Where to go besides Orlando?

[djyamyam Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close djyamyam]

I'm off to a conference in Orlando in early March. I want to tag on a few extra days (4 or 5) for a getaway. We've been to Orlando enough times that the parks don't excite me.

Where should we go/stay? Being by the water is nice. I don't know if it's surfing weather but if it is, suggestions for that would be appreciated. We're fairly active so we wouldn't want something just lying by the pool. Exploring, hiking and stuff is more what we enjoy.

The plan would be go early, go wherever than drive to Orlando for the conference.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

How far are you willing to drive?

[Nancy Platinum Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close Nancy]

If you are interested in surfing, I'd suggest Atlantic Beaches such as Cocoa Beach, etc. If you are interested in a more laid back beach experience, I'd suggest the Gulf Beaches. On both sides, there are many varied beaches and each one is a little different.

nancy

[LisaH Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close LisaH]

I was in Orlando last Jan attending a meeting. On the last day of the meeting, my colleagues and I drove up to Blue Spring State Park to see the Manatee in wild. We were all glad that we did it. It's about an hour North of Orlando. Not sure if they will still be around in early March.

[Luanne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luanne]

My vote would be for the Cocoa Beach side and a visit to Kennedy Space Center.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

My vote would be for the Cocoa Beach side and a visit to Kennedy Space Center.

Cocoa Beach is close and appears to be known for surfing. Water temps that far north may be a tad chilly in early March.

[djyamyam Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close djyamyam]

How far are you willing to drive?

i don't know, a few hours. I'm not really sure of distances. We don't mind driving and then making that place our base.

My vote would be for the Cocoa Beach side and a visit to Kennedy Space Center.

We've done Kennedy Space centre in the past and spent the whole day, on an actual shuttle launch day.

Cocoa Beach is close and appears to be known for surfing. Water temps that far north may be a tad chilly in early March.

How far north are we talking? Warm water would have a higher priority than cold water.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

Drive to Sanabel Island and relax! not to far just a few hours

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

You can forget about activities in the ocean or Gulf that time of year.

As many know, we prefer the Gulf side, at least Siesta Key or further south.

We're in Englewood right now.

WHen I checked RCI this morning, there is nothing in SW FL until April, except for what comes up in the 14 Day Window.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

How far north are we talking? Warm water would have a higher priority than cold water.

Here's a good site about Cocoa Beach that talks about all the surfing spots. Looks like water temp for March is 67 degrees.

Cocoa Beach, Florida, Family Vacation Guide, CocoaBeach.Com, cocoa beach hotels, restaurants, shuttle launches and more!

Water/weather in Miami will be somewhat warmer, but not sure about surfing, I would do some research. South Beach is fun for a few days, but it's mostly eating, beaching, people-watching. Lawren had some good side trip ideas from there if I recall correctly, but it's a hike from Orlando (probably 4 hours). I would also suggest the gulf coast, Sanibel or Captiva, but not going to be much there surfing-wise.

Another popular surfing spot that looks pretty close to Cocoa Beach is Sebastian Inlet State Park.

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

How about Vero Beach. That beach is only good for surfing in my opinion and the Disney resort is real nice.

Also maybe Oyster Pointe in Sebastian where you get the use of a boat for about $50 for the week and can go fishing and get up close to the manatees on the River.

I also think that Westgate has a dude ranch near Kissimmee. You could do all the dude ranch stuff in March while the weather is still cool. I haven't been to this one but have seen it available before. Looks like fun.

[djyamyam Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close djyamyam]

I was in Orlando last Jan attending a meeting. On the last day of the meeting, my colleagues and I drove up to Blue Spring State Park to see the Manatee in wild. We were all glad that we did it. It's about an hour North of Orlando. Not sure if they will still be around in early March.

Thanks, we'll check it out

[djyamyam Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close djyamyam]

Here's a good site about Cocoa Beach that talks about all the surfing spots. Looks like water temp for March is 67 degrees.

Cocoa Beach, Florida, Family Vacation Guide, CocoaBeach.Com, cocoa beach hotels, restaurants, shuttle launches and more!

Water/weather in Miami will be somewhat warmer, but not sure about surfing, I would do some research. South Beach is fun for a few days, but it's mostly eating, beaching, people-watching. Lawren had some good side trip ideas from there if I recall correctly, but it's a hike from Orlando (probably 4 hours). I would also suggest the gulf coast, Sanibel or Captiva, but not going to be much there surfing-wise.

Another popular surfing spot that looks pretty close to Cocoa Beach is Sebastian Inlet State Park.

You can forget about activities in the ocean or Gulf that time of year.

As many know, we prefer the Gulf side, at least Siesta Key or further south.

We're in Englewood right now.

WHen I checked RCI this morning, there is nothing in SW FL until April, except for what comes up in the 14 Day Window.

Ouch! Definitely no surfing with those temps. So with surfing seemingly out because of the water temp, does that change things? Should it be now, whatever resort shows up for that time frame since availability will be limited to the last minute? If I can get access to cheap brand name hotels, where should I go? Miami?

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

I know it's cold everywhere (we're in Florida, but there is TV, Internet, etc. ), but the low temps right now are setting records.

Now, or March, here are the areas I would be searching for: Longboat Key, Siesta Key, Englewood, Vanderbilt Beach, Bonita Beach, Ft. Myers Beach, Sanibel, Captiva, Marco Island, Naples, Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda.

You can search craigslist vacation rentals for Tampa or Ft. Myers and find something decent for under $500/week. (after all, isn't that why we timeshare?)

How about pontooning/kayaking with dolphins and walking on a beach?

If you golf, Rotonda has many rentals.

[djyamyam Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close djyamyam]

I know it's cold everywhere (we're in Florida, but there is TV, Internet, etc. ), but the low temps right now are setting records.

Now, or March, here are the areas I would be searching for: Longboat Key, Siesta Key, Englewood, Vanderbilt Beach, Bonita Beach, Ft. Myers Beach, Sanibel, Captiva, Marco Island, Naples, Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda.

You can search craigslist vacation rentals for Tampa or Ft. Myers and find something decent for under $500/week. (after all, isn't that why we timeshare?)

How about pontooning/kayaking with dolphins and walking on a beach? If you golf, Rotonda has many rentals.

This is definitely somthing we would check out. Where's this? And I would be bringing the clubs if no surfboard.