamp (south)-- good plan. I am not a race car nut, but Daytona may also be worth a stop. Key West is a long drive but pretty and it is funky (though maybe not to a californian, LOL).</p>
<p>It’s been a while, but I would say that Universal skews a bit more teen than the Disney parks.</p>
<p>This may be a contrarian point of view, but I didn’t much care for the Space Center the last time we were there–what you see now is too “theme-park-like” and commercialized. I think visiting Miami and the Keys might be more fun.</p>
<p>Can you Time your visit for the last shuttle launch?
Feb. 26
Space Shuttle Endeavour
STS-134/ISS AMS
Launch Time: 4:19 p.m.
Launch Window: 4:14 p.m. to 4:24 p.m.
[Kennedy</a> Space Center Attractions - Kennedy Space Center](<a href=“http://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/attractions.aspx]Kennedy”>Explore Kennedy Space Center's Attractions)
we liked astronaut hall of fame.</p>
<p>Merrritt Island Wildlife Refuge that surrounds the space center has plenty of gators, pink bird, and manatee viewing spots.
[Merritt</a> Island National Wildlife Refuge](<a href=“http://www.fws.gov/merrittisland/Manatee.html]Merritt”>http://www.fws.gov/merrittisland/Manatee.html)</p>
<p>[Home</a> - A Day Away Kayak Tours](<a href=“http://www.adayawaykayaktours.com/]Home”>http://www.adayawaykayaktours.com/)
We had dolpins and manatees within arms reach of our kayak, these folks are based on the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge. Good guides.</p>
<p>Stayed right on Cocoa Beach and drove to Orlando (45min) for theme park days.</p>
<p>Enjoyed Harry Potter and Epcot, along w/ the science museum in Orlando ( got an email they opened a new permanent exhibit today on our planet and the universe.)
[osc.org</a> - Home](<a href=“http://www.osc.org/index.php]osc.org”>http://www.osc.org/index.php)</p>
<p>We like the same things you plan to do (Epcot & Kennedy). We go pretty often, as my parents have rented a place at Cocoa Beach the last few years. Here are a couple of other things we liked:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>My dad arranged an air boat ride on a river and back into a cypress (?) swamp a couple of years ago. That was super fun. We saw TONS of gators (like, hundreds). But I’m sorry, I don’t know the name of the company he went through; since he arranged it, I didn’t really pay attention. It was within a 30 minute drive of Cocoa Beach, though. It was something weird… Captain somebody??</p></li>
<li><p>I second the recommendation for the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. We especially like the drive you can take there for bird watching. We saw a lot of spectucular stuff. We are casual birders (not hard core). A pair of binoculars and a Florida bird book are all you need. My dad and I ended up going twice last time we were down there because it was so much fun.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>Thank you for the great ideas. We’re not interested in Disney parks or colleges, son is a HS freshman. We’re very interested in seeing things we don’t have in CA. I was even considering flying to Orlando seeing the Space center and other sights there and driving to Miami and may be Keys and coming back home from Miami. I don’t know if it’s practical, or should we just leave Everglades for the next visit (may not happen). Thank you for the link to the park with manatees, looks interesting.</p>
<p>I love visiting Key West. My sisters and I really enjoyed kayak trips in that area. It’s very beautiful and serene with lots of sea life.</p>
<p>My mom has a place in Homosassa, which is on the gulf side and very famous for the manatee population there. My d and I did a "swim with the manatee trip several years ago and it was amazing. We were able to get in the water with them and even pet them, they are like big friendly dogs, and come up to you. It was a snorkle trip. We had a scuba dive planned for later but the water was so cold that d came out with blue lips and I was afraid of hypothermia. I think we were the only car driving in Florida with the windows up and the heater on (lol). </p>
<p>[Manatee</a> Tour | Swim with Manatee | Guided Florida Manatee Tours](<a href=“http://www.americanprodive.com/]Manatee”>http://www.americanprodive.com/) is who we went with, they were great!</p>
<p>Homosassa is about 1 hour north of Tampa.</p>
<p>Have a great time whatever you decide to do.</p>
<p>Did the above manatee trip with the same company. It was amazing.</p>
<p>If you want something you won’t see in CA…
[Ginnie</a> Springs - Scuba, Cave Diving and Snorkeling Ginnie Springs](<a href=“Website Disabled”>Website Disabled)
Crystal River=Homassa is beautiful. Easy to see spacecoast one day…be in Crystal River or the GinnieSprings the next. Driving east coast to west coast is only 2hours/from Orlando an hour. </p>
<p>Our favorite Keys spots: [Welcome</a> to John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park - Key Largo, Florida Keys](<a href=“http://www.pennekamppark.com/]Welcome”>http://www.pennekamppark.com/) , feeding tarpon at robbie’s marina in Islamorada. (MM 77.5) Hundreds of tarpon from 5 to 200 pounds swarm around the docks all day. [Robbie’s</a> of Islamorada: Offering the widest diversity of recreational marine activities in Islamorada, Florida Keys - Offshore, Backcountry and Partyboat Fishing, Boat Rentals, Guided Tours, and Tarpon Feeding.](<a href=“http://www.robbies.com/]Robbie’s”>http://www.robbies.com/)</p>
<p>and #1 bed and breakfast.
[Deer</a> Run Bed & Breakfast: Oceanfront Eco Friendly home in the Lower Florida Keys](<a href=“http://www.deerrunfloridabb.com/]Deer”>http://www.deerrunfloridabb.com/)</p>
<p>I realize that the Florida panhandle isn’t the “hotbed of fun” that one will find further south in the state, what with all the theme parks and things. What the panhandle does have are the prettiest beaches in the state and, many believe, in the world. Just wanted to add that. :)</p>
<p>Wow, lots of good suggestions and fun things to do! So torn, looks like we’d like to see the Keys and stay near Cocoa beach, too! Have anyone tried to split a week for a few days in each place?</p>