Florida Round Trip - By Convertible through the Sunshine State

Today we have another exciting Reisereporter report for you. This time, Simone tells you about her cool Florida tour. They drove to Orlando in a convertible, then on to Miami and the Florida Keys. Marco has even been to Florida before and still raves about his trip. There’s a lot to experience in this US state, such as the Everglades, Universal Studios, Disneyland, great beaches, national parks, cool cities, and much more. Today, Simone’s full Florida portion is here. Have fun browsing and copying!

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Best time to visit Florida
Our route for Florida
Entry and arrival in Florida
Getting around in Florida
Our Florida highlights
- Orlando and the surrounding area
- Welcome to Miami
- Paradise – the Florida Keys
Conclusion of our Florida tour

Sunshine State – if that doesn’t sound tempting, especially in the German winter, then I don’t know what does. So we decided to escape the cold in February and fly to the sun. Our next adventure was a Florida tour! Before the trip could begin, a few things had to be planned, of course. But the first question we asked ourselves: How good is the weather there in February? How does the entry process work? Which route do we want to take? What are the highlights? More on this in our travel report.

Best time to travel to Florida

So when it comes to temperatures, it’s actually always great there, and above all, warm. However, there are a few things to keep in mind. From May to October is the rainy season. These are the warmest months, but it also rains very heavily (even if only briefly). The least recommended period is from August to October, because this is also hurricane season. The high season is between December and April. It’s pleasantly warm, but neither too hot nor does it rain much. In February, we had an average daytime temperature of around 25°C.

Our route for Florida

When we travel and have decided on our destination, the next question is: what do we actually want to see? So, we first write a list of everything that interests us and then look at how we can best combine these destinations. This resulted in the following route for us:

Orlando & Surroundings
Miami
Florida Keys

Of course, the east coast of Florida isn’t the only thing worth seeing, but we only had 10 days. So we had to make some compromises, but that’s always the case, isn’t it?

Florida-Rundreise-Route

Entry and Arrival in Florida

To enter the USA, you need a valid passport and an entry authorization. This is called ESTA and can be easily applied for online from home. It takes up to 72 hours and currently costs $14. However, there are many websites that charge significantly more; here is the link to the official website: Apply for ESTA.

If this ESTA is approved, you may stay in the USA for a maximum of 90 days at a time. It is valid for a total of two years and can therefore be used for multiple trips. However, you must change your place of residence for a new trip. But that’s easily done on the same website.

We flew to Orlando via Amsterdam. For this trip, we again traveled with Delta Airlines. We’ve always had good experiences with this airline on our trips to the USA. Only the film selection depends on the age of the aircraft. Otherwise, the staff was always very friendly and the food was great.

Getting Around in Florida

We opted for a rental car. And what’s best for a road trip through the Sunshine State? – a convertible! We were a bit tight on luggage, but it was definitely worth it. We booked the car along with the flight in advance; this usually has the advantage that free mileage, a tank of gas, and all insurance are included. So, you get a complete, worry-free package.

We always book our flights and rental cars for long-distance trips with Explore Fernreisen. Here, you can usually get a discounted flight if you book a car or hotel. Top-notch advice and great prices are also included. We picked up the car easily at the airport in Orlando and dropped it off in Miami before our return flight. This also covered the journey to the hotel and the airport.

Our Florida Highlights

There’s really so much to see in Florida, so 10 days weren’t enough. The sights in Florida range from Universal Studios and Disney World to the Kennedy Space Center, Miami, Orlando, the Florida Keys, the Everglades, Fort Lauderdale, Apalachicola, Ponce de Leon Inlet, Sanibel, and Captiva Island. It’s best to bring more time with you to discover the many great highlights. But first, I’ll show you our Florida highlights.

Orlando and the surrounding area

We were in Orlando for 3 nights and spent them at the Clarion Inn & Suites*. This hotel is simply fantastic: very clean, stylishly furnished, and also boasts friendly staff and a lovely outdoor area with a pool. Breakfast is not offered at this hotel, but there is a small café. The hotel is within walking distance of the Premium Outlet and Universal Studios. A shuttle is also offered for Disney World, but we weren’t satisfied with it. The times don’t coincide with the park’s opening hours and made transportation rather difficult. Orlando is known for Disney World, Universal Studios*, and many other theme parks.

Of course, as a Disney lover, it was my big dream to stop here – and that’s exactly what we did. We spent the first day at the Magic Kingdom. It’s designed with so much attention to detail, and you feel like you’re in a fairytale. There are many rides, shops, and restaurants. In the afternoon, there’s always a parade, in which Disney characters dance past on amazing floats, spreading good cheer with their music and joy. But the highlight is definitely the huge musical fireworks display, which takes place every evening at the castle. This treat also comes at a hefty price – about $250 for two people.

