Miami, Everglades, Key West, Orlando: 12-day Florida itinerary

Most people who go to Florida either land in Orlando for the theme parks or Miami for the beach and don't consider combining the two. However, the distance between the two cities is four hours by car and the distance between them passes through the most interesting parts of the state: the swamp national park, the spaceport and a highway extending to the middle of the ocean.

This route takes 12 days and loops: you land in Miami, head south to the Keys, head west into the swamp, finish north in Orlando and return. Vehicle is mandatory.

Day distribution: how many nights where?

miami and south

• Miami Beach is actually a separate city and connected to the mainland by bridges; The beach in the South Beach section is wide, the sand is light colored and the water is shallow. The lifeguard huts have become the symbol of the city with their pastel colors, each one is designed differently.
• Ocean Drive The seaside boulevard lined with Art Deco buildings built between 1920-40; The world's densest Art Deco architectural community is here, with more than 800 preserved structures. In the evening, neon lighting turns on and the boulevard completely changes. Restaurant prices are high and service fee is automatically added to the bill, check the bill.
• outdoor street art space in the Wynwood Walls former warehouse district; the walls are repainted regularly, so it's different every visit. The surrounding galleries and cafes fill half a day.
• Everglades National Park 1 hour from Miami: North America's largest subtropical swamp and the only place in the world where alligator and alligator live together. Air cushion boat tours are available at private businesses outside the park; The Anhinga Trail walk within the park is free and better for wildlife viewing. Mosquito repellent is a must.

Keys: driving on the ocean

• Key West is the southernmost tip of Florida and is closer to Cuba than Miami; Overseas Highway 42 to the island crosses the bridge, and part of it runs directly over open water. The drive from Miami is 3.5-4 hours and the road itself is one of the most memorable parts of the route.
• The Seven Mile Bridge is the most well-known part of this road; A part of the old bridge standing next to it has been restored as a pedestrian and bicycle path and can be walked on.
• Sunset in Key West is like a collective parade in Mallory Square: street performers, boats and crowds gather at the same time every evening. The island is small, getting around by bike is easier than by car.
• Among the islands, Bahia Honda and Islamorada are ideal for a break; snorkeling coral reef trips depart from Key Largo, and Florida has the United States' only living barrier reef.

Orlando and the space coast

• Walt Disney World consists of four separate theme parks, and each requires a full day; It takes four days to see them all. Transportation within the park is provided by monorail, boat and bus, and the transition between parks alone takes half an hour.
• Universal Orlando consists of two parks and there is a train line between the two; To take this train, you need valid tickets to both parks. The rides are faster and adult oriented compared to Disney.
• Kennedy Space Center 1 hour from Orlando: the area where the real launch pads are located and the Atlantis shuttle and the Saturn V rocket are on display inside. The rocket is suspended from the ceiling of a hangar and is 110 meters long; The scale cannot be understood from the photo. Check the launch schedule, if it coincides, it can be watched from the field.
• St. Augustine Historic District for those who will extend the route north: The oldest continuously inhabited city in the USA, founded by the Spanish in 1565. 2 hours from Orlando.

Vehicle, distance and practical notes

• Electronic toll systems are common on highways and there are no toll booths; If you do not receive the rental company's transponder package, the penalty comes by post and a processing fee.
• Theme park parking is expensive and has a daily fee; If you are going to stay for more than one day, it may be cheaper to use the hotel's parking service.
• In summer, daily showers in the afternoon are almost the rule; Raincoats are sold in parks, but the price is high, so take them with you.
• Apply for ESTA at least 72 hours before your flight.
• An 18-20 percent tip is standard in restaurants and in some places it is automatically added to the bill; Check the bill to avoid paying twice.

When to go?

November to April is Florida's dry season and the best time for this route: humidity is low, temperatures are 22-27 degrees, mosquitoes are few. Theme parks and Keys prices peak during the holiday weeks of late December and March. June-November hurricane season and September-October are the riskiest months; During this period, it is necessary to purchase flights and accommodation with a cancelable tariff. In the summer months, humidity approaches 90 percent and midday in theme parks becomes unbearable, so it is necessary to divide the program into morning and afternoon.