Hello folks. I´m a Norwegian forum member that am planning my summer vacation in USA. We are arriving Miami at the 30. of june, and will be driving directly to Orlando. Then we head for New Orleans with a few sleepovers, to be ther on the 4th of july.Then down west coast via Ft. Myers to Key West, finally ending up in Ft. Lauderdale. We are planning to use 11 days on this trip, ending with a rental house in Ft. Lauderdale for the last eight days of the vacation.

The girls have planned a lot of outlet visiting all the way, but what to do for us boys? Are there forum members who can recommend activities during this route, muscle/classic car related or maybe other things worth to see.

Are there any corvette stores/part stores on this route?
Can´t wait to get there...

 

Nice choice for a trip. I was down in Florida over Christmas. I spent some time in South Beach Miami. I dorve down to Key West then over to fort Myers. You have a lot of driving planned. Its a several hour drive from Miami to Orlando. I'm not sure how long it will take you to get from Orlando to New Orleans but its a long way...maybe 6-7 hours. It will take an entire day or more to get from Orlando to Key West. For example to go from Miami to Key West is about 3 hours...45 mph speed limit over each key.

When you get down there pick up the Magazine for classic car sales. its free and in what looks like a paper box. It will give some places to go. There are also plenty of Travel Tip brouchers specific to the various parts of Florida you are Visiting. There is just so much to do. Its hard to tell you about any one place.

As for the outlet malls. Price is based on Geographics. Example an outlet store prices in hot spots like South Beach Miami will be Much higher opposed to an inland outlet store in a less afluent area.

One your way down through the fort Myers area you should check out the beaches some of the best in the world. Sanabel and Captiva Island is nice.

While in Fort lauderdale you might want to visit Siesta Key Sarasota. Cresent Beach there is rated as one of the Top Five beaches in the World.

In Key West go the spot thats the Further southern point of North America. Their pub crawl street is similar to New Orleans.

Lastly upon landing you might want to consider buying a $120 GPS for the car. Unless you already have a GPS.

Jim

 

That is a LOT of driving. Orlando to New Orleans alone is over 12 hours... You'll be spending your spare time sleeping in the car while the ladies hit the outlet stores!

Enjoy the trip!

 

punta gorda has a brand new Muscle car city its really great to has a resteraunt and memorbilia shop to and around 200 hundred very nice cars to look at I live here and have a 69 vert its on the way to ft myers

 

Not Corvette related, but...

if you have any interest in military aviation stop at the Pensacola Naval Air Staition and visit the Naval Aviation Museum. It is one of the best aviation museums in the world and you will drive through Pensacola on the way to New Orleans.

 

 

It's about 4 hr drive form Miami to Orlando and 12-13 hrs to New Orleans. If you are in the Orlando area on a Saturday evening. There is a pretty good size classic car cruise in Kissismme. Open to all old cars from 74 and Older (used to be 72 and older) Opens at noon and cruise is at 8:30 pm. Kissimmee is a few miles SW of Orlando on US Hwy 192. 192 is the same road the origingal Magic Kingdom is on. So it' real close to Walt Disney Wordl

 

Many good ideas - seems like there is a lot to do. Car shows and plane museums is put on the schedule. The daily driving distances are not so long, apr. 200 miles pr. day. We have booked hotels in Orlando, Tallahassee, Pensacola, New Orleans, Kissamee, Crystal River, Ft. Myers, Key West and finally Ft. Lauderdale. My friend is serious about finding a classic car on this trip, try to persuade him to buy a C3......!

Thanks everybody so far, think this will be the holiday of my life...

 

Spend a day or two in Destin, FL. The prettiest beaches in the US. It's about 4 hours from New Orleans. We just go back yesterday and have been going since I was a little kid.

View from our condo we rented. Not to bad for $99 a night.


Make sure to stop before you get to New Orleans and see the "ruins". (Katrina that is) Just over the I-10 bridge. Is amazing, that one of the riches countries in the world can just leave this crap like that.

 

Daytona International Speedway is a little out of your way but if you have never seen a high bank oval up close it's pretty amazing. They have Nascar there July, 2, 3 and 4.

I think they have a museum and tours also.

http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/

 

if possible, take the trip to the cape canaveral space center. it's on the east coast about an hour from orlando. there's shopping and beaches all over the world, but only one cape!

 

The Tower Shops in Davie, Florida on Friday nights. Daive is about 15 minutes from Ft. Lauderdale.

I95 south to I595 west. Exit on University. Turn left at the light. The tower shops are less than a mile down the road on the left. Insane cars there. On a good night there may be 30 or more Corvettes.

For the girls there's 'Butterfly World' just north of Ft. Lauderdale Its one of those types of places where you will get laid for taking the wifey there.

In New Orleans go on the Cemetary Tour and take the Trolley down to the Garden district.

A few pics from my New Orleans trip:

 

Great place to see, lots of Vettes it's on Rt.41 just north of Ft. Myers. The name is "Rich Treworgy's Muscle Car City"
Have fun,
Dave

 

Is that one the was relocated to the old WalMart? Definitely a must see!!!

 

If you do go to Daytona Beach, Klassix Auto Museum (not far west of the speedway) has a very nice collection of Corvettes, muscle cars and more. And, if you're into it, Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing is in Ocala, just off I-75. Too bad your timing didn't coincide with the 12 Hours of Sebring, or that you're apparently taking a pass on Beale Street and Graceland. Anyway, here's hoping you enjoy you trip.

 

"Kennedy Space Center" is just outside of Orlando. Check out NASA's Space Shuttle. I thought it was cool to see. Earliest launch in July is the 11th if you want to attempt to catch a shuttle launch in person. These things don't always run on schedule due to weather or pre-mission issues so it could be hit or miss.

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/home/index.html

(edit) Not a shuttle launch in July, the 11th is an Ares rocket launch.

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/co...esl/index.html

 

New Orleans is a great city to see but be very, very careful especially after dark. If you have children w/you avoid Bourbon Street and the adjacent streets. Lots of naughty stuff kids don't need to view. Pensacola, Fl. is a city you will go through on Interstate 10. It's my town. P'cola is Americas first settlement dating back to 1559. We have some really beautiful beaches to see and some historic landmarks. Google to see if your interested. The museum on Naval Air Station Pensacola mentioned earlier is a truly great thing to see. You can't believe the sights there.
Check out this sight.

http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/

Have a great and safe vacation. Enjoy the USA and welcome in advance

 

my family had a house in west palm beach and as a child i remember that on the drive down to miami on 95 south was a corvette museum and/or dealership witha bunch of classics parked right outside on display. can't remember the name but you couldn't miss it - it was right off the highway, visible from the highway. heading down 95 south it was on the right! good luck!

 

Thanks for all the respons folks. Many ideas for both car related and other activities. Sure this will be a great holiday. I have been i the Dade/Broward area before visiting family some years ago (They moved back to Norway) , but did not explore the area at that time.

Also thanks for the nice pictures, looks great in New Orleans!

You have been most helpful.

 

cape canaveral is a good visit and Big Daddys, as stated. I would also recommend, while your in Crystal River, doing a canoe trip if thats up your alley. Crystal river, rainbow springs (beautiful), wicki wachee (spelling?), there all in that general area. Ginnie Springs just north of gainsville off of I75 is by far the best. 8 different fresh water springs canoeing, snorkeling, diving, camping. www.ginniespringsoutdoors.com