On day 2, we had a beach day. We went to Daytona Beach, an hour away. This beach has a small boardwalk and the finest sand we’ve ever walked on. In the summer months, you can even drive onto the world’s most famous beach. Then we continued on to Cocoa Beach, which is very famous for surfing. We spent the afternoon at the pier here. We actually wanted to visit the beautiful parks in the area, but unfortunately, the weather wasn’t on our side. So we visited the outlet, which is definitely worth a visit for bargain hunters.

Another stop on our Florida tour was the Kennedy Space Center, for which you should definitely plan a whole day. There is so much to see and the entire complex is very extensive. At the Kennedy Space Center, you can learn all about US space history and also visit the Astronaut Hall of Fame. They also offer various lectures, as well as close-up tours of rockets and the launch pads.

Welcome to Miami

Our accommodation in Miami was an Airbnb*. This was the first time we’ve chosen this portal, as hotels are significantly more expensive here in Miami. We chose an apartment in the northern part of South Beach. It’s much quieter there, and parking is much cheaper or often free. In the north, Miami also has great beaches without the hustle and bustle of South Beach. By the way: In Miami, there are so-called “trolleys,” which are small buses that you can use for free.

We started one day on the famous Ocean Drive, where we visited Nicki Beach. From there, we continued towards Collins Street (the main thoroughfare). We came to Espanola Way – a beautiful street with many restaurants. Tip: You should definitely visit the restaurant “Oh Mexico.”

We all enjoyed the food very much. The last stop on our walk through the Art Deco District was the Lincoln Road Mall. A pedestrian zone where you can leisurely stroll or shop. You should also visit Ocean Drive after dark, as the beautiful buildings are illuminated.

But not only South Beach is worth seeing; Downtown Miami should also be on your list. Here we visited Bayfront Park, a beautiful park right by the ocean. There is also the Bayside Marketplace, a shopping mall with a great view. Another highlight of our Florida tour was Little Havana.

On the main street, Calla Ocho, there are Cuban cafés and restaurants. This district is particularly interesting for cigar lovers, as you can watch cigars being handcrafted here. Of course, you can also buy them afterward. In downtown, you can use the Metromover for transportation, as these are also free.

Paradise – the Florida Keys

Our journey continued from Miami over 42 bridges to Key West. Turquoise water on both sides. An indescribable feeling! And my absolute highlight of the road trip and thus the perfect ending. We stayed at the Westwinds Inn*.

The hotel is lovingly furnished, has a great outdoor area, two pools, and even offers a small breakfast. It’s located in Key West Old Town and is therefore very centrally located. You can usually find free parking on the side streets. Key West is very expensive; you can easily pay €300 per night for two people.

There are countless stops along the route; we decided to visit the Turtle Hospital on Marathon Island, the only sea turtle hospital in the world. The hospital is a former motel. The lobby now houses the information center, ticket shop, and souvenir shop. The old pools are the infirmaries, and there are operating rooms and examination rooms. Super interesting tours (in English) are offered regularly (every hour on the hour). It’s truly a great place and definitely worth a visit.

We spent our afternoon and night in Key West. Key West is a paradise, no matter where you look. In the evening, we were at Mallory Square, where the so-called Sunset Celebration takes place every day with entertainers, food, drinks, and music. If you’re lucky, you’ll see an incredibly beautiful sunset. We then continued along Duval Street, where there are countless bars, restaurants, and pubs. The next morning, we visited the famous Hamingway House, the lighthouse, the “Mile 1” sign, and the famous Southernmost Point buoy.

We left early at noon, however, because we absolutely wanted to stop at Bahia Honda State Park on the way back to Miami. And I have to say, it was definitely worth it. The old railroad bridge Old Bahia Honda Bridge has been partially removed and is therefore no longer used for rail traffic.

Part of this bridge is accessible on foot and offers a beautiful view of the ocean. On one side, you can see the Gulf of Mexico, and on the other, the Atlantic Ocean. You can swim, picnic, and simply relax in the park every day from 8 a.m. until sunset. Admission is $8 per car.

Conclusion of our Florida tour

Our tour was definitely worth it, and everyone should add Florida to their own bucket list. While 10 days weren’t enough, we were able to get a good first impression and have fallen in love with this state ever since. That’s why we decided during our vacation that there were still a few things missing and that we absolutely had to go back to Florida. So in March, we’re heading back to Florida, this time for 2.5 weeks. My absolute highlight was and still is Miami, but also the beautiful Florida Keys and, of course, Disney World.