AndersT

We are planning a holiday later this year where we will start visiting family in Houston and then drive to Orlando with a few days in New Orleans and Pensacola. I canīt travel all the way from Europe without attending at least one corvette show.

I know itīs a long shot, but can anybody recommend any corvette show in the Orlando area from 15/10 to 19/10 this year?

Please chime in if you have informations about shows already planned?

cor28vettes

You may be out of luck for October 15-19, 2018. I googled Orlando Corvette Shows and reviewed your dates. Zilch for your time frame. Most larger Florida car shows are in the spring. You can view past shows on my Southeast thread titled "Your Official Florida Relocate Thread". Look for the 2017 Corvette car-show post and the same as a 2018 post.

Aside from that, you will just miss the nearby Daytona Beach Cruise Oct 26-28. And the big one in November... The 45th Annual Turkey Run on the Daytona Beach Speedway grounds Nov 22-25, 2018 which includes many Corvettes.

And even the Cruisin The Coast event Sep 30-Oct 7, 2018 right there in coastal Mississippi between New Orleans and Pensacola. I brought that one ttt for your review.

Here's my recommendation: While in New Orleans get a room at the www.HotelProvincial.com Be sure to ask for a room w/view of the MS River such as 523 or 540. Parking is safe on-site right there in the French Quarter. Take Elysian Fields Ave (south) off I-10 and it will take you close to it. Include the 2-hour Steamboat Natchez River Cruise during the day (minus the meal) and enjoy the French Quarter at night.

Next up visit any of the numerous Biloxi Casino's in Mississippi but be prepared to leave some of your $$$ behind at the slots. Best buffets are the Beau Rivage, and the IP. The IP is 1.5 mile north of the Beau and in-view from there. Also the brand new Scarlett Pearl is worth visiting with access from Interstate I-110 midway between coastal Highway 90 and Interstate I-10, sitting along the bay in D'Iberville. Again, U may be lucky but be prepared not so. At some Casino's the buffet is free for new guys that sign up. I think the IP is one. No strings attached if you do.

The Hard Rock Casino is within walking distance next door to the Beau Rivage so park at either one. If you park a vette do so at Hard Rock.

To get there from New Orleans do the Mississippi coastline by exiting I-10 towards Waveland, Bay St Louis or Pass Christian which are all on Highway 90. Continue to Biloxi. That entire beautiful coastline, with few exceptions, got wiped out by a storm surge w/hurricane Katrina in 2005. One exception is the last home of Civil War Confederate President Jefferson Davis, called "Beauvoir", as you approach Biloxi. It's worthwhile for history buffs.

Thereafter, when you travel towards Pensacola stop at the Florida Welcome Center first for stuff & stuff. Then consider the Navy Aviation Museum if time permits. It's on the Navy base. Just follow the sign on Interstate I-10 as you approach Pensacola. It's huge and also worthwhile if you like aviation history.

On your way to Orlando from Pensacola on I-10 maybe take the Mid-Bay toll bridge (State Roads 85/293) to coastal Highway 98 in Florida. When you get to 98, right turn to the Destin Harbor a few miles on the left (park under the high rise at the harbor)... or cross 98 and proceed directly to the beach if you need to skip the harbor walk-a-round. Tons of food places but I suggest Osaka Steak House in Destin with a right turn on Hwy 98 from SR 293 & a few blocks. Day or night, Destin should be fun for all.

While in that immediate area check out Destin Commons off SR 293 (the same mid-bay bridge road I mentioned). Advance to the beach by going south across Hwy 98. You will be leaving Okaloosa County as you www.visitsouthwalton.com while you drive eastbound along the beach route (which is our scenic 98). It takes you back to 98 right at the huge Silver Sands Premium Outlet Stores across 98. Continue east on 98 to Emeril's (Lagasse) Coastal Italian at Grand Boulevard right after Sandestin Resort. Google it if you like seafood & Italian. Thereafter pick up scenic 30A eastbound. Lots of great stops on 30A (see last website) including Seaside where The Truman Show was filmed, and later Rosemary Beach.

As you leave Walton County on Hwy 30A to Hwy 98 still eastbound, you enter Bay County. Continue to stay coastal at Panama City Beach shortly after entering Bay County and enjoy the sights there as well.

That's the famed Emerald Coast in a nutshell. From Pensacola Beach to Panama City. If you want to avoid that Mid-Bay bridge toll road to Destin, just take I-110 in Pensacola to Pensacola Beach, from Gulf Breeze, directly off Hwy 98. But there's a toll to pay there too if you take the recommended beach drive to Navarre via the Gulf Islands National Seashore with miles of unspoiled beach front. In Navarre hang a right back on 98 heading eastbound towards Destin. Walk the Destin Harbor by parking under the giant hotel/condo at the Destin bridge. Lots of places for beer and food. Then proceed eastbound again and pick up where I left you at SR 293 Destin Commons. If confusing, review online maps for Destin. A word of caution: Mid Aug to mid Oct is prime time for hurricanes anywhere in the Gulf of Mexico. Click www.nhc.noaa.gov a week before.

From Panama City either take state roads to Orlando or its back to Interstate I-10 for you. I suggest SR's but don't get lost on them.

Here's your salvation: once in ORLANDO, there's an all-Corvette, "semi-car show" that's not to be missed www.rogerscorvette.com It is large and indoors. Just make sure they are open. Rogers is a real friendly guy to talk to if he happens to be around (and even when he's not around). Introduce yourself & mention how far you came just to see his cars. All the cars are Corvettes for sale but it's virtually the same as a car show. The quality and appearance is that good. You may end buying one because they will all look so desirable. Check out his fine personal collection including his super rare '69 ZL-1 Corvette (one of 2 in the world but not for sale). That's the nearest to a vette show I can come up with during your visit.



tip: plan your follow-up U.S. vacation around either the annual Cruisin The Coast event in MS., the all-cars Turkey Run in nearby Daytona Beach Florida, OR, the biggest Corvette event in the World... Corvettes@Carlisle in Pennsylvania held the end of Aug each year (review their Official Corvettes@Carlisle Event Thread... click Forums, National Events, posted each year by co-owner Lance Miller under user name racelance). Bill Miller Jr. (unrelated) is the other co-owner. Great guys & great event for our Corvette friend from Denmark. Here is his 2018 thread https://forums.corvetteforum.com/sho....php?t=4060761 Best way to experience Corvettes@Carlisle is on the ground. By that I mean stay on the fairgrounds day and night for the duration. Simple acquire a far-out space. They got everything you need but do bring your own tent and sleeping bag.

And, of course, find a way to fit in the National Corvette Museum in Kentucky.

AndersT

Wow - thank you so much for all those advices

Unfortunately we have a short time frame for our holiday, as we have to fit in certain weeks where the kids have free from school. But yes, I would very much like to attend Carlisle some day…- that would be #1 on my list (my old old 69ī vert was actually bought at the Carlisle show in 2006 and imported to Denmark)

Again, thank you! CF is amazing when you need help

mowe

rsparks64

If you are on the Kissimmee side of Orlando, they have a huge cruise in every Friday night in Old Town.

cor28vettes

Very welcome my friend.

We enjoyed Europe v v v and hope you enjoy your trip here to the U.S.







You can always trip back to this thread years from now by doing Search/Advance Search.

VetBoyZR1

Search for the Cars and Coffee events - much more exotic cars show up, and there are hundreds of them in Orlando